Holiness. We recognize an intimate relationship between personal and social holiness. While not specifically mentioning a personal holiness priority, this entire plan is designed to facilitate the journey of personal and social holiness for ourselves and others in God’s plan of salvation.  Specifically, new faith communities and discipleship groups reach new people, who haven’t yet experienced the love of Jesus Christ.  Defined discipleship and leadership processes help new and existing participants deepen in faith and ministry.  Social holiness puts faith into action and provides opportunities to grow in personal holiness.

Revitalization.  We recognize many of our churches struggle to be vital. While we are aware that there is no formula that guarantees revitalization, we believe faithful implementation of this plan creates fertile opportunity for revitalization to begin. Attention to these priorities aligns our work with the key drivers of vitality identified by the United Methodist Call to Action, including effective pastoral leadership, multiple small groups and programs for children and youth, and a high percentage of spiritually engaged laity who assume leadership roles.

Effective. The Strategic Direction lists several action items that, when implemented, opens us to the movement of the Holy Spirit and enables us to faithfully strive toward the building of God’s reign among us. We intentionally chose the word “effective” to clearly communicate the need to accomplish these action items and to hold ourselves accountable to them.

Culturally-Competent. Cultural-competence is a developmental process of becoming more effective at interaction with other cultures, including: self-awareness of one’s own culture, knowledge of and openness toward cultural differences, and skill development in cross-cultural communication.