Symposium on Lay Ecclesial Ministry
St. John's School of Theology, Collegeville
September 18, 2007Over 200 Catholic leaders gathered at St. John's School of Theology in Collegeville this summer. Representing U.S. bishops, national organizations, diocesan offices, Catholic colleges and universities, Hispanic, African American and Asian Pacific ministry leaders, pastors, and lay ecclesial ministers the gathering focused on compelling questions affecting the advancement of lay ecclesial ministry formation, authorization, pathways into ministry, and workplace issues.
The purpose of the 2007 Symposium at St. John's School of Theology, Collegeville, was to generate national recommendations for bishops, diocesan offices, Catholic colleges and universities, and national lay ministry organizations for sustaining pastoral excellence in lay ecclesial ministry.
The major themes that surfaced included recognition of the need to:
- Discuss, study, promote, and integrate lay ecclesial ministry
- Study inclusion and cross cultural ministry
- Advance standards, competencies, and certification
- Promote lay ecclesial ministry
- Advance a theology of authorization and vocation
The Symposium was sponsored by a grant from the Lilly Enowment, Inc., as part of their Sustaining Pastoral Excllence Program.
