Connections

Strategies for Implementing National Certification Standards

by Pat Rinker
Diocese of Lansing
and
Joe Dvorak
Diocese of Davenport

Greetings in Christ from the Certification and Accreditation Task Group! We continue to move forward in our efforts to implement the National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers. Two of our goals in the next few years are as follows:

• To have 50 percent of all diocesan training and formation programs for youth ministry leaders integrate the national certification standards and competencies into their current programming.
• To have 10 percent of lay ecclesial ministers certified through a USCCB/CCA approved process by the year 2007.

The good news is that many dioceses have already met these goals or are heading in this direction. We have asked a few diocesan directors to share with us what is happening in their dioceses. We hope that you will find helpful ideas and inspiration in their efforts .

Diocese of St. Petersburg

In the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Dr. Anne Marie Winters edited the Lay Pastoral Ministry Institute curriculum and module outlines to indicate which national certification standards are being addressed by each module. This way the students will have a frame of reference as they continue their ecclesial lay ministry studies.

Also in the Diocese of St. Petersburg, the Office for Youth Ministry will be addressing the topic of the national certification standards with parish youth ministry leaders at their annual business meeting on July 12, 2004. They are also planning a mid-winter workshop on the topic of the standards and how they can become a guide for ongoing formation for youth ministry leaders. Contact Bro. Jerry Meegan, SDB: 727-341-6850, brojersdb@aol.com.

Archdiocese of Cincinnati

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati has taken several steps:

1. They have completely redesigned their training based on the new standards. There will be separate tracks for professionals and volunteers.
2. They have completely redesigned their certification procedures based on the new standards which the USCCB/CCA (Committee on Certification and Accreditation) recently approved.
3. They have convened an interdisciplinary group of representatives of academic institutions, ministry formation programs, diocesan offices and parishes to explore how the Standards can serve to forward their mission of developing leaders for ministry. Contact Sean Reynolds: 513-421-3131, sreynolds@catholiccincinnati.org.

Diocese of Lansing

The Diocese of Lansing is in the process of having their Lay Ecclesial Minister Formation Process approved. It is based on the common competencies and the specialized competencies. When approved, the process will conclude with the bishop of the diocese commissioning participants as a lay ecclesial minister with areas of specialization in youth ministry, religious education, or pastoral ministry. There are five levels of formation including courses in collaboration with Siena Heights University, such as mentoring, spiritual direction, retreats, portfolios and more. All are based on the five standards. Contact Pat Rinker: 517-342-2485, prinker@dioceseoflansing.org.

Diocese of Davenport

The Diocese of Davenport has realigned their Ministry Formation Program with the new certification standards and is working toward submitting the program to the USCCB/CCA for approval in the near future. Contact Joe Dvorak: 515-674-9607, dvorakj@attglobal.net.

Diocese of Wichita

Christine Edmonds reorganized her office library in standards categories, which she hopes will help parish users think about the standards. Contact Chris Edmonds: 316-269-3927, edmondsc@cdowk.org.

Please share with us what your diocese is doing with the National Certification Standards and how collaboration is taking place in your diocesan office between directors in the different areas of ministries, including youth ministry, religious education, and pastoral ministry. Also let us know if you are working with other formation programs, universities, or colleges. Share the good news of how the certification standards are being implemented in your diocese!

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Management Committee Update

by Cindee Case, Chair
Diocese of Youngstown

Throughout this issue of Connections, you will see how active many of our task groups are—the New Diocesan Director’s Institute team held a wonderful training event May 15-18; the Accreditation and Certification Commission has an article updating us on a myriad of work, and registration brochures are now available for the National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry.

In addition to the work of the NCCYM task group on the various aspects of the conference with the Host Committee in Pittsburgh, the Music in Youth Ministry Task Group is preparing the Music Expo and the Adult Spirituality Task Group is working on a Café Soul for coffee talk with faith topics.

Task Group Members Needed
We applaud the wonderful work of all these task groups! However, there are still a number of tasks for which new task group members are needed. Do you have an interest in revising the Code of Ethics for Youth Ministry Leaders? What about helping to ensure Child Protection and Safe Environments? If you are interested in either of these tasks, please contact Cindee Case, Diocese of Youngstown, 330-744-8451, ext. 280 or ccase@youngstowndiocese.org.

 

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