The following Vision and Mission statements and Guiding Principles, as recommended by the Strategic Planning Committee and the Congregation Council and as presented in the letter to the members of the congregation dated February 13, 2009, were adopted by the congregation at a special congregational meeting held on March 1, 2009 following the publication of draft statements, input from the congregation and revisions by the Strategic Planning Committee based on that input:

VISION

 Disciples in the Making, Making Disciples

 MISSION

Called by the Holy Spirit to be Christ’s Disciples, we seek to equip ourselves and others to live like Christ, and to be sent into the world proclaiming and living the Good News as daily witnesses of God’s transforming love.

 GUIDING PRINCIPLES

 While remaining true to our Reformation heritage that forgiveness and salvation are gifts to us through God’s grace alone, and all good works are our thankful response to that grace through the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we uphold the following as pathways to accomplish our mission:

• We will provide inspiring worship services, offering a variety of opportunities to experience God’s grace through Word and Sacrament.
• We will develop loving relationships with our sisters and brothers in this church family, as well as within our own families, and will practice genuine hospitality to those who differ from us.
• We will create small groups where a sense of belonging in community is nurtured through fellowship, and where spiritual growth occurs through Bible study, faith conversation, and prayer.
• We will establish a gift-based ministry that helps individuals identify, develop, and share their spiritual gifts and talents.
• We will implement a need-oriented evangelism and social ministry that is both concerned with—and uses our resources to meet—the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of our local and global neighbors.
• We will foster an atmosphere of passionate spirituality that encourages each of us to live out our faith with commitment, fire, and enthusiasm.
• We will use a leadership model that empowers, supports, motivates, and mentors individuals to be all God wants them to be.
• We will build effective structures, adapting to changing needs and new ideas as we continually discern God’s will for us in this place.
• We will commit ourselves to practice stewardship of the earth, time, talent, and treasure.
• We will work for justice and peace in our community and in our world.

Trinity Lutheran Church began a strategic planning process to help set our direction into the future.  Members of the congregation, as individuals or as part of group brainstorming sessions in committee meetings and other group meetings, were invited to respond to six questions:
1. Think back over our congregation's history.  What things have happened that have contributed notably to God's dream for this place?
2. Who are the people within the congregation that we are not presently reaching?
3. Who are the people outside the congregation that we are not presently reaching?
4. What are Trinity's strengths?
5. What are Trinity's weaknesses?
6. If God has His way with Trinity over the next 5 years, what would be different?

The results of all of the responses were tabulated and presented at a workshop held on May 31, 2008, to which all members of the congregation were invited.  Follow this link to view the summary that was presented at the workshop.   Guided by the Strategic Planning Committee and with the assistance of the Rev. David Fisher, staff resource person from the Lower Susquehanna Synod, workshop participants provided some of their visions for the future ministry of Trinity Lutheran Church.  Using visions expressed, the Strategic Planning Committee developed a draft VISION STATEMENT, "Disciples in the Making, Making Disciples", that became the foundation for the development of the draft mission statement and guiding principles.

The August 2008 Trinity Parish article entitled Disciples in the Making, Making Disciples by Strategic Planning Task Force Co-chair, Douglas Bonsall, provides a summary of the history of our strategic planning process and the expected outcomes for the process.  The Origins of Trinity's Vision, Mission, and Guiding Principles whitepaper provides a more definitive description of the history and process of our Trinity's strategic planning initiative.