Strategic plans for synod norms online
PISCATAWAY — Synod norm implementation took a major step forward with the completion of strategic plans for each of the 59 norms promulgated by Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski. These plans are now published on the Diocese of Metuchen’s website, so that all of the faithful can view them.
Msgr. William Benwell, vicar general and moderator of the curia, explained the significance of the publication of the plans.
“From the beginning of the synod process, we were aware that diocesan synods sometimes make a lot of news and raise a lot of hopes and then nothing happens,” Msgr. Benwell said. “These plans represent further evidence of the ongoing commitment to making the synod a real instrument of renewal in the Diocese of Metuchen.”
Every diocesan department contributed to the plans, with individual “persons responsible” leading the process. The plans may be viewed by anyone in the diocese, at any time, on www.diometuchen.org. Both the English and Spanish editions of the plans can be found on the website. After the description of each norm, a copy of the strategic plan appears with the click of a mouse on the text “click here for plan.” A single document containing all 59 plans may also be downloaded.
Each plan identifies the norm itself as its “goal” and then lists the steps necessary to achieve the goal, called “objectives.” For example, Norm 9 reads, “Because of the current shortage of priests, the diocese is to establish a policy of pastoral partnership agreements between or among parishes within each deanery.”
The plan for this norm lists three objectives:
1. Deanery boundaries will be redrawn by April 30, 2009 to better reflect geographies that will promote pastoral partnerships between parishes.
2. The Department of Diocesan Planning will work with groups of parishes throughout 2009-2011 to prayerfully reflect on demographics, trends and current ministries to discern pastoral partnership agreements.
3. The deanery councils called for by the synod will reflect on the possibilities for pastoral partnership agreements within their deaneries from June 2009 to December 2011.
An evaluation team composed of Msgr. Benwell; Jeffry Odell Korgen, executive director of the Department of Diocesan Planning; and Judith Tabert and Msgr. Gregory E.S. Malovetz, Commission for Synod Implementation co-chairs, will meet quarterly with the persons responsible for each norm identified in the strategic plan.
These meetings will explore progress made toward achieving the objectives highlighted in each plan and determine if further assistance is needed. The evaluation team will report progress toward meeting goals and objectives to Bishop Bootkoski.
Economic difficulties have impacted synod norm implementation, but these challenges have affected only a fraction of the norms. As Bishop Bootkoski recently stated, only 15 percent of norms require additional funding. In a few of these cases, departmental program budgets have accommodated these priorities. With plans involving the hiring of new staff, the diocesan hiring freeze has moved the hiring dates to July 1, 2010.
E-mail comments or questions regarding synod norm implementation to CSI@diometuchen.org.