"(this book) offers theological rationale and practical procedures for organizing pastoral councils on a grassroots level. It brings together some of the best people in the field to reflect on the purpose, potential problems and the exciting promise of collegial parish leadership. ... [from back cover]

A practical guidebook for all persons involved in developing pastoral councils on a parish level.

Making Parish Councils Pastoral traces the historical development of the ôpastoralö style of council and shows how councils can more effectively embrace the church's vision of studying and reflecting on parish matters and recommending their conclusions to the pastor.

Changes in the Catholic Church are happening everywhere, not least in the area of pastoral planning. Based on the experiences of more than 500 of today's pastoral leaders in the Catholic Church, The Changing Face of Church documents the best practices for approaching the massive, rapidly evolving challenge of pastoral planning. A hopeful view of the Church's future and its leadership comes through clearly from those who were interviewed for this book, and the you-can-do-it-too message is sure to bolster readers in their own pastoral planning efforts.

This practical collection of essays brings readers up to date on the developments in pastoral councils as well as presents four principles that make pastoral councils even more effective. A must-have for pastors and parish council members.

A reference and resource that will assist parishes in the task of establishing pastoral councils