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Characteristics of Pastoral Leadership
Councils:
Commissions:
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"We must ask ourselves: Do we... wish to be
disciples of Jesus Christ and Christian stewards of
our world and our Church?1
Stewardship: A Disciples’ Response
As pastoral leaders, we have been entrusted with the responsibility and care
for the parish. We are stewards and caretakers, not governors or legislators. As
St. Mary Magdalen Parish embraces stewardship as a way of life, we
approach our leadership role as stewards. Below are 11 important characteristics
of pastoral leadership to keep in mind as we try to live out our calling to be
stewards of the Church.
- Belief – As leaders, we must exhibit absolute trust and
confidence in God and live out the Gospel as a way of life.
- Prayer – We can never pray enough. There is always room
for growth in discipleship and leadership. The guidance of the Holy
Spirit will make the recommendations we create as pastoral leaders so
much easier, so much more appropriate. It is our goal to have every
parish meeting and activity begin and end with prayer.
- Spirituality – Spirituality is the style of a person’s
response to Christ before the challenge of everyday life, in a given
historical and cultural environment. The disciple’s response is a call to a
life of stewardship. The steward leader receives God’s gifts gratefully,
tends and cherishes them responsibly, shares them in justice and charity,
and returns them to God in Abundance.
- Planning – Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, we should
examine our goals and plans with foresight and anticipation. Organization is
the key to success.
- Communication – In a spirit of frankness and humility,
every parishioner needs to know the who, where, when, what, and why of the
consultative bodies’ vision and goals for the parish.
- Hospitality – From their collective heart, good stewards say nothing as
often as "Welcome." Everyone has something to contribute. Everyone is needed.
Everyone needs to be made to feel as such. How does your council/commission
welcome and include those serving and those participating in ministry?
- Consensus – Stewards do not have a vote. The good to be
done should be ultimately obvious to everyone through the guidance of the
Holy Spirit. The progress of all meetings follows this general outline:
pray, discuss, listen, pray, reflect, pray, reach consensus, pray.
- Service – Leaders who respond to the call must be able to
dedicate their time to serve as an active participant in the meetings,
committees and projects which supports the vision of our parish ministries,
commissions, or councils. They outwardly exhibit a commitment to Christian
stewardship and seek ministry outreach/service opportunities both within the
parish and in the greater community in which we live.
- Inclusion – Include everyone in the invitation to
participate. Recognize the unique contributions that every member can make.
We are all members of the Mystical Body of Christ. As good stewards, we
celebrate our unity in Christ.
- Gratitude – Your Mom was right. Never, never forget to say "Thank you."
As a pastoral leader, "thank you" to God and others should be a natural,
everyday prayer. Every gift of time, talent, or treasure – no matter how
great or small – calls forth an expression of gratitude.
- Vision – Approximate the attitude of the early Church.
Expect nothing less than everything. What an outpouring of stewardship those
first Catholics must have accomplished.
"The community of believers were of one heart
and one mind. . . With great power the apostles gave
their witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
and great grace was upon them all.2 (Acts 4:32-33)
Retain and cherish St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Community’s vision for the
future. Remember the Lord’s teaching about the mustard seed. Plant the seed. And
imagine what it, and you, might become. With stewardship and the faith that
supports it, all things are possible.
1
Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response,
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1993 & 2003, p. 48.
2
Acts of the Apostles, 4:32-33. |