The Commissioned Ministry Leadership Formation Program develops lay Church leaders by combining academic instruction, professional training, practical ministry experience and spiritual formation.

Basic Information

Commissioned Ministry Leadership Formation Program Brochure

Purpose of the Commissioned Ministry Leadership Program?

Duties of Commissioned Ministers

When and where are classes offered

Program fees

What happens at the completion of the program

How to apply

Admissions process

Other program requirements

Program components

Diocesan required training for various lay ministers

Program courses

Program accreditation

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Purpose of the Program

• Pastoral Ministry Coordinator
• Liturgy Coordinator
• Faith Formation Coordinator
• Youth Ministry Coordinator
• Parish Business Manager

• credentials for various church ministries
• credits applied to a Bachelor’s Degree
• credits fulfilling pre-requisites for a Master’s Degree
• continuing education opportunities
• core curriculum for diaconate formation

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Duties of Commissioned Ministers

• collaborating with pastor/parish director and other staff members
• assessing pastoral needs
• coordinating programs, as needed, to address the spiritual and corporal needs
• recruiting, training, supporting, and supervising volunteers
• providing opportunities for spiritual enrichment
• making referrals, as needed, for counseling
• preparing and monitoring an annual budget

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• collaborating with pastoral leaders and other ministers
• serving on the worship committee
• implementing the worship committee’s liturgical plans
• recruiting, training, supporting, and supervising liturgical ministers
• overseeing the preparation of the worship environment
• serving as prayer leader when appropriate
• providing opportunities for liturgical education
• supplying needed liturgical documents, guidelines, and orders of prayer
• preparing and monitoring an annual budget

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• collaborating with pastoral leaders and other ministers in implementating sacramental/catechetical policies and guidelines
• identifying program needs
• selecting and evaluating appropriate curricula
• recruiting, training, supporting, and supervising catechists
• evaluating and procuring necessary resource materials
• providing appropriate environments for educational and spiritual
• encouraging parents in their role as primary educators of children
• serving on the Board of Total Catholic Education and other committees
• serving as a resource to school, parish groups, and committees
• facilitating effective public relations/communications within the program, parish, and community
• fostering Total Catholic Education
• preparing and monitoring an annual budget
• maintaining parish and diocesan catechetical records

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• collaborating with pastoral leaders and other ministers, especially the Coordinator or Director of Religious Education
• identifying the spiritual, psychological, social, and moral needs of youth
• recruiting, training, supporting, and supervising youth leaders and youth workers
• establishing comprehensive youth ministry programming
• making referrals, as needed, for counseling
• providing specific programs and experiences addressing the needs of youth
• preparing and monitoring an annual budget

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• assessing the physical, financial, and support staff personnel needs
• assisting the pastor/parish director and parish constituencies in preparing the parish budget
• ensuring that financial reports are accurate and complete
• assisting in short-and-long range planning
• coordinating the plans for the maintenance of church properties in collaboration with appropriate committees
• facilitating state-of-the-art technology
• assisting in providing effective public relations/communications within the parish and community

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Course Availability/Calendar

When: Courses are offered Monday evenings and Saturdays, September through April.
Where: Diocesan Offices, 1825 Riverside Drive, Green Bay

2010-2011 Commissioned Ministry course calendar

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Tuition and Fees (2008-2011)

• One-time Application Fee -- $20
• Courses -- $215 per credit (Special discount offered by Silver Lake College for students in this program)
• Annual Activity Fee -- $50
• Books Costs – Approximately $60 per course

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Program Completion

Participants who successfully complete the program requirements will be commissioned by the Local Diocesan Bishop and will be presented with a certificate identifying their specialized area of ministry.

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Application Procedure

Write or call for an application packet:
Diocese of Green Bay
Department for Lay Ministry Formation
PO Box 23825
Green Bay, WI 54305-3825
(920) 437-7531 Ext. 8268
E-mail

Or download the necessary materials here:

Application Form

Commissioned Ministry Leadership Formation Program Application Cover Letter PDF

Student Recommendation Form

Application Deadlines

• March 1 and July 1 for Fall admission
• November 1 for Spring admission

Return the completed application form with a non-refundable $20 application fee.

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Admission Procedure

Interview with the Admissions Committee to assess:

• personal and spiritual maturity
• active participation in the sacramental life of the Church
• desire for renewal and growth
• positive attitude toward Church and ministry
• past and present engagement in parish life
• ability to communicate and collaborate with other ministers in the Church and marketplace
• ability to pursue college level education
• psychological stability

Candidates admitted to the program by the Admission Committee:

• Develop a plan of study with the Program Director
• Register for classes that begin the following term
• Attend an orientation meeting
• Participate in a study skills workshop if deemed necessary

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Program Requirements

A participant is required to participate in a personal and spiritual formation process. This three-stage process involves:

• two or three evening and days of reflection per year
• personal growth workshops
• academic coursework
• spiritual direction
• self-evaluation

In the third stage of the program, the advisor, sponsor, and pastor/parish director will help the participant develop and implement a Learning Covenant.

