Feedback about the Process of Fit for Mission

‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.’
(Luke 4:18)

Introduction

The following is the personal feedback by Philip Bannister a parish member of St Augustine’s Preston. It is a response to the questions and statements set out in the Fit for Mission document as published by the Diocese of Lancaster and Cumbria.

The views reflected in this document are solely the writers and do not constitute any form of consensus from members of his Parish.

Opening statement

The initial comments I will make may appear initially very critical of how the process has been put together and of how Parishes are asked to respond to Fit for Mission. I am expressing some personal views on the content, flow and purpose of the review documents. Not withstanding all of this I will be responding fully on the range, depth and breadth of the issues and areas we are asked to address via this blog .

Being Positive

My response and view is to go with what we have been given and take control, ownership and utilise it at a Personal and Parish level. The Review has it own life and purpose but what the Fit for Mission document does is provide us each with a unique opportunity to take forward in a very personal way our own contribution to the life of our church.

Feedback on the process surrounding Fit for Mission

What follows is a very quick commentary with personal observation on the process.

I do not wish to dwell in criticism but to ‘flag up some issues’ and ask for these to be noted and commented on. Again I reiterate, “It is moving forward that should be our concern”.

Any process can be admired and its fans, champions but it is the outcomes that are most important to us all.

Main points

• The process of Fit for Mission appears very top down. What I mean are Bishop, Vicar generals and advisers? setting out what they want. And how they want it.
• The process lacks inspiration for Parishes to develop a way forward.
• It lacks opportunity for ownership by a parish and what is left with at the end? An evaluation and some basic commitments to action it lack substance and misses the opportunity for personal action planning which is clearly being asked for in the Fit for Mission document the challenge is to the individual and the collective together
• There is No escape route or soft cushion for parishes with little or few resources, significantly older congregations and declining numbers. The process has a has a potential to instill a sense of failure and despair.
• It is unclear in a similar way to previous reviews how the process will be used. The section on process retains control at the core level with the grass roots feeding up to the centre and then being allocated area plans.
• The document is 'Great on Content' and very clearly a work of careful reflection but weak on substance in relation to outcomes. Section four on page 25, which is the key to the strategic process, is very light on content and process.
• The process appears to fail to deliver a strategic statement on the use of reviews in planning for resources beyond simple statements. I personally believe it will be necessary for there to be referendum on key issues at later stages to obtain commitment and endorsement to key issues as they are put forward as recommendations.

This would include such issues as:

o Closing churches
o Moving Priests
o Formation of Mission Centre’s to Meet Deanery needs
o Financing the work of the Diocese, and the Parish
o Looking at new ways to deliver the sacraments
o Looking at the role of Women
o Evaluation of the Diocese response to Safeguarding Children and People at Risk

In conclusion

The Parish evaluation form that will be used to collate responses is a very different document to the Fit for Mission document.

It is hard to see links between the two documents the guide and the evaluation.

It is difficult to see the views of parish members about questions and challenges in Fit for Mission and how they are taken forward in the evaluation form that the Parish will complete.

I personally welcome the challenge that Fit for Mission will provide to each of us.

As a convert to the Catholic Church I appreciate my experiences of Christian faith are different.

I value each and every one of my fellow Catholic Parishioners views and believe but also recognise that collectively as members of the Catholic and wider Christian faith we have a duty to proclaim the Good News.

To do this we must prayer together and follow prayer with action.

I wll be posting more on this blog as the process unfolds but Ia slo encourage readers to make there comments known via this blog. I will moderate comments but not edit anything that is not offensive within gererally accepted terms.

Thank you for reading this .

Philip A Bannister
Member of the Parish of
St. Augustine of Canterbury,
The Parish House,
St. Austin’s Place,
PRESTON
PR1 3YJ