The Challenge
For eight years, Parkdale United Church leadership in Ottawa had wrestled with what to do with its century-old building and property, including the possibility of developing social housing. Despite considerable discussion, meaningful progress remained elusive.
Shepherd Consulting was invited to help break the impasse—not simply by examining the building, but by engaging the congregation and community stakeholders in discerning the church’s future ministry through the faith-filled development of a Strategic Plan.
The Solution
Through extensive listening, strategic assessment, and practical recommendations, Shepherd helped connect questions about property, community needs, and ministry priorities into a clearer pathway forward.
The result? Council moved from years of uncertainty to developing ministry priorities, actionable plans, measurable outcomes, and a more strategic approach to governance.
As the Rev. Dr. Bob Fillier, Coordinating Minister, reflected:
“In many ways, it broke a logjam that has existed for at least the last 4 years. It got us moving, dreaming, talking, and discerning where we feel called to focus our energy, why it’s those aspects of ministry and not something else, and how we might do it. We wouldn’t be here without your support and ministry. … It gave us something to react to that wasn’t an internal document drafted by a Parkdaler. This was exceedingly helpful.”
