Implementation Plan

Presented by The Church in the City Task Force

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A. Introduction - Letter from Bishop Pilla
-Letter from the Task Force
B. Overview
C. Recommended Actions

1. Ongoing Education
2. Leadership Training
3. Tell the Good News of the Cities
4. Analysis and Advocacy
5. Parish Structures and Interdependent Relationships
6. Redevelopment
7. Interfaith Cooperation
8. School Partnerships
9. Ongoing Diocesan Support Structure

D. List of Task Force Members

Introduction

"Let us begin to build new cities of justice and peace..."

Letter from Bishop Pilla

I am pleased to introduce this proposed implementation plan for carrying forth The Church in the City vision statement, a vision I believe that is shared with people throughout our diocese and wider community. At the heart of this vision and plan is a call to conversion, to a new understanding of what it means to be Church in our time. We are challenged to deepen our solidarity with the people of our time. We are called to be one people who are interdependent on each other, recognizing the undeniable connection between our central cities, our suburbs and our rural areas.

In reviewing this plan, I believe it is essential to remember that as the Church, we are sent by Jesus to reveal and communicate the love of God to all people.The heart of our response is our commitment to Jesus and his mission. As Catholic Christian people, we are called to reflect the love and care, the compassion and justice of Jesus in what we say and do, and what we challenge others to do.

I believe the Task Force has listened carefully to the voices of our people during the initial consultation last year. What you hold in your hand in this draft plan is a call to reflection and a call to action. We have many good things to build upon because of our continued presence in the cities. But there is a great amount of work still before us. In many cases the needs are urgent. I hope that we each can find the best way to do our part within a collective effort to rebuild cities that truly provide justice and peace for God's people.

Most Reverend Anthony M. Pilla
Bishop of Cleveland

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Letter from The Task Force

We are pleased to present this first draft implementation plan for your review and response. This draft was developed from the results of the initial diocesan consultation involving more than

1200 people from a variety of parishes and Catholic institutions as well as the public and private sector. Working first in subcommittees (Akron, Cleveland, Lorain/Elyria) and then as a full group, we have tried to form a plan of action which is both practical as well as sensitive to the complexity of issues before us.

The implementation plan is intended to provide a comprehensive framework to guide what we can do as the Church over the next several years in addressing urgent needs within our central cities. It raises new possibilities in carrying forth Our Vision and Goals as a diocese. The plan includes many good things already being done and new initiatives. It recognizes the importance of extensive collaboration among different sectors of the wider community.

This document is being sent to you as a working paper for dialogue and development. A separate response form has been provided. Most importantly, we recognize the need for all of us as parishes, institutions, communities and individuals, to enter into a time of prayer and discernment. Through this discernment we seek the best way to refine this implementation plan and move to action. Hopefully this process will both catalyze further parish action and creativity, and contribute to the shaping of a comprehensive plan for wider diocesan and community support.

The Church in the City Task Force

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Overview

"The joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the people of our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted in any way, are the joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the followers of Christ as well.

Preface to Gaudium et Spes, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, on the solidarity of the Church with the whole human family.

The pastoral statement on The Church in the City is a response to the social and moral issues resulting from dramatic movements of people and the suburbanization of our diocese since World War II. It is based upon the following five principles:

• social justice
• redevelopment
• interdependence
• restructuring, and
• preferential love of the poor.

The vision of The Church in the City is not just a guide to the revitalization of the city nor does it merely add a moral dimension to political, economic, and social decisions that affect city life. Rather it is a redefinition of who we are and what we do. We are not separate people but a faith community grounded in the reality of our times and in our solidarity with the whole human family. Our diocesan Church has a prophetic role in calling for and participating in an extensive collaboration among many different sectors of the wider metropolitan community.

The principles of social justice and preferential love for the poor lead us to action in addressing the injustice and inequity that we find in the lives of people in our society, with particular concern for people who are most vulnerable in our cities, suburbs and rural areas. These actions must overcome poverty, racism, crime, apathy, fear and the pervasive influence of violence in our culture.

Our actions will build upon the many good things already being done within our cities. But we also must face the harsh economic reality of the times and seek to reverse powerful trends of outmigration, unjust social mores, and diminishing resources. It means personal and institutional conversion as well as tough, pragmatic, personal and institutional choices.

The recommended actions are not a new diocesan plan in place of Our Vision and Goals. Rather, they invite us to see new possibilities and challenges in what it means to be a Celebrating, Evangelizing, Teaching, Caring and Participating community.

We are also called to a deeper understanding of stewardship. Good stewardship means using our gifts and resources in such a way that we can be even more responsive, interdependent and mutually supportive.

To succeed in this vision, we will need strong organizational skills put to use in imparting a moral and ethical dimension to political and economic life. It will be necessary to act out Gospel values in the home, neighborhood, workplace and in the political arena.

The vision of The Church in the City must be a way of life that is the constant thread in our daily activity, the reflective application of Gospel values to the challenges of our time and place in history.

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Recommended Actions

There are nine areas of recommended actions based upon what the Task Force heard in the initial diocesan consultation in 1994. Each area begins with an introductory context.

Two Key Perspectives in Implementing These Actions

Family perspective: Family life is foundational to the life of our cities, our society and our Church. If we strengthen and support families - two parent families, single parent families, multi-generational families and persons living alone, we will renew our cities. We must view the city through the lens of the family in planning activities, assessing their impact upon families and building partnerships with families.

Multicultural perspective: Our diocesan area has a great diversity of cultures. This diversity bring both gifts and challenges. We need to approach implementation activities in ways that build bridges and relationships among our different cultures. If we build a healthy respect and appreciation for the different cultures of our communities, we will renew our cities.

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Church in the City Task Force Members