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Short Summary of Major Findings of Phase I

by Marti Jewell, D.Min.
April 25, 2009

When the Emerging Models Project began, what was expected were "emerging models" as well-defined parish structures and roles of leaders.  What was encountered is a dynamic, challenging, and thoughtful emergence of models as the "practices of leaders" creating the future. Below is the summary of their best thoughts, hopes, and insights for the future:

Changing Parish Structures

Exceeding diversity of models driven by economics, geography, and demographics
Not necessarily a preferred ecclesiology or diocesan planning process

Parish of the Future

  • Vibrant and welcoming with small faith-based communities
  • Increased lay leadership
  • Mission-focused, justice-oriented
  • Inclusive of diverse peoples and forms of leadership

Multiple parish pastoring

  • Primary strategy being used by U.S. bishops to provide pastoral leadership
  • Nearly half of U.S. parishes share their pastor with another parish or mission

Multiple parish pastoring

  • Primary strategy being used by U.S. bishops to provide pastoral leadership
  • Nearly half of U.S. parishes share their pastor with another parish or mission

Multicultural and ethnic diversity seen as grace

  • Virtually every diocese is experiencing multicultural and ethnic diversity, particularly Hispanic
  • Need to deliver pastoral and sacramental care in multiple languages
  • Need to learn how to call forth leadership from diverse cultures

 

Evolving Pastoral Leadership Roles

"Co-responsibility of the Entire Parish"

Parish leadership:

  • Recognition that all ministry is rooted in the baptismal call to discipleship
  • Clear role identity
  • Collaborative, team oriented leadership
  • Leading and sharing ministry in clustered parishes and small faith communities
  • Increased dependency on the leadership of lay ecclesial ministers, and deacons
  • Vitality follows an energetic pastor and staff

Three leadership models:

  1. Collaborative:
    Focused on engaging parishioners in moving forward the life of the parish, using committees, commissions, visioning, etc.
  2. Core team of pastor and staff:
    Focused on team working together to provide for the sacramental and pastoral life of the parish, addressed with help of parishioners
  3. Centered in the Pastor:
    Focused on pastor's responsibility for the life of the parish, sometimes with part-time staff, addressed through meetings and tasks

Leadership of parishioners:

  • Baptismal call to discipleship and evangelization
  • Pastors indicate that this is the area least focused on in parish life
  • Where active and engaged parishioners:
  • Engaged in future visioning and growth of parish
  • Lay led ministries, often with training and evaluation
  • Developing new ministries, especially outreach
  • Integral parish council structures and planning processes

Leadership of parish staff - charisms of collaboration and service:

  • Lay Ecclesial Ministers
    • Serving from a vocational sense of call
    • Provide the day-to-day pastoral care and programming in the parish
  • Deacons
    • Current focus on developing role outside of parish
    • Lack of consistency on actual role in parish

 Leadership of pastor and parish life coordinator - charism of presidency

  • Pastors
    • Facilitators of the life of the parish
    • Gatekeepers of change
    • Call forth the gifts and vision of the community
  • Parish Life Coordinators (Canon 517.2)
    • In use in 2/3 of dioceses
    • Success dependent on implementation and support by bishop

 

 Marks of Excellence

  • Pastoral - most understood and practiced
  • Prophetic  - the most difficult
  • Welcoming - least well done
  • Ethical - more understanding of the need for this
  • Collaborative - greatest need for information and support
  • Adaptive - ability to include community in creating something for which there is no precedent
  • Creative - ability to revision existing practices

Summit recommendations and Best Practices

Can be found on this site: http://www.emergingmodels.org

 

The Emerging Models of Pastoral Leadership Series

Published by Loyola Press

Available from the Project Partners

  • Shaping Catholic Parishes: Pastoral Leadership in the 21st Century
  • Pastoring Multiple Parishes
  • Parish Life Coordinators