Pastoral Council Development
This office serves dozens of parish pastoral councils each year with
workshops and consultation on: strategic planning, spiritual vitality,
meeting skills, enabling volunteers, inter-parish collaboration and
leading in transitions. The Office also provides guidelines for council
operation and best practices. There is no cost for any of these
services.

Some popular topics include:
- Purpose of a Pastoral Council: central function
of the pastoral council, characteristics of effective councils,
collaborating with the pastor (for parish staff and pastoral council)
- Effective Parish Councils: how good decisions
are made, working toward consensus, structuring a successful parish
council, the role of committees/commissions, to delegate or not to
delegate, that is the question (for parish staff and pastoral council)
- Meeting Skills for Parish Organizations: strategic
planning, agenda - the key to productive and enjoyable meetings, the
art of facilitating, persuasive communication and negotiating skills
(for parish staff and pastoral council)
- Best Practices for Parish Pastoral Councils:
Learn how successful councils: start with clarity of purpose, hold
productive and purposeful meetings, make wise use of structures and
committee reports and get practical answers to questions about size of
council, selection of members, how to get started, meetings, and
relationship with the parish finance council among others.
- Growing an Engaged Church: moving from
maintenance to mission, best practices for pastoral excellence,
leveraging change to maximize growth, adapting to meet emerging needs,
pastoral planning made easy (for parish staff, pastoral council and
ministry leaders)
- Strategic Planning Made Simple: the difference
between proactive and reactive planning, elements and steps in
developing a strategic plan, how to best consult with the congregation,
to survey or not to survey - that is the question, how to write high
impact goals
Parish vitality does not just happen. It is the result of strategic
thinking and effective leadership. One of the hallmarks of effective
leadership is the ability to mobilize a community and focus its energy
in a strategic direction. Completing a Parish Planning Survey is
another strategic step that all parishes can take in assessing their
progress toward vibrant parish life. Once you have collected completed
survey contact our office to have the results tabulated and receive a
report (sample report). The Parish Cafe is
a listening process that can be used to discuss the results of your
survey and energize the community for its vital mission. You can print a
copy of the parish planning survey or call to receive a copy from the
Office for Evangelization and Parish Life, (716) 847-8393. Contact us for expert analysis of your planning survey results.
The diocese also offers guidelines for effective parish pastoral
councils and for a constitution and bylaws. These are viewable online
or downloadable in .pdf format.
Download - Summary or Complete Document
Download - Constitution and Bylaw Guidelines
Download - Pastoral and Finance Councils
You can also receive a copy by contacting us or calling (716) 847-8393.