Competency-Based Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers

1. 1 Competency-Based Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry

2. 2 What are Competency-Based Standards? They are a profile of the knowledge and skills needed by adults in the role of Youth Ministry Leader (parish, school, or other setting). They are written in competency-based language because there is a building of knowledge and skill based on an individual�s depth of experience and education. The intent of the competency-based standards is to identify the basic knowledge and skills that are foundational to effective ministry with adolescents. These standards are considered to be the basic foundation that is needed by adults working with youth. These adults must be grounded in such areas as adolescent development, Catholic theology and spirituality, and youth ministry principles. It is understood that the application of the knowledge and competencies pointed to in these standards could look very different in rural settings and urban settings, schools and retreat centers, scouting and athletics, and larger and smaller parishes. Likewise, the standards were designed to be broad enough to cross cultural settings. (taken from NFCYM Competency-Based Standards for the Coordinator of Youth Ministry, 1990)The intent of the competency-based standards is to identify the basic knowledge and skills that are foundational to effective ministry with adolescents. These standards are considered to be the basic foundation that is needed by adults working with youth. These adults must be grounded in such areas as adolescent development, Catholic theology and spirituality, and youth ministry principles. It is understood that the application of the knowledge and competencies pointed to in these standards could look very different in rural settings and urban settings, schools and retreat centers, scouting and athletics, and larger and smaller parishes. Likewise, the standards were designed to be broad enough to cross cultural settings. (taken from NFCYM Competency-Based Standards for the Coordinator of Youth Ministry, 1990)

3. 3 Lay Ecclesial Minister Lay Ecclesial Ministry: The State of the Questions: A Report of the Subcommittee on Lay Ministry (Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic Conference, Inc., 1999) established the following criteria for understanding the term �lay ecclesial minister:� A fully initiated lay member of the Christian faithful (including vowed religious) who is responding to the empowerment and gifts of the Holy Spirit received in baptism and confirmation, which enable one to share in some form of ministry One who has received the necessary formation, education, and training to function competently within the given area of ministry One who intentionally brings personal competencies and gifts to serve the Church's mission through a specific ministry of ecclesial leadership and who does so with community recognition and support One to whom a formal and public role in ministry has been entrusted or upon whom an office has been conferred by competent ecclesiastical authority.

4. 4 Lay Ecclesial Minister A lay ecclesial minister is typically a paid parish staff person (full- or part-time) or a volunteer who has responsibility and the necessary authority for institutional leadership in a particular area of ministry.

5. 5 A Brief History on Certification and Accreditation Standards and the NFCYM First CYM standards approved by USCC/CCA 1990 NFCYM was unique because we did not choose to do national certification with our standards. 1996 revised second set of standards approved NALM (1995) and NCCL (1996) have standards approved. Inter-organizational meetings began in 1997 Common Competency Project began in 1999 (NFCYM, NALM, NCCL writing joint core standards for lay ecclesial ministers Our standards were used as a template by the National Association for Lay Ministry (NALM) and the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership) NCCL. This lead naturally to the Common Competencies Goal Resource written by Joseph Merkt which was an outgrowth of the first two inter-organizational meetings. Make note of the difference between the work of Merkt and the current common competency project. All of this was followed by our current work on a joint set of core standards, since all three organizations were coming up for their 7 year review by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Commission on Certification and Accreditation (USCCB/CCA). Our standards were used as a template by the National Association for Lay Ministry (NALM) and the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership) NCCL. This lead naturally to the Common Competencies Goal Resource written by Joseph Merkt which was an outgrowth of the first two inter-organizational meetings. Make note of the difference between the work of Merkt and the current common competency project. All of this was followed by our current work on a joint set of core standards, since all three organizations were coming up for their 7 year review by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Commission on Certification and Accreditation (USCCB/CCA).

6. 6 A Brief History on Certification and Accreditation Standards and the NFCYM The Common Competency-Based Standards were approved by the NFCYM membership at the Membership meeting in January of 2003 The Common Compentency-Based Standards were approved by the USCCB/CCA in March of 2003. The standards will have to be submitted for review by the USCCB/CCA again in seven years. Work has begun to include even more organizations and to make the Common Competencies for lay ecclesial ministers more comprehensive.The standards will have to be submitted for review by the USCCB/CCA again in seven years. Work has begun to include even more organizations and to make the Common Competencies for lay ecclesial ministers more comprehensive.

7. 7 USCCB/CCA USCCB/CCA (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Commission on Certification and Accreditation): This incorporated agency of the USCCB is mandated to accredit programs of ministry formation and to approve certification standards and procedures.