I first ran across Mission Statement’s while in the Navy. They were trying to adapt Dr. Deming’s Total Quality Management (TQM) into their own program called Total Quality Leadership (TQL). I wasn’t much impressed by the idea of mission and vision statements since I figured they were just another element in bureaucratic paperwork and were just another exercise in time wasted. There hasn’t been anything since then to change my mind.
So when I started seeing these in parishes it seemed to me they didn’t have much vision or knew their mission other than promulgating buzzwords and being inclusive/welcoming/vibrant/caring.
My exacts thoughts were that if you had a Mission Statement and it didn’t directly quote the Gospel imperative or another passage from the Gospel You’re doing it wrong (if you’re going to do it in the first place).
So today I found myself nodding-my-head in total agreement as I read this post by Diane Harris on Cleansing Fire. She provides examples of these statements from her diocese and they are representative of what I have seen. It is not that they are really awful or without any merit. Just that they look like statements from a committee without the urgency of the Gospels.
Now if you were going to have a personal Mission Statement what would it be?
I kind of like Catholic Answer’s Patrick Coffin’s tag line in this regard.
“Be a saint! What else is there?”
3 comments
If your mission statement could be photocopied for someone else, it’s probably inadequate. It should be specific and demanding. Failure should loom as a very real potential outcome. Metrics help hold your toes to the flame.
((( Now if you were going to have a personal Mission Statement what would it be? )))
What if your mission statement is that one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by Him who is seated on “IT” while recognizing that GOD (Good Old Dad) has prepared all of US (usual sinners) through Her, His Church?
We try to remember that our founder Jesus through His Trinity Loves Her and still considers Her Holy. What happens if some so called Catholic start accepting that She is no longer holy because of what they might see and hear about her long journey through the centuries?
True that She has had so many difficulties, problems, dark moments? Many are thinking stuff like, how can She while consisting with only human being sinners who are trying to be holy? We are but Sinful men, sinful women, sinful priests, sinful sisters, sinful bishops, sinful cardinals and maybe even a sinful pope here and there of Her history?
Yes I hear YA! How can Catholic agree that SHE The Bride of Christ is holy nowadays while many of us don’t even have the faith of a mustard seed?
I hear YA again Jeff! Victor, “IT” could be called a continual fight that we might call “GOOD VS EVIL” for Eternity. Right?
Peace
I too have never met a mission statement I’ve liked.