Link2Lead is a new resource provided to pastors, lay ecclesial ministers, and lay leaders of the parishes of the diocese.  The Diocese of Rochester became a client of Percept, the leading vendor of demographic, socio-economic, and life-style information for religious bodies, both regional and local.  While there is an extensive menu of information available for the diocese, the most accessible source is that provided by Link2Lead.com, the website especially designed for local parishes.

Once you go to www.link2lead.com , you can register on the site and then spend some time in four important areas. First, you can examine your own attitude toward change and your approach to leadership in times of change. Second, you will be able to look at demographic and lifestyle information for the zip codes in which your parish community lives and/or ministers.  See links below for sample reports. Third, you can answer a few simple questions about your parish and then how its ministers line up with the typical needs of the people that live within the parish zip codes.  Finally, you can get some information on some important ways to view and understand the changes taking place in our world.

Anyone affiliated with parishes and faith communities of the Diocese of Rochester can register on the link2lead site and begin to use these resources.  Representatives of parishes actively engaged in the second round of pastoral planning may also find link2lead resources very helpful in looking at the profile of the geographic areas served by a planning group.  If you have questions about this resource, contact Karen Rinefierd.

These are sample reports for the 14610 zip code.  These are available for any zip code in the United States and can be accessed on www.link2lead.com.

• 10 Basic Facts about 14610
• 10 Basic Race and Ethnicity Facts about 14610
• 10 Basic Faith Facts about 14610
• 10 Basic Generational Facts about 14610

In addition, you can request and download a First View report for any zip code.  The following is an example of such a report:  FirstView Report for 14610.

Resources other than Link2Lead provide information for geographic areas other than zip codes.  One of these is a Ministry Area Profile.  The following is an example of that report for the entire Diocese:  Diocese of Rochester Ministry Area Profile.