If you take the time to help people determine what their natural strengths are, it becomes much easier to match them to ministries that they’re going to find fulfilling for the long term. And the process of discovering one’s God-given talents is in itself an experience that can build a lasting bond among individual members and the church. Gallup’s Clifton StrengthsFinder and congregational engagement research tools have helped St. Gerard Majella Parish in Port Jefferson Station, New York, transform its Catholic parish from blasé to a community that has quadrupled its parishioner engagement. Today, the parish is a place where staff and parishioners know their top strengths—like “Empathy” and “Achiever” —and they serve the church in ministry work for which they’re naturally suited. If you’re attending the ParishSOFT Conference, Nov. 7-9 in Anaheim, be sure to catch the keynote and workshop presented by Msgr. Bill Hanson, who led St. Gerard Majella to its transformation to the vibrant parish it is today. Share your data, goals, successes With a clear understanding of your mission and strengths, you can now help members understand what your participation numbers mean. It’s okay to lay the statistics on the table, “Only 34% of you give financially. Only 15% of you volunteer. We can do so much better!” Set a goal and talk about what your ministries have accomplished with existing participation levels. Your church’s success stories help to build the vision of what can be done and whom you can help with more hands. Stewardship is a way of life, not $$$ In his book More than Silver or Gold: Homilies of a Stewardship Priest, Fr. Daniel Mahan (keynote and workshop presenter at the 2011 ParishSOFT Conference) sets the record straight for Christians who think $ when they hear the word stewardship. “Stewardship is a way of life that is deeply rooted in the person of Jesus Christ, who came to teach us how to live,” writes Fr. Mahan. “Stewardship is not confined to the portion of a person’s time or income that is given back to the parish….the true aim of stewardship is toward a more vibrant witness ‘out in the world’.” Still, it is important to set expectations so members understand that the time, talent and treasure components of stewardship are all essential to fulfilling your mission. If they’re giving financial support and nothing else, they’re giving God only a portion of what He’s asked of us. And, let’s be frank, their hearts are holding back from saying “Yes, my Lord” and meaning it. There is simply no way to feed the hungry with just a warehouse of food. But put a distribution plan together and bring in some volunteers, and that food becomes nourishment in the belly of someone in need. Ask each parishioner to commit time, talent and treasure as Christian Computing® Magazine
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Great! Now I can get on with ministry.
www.ParishSOFT.com October 2011
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