Vision into Action

It's a well known fact that when all is said and done, there is an awful lot more said than done. However, the Diocese of Gambia have an excellent record in recent years of the implementation of dreams and vision into concrete action. This is seen clearly in the Bishop's Manual, printed for the Millennium, where positive steps are outlined, achievable targets set and implemented, and foundations are being laid to ensure that the See is in a healthy state by the year 2010.

Extract from the Bishop's Manual:

"Where there is no vision, the people perish" - PROVERBS 29:18

A vision must have a destination. This means that those involved, the 'vision community' and their leader, must know their targeted goals and their time frame. This is set out below:

• the Vision for the Diocese of Gambia
• the destination;
• the process of involvement of the church community
• the steps towards attaining the Vision over the next ten years

A vision must have four particular qualities, if it is to be realized:

• the vision must arise from the community
• the vision must be shared and supported
• the vision must be comprehensive and detailed
• the vision must be positive and inspiring

The ultimate result for the vision community is the empowerment of that community.

In the course, Management in Ministry, it is therefore underlined that in order for a vision to be created, owned and implemented, the following prerequisites are necessary for the process:

Vision: It must be central to the organization

Inspiring:  err on the side of too big, rather than too small (i.e. if you can do it, it  is not a vision)

Simple: need to be able to communicate the vision (i.e. short, crisp, communicable)

Involving: People must see potential for expressing their own vision under the corporate vision

Owned: by the vision community

Needed Now: a felt need by community and vision leader

With these in place, action can commence right away.