{"id":1924,"date":"2022-01-24T18:28:16","date_gmt":"2022-01-25T00:28:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/meitlercom.flywheelsites.com\/?p=1924"},"modified":"2022-01-24T18:28:17","modified_gmt":"2022-01-25T00:28:17","slug":"4-ways-your-parish-can-avoid-a-long-slow-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/meitler.com\/2022\/01\/24\/4-ways-your-parish-can-avoid-a-long-slow-death\/","title":{"rendered":"4 ways your parish can avoid a long slow death"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The Parish Pastoral Council and Strategic Planning<\/strong><\/p>\n Most parish pastoral councils operate on a year-to-year basis with little focus on the long-term future. Many are unaware of the community trends which are impacting the parish or the changing patterns of membership, sacramental practice, and finances. Few see the need for a strategy for the future, instead placing their hopes on a return to the “good old days.” Around the country, parishes are dying slow deaths because there is no intentional or organized attempt to change their trajectories. The smaller a parish becomes, the more difficult it is to overcome the forces of decline.<\/p>\n Long-range planning is not something that can be done every year. For parishes who regularly long-range plan, they usually do so every decade. It takes time to develop a plan, organize the implementation, and then get results. That is why it is essential to use the services of someone who has experience in parish or pastoral planning as a consultant. Objectivity is critical in an effective planning effort. Community and parish data need to be analyzed and any recommendations must be grounded in these objective realities. If a parish wants to build a building, they will not proceed without the services of an architect or a design-builder. The same is true if a parish wants to conduct a large capital campaign. They will hire a fund-raiser to determine the financial potential for the campaign as well as conduct the campaign itself. As important as the future is to the parish, why would a planning consultant not be hired?<\/p>\n Here are several important understandings to know before you begin a long-range planning effort.<\/p>\n Most parishes are formed or were formed by some significant population event or events. In most cases, the establishment of a parish followed the population growth in a specific geographical area. In most cases, this was a one-time event as the area was eventually “built out.”. Parishes in metro and city areas thrived, then experienced decline, and now are seeing people return to the cities. Suburban and ex-urban parishes are also experiencing transitions as their populations’ age and economic makeup change. Rural parishes have been especially hard hit as the agricultural economy has moved from the small farm to agribusiness leaving few jobs for the young to afford to stay in the area. All these trends and transitions can be addressed by a comprehensive planning process led by a qualified consultant.<\/p>\n\n