Diocesan Programs
Diocesan programs include six weekends, over about 16 months. Participants complete a course of readings and implement six developmental initiatives.
Parishes sending a team that includes the clergy is likely to produce the best results. Individuals are also welcome.
Exploring having a diocesan program
Contact Michelle Heyne by e-mail or phone 206-818-3474
About participation in the program:
Shaping the Parish is about the renewal of your parish. You are giving these 16 months to its revitalization. The program is a resource in helping a healthy and stable parish continue to develop. It’s also a resource for parishes that are struggling and seeking new life.
You are deciding to invest your time and energy in the shaping of your parish. We are there to help you do that.
The stance needed is, “This is what I’m doing for the next 16 months.” Start by putting all the dates on your calendar. If you know now that you can not make dates on the program schedule, you should not register. The program is based on full participation at every weekend session. See more in the links on “Full Participation” and “Diocesan FAQs”
Teams
If you are partcipating on your own or with just one or tow others from the parish, we suggest you establish a team back in the parish that will work with you in between the workshop sessions. This can significantly enhance the impact of your efforts. Recruit 2 or 3 members who will do the readings along with you and help in the implementation of the developmental initiatives.
Such a parish team would have two categories of participants. One would be those attending the workshop sessions. The other would be those who can not participate in the sessions but will do all the readings and work on the developmental initiatives for the 16 months of the effort.
We can arrange for members of the team to take the MBTI and FIRO B instruments that are completed by all participants. A charge would be made for that to cover the cost of the instruments and staff time in interpreting them for the team.
Costs
The primary costs are associated with training staff, which is partly a function of the number of participants in a given diocese. Base-level charges include fees for the two primary trainers, which range from about $2,500 to $3,500 each for each of the six sessions. The fee includes both the weekend prep work and onsite time, as well as significant time between sessions working with participants.
All travel expenses, including airfare, rental car, lodging and meals, will be assessed in addition to the training fees described above.
The second weekend requires additional training staff (again, the number vary but at least one additional trainer should be assumed). Travel expenses plus a training fee (approximately $1,000) will apply.
Additional considerations are the space used (e.g., local parish with sufficient space, including break-out rooms, or a conference facility), and whether the sessions will be residential or non-residential. Dioceses can decide what they will charge to participants, such as meals and lodging, program fees, etc.
Possible Team Process for Working on the Initiatives
