| This research provided clarity to two theoretical issues arising from a review of community competence (CC). The first issue was a lack of a clear definition of CC. The second was a lack of information on the elements and components that constituted CC (i.e., its component structure).;The study addressed these issues through two interviews and a questionnaire measure of CC conducted in four Roman Catholic parishes. Open-ended interviews were conducted with five key respondents who worked with parishes. The key respondents helped identify the four parish communities and provided input in the preliminary definition of parish competence. A second round of open-ended interviews was conducted with 22 parish priests, leaders, and active members to determine the definition and the component structure of parish competence. From the results of the parish interviews, a questionnaire measure of parish competence was developed and distributed to parishioners of the same four parishes.;The interview results revealed that parish competence could be defined in terms of both outcome-attainment and process. Outcomes were specifically related to worship and education. Process was evident in participatory leadership and collaboration in determining parish vision and goals. The interview results likewise revealed a component structure of parish competence that had 12 elements falling under three components. The Mission component included the elements Worship, Education, Parish Life, Participation, and Christian Service. The Leadership component included the elements Priest Characteristics, Leader Characteristics, Participatory Leadership, and Communication. The Organization component included the elements Programs, Resources, and Open to Change. This three-component and twelve-element structure was tested using data from 266 parishioners who answered a questionnaire measure of parish competence. An exploratory principal component analysis on one part of the survey revealed that the component structure of parish competence had two components and 11 elements. A confirmatory factor analysis using another part of the survey provided support for this component structure of CC. |
