White Boards / 3rd segment / small group discussion of our individual call to ministry

[segue: we stay at the level of the individual, as this segment involves reflection and small group sharing about your own individual 'call' to ministry here at Xavier (about 30 min), then responding to some key questions in the small group to be reflected back to the full group, for which you need to select a spokesperson (15 minutes), then 15 minutes with the full group hearing from the smaller groups; some Guidelines for discussion (a) respectful listening, (b) each an expert on own experience, (c) not a time to interrupt, argue, persuade, (d) "I" statements preferred

the small-group reports are reflected in the White Boards:

• What are the key qualities that make individuals successful as Xavier volunteers?
• Should volunteers be encouraged to experiment with ministries different than those in which they are currently active?
• How do ministries develop members to assume expanded leadership roles – and facilitate that process?
• How do leaders know when to make room for other to take on more responsibility?
• How should ministries recruit parish members to be active in ministries? ]

INDIVIDUAL CALL

Table 1
Key qualities for volunteer:
larger committee
generosity of spirit
mutual support
flexible - open - thick skin

encourage additional (other) ministries? YES

developing leaders:
discernment process
servant leadership

how do leaders know when to make room?
listening to members
seeing gifts of other

how to recruit new members?
socials - fairs - gatherings
share ideas
ritual of sending forth (powerful, inspiring), e.g., Home Bound, Honduras

rewards / frustrations:
sharing gifts
personal blossoming
empowering
satisfaction
(working with) other talented people
difficulty of working with other human beings -- no response to phone, email; feelings of rejection

avoid burnout:
self-awareness
self respect / respect from group - if need a break ... take it!
time management
rotate
prayer
group retreat

______
Table 4

[groups need?] a point of contact [with Pastoral Council?]

people have many talents
- we must recognize their varied gifts
- give + find ways to serve the community

ministry grows out of matching gifts to values

________
Table 3

successful volunteers are:
prayerful

encourage additional (other) ministries? YES if:
are you called?
do you hear the call?

recruit new members:
encourage new ways
renewed
how are leaders appointed?

leadership questions:
responsibility
training / mentoring
open to community / change
styles of leadership
measure up?
[Post-It: important programmatic concern: putting consistent, strong systems in place for others to take on / lead themselves]

_________
Table 6

some are leaders
some are in ministries
some looking how to partake in our ministries

community is vital

allow ministries to evolve + shut down

________
Table 2

volunteers (should be):
good listeners
seeing good + God in all
flexibility in (times??) -- responsible as well as flexible
invite members to share responsibility

YES to experimentation [in trying ministries]

empower + invite to share responsibility

how leaders know when to make room?
discernment
observing other members, where their gifts are

how recruit?
personal invitations for new [members? parishioners?]

[virtual Post-It: a "challenge" (or some other spiffy word) for us all to attend one thing per year at Xavier that is not something we "belong to" or would go to anyhow ... It wouldn't be a commitment to that new thing, just a one-time attendance, that who knows, might spark something new in someone.]

[please see this first post about the White Boards: http://xavierministrydaymay162009.blogspot.com/2009/05/white-boards-are-raw-unexpurgated.html]