Adaptive Planning

In this lesson, Pastor McVey offers some key insights into differences between how planning often takes place in rural settings as opposed to a business or large church setting. Each has its advantages given its respective context and culture. Rural pastors and congregations must be flexible and responsive to changing conditions. Other church settings may have the resources and margin to plan in a more theoretically ideal way.

Adaptive planning is a flexible, responsive approach to decision-making. It emphasizes adjusting your plans based on current conditions and emerging needs. In rural and agrarian contexts, this approach is crucial because of the unpredictable nature of factors like weather, crop yields, and market prices. The adaptive mindset waits to start until it knows it has a clear window to move forward. It prioritizes tasks so it can advance as resources and opportunities open up. 

Key characteristics of adaptive planning include flexibility, responsiveness, and a sequence-based approach to tasks. Sequential planning organizes tasks in an order based on what can and needs to be done first, second, and so on. It prioritizes based on what makes the most practical sense at the time rather than according to what might make the most theoretical or “linear” sense. 

For example, farmers plan their tasks around the planting and harvesting seasons. They must plant when the soil is ready and the weather is favorable. Harvesting happens when crops are ripe, not when it is most convenient or ideal. Repairs and maintenance might be scheduled after the harvest season when machinery is less needed, even if it is a high priority. Purchasing new equipment or investing in upgrades happens when the financial conditions are favorable, such as after a bumper crop, to optimize tax benefits and cash flow.

In a rural church setting, this approach translates to planning events, repairs, and community activities in a sequence that aligns with the church and community’s current capabilities and needs. This method allows leaders to adapt to changing circumstances, such as unexpected weather changes or economic shifts. It focuses on what can realistically be achieved given current conditions rather than assuming ideal conditions. It makes the best use of available resources by aligning tasks with the right conditions.

“Linear” planning, often seen in business and urban contexts, involves setting clear goals, prioritizing tasks based on their importance, and following a structured timeline to achieve these goals. This approach is driven by predictability and control, aiming for efficiency and effectiveness through systematic planning. Key characteristics of linear planning include goal-oriented task organization, prioritized tasks based on importance and urgency, and fixed timelines. 

Tasks are then completed according to an ideal timeline, regardless of changing external conditions. In a business context, linear planning might involve a company setting a goal to launch a new product by a specific date. It then back-schedules tasks like research, development, marketing, and distribution in order to meet this deadline.

However, in rural ministry, such rigid planning can be challenging due to the unpredictable nature of the environment and the community’s needs. Linear planning does not easily accommodate unexpected changes, such as sudden weather shifts or community crises. Prioritizing tasks without considering current conditions can lead to inefficient use of resources. Furthermore, linear planning may overlook the relational and community aspects of rural life, where decisions often require consensus and adaptiveness to collective needs.

Pastor McVey's experience in Lamont illustrates how adaptive planning might work in a rural setting. Initially, his linear approach to raising funds and building a new church faced resistance. By adapting his strategy to align with the community’s adaptive mindset – setting conditional milestones for fundraising and construction – he gained the congregation’s support. This shift demonstrated the importance of aligning planning methods with the community’s values and conditions.