A New Millennium of Service: Ministering to Ministers
A Strategic Vision Sees a Sunny Future for M. T. M. 2000-2003
The first six years of MTM have been remarkable in terms of the building of the ministry and the organization to support it. The "invention" of the Wellness Retreat for ministers and spouses has made a significant contribution to the previously limited practical resources offered to wounded church leaders.
This document is the result of the efforts of the planning team, along with input from the entire Board of Trustees.
Five Key Issues for the future of MTM were identified. They are:
1) Funding, 2) Leadership transitions, 3) New programs and projects, 4) Board development, and 5) Institutional relationships.
FUNDING - having sufficient financial and human resources to effectively fulfill the mission of MTM.
1. Produce at least
$50,000 a year in new money.
2. Have more of the retreats
held jointly with co-sponsoring groups (denominational groups or
institutions) who will help share the costs.
3. Add a part-time development
assistant to the MTM staff. This person would develop a multilevel
sponsorship system for donors of MTM.
4. Contract with an outside
person to do grant writing work.
5. Draft a letter to pastors
asking them to contribute from their church benevolent funds to give
financial help to persons needing MTM services.
6. Develop a deficit-spending
and debt management policy for the MTM Board.
7. Offer contracted MTM
services to denominations.
8. Secure "no-cost"
advisory services of expert consultants in the field of fund raising.
LEADERSHIP TRANSITION - helping prepare the way for smooth staff transitions.
1. By 2003, have the MTM
budget increased so that funds will be available for staff-related
expenses.
2. Adopt the following time
flow for staff transitions and additions:
2002 - add a full-time associate for the Executive Director.
2003 - add a full-time development director.
2004 - develop a staff position to work with terminated ministers in
helping them find new positions.
NEW PROGRAMS & PROJECTS - adding new services and ministries that continue to broaden what MTM has to offer.
1. Start a follow-up
retreat to the Wellness Retreat, designed for ministers who seek secular
employment.
2. Locate churches that will
accept terminated ministers and provide them a two- or three-year staff
position.
3. Network with other helping
agencies, and develop an emergency financial assistance program to help
persons needing basic food, housing or medical care.
4. Do research into what
denominations are and are not doing about terminated ministers.
BOARD DEVELOPMENT - continue to strengthen the Board with a balance of persons having personal experience, financial means or professional expertise.
1. Restructure the
sub-committees to make them more "purpose-driven."
2. Activate the committee on
trustees to develop the Board with persons of "wisdom, work and wealth."
3. Find "celebrity" spokespersons for MTM.
4. By 2003, create the
following proportions on Board make-up;
1/3 - ministers who have been through a forced termination or conflicted
church relationship.
1/3 - persons who have professional skills, and can provide in-kind
services.
1/3 - persons to give or obtain substantial giving for MTM ministries.
INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS - developing more and stronger ties to denominational, educational and para-church groups.
1. Sponsor informational
seminars for denominational leaders and key seminary professors.
2. Have denominational leaders
participate in Wellness Retreats.
3. Develop a list of the key
people and position titles in various denominational agencies.
4. Offer the services of
qualified MTM leaders to provide lectures at seminaries.