September 25, 2009
Standards set for Lay Ecclesial Ministers
Standards and competencies are now developed by the Off-ice for Adult Formation for lay professional Directors of Religious Education, Pastoral Associates, and parish RCIA Coordinators. Pastors and Pastoral Life Coordinators were given a presentation of these certification levels on August 26 at the Catholic Center.
The standards and competencies are listed in four areas of formation which are taken from the document “Co-Workers in the Vineyard,” approved by the United States Bishops in 2005. This document guides the development of lay ministry in the United States.
The four areas of formation are: spiritual, intellectual, human and pastoral/professional skills.
Spiritual formation requirements at each level for all lay ministers are: active involvement and membership in a parish, making an annual retreat, meet with a spiritual director, and knowledge of stages of faith development.
The intellectual, human and skills formation levels for certification are summarized here:
- Level 1 Foundational Certification for Professional Catechetical Leaders (DRE’s), Pastoral Associates, and Parish RCIA Coordinators. These are requirements for the Inter-diocesan Foundational Certificate in the dioceses of the state of Indiana.
- Level 2 Catechetical Leaders — BA degree and a focus on catechetical documents, computer skills, social justice, church history and Marian theology.
- Pastoral Associates — BA degree and a focus on pastoral documents, funeral rites and customs, spirituality of aging, stages of death and dying, tribunal issues.
- RCIA Coordinators —Overview of the Rite, Models of the Catechumenate, discernment and interview skills.
- Level 3 Catechetical Leaders — MA degree and a focus on advanced skills, history of religious education, religion curriculum development, various models of Catholic Spirituality.
- Pastoral Associates — MA degree and a focus on advanced skills specific to pastoral ministry, tough issues,, various models of Catholic Spirituality.
- RCIA Coordinators — skills for leading and facilitating adult groups, documents of Vatican II, Marian theology
- Level 4 Catechetical Leaders and Pastoral Associates — This is a level to train mentors which includes supervision, mentor and coaching skills with an internship, collaborative and servant leadership skills, completion of a professional portfolio, and an interview with the Bishop.
- Level 4 RCIA Coordinators — focus on the history of the RCIA, Social Justice, United States Catechism for Adults, evangelization, models of Catholic Spirituality, forms of catechesis, children and Christian Initiation, dynamics of mystagogy.
For more detailed information on any of these standards and competencies, contact Geraldine Hedinger, OSB in the Office for Adult Formation (812) 424-5536 or (800) 637-1731.