Parish Consultation Report

Moving Forward Into Our Future
Parish Consultation Report
June 9, 2009

• “Together we can imagine, discern and decide how we want to contribute and continue our mission in the world. This survey tool is a start.” Moving Forward into our Future - May 22, 2009

Thank you Epiphany! Due to the generous response and support of so many parishioners, we now have sufficient pledges to maintain both the Pastoral Associate and Parish Nurse positions. Sr. Mary will joyfully remain in the Pastoral Associate position and shall continue to minister among us. Pam Lynch has accepted a job opportunity in the home health field that she is excited about and we wish her the very best in this pursuit. Receptions to express our appreciation and gratitude to Pam for her ministry here will be held after the 5:30 Mass, Saturday, June 27th and between the Masses on Sunday, June 28th. Fr. Jeff and the Parish Pastoral Council will move forward over the coming months to fill the Parish Nurse position. In the interim, Fr. Jeff and Sr. Mary, along with ministry volunteers, will continue to attend to the needs of our home-bound sisters and brothers and the Community Care committee will continue its great and myriad ministries.

We thank all within our parish who contributed their wisdom, prayers, encouragement, recommendations, and support over the past month of consultations. The following summary report outlines the results of our latest two-week, parish-wide consultation. The experience of the last two months has shown the desire of all of us for collaborative ministry and we will continue to solicit wisdom and ideas and to pray for the guidance of the Spirit among us.

Sincerely,

Father Jeff and the “Think Tank” Committee

The survey was taken by 424 members.
Some spoke as individuals and some spoke as households.

The main part of the survey asked people to respond with information in one of three option areas.

• Option 1

Considering the various aspects of Epiphany's current situation, I/we advise:

1. That we maintain our current staff positions, including the Pastoral Associate and Parish Nurse.
Number answering YES: 340 (80%)

Pledge

• I/we have/will contribute an ADDITIONAL contribution in order to help support these ministries.

Number answering: 228 (67%)

• I/we have not pledged, but have been donating.

Number answering: 39 (11%)

• I/we have not been donating, but can now commit to contributing for calendar 2009.

Number answering: 17 (5%)

• I/we cannot increase my/our contributions at this time, but will continue to support our mission in other ways.

Number answering: 56 (17%)

• Additional calendar year 2009 contribution:

Total: $ 54,956.04 pledged

• Option 2

Considering the various aspects of Epiphany's current situation, I/we advise:
We do not maintain the Pastoral Associate and Parish Nurse positions.

Number answering: 29 (7%)

• Option 3

Considering the various aspects of Epiphany's current situation, I/we advise:
If Epiphany does not have sufficient resources to continue all current staff positions,
my/our advice is:

204 people offered comments and suggestions to this part of our survey. Some were brief and some were more extensive. They ranged from many recommendations to retain both positions of Pastoral Associate and Parish Nurse to some recommendations that one or both of these positions be abolished. Most of the suggestions involved a number of ways to achieve cost cutting in the 2009-10 budget as well as creative ideas to enhance revenue. All of these comments have been reviewed in full by Fr. Jeff, the “Think Tank” committee, and some members of the PPC, and staff. Many notable ideas were raised to which we will creatively respond.

Again, our sincere thanks to all who have shared their input with us.