Parish Respect Life Representative Job Description

Parish Respect Life Representative

Job Description

General Description

The purpose of Respect Life Ministry is to promote a greater respect for the sanctity of human life, from fertilization to natural death. The Parish Respect Life Representative organizes and implement the efforts of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities at his/her local parish in consultation with the Pastor of that parish. The Respect Life Representative must understand and accept the Church's teaching on life issues. The Parish Respect Life Representative serves both the parish and the diocese. The Parish Respect Life Committee is covers the issues of the Beginning of Life, End of Life, Capital Punishment, and Legislative Action.

The Parish Respect Life Representative is a communication link between the parish and the Diocesan Respect Life Department. The effectiveness of the Church's Respect Life program depends, to a great extent, upon its ability to communicate with one (or more) person(s) in each parish who has agreed to accept the responsibility to promote the Church's Respect Life agenda in that parish.

Specific Duties

Read and become familiar with the Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities. Review it periodically. This provides the background behind the Church's teaching on the sanctity of human life and provides a blueprint for implementing the Pastoral Plan.
Organize a parish committee or structure to help with planning and implementing specific Respect Life programs and/or projects. The size and formality of this committee or structure depends largely upon the size of the parish. Some Parish Representatives (particularly in small parishes) may find it unnecessary to establish a formal committee with monthly meetings, etc. However, every parish should at least have a group of volunteers available to help implement programs/projects as needed.
Set goals at the beginning of each year for Respect Life activities in your parish, keeping in mind programs planned at the diocesan level as well as parish programs. Try to initiate some Respect Life effort (no matter how small) at least once a month. Review and evaluate these goals periodically.
Review with your pastor any Respect Life activities, programs or events that will be advertised or carried out at the parish before they take place.
Implement specific projects or requests sent from the Diocesan or State Offices.
Serve as a liaison between the parish and the Diocesan Office.
The Parish Respect Life Representative is at the service of the pastor. Upon resignation, the Respect Life Representative will inform the pastor of his/her decision and, if possible, assist the pastor in choosing a replacement.
The Parish Respect Life Representative serves in a voluntary manner. All activities must be subsidized in a manner agreed upon by the pastor.