Program Handbook

Third Stage Handbook

Faculty Handbook (includes Program Handbook)

Multiple Intelligences Inventory

Silver Lake College
Silver Lake College, in cooperation with the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay, offers a sequence of Scripture and theology and specialized courses that prepares participants for ministry in a parish.

Commissioned Ministry at Silver Lake College

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Program Components

Commissioned ministry leadership formation is a process that integrates experiences in human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral growth.

1. Human Growth Experiences
Participants strengthen their life of discipleship by deepening their knowledge of self and others by:

• Discussing and applying the results of the Myers/Briggs Type Indicator
• Discovering personal strengths by completing the Strengthsfinder online tool and the Living Your Strengths workshop
• Meeting periodically with the Program Director
• Developing and implementing a learning covenant that serves as their blueprint for ministry

2. Spiritual Growth Experiences
Participants deepen their spirituality by:

• Participating in evenings/days of reflection
• Learning and experiencing various forms of spirituality through course work
• Experiencing spiritual growth with the help of a spiritual director
• Reflecting on life/faith experiences through theological reflection
• Developing and implementing a learning covenant that serves as their blueprint for ministry

3. Intellectual Growth Experiences
Participants gain a theological/scriptural foundation and competencies for a specialized area of ministry by successfully completing undergraduate courses through Silver Lake College.

• Theology/Scripture Studies -- Required core of twelve (12) credits
• Specialized Studies -- Six (6) credits in one of the following areas: Pastoral Ministry, Liturgy, Faith Formation, Youth Ministry, Business Management. In the courses, participants actively participate in various classroom experiences, prepare and preside at prayer services, attend presentations by faculty and their peers, and take part in small and large group discussions.

4. Pastoral Growth Experiences
Participants gain practical experience in a parish setting by:

• Engaging in ongoing pastoral ministry, which they discuss twice a year with the program director.
• Taking part in a Field Practicum, which gives them practical experience in a particular area, by following a Learning Covenant that various mentors help them design.

Diocesan Chart of Parish Ministers

The following chart identifies examples of various nonordained parish ministries according to ministry areas and the appropriate formation:

* State Religion Certification Requirements still apply for teachers/catechists/education administrators/youth.

** St. Norbert College Master's of Theological Studies

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Core and Specialized Ministry Courses

CORE COURSES

Theology/Scripture
(12 credits required)
RLS 130 Ecclesiology/Ministry Syllabus - Mondays (two credits)
RLS 131 Integrative Spirituality Syllabus - Saturdays (two credits)
RLS 131 Integrative Spirituality Syllabus - Mondays (two credits)
RLS 230 Sacramental Theology Syllabus - Saturdays (two credits)
 RLS 231 Scripture/Old Testament Syllabus - Saturdays (two credits)
RLS 231 Scripture/Old Testament Syllabus - Mondays (two credits)
RLS 232 Moral Theology/Social Justice Syllabus - Saturdays (two credits)
RLS 232 Moral Theology/Social Justice Syllabus - Mondays (two credits)
RLS 233 New Testament Syllabus - Saturdays (two credits)

SPECIALIZED REQUIREMENTS
(6 credits in ONE of the following areas)

Pastoral Ministry
RLS 136 Liturgy and Prayer: Part I Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)
RLS 137 Liturgical Rites: Part I Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)
RLS 138 Pastoral Care Skills: Part I Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)
RLS 166 Collaborative Leadership Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)
RLS 238 Pastoral Care Skills: Part II Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)
RLS 269 Introduction to Adult and Family Ministry Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)

Liturgy
RLS 136 Liturgy and Prayer: Part I Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)
RLS 137 Liturgical Rites: Part  I Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)
RLS 166 Collaborative Leadership Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)
RLS 236 Liturgy and Prayer: Part II Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)
RLS 237 Liturgical Rites: Part II Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)
RLS 268 Preparing Parish Worship Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)

Faith Formation
RLS 136 Liturgy and Prayer: Part I Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)
RLS 166 Collaborative Leadership Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)
RLS 167 Catechetical Ministry to the Catechist Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)
RLS 234 Program Development Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)
RLS 239 Program Development Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)
RLS 261 Catechetical History & Resources Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)
RLS 269 Introduction to Adult and Family Ministry Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)

Youth
RLS 136 Liturgy and Prayer: Part I Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)
RLS 166 Collaborative Leadership Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)
RLS 234 Program Development Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)
RLS 239 Program Development Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)
RLS 262 Principles of Youth Ministry Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)
RLS 266 Pastoral Care: Youth Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)
RLS 269 Introduction to Adult and Family Ministry Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)

Parish Business Management
RLS 135 Church Personnel Management Syllabus - Saturdays (two credits)
RLS 166 Collaborative Leadership Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)
RLS 235 Church Business Management Syllabus - Saturdays (two credits)
RLS 265 Parish Finances and Accounting Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)

ADDITIONAL COURSE OPPORTUNITIES
RLS 264 The Ministry of Leading Prayer Brochure (two credits)
RLS 264 The Ministry of Leading Prayer Syllabus - Saturdays (two credits)
RLS 337-3 Liturgical Rites for Deacons Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)
RLS 468 Canon Law Syllabus - Saturdays (one credit)
RLS 465 Homiletics Syllabus - Saturdays (two credits)

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Accreditation

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