While Maria Harris speaks of leadership in the context of community building, Tom Sweetser and Peg Bishop give leadership its own place. They suggest the leadership of a parish includes the pastor, staff, pastoral council and coordinating groups, often called commissions, that oversee the essential aspects of the parish and give them direction and focus.

Good structure is essential. They offer the following as aspects of a good parish structure:

• The pastoral council as center to the structure
• Staff members as resource to the commissions
• A training manual for all leaders
• A common leadership night once a month