Led by Ministry Architects
LATEST UPDATE FROM THE VISION TEAM
July 5, 2026
Dear Friends,
The Vision Team continues to meet regularly to put our Mission, Vision and Goals into action. Since our last update, congregational responses (from the May Visioning Sessions) have been organized by goal and provided to Session and Ministry Areas.
Goal #1: Volunteer Leadership Team has been assembled. Ministry Architects has provided software and training for volunteers for Mission/Service community-based volunteer activities as well as needs within the church. The Volunteer team will be reaching out to the ministry areas to ask for areas of need. The Vision Team and new Volunteer team are planning a Volunteer Appreciation on Sunday, July 19, 2026.
Goal #2: Campus Utilization Task Force is evaluating possible options for rental and income, including exploring allied community group interests. The team is gathered and using a PCUSA-supported training program for churches who are considering expanding their rental and facility uses called “RootedGood”.
Goal #3: Housing Working Group is currently gathering information with allied agencies, the City of Sunnyvale and denominational groups and individuals. The group is tasked with exploring the possibility of providing housing on our campus.
Mission and Service ministry area has been working with the Vision Team to align their mission and documents. Mission and Service will work to coordinate with the new Volunteer team.
12 Month Communication Plan has been developed to keep the congregation informed and engaged. Thus far, we are providing monthly updates to Session and the congregation through the newsletter and website.
Thank you!! We have received tremendous support from staff and Session in all areas of communication and every aspect of our work, and plan to expand our visibility in the coming weeks and months.
Looking forward to our ministry together,
Debbie Stoddard and the Vision Team
PREVIOUS UPDATES
June 3, 2026
Dear Friends,
Thank you to everyone who participated in the recent Vision Sessions. Valuable ideas and feedback were shared, and your input is being documented and forwarded to the appropriate elders and ministry teams. If you were unable to participate, you may still share your thoughts by emailing vision_team@sunnyvalepres.com.
Progress continues on all six vision goals:
- Volunteer-Led Volunteer Program: Planning is underway to connect members’ gifts and passions with meaningful opportunities both within the church and throughout the community, in partnership with the Mission & Service Ministry.
- Financial Sustainability: A task force has been formed to explore rental income opportunities through partnerships aligned with our mission and values.
- Campus Stewardship: The Shelter-to-Housing-to-Home Working Group is exploring possibilities for housing on unused portions of our campus.
- Connecting Families: Outreach efforts continue through our Children, Youth, and Family ministries.
- Intergenerational Connections: An intergenerational retreat is being planned for the end of September.
- Small Groups & New Member Connections: Session has received a comprehensive list of existing small groups as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen connections within our congregation.
Please continue to pray for our congregation, the newly formed working groups, our community and its needs, and for the ongoing vitality and ministry of Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church.
Looking forward to our ministry together,
Debbie Stoddard and the Vision Team
This Mission Statement, Core Values and Three-Year Goals were developed February 28, 2026.
VISION
Inspired by Jesus’ love, we connect in a community that embraces all, serving each other and our neighbors.
VALUES
(The spirit by which we go about the work.)
Affirming: We honor the God-created goodness of all.
Jesus-Following: We shape our community after the life and teachings of Jesus.
Hospitable: We create space where all can feel at home.
Caring: We cultivate authentic relationships by showing up for one another.
Grace: We leave room for mistakes and the possibility of repair.
Genuine: We are earnestly friendly, have respect for doubt, and are transparent.
THREE-YEAR REVOLVING GOALS
These are written in past tense for 3 years from now. Each goal should have clear measurements of success so that yearly benchmarks can also be determined. Each goal is then reviewed every year around the anniversary of its initial creation.
1) 2029 Goal — 45% of weekend worship attenders (adults and students, but not children) are serving regularly in a volunteer role.
April 2027 Benchmark — A volunteer management team has been recruited, trained, and launched to oversee volunteer systems/processes at SVPC and has completed an initial season of volunteer recruitment.
2) 2029 Goal — SVPC has an updated financial plan that includes at least one new partner and one new source of income, which will provide financial stability/security moving forward.
April 2027 Benchmark — SVPC has met with at least five different community partners who are considering basing their work out of the church; a plan to reach an endowment of $10 million by 2029 has been created and is ready to launch.
3) 2029 Goal — Plan for campus redevelopment is ready for congregational presentation.
April 2027 Benchmark - Multiple options for campus redevelopment have been considered and three have been selected for continued, in-depth research and analysis.
