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Parish Respect Life Representatives

Parish Respect Life Manual

Recruiting People to Serve on the

Parish Respect Life Committee

Where do you find people to serve on your parish Respect Life Committee?

The best approach is personal invitation.  Start with people you know. Talk to them one-on-one about the Respect Life Ministry.  Share some of your enthusiasm and they may catch it.  Listen and find out which issue most interests them.  Let them know what is expected by giving them a copy of the job description for that Committee Chairman.  Ask them to read it, pray abut it, and consider chairing that committee.

Let them know that they are not being asked to be a committee of one.  They are encouraged to find at least one other person, preferably a few, to join them on the committee.  Remind them of Jesus' model:  He sent His disciples out two by two. (Mark)  They are welcome to have a Co-Chairman.  Some people find it less threatening than being solely responsible.  It also helps to have someone to keep you on task, gently nudging you along.

Follow up with the person after a few days.  Don't expect them to call you.

Ask your pastor, parish priests, and parish staff who they know that might be interested and not already over-committed to other projects.  Follow up using the above guidelines.

The Knights of Columbus and Council of Catholic Women are two parish organizations with strong commitments to respect for human life.  Speak to the head of each group and ask who they know that might be interested.  Perhaps they might let you address their next meeting.  Don't expect many to come forward from hearing a presentation, though.  Mingle with the members whenever possible, discuss life issues, and invite individuals to work with you on the committee.

Start with simple activities and keep your eyes and ears open for enthusiastic individuals to invite into the ministry.  Start a "Gospel of Life" Study Group.  Study guides are available from the Knights of Columbus and Pauline Books & Media.  Let the Pope set people's hearts on fire through his great encyclical.

Don't forget the Youth!  Intergenerational committees can bring new life and ideas to the ministry.

If your parish has a ministry fair, participate with a display describing the life issues (use pictures, where possible) and handouts.  Be sure to have sign-up material available.

Try putting educational blurbs in the bulletin, followed by a catchy appeal to join the ministry.  This may be a way to get people thinking about the issues before you "tap them on the shoulder.  Don't expect many to come forward from the bulletin alone, though.

The following quote from Daniel Mulhall, USCC Department of Education, is just as appropriate for Respect Life Ministers as it is for Catechists:

"People generally stay with programs where they know what they are doing, where they feel valued and wanted, where their personal growth is nurtured and fed, where they are given the structure they need to be creative, and the freedom they need to try new things."