Management Committee Reports

Adult Training and Certification

Developing Youth Ministry Leaders

by Mary Ann Marschall
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

One of the tasks of diocesan directors of youth ministry is to assist youth ministry leaders in finding ways to develop and hone the knowledge, skills, and abilities they need to be and become more competent youth ministry leaders. The newly published National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers provide a set of competency-based standards— knowledge, skills, abilities, etc.,—that give youth ministry leaders a guide and goals toward which to work in gaining competency as a youth ministry leader. These competency-based standards were developed by the National Association for Lay Ministry (NALM), the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership (NCCL), and the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM) and approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Commission on Certification and Accreditation in April 2003.

The Certification and Accreditation Commission of the NFCYM has developed the following resources for the NFCYM INET and public website to aid diocesan directors of youth ministry in implementing the National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers in their dioceses. The commission invites diocesan directors of youth ministry to visit the INET, click on “Developing Youth Ministry Leaders” and review and use these resources. The Certification and Accreditation Commission of the NFCYM strongly encourages collaborating with other diocesan offices, especially the catechetical and pastoral ministry offices, in implementing these standards.

Purpose of the Resources

The purpose of the resources on the INET is to:

  • Educate diocesan directors of youth ministry about the National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers;
  • Assist diocesan directors of youth ministry in educating youth ministry leaders in their dioceses about these standards and how to use them for their professional growth and certification;
  • Aid diocesan directors of youth ministry in working collaboratively with other diocesan directors of lay ecclesial ministries, such as catechetical ministry and pastoral ministry, in educating lay ecclesial ministers in their dioceses about these standards and how to use them for their professional growth and certification.
  • Provide tools for diocesan directors to assess in their dioceses the formation opportunities and resources and their program curriculum and content in light of the National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers.

Types of Resources

The resources fall into five categories:

  1. Articles
    Articles will explain the National Certification Standards, their impact on lay ecclesial ministry, how to employ the standards to assess one’s ministerial competence, and how to use the standards in conjunction with a code of ethics. These articles (other than the article in America for which diocesan leaders need to request reprint permission) are ready to print and distribute to youth ministry leaders, other lay ecclesial ministers, pastors, etc., in dioceses. We encourage diocesan leaders to print these articles, read them, and distribute them to youth ministry leaders and other diocesan staff, especially catechetical and pastoral ministry staff, as part of the diocesan effort to educate lay ecclesial ministers about the National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers. Both of the articles below are also available to youth ministry leaders on the general NFCYM website http://www.nfcym.org.
    • -Link to “Called, Gifted…and Now Certified,” by Jeff Kaster published in America magazine, Summer 2003
    • -“What Is a Code of Ethics and How Do Youth Ministry Leaders Use It?” by Barb Garvin
  2. Documents
    Two documents are located in this section. The Code of Ethics for Youth Ministry Leaders approved by the members in Jauary 2003 and a synopsis of the National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers.
  3. Workshop Outlines
    These workshops will assist diocesan directors of youth ministry in educating lay ecclesial ministers, particularly youth ministry leaders, in the importance and use of competency-based standards. The workshops include a link to a slide show with presentation notes, handouts, and informative and useful appendices. The workshops are designed so that a diocesan leader can step in and facilitate the workshop. A list of presenters is provided in Appendix 3 of the Lay Ecclesial Ministry Day outline in case the diocesan leader or staff wishes to bring in an outside presenter to facilitate a workshop. We plan to publish an additional workshop on theological reflection in the coming months. Diocesan directors of youth ministry are encouraged to collaborate with other diocesan offices, particularly the catechetical and pastoral ministry offices, to sponsor the Lay Ecclesial Ministry Day for all lay ecclesial ministers, including diocesan staff, in their dioceses.
    • Diocesan Sponsored Workshop for Parish Youth Ministry Leaders
    • Lay Ecclesial Ministry Day
    • Link from each workshop to a PowerPoint Slide Presentation “Competency-Based Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers”
  4. Assessment Tools The assessment tools will assist diocesan leaders in evaluating their diocesan formation opportunities and resources, and their program curriculum and content, in light of how they help participants move toward meeting the National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers. These assessment tools are ready for diocesan leaders to print and distribute to youth ministry leaders, other lay ecclesial ministers, pastors, ministry formation personnel, etc., in their dioceses. We encourage diocesan directors of youth ministry to collaborate with other diocesan offices, especially the catechetical and pastoral ministry offices, and ministry formation program personnel to evaluate formation opportunities, resources, programs, and curriculum. Using these tools will help diocesan leaders see the strengths and gaps of the ministry formation programs and resources in their dioceses. Diocesan leaders will then be able to look for creative ways that those gaps might be filled. These tools are also available on the general NFCYM website, www.nfcym.org, for access by youth ministry leaders.
  5. Links to Resources Additional links are provided to assist diocesan directors in using and promoting the use of the National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers. The links with an asterix* by them are also available to youth ministry leaders on the general NFCYM website. *National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers *Assessing Competency as a Youth Ministry Leader: Self- Assessment Tool Based on the National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers -Hiring for Youth Ministry: A Process for Success (new appendices)

