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March 10, 2012

SWOT Analysis of the Institutional Catholic Church & the Church Reform Movement

Filed under: — acnadministrator @ 3:45 pm

The American Catholic Council is launching an effort to create a “SWOT” analysis of the institutional Roman Catholic Church. SWOT stands for “Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats.”  The plan is to have that analysis focus on the Vatican, but may include application to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) as well as local bishops (ordinaries) in local dioceses across the US. We are hoping that the SWOT Analysis can provide the Church Reform Movement a helpful “reality check” on mission statements, operating plans, and future action proposals. Though we see it as a stand alone initiative, we are also hopeful that the SWOT analysis can surface data that informs the forthcoming  “strategic estimate” that will be an outcome of the Nonviolence Institute to be sponsored by ACC in the Fall of 2012. As the curriculum of the Institute will be largely framed by the writings and research of Gene Sharp of the Einstein Institute, his model requires that participants in the ACC Institute on Nonviolent Action and Church Reform come to understand  the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the “adversary” as well as the “struggle group” (reformers). This process will also re-invigorate the themes of the Second Vatican Council in our Church that we have advocated since our founding 2 years ago.

This technique is taught in most business schools today,  and is routinely done by many for-profit businesses and not-for-profit organizations, generally in context of developing a business plan.  Managers identify  realities and perceptions that can impact operational success of the organization in the future, both positively and negatively.  Consultants are often contracted to provide a level of objectivity. It is vitally important that the analysis of conditions be done as objectively as possible.  Often, organizations are somewhat myopic in viewing their own strengths and vulnerabilities and their competitors as well.  Our analysis will differ in one major respect: we will need to consider the intangible factors of the “consumers,” i.e. WE, the Faithful, the People of God.

We are seeking to engage persons who have particular knowledge and expertise regarding the inner workings of the institution, especially in the context of the Vatican and the Vatican’s  “men” within the US hierarchy, perhaps in the context of select bishops’ roles within the USCCB. In particular, we are looking to engage the following:

  • Academics, including theologians, ecclesiologists, historians and sociologists, especially those grounded in the teachings of Vatican II;
  • Journalists, especially those who have covered “politics” in the Roman Catholic Church and the progressive reform movements;
  • Knowledgeable Clergy, Religious and Laity who serve in active ministry within the Church;
  • National Leaders in the US and Canadian Church Reform Movements;
  • Local Leaders in the Church Reform Movement in the US and Canada;
  • International representatives of the Church Reform movement;

Participants will be invited to respond to a series of open-ended questions via an online Questionnaire.  Prospective participants can self nominate.  Alternately, supporters of ACC can put forth the names of persons whom they feel can positively contribute to this initiative. If you do put forth  suggested nominees, be sure to provide the nominee’s  contact information, preferably an email address and phone number. In the absence of that, provide the contact information for a “gatekeeper” person who has access to your nominee. Nominations (and self-nominations) should be sent via email to SHEILA PEIFFER, ACC Administrative Coordinator at sheilapeiffer.acc@gmail.com. The deadline for nomination has been been extended to April 30th.

Nominees will be screened in the days that follow. Persons selected to participate will then be sent a link to a password protected secure online form to gather their responses to a relatively short and open-ended questionnaire, with several leading questions. Though respondents will be ask to identify themselves on the questionnaire, all responders will have the option to declare whether or not they wish to be listed among the participants in the final report. Questionnaire responses are due by May 15th.  The data will be reviewed and a report will be produced by ACC by mid summer, prior to the commencement of the Institute for Nonviolent Action for Church Reform.

As they prepare their analysis, we recommend (though we do not require) that participants in the SWOT Analysis first review the following sources to inform their responses to the Questionnaire:

 

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