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An open letter to the Catholic faithful of the Diocese of Bismarck from Bishop Paul A. Zipfel regarding pastoral leadership.
Dear people of the Bismarck Diocese,
Our diocese is truly blessed with a full range of pastoral leaders who bring their deep faith commitment, rich life experiences, talents and training to the service of the Church. I am deeply grateful to the Committee on Parishes for their assistance in developing the first three phases of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan, including this Phase III regarding Pastoral Leadership.
I am also extremely grateful to the pastors and other members of our parishes who have participated thus far in our planning efforts. The parish core values surveys, viability studies, and leadership interviews have contributed greatly to the first three phases of the diocesan plan. We have identified our Mission, Vision, Pastoral Viability Indicators, Core Values, devotion to Stewardship, organizational structure and direction for leadership development.
This Phase III document defines what we mean by "pastoral leaders"; it also commits the diocese to specific initiatives for continued development of leadership for now and for the future. Some of these initiatives are a continuation of past successful efforts and some are bold new efforts to meet the challenges and opportunities of the years ahead. All are devoted to empowerment of well qualified and effective pastoral leaders.
In the New Year we will turn our attention to the development of a strategic plan for each parish and to its integration with the diocesan plan. I hope you will be engaged and excited to be a part of this effort to bring about the future of our Church.
For more information go to www.bismarckdiocese.com/ministries/pastoralplanning , or contact Deacon Lynn Clancy, Director of Pastoral Planning at the Center for Pastoral Ministry, PO Box 1137, Bismarck, ND 58501-1137.
Sincerely in Christ,
Bishop Paul A. Zipfel
PASTORAL LEADERS - DIOCESE OF BISMARCK
There are many different titles used for the professional staff who minister in our parishes. It is important that certain titles be clearly understood by everyone in the diocese. This requires a definition of these titles and how they are received. The following titles for Pastoral Leaders in the Diocese of Bismarck were adopted with Phase I of the Pastoral Plan. The intention is they all serve the Mission of the Diocese: "To Be Ambassadors for Christ, who Live Stewardship in Word, Sacrament and Service". The appointments involving A & B designations below come about through appointment by the Bishop, C designations are appointed by the Pastor.
The following guidance regarding "pastoral leader" titles is informed by canon law. The Diocesan Leadership Development Initiatives found in this document are derived from interviews of current parish leaders and from parish viability surveys.
The roles and titles of "administrator", "coordinator", and "moderator" are solely reserved in canon law to the pastor, parochial administrator or presbyteral supervisor. In addition titles such as "pastor", and "chaplain", are reserved to an ordained priest. (Ecclesiae de mysterio, Interdicasterial instruction, 1997, Practical Provisions, art.1))
I. PASTORAL LEADERS APPOINTED BY THE BISHOP
A. PRIESTS
1. PASTOR is a priest stably appointed by the Bishop, who is responsible for the pastoral care of the people in a particular parish. One pastor for one parish is the norm for the universal law of the Church. However, when needed some priests are appointed as pastor of more than one parish. The office of Pastor is to have the privilege of stability in order to provide consistent and stable care for the faithful. (cf. Code of Canon Law, canons 519, 532, 536 & 537)
2. PAROCHIAL VICAR is a priest, appointed by the Bishop, who has responsibilities that may be designated by the bishop, by the pastor or by both the bishop and pastor. As a co-worker with the pastor he is to offer service in the pastoral ministry by common counsel and effort with the pastor and under his authority. (Cf.c. canon 545)
3. PAROCHIAL ADMINISTRATOR is a priest who is temporarily appointed by the bishop to serve a parish until a pastor is appointed. He generally has the same responsibilities and powers as a pastor but without the privilege of stability. (Cf.c canons 539 & 540)
4. PRESBYTERAL SUPERVISOR is a priest who is temporarily appointed by the bishop to provide sacramental, pastoral, and administrative care for a larger number of parishes, when a dearth of available priests is foreseen. A Presbyteral Supervisor can be assisted by a Parish Life Collaborator(s), Business Manager(s), or Pastoral Assistant(s) who can be delegated to handle various day-to-day duties within the parish(s). This priest is equipped with the power and faculties of a pastor although canonically the office of pastor is vacant. (cf. Ecclesiae de mysterio, Practical Provisions, art. 4)
Diocesan Leadership Development Initiatives:
a. The Diocese will continue a primary investment in the Office of Vocations, support of seminarians, and continuing education for the clergy.
b. A Catholic Leadership Institute program --"Good Leaders, Good Shepherds", designed to strengthen leadership skills, will have been completed by approximately 32 priests in 2010.
c. Continued pastoral/sacramental leadership by parochial administrators provides important augmentation to that provided by diocesan priests. The diocese will continue to give constant attention to the needs of these parochial administrators.
d. Priests, pastoral leaders, and parishioners who work in clusters, and blended parishes, will be given specific orientation and assistance for the special needs of these parishes, such as administrative matters, time management, conflict management and collaborative skills.
e. Pastoral leaders within a region may, from time to time, exchange ministries of the Word, conduct joint liturgical celebrations and reconciliation services, and substitute for one another.
