GENERAL INTRODUCTION:
The Archbishop, visible principle of unity in his archdiocese, is called to build up the particular Church unceasingly in the communion of all its members, and to ensure that their diverse gifts and ministries, in union with the universal Church, serve to build up all the faithful and to spread the Gospel. (Apostolorum Successores 8). He must take care that all the affairs which belong to the administration of the whole archdiocese are duly coordinated and are ordered to attain more suitably the good of the portion of the people of God entrusted to him.” (Apostolorum Successores 177).
Each position employed in the Chancery helps to extend the ministry of the Archbishop in particular ways as outlined in the position description.
AREA SERVED:
This Parish Family Liaison position serves the South Snohomish, North King and North Kitsap areas. The position will be 100% remote with the expectation that the liaison can travel to the parishes assigned to them on a frequent basis.
GENERAL SUMMARY OF ESSENTIAL PURPOSE
Partners in the Gospel is a strategic pastoral planning effort taking place across the Archdiocese of Seattle to re-invigorate and renew our local Catholic Church. Learn more here: Partners in the Gospel - Archdiocese of Seattle (archseattle.org).
Parish Family Liaisons serve as the front-line support of parish families as they implement Partners in the Gospel, with the goal of bringing more people to the joy of Christ as described in Matthew 28. The Archbishop desires to unleash the creativity of the People of God to bring a new vibrancy to parish life and to the Church in Western Washington. Parish Family Liaisons work in partnership with multiple parish families’ pastors, parish and school staffs, and their lay leadership teams (pastoral councils, finance councils, school commissions, and others) to implement the parish family structure and develop a plan for becoming one vibrant canonical parish. The liaison provides guidance, coaching, accompaniment, and support, and serves as a bridge builder between the Partners in the Gospel core team, parish family pastor and staff, and the office of Planning and Mission Effectiveness. Liaisons will be assigned to parish families geographically dispersed around the Archdiocese, making it advantageous to live in different parts of Western Washington.
ESSENTIAL POSITION DUTIES:
General Support: In collaboration with pastor, key staff, and parish leadership.
- Serve as the primary advisor for pastors and parish families to create their strategic pastoral plan using the “One Parish Plan” model from the Partners in the Gospel program. It is anticipated that liaisons would meet routinely (at least monthly) with pastors and their leadership teams.
- Learn and be well-versed in the Partners in the Gospel resources and tools. Serves as a resource, facilitator, and support for group discernment including parish and school staff, consultative bodies, and groups of parishioners.
- Accompany pastors and their leadership team in the discernment of creative uses of the gifts that a parish family possesses as they re-envision parish life.
- Collaborate with other Catholic organizations and stakeholders in the community served by the parish family.
- Identify training needs for pastors, staff and lay leaders.
- Identify Partners in the Gospel tool and resource needs and changes, based on observation and feedback from parish families.
- Responsible for timeline management and progress tracking as parish families’ journey through implementation and planning efforts to become one canonical parish.
- Provides interculturally informed guidance in preparing agendas, raising key issues, supporting effective decision making, and other support to ensure effective meetings and tracks progress, key decisions, and ensures effective follow-up after meetings.
- Assist pastors and their family leadership partners in creating and executing effective communication channels with parish staff, leaders, and parishioners.
- Creates monthly status/progress report for each assigned parish family and reviews with the executive director of strategic and pastoral planning.
- This role requires routine contact with the 8-10 families assigned in a liaison’s geographical area. Contact will include routine travel to parish family locations that will be a significant drive from home. Use of videoconferencing will also be routine but is not a substitute for regular, in-person visits.
ESSENTIAL POSITION DUTIES:
General Support: In collaboration with pastor, key staff, and parish leadership.
- Serve as the primary advisor for pastors and parish families to create their strategic pastoral plan using the “One Parish Plan” model from the Partners in the Gospel program. It is anticipated that liaisons would meet routinely (at least monthly) with pastors and their leadership teams.
- Learn and be well-versed in the Partners in the Gospel resources and tools. Serves as a resource, facilitator, and support for group discernment including parish and school staff, consultative bodies, and groups of parishioners.
- Accompany pastors and their leadership team in the discernment of creative uses of the gifts that a parish family possesses as they re-envision parish life.
- Collaborate with other Catholic organizations and stakeholders in the community served by the parish family.
- Identify training needs for pastors, staff and lay leaders.
- Identify Partners in the Gospel tool and resource needs and changes, based on observation and feedback from parish families.
- Responsible for timeline management and progress tracking as parish families’ journey through implementation and planning efforts to become one canonical parish.
- Provides interculturally informed guidance in preparing agendas, raising key issues, supporting effective decision making, and other support to ensure effective meetings and tracks progress, key decisions, and ensures effective follow-up after meetings.
- Assist pastors and their family leadership partners in creating and executing effective communication channels with parish staff, leaders, and parishioners.
- Creates monthly status/progress report for each assigned parish family and reviews with the executive director of strategic and pastoral planning.
- This role requires routine contact with the 8-10 families assigned in a liaison’s geographical area. Contact will include routine travel to parish family locations that will be a significant drive from home. Use of videoconferencing will also be routine but is not a substitute for regular, in-person visits.
Primary:
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:
- Active member of a parish/faith community in good standing with the Church.
- Willingness and ability to support the mission of the Church by extending the ministry of the Archbishop.
- Ability and desire to use God-given gifts and talents in service of the local Church in support of the collaboration between lay and ordained ministers.
- Strong desire to help grow the Church.
- Proven pastoral leadership skills. Preference given to experience in serving the Church in employed or volunteer leadership roles.
- Demonstrated experience in diverse organizations and intercultural competency
- Bilingual –preferred (Spanish).
Education:
Bachelors degree preferred or comparable experience.
Experience:
- 8+ years experience and expertise in leadership, change leadership, and/or related areas of organizational development preferred.
- Background in working with churches and/or religious non-profit organizations preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to deliver projects and programs to completion through disciplined management of tasks, deliverables, constituents and timelines.
- Ability to facilitate meetings, with pastors, their planning teams and parishioners as needed.
- Demonstrated ability to resolve conflict in complex situations.
- Possess emotional intelligence skills and ability to build trust between pastors and leadership team members.
- Strong verbal and written communications.
- Able to offer creative and imaginative ideas as part of supporting families.
- Experience with the process of spiritual discernment.
Other Elements:
- Desire to grow in personal faith life and enthusiasm for sharing the joy of the Gospel.
- Grounded in spiritual practices. Curiosity to learn and understand the many works of the Church in western Washington and desire to apply professional skills to support further effectiveness of those efforts.
- Flexibility and emotional intelligence in working with small and large groups of different stakeholders in their discernment around making decisions.
- Strong working knowledge of, or strong willingness to learn, Catholic parish structures and organizations.
- Demonstrated ability to work with a variety of people including working in multicultural settings.
- Willing and able to work some evenings and weekends.
- Must possess vehicle, valid Washington driver’s license & insurance to travel throughout the Archdiocese. Anticipate 50% local travel to parishes in their assigned area and occasionally to other locations in the Archdiocese.
Any offered salary is determined based on internal equity, internal salary ranges, market data, applicant’s skills and prior relevant experience, certain degrees and certifications.
Benefits: Eligible positions receive a comprehensive package of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, accidental death and disability, long term disability, pension, 403(b), HSA, FSA, and generous sick leave, vacation and holidays.
