2024 Strategic Plan Report

2024 Strategic Plan Report Published in May 2025

Table of Contents p 3. Message from our Rector and Senior Warden p 4. Our Parish Community by the Numbers p 5. A Look at Who We Are p 6. 2024 Strategic Plan Objective & Goal Results p 10. Join us on our Mission

Strategic Plan Vestry Commissioners: Price Peacock & Hunter Rittenberry Lucy Owens, Communications Associate Abby Huber, Congregational Life Associate/Assistant to the Rector

2024 STRATEGIC PLAN REPORT

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A Message from our Rector and Senior Warden Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church is a cornerstone of Midtown Memphis, Tennessee.

Since 1940, people from varying backgrounds, faiths, and beliefs have been actively choosing to spend their time within our parish walls and as a member of our community, seeking and receiving hope, belonging, and healing through our worship, music, formation, pastoral care, outreach, justice, recreation and wellness, and fellowship offerings.

What makes our community even more unique is our rich connection with Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal School, a coed, independent school that has been operating alongside our parish at the corner of Peabody Avenue and Belvedere Boulevard, in the historic Central Gardens neighborhood, since 1947. More than 400 girls and boys, ranging from 18-months to those in 8th grade, become creative problem solvers, confident lifelong learners, and responsible citizens in our local and global communities because of their shared experiences at both Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal School and Church.

To continue forwarding our mission and vision, in May of 2023, members of our Vestry, the lay spiritual leadership council and governing body of the parish, engaged Katie Spencer, a consultant from Zip Line Consulting, and used advisement from consultants of The College of Congregational Development, to facilitate the process of developing a five-year strategic plan. This was one of the Vestry’s 2023 goals to undertake with the support of the church parish, staff, and clergy. By thoughtfully reflecting on our past and present ministry and recognizing that a strategic plan would enable us to be a healthier and vital Christian community for generations to come, the Vestry presented strategic plan objectives and strategies that were approved at the December 2023 annual parish meeting.

2024 STRATEGIC PLAN REPORT

The year of 2024, through the leadership of Strategic Plan Vestry Commissioner, Price Peacock, collaborating with Congregational Life Associate and Assistant to the Rector, Abby Huber, was spent outlining, measuring, and beginning to deliver upon goals and tactics that would enable the strategic plan to reach full potential.

This 2024 Strategic Plan Report, a first of its kind for Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, will offer you a look at our assessment of and participation in all parish program areas. As you read through these pages, we encourage you to think about what Grace-St. Luke’s means to you and the role that you can play in supporting the strategic plan work – both inside and outside of our parish walls.

Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church is committed to being the best stewards possible of our resources, and we hope that you choose to share your time, talent, and financial gifts with us. Our shared ministry will help countless more people to be restored and walk by faith with God and one another as we journey together in life.

Godspeed, Ollie+ and Matt

The Rev. Ollie V. Rencher, Rector

Matt Sights, Senior Warden

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Our Parish Community in 2024 790 Total Members 225 Average # of attendees at Sunday morning and evening regular and special worship offerings 864 People have participated in outreach ministry activities

543 People who have participated in justice ministry activities 257 People have attended at least 1 fellowship event $1,301,887.04* pledged for 2025 *These numbers are based on data pulled on April 30, 2025.

2024 STRATEGIC PLAN REPORT

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A Look at Who We Are

2024 STRATEGIC PLAN REPORT

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2024 Strategic Plan Objective & Goal Results Objective 1: Foster congregational care, engagement, and connections with one another and God Strategy 1.1 Create an environment of caring for one another and meaningful offerings that build relationships and improve community Goal

2024 Goals

2024 Results

10% of adults, youth, and children participate in at least 1 fellowship event annually

96.7 (10% of total number of adult, youth, and children in the parish)

257 individuals have attended a fellowship event this year (Q1Q4 combined)

Offer conversations and ways to learn of parishioner feelings of belonging and opportunities for improvement

Schedule at least two 60-minute events for facilitated conversation

No Related Events Yet

Improve pastoral care support to individuals and households by clergy and dedicated lay ministry teams

2024 Goal Not Specifically Defined

2.07 in Q4 (60% increase over Q1); YTD average is 1.93 (50% increase over baseline)

Revamp communication efforts to better inform parishioners of what is offered and 2024 Goal Not Specifically Defined deepen connection with the parish community

