Your comments, corrections and additions are solicited. Your ideas and what your parish might seek or offer in a parish2parish partnership are welcome here.
- Relationships should be organic, rising out of relationship, not contirved to "check the box."
- Relationships should be peer-to-peer, where partners are of common interest, size, etc.
- Partnerships should not be viewed as dependant or paternal relationships.
- Several small congregations might be one partner in a partnership.
- Publish a calendar on the Diocesan web site for parishes in the prayers of the people.
- The Diocesan web site might publish a trading board for parishes to advertise and search for resources.
- The vision and purpose of this initiative should be more clearly articulated.
- The vast majority of clergy were receptive to this initiative.
- A beginning step would be to identivy and inventory strengths and passions.
- This initiative may reveal possibilities for new ministries.
- Will this mean more work for parishes, clergy?
- Will this provide for spreading the work in collaboration. IE: joint confrimation, lay reader training, youth groups, etc.
- The Diocese role should be to network ideas, offer suggestions.
The Necessary Ingredients would be:
- Prayer
- Identify organic needs
- Intentionality, clarity
- Relational
- Passion
