The National Ministry Summit

 

Summit Recommendations

and Summit Keynote Addresses

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AVAILABLE NOW!

Shaping Catholic Parishes:
Pastoral Leaders in the 21st Century

First Book in the Emerging Models of Pastoral Leadership Series

 

Latest News and Reports

Deacons Entrusted with the Pastoral Care of a Parish According to Canon 517.2
by Mark M. Gray, Ph.D.
July 6, 2008
The number of parishes entrusted to deacons under Canon 517.2 has been steadily rising over the past fifteen years. Project studies conducted by CARA indicated significant differences between deacons and others who served PLCs and so an analysis of those differences has been developed.

Small Church Communities... and the National Ministry Summit
June 24, 2008
"The coming together of six national ministry organizations created something that no one of them could accomplish alone. Both the collaboration among the partners and the sheer number of participants are clear witness to how keen the interest is throughout the country about attending to the vitality of parish."

Emerging Models of Pastoral Leadership Series
June 2, 2008
Now available! First in the Emerging Models of Catholic Leadership Series, "Shaping Catholic Parishes" a new book from Loyola Press is a 'must read' and can be purchased now from any of the Project Partners or from Loyola Press.

Shaping Catholic Parishes - An Interview

June 2, 2008
Project Director Marti Jewell is interviewed about the Project's new book "Shaping Catholic Parishes." The interview is condcuted by Frank Morock, host of Catholic Bookmarks Radio, an initiative of the U.S. Conference of Bishops' Catholic Communications Campaign.

Best Practices of Parish Leadership
May 28, 2008
While the emerging models or structures of parish leadership are exceedingly diverse, the patterns or behaviors of leadership demonstrate surprising commonalities. These common elements have caused the project to redefine emerging models as less of a “structural model” and more of “a practice or set of practices” which are giving birth to the parish of the future. Download the Summit PowerPoint on best practices!

Ministry Summit Calls for a Culture of Accountability
May 20, 2008
“Create a culture of accountability through performance reviews for all ministers – ordained, religious and lay – that reflect the application of best practices of emerging models of parish leadership.” That was one of the key recommendations from over 1,200 lay leaders, deacons, priests and bishops who gathered in Orlando last week for a national ministry summit on emerging models of pastoral leadership.

Ministry Summit Participants Address the Future

May 8, 2008
Working on a tight timetable and employing state-of-the-art technology, lay and ordained pastoral leaders from fifty states and six foreign countires engaged the six research areas of the Emerging Models Project to develop practical recommendations that can be implemented now.

National Ministry Summit on Emerging Models of Pastoral Leadership

May 6, 2008
“Create a culture of accountability through performance reviews for all ministers – ordained, religious and lay – that reflect the application of best practices of emerging models of parish leadership.” That was one of the key recommendations from over 1,200 lay leaders, deacons, priests and bishops who gathered in Orlando last week for a national ministry summit on emerging models of pastoral leadership.

Unprecedented Ministy Summit Calls for Action

May 2, 2008
Some 1,200 priests, deacons, lay ecclesial ministers, and vowed religious took part in the National Ministry Summit in Orlando. The three-day Summit, convened by six national Catholic organizations intent on addressing changes in U.S. parishes, employed a collaborative process that yielded recommendations that the sponsors will study and begin to implement.

Ministry summit–goers see diverse leadership as a key to church’s future – but don’t see it in themselves.

April 24, 2008
Catholic ministry leaders detailed lifelong learning, collaborative ministry, solid formation and a greater need to encourage diverse leadership as crucial to the further growth of a healthy church on the last day of an unprecedented summit meeting.

Expanded role for lay ministers emerges as a Summit topic

April 23, 2008
[Bishop Blase Cupich] He said that what’s being created through the summit is a leaven that the participants can take back to their parishes and dioceses to see what develops.

Summit–goers grapple with changing church: multi–parish pastors, more lay ministers, growing diversity.

April 22, 2008
An expanded role for professional lay ministers is high among possible models for pastoral leadership emerging from an unprecedented gathering here of 1,200 Catholics — clergy, vowed religious and laity — preparing for the future of a changing church.

Listening to the Spirit: Bishops and Parish Life Coordinators
by Mary Bendyna, RSM, Ph.D., Tricia C. Bruce, Ph.D., Mary L. Gautier, Ph.D.
March 17, 2008
Bishop focus groups discussed the use of Canon 517.2 and the use of parish life coordinators and sacramental minsters. "Overall, bishops report a positive assessment of their experience with PLCs. Most, however, identify this as a less-than-ideal solution to the priest shortage, describing PLCs as a 'temporary' measure until priests can be assigned as pastors." An in-depth study of Canon 517.2 is one of a number of research initiatives conducted on different emerging models of pastoral leader

U.S. Religious Landscape Survey

March 3, 2008
New study of U.S. religious affiliation released. Study conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, a subsidiary of the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Next Generation of Pastoral Leaders

January 17, 2008
The Emerging Models Project is announcing the findings of an extensive on-line study of active Catholics in their 20's and 30's. They are telling us they are interested in ministry, whether lay, ordained, or vowed, but they want to be involved in the Church NOW! They are telling us what we need to know to develop their leadership. The Church has its work cut out!