The One Accompanied 69
“Effective Planning Is Rooted in the Teachings of Our Faith
and Supported by Foundational Pastoral Practices”
Accompaniment requires the solid foundation of theological under-
standing and pastoral practice for fruitful implementation in an institution:
The content and substance of ministries, activities, and programs
should be based in the Church’s teaching and tradition...When
pastoral leaders begin to work through a planning process for
evangelization, they should first consider the review of current
pastoral practice, and use this review to define areas of the parish
ministry that are successful and areas that may need additional
focus or attention. (Living As Missionary Disciples, 26)
“Effective Planning for Ministry Engages and Inspires People
Through a Culture of Encounter and Accompaniment, Build-
ing Strong and Trusting Relationship”
Implementation for accompaniment itself requires strong relationships
founded upon the true encounter of Christ and one another. In an institu-
tion, this is cultivated through practices such as “engaging others through
Christian witness in everyday life,” “creating an atmosphere of invitation,
hospitality, and trust,” building collaborative relationships, teamwork and
commitment,” and “welcoming and embracing ethnically diverse commu-
nities” (Living as Missionary Disciples 26-27). Before implementing accom-
paniment, institutions themselves must discern their own culture of rela-
tionships among staff, volunteers, directors, clergy, and other personnel.
“Planning for Ministry Requires Intentional Stewardship”
As Living as Missionary Disciples states, “All ministry and pastoral care
relies on the availability of human and financial resources applied by leaders
with good management and administrative skills. A parish can develop su-
perior plans and strategies, but they will be effective only when human and
financial resources are made available to implement them” (Living as Mis-
sionary Disciples, 28). Accompaniment requires the responsible handling of
resources through practices such as ethical business practices and the man-
agement and development of personnel (Living as Missionary Disciples, 28).