NORWICH – After spending eight months on a road less traveled, members of St. Bartholomew’s and St. Paul’s Churches will now move ahead with an official guide – having some idea of what their future holds.

A final version of the Pastoral Plan – which promotes the necessity of both churches in Norwich, and outlines their future financial, operational and spiritual structures – was accepted without dissent Wednesday night by the joint-parish council, and will be sent to the Diocese of Syracuse for approval early next week.

In the meantime, officials and parishioners believe that just sitting back and waiting for Bishop James J. Moynihan’s decision will not be the only answer to their recent problems.

“I hope we can have the close relationship everyone had before, and slowly come back together,” said Father Douglas Cunningham, the pastor for St. Bart’s and St. Paul’s. “It doesn’t help either church having the anger and animosity that’s been out there. We need to come back together under Jesus Christ.”