The Office of Lifelong Faith Formation of the Diocese of Camden is expanding the offerings in its Lay Ministry Formation Program, which provides degree and certificate courses for parish leaders and staff members.
The program will now offer college and university certificate and degree courses in 15 areas for parish leaders and staff members who serve in various pastoral ministries.
The latest addition is a master of science degree program in church management conducted by the Villanova School of Business. The program will teach business skills and professional ethics to clergy and lay church leaders and managers to help them effectively serve their parishes, stated the school, which is part of Villanova University in Pennsylvania. It will consist of online education and a week on campus.
The diocese and the university will sign their partnership for the program March 31.
Six other new programs will begin this spring.
“In spring 2009, the Diocese of Camden launched the Lay Ministry Formation Program, enabling lay men and women to pursue pastoral and theological studies through various Catholic academic institutions,” said Linda K. Robinson, director of lay ministry formation for the diocese. “Today, nearly 300 individuals are pursuing diocesan certificate and college certificate and degree programs in online and hybrid learning communities and/or in-seat at the colleges or their satellite locations within the diocese.”
The program focuses on a range of pastoral ministries, including religious education/faith formation, youth and young adult ministry, adult faith formation, family life formation, Hispanic and Black Catholic ministry, social justice and liturgy. It also includes programs for lay persons involved in pastoral administration and parish business management.
“While parishes have always relied on volunteers in serving the needs of their parishioners, there is the recognition that to be effective in their ministries, lay persons must be properly formed intellectually, pastorally and spiritually,” the director said. “The various lay ministry formation programs are empowering lay men and women to confidently participate in the life of the church and advance the pastoral priorities of the diocese, assisting priests and in collaboration with deacons and religious men and women.”
These programs are new for spring 2011:
• Catechesis-Spanish – non-credit bearing certificate/diocesan certificate – University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio
• Youth ministry – non-credit bearing certificate/diocesan certificate – University of Dayton
• Adult faith formation – non-credit bearing certificate – University of Dayton
• Social justice – non-credit bearing certificate – University of Dayton
• Foundations for leadership in ministry – non-credit bearing certificate – University of Dayton
• Church ministry – non-credit bearing diocesan certificate – Church Ministry Institute of Camden
• Church management – master of science degree in church management – Villanova University, Villanova, Pa.
These programs continue to be offered:
• Theology (pastoral theology or liturgy) – master of arts degree or graduate certificate – Georgian Court University, Lakewood, N.J.
• Religious education – undergraduate certificate – College of St. Elizabeth, Morristown, N.J.
• Youth and young adult ministry – undergraduate certificate – College of St. Elizabeth
• Parish life ministries – undergraduate certificate – College of St. Elizabeth
• Pastoral ministry to African-American Catholics – undergraduate certificate – St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook, Pa.
• Catechesis – non-credit bearing certificate/diocesan certificate – University of Dayton
• Undergraduate degree-completion program in liberal studies – Neumann University, Aston, Pa.
• Pastoral care and counseling, spiritual direction track – master of arts degree – Neumann University
• Spiritual direction – graduate certificate – Neumann University
• Formation of mentor couples to prepare engaged couples for marriage – Pastoral and Matrimonial Renewal Center in parish sites
Classes are held at various locations throughout the diocese and many are available online and in Spanish as well as English.
The diocese has forged agreements with the participating institutions so the programs are offered at a substantial discount. Candidates who are accepted into the program pay one-third of the discounted tuition cost. Parishes and the diocese pay the remaining portion of the cost.
For more information about the Lay Ministry Formation Program, call Linda K. Robinson at 856-583-6116. For more information about the Hispanic track of the program, call Kathia Gomez at 856-583-6135. More information is also available by going to www.camdendiocese.org and clicking on “Lay Ministry Formation Program.”
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