Parish leadership models, February 15, 2004You may want to look at what is being used for a "model".
Louise Lears and Doug Riggs led a discussion about parish leadership models that have existed for twenty years or more around the United States; they included data about the number of persons in lay and ordained ministries, parishes without priests, and catholic population from 1970 through 2003.
Model 1
Some of you may remember the Spiritus Christi group from Rochester, NY. This schismatic group is no longer in union with the Church. Perhaps you might recognize the name "Mary Ramerman." "Rev. Mary" was "ordained" a Catholic priest at Spiritus Christi in Nov. 2001. Also, if you look at their web page, You will see that Jesus is the pastor and "Fr" James Callan is the associate.
Model 2
St. Stephen's Catholic Church is a community of faith committed to justice, inclusion, and service. It is located just south of downtown Minneapolis.
There seems to be something strange about this one. Look here.
Model 3
This is what has been written about St. Francis of Assisi in Portland, OR, which "reaches out rather than building a safe place to be. "
The parish administrator at St. Francis for the last eight years is Valerie Chapman. The parish moderator is the Rev. Chuck Lienert, a Jesuit with full time work somewhere else. I talked with one of the Pastoral Council members, Nancy Gilbertz. She told me that everybody recognized Valerie as the pastor, the person who did all the day-to-day pastoral work of the parish.Isn't this the greatest thing ever?...another group of people who appear to have rejected the faith passed on to us from our Fathers, the Church which has existed for 2000 years, and the primacy of Peter and his successors - and last, but certainly not least, in all of these rejections we have the ultimate rejection - that of Jesus Christ Himself.
Like St. Cronan, St. Francis is a "destination church" in a relatively poor city neighborhood. (Destined for what or to where, I must ask?)
The liturgy was striking. Valerie entered side-by-side with Fr. Lienert. She offered the opening gathering statement and blessing. She and the priest sat next to one another. She blessed father before he proclaimed the Gospel and preached. She prepared the alter as the gifts (including the collection) were brought up. I forget exactly what further participation she had until the end when she had announcements, including an upcoming neighborhood meeting about the park. Finally, she and father processed out side-by-side.
There is no other way to look at it unless we are believe that our Lord was lying when He said., "He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects Him who sent me." (Luke 10:16)
There is no website to review other than what is written here.
Perhaps a couple of other models can be suggested:
1. One which is in full communion with the Vicar of Christ, or
2. One like this, in which those involved may soon find themselves excommunicated.
Our Lady of Fatima stresses that we who are faithful to her Son, are to offer our prayers and make reparations for those who do not do so themselves. We are to do this so that they might be enlightened sufficiently to accept the graces God freely gives them. In this way their intellect may be enlightened and their wills may be conformed to His will.
