Jesus speaks of the responsibility of good management in his parables. In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus describes a steward who has responsibility for his master’s resources and, while waiting for him to return, begins to mistreat the servants (Lk 12:45-46). There will be retribution for the steward who is not faithful to his responsibilities. Good stewardship requires a careful attention to duties, especially toward those people for whom the manager is responsible. This careful management also extends to other areas where good stewardship is required, including use of time, talent and finances.

Good stewardship is appropriate for a disciple of Jesus Christ. In Evangelii Gaudium (“The Joy of the Gospel”), Pope Francis presents his vision for a renewed Church, one that is not self-absorbed but willing to be involved in the “messiness” of the world. He speaks of “missionary discipleship,” sharing the Gospel through a joyful acceptance of the Lord Jesus, journeying with or accompanying people, walking together and listening to each other. It is especially important, says the pope, that we accompany the poor, share in their struggles and work to raise the economic life of everyone. Stewardship can be revitalized in the parish by developing the “missionary impulse” described by Pope Francis, becoming more mission-oriented with an outward thrust into the world and its needs.

Stewardship and Matthew 25

It is difficult to organize or to structure the gifts of time, talent and treasure if we don’t have a clear end point in mind. What are we organizing to do? The Jubilee Year proclaimed for 2025 has as its theme “Hope Does Not Disappoint” (Rom 5:5). We are called during this Holy Year to be “tangible signs of hope for our brothers and sisters who experience hardships of any kind” (Spes Non Confundit, No. 10). A parish could start or renew its stewardship efforts using a Matthew 25 analysis. How well is the parish responding to Jesus’ call to care for our least brothers and sisters: to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned (Mt 25:35-36)? With these Gospel imperatives in mind, we can use the method of “See, Judge, Act,” moving from abstraction to action.

First, we review the concrete situation in society that needs to be changed. What are people experiencing that is perceived as injustice? Where are the Gospel injunctions of Jesus not being answered?

Second, we ask, How did the injustice develop? A judgment is formed from theology, Scripture, Church social teaching and social analysis. The Scriptures are especially important: Are we being challenged by the word of God, especially the teachings of Jesus? Pope Francis, in Fratelli Tutti, used the parable of the Good Samaritan to question our relationship to the world, especially to the poor: “Let us care for the needs of every man and woman, young and old, with the same fraternal spirit of care and closeness that marked the Good Samaritan” (No. 79).

Third, we consider what can and should be done to address the root causes of injustice. What relationships and structures that created the injustice can be eliminated, alleviated or transformed? Theological reflection or contemplation can result in pastoral action. Pope Francis identifies this approach in Laudato Si’ (“On Care for Our Common Home”), which formed his operating principles for environmental reform: “seeing” through the eyes of contemporary scientific research, “judging” by using a theological reflection for a framework, and proposing “action” for individuals, parishes, nations or the international community. Hopefully, similar analysis can lead to congregational vitality, challenging parishioners to missionary discipleship and the use of their talents and skills to respond to legitimate Gospel-centered priorities.

Synodality as Strategy

The recent Synod on Synodality provides not only a theoretical understanding of Church, but also a practical strategy for developing in the parish a “missionary spirituality,” flowing from the action of the Holy Spirit, which, as the synod’s final document affirms, “welcomes with gratitude and humility the variety of gifts and tasks distributed by the Holy Spirit for the service of the one Lord” (No. 43).

Before the parish calls forth the potential ministerial and financial gifts of its members, parish leadership can undertake a “conversation in the Spirit” discerning the needs of the particular faith community, the needs that have resulted from its review of Matthew 25, and the gifts and talents to be identified from that community to undertake the needed missionary discipleship.

Rather than “filling slots” for committees and organizations lacking members, the leadership carefully and prayerfully considers its priorities and prudently determines what is needed now in the life of the community to proclaim the Good News of Jesus. Such movement will require careful listening to the Spirit and to the community. “When we listen to our sisters and brothers, we are participants in the way that God in Jesus Christ comes to meet each of us” (No. 51).

The Call to Participation

This discernment provides an opportunity to reflect on the dignity of baptism and the right and responsibility of the baptized to participate in the life of the Church, sharing their unique charisms with the community. “In the Christian community, all the baptized are enriched with gifts to share, each according to his or her vocation and way or condition of life. The various ecclesial vocations are many, yet they express the one baptismal call to holiness and mission” (No. 57).

This may also be an appropriate occasion to note where women within the community have been noticeably absent from ministries, committees or organizations. “We bear witness to the Gospel when we seek to live in relationships that respect the equal dignity and reciprocity between men and women. The widely expressed pain and suffering on the part of many women from every region and continent, both lay and consecrated, during the synodal process, reveal how often we fail to do so” (No. 52).

