Fr Kevin J Murphy sent this piece in as a reflection on the importance for any community having a clear vision and mission statement. One of the larger problems the institution as a whole seems to be facing is a confusion about what our mission is these days. Is the mission of Catholicism, or Christianity, to be creating a community of socially conformist, pious individuals — or is the prime mission we are charged with to encourage individuals to develop their talents to the full and "to become like God"?

The value in clarifying one's aim and purpose in life…

It has long been recognised that there is value in clarifying one's aim or purpose in life. Likewise, it is often good for an organisation to name its reason for existing and to make clear to itself and to others what it is.

In recent times, the terms Vision, Mission and Goals have been used in this endeavour. A quote from an English version of Proverbs in the Hebrew Scriptures — without a vision the people die (Proverbs 29:18) — is frequently invoked to add weight to the importance of the task.

While the author of Proverbs 29:18 would not have had the organisation of modern communities in mind, and perhaps he was saying something rather different from the message in the English version given above, nevertheless there is some self-evident wisdom in the statement.

Similar convictions are contained in the statement: You need to have an aim or purpose in life. A more common expression of the same sentiment is used in commerce and even sporting circles through reference to the importance of setting goals — specific short-term goals and long-term goals. Good spiritual writers remind us to clarify our aim or purpose or goals in life. Most sports coaches also place emphasis on setting goals: it's an integral part of the mental training.

According to good management practice, an organisation needs to have an inspiring vision and clear goals. Sometimes an organisation's Vision and Mission is expressed in its name. But especially for those involved in such named organisations, it can often be helpful if the name has some additional, inspiring qualification in a Vision statement.

Even at a personal level, there is real value in clarifying one's life-purpose, which might well change or develop as the person grows older.

There is no standard way of expressing a Vision in a statement of words. Sometimes organisations have a Vision Statement and a Mission Statement as two separate, distinct statements. Other terms that are used in this area are Aim, Goals, Purpose. Mottos and slogans often serve a similar purpose.

Confusion in terminology in the one statement undermines good communication. Lengthy Vision and Mission Statements lack punch.

A neat way of dealing with the problem of terminology in this area is to put Vision and Mission together in one brief statement. An example of such a statement for a parish could be: Helping reveal the transforming presence of Jesus Christ in the area of this parish.

Does your parish have a Vision & Mission Statement?

Does your parish have a Vision & Mission Statement? If you can't call it to mind, that is a sign that either your parish doesn't have a Vision & Mission Statement or that it is poorly expressed. A common defect is that Vision & Mission statements are often too long to remember.

Especially in days gone by, an inspiring purpose was often achieved through an organisation's motto, often expressed in a Latin phrase such as Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam – AMDG – To the Greater Glory of God, or Mens Sana in Corpore Sano – Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body. This latter motto can be clearly seen in old photographs of the front of the original Carlton Football Club's building.

After the major revolutions towards democracy, powerful new national mottos and slogans were formulated in the languages of the people: Liberté, égalité, fraternité in France; Government of the people, by the people, for the people, in the United States of America.

In our time the Catholic church is using similar communication and organisational techniques to promote participation by all Catholics in the life of the Church.

Archbishop Bathersby: "I want people to see a new world, a new creation — that's what Jesus is all about." Photo src: ABC website

According to a report in the Brisbane archdiocesan weekly paper, The Catholic Leader, May 17, 2009, page 9, Archbishop John Bathersby personally conducted a series of 13 deanery [regional] meetings throughout the diocese, based on the archdiocesan Vision & Mission statement: Jesus, Communion, Mission. An estimated total of 3000 participants were involved in the interactive meetings. 80% of the clergy were in attendance.

"I feel so passionate about 'Jesus, Communion, Mission', and people have picked it up," The Archbishop said.

"I want people to see a new world, a new creation — that's what Jesus is all about. That's the new vision of Jesus and that's why I want them to understand 'Jesus, Communion, Mission… I want people to be happy Christians."

Referring to St Paul, the Archbishop said that Paul was "always on about a new heart and a new mind and how our lives can be transformed."

He said, "I desire parishes to have this vision at their core. I'd like parishes to have 'Jesus, Communion, Mission' embedded so the average person knows what's being talked about."

How is a Vision & Mission Statement developed and owned by a group?

It is much better that a Vision & Mission statement be articulated in one neat sentence which is easy to remember, rather than in a long, detailed statement.

One of the main responsibilities of a leader (and a leadership team) is to make sure the organisation (or church community) has an inspiring Vision & Mission Statement. The important mission dimension can later be spelt out in clear short-term and long-term goals.

In developing a Vision & Mission Statement it is good to involve as many of the members of the community as possible in a general discussion regarding the nature and purpose of the community.

Developing the actual wording of a Vision & Mission Statement is another matter. If the whole group tries to formulate the wording of a Vision/Mission Statement, it is virtually impossible to incorporate all the good ideas in a short, neat statement. Inevitably, additions, compromises and qualifications will be incorporated into the final statement and thereby it will not be effective as a proper Vision/Mission Statement.

A better process is that after the whole community has shared their reflections on the nature and purpose of the community, the leader is then commissioned to come up with a Vision/Mission Statement that catches the mood and interest of the community while pointing to something more, beyond the present horizon. Having been involved in the process, the community will feel a commitment to the outcome.

Another advantage of this process is that the leader, having formulated or being personally responsible for the wording of the statement, will have a special commitment to the Vision/Mission. The leader has the responsibility to keep the Vision/Mission alive and fresh.

The mission dimension of a Vision/Mission Statement is best expressed in terms of short-term and long-term Goals. Many of the details related to Goals can be, and should be, very precise. Such as aspects dealing with the what, when, how, by whom, at what cost, reporting back, when and how evaluated, and eventually acknowledged and celebrated.

The process for setting and describing Goals needs to be done in a way that involves as many people as possible, or as appropriate, for the issue under consideration. It is important that a Goal be owned and supported with enthusiasm by the people involved and who will do much of the work. For this to happen, authentic participation in the decision-making process needs to happen. Sometimes the skills of conflict resolution will have to be introduced to overcome difficulties.

Examples of Goals…

SHORT TERM: During the next month, we will form a small group from amongst our regular church-goers who, after an appropriate preparation course, will seek to meet and listen to the life expectations of all the 15-25 year old baptised Catholics in our community area. This particular project will be completed by the end of this year. (In a real-life situation, the specifics concerning by whom, when, nature of reporting back, expenses involved, evaluation, etc would be added to the Goal statement with the cooperation of the small group.)

LONG TERM: Following a parish general meeting at which the need for another Mass centre in the parish was discussed, it was decided that the Parish Pastoral Council set up a group to investigate, and if necessary, to begin planning for a new church community in the northern section of our parish area. (Again, in a real-life situation, the details involving a group to be responsible for this goal would be worked out in cooperation with the group.)

Kevin Murphy, Ballarat

Kevin Murphy is a priest working in the Diocese of Ballarat. Readers of Catholica might be interested in a web-based service he provides which produces weekly liturgies for small lay-led communities which are without a priest. His website can be accessed at: www.giant.net.au/users/murphy/. You can also contact Kevin via email through the address he gives on that website.

[Index of Commentaries by Fr Kevin Murphy]