4) 2029 Goal — We have 50 families with children/youth participating once a month who say they feel connected to SVPC.
April 2027 Benchmark — We have 20 families with children/youth participating in the ministry, and a survey/process has been developed to get feedback from families on their connection, involvement, and needs.
5) 2029 Goal — We have four intentionally intergenerational events and an intergenerational all church retreat every year.
April 2027 Benchmark — One existing event and one new event have been offered with an intentionally intergenerational focus; a plan for an annual, intergenerational all-church retreat has been developed.
6) 2029 Goal — 85% of Sunnyvale Pres (members/regular attenders) can say they belong to a group, and all new attendees have been contacted by a group convener within 30 days.
April 2027 Benchmark — A comprehensive list of all groups at Sunnyvale Pres has been developed, and clear, strategic communication about these opportunities (and how to connect) has been shared with the congregation.
VISIONING PROCESS
First step — Spring of 2025
Sunnyvale Pres began working with consulting group Ministry Architects to help us build a strategic vision for our church. Many members of the church community attended listening sessions and shared their insights, frustrations, and vision for the future of our church. (Read the initial assessment report and/or watch a video of the feedback session here.)
Second Milestone — February 27-28, 2026
The church held a Vision Summit, with Ministry Architects leading us through a brainstorming session to help identify our church's Vision Statement, Core Values, and a set of 3-year goals. Read those below. Prior to the Vision Summit, the church convened the Vision Team and the Prayer Team to guide the church through the visioning and implementation phases.
Recent Progress — March/April, 2026
The Vision Team has been hard at work under the guidance of Ministry Architects. They have been doing a deep dive into many of the foundational pieces of how the church functions, including looking at personnel, job descriptions, communications, attendance, and follow-up for members. This work has been critical to ensuring that we have systems in place that allow for effective ministry going forward.
The Vision Team is now working on their second set of tasks: communicating the vision, creating a new and comprehensive volunteer program, budget alignment and evaluation, developing a clear mission strategy, evaluating current programs, and looking at group involvement. The church Session approved the plans on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
How you can help — May, 2026 and beyond
The Vision Team will host a series of Vision Update discussion groups during May, 2026. The groups will consist of 10-12 people, at which Vision Team members will share the Vision, Values, and Goals for the church, as well as the plans for implementation. At these group discussions, attendees will be encouraged to envision themselves taking part in and contributing to the ministry of Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church. Sign up for one of the Vision Update Groups here.
2) Join the Volunteer Team
The Vision Team is now assembling a Volunteer Team to assist in the important role of accomplishing the church's mission of becoming a Volunteer church, specifically by overseeing the volunteer systems, including recruitment, training, support, and celebration. Here is the job description:
Responsibilities:
- Manage volunteer recruitment annually for SVPC
- Check in with current volunteers.
- Document all volunteer needs for the upcoming year.
- Build a “fishing pond” of potential volunteers.
- Match volunteer needs with potential volunteers, and extend invitations until all roles are filled.
- Manage all volunteer job descriptions, updating and creating if/when needed.
- Oversee onboarding process of volunteers and host/lead a volunteer “launch” at the beginning of each new year.
- Provide training opportunities and avenues of support for volunteers throughout the year.
- Ensure volunteers are regularly celebrated, including an appreciation act/event at the end of each year.
Relationships: The Volunteer Team is part of a 4-6-person team. It receives support from staff as needed.
Time Commitment: Monthly meetings, support for events throughout the year, and extra time during volunteer recruitment season each year.
Special Talents, Skills Preferred: Good administration and organizational skills, familiarity with the SVPC community, comfortable extending invitations, joy and excitement about serving at the church, works well with a team but confident in taking responsibility for individual tasks.
Resources and Training Provided: Onboarding to team and training on volunteer processes/responsibilities at beginning of service, ongoing support from SVPC staff.
If you feel a nudge to help lead this exciting chapter, please email the Vision Team Task Force at vision_team@sunnyvalepres.com—and feel free to share this invitation with a friend at church who might be the perfect fit.
We are grateful to members of our church community for helping facilitate this process: the Vision Team (Kirk Hinton, Bill Coleman, Debbie Stoddard, Rabin Sugumar, Megan MacDonald, and Richard Collins) is working to help guide us into the next chapter of ministry and service, while the Prayer Team (Keyla Zorzella, Jim Peterson, Lisa McManis, Debbie Shaver, and Beth Treitel) is upholding the Vision Team's work and each member individually in prayer.
