B. Changing Demographics: Property values and growing restrictions on construction make housing limited and expensive, so the children go elsewhere to have their own children. This means there will be an increase in households with older adults and somewhat fewer children. This means we need to be intentional about inviting families with children into our church and school from areas with growing populations of school age families. We have a generation "Y" (Echo-Boomers), born 1977 - 1994, who are the first predominately unchurched generation. Many seek a spiritual life, but hold the church irrelevant. The church has much to offer them, but they do not know it. We also need to take care to insure our older members do not become isolate in their houses. We have a growing number of members in retirement villages and need to have a presence for them there.

C. Places of Mission: We need to balance our mission between our congregation, community, the Academy, and the world. This includes cementing in myriad ways our strong relationship with our Academy and also the establishment of bonds and outreach with other groups of people in our area, such as we have with the Elkridge-Harford Hunt and Ladeau Gardens. We should empower and focus our social ministries efforts so they will not become diffuse and loose impact.

D. Community Development: Continue to build a strong faith-based community where each person can discover a real sense of belonging. We do this by communication, opportunities for fellowship, and by creating a system where there is a place for everyone to serve and be appreciated. We do this through our Anglican style of worship, which includes us all and connects us all with the power and challenges of God.

E. Evangelism, Hospitality, and Incorporation of New Members: We must be seen as a congregation which welcomes, nourishes, and incorporates new members as well as stays in touch with current members so they will remain active. Perhaps we should give more recognition to new members and do more to incorporate them into the worship and ministry of Saint James. How do we attract and retain teens and young adults? Perhaps we need to investigate an intermediary seeker worship opportunity which is accessible to them but leads them into the Anglican tradition of classical worship as the core of who we are. Perhaps we need to talk with individuals and groups outside the church to see. We should provide child care for all church worship and programs.

F. Staying in touch: How do we effectively communicate, listening and responding appropriately in all of our places of mission without creating "data fog." What is the appropriate use of technology in this effort? How much is people to people? How much e-mail, notes, web based? How do we communicate with our target in each case and not to people who are already overloaded with stuff. How do we expand our public presence?

G. Worship and Faith Development: How do we provide a lifelong continuity of Faith Development through Baptism, incorporation, teaching, preaching, and worship? How do we incorporate a theology and practice of stewardship into our lifelong plan for Faith Development? Little of this works without good stewardship practices in this congregation. We must continue to develop a system of quality Christian Education across all ages in our church and school. How do tell the unchurched who we are and bring them into our style of worship, which is the center of our life?

H. Pastoral Care: How do we insure excellent pastoral care for our members through both clergy and lay pastoral care givers, with special emphasis on attending the elderly who might otherwise become isolated? How do we support families in the "sandwich" generation? How do we support people in their marriage and family life? How might we follow teens into their college experience.

I. Transitions: How do we prepare our community and leadership for transitions, such as a succession of clergy and lay leadership? We should attempt to retain a balance of age among our clergy. We could contact the Bishop ahead of time to learn what is involved in a search so we can have confidence in the process. How do we plan for the unplanned with openness and discernment?

J. Planned Giving: We should learn to seek planned gifts and bequests for capital needs and endowment.

K. Care of Clergy and Volunteer Leadership: We must support and show appreciation for the strong work ethic of our current clergy and insure that they care for themselves with restorative time off, continuing education, and sabbaticals. Lay Leaders should be properly selected, prepared, commissioned, appreciated, and thanked at the end of their term. We must not burn out our lay volunteers. To do this we need more people involved. How do we do that?

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III. Our Ministries