Specialized Certificate in Parish Life and Administration - New Orleans Campus Format
Description of the Program
The Specialized Certificate program offers specialty-level ministry education courses, informative readings, and integrating project work for persons currently engaged or soon to be engaged in pastoral ministry leadership roles in local Christian faith communities.
Thus, the Specialized Certificate is a professional ministry credential and a continuing ministry education (c.e.u. credit) program which is ideal for lay ministry professionals, clergy, pastoral administrators, parish coordinators, and pastoral associates; other local church leaders such as DREs and religious education coordinators; experienced ministry volunteers; and post-graduate level students. Certificate program participants often include persons who wish to update themselves on current areas of ministry interest, to acquire another professional ministry credential, to acquire ministry leadership skills, to fulfill continuing education requirements, to further integrate their previous ministry studies and/or ministry experiences, and to integrate knowledge from the disciplines of theology, canon law studies, ministry, leadership theory, and psychology.
Admission to the Program
Four criteria exist for formal admission to the Specialized Certificate program. A learner ’s admission requires at least one of the following:
- a Masters degree, preferably in pastoral studies, religious studies, religious education, theology, or a closely related field of study; or
- a Certificate awarded by the on-campus or the extension programs
(C.P.S. or C.R.E.), of the Loyola Institute for Ministry of Loyola University New Orleans. - a B.A. or B.S. degree, plus at least three years of documentable ministry
leadership experience; or - no academic degree, but at least five years of documentable ministry
leadership experience.
Applicants for the Certificate program are evaluated in light of the current academic expectations placed on adult continuing education (c.e.u.) students by Loyola University’s Institute for Ministry (LIM).
The Specialized Certificate program leads participants toward 12 continuing education credit hours (c.e.u.) of specialty-level ministry studies. Successful completion of the program results in the student’s reception of the professional ministry credential called the Specialized Certificate in Parish Life and Administration, awarded by the Loyola Pastoral Life Center (LPLC), in conjunction with the Loyola Institute for Ministry, at Loyola University New Orleans.
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Certificate Curriculum (6 Courses)
The Dynamic Parish Today (2 c.e.u.)
In this course, participants reflect deeply on the realities of church, parish, and ministry, as they are experienced today. Traditional and emerging models of church and parish life will be investigated, along with a variety of critical pastoral ministry issues that impact church life and parish ministry leaders in contemporary times.
Effective Leadership & Pastoral Administration (2 c.e.u.)
This course considers key, practical aspects of effective leadership in local faith communities consistent with current theologies on church and ministry. Participants explore and experiment with leadership and ministry-team paradigms in light of the mission of the church and their own ecclesial visions. Special attention will be given to the crucial leadership skills of collaboration, navigating change/transition, and spiritual self-care in modern church life and administration.
Canon Law and Civil Law for the Pastoral Minister (2 c.e.u.)
This course will examine, first, the revised code of canon law in light of historical development of law and the reforms of Vatican II. During this course, special emphasis will be placed on Book Two of the Code, the People of God, and special applications of canon law to the everyday life of the faith community. Next, the course will identify and reflect upon a number of legal issues which persons working parish communities often encounter. Based upon the interests and needs of class members, issues such as the following may be addressed: the non-profit, corporate status of the parish; church property; contracts, insurance, and torts; marriage; divorce; child abuse matters; clergy and parish staff malpractice; and confidentiality issues and counseling liabilities.
Stewardship and Financial Management in Local Faith Community (2 c.e.u.)
To become a “good steward” of local resources, the contemporary administrator must be able to develop a sound strategic plan, identify and acquire resources to implement that plan, and then responsibly manage, monitor, and report on the plan’s execution. Parish stewardship entails carrying out these actions in partnership with a community of Christians striving to build up the reign of God. In this course, participants will develop a stewardship plan for a parish church while giving particular focus to the nature of Christian stewardship, strategic planning, parish fundraising, and principles of financial management.
Presiding Skills for Prayer and Worship (2 c.e.u.)
This course examines the richness and the development of the church’s many worship forms. In particular, course participants focus on the role of the presider and the assembly in each of these worship traditions and then develop presiding skills for leading assemblies gathered for prayer.
Cultural Diversity and Parish Ministry (2 c.e.u.)
This course provides a framework that enables participants to investigate and understand pluralism and cultural diversity in the local faith community as both gifts and challenges. It will also provide the participants with a vocabulary that will enable them to understand their own culture, and the cultures of others, in the environment in which they live and to identify some of the dynamics in cross-cultural situations.
Complete All of Your Certificate Work Via Courses in 3 Short Summer Sessions
Summer 2009
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Courses and Instructors:
The Dynamic Parish Today
Monday-Thursday, June 29-July 2, 1:30 - 4:50 p.m
Thomas Sweetser, S.J., Director, Parish Evaluation Project, Milwaukee, WI
Peg Bishop, O.S.F., Co-Director, Parish Evaluation Project
In conversation with nationally recognized experts on parish life, participants reflect on the realities of church, parish, and ministry in light of research and best practices today. They investigate traditional and emerging models of church and parish life, along with a variety of critical pastoral ministry issues that impact the church and ministry leaders today.
For more information about the Parish Evaluation Project, please see: http://www.pepparish.org.
Stewardship & Financial Management
Monday-Friday, July 6th - July 10th, 1:30 - 4:50 p.m.
Dr. Brian Reynolds
Chancellor and Chief Administrative Officer, Archdiocese of Louisville
In conversation with an expert practicioner and in light of research and best practices, participants develop a stewardship plan for a parish church while giving particular focus to the nature of Christian stewardship, strategic planning, parish fundraising, and principles of financial management.
Summer 2010
Projected Courses Dates -- TBA
Courses:
- Canon Law and Civil Law for the Pastoral Minister
- Presiding Skills for Prayer and Worship