Long Range Plan

Over the past year, a group of six Unitarian-Universalists have met together to think and reflect on the future of the Ohio -Meadville District.  Believing that a plan was needed, we devised a process to survey UU’s within the region to determine the District’s future direction.  First, led by our executive director, The Rev. Joan Van Beceleare, we decided to use an appreciative inquiry process.  We came up with four questions to ask leaders of several categories of District activities.

  1. Considering the many programs and services that are offered by the OMD, in what ways have you participated in the District's  offerings?  What made it meaningful for you? 
  2. What, and why, do you value most highly from the District's programs and services both for you personally and for your congregation?
  3. When we are at our best as a district, what would you name as the top two strengths of the OMD?
  4. Please share three wishes that you have for the future of the District.

Individuals surveyed included ministers, directors of religious education, commissioned lay leaders. Summer Institute past chairs, district committee chairs, past presidents of the District, youth and young adult leaders.

Reflecting on all the responses, the Long Range Planning Committee found several recurring themes.   Strengths of the District as well as weaknesses were identified and areas of opportunity were noted.  From these, we developed the following long-range goals that were presented and accepted by the OMD Board at their August meeting.

Future Vision
“In the Ohio-Meadville District, individuals and congregations freely covenant together to share resources of time, talent, and treasure to strengthen and grow Unitarian Universalism in the District and the larger world.”

We serve all:

  1. Provide District scholarships for all District-wide events, giving care to develop the structure for how to determine recipients, amount and frequency of awards.

We serve congregations:

  1. Educate our congregations to create a culture of generosity and fiscal responsibility to fulfill the promise of Chalice Lighters, the UUA Annual Program Fund, and other funding programs
  2. Increase and institute measures to stabilize the OMD staff both in terms of numbers, commitment to positions and fair remuneration
  3. Make growth a priority and encourage it with education and marketing to both our congregations and the public
  4. Help clusters effectively organize to get the most and the best out of networking opportunities and possibilities

We serve leaders:

  1. Increase training opportunities:  Leadership Development Training, District Assembly, Unitarian Universalist Leadership Training Institute, Commissioned Lay Leader Training, etc.
  2. Review and renew the Social Transformation Team to strengthen networking and organization
  3. Increase opportunities at District Assembly for leaders to network and develop needed skills

We serve groups within the District:

  1. Strengthen and clarify the relationship between the District and its committees, especially those that work with large District-wide events, e.g. Summer Institute and Winter Institute.
  2. Help organize Youth ministry at the cluster and regional levels

Now, the OMD Board and staff are working to develop action plans, outline measurable outcomes and identify resources that will be needed to move these goals to the next step and meet them in the future.

Long Range Planning Task Force:  Rev. Joan VanBecelaere, Kate Greenfield, Dana Bjorklund, Betty Luff, Rev. Elaine Strawn, and Kathie Slater