Why have a parish pastoral plan?

“Our parish is doing fine without a plan. Why do we need one?”

“What value does the plan add to our parish?”

“That’s for a business, not a parish.”

These are comments you may hear from your parishioners about the need for a plan. Nobody wants to waste their time and talent on a project that does not benefit them or their parish.

Many parishes are doing quite well without a plan and have many events for their parishioners. They take great satisfaction in creating and implementing a variety of activities and events for their parish. Often these events are held because they are a good idea and there is a champion to plan and hold the event. Since there was no goal or measurement for the event, success is in the eye of the beholder. The parishioners are pleased that they can participate in worthwhile events, and they appreciate a parish that is doing something. Consequently, parishes go from one event to another.

Direction and Purpose

A parish pastoral plan can help by providing direction and purpose. The event might be part of the parish’s plan to evangelize or to outreach to those in need in the community. In Hawaii, we are blessed to have many priests on loan from other dioceses. The pastors change every few years, so the plan provides stability and a sense of community, and it allows parishioners to take ownership of their parish.

As a parish begins to plan for the future and parishioners accept their ownership role, they begin to come together, and personal agendas drop by the wayside. The focus becomes the parish and what can be done to make it even better than it already is. Depending on what the parish is trying to accomplish, parishioners may be drawn to participate in something they feel strongly about.

We often get discouraged that more parishioners do not participate in parish activities, and we attribute this to a general lack of interest when it may be their lack of interest in a particular topic. Most parishioners want to be doing something. Some are reluctant because they do not feel adequate in their understanding of their faith or do not see how they can help. That all can change when the right activity comes along or when they more clearly see what they can do to help. With this expanded level of participation, more can be accomplished, which might result in a long-term commitment by the newer volunteers.

Parishioner Involvement

A parish plan creates opportunities for more parishioners to get involved. The plan adds direction and specific goals and programs that will attract new volunteers. Using witnesses before or after Mass to explain why they got involved and how they benefit can be an effective recruitment method. Based on my work with more than 50 parishes, pulpit announcements and requests in the bulletin are usually not as effective.

Existing parish leaders can play an important role in increasing participation. They know parishioners with the time and talent to help, but they may never have asked them to participate. The personal “ask” is very important. Friends asking friends to join in is the most effective way to get others involved. Ultimately, the most powerful “ask” comes from the pastor. It is very difficult to say no to your pastor, no matter how busy you are.

Once people are involved in the planning process, they find new energy, enthusiasm and satisfaction in helping to improve the parish. The enthusiasm of those involved can be contagious and helps build a greater sense of community within the parish. It also creates a greater sense of stewardship through the planners’ enhanced sense of ownership. For example, with more people aware of the financial condition of the parish, they can work together to help improve the finances.

With any plan, it is very important to establish a clear picture of success and the measures used to evaluate success. Catholic churches are very good about holding events and generating a sense of satisfaction that comes from holding the events. However, without any predetermined measures of success, it is difficult to know what the parish accomplished. Sure, people came and seemed to enjoy themselves, but what was the goal? Did the parish succeed in accomplishing what it set out to do? By having success measures and evaluation methods in place, you can determine whether you met your goals. You can also learn what worked and what you need to improve. Do you need to publicize or communicate differently? Do you need to try a different day or time?

Without a plan, goals are just wishes.

JIM WALSH is the director of Pastoral Planning in the Diocese of Honolulu.

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Fundamental Steps

Step 1: Getting ready is simply an assessment if the parish is ready for strategic planning.

Step 2: Articulation of the mission and vision. The mission is an introductory paragraph that offers purpose, business and values. The vision statement presents an image of what success will look like.

Step 3: Assessing the situation means getting information about the organization’s strengths, weaknesses and performance.

Step 4: Developing strategies, goals and objectives.

Step 5: Completing the written plan.

Additional details are available at archatl.com.

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