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How to Implement Stewardship and Prepare for Inevitable Obstacles

The Do’s & Don’ts of Stewardship Implementation in the Parish: Sts. Simon & Jude Case History. How to Implement Stewardship and Prepare for Inevitable Obstacles Michael Harvey, OFM Pastor John Hazlin, Past Stewardship Board Chair. April 26, 2007.

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How to Implement Stewardship and Prepare for Inevitable Obstacles

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  1. The Do’s & Don’ts of Stewardship Implementation in the Parish: Sts. Simon & Jude Case History How to Implement Stewardship and Prepare for Inevitable Obstacles Michael Harvey, OFM Pastor John Hazlin, Past Stewardship Board Chair April 26, 2007

  2. Presentation Outline 5 Key Processes I. Plan II. Act III. Implement IV. Anticipate V. Evaluate

  3. Recommendations on Getting Started I. Plan II. Act III. Implement IV. Anticipate V. Evaluate

  4. Plan Pastor Support • Don’t even think about it if the Pastor isn’t the “champion.”

  5. Plan Leadership Team Selection • Handpick the leadership team and the team leader. • Picking the right people is critical • Spirituality • Collegiality • Consensus builders • God will provide

  6. Plan Aim for Conversion • Focus on how to change hearts, not on delivering a message. Stewardship is Caught…. Not Taught

  7. Plan Define Stewardship • The Pastor must define Stewardship at the outset. (even if the team redefines it later)

  8. Plan Create Bylaws • Limit politics by setting up ground rules at the start.1.Vision of Stewardship 2.Purpose of the Stewardship Board: 3.Goal: 4.Objectives: 5.Members of the Board 6.The Chair of the Board: 7.The Vice-Chair of the Board: 8.The recording secretary: 9.Meetings: 10. Amending these by-laws:

  9. Plan Don’t Go Too Fast • Build in time for Stewardship study. (It will take up to 6 months.)

  10. Plan Study Stewardship • Look to the Diocese and other U.S. parishes to train your leaders. (This can cut learning time up to 3 months).

  11. Plan Develop Witness Talks • Invite all leadership team members to write and deliver a witness talk to the other team members.

  12. Plan Don’t Reinvent the Wheel • Use programs, plans, materials and study programs available from the Diocese and other U.S. parishes. • Other Resources: • Debbie Leaverton – Diocesan of Orange • Leisa Anslinger – Immaculate Heart of Mary – Cincinnati, OH • Sharon Hueckel – Our Lady of the Assumption– Claremont, CA

  13. Plan Formalize Communication Requirements • Establish at the outset the need for approval by the Pastor of all formal messages to the Parish.

  14. Plan Own Stewardship • The Team must agree a language with which they are comfortable. For example: • a definition • a prayer • a slogan • key tenants and/ or • other written formats that invite ownership.

  15. “Pray, Care & Share with SSJ” • “Pray” First spend time with God • “Care” This is my commandment, that you love one another John 15:12 • “Share” Move beyond faith to action • “with SSJ” Stewardship is an effort by and for the Body of Christ

  16. Plan Build Community within the Board • Learn fellow Board members unique gifts • Nurture and support the hard work of the “Team” • Trust is essential for understanding

  17. Plan Create a Written Plan • Expect the Leadership Team to write: • Goals • Objectives and • Strategies (Allow 2-3 months)

  18. Plan Establish Working Teams • Assign each person to a Working Team responsible for a specific area of Stewardship planning

  19. Plan Tie in dates to the Parish Calendar • Avoid conflicts • Anticipate the timing of future events with an eye on the Church calendar • Take advantage of obvious Stewardship themes: • Advent preparation • Lenten reflection • Pentecost –recognition of talents

  20. Plan Delegate Tactics Creation • Expect each Working Team to write tactics that deliver agreed upon strategies (Allow 1-2 months)

  21. Plan Empower the Leadership Team • When you see they’re ready, charge them with the responsibility.

  22. Plan Recruit More People • Recruit & train additional Stewardship leaders before you begin implementing

  23. Plan Embrace Stewardship • If you’re ready for Stewardship, make it clear to all that it is the core of all messages and events.

  24. Stewardship Education is a Multi-Year Process

  25. Plan Plan for the Long-Term • Acknowledge at the outset that creating Stewardship is a long-term process

  26. Recommendations on Getting Started I. Plan II. Act III. Implement IV. Anticipate V. Evaluate

  27. Act “Name it and Claim it” • Point out many examples of Stewardship that already happen in the Parish.

  28. Act Don’t Go Too Slow • “The Stewardship message is urgent;” • The leaders you’ve chosen will respond, if you expect it.

