Parish Emergency Management Plan GOOD STEWARDSHIP
HOPE IS NOT A PLAN Part of being Pastoral is providing a church environment that is for welcoming and safe parishioners visitors and staff
We can HOPE that our church facilities are always safe, warm, dry, comfortable, in compliance with safety regulations, pleasant, and welcoming, BUT
EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED Preparing for catastrophic events Both natural Blizzards Tornadoes Floods Earthquakes and not Crime Intruders
EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED But it s also important to keep day-to-day operations of your parish safe.
Make yourself an ark out of resinous wood. Make it of reeds and caulk it with pitch inside and out. This is how to make it: the length of the ark is to be three hundred cubits, its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. Make a roof to the ark, building it up to a cubit higher. Put the entrance in the side of the ark, which is to be made with lower, second and third decks. For my part I am going to send the flood, the waters, on earth, to destroy all living things having the breath of life under heaven; everything on earth is to perish. But with you I shall establish my covenant and you will go aboard the ark, yourself, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives along with you. From all living creatures, from all living things, you must take two of each kind aboard the ark, to save their lives with yours; they must be a male and a female. Genesis 6:14-19 You can hope it won t rain, or you can plan to build an ark!
PURPOSE OF OPERATIONS MANUAL Provide the how-tos of organizing and putting together ministry programs at church facilities. Help groups and organizers know what to do and how to get it done. Provide uniform and standardized procedures that enable the parish to comply with Federal, state and county regulations, Reporting requirements, Diocesan guidelines, Canon Law.
PURPOSE OF OPERATIONS MANUAL Provide guidelines and procedures: to ensure responsible stewardship of parishioners time, talent, and treasure; to promote safe use of parish facilities Avoid any misunderstanding on: financial controls, safe environment, scheduling, communication, facility use equipment.
ELEMENTS OF OPERATIONS GUIDELINES The Big Picture Operations (in general) Safe environment for children and youth Financial controls Stewardship Communication Facilities use Accident and medical emergencies Interior use guidelines Exterior use guidelines General guidelines
COMMUNICATIONS Use tools for internal and external communications Have plan for crisis communication Use all available tools
SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH VIRTUS training and compliance Monitoring of premises Supervision by parents and responsible adults Planning for off-site events
FACILITY USE Qualifications for use Procedure for requesting use Scheduling Responsibilities of event leaders and participants Keys and security Set-up and clean-up Safety and ladder training
FINANCIAL CONTROLS Budgeting Policies for reimbursement Obtaining goods and services (by cash, charge, check, invoice) Planning for emergencies and large expenditures Control and monitoring of collections
ENSURE GOOD STEWARDSHIP Parishioners have invested their time, talent and treasure to provide space, equipment and an environment for ministries to flourish. Therefore, proper oversight must be given to ensure good stewardship: Financial controls; Safe environment for children and youth; Safe and accessible facility for seniors and the handicapped; Facilities to effectively carry out the mission; Procedures for scheduling and use of space; Proper care and safety by users when using the facility; Knowledge of and implementation of the Emergency Management Plan; Protection of facilities against damage, loss or misuse; Responsible use of energy; Appropriate use of space; Thorough cleanup, including proper disposal of recyclable items in appropriate bins; Extension of facility life through proper maintenance; Communications within and outside the parish to promote the vision and mission.
OUR GOOD SHEPHERD Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father s house, there are many dwellingplaces. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where [I] am going you know the way. Thomas said to him, Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way? Jesus said to him, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:1-6)
GOOD STEWARDSHIP Presentation by Claudia Fiebig, Pastoral Associate Good Shepherd Catholic Church 8710 Mount Vernon Highway Alexandria, VA 22309 www.gs-cc.org Email: office@gs-cc.org Technical Support: Lorraine Monaco, Communications Michael Monaco, Administrative Assistant