Our strategic plan has grown out of our vision and includes the actions that are needed in order to allow us to make the vision real.

This plan does not cover (or even mention) every area of church life at Ascension. Why? Many strategic plan documents are thick tomes occupying impressive amounts of shelf space. As we prayerfully considered the desired outcome of this process, we hoped to produce not simply a document but rather significant growth as a parish in obedience to God. A recurring theme throughout all stages of the strategic planning process has been the startling busyness faced by Ascensionites. Parts of the plan focus on reducing that busyness or challenging its place in our personal and spiritual lives. The antidote to being overwhelmed by opportunity and possibility is focus. Aristotle said, “What lies in our power to do, lies in our power not to do. We have not found much that the church has been doing that we propose “not to do”. We have, however, had to limit the goals and tactics recommended by the plan to those that will be catalytic to our growth and change as a parish.

A Plan that Refuels the "Mother Ship"

We have used the analogy that Ascension is like an aircraft carrier in discussions among vestry, staff and congregation. We often see people and programs rise up within Ascension and continue beyond our doors. God uses people powerfully in Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods, across the country and around the world. We rejoice when - like the jets that fly off a carrier – Ascensionites and our programs return to the deck from which they set off. If Ascension is a large ship, there is an engine room at its center. Worship is the engine that powers the ship. There are many areas of parish life that are sustaining strengths, including corporate worship, children’s ministry and our supporting of missionaries -- among others. We envision no neglect of these ministries; fuel will continue to be supplied to the engine, and energy will move throughout the congregation. We believe, in fact, that improving the other areas covered by the plan will in turn provide additional fuel for the great ship. As with any healthy organism, it is expected that those areas not mentioned will continue to grow and change. It is our hope that the plan, although not 100% comprehensive, is more possible to execute than one of those thick tome plans. And execution is key. We believe God is calling us to step out into deeper ministry in fulfillment of our vision.