A different way to plan for what's next.

For faith-based organizations, the question isn't only what should we do next—it's who has God called us to be, and what does faithfulness look like from here? Discernment planning holds both questions together. It's a guided process that helps your leadership and community listen collectively—to God, to each other, and to the community you serve—before narrowing in on where to focus your time, energy, and resources for the years ahead.
Discernment planning borrows from the practice of spiritual direction and applies it at the organizational level. It's collective listening, done on behalf of the whole.

What the Process Looks Like

Every engagement is shaped around your organization's specific season and needs, but the arc generally moves through four phases:

1. Ground in Identity: Before looking forward, we look at who you already are. We revisit your mission, purpose, and values together, so that everything that follows is rooted in your organization's actual convictions, not generic best practices.

2. Gather and Listen: We collect and organize input from your staff, leadership, and community—surfacing what's working, what needs to change, what feels unclear, and what's missing. This is where collective wisdom gets named and honored, rather than lost.

3. Envision Together: Using reflective and contemplative exercises, your team steps into the future. This isn't a brainstorm; it's a shared, prayerful act of imagination done on behalf of the whole organization, not just individual preferences.

4. Narrow and Commit: Finally, we move from vision to focus—identifying the 3–5 strategic priorities that matter most for the road ahead, along with concrete next steps: who needs to be involved, what's required, and realistic timelines to keep the plan alive after the time together ends.

What You Walk Away With

• A clear, unified sense of direction your leadership can articulate with confidence

• 3–5 concrete strategic priorities, not a 40-page plan that sits on a shelf

• Clarity on what to say no to, so your best "yeses" get the resources they need

• A shared experience of discernment that strengthens trust among your leadership, not just a document

Who This Is For

This process is designed for small to mid-size faith-based organizations — churches, ministries, and nonprofits — whose leadership wants to plan in a way that reflects their values, not just borrow a framework built for the corporate world. It's especially suited for organizations at a decision point: a new season of growth, a leadership transition, or simply the sense that it's time to pause and listen before moving forward.

Let's Discern What's Next, Together

If your organization is ready to slow down, listen well, and gain greater clarity, I'd love to talk about what a discernment planning process could look like for your team. Reach out to learn more and/or schedule.