Planning
March 4th, 2010
Good meetings of the pastoral council depend on a clear purpose and deft leadership.
Parish Pastoral Councils study pastoral issues, reflect on them, and recommend conclusions. This threefold process is called “pastoral planning.”
To plan in a effectively, pastors must be able to ask the questions relevant to their role as parish leaders, and councillors must have the freedom to do their work thoroughly.
The pastor consults because he wants to make prudent decisions. Councillors engage in the work of planning because they want the parish to make wise choices that reflect the values of the gospel.
To learn more, click on one of the links below:
- The purpose of councils. The main work of the council is pastoral planning, but many councils mistakenly think that the job is to coordinate a system of committees.
- The meaning of “pastoral.” Pastoral means that the council helps the pastor do his job by investigating, considering, and offering him their conclusions.
- Councils and planning. The Vatican II “Decree on Bishops” set the agenda for the “pastoral” council.
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