B. DEACON
A deacon is an ordained minister of the Catholic Church and by his ordination is called publicly and committed to service in the name of Jesus Christ in the Church and in the world. Deacons are ordained by the local bishop for the service of the Church and are to be committed to a broad range of a diocese's needs and concerns. The three general areas of diaconal ministry are: The Word, Liturgy and Service. His responsibilities are designated by the bishop, and further clarified by the pastor of the parish to which the deacon is assigned, according to the needs of the parish. (Canons 1009 & 519)
Diocesan Leadership Development Initiatives:
The diocese will continue to provide diaconate formation, and continuing formation opportunities in collaboration with the parishes and will utilize interactive communications systems to make it widely accessible.
C. PARISH LIFE COLLABORATOR
A parish life collaborator is a deacon, a non-ordained person or a community of non-ordained persons who provides for the ordinary day to day pastoral, spiritual and administrative care of a parish that is without an assigned pastor or parochial administrator. Such a position is appointed by the bishop and is under the direction and mandate of the assigned presbyteral supervisor. (Cf.c. canon 517, §2, Ecclesiae de mysterio, Practical Provisions, art. 4)
Diocesan Leadership Development Initiatives
Bishop Zipfel, in consultation with the Priests' Personnel Board and the Presbyteral Council, will:
• Discern position descriptions and personnel policies for the position of parish life collaborator and presbyteral supervisor.
• Discern if the pastoral care of some faith communities would be best served by the parish life collaborator/presbyteral supervisor model and make appointments accordingly.
• Arrange for proper training and formation for those who are appointed to these designations.
II. PASTORAL LEADERS APPOINTED BY THE PASTOR OR HIS EQUIVALENT
A. PASTORAL ASSISTANT is an ordained or a non-ordained person appointed and delegated by the pastor, parochial administrator, or presbyteral supervisor, for the purpose of assisting him in his pastoral duties.
B. BUSINESS MANAGER is an ordained or non-ordained person appointed and delegated by the pastor, parochial administrator, or presbyteral supervisor, for the purpose of assisting him in his administrative duties.
C. PARISH MANAGER is an ordained or non-ordained person appointed and delegated by the Pastor, Parochial Administrator, or presbyteral supervisor, for the purpose of assisting him in the overall management of the parish's activities.
D. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT is an ordained or non-ordained person appointed and delegated by the pastor, parochial administrator, or presbyteral supervisor for the purpose of assisting with pastoral and administrative duties.
E. PARISH SECRETARY is a non-ordained person appointed and delegated by the pastor, parochial administrator, or presbyteral supervisor, for the purpose of assisting him in his administrative duties.
Diocesan Leadership Development Initiatives:
1. Upon request, the diocesan staff will be available to assist parishes with hiring, and the development of job descriptions, personnel and compensation policies.
2. The diocesan staff will identify a "preferred" computer program for parish accounting and financial management and provide guidance for its use.
3. The diocesan staff will develop coordinated curricula of online training and formation programs for individuals and groups in a wide variety of topics and disciplines. The program will bring presenters and students together, utilizing modern technology, for instruction, discussion, tutoring and development making learning more readily available.
4. The Diocesan website will contain a calendar of events that will include parish activities. A person for each deanery will be identified and authorized to update the website calendar with information for their deanery.
F. LAY ECCLESIAL MINISTER is a non-ordained person who has been: 1) authorized by the bishop to serve publicly in the local church, 2) assigned leadership in a particular area of ministry, 3) works in close mutual collaboration with the pastoral ministry of bishops, priests and deacons, 4) experiences preparation and formation appropriate to the level of assigned responsibilities. The term can be applied to a variety of specific roles such as those of pastoral associates or directors of religious education, youth ministry, liturgy, pastoral music, campus ministry, school principals and hospital or prison ministers.
Diocesan Leadership Development Initiatives:
The diocese will coordinate training, formation, certification and support for lay leaders in keeping with the guidance of Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord. In this statement the Bishops have provided "guidance for the development of lay ecclesial ministry to ensure it is faithful to the church's theological and doctrinal tradition while responding to contemporary pastoral needs and situations." Currently, some 32 parish, school and diocesan staff members are enrolled in the two-year Catholic Leadership Institute program "Tending the Talents". Coordinated by the diocese and sponsored by the parishes, this effort will provide a leadership base for the development of a formal "Lay Ecclesial" ministry within the diocese.
G. VOLUNTEERS Many additional volunteer leaders are essential to the viable pastoral functions of parishes and the diocese. They serve on pastoral and finance councils, as trustees, readers, Eucharistic ministers, ushers, organization officers and in many other roles.
Diocesan Leadership Development Initiatives:
1. Building on the experience of the current programs, the diocesan staff will coordinate regional training, formation and retreat programs.
2. The Diocese will maintain a program of support and communications for Parish Pastoral and Stewardship Councils, members of Finance Councils and Corporate Boards, and Music and Liturgical Ministers.
3. The Diocese will assist Parish Service Committees in conducting programs dealing with "Real Life Issues" of family relations, poverty, outreach, Kenyan Mission, etc.
4. The Diocese will assist each parish in conducting a program of witness, evangelization and hospitality.
5. A diocesan website with simple explanations regarding the essential functions of the Diocese, including the roles of the consulting boards, the process of pastoral appointments, and services of diocesan offices will be maintained.
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The official site of the Diocese of Bismarck, North Dakota
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