Redeemer Vision Process
What is the Redeemer Vision Process?
Redeemer’s Presidium has gathered a group of leaders to help Redeemer identify a vision and multi-year strategic plan. Redeemer will be working with consultant Leah Abel, an experienced meeting facilitator and project manager with a focus on ministry initiatives and events. Leah will be working with Redeemer to seek clarity for our future and document a plan for moving to our goals. Find out more about this process and read updates below.
Who is involved in this process?
The Redeemer Vision Team is comprised of elected board members from across the congregation. These people represent the boards they serve and the congregation at large.
Pictured here: Row 3 (l-r) Pastor Kevin Westergren - Senior Pastor, Dave Glienke – School Board, Pastor Michael Knippa – Congregational Pastor, Angie Schiller – Head of School; Row 2 (l-r) BJ Boehmer – Asset Board, Steve Knowles – Elders, Kaitlyn Backhaus – Family Life; Row 1 (l-r) Dave Devore – Missions Board, Elizabeth Ashbaugh-Cisneros – Member-at-Large, Brian Evans – Presidium, Darryl Kelinske – Member-at-Large, Ben Price, Congregational President (Not pictured - Dr. Jocelly Meiners and Johnny Humphreys).
When will this process take place?
The Vision Process as outlined should take roughly 6-9 Months.
Phase One – Who is Redeemer?
August 2025 – Vision Team Launch
Congregational survey goes out
September 2025 – School survey goes out
September - November – Vision Team Meetings
October – School and Congregational Staff Feedback session *
November - Congregational Member Feedback Session
Phase Two – Vision Plan
With clarity solidified about WHO Redeemer is and how it lives out its identity through Mission, Values, Strategy, and Outcomes, the Vision Team will turn it’s attention toward future planning.
Winter and Spring – Vision Team Meetings (not yet scheduled)
*We are currently here in the process with Leah scheduled to come speak with the staff toward the end of October.
What is the goal for this process?
The Vision Team will work together with Leah to identify and clearly articulate the Mission, Values, Strategy and Outcomes that drive the day to day focus of Redeemer as well as its long and short range plans. The team will combine their experience with feedback from the congregational and school surveys as well school and congregational staff to identify the following:
Mission: What are we as the Redeemer Community supposed to be doing?
Values: What are the shared convictions that guide our actions?
Strategy: What is the picture or process by which Redeemer achieves the Mission at a broad level?
Outcomes: What does spiritual success look like in the lives of individual members?
Why has Redeemer engaged in this process?
Redeemer is at an important moment in its story. God has blessed us with a thriving church and school, dedicated leaders, and a congregation eager to serve. To remain faithful stewards of these gifts, we must align our efforts around a clear vision and strategic plan. This process will help us unify around shared values, clarify our mission, and chart a path forward that allows Redeemer to flourish for years to come.
While exploring Policy-Based Governance, it became clear that Redeemer would benefit from a unified vision and strategy to guide us into the future. Without this, it’s difficult for our community to move forward with a shared identity and common goals. The Vision Process is not a continuation of Policy-Based Governance but is designed to help us clearly define who Redeemer is and where God is calling us to serve in the years ahead.
How was the team assembled?
The team was formed with voices from across the Redeemer community. Each board selected a representative from their ministry area, and our congregational president invited several members to represent the congregation at large. These individuals are already deeply involved at Redeemer through church ministries, school life, or both. Our administrative staff is also part of the team, bringing insight from the ministries and teams they oversee. Together, this group reflects the heart of Redeemer as we plan for the future.
Latest Updates
October 8, 2025 - Congregational Survey Highlights
Thank you to everyone who took time to fill out the Congregational Survey. There was a lot of really great feedback, which is being taken into consideration by the Vision Team. While all responses are being considered, here are some common themes that we noticed when reviewing feedback:
When answering the question “Who is Redeemer?”, the majority of respondents felt that Redeemer was a “Scripture based, loving, and inviting family that is focused on its community.”
Our neighborhood in the midst of change and diversity which presents spiritual opportunities and a great mission.
Respondents recognize that Redeemer School is one of our primary mission and discipleship outreaches.
Respondents noted a remarkable growth in children’s and youth ministry. They also felt Redeemer’s emphasis should be primarily on worship, the school, fellowship and outreach, and not as much emphasis on finances and the buildings.
The economic and social contrasts as our neighborhood rapidly redevelops as an urban area are very apparent, especially with the movement of young families and young professionals into the immediate neighborhood.
Respondents shared that the biggest challenges that they felt in sharing their faith were lack of opportunity (not knowing many unchurched people) and a lack of confidence (feeling intimidated about sharing their faith).
Respondents felt the biggest challenges facing the congregation were congregational engagement, cultural changes, generational gaps, and communication.
Respondents overwhelmingly believed that the primary purpose of the school is connecting students and their families to the Gospel and making disciples through faith, moral, and character development.
Most Redeemer members are attracted and maintained through school ministry, lifelong LCMS connections, personal connections, and pastoral leadership & preaching.
We received a good response of 123 congregation members. Over half of the respondents have been members of Redeemer for over 20 years.
Thoughts?
Please email vision@redeemer.net