2024 STRATEGIC PLAN REPORT

Ads placed in 2024: Memphis Flyer, Daily Memphian, and the Commercial Appeal for Marcella Simien, Lessons & Carols, Christmas Services We also ran Facebook ads for the McCain Duo Concert, Palm Sunday, Holy Week, David Briggs Concert, and Marcella Simien with a Reach of 57, 937 and Impressions of 88,558 Website Statistics: 34,316 Sessions, 25802 Users, 64012 Views In August 2024, we were approved for a Google Non Profit Ad account, which allows us up to $10,000 in ads a month, although we have limited view because we are a religious organization. We had 1.2K clicks, 11.6k Impressions, an average CPC of $8.53, CTR of 10.36% and a cost of $10.2k Online Worship service viewers in 2024: Facebook: 13.2; YouTube: 7.44; Vimeo 4.27 In 2024, 91,790 total eblasts were delivered to parishioners, visitors, and other subscribed members' inboxes with an average open rate of 51% At the end of 2024, GSL had a total of 2.7k Facebook Likes and 3.1k Facebook Followers; 465 YouTube Subscribers, and 5,362 Instagram Followers

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Objective 1: Foster congregational care, engagement, and connections with one another and God Strategy 1.1 Create an environment of caring for one another and meaningful offerings that build relationships and improve community Goal

2024 Goal

2024 Goal: Lower overall number of Prospects in Realm (convert to Connect with and proactively retain members); increase percentage of newcomers in efforts focused ultimately on visitors who become members on a membership yearly basis; Membership within a year of visit Ensure buildings and grounds are welcoming and easily accessible for persons of all mobility levels

2024 Goal Not Specifically Defined

2024 Results Prospects: 259 Newcomers/Visitors: 18 Members from that group: 2 Added to Realm Jan-Dec: 223 Became members Jan-Dec: 29 Total replacement of the nave sound system and installation of assisted listening system

Strategy 1.2 Create spiritual formation and learning offerings to support individual discipleship and faith journeys Goal

2024 / 2025 Goals

2024 Results

2024 Goal: Track attendance to keep 10% of active all-age members engaged

Sunday Weekly Formation (Winter, Spring, Fall): Adults (25); Youth (5); Children (4); Children's Chapel (17); Nursery (12); Special Events, Youth-Children (30). This data was not consistently tracked; numbers are estimates

Increase Sunday youth participation in worship, formation offerings (Sunday morning and EYC), and liturgical roles by the end of 2024

2024 Goal: Review 2023 participation and increase through relationship-building and creativity

Youth and youth families engagement opportunities are being explored

Create continuity among programs and progressive learning paths for different constituent groups

2025 Goal To Be Determined

Not Applicable

Develop learning opportunities that appeal to broad external audience of seekers, lifelong learners, and those self-identifying as "spiritual versus religious"

2025 Goal To Be Determined

Not Applicable

Maintain 10% of adult, youth, and child participation in Sunday and weekday formation annually

Strategy 1.3 Maintain and enrich worship offerings to appeal to a wide spectrum of adults, youth, and children Goal

2024 /2025 Goals

Increase in-person worship attendance by 10% by the end of 2024

2024 Goal: 285 (average Sunday worship attendees)

Increase worship participation among households with children and youth by 5%

by EOY 2024

2024 Goal: 5% increase by end of 2024

Enhance virtual worship, music, and formation offerings to appeal to wide online less-traditional audience who can benefit 2025 Goal To Be Determined from richness of events and connect with God and the parish

2024 STRATEGIC PLAN REPORT

2024 Results 225 attendees at Sunday morning and evening regular and special worship offerings Adding youth & children counts to usher 10:30 attendance sheets has not been successful, only counted twice OctDec** need to reference Children's Chapel attendance; youth average: 12.5; children average: 16.5

Not Applicable

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Objective 2: Serve as a beacon of hope, belonging, and healing for the community Strategy 2.1 Expand fellowship and nurture meaningful connections with our parish school community Goal

2024 Goal

2024 Results

Improve school awareness of church activities to increase participation by interested community members

2024 Goal Not Specifically Defined

Youth and family-friend events hosted by the church were promoted in the school's weekly email newsletter

Host fellowship, worship, and community engagement (outreach, justice) events that bring church and school community together

2024 Goal Not Specifically Defined

School 5th Grade Class Food Pantry Food Drive (25 students). School and church leadership discussed future plans for school family participation in church community engagement ministry through volunteerism with More Than A Meal, Food Pantry, Room In The Inn, and gardening

Revisit 2007 official church-school agreement to expand partnership

Make appropriate adjustments mindful of operational changes between both institutions and create ways to better engage school families in church life

Church and School plan to discuss and adjust in 2025

Strategy 2.2 Celebrate and establish ways to better understand the differences in the beauty of the whole human family Goal

2024 / 2025 Goals

2024 Results

Unpack meaning and importance of values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB)

2024 Goal Not Specifically Defined

Vestry, clergy, staff, and parishioners to prioritize in 2025

Maintain a welcoming atmosphere and experience, attracting visitors and a more diverse representation of the greater Memphis community

