The Collaborative Leadership Vision Statement was revised after receiving feedback during February and March. The process was created to allow the community time to reflect, question and make suggestions. The next phase is creating a governance model. Watch for more information in April.
Vision Statement of Collaborative Leadership at St. Joseph Parish
St. Joseph’s parish is a passionate, loving, just and growing catholic Christian community that shares in the charism of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate to assist and be with those in the margins of society.
Recognizing the light in everyone, we work together, nurturing the gifts of individuals and sharing responsibility for the parish in a sustainable and accountable manner. The community perseveres in the face of challenge, willing to face uncertainty, confident in its faith that God is with us and in us all.
The Core team, ministries of the parish, the parish council and the parish team share responsibility in the decision- making and leadership of the parish, listening, discerning and inspiring the courage of the community to be daring in fulfilling our mission even during times of challenge and adversity.
The following VALUES form the foundation of the collaborative leadership model for St. Joseph parish:
RESPECT Respect is working, living with and treating others the way we want to be treated. It includes valuing the collective strength of the community’s diverse experiences, skills and cultures that each member brings to share their gifts and bring to life the mission of our parish. It is seeing God’s light shining in everyone and being open to see the gift of each person and their interrelationship with others and with all creation. It is actively listening to find meaning and gain a full understanding that demands intellectual and heart-felt efforts of empathy and allowing those engaged to find their voice.
CO-OPERATION Co-operation with others is a fundamental value to the success of a collaborative leadership governance model. It helps move us from “I” to “We”; from narrow perspectives to open, transparent, decision making that draws on the diversity of strengths in a group. It requires dealing with potential conflict before it arises; committing to open communication guided by prayerful reflection and sensitivity.
SOCIAL-JUSTICE Practicing social-justice requires listening, reverence and the desire for the common good through prayer, quiet discernment and compassion with a desire to act with a love invited by God. It is driven by a spirit of generosity that is inspired by gratitude to God. Through gratitude, we share what we have in time, talent and treasure with the parish community and the community at large.
PERSEVERANCE/COURAGE Perseverance is being steadfast in a course of action, a purpose or a commitment, to see it to fruition in spite of difficulties, obstacles or discouragement. Courage means we are inspired by faith and the energy of the Spirit to walk in the path of justice and mercy, trusting in God’s desire and strength in the midst of conflict and division and despite fear, rejection and hatred.
PRINCIPLES FROM THE VISION STATMENT ON COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP f
ACCOUNTABILITY : Those taking decisions accept the consequences of their decision as well as take responsibility for negative consequences and take action to ensure that the good of the community is upheld. Decisions are made within a Christian moral context and that the primary objective of collaborative leadership is to ensure decisions are always made in the best interests of St. Joe’s.
STEWARDSHIP/SUSTAINABLILITY: Ensuring that there is good stewardship of our community resources; of time, talent and treasure for the present and future. As a community we invest on on-going formation of parishioners, ministry teams and staff, cultivating the common good of the community and an attitude of loving care for each other.
LISTENING FOR GOD IN OUR MIDST: In prayer we strive to be attentive to God’s voice in our midst; to be open, available to listen and share the fruits of our prayer together.