Some things change quickly. Wilds fire on the north rim of the Grand Canyon, around Los Alamos, in Colorado and elsewhere permanently alter the ecosystem in a matter of hours. The news report from Gettysburg, PA, indicates that one minute there was a viewing tower, the next minute - after their planned explosion - there was a pile of rubble.

Do you think God has a plan or "plays it all by ear?"

Some things in parishes and clusters change slowly while others seem instantaneous. While we believe that a solid action plan will help us prepare for the slow changes and allow us the flexibility to deal with unexpected issues, we also know that one of the biggest problems in strategic planning is that the plan often simply collects dust.

Action plans, however, specify the actions needed to address each of the top organizational issues and to reach each of the associated goals. Indicate who will complete each action and according to what timeline. With a detailed action plan in hand, the pastor and parish council can easily monitor the implementation of the plan and evaluate the effect of each step in relation to the overall goal.

Several elements need to be clearly understood. Goals are simply a clearer statement of the vision, specifying the accomplishments to be achieved if the vision is to become real. Objectives are specific, measurable results produced while working to accomplish the goal. Action steps are the list of detailed activities that need to happen. To create a list of action steps, one would begin with the simple questions, "In order to get this done, what is the first thing that must happen? What would be next? Who is going to do it? By when?"

In an article by Alan M. Webber entitled, Why can't we get anything done? the author says knowledge or a plan is only useful if you do something with it. Many people and organizations get caught in the knowing-doing gap and can mistake such things as creating the plan or making decisions for the actions that will accomplish something. For successful parishes "there is no difference between how they think, who they are, and what they do."

So, how will you deal with the changes that are certain to come your way? Will you plan? Will you "play it all by ear?" What will you do differently in 2001?

Noreen Welte, Director - Office for Parish Councils & Planning 414-769-3352 or
800-769-9373, ext. 352 or
e-mail welten@archmil.org