CHRISTIAN SERVICE COMMISSION
I. PURPOSE OF THE COMMISSION
The Christian Service Commission exists as a model and resource to enable the entire parish community to put the social teaching of the church into action. The Commission empowers the members of the Parish to fulfill the Churchís mission of love, justice, freedom and peace by communally responding. The Commission creates and/or promotes, at the parish level, programs which strive to address human needs and achieve justice, whether locally or in the broader communities of the Vicariate, Archdiocese, state, nation and world.
II. FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION
A. PROCESS FORMATION
1. To gather accurate information about human needs in the parish and total community.
2. To gather accurate information about service and service providers in the area.
3. To gather accurate information regarding Church social teaching, and relates to the issues in need of attention.
4. To evaluate parish Christian Service in response to changing community needs.
5. To provide to parishioners information concerning opportunities for involvement in advocacy for societal structural change which addresses peace and justice issues.
B. SHARE INFORMATION
1. To bring the parish community to an awareness of action needed to resolve human needs and achieve justice and dignity.
2. To maintain effective communication and strong working relationships with the pastoral staff, Pastoral Council, Commissions and the Department of Christian Service (Social Ministry) of the Archdiocese of Detroit.
3. To increase continually the number and variety of parishioners involved directly with Christian service.
4. To work with the pastoral leadership in discerning how to respond to the needs of the poor and vulnerable, especially, but not exclusively, within the parish boundaries.
C. INFORM TO ACTION
1. To support service and action programs according to the needs of the parish and community, linking with other parishes/community groups whenever possible.
2. To maintain a close relationship with all parish groups involved in service ministry, St. Vincent de Paul Society, St. Mary’s Emergency Food Pantry, etc.
3. To engage Catholic Social Services agencies and other Archdiocesan charities, organizations and institutions when appropriate and after consulting with the Pastor.
4. To develop parish service programs to address needs not met by parish or community programs.
5. To develop, in consort with community service providers, necessary service programs which are beyond the resources of the parish.
6. To coordinate the efforts of all parish service organizations in order to maintain the strength of individual organizations within the effectiveness of the whole.
7. To provide training for volunteers in Christian Service activities.
8. To develop new service leadership among lay people of the parish community.
9. To coordinate parish response to national Catholic action-for-justice programs, e.g., Catholic Relief Services, Campaign for Human Development, and others designated by the Archdiocesan Department of Christian Service (Social Ministry).
10. To provide the Stewardship Commission with a budget which contains a stewardship model, as well as goals and objectives which take into account the parish community and local, Archdiocesan, national and global outreach.
III. STRUCTURE OF THE COMMISSION
The Commission will include the Christian Service Coordinator as a resource, a chairperson who oversees the meeting, interested members of the Parish and representative from each committee. The committees within the Christian Service Commission shall include:
1. Justice and Peace
2. Disabilities Concerns
3. Pro-Life
4. Legislative Concerns
The Commission chooses one of its members to become a member of the Blue Water Vicariate Christian Service Commission.