From the President

If your ministry includes service in a corporate structure, chances are that you've sat through a few strategic planning sessions. And chances are also good that you've also seen a few of those plans languish unread--and unrealized--in the corporate dustbin.

We are delighted to report, at the close of its first year, that CHHSM's three-year strategic plan, Filling Our Basin, is most emphatically not a languishing strategic plan. During 2005, CHHSM made substantial progress in realizing our proposition to provide value to CHHSM-member ministries through supportive member relations, valuable business services and leadership development that strengthens our staff and boards.

You'll find details about each aspect of our 2005 work in the annual report that will be mailed to you in early March: highlights include the seven CHHSM leaders in the Diakonal Minister class of 2005 and our intensive research to learn more about the business services our members need. And, although Hurricane Katrina's near-total destruction of CHHSM member Back Bay Mission was certainly not a highlight of the year, the compassion and generosity with which CHHSM member responded to the CHHSM Back Bay Mission Hurricane Relief Fund showed the strength of our work together as the body of Christ. We are pleased to report that, even before the close of 2005, Back Bay Mission was again serving the poor of the Mississippi Gulf Coast out of a donated trailer placed on the Mission's site.

Would you like to know more about how CHHSM is using its resources to advance the healing and service ministries of the UCC? I invite you to explore this website, read our 2005 Annual Report, and call or email a CHHSM staff member who can answer your questions and help you gain value from our services.

Filling Our Basin is already leading us into 2006, a year that promises growth in our leadership training programs, new cost-effective business services and continued member relations initiatives. We look forward to another year of service together in Christ's name.

Bryan W. Sickbert
President/CEO

Earlier Columns

• January 2006
• December 2005 - Silver Jubilee of Kirchengemeinschaft