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FEATURED PARTNERS IN MISSIONAL TRANSFORMATION
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NEW CREATION INITIATIVE
Making the Journey
St. Luke Union Church
A Visioning Process for Pax Christi
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| Consider how two churches initiated a strategic profile process for their very different congregations within their specific faith traditions and cultural contexts. |
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Making the Journey
St. Luke Union Church
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Preparing for a journey always requires some preparation. If it is a two-hour drive, that is one thing. A trip to the North Pole is something else. We are preparing to embark on a major journey, seeking God's purpose for us.
Now it is time to make a list and decide what we will take with us on this exciting venture. St. Luke Union Church has taken stock of its religious heritage, its roots, and is checking out what core values are grounded in the teachings of Christ and have stood the test of time. We are examining which we will pack up and take with us and which we leave behind.
As with any trip, it's necessary to check the list to see that everything is in order as we prepare to leave. We look around at where we are. We look at ourselves. We see that there are forces and circumstances that will be affecting our trip.
If we were going to the North Pole or headed to the tropics, the weather would be a factor. A lengthy journey would require adequate time to travel and a sound vehicle with space for our passengers and luggage would be needed. |
This article is used with permission from the August 2000 issue of New Directions, a monthly publication of St. Luke Union Church, Bloomington, IL, the Rev. Dr. Mark L. Hamner, Pastor.
Visit their website at www.stlukeunion.org.
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In our discernment journey we find that the climate of society, the force of man-made pressures and stresses, time or lace of it, and priorities affect our journey and relationship with our church. |
| We currently are addressing the forces of our culture that are shaping St. Luke Union Church. The Profile Panel has scheduled cluster meetings for the purpose of discussing these issues in an informal, relaxed and non-threatening atmosphere. The meeting times and dates are varied to fit in with busy schedules, making it easy for you to participate.
We encourage you to come to one of these gatherings and share thoughts with your church friends. We are convinced you will come away with fresh insights and a new sense of community. |
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"We are a young parish in an old Church. Nevertheless, we are called to do some of the very things the first members of the Church did--and one of those is to seek together what is God's vision for us as a church." (Fr. Tim Power, Pastor)
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A Visioning Process for Pax Christi
by Sandra Chmielewski
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| Pax Christi is beginning a parish visioning process that will take us into the next millennium. In discerning a vision for the Pax Christi community, together we are trying to understand what God wants us to do. We gain understanding through prayer, listening, study, questioning and discussion within our community. It is our hope that through the process we will encounter Jesus and be transformed into more faithful participation in the activities of God.
The visioning process is designed to engage the entire Pax Christi Catholic Community. The commitment and support of the community--from the start and every step of the way--is essential for success. Members will be provided with multiple opportunities to pray, reflect, discuss, study, and analyze; invitations to participate and information about the process will be announced as each phase unfolds.
Phase Two--Building a Profile--is under way and will continue through the summer (i.e., 1999, editor's note). In order for the visioning process to achieve its goals, four panels of community members will gather and analyze information and then provide opportunities for the community to react to this information.
The four panels will profile religious heritage, context, community and organizational analysis. Although these areas are interdependent and interrelated, each panel will focus upon important aspects of the life and mission of Pax Christi.
The community will be invited to participate in data gathering in each of these areas through activities such as focus groups, interviews, prayer groups, discussion groups, etc. Some opportunities will take place before and after weekend Masses.
The Center helps churches discover their strategic profile by an in-depth exploration of their religious heritage, context, constituency, and organizational history. Below are examples of how Pax Christi defined these four areas and Illustrations of findings in the four areas. |
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Religious Heritage: It has to do with what we believe, especially what we believe about the nature and purpose of our church.
To V-II or Not to V-II
We define ourselves as a Vatican II church but nobody knows what that means. We seem unaware of the full impact of this historic event. |
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Context: This research concerns itself with current challenges from our culture that are confronting us and how we respond to this destabilization. In addition, information about trends in the regions in which Pax Christi conducts its ministry will be considered.
Me, Myself, and I
We live in a culture of self-centeredness, instant gratification, and convenience. These cultural expectations affect our participation in parish activities, programs and liturgy. |
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Community: This refers to important data about the current leadership and membership of our church and the implications of these findings for the future.
Yah, But Do You Really Mean It?
Pax Christi is a living paradox. Something is terribly wrong when most members describe Pax Christi as a "welcoming" community--and yet many members feel "unknown" and "disconnected" because the parish is so large. |
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Organizational Analysis: This will provide a database about the current functioning of our church organization with all its many parts, the quality of the common life and shared ministry emerging from this way of organizing, and the implications of these findings for the future.
Invading Our Own Comfort Zone
We need to be open, really open to looking at life in our community as it really is--not life as we think it should be. This means summoning the courage to ask tough questions, probe typically uncomfortable ground and being open to considering new ideas. Ideas that could direct our mission/ministry to a very different place compared to where it is today. |
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Excerpts from his article are used with permission from the May 1999 issue of The Pax Christi News, a monthly publication of Pax Christi Catholic Community, Eden Prairie, MN, Fr. Tim Power, Pastor.
Ms Chmielewski is chair of the Pax Christi Coordinating Team.
Visit their website at www.paxchristi.com.
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