If you have been part of an organization that is intentional about goal setting, I am sure you are familiar with SMART goals.
SMART goals were developed by George Doran, Arthur Miller, and James Cunningham in the 1981 article, “There’s a S.M.A.R.T. way to write management goals and objectives." The premise of the article is that goals should be the following:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Attainable
- Realistic
- Timely
I used this framework for many years. More times than not, it has been a productive goal-setting method.
SMART Goals For Your Church
I want to share a new set of terms that form the acronym SMART. This is more than a play on words. We changed our outward-facing company name to Smart Church Solutions a couple of years ago. The name derived from our intention of setting a language for how we believe facility stewards should function and approach what God has entrusted them with. Below are the SMART goals we live by and that we recommend for your church.
Stewardship
Stewardship is the crux — our bread and butter. We believe everything on Earth belongs to God. And we believe God has entrusted church facilities to steward — or take care of — God’s gifts. SMART Church Facility Management is facility stewardship; it is a heart posture to embrace all God has given us, including our ministry and the financial decision-making behind the curtains.
Mindset
If stewardship is a heart matter, then that also needs to translate into our minds and mindset. What we refer to as “heart” is generally related to emotions. But the fulfillment of these emotions requires our mind to engage in harmony with our feelings. It involves planning, evaluation, facing reality, and implementation.
Accountable
If you have been entrusted with something, then you are now responsible and in charge of the care and wellbeing of the item. While being accountable has serious ramifications, this should not be seen as a burden or a hardship. Instead, it is an honor.
Relentless
As I think of the role of a facility steward, I also think of words such as determined, dogged, unrelenting, tenacious, and unyielding. These are all words that lead us back to the need to be relentless in our pursuit of being a steward.
Team
I believe carrying the mantle of facility stewardship is best done as a team. These teams may take on different forms and members as you proceed. In some cases, the team may consist of multiple people maintaining and caring for the facility at a paid staff level. Other teams may be composed of volunteers. And for others, it may include facility staff, a business administrator, and a finance committee. Regardless of the makeup, the best functioning teams are all pulling in the same direction. They have all embraced the need and responsibility to steward what God has entrusted to them.
In Conclusion
My hope and prayer are that you and your church will embrace the philosophy of being a SMART church that is committed to these principles. For additional resources, we recommend hearing from other facility stewards in the industry. Join our Church Facility Management Solutions Facebook group to make sure you stay on top of industry trends and how church leaders face them.
ONWARD!