2024 Goal: Implement "Invite, Welcome, Connect" Program to organize efforts

Conversations had between clergy, staff, and lay leaders to initiate program

Increase racially/ethnically diverse populations within our parish

2024 Goal Not Specifically Defined

Not Applicable

Build connections among BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) Episcopalians and non-Episcopalians in Memphis area

2024 Goal Not Specifically Defined

Not Applicable

Strategy 2.3 Expand internal and external outreach and justice initiatives and partnerships with the wider community Goal

2024 Goal

Increase parishioner participation in outreach ministry activities by 10% by EOY 2024

Further parishioner participation in justice ministry activites by 10% by the end of 2024

2024 Results

2024 Goal Not Specifically Defined

More Than A Meal parishioner participants: 384 Outreach meeting parishioner participants: 40 Food Pantry cook team parishioner participants: 300 Food Pantry food drive participants: 48 Room In The Inn parishioner participants: 60 Grant Partner parishioner participants: 12

2024 Goal Not Specifically Defined

History team parishioner participants: 47 Justice meetings / gatherings: 143 MICAH core meetings: 56 MICAH Issues Night parishioner participants: 32 MICAH events: 37 Sacred Ground participants: 66 Pilgrimage participants: 11 Sunday Forum parishioner participants: 40 Braver Angels parishioner participants: 52 Courageous Conversations parishioner participants: 34 Labyrinth parishioner participants: 25

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Objective 3: Sustain and care for our sacred resources Strategy 3.1 Foster clergy, staff, and lay ministry structure and culture to faciliate achieving strategic goals Goal Nurture a supportive, aligned and collaborative culture among staff and clergy with vestry Establish mutual accountability process and clear responsibilities among staff, clergy, and vestry Increase parish commitments to time, talent, and money giving

2024 Goal

2024 Results

2024 Goal Not Specifically Defined

Vestry gathered with clergy-staff team to review strategic plan and increase shared leadership of it

2024 Goal Not Determined

Not Applicable

Enhance approach to Stewardship Campaign of Fall 2024-Winter 2025

See quarterly update below

Strategy 3.2 Nurture the long-term wellbeing of our facilities and campus Goal

2024 / 2025 Goals

Co-create campus use plan with the School, including the creation of Escrow fund to share expenses for major repairs and maintenance

2024 Results

2024 Goal: Make appropriate adjustments mindful of operational changes between both institutions Not Applicable; moved to 2025 including church expenses increased since 2007 and need for shared Escrow

Ensure facilities (buildings and grounds ) are well-maintained

Facilities Manager and Building & Grounds to collaborate more

Part-time facilities assistants are hired to assist

Invest in future financial sustainability and creative use of campus facilities

2025 Goal Not Determined

Not Applicable

Strategy 3.3 Maintain a high level of financial stewardship and the giving of time and talent to support the mission and vision Goal

2024 Goal

955 total active baptized members Grow membership and prospects by 5% by by EOY 2024; increase in the end of 2024 prospects/visitors

Increase congregrational giving by 5% by the end of 2024 Maintain high standards for sound financial stewardship, push 100% participation in pledging, alms, and resource sustainability focus

$1,456,096

2024 Goal Not Specifically Defined

2024 STRATEGIC PLAN REPORT

2024 Results Newcomers/Visitors in Q4: 18 New Members in Q4: 7 Total Members: 790 Total Prospects: 259 As of April 30, 2025, 223 households pledged to give $1,301,887.04 in 2025 and alms received are $22,332.45 as of March 31

Not Available

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Join us on our Mission Worship

No matter which worship time or format you choose, your regular service attendance invites intentional opportunities for us to connect, be fed by Word and Sacrament, thank God for blessings known and unknown, and be restored for what lies ahead.

JOIN US ON SUNDAY

Volunteer

Serve alongside fellow parishioners to deliver upon our mission in the community.

EXPLORE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Give Financially

From reoccurring to one-time, our gift of financial support is essential to our ongoing parish ministries and operations.

GIVE A FINANCIAL GIFT

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BE SURE TO JOIN US FOR 2025 Celebration of Pentecost Sunday, June 8 9:15-9:45 a.m.

Breakfast by the Crossmen & Fellowship 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Nursery for infants through four-year-olds 10 a.m.

Holy Eucharist, Sermon, Children’s Chapel, and Choir In person and gracestlukes.org/live 11:15 a.m.

Pentecost Picnic with live music on the Lemaster Street Turf 5 p.m.

Contemplative Eucharist

gracestlukes.org/pentecost and visit gracestlukes.org/summer for summer worship and more

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1720 Peabody Avenue Memphis, Tennessee 38104-6124 901-272-7425 gracestlukes.org Clergy and Staff Contacts gracestlukes.org/clergy-and-staff Grace-St. Luke’s Vision is to be a thriving community of hope, belonging, and healing through worship, parish life, and service, and who rejoices in the love of Jesus to transform the world.