Stepping Forward

Synagogue Visioning and Planning

Robert Leventhal

Drawing on his extensive and fruitful consulting work in diverse synagogue contexts, Alban senior consultant Robert Leventhal presents his Synagogue Visioning and Planning (SVP) model to a wider audience for the first time. Using this substantial yet accessible model, Leventhal has helped numerous congregations with visioning and planning, leadership development, and team building.
He invites not just rabbis and council presidents but the many reluctant leaders of the congregation to "jump in" to SVP. This innovative model combines organizational leadership principles and core Jewish values to recruit, focus, and energize the congregation and the community so that work can be shared and productive. By including the broadest possible array of leadership in all stages of the process, SVP can be enthusiastically embraced by the entire congregation.
Laid out in plain language, SVP is supported by case studies, workshops, and a tool kit so that congregations can use Stepping Forward as a manual on its own. It also serves as a decision-making tool for leaders who want to consider using the SVP process in their settings. Congregations that engage with SVP will uncover hidden depths of vision and vitality as they grow into a clearer understanding of their God-given ministries and gifts.

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers / Alban Books

Pages: 268 • Trim: 7 x 10

978-1-56699-331-9 • Paperback • December 2007 • $42.00 • (£35.00)

Subjects: Religion / Leadership, Religion / Judaism / General

Stepping Forward

Synagogue Visioning and Planning

Paperback

Summary

Drawing on his extensive and fruitful consulting work in diverse synagogue contexts, Alban senior consultant Robert Leventhal presents his Synagogue Visioning and Planning (SVP) model to a wider audience for the first time. Using this substantial yet accessible model, Leventhal has helped numerous congregations with visioning and planning, leadership development, and team building.
He invites not just rabbis and council presidents but the many reluctant leaders of the congregation to "jump in" to SVP. This innovative model combines organizational leadership principles and core Jewish values to recruit, focus, and energize the congregation and the community so that work can be shared and productive. By including the broadest possible array of leadership in all stages of the process, SVP can be enthusiastically embraced by the entire congregation.
Laid out in plain language, SVP is supported by case studies, workshops, and a tool kit so that congregations can use Stepping Forward as a manual on its own. It also serves as a decision-making tool for leaders who want to consider using the SVP process in their settings. Congregations that engage with SVP will uncover hidden depths of vision and vitality as they grow into a clearer understanding of their God-given ministries and gifts.

Details

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers / Alban Books

Pages: 268 • Trim: 7 x 10

978-1-56699-331-9 • Paperback • December 2007 • $42.00 • (£35.00)

Subjects: Religion / Leadership, Religion / Judaism / General

Author

Robert Leventhal is a senior consultant with the Alban Institute. His focus areas are visioning and planning, leadership development, team building, and conflict management.

Table of Contents

Background and Acknowledgments
Introduction: The Leadership Seder

PART 1: Trumah: The Gifts of Synagogue Life

1. The Gifts of Synagogue Membership
2. Developing Leadership Gifts

PART 2: Teshuvah: Getting on a New Path

3. Planning: Using Different Approaches
4. Foresight: Anticipating the Challenge of the Synagogue Organization’s Future
5. Gathering Data: Understanding the Land
6. Authority: Learning to Lead
7. Congregational Readiness for Change
8. Understanding and Managing the Campaign

PART 3: ‘Avodah: Putting Ideas of Planning into Action

9. Getting Started: The Steering Committee Prepares to Build Community
10. Recruiting for Parlor Meetings and Stakeholder Groups
11. Conducting and Interpreting Parlor Meetings

PART 4: ’Omets Lev: The Courage to Engage

12. Overview of Strategic Workshops: Developing Strategic Direction
13. Values: How Will We Work Together? (Workshop 1)
14. Strategic Goals: Where Should We Focus? (Workshop 2)
15. From Vision to Action Planning: Who Will Do What? (Workshop 3)
16. The Accountability Plan: Transparent Planning Invites Healthy Feedback

PART 5: Hoh. ma: Lessons Learned

17. Leadership Lessons: Unleashing Congregational Energy

Appendix
Resource 1: Putting It All Together: The Board Briefing Book
Resource 2: Congregational Membership Profile
Resource 3: Steering Committee Debriefings
Resource 4: Temple Beth El Worship Task Force Report
Resource 5: Examples of Goal Topics and Strategic Goal Statements
Resource 6: Oceanside Jewish Center Values Statement

For Further Reading

Reviews

SVP created an opportunity to engage people in a positive, forward-looking project. New leaders and ideas emerged. As we face new decisions, we do so with confidence.
— Phil Perlmutter, Temple Avodah, Oceanside, New York

We created a process that we will turn to time and again for getting to know our members, and in doing so we trained our leadership in an important skill.
— Joshua Davidson, Temple Beth El, Northern Westchester

Stepping Forward

Synagogue Visioning and Planning

Robert Leventhal

Stepping Forward

Synagogue Visioning and Planning

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