The NFCYM Certification and Accreditation Commission hopes that diocesan directors of youth ministry will visit the INET and use these resources to assist themselves and youth ministry leaders grow in competence in youth ministry. For questions, assistance, or more information regarding these resources or the National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministry contact one of the following Certification and Accreditation Commission members:

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Love Builds Bridges

by D. Scott Miller
NFCYM

NCCYM 2004 logoThe Adult Conference task group is pleased to announce four preconferences to be held December 1- 2, 2004 at the Westin Hotel in Pittsburgh. They include:

Crossing the Bridge: Advocating for Social Justice
It’s an old line “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” In today’s world, the need to respond to social injustice is no longer a bridge beyond our horizons. We find this need on our doorsteps, during our daily commute, on the news, and in our Gospels. Join us as we immerse ourselves into the lives and the stories of our brothers and sisters who live on the other side of the bridge. This pre-conference will provide practical applications of how to better advocate with today’s young disciples regarding their own response to the call to Gospel justice.

Itinerant Ministers Retreat
Itinerant ministry has a long tradition and heritage within the evangelistic nature of the church. Today’s young church has customary contact with those speakers, singers, and comedians. They meet one another at youth rallies, parish missions, NCYC, World Youth Day, and in school assemblies. This retreat is offered to all those who serve the field of youth ministry as itinerant ministers. It will be a time to gather, nourish, and support one another’s ministry.

NFCYM Leadership Forum: Coping with Change and Transition in the Church Today
Leadership in youth ministry brings with it a variety of issues and challenges. Perhaps more than ever before, we are asked to be flexible and creative as we work in environments filled with changing roles, expectations, and opportunities. The NFCYM Leadership Forum will focus on the realities of change and transition in the life of church ministers today. Through conversation and activity, NFCYM members will examine how to transform the challenges of change into opportunities for new learning and new life. Come to contribute, learn, and enjoy!

Military Youth Ministry: Navigating the Connections
Building comprehensive youth ministry in the military creates a network of bridges. This preconference will navigate the connections that reach out to young people growing up in the military. Discover how bridging the transitions contribute to the development of faith.

Further, the adult conference task group announces two special events to be held during the National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry.

The Three Rivers Cruise
Friday, December 3
6:30 P.M.-9:30 P.M.
Come aboard and let us show you Pittsburgh’s sparkling city skyline at night! Our stately riverboat from the Gateway Clipper Fleet, will pick us up at the Convention Center along the Alleghany. We will also sail along the Monongahela and Ohio Rivers. The lights of the city will only be accentuated with the lights of the Christmas season. We will enjoy our Captain’s Dinner Buffet and then Anna Scally of Cornerstone Media will play songs that bridge the generations for your dancing and listening enjoyment. Space is limited. Tickets are $45 fee per person.

Faith Factor Variety Show
Saturday, December 4
8:30 P.M.- 10:30 P.M.
Obviously, fear is not a factor for those who work in youth ministry. Nor is it a factor for those who entertain youth ministry leaders. This event, building upon the 2002 NCCYM’s very successful Rocky Mountain High-Jinks comedy club, will make you laugh, warm your heart, and still potentially gross you out—just another day in youth ministry.

Please continue to watch http://www. nfcym.org/nccym for registration information and more conference details.

 

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