Preparatory questions, recommendations and suggestions in developing an Intercessory Prayer Ministry at St. Monica - Berwyn, PA

1. Intercessory Prayer Ministry
Charter Questions
1. What isthe specificpurpose of the ministry?
a. To give peoplea direct outlet socthatthey know thatprayersarebeing said fortheir
intentions.
2. What are the desiredoutcome or“deliverables?”
a. ThatGod hearsus and answersourprayerneeds.All prayeris "answered.Theanswers
may notbe whatwe wantto occur buttypically fall underoneof fourcategories:"Yes,"
"No,""Notat thistime," "I havea better idea."
3. Are there apparentmeasuresorindicatorsthatdefine the limits?
a. Time people are asked to commit daily to prayer(30 minutesdaily)
b. Longerterm committment:omeyearwith option to add a second year.
4. What cost limitsorconsiderationsare there?
a. Personaltime of Director of PrayerMinistry.
b. Personalenergy of DoPMand thatof Prayer Team
c. Computersupplies(minimal)
d. Costof annualretreat day forPrayerTeam (+/- $500)
5. Are there effectsthatdespite the achievementof the desiredoutcome cannotbe tolerated?
a. Peopleshould askfor prayercarefully becausethey may get whatthey asked for.
6. Are there organizational (parish, Church,archdiocesan) valuesthatcannotbe violatedatany
cost or benefit?
a. All membersof PrayerMinistry musthaveALL child abuseclearances("Mandatory
Reporter"is especially importantin the ministry).
b. Cannon law,local,stateand federal law,parish and archdiocesan guidelines.
c. The loss of confidentiality orloss of trust.
d. Nothing thatmightcausepublic scandalif a person wasknown to be on the prayer
team.
7. What kindof timelinesfordeliveryof outcomesmustbe considered?
a. Prayerrequestsshould bedelivered soon afterrequestsare received (24-48 hours)
b. Memberspray daily at least twice a day for peopleon prayerlist, 30 minutestotal.
c. Prayerintentions are posted for1 month afterwhich they will be re-discerned and,if
needed,renewed foroneadditionalmonth.Wewill use anonymous –"special intention"
when deemed appropriateornecessary.
8. Are there restrictionsconcerningthe utilizationof human(volunteers)?Are there restrictions
concerningparish?
a. Overbudget,requestsforadvertising and space 30 daysout.
9. Any“sacred cows”that must be spared?
a. Any abusemustbe reported by anyoneon thePrayerTeam according to the guidelines
stipulated by "Mandated Reporter"laws.

2. 10. What criteriacan the ministryuse toknow that it needstoobtainthe (Pastor’s) permission,
rather thanwaitfor forgiveness?
a. Sameas #6 and #9
11. What organizational realitiesorenvironmental factors –internal orexternal –needto be
consideredtounderstandproblemsorissuesthatmightneedtobe addressed?
a. Notentirely sure yet.This question will be revisited after6 monthsof experience.
12. What are the consequencesif expecteddeliveryof outcomesisnotfulfilled?
a. All prayeris answered.See#2 above.
13. What incentivesare there forthe teamif the outcomesare reached.Exceeded?
a. Great Joy which enablesusto continueto pray forothers.
b. Appreciation and recognition by Pastor.
c. Annualthankyou dinnerand spiritualretreat.
14. Can the (Pastor) override decisionarrivedatbythe team thathe doesnotlike?Whatwouldbe
the implicationif thisoccurs?
a. Yes. Implicationswould depend on thesituation and thecircumstances.(See#15 and
#16 below)
15. If the situationin#14 happens,how wouldwe deal withit?
a. PrayerMinistry would pray then speakwith Pastordirectly,at minimumwithin oneweek
or soonerif situation is morecritical.
16. If the Pastorbecomestooinvolvedinthe ongoingworkof the team, how will the teamlet
him/herknow?
a. Director of PrayerMinistry will say something.