A friend of mine, Dr. Andrew Harewood, was once the pastor of one of the largest Seventh-day Adventists Churches in New York City–Ephesus in Harlem. Andrew attended Howard University School of Divinity studying under Dr. Cain Hope Felder. In the mid-90’s, Andrew introduced me Dr. Felder. He was very kind to me, he offered feedback on my book and invited me to sit alongside him at the Hampton Minister’s Conference bookstore as we sold our books. Not only that, sitting at the same table was the pastor of Canaan Baptist Church Dr. Wyatt T. Walker, and Civil Rights Activist Al Sharpton. That was a great day for me. I was hanging out with three giants of the black community– Cain Hope Felder, Wyatt T. Walker, and Al Sharpton. I was sitting next to the Reverend Al Sharpton! Regardless of how you feel about his approach you must admit that it’s pretty cool to have met Al Sharpton. Since that day I once attended a church service in my town at which he was preaching. Since that day I’ve seen him on television. Since that day, over 20 years ago, he has done some remarkable things. I was introduced to the Reverend Al Sharpton but I cannot say that I know him.

In the same way I was introduced to Al Sharpton over 20 years ago, I was also introduced to strategic planning over 20 years ago. Since that day I’ve read a lot about strategic planning. Since that day I’ve attended seminars about strategic planning. I’ve even attempted to lead my churches through, what I thought was, strategic planning. Over time I came to the realization that there is always more to learn about strategic planning. Which brings me to the first reason churches don’t do strategic planning.

1. Pastors and other church leaders don’t do strategic planning because they don’t know strategic planning. Most people have met strategic planning and may have even enjoyed its presence for a day or two. Sure, I was introduced to Al Sharpton, but I can’t walk up to him and say, “hey Al, let’s do lunch today!” When you don’t know something we either avoid it or reduce it to something more manageable for us. For instance, most pastors and church leaders believe that by publishing a calendar and a budget they have a strategic plan. A strategic plan is so much more than that. Strategic planning is an organizational management activity that is used to set priorities, focus energy and resources, strengthen operations, and ensure that stakeholders are working toward common goals. If we don’t know what it is we cannot understand its value.

2. Pastors and church leaders don’t do strategic planning because it’s difficult. Strategic planning produces a written document that is more than a calendar and a budget. It should include, among other things, a vision and mission statement that helps to provide clarity, and assist in the decision-making process. I remember the first time I invited my church to create a mission statement. We spent some time debating words, and came up with a neatly formatted document. We were so proud that we had a mission statement, but that’s all we had–a statement. To move beyond that requires real work! We like the idea of strategic planning, but we don’t want to do the work–it’s hard, it’s tedious, and time consuming. Putting in the time, however, is what will give your church true meaning in ministry.

3. Another reason we don’t like strategic planning is because it is a threat to the status quo. Strategic planning levels the playing field. With an authentic plan the decisions have meaning and the purposes go beyond the influencers rallying the votes for what they want. Strategic planning empowers to the entire body of believers and cuts through the bureaucracy and bad politics of the church. I had one church leader tell me that I was wasting people’s time with “this strategic planning stuff.” What he was really saying was that if I continued in this direction the little people would have a say in what happens in church. If your church is controlled by a small group of influencers, who make decisions based on their own agenda they will immediately see strategic planning a threat to their position of power and subtly sabotage the process.

After meeting with my new church, Cedars of Lebanon Seventh-day Adventist Church in Chesapeake, VA, I have a renewed passion for the strategic plan. I introduced strategic planning to them a few days ago and they were excited to meet her. Some have met her before, but they didn’t realize the power she could offer the church. They have expressed to me that they want to get to know her better. They want to move beyond the calendar, budget, and mission statement and find authentic meaning to the ministry we are called to do.

What has your experience been with strategic planning in church? How has it helped? Did this article give you new insight? Leave a comment below, I want to know if we can help each other take the church to new heights.