Insightful long range planning is a necessary tool for effective stewardship of any organization's resources. In recognition of this, in the fall of 2000, the Vestry and Clergy here at Saint James' began discussing how to implement a long range planning process. In January of 2001, the Vestry and leaders of various communities within both Saint James' Church and Academy met during the annual vestry retreat to receive and review the input of a PERCEPT study of our ministry area. PERCEPT is a company that specializes in customized demographic analyses. The information obtained from such a study is very helpful for planning purposes, as it reveals trends in population characteristics, such as age, housing, education, growth rates, children, work patterns, and other characteristics. Each of these characteristics can also be compared to the national data supplied by PERCEPT.

Briefly, the demographic results indicated that our 100 square mile study included about 21,000 residents, of which 4.5% claim to be Episcopalian, which is well above the national average. The residents of our area are mainly affluent, white, well-educated, family oriented, white collar, and homeowners. Our study area has experienced significant growth in population in the last decade, but the growth rate in the future will decline rapidly. The number of persons per household is declining as children move away, and the average age of the remaining population is increasing. Housing is difficult for young, first-time buyers, and the number of school-age children is expected to decline over the next few years. About half of employed residents report spending between 30 and 59 minutes traveling to and from work each day. About 34% of the people in our study area feel that they are strongly involved in their faith, which is slightly less than the national average, while just over 35% say they are not involved at all. Giving to religious institutions is less than average.

A significant portion of the PERCEPT data reviewed at the Vestry retreat in January pertained to understanding the concerns of area residents. Major concerns expressed by residents in our local study area include:

• dealing with stress
• financial worries
• personal health
• care for aging parents
• quality schools and education for children
• maintaining a healthy marriage
• career development
• parenting skills
• finding a direction for life

Although this study was primarily secular in focus, this information served as a useful starting point for considering what impact these trends may have on Saint James in the future. However, a number of additional issues not raised in the PERCEPT study were also discussed at the Vestry retreat and subsequent meetings of the Long Range Planning Committee. These included the following:

• the importance of Social Ministries Outreach
• the retention of members
• youth ministries
• adult and youth Christian education
• educational ministry of Saint James' Academy
• worship and music
• church traditions
• pastoral care
• work with the elderly
• theology of stewardship

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B. Comments and Expectations from the Parish

As a follow-up to this study, parish members here at Saint James were asked for their input about long range hopes and dreams for our church. A questionnaire was mailed to parish members, and ideas were solicited as part of the Annual Parish Meeting, held in April, 2001. The Long Range Planning Community spent considerable time reviewing the comments and suggestions received. These comments included general overall feedback about the current and future direction and focus of Saint James, as well as ideas for specific areas of ministry within Saint James. These areas included Youth, Social Ministries, Adult and Youth Education, Seniors, Worship, Grounds and Facilities, Membership, Spirituality, and Building Community within Saint James. Specific ideas for immediate implementation were referred to the appropriate communities within Saint James.

General comments about Saint James ranged from asking that Saint James carefully consider any additional expansion of our ministries, to gratitude for the changes and improvements of the last decade. We were asked to not be afraid of the changes God may want us to make, while being reminded of the importance of the stability of Saint James. Comments for Youth were primarily focused on teens and young adults, and ways to keep this age group involved in the Church, especially after the completion of the confirmation class. Social Ministries comments were positive, with suggestions for supporting outreach opportunities in our own area, as well as supportive of our existing efforts in Baltimore City, Caroline Center, expanding outreach opportunities for Academy students, and a strong sense of continuing to help those who don't have the opportunities we have.

Comments about Education emphasized the importance of continuing to support Adult Christian education, nurturing new programs for family and youth, making speakers available on topics such as drug use, aging parents, parenting, and stress management, and a request that pilgrimages continue to be offered. Many comments were received on the subject of care for Seniors, including establishing a relationship and/or support for a long-term care facility in our area, the value of a Parish nurse to coordinate pastoral care and physical care, the inclusion of seniors as volunteers for social ministries, the potential for a Senior Center at Saint James, and the importance of pastoral care for our aging community.

Worship comments were primarily concerned with the importance of maintaining the traditions of our worship services, including structure and music. Grounds and Facilities comments were recommendations to compensate temporary office help during peak times, the desire for no further new construction, and the need to continue to care for and maintain the integrity of our beautiful rural setting. Membership comments were concerned with the need to both retain current members by keeping them active in the Church, and to reach out to and welcome new members. Spiritual growth opportunities for both young and old were requested, including more retreats and small group Bible study. Requests were made to concentrate on 'upreach, not outreach', and to resist the urge to focus on monetary achievements. The final category of comments received from the parish questionnaire and Annual Meeting survey pertained to the need to continue to build a sense of community at Saint James, such as social activities for adults and children at Church, social gatherings especially for single parents, parenting classes, and increasing the number of volunteers available for the variety of on-going activities within Saint James.

Some of these ideas were referred to the Stewardship Community. These ideas were of such a nature that they require considerable analysis, planning, and funding and no decision could be made immediately with regard to possible implementation. The Stewardship Community, Long Range Planning Committee, and Vestry will evaluate these ideas on an ongoing basis. Some of the ideas presented for long range consideration: expanding outreach through the Academy to provide opportunities for community service for Academy students, organizing an occasional series of topical speakers on issues of current interest, developing programs to keep teenagers active at Saint James after they have completed confirmation class, improving access and information gathering to support pastoral care, senior mentoring with youth, exploration of new opportunities for spiritual growth for parishioners, and identifying resources for obtaining temporary office help during peak times. At the present time, these and other ideas are being evaluated by the Stewardship and Long Range Planning Communities at Saint James.

All of the information gathered from the PERCEPT study, the parish questionnaire, and the input from the Annual Meeting, is important in developing a timely and helpful guide to issues of long-range importance at Saint James. While specific suggestions have been made, and implemented where possible, a general impression of the totality of the feedback reveals a desire for the continued stability and security of Saint James side by side with a willingness to be part of the larger picture of our area. Support for balancing our resources to maintain Church traditions, care for existing members' needs, and reach out through Social Ministry opportunities seems to be the primary issues for current and future concerns, especially in light of demographic trends such as decreasing area growth rates and the aging of the area population.

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C. Anticipated issues and needs

• Help people in their search for a direction for life.
• Take note of Changing demographics.
• Broaden our understanding of our Places of Mission.
• Continue Faith Community development.
• Emphasize Evangelism, Hospitality, and Incorporation.
• Stay in touch.
• Worship and Faith Development is primary.
• Insure extensive Pastoral Care.
• Plan for Transitions.
• Institute a program for Planned Giving.
• Care for Clergy and Lay Volunteers and Leaders.

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II. Future priorities and areas of focus