 August
2002
Hit or Myth Ministry?
Secrets of Success in Collaboration
Things are certainly abuzz
here in Central Maryland. I love this job, because there is ne'er a dull
moment. Quite a contrast to the first summer, four years ago, when the
Center re-opened. About this time
of year, we had just moved the office into its new home at Mount
Saint Mary's. I was still waiting for computers to arrive, and typing up
ads for a secretary on a trusty Smith Corona typewriter. No email...and
the phones were...quiet. There were plenty
of times during that first year when I invoked the hallowed title of the
Maytag Repairman.
Not so today. The calendar is
filling, my task list is bulging, and the Inbox is chirping at me every
five minutes. We have not only managed to ratchet up the Center's program
offerings each year, but a growing number of you in parishes and schools
are sharing and pooling resources. In a given month, as much as half of
the offerings on our calendar are events sponsored by area parishes and
schools. Visits to this website have nearly doubled since August 2000. It
seems that regional catechetical ministry is alive and well.
"Hit or Myth"
Strategies
I have learned a lot about Regional
Ministry since I came here. Experience has led me to drop some
misperceptions, and to stand by some practical strategies. Perhaps a
closer look at some of these "myths" and hits will help when you
are thinking about collaborating with nearby facilities on a project.
Myth
#1: Pooling your resources with
neighboring facilities is always better than doing it alone.
I came to Central Maryland thinking
that just about any task that a parish or school can come up with would be
best served by a regional project or program. We could do regional
marriage and sacramental preparation, regional training of volunteers.
Heck, maybe we could even do regional catechesis, sharing catechists
between parishes that don't have enough volunteers.
Instead of this approach, I
quickly learned that many needs are better and more efficiently served by
the individual parish or school. Like politics, all religion is
"local"; parishes and schools provide a sense of home and
"family" that regional organizations will never match.
When considering a
collaborative project, ask whether it is something that will enhance or
hinder the work that participating groups are already doing.
Myth #2: If you build it,
they will come.
I learned this from my parish work, too: Events and activities, even
great ones, rarely sell themselves. Besides, if you are not sensitive to
what people need, then the few that you do get will come once, but
will never be heard from again.
Myth #3: The more
parishes/schools get in on planning an activity, the more successful it
will be.
One of the most successful regional events last year, an evening on
Chastity, was spearheaded by five parishes. Over 800 participants, and a
large number of area parishes, took part in the event. Two or three vested
players are enough to set a project in motion that can affect the entire
region.
Myth#4: Working regionally
is easier that doing it yourself.
Anyone who has collaborated with others knows that juggling multiple
schedules, personalities, needs, and gifts is a lot harder than doing the
work yourself. To overcome this challenge, we need to be sure that the payoff
for this hard work is something unique and powerful that we could not
have accomplished alone.
On the positive side, I have
found approaches that make for a surefire "hit" in regional
ministry.
Hit #1: Find a
"captive audience".
With very few exceptions, I use a parish or school "home
base" as the starter for regional programs. I make sure that the
event to be hosted by that facility will be attractive to people from that
parish or school. The idea is to try to guarantee enough of an audience to
ensure that the event will run. You lose a lot of momentum when you have
to cancel an event due to low numbers.
Hit #2: Feed the need.
When considering the tasks for the
coming year, I am eager to hear what people in the area need. I have
also found it helpful in public relations materials to speak to how this
or that service or event will meet the needs of potential
participants.
I have worked extensively in
this region on the need for formation of volunteers. We have tried a
variety of approaches. There seems to be an emerging consensus that the
best way to meet this need is through a combination of individual and
regional efforts. Finding a strategy or solution that meets the need can
be a challenge. When you hit upon a great strategy, it is time to consider
Hit#3:
Hit #3: Share it! Sell it!
I have been surprised at how much
time the Center has spent on communications and marketing tasks. The
Center provides a focus point for resources, events, and formation in the
Region. In consultations, I often find myself referring the caller to
another parish or school, where they have developed the very resource for
which he/she is searching.
A regional minister is a
promoter of sorts. Another analogy that seems to fit is that of ringmaster,
calling attention to the simultaneous activity in each of the circus'
rings. Great collaboration doesn't always mean that we have to work
on projects together; sometimes we can just invite others as guests to the
great ministry that is happening in our "ring", or share some of
the tricks of the trade with others searching for answers.
The Adventure Continues...
What have you learned about
collaborative ministry, or working regionally? I would love to hear from
you. Where shall we go from here as a Region? Only the Spirit knows
our destination.
Thus far, I have really
enjoyed the ride!.
Chris Weber
Director
Catholic Education Ministries of Central Maryland
301-447-3707
Copyright © 2002 by the Catholic Education
Ministries Center of Central Maryland, Emmitsburg, MD 21727. All rights reserved.
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