  29. Act Tell Them it’s Stewardship • Identify messages as “Stewardship” as they naturally occur in homilies, music, and other aspects of liturgy.

  30. Act Don’t Tell Them that It’s Stewardship • Gain acceptance by tailoring the message to the audience and the occasion. You don’t have to use the word “Stewardship.”

  31. Act Witness Stewardship • Include witness talks in Stewardship presentations and events, whenever possible.

  32. Act Ground All Activities with Prayer • Make prayer an integral part of all you do. • Start every meeting with a reading from Scripture; • Make time for spiritual reflection • Trust in God to give you direction.

  33. Act Recruit Parish Leaders First • Start with those who lead ministries & boards or who already lead by example

  34. Act Don’t Start with Money • Stewardship is much more than money; Don’t poison the well. “Concentrating on one specific obligation of Stewardship, even one as important as church support, could make it harder – even impossible – for people to grasp the vision” Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response

  35. Act Don’t Over Control • If you know everything that’s going on, then it’s not working.

  36. Act Facilitate Cross Communication • Empower Stewardship to infiltrate all aspects of parish life. • Make it clear to parish leaders that that is the expectation.

  37. Recommendations on Getting Started I. Plan II. Act III. Implement IV. Anticipate V. Evaluate

  38. Implement Homilies/Homilies/Homilies • Compose a comprehensive Stewardship message and deliver it over and over and over.

  39. Implement Kick off with a 3 Week Formation Program • Work toward a 3 week formation program that will speak to the people in the back of the Church.

  40. SSJ 3 Week Faith Formation ProgramMay 1 –May 18, 2004 • 3 Week Program Goal Expose all active Parishioners to the basic message of Stewardship as a way of life. • Week 1 • Theme: Stewardship: A Spirituality for our Times • Mass Homily: “Jesus calls us to Stewardship” • Tuesday night: Responding to 21st Century challenges of Christianity • Week 2 (Mother’s Day) • Theme: The Stewardship of Parenting • Witness talk: “Responding in Gratitude, a Mother’s Example” • Tuesday night: Bringing Stewardship home for the kids • Week 3 –Parish Mission (Sharon Hueckel) • Mission Theme: Increasing personal spirituality • Mass Homily: Naming and Claiming: Recognizing the Stewardship in our daily lives • Sunday night: Stewardship: Responding in Love • Monday night: Modeling Stewardship for our Children • Tuesday night: Parish Formation: Stewardship “with SSJ”

  41. Implement Make a One Day Program the Centerpiece • Borrow or develop a One Day Stewardship Spirituality Program that goes beyond knowledge to facilitate a change of heart. • Offer multiple Saturdays. • Make this the centerpiece of all Stewardship education

  42. One Day Agenda –Stewardship Spirituality TOPICACTIVITY 8:45 AM Registration 9:00 AM Overview/ Readings 9:15 AM Stewardship Overview –Fr. Michael 9:30 AM “How have I been called?” Witness Talk 9:45 AM “The Call” Readings & Table Discussion 10:45 AM “Jesus Way” Readings & Table Discussion 11:30 AM Lunch and Walk with a friend 12:15 PM “Stewardship in Daily Life” Witness Talk 12:30 PM “Living As Steward” Readings & Reflection on Time Use 1:15 PM “Stewards of the Church” Readings & Reflection on Talents   2:30 PM “The Challenge & The Choice” Readings & Room Discussion   3:15 PM Summary 3:30 PM Depart

  43. Day of Study –Personal Time Analysis

  44. Day of Study –Personal Talent Analysis

  45. Implement Condense the Message • Once the One Day program is firmly in place, create a half day alternate • Requires less time • Still creates an environment for spirituality to blossom.

  46. Presentation Outline 5 Key Processes I. Plan II. Act III. Implement IV. Anticipate V. Evaluate

  47. Anticipate Stewardship Is Misunderstood • Decide before you start on how to deal with the misconception that Stewardship is “a creation of the Bishop to increase the collection.”

  48. Anticipate People Are Over Involved • Active parishioners • Over involved in Church and have no time for Stewardship. • Inactive parishioners • Over involved in life and have no time for Stewardship.

  49. Anticipate Conflicts of Schedule • The Pastor has to set priorities, with help from the Pastoral Council.

  50. Anticipate Fishermen & Tax Collectors • Empower people to write plans. Most people aren’t professional planners and don’t think they can do it.

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