The role of children is also often overlooked. The synod wisely observed that special attention should be given to our youngest: “Not only do children need accompaniment in their growth, but they have much to give to the community of believers” (No. 61). The voice of the child is important and needed by the community. So too is that of our young adults, who might at times come across as critical or suspicious of paternalism and authoritarian attitudes. Yet their openness and commitment to creating a welcoming community and their dedication to fighting against social injustice and working to care for creation remind us of their request made at the Synod on Young People in 2018 to “walk together in daily life.”

The Synod on Synodality also called for us to recognize the apostolic potential of those with disabilities who feel themselves called to assist in the missionary impulse of the Church, as “active agents of evangelization” (No. 63). Often their experience of suffering, marginalization and discrimination, which sometimes takes place even within the Christian community, can provide a powerful witness.

Discerning Parish Leadership

The parish leadership is importantly involved in the search for time, talent and treasure for a parish. It must not only discern the areas that need to be bolstered, but should also carefully discern candidates for parish leadership positions — especially the parish and finance councils. Again, the synod provides practices that can attract interest from parishioners if they see council meetings model ecclesial discernment, commitment to accountability and wise evaluation of decisions. Such a process requires the ability to listen in a climate of trust, transparency and accountability, and decisions that are rooted in theological, biblical and spiritual foundations. When parish leadership demonstrates a collaborative spirit in discernment for mission, it draws people to serve.

Parish communities today are faced with critical decisions about their future: Will they continue to exist as standalone parishes or in some configuration with neighboring faith communities? Do they have the viability to function as a parish? Candidates for service on councils must be willing to participate in discernment, accountability and evaluation, and be committed to working for the common good.

Drawing People to Service

Parishioners are attracted to serve in those ministries they find effective, fruitful and compatible with their gifts. Before agreeing to offer their time and gifts to the parish, many people observe the manner of decision-making used by the council, team, committee or organization. It would be helpful for the leadership teams to examine their manner of discernment since it can affect the willingness of others to join the initiative. Again, the synod has offered a useful methodology of discernment and decision-making:

1. Establishing the object of discernment and sharing information and other means that would clarify it.

2. Prayerful preparation, listening to the word of God.

3. Personal and group commitment to the common good.

4. Listening respectfully and attentively to each other’s voices.

5. Searching for a wide consensus, without hiding conflicts or searching for the lowest common denominator.

6. The leader formulating the consensus in such a way that allows participants to say whether they recognize themselves in it or not.

7. A mature acceptance of the decision by all participants.

8. A period of reception by the community that leads to further review and assessment.

Those who participate in this process are called to offer their input honestly with an informed conscience, “respecting the confidentiality of the information received (and) offering clearly formulated thoughts that identify the main points” (No. 93).

The synodal style of decision-making can advance the progress of the People of God in a participatory way that is consonant with the oldest traditions of the Church. Operating without ulterior motivation and for the greater good, with mutual accountability of leadership and the community, and a review that helps identify the positive aspects of ministry, as well as areas for improvement, will enhance the quality of parish leadership teams, as well as the ministries they coordinate.

Such opportunities for shared leadership can also be enhanced, as the synod suggests, by a consideration of how leadership teams can network with neighboring parishes, exploring cooperative ventures that can build up the local Church with an even greater pool of talent, resources and expanded horizons about the potential of missionary discipleship. It can also be appropriate, as the synod notes, to network with other ecclesial communities in the area (No. 107).

Continuous Outreach

Many parishes offer “stewardship weekends” where parishioners can commit themselves via ministry fairs and similar opportunities to learn of parish needs and then, hopefully, to offer their services. Pope Francis and the Synod on Synodality recommend a consistent catechesis about discipleship and service, “continuously drawing people outwards in mission” (No. 145). Frequent witness presentations by those involved in the various ministries of the parish at the weekend Masses can provide a dynamic testimony of lived missionary experience and be effective in recruiting parishioners into discipleship.

Also, an annual signed commitment of parishioners to financially support the mission of the parish according to means is a necessary component of the good stewardship of resources.

Giving of our time, talent and treasure involves a change in attitude, being with God in prayer and worship, sharing our love with those on the peripheries, and being engaged with those efforts that promote justice. The parish faith community can be continuously revitalized to serve as an “environment for hearing God’s word, for growth in the Christian life, for dialogue, proclamation, charitable outreach, worship and celebration … a sanctuary where the thirsty come to drink in the midst of the journey, and a center of constant missionary outreach” (Evangelii Gaudium, No. 28). 

FATHER KEVIN McKENNA, a senior priest of the Diocese of Rochester, is past president of the Canon Law Society of America and former vice-chancellor and director of legal services for the diocese. His books include “A Concise Guide to Canon Law” (Ave Maria Press, $17.95) and “A Concise Guide to Catholic Social Teaching” (Ave Maria Press, $17.95 ).