November 7, 2006 -- Minutes

Present:  Dave Johnson, Molly Romine, Aimee Phelan, Don Kosis, Pat Kosis, Marian Rourke, Pete Vuyk, Terri Vuyk, Christine Hughes, Kathy Mercer, Cathy Olds

The meeting began at 6 pm with a meal of soup (prepared by Terri Vuyk) with sandwiches, chips and cookies.

Cathy reviewed information from the Pastoral Council meeting in September and the state of the adult faith ministries. 

Adult Faith Ministries include:

O.C.I.A. -- Adult Confirmation – Emmaus -- Adult Retreats -- Spiritual Companions Group – JustFaith -- Adult Formation Program -- Library

Adult ministries are growing.

• The library is being well used during times it is open.  We still need folks to open it on Sunday mornings.  We are working on making the catalogue of books available on the web page.
• There are more adult formation classes offered this year and called to protect are now included in the program
• JustFaith involves four people from St. Andrew and four from St. Benedict parish and two from OLPH in Scottsdale (our program is late starting and was available to them).  We would like to offer JustFaith next year as an option for this year’s OCIA candidates to continue their formation in a small faith context.
• There are 4 women participating in the spiritual companions group using Bridges to Contemplative Living with Thomas Merton.
• We are offering three more Busy Person’s retreats and a weekend retreat in February at Living Waters Retreat Center in Cornville, AZ
• There are 6 people attending the fall Emmaus program.  There will be two more six week sessions.
• There are 12-15 adults in the confirmation program.  They are attending classes in the Adult Formation Program with an extra class on sacraments added.
• There are 34 OCIA candidates.  The team of eight is working well together and all seems well.

Cathy explained some of the ministry concerns coming from the parish vision document, Pastors Forming Pastors and some of the development concerns for adult ministries.  Group members were emailed a number of questions to consider to direct the conversation about adult faith ministries this year and looking toward the future.  They were:

• What paid and volunteer staff do we need?
• Who should take on the leadership role for these ministries?  Do we want a designated leader of each of the ministries listed above?
• What resources for the ministries do we need?
• What do you think St. Andrew's needs in terms of adult formation and adult spirituality?
• What do you think are the challenges for adult faith formation and the parish?

Leaders of the adult faith ministries had the following comments.

We seem to have a vision but no strategic plan.

Are other full time staff members willing to step in on projects?  More often, Cathy is asked to step in to provide formation for other ministries.

How do we bring young adult formation over to adult faith?  Perhaps that staff person can take on a bigger role in adult formation.

How are we organizing the resources around the various ministries parish wide?  We need to train some trainers to use the resources we have more efficiently, e.g. Cathy could train someone to run various programs like JustFaith or teach classes.  Theology staff needs to train others.  We have an exceptionally talented and competent parish.

There definitely needs to be more communication and cooperation between ministries.  There needs to be a coherent plan.

The weight of ministry continues to rest on too few people, including full time staff members.  We need more staff.

We also need to rationalize individual ministries.

We need personal invitation to involve more parishioners.  Laity must work.  The stewardship question is, “Where is your heart?  Let your hands and feet follow.â€

Stewardship requires someone to focus knowledge, skills and attitudes of parishioners.

We could ask new parishioners (even older ones) to sign a contract / commitment of service after some gift discernment.

Offer ways for people to get involved in a small way.

Build relationships with volunteers right away

The message needs to come from the priest in the pulpit.

Once a quarter we could have a “Stewardship Sunday†offering stories of how parishioners are using their gifts in and beyond the parish.   NPR fundraising model; you’re a member!  We want you!  Your giving is justice.

The success of this meeting and participation is because Cathy was more assertive and made us come to this conversation.  We need to hear the expectations and don’t make them too low.  Say the needs.  Be more assertive.

We introduced everyone and each of the several ministries each of us is involved in and closed with prayer.

Page updated: Tuesday, January 16, 2007