Vision into Action

It's a well known fact that when all is said and done, there is an awful lot more said than done. However, the Diocese of Gambia have an excellent record in recent years of the implementation of dreams and vision into concrete action. This is seen clearly in the Bishop's Manual, printed for the Millennium, where positive steps are outlined, achievable targets set and implemented, and foundations are being laid to ensure that the See is in a healthy state by the year 2010.

Extract from the Bishop's Manual:

"Where there is no vision, the people perish" - PROVERBS 29:18

A vision must have a destination. This means that those involved, the 'vision community' and their leader, must know their targeted goals and their time frame. This is set out below:

A vision must have four particular qualities, if it is to be realized:

The ultimate result for the vision community is the empowerment of that community.

In the course, Management in Ministry, it is therefore underlined that in order for a vision to be created, owned and implemented, the following prerequisites are necessary for the process:

Vision: It must be central to the organization

Inspiring:  err on the side of too big, rather than too small 

                         (i.e. if you can do it, it  is not a vision)

Simple: need to be able to communicate the vision (i.e. short, crisp, communicable).

Involving: People must see potential for expressing their own vision under the corporate vision

Owned: by the vision community

Needed Now: a felt need by community and vision leader

With these in place, action can commence right away.

Biblical Perspectives of a Vision

Proverbs 29:18 relates a vision to cohesion and order in the community - recognizing the need for both leadership and vision. It goes without saying that, for this vision to be realized, the community must share in the formulation of the vision and the process towards its attainment. It is worth looking at the verse from Proverbs to give us deeper insight into its meaning:

"Where there is no vision the people perish"

1.    How many people are to be involved in the vision building process?

All members of the Church through representatives from peer groups, parishes, church organizations and community.

2.    How far ahead will we look?

Until 2010.

3.    What resources will be put into the process of building the vision?

Human and material resources as required for each step.

4.    How long will we spend on the process?

As the vision is to do with the holistic development of the Diocese, this will be an integral part of our mission and ministry. The specific role of the Bishop is in the body of this website. These specific activities should occupy 25 per cent of quality time for the Bishop.

5.    What will be the nature of our end product?

This is quantified as:

 

 

In conclusion, as we noted from Proverbs 29:18, the realization of vision required community ownership and leadership. As also noted, the vision, humanly speaking, can be seen as outside the scope of human achievement, and only achievable under God. Therefore, optimism in the community involved, the leadership and faith in God are crucial.

LEADERSHIP

Of course, within our context as Church, the inspiration, guidance and empowerment comes from God. In order for the vision to be realized, the community must be involved in all its stages - formulation, implementation, and evaluation. However, human leadership is also required. This leadership needs to be enabling and inspiring. If the vision is of God, human imperfections can be overcome and, at the end of the day, God will be glorified

MANAGEMENT

This is the skill of creating an environment that allows the individual to reach their full potential in pursuit of organizational objectives. At its best, effective management means getting from staff not only everything that manager has a right to expect, but everything they have to offer.

These skills and practices will be applied during this project, and mastered to the benefit of the Diocese.

The Vision for the years up to 2009.

In the mission and ministry of the Church in all sections of the Diocese:

"To strike a reasonable balance between Evangelism and Social Responsibility"

"under God, by the year 2009,"

The buildings for the Christian Education and Development Centre will be completed;

This Centre will embody the vision of the 'balance between evangelism and social responsibility'. It is to be sited at Banjulnding- where rural meets urban - the gateway to the provinces. The Centre will house the Development Office (AMDM) and also the Department for Christian Education (which, it is planned, would eventually develop into the School for Theology and Mission). There would also be a chapel, conference centre and hostel accommodation, together with staff accommodation. This would be the centre of activities for both Christian education and development; also a meeting centre for the Diocese; and a place which would generate income for its own sustainability.

All parishes will be undertaking a holistic and inclusive ministry;

every parish will have at least one income-generating project to support services offered;

humanpower/training needs for clerical,/lay ministry, Diocesan administrative and development staff addressed to ensure committed and enthusiastic implementers;

a formal Diocesan presence established  both in Senegal and in Cape Verde.