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Thank you, Mila Glodava, for posting the Constitution and Bylaws of St. Thomas More Church in the Denver archdiocese. I have never read a parish constitution and by-laws. Although I have read many parish pastoral council…"
Catholic Standards for Excellence Forum
Sharing Church management best practices in the Catholic Church
Mark F. Fischer's Discussions
Telling the Financial Truth to Parishioners
Started this discussion. Last reply by Mark F. Fischer Apr 2. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Too often parish financial reports -- the one-page "balance sheets" that pastors commonly insert into parish bulletins -- reveal so little that parishioners are ignorant of the parish's finances. …Continue
How should pastors consult?
Started this discussion. Last reply by Dennis Cheesebrow Jan 3. 3 Replies 1 Like
In the 46 years since Vatican II, Catholics have been talking about how pastors should consult. I would like to know what Roundtable readers think. …Continue
Mark F. Fischer's Page
Latest Activity
Mark F. Fischer replied to Peter Denio's discussion Advisory Councils serve the pastor's apostolate, the laity's apostolate, or both?
Michael W. Ryan commented on Mark F. Fischer's blog post Training Seminarians for Pastoral Leadership
"The Leadership Roundtable has endorsed as their recommended Best Practice for handling the Church's primary source of income (the Sunday collection) guidelines codified and implemented by the AD of Chicago in 2005. Those guidelines have…"
Rev. John E. Burger commented on Mark F. Fischer's blog post Training Seminarians for Pastoral Leadership
"Glad to see this issue raised. The seminaries cannot solve every problem by curriculum revision. But something should be done in this area. I think it might be helpful to approach good leadership in the context of ecclesiology which is definitely a…"
Marcy Meldahl, SPHR commented on Mark F. Fischer's blog post Training Seminarians for Pastoral Leadership
"I think practical training would be extremely beneficial. Not only leadership training, but exposure to accounting, contracts, human resources management, etc. Priests are becoming pastors sooner than in the past, and in our diocese at least might…"
Mark F. Fischer replied to Jeffry Odell Korgen's discussion Parish Census--How to utilize?
"I'd like to see a parish census with an "appreciative inquiry" twist. In other words, I would like to see a census that takes a page from appreciative inquiry and asks parishioners what they like best about their parish. …"
Mark F. Fischer replied to David E. DeLambo's discussion The Need for Broad Consultation
"David DeLambo is absolutely correct in saying that it is important to consult widely. His example -- the pastor who changed the time of the Christmas eve "midnight Mass" from 11:30 to 5:00 -- shows that it is unwise to respond to a…"
Mark F. Fischer replied to Mark F. Fischer's discussion Telling the Financial Truth to Parishioners
"John O'Malley's parish should be congratulated for actively publishing not only a fiscal statement but also a five-year building capital improvement plan. The more our parishes are transparent, the more Catholics will contribute in…"
Mark F. Fischer replied to Mark F. Fischer's discussion Telling the Financial Truth to Parishioners
"Thanks, Gerard, for your comment about priestly formation. You're right -- it does not include formal accounting education. There is much that can be done to help seminarians become priests and pastors who are good stewards. …"
John O'Malley replied to Mark F. Fischer's discussion Telling the Financial Truth to Parishioners
"It is necessary to make the financials as open as possible so as to share the good news or the actual cost to run a building. People have no idea that the heating /cooling cost is that much, or that the candles just don't show up, or the cost…"
Mark F. Fischer posted a blog post
Training Seminarians for Pastoral Leadership
Even in the post-Vatican II era of collaborative ministry, bishops only entrust parishes to ordained pastors. Such pastors rely on professional staffs and competent volunteers, as well as on pastoral and finance council members. But none of them have more than what Canon Law calls a "consultative vote." The buck stops with the pastor. He alone can make legal decisions on behalf of the parish, and the good pastor must be a prudent leader as well as a good shepherd.All the more reason for…See More
Mark F. Fischer replied to Michael Brough's discussion Mandatory Training for Nonprofit Boards and Parish/Diocesan Councils?
"Everyone will welcome Michael Brough's call for training for parish and diocesan councils. But even more important than training for councils is training for the pastors who consult them. Church documents clearly envision a pastor who…"
Gerard F Carvalho replied to Mark F. Fischer's discussion Telling the Financial Truth to Parishioners
"Having served on a parish finance council after a career in business, I would like to suggest that two other documents are needed because the standard trio mentioned are all historical in orientation. A pastor should also have a report of income…"
Stephanie Wong replied to Mark F. Fischer's discussion Telling the Financial Truth to Parishioners
"Thanks for this post. I definitely would like to understand church finances better.... I think the church where I grew up usually just inserted a half-sheet with a pie graph on it showing the percentages of where money was spent; this visual…"
Jim Lundholm-Eades replied to Mark F. Fischer's discussion Telling the Financial Truth to Parishioners
"There isa saying that the truth will set you free. While true with respect to financial reports, the saying is incomplete. It should read: the truth shall set you free, but first it may make you very unhappy. Dr. Fisher has rightly pointed out the…"
Mark F. Fischer commented on Michael Brough's blog post National Standards, anyone?
"One national standard that I would like to see is a standard about financial reporting to parishioners. Many parishes annually issue to parishioners a one-page financial report that is no more than a statement of financial activity. In…"
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- Other
- Name of Catholic entity you represent (e.g. St. Ann's Church, Diocese of Gary, Franciscan Friars Northeast region, etc.)
- St. John's Seminary
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- Los Angeles
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Mark F. Fischer's Blog
Training Seminarians for Pastoral Leadership
Posted on March 24, 2012 at 1:30pm 3 Comments 0 Likes
Even in the post-Vatican II era of collaborative ministry, bishops only entrust parishes to ordained pastors. Such pastors rely on professional staffs and competent volunteers, as well as on pastoral and finance council members. But none of them have more than what Canon Law calls a "consultative vote." The buck stops with the pastor. He alone can make legal decisions on behalf of the parish, and the good pastor must be a prudent leader as well as a good shepherd.
All the more…
Continue What makes a pastoral council "pastoral"?
Posted on February 20, 2012 at 2:00pm 1 Comment 0 Likes
It has been common to distinguish between "pastoral" and "parish" councils since the publication in 1983 of the Code of Canon Law, which recommended parish pastoral councils. Today we prefer the superior "pastoral" council to the old "parish" council, which …
Continue How thorough should parish financial reports be?
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 1:46pm 3 Comments 1 Like
In November, my church's annual financial report appeared in the parish bulletin. It showed that expenses exceeded income by about $6,000. The report was a balance sheet. It included a number of categories of parish income (such as regular weekly giving, the Christmas and Easter collections, income from religious education, and gifts to the parish). It also included a variety of expense categories (such as salaries, fixed expenses, operating expenses, etc.). The pastor used the $6,000…
Continue What if the pastor doesn't consult?
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 1:29pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
The church envisions pastors who consult their people. A pastor consults the pastoral council because he wants the members to investigate some aspect of parish life, reflect on it, and recommend their conclusions. The pastor consults the finance council because he wants the members to help him budget for the parish, maintain accurate records, and make periodic reports. Pastors consult because they want to…
Comment Wall (1 comment)
- At 2:12pm on December 13, 2011,
Michael Brough said… Welcome, Mark! Thanks for agreeing to participate.
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