New Mission & Vision Statements
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Dear First Pres family and friends:
In the last 8 months, since our return from sabbatical, we and the church leadership have been intentionally discussing the role of First Pres as we, along with the country, emerge from the pandemic. Central to this has been discussing what God is calling us to be and do in this particular place and time.
Session
- discussed the importance of creating new statements reflective of this important time in our history.
- identified the definitions of and differences between mission and vision statements:
- A church mission statement states what we are here to do. It is our purpose. It’s what we do now and value now.
- A church vision statement tells where we are going; something we’d like to bring about in the future.
- reviewed First Pres’ previous and current mission statements and tag lines.
- explored various words and phrases.
- charged a small group of session members with proposing to session short and easily understood statements related to First Pres’ mission and vision.
Growing out of this discernment, Session adopted a new Mission Statement and a new Vision Statement at its April 18 meeting.
FPC Mission Statement, 2023
First Presbyterian Church is a community for all people where apprentices of Jesus seek to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God.
FPC Vision Statement, 2023
We are called by God to envision and work toward eradicating systemic poverty, eliminating structural racism and sharing the experience of the good news of God’s love, peace and joy.
The mission statement tells the reader that we are first and foremost a community (not a building), and we wish to convey that our congregation is welcoming of all. As apprentices, we are with Jesus, learn to become like Jesus and to do what Jesus did. We are a community that carries out the vision of Micah 6:8, where the prophet tells the people to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God. The session appreciated the central place of justice work to the First Pres congregation, the increasing value of kindness, and the value of humility-based wisdom and spirituality. All three of these are central to who we are as a congregation.
The vision statement tells the reader that this is what we are working toward. The statement affirms the three areas of work we agreed to in becoming a Matthew 25 Church: to work to eradicate systemic poverty, to eliminate structural racism and to be a vital congregation – the kind that celebrates the good news of God’s love, peace and joy.
We hope you can attend the Adult Education Class this Sunday, May 14, 9:15-10:15 – in the Rose Room and via zoom where Miriam will be facilitating a discussion of these new statements. Other Session members will be there as well. You will begin to see these statements appear on FPC literature in the days ahead as they guide us to be whom God is calling us.
Grace and peace to you all,
Miriam (she/her) and Glenn (he/him)
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