Special Features

Goal 1 - Strengthen the spiritual life of the church, its leadership and its members.

Offer opportunities for spiritual development and learning.

• Priority 1 - Develop an additional regular worship/spiritual growth opportunity (mid-week worship, contemporary worship etc.) Worship Committee 2002-2003
• Provide spiritual meditation/prayer instruction (Worship)
• Offer prayer groups and meditation opportunities (Worship)
• Provide spiritual growth seminars (Worship)
• Hold spiritual growth retreats (Worship)
• Provide focused study programs on specific topics (Education)
• Host guest lecturers (Education)
• Conduct Bible studies (Education)
• Conduct study on other churches and religions (Education)
• Establish book clubs to read a book and discuss it with groups - open to community. (Education and Membership)

Provide ministerial staff resources and support

• Establish a regular program and budget for ministerial growth and sabbatical (Personnel)
• Build upon BACC's strong worship experience
• Offer contemporary worship services (Worship)
• Encourage participation in worship service (Worship)

Goal 2: Provide and maintain the operational facilities and resources needed to carry out the church's ministry.

Provide suitable facilities in which to carry out worship, education and outreach activities

• Priority 1 - Address space needs of BACC's growing congregation and ministry. These needs include Christian education, worship, office and administration and institutional kitchen. Begin program planning and design process to meet these needs. Long Range Planning Committee 2002-2003
• Install showers, washers and dryers for CARITAS and other outreach activities* (Special project or to be included in overall space plan)
• Storage space (Inside Property)
• Maintenance and beautification of existing building (Inside and Outside Property)
• Worship and music gazebo * (Special project)
• Refurbish the bell * (Special project)
• Chimes installed to play for the general community * (Special project)
• Add sound absorption panels to Fellowship Hall. (Inside Property or special project)

* Cost estimates and specifications for special projects would be developed by the Property Committees and made available to individuals or church groups interested in taking on a specific activity)

Develop and manage human resources necessary to carry out worship, education and outreach activities.

• Priority 1: Move to full-time associate minister with an increased portfolio of duties in order to accomplish the desired ministry activities. (Personnel Committee and Board 2002)
• Training seminars for elders and deacons (Ministers)
• Seminar/school for leaders/Sunday School teachers/youth leaders/committee chairs (Cabinet and Education)

Develop and manage financial resources necessary to carry out worship, education and outreach activities

• Establish escrow funds - future purchase, large maintenance items (HVAC, alarms), maintenance reserve fund. (Stewardship Committee and Treasurer 2002-2003)
• Develop contingency planning - business and financial management (Personnel and Trustees)
• Contingency plan for dealing with disaster (Personnel and Trustees)
• Clarify/articulate fund uses (Trustees)
• Funding raising and capital campaign (Stewardship)

Goal 3: Increase involvement of a broader range of the congregation in the church's programs and ministry.

Develop and enhance group programs that encourage fellowship and growth

• Priority 1 - Increase focus/activity level of constituency ministries -youth, seniors, children, singles - especially youth ministry. (Education Committee, Membership Committee and Associate Minister 2002-2003)
• Increase participation of after-service activities (Membership)
• Provide ministry opportunities to singles (Membership)
• Mentor programs (manageable sizes outside of flocks or existing programs) "adopt a member" (Membership)
• Encourage new member participation - mentors (Membership)
• Children's activities (Education)

Provide training and support to sustain and develop congregational leadership resources

• Provide training to encourage new leaders (Board chair and vice chair, Membership)

Sustain and develop involvement in church resources

• Priority 1: Two-year terms for cabinet - committee chairs with vice chairs to mentor and learn. (Board chair and cabinet 2003)
• Structure Long Range Planning Committee with rotating membership to provide continuity (Board chair and Long Range Planning Committee chair, ministers)
• Stewardship-focus on time/talent component (Stewardship)
• Include other committees in stewardship campaigns, $, time, talent (Stewardship and cabinet)

Goal 4: Grow in global and community outreach.

Increase BACC participation in Disciples of Christ outreach activities

• Priority 1- Identify DOC global outreach and participate in at least one per year. (World Outreach, Church in Society 2002-2003)
• Build on CropWalk (Church in Society)
• Increase participation in DOC outreach activities with which BACC is currently involved (World Outreach and Church in Society)
• Use speakers, lectures, etc. to expand knowledge about DOC outreach efforts (World Outreach and Church in Society)
• Sponsor refugee family (World Outreach)

Collaborate with churches of other denominations

• Intercultural relationship with another church - sister church (Church in Society)
• Increase participation in Bon Air ecumenical activities (Evangelism)
• Serve as a resource/referral to services offered in the community/other churches (Evangelism)

Develop wedding ministry targeted to couples married at BACC

• Follow-up with couples married at BACC at regular intervals (Evangelism)
• Hold special events for couples married at BACC (Evangelism)

Increase communication as a means of outreach

• Provide broader ministry to non-church members (Evangelism)
• Web presence, communicate via email (Evangelism and Membership