Marks of Excellence
Collaborative
Collaborative leaders empower the gifts of all the baptized while working together toward a shared mission. They bring the fullness of the Catholic tradition to the community: communal, sacramental, pastoral, and prophetic. They respect the Spirit that is present and active in the community and in its members.
Findings: Of all the marks of excellence, pastoral leaders are most hungry for information on how to be collaborative, how to work as a team, how men and women work together, what does it mean when laity and ordained work together.
Ethical
Ethical leaders respect the dignity of the person. They are faithful to the Gospel and the mission and ministry of Jesus. They exhibit appropriate behavior in both the personal and professional arenas.
Findings: Pastoral leaders have focused on developing this mark of excellence over the past several years.
Welcoming and Inclusive
Inclusive leaders invite, support, and animate diversity in the parish, paying particular attention to diverse cultures, languages, ethnicities, gender, generations, abilities, and beliefs, in ways that are that are respectful and mutually enriching. They welcome all in a spirit of heartfelt hospitality, openness, and eagerness both to give and to receive
Findings: Pastoral leaders state that, of all the marks, this is the least well lived out.
Pastoral
Pastoral leaders are called to be faithful to the mission of the church and to the building of the Kingdom. They must be able to care for the overall welfare and needs of the community, while empowering the members of the community to care for one another.
Findings: Pastoral leaders have learned well how to be pastoral.
Prophetic
Prophetic leaders move the parish in a direction that is faithful to the Gospel and into mission. They are ecumenical, evangelistic, justice-focused, and mission directed, providing outreach to the community. They are servant leaders, concerned about being faithful to the ministry of the church while at the same time building the Kingdom.
Findings: Of all the marks of excellence, pastoral leaders indicate that being prophetic in their preaching, teaching, and leadership is the most challenging.
Creative and Adaptive
During the course of the Project studies, two additional marks of excellence. Pastoral leaders are also creative and adaptive. Effective leaders, when faced with situations for which they have no preparation or training, adapt, engaging the community in searching for ways to create effective and vital parishes.
Related Reports & Articles
"Co-Responsibility" Studied By Emerging Models Project
July 4, 2009
The co-responsibility of the entire parish, called "total ministering parishes" by the Project, called for by Pope Benedict XVI, and reitered by Bishop Gerald Kikanas at a gathering of the Leadership Roundtable, was studied by the Emerging Models Project.
Short Summary of Major Findings of Phase I
by
Marti Jewell, D.Min.
April 25, 2009
After five years of study and conversation with lay and ordained pastoral leaders across the country, the extensive findings, an in-depth study, can be summarized as representing a paradigmatic shift in how parish life is structured and served.
Book Review: Shaping Catholic Parishes
September 11, 2008
In reviewing the first book in the Emerging Models Series, David Gibson says 'the book's riches can only be hinted at.' Gibson looks at diversity, collaboratin, and young adults as he reviews Shaping Catholic Parishes.
Book Review: Shaping Catholic Parishes
September 10, 2008
In a review of "Shaping Catholic Parishes" for Church Magazine, Bill Pickett names the value of this first book -- the first in the Emerging Models of Pastoral Leadership Series -- for those dealing with change in parish leadership.
