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Many of the Environmental Factors in the preceding section Mission Vision And Values: Environmental Factors could also be considered "Issues."  In addition, other Issues might include:

• What if the Launch Team is changing?  What if it hasn't yet reached full strength?  It is difficult to define Mission, Vision and Values within a team that is constantly changing.  If you are in a period of such changes it may be best to assign this task to a small, stable sub-committee, or just put it off until the Launch Team stabilizes.  If your Launch Team is building only gradually, you may want to wait until the majority of members have come on board.

An alternate approach would be to adopt preliminary statements of Mission and Values as "working" statements until the Launch Team stabilizes.  Following this approach, the Pastor will ordinarily provide the "working" statements, which should be satisfactory until the Launch Team is better positioned to take on this work.  Further, this would allow the Vision to emerge more slowly as new members join the Launch Team.

• How much of this should be "given" by the Pastor?  At the least, the Pastor should be looked to as the primary source for Vision, Mission and especially Values.  In some cases the Pastor may want to actually draft these definitions and review them with the Launch Team.  In any case, the Pastor's input should be given great weight in the definition process.  If there are differences of opinion between the Pastor and the Launch Team, it is important to work these out quickly and amicably.  It will be extremely difficult for a new church to succeed when the Pastor espouses different Mission, Vision or Values from that of the church's Launch Team.
• What if the Vision isn't clear?  Pray for God's guidance.  Don't rush it and don't just select something that sounds good or a statement similar to that of another (successful) church.  Once the Vision becomes clear, it should be clear to much more than a bare majority of the Launch Team.  While unanymity may not be possible, you should not adopt a Vision Statement without a "super majority."
• Should we look to other churches as a guide?  It can be helpful to review the Mission, Vision and Values statements from other churches and even other secular organizations.  However, there is also a danger that extensive review of others' statements may encourage imitation.  Don't get carried away.

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