Formational Goals 2010-2011

Date: 03/04/11

Define your long-range and short-range goals. Even though you may not be certain about some of your goals, you need at least a tentative goal to guide some decisions you need to make. Based on your best understanding at this point, describe your short-range and long-range goals in ministry.

My short-range ministerial goals include:

• engaging in a more productive educational experience.
• learning to be a better teacher (especially growing pedagogically) to prepare me for a possible future in that arena
• having healthy living/working relationships with the St. Ann Community
• discovering and implementing my talents/gifts more fully
• developing relationships with people in the College Heights neighborhood
• developing a more complete vision for our ministry there and taking more concrete steps to implement that vision

Long-range goals for me at this point are:

• completing my education in a way that allows me to feel I’ve taken full advantage of all it has to offer
• being an adept teacher at the college and adult levels
• refining my writing (especially in the research/preparatory stages and the process of sound argumentation)
• being a part of a growing network of relationships within the St. Ann Community (inwardly, in College Heights, with Abilene organizations/individuals)
• living into a healthily balanced lifestyle of work, play, and relationships, with every aspect of life as worship

Most ministry positions have minimal standards. Some of the qualifications are academic; others reflect a person’s personality, giftedness, experience, and maturity. You need to learn the minimal requirements for your desired short-range and long-range goals. You can learn what they are by contacting ministries that employ persons in those roles. Describe below the normal requirements and qualifications for entry into the ministry positions you have designated in your short-range and long-range goals.

I’m not sure just how much the description above of “minimal standards” for a ministry position applies to some of the goals that I’ve set forth. So, while I’ll try below to address what will be required of me to reach my goals, it may not follow the above expectations perfectly. Overlapping short-term and long-term goals have been placed under the long-term category, though I will, of course, begin taking steps towards meeting those long-term goals in the short-term future.

short-range goals

healthier relationships with St. Ann Community — understanding of my own dispositions, strengths, and weaknesses and how they fit into the larger community; persistent dedication to community, despite its challenges; better enacted concern for and love toward community members; more robust communal life of worship and prayer

discovery/implementation of gifts and talents — attention to what I enjoy and excel at; feedback from others about what I am doing well and what potential they see in me; willingness to try new things; acceptance of and improvement because of critique

developing relationships in College Heights — less busyness; time set aside specifically for the purpose of this relational ministry (easier once we’re living there, as of summer 2011); vulnerability to others; giving and receiving hospitality; humility; unhurried attitude

more complete vision for ministry in College Heights; concrete steps in place to approach that vision — time set aside with St. Ann Community (and others involved) to discuss and pray; more developed relationships with the people of College Heights as described above; research in the vein of CCDA and asset-based community development (ABCD); tangible progress toward non-profit formation

long-range goals

productive and fulfilling educational experience — more focused attention given to my goals (by semester, week, day); further development of relationships within the ACU community; greater harmony between my classroom and ministerial goals, pursuits, and experiences

being a more skilled teacher — taking advantage of opportunities to teach; gathering feedback from students and skilled teachers about my performance; seeking out pedagogical training; developing a knowledge base that will allow for more in-depth teaching; more focus and time dedicated to constructing lesson plans to fit in with the overarching goals

better writing process and products — discipline: more focus and energy dedicated to the entire writing process rather than just the final product; time set aside to develop writing projects gradually; further development of critical thinking skills; seeking feedback from others about my writing and making improvements based upon that feedback (preferably before any due dates)

growing relationships and ministry with St. Ann Community — foundational relationships and vision in place (as described above); transition from focus on school to focus on ministry (though aspects of both may be present); implementation of CCDA principles and ABCD; development of St. Ann hospital property and Miller Talbot farming land as God leads us

healthily balanced lifestyle — most importantly, an acceptance of limitation and weakness in myself; further development of current friendships and mentoring relationships; more investment in (or at least less cynicism and frustration towards) church; guilt-free time given to hobbies and relaxation; healthy boundaries on time spent working