1. Part Two: NALM Formation Director’s
Institute
Charlotte McCorquodale, PhD
Ministry Training Source
Certification:
A Process of Demonstrating
Competence
2. Worthy Goal
“A Culture of Competence”
(Not Certification)
Certification is not an
“end” unto itself, but a
means directed at the
“end” of ensuring
faithful, effective and
fruitful ministry with
God’s people.
2
3. Evolution of National
Standards &
Certification
3
3rd Decade:
Movement into
Certification
2010 Consultation
2011 Approval by
Alliance members &
USCCB/CCA
2012 Begin implementing
certification
2nd Decade:
Interorganizational
Collaboration
•1999 Common
Competency Project
•2003 National
Certification Standards
•2005 Co-Workers in
the Vineyard of the
Lord
•Alliance becomes
official entity
1st Decade:
Establishing
Standards
From 1990
on, national
ministry
organizations begin
developing
certification
standards
4. What is the relationship between
formation and certification?
5. Goal of Co-Workers
“…[Co-Workers] invites local
adaptation, application, and
implementation to achieve
consistency where possible and to
encourage diversity where
appropriate.
It calls Church leaders, ordained
and lay, to become more intentional
and effective in ordering and
integrating lay ecclesial ministers
within the ministerial life and
structures of our dioceses.”
(Co-Workers, pg. 6).
8. “Lay ecclesial ministers, just
like the ordained, need and
deserve formation of high
standards, effective
methods, and comprehensive
goals.”
(Co-Workers, p. 33)
9. NATIONAL CERTIFICATION PROCESS
Application for admission to the process
and decision regarding acceptance as
candidate
Preparation of materials by candidate
Submission of documentation for review
and decision regarding certification
11. What does it mean to be certified?
(and, what it doesn’t mean!)
12. 12
Certification:
The process
whereby a person
demonstrates
compliance with
standards for
professional
competence.
Accreditation
The process
whereby a duly
constituted
accrediting body
gives recognition to
education and /or
service
center/programs
which meet
established
standards.
Certificate:
A statement that a
program or course
of studies has been
completed through
attendance,
participation or
fulfillment of
requirements.
15. Benefits of National Certification
Individual Diocesan National
National credential &
acknowledgement of
competence
Potential salary &
hiring impact
Enhance confidence
and credibility
Portable national
credential endorsed
by USCCB
Easier, less costly
option for offering
certification
Portable national
credential can aid
local hiring processes
Tool for advocating
for lay ecclesial
ministers
Together is better
Establish national
standards of
excellence
Build credibility and
trust for LEM
Contribute to the
development of LEM
within the Church
15
18. Testimony
(Assessment by Self
& Others)
Completion of
Academic Study
(Formation)
Demonstration of
Pastoral Work
Integration Paper
(Theological/Pastoral
Reflection)
18
Types of
Evidence
within
Certification
Portfolio
20. Demonstration of Competence:
National Certification Standards
A portfolio provides evidence of competence
for ministry based on the National Certification
Standards
Human
Spiritual
Intellectual
Pastoral
Specialized
22. Certification Portfolio:
Documentation of Competence
1. Evidence of formal
education and formation for
ministry
• Theological education
• Specialized education
and formation
2. Evidence of demonstrated
competency in ministry in
all four standards
• Compile documentation
• Create 1-3 page
summary for each
standard
3. Testimony /
observational evidence
• Pastor (or supervisor)
• Peer or colleague
• Subordinate
(volunteer or staff)
• For YML
candidates, Diocesan
Director
4. Self-assessment (form
provided) including
Ministerial Development
Planning (form provided)
5. Integration Paper
24. What types of documentation are included in
the portfolio?
See Process and Procedures document, pp. 18-19
Part One: Title Sheet, Checklist, Cover
Letter, and Initial Application Materials
Part Two: Documentation of Competence
Relative to the National Certification Standards
Self-assessment
Evidence of demonstrated competence in ministry
Evidence of formal education and formation for
ministry
Testimony / observational evidence
Part Three: Integration Paper
25. Candidate: Evidence of Formal Education and
Education for Ministry
See Process and Procedures
document, pp. 10 - 13
Theological Education:
requirements, evidence
Specialized Education and
Formation: requirements, evidence
Documentation
Equivalency
26. Self-Assessment Form
• People don’t know what they don’t
know.
• What is the purpose of the self-
assessment form in certification?
• How can it be used in a ministry
formation program?
• How do you evaluate a self-
27. Candidate: Self-Assessment
All National Certification Standards and
Competencies Included
Structure: Evidence, rating, comment
Summary reflections and conclusions for
each standard
Follow-up: Ministerial Development
Planning Worksheet
28. Candidate: Testimony,
Observational Evidence
See Process and Procedures document, p. 22.
See template in Master Document, Section 3.8
Pastor (or equivalent) or other supervisor
approved by PCRC
Peer or colleague in ministry
Subordinate (volunteer or staff
For each standard: affirm, affirm with
reservations, cannot affirm
Summary assessment and overall
recommendations
29. Integration Paper 11-15 pages that includes:
• Description of a concrete problem or issue in
ministry (1-2 pages)
• Exposition of material from Scripture, Church
teaching, theology, or other pertinent areas of
study that address this problem/issue (5-6 pages)
• Application of theological/intellectual insights and
a resolution of the issue that reflects sound
practice
(3-4 pages)
• Reflection on how one’s formation helped deal
with the issue and challenge one to further growth
(2-3 pages)
30. Let’s look at an example of
how to integrate portfolio
items into ministry formation
assessments.
32. Some A’s to Consider
Regarding
Certification Portfolios
Application information
Assembling a portfolio
Assessing portfolios by
PCRC
Asking the right questions
33. Joe Perdreauville, NFCYM PCRC
Chair
Sr. Carol Walter, NALM PCRC
Chair
Frontline of National Certification:
Perspectives from the the PCRC
Chair
34. Small Group Work
After all of what you have heard how
can you better integrate and support
national certification of LEMs in your
ministry formation efforts?
35. Thank you for attention and
participation!
charlotte@ministrytrainingsource.org
www.ministrytrainingsource.org
417-693-1882
Hinweis der Redaktion
“The ministry leaders who developed these standards and procedures did so to contribute to the continuing development and formation of men and women who serve the Catholic Church in the USA as lay ecclesial ministers….(and) a testament to a powerful shared commitment to well-prepared and fruitful lay ecclesial ministry.”From the NATIONAL CERTIFICATION STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION PROCEDURESFOR LAY ECCLESIAL MINISTERS (p. 3)
Sean,
CharlotteDemonstration of competence
Why portfolio? Because competence can be demonstrated in so many different waysLike an artist’s portfolio, it shows the breadth and depth of a person’s ministryAll online, website is currently under construction. The certification portfolio is a collection of documents assembled by the candidate that provides various types of evidence of one’s competence for a particular lay ecclesial ministry. Based on the National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers, the portfolio includes several different ways by which the candidate can demonstrate his or her competence, including: testimony, in the form of assessments provided by the candidate, a supervisor, a peer in ministry, and a subordinate;evidence of successful academic study in theology, pastoral ministry, and other fields appropriate to each ministry, or other methods (equivalencies) that manifest competence in these areas of study;demonstration of ability in one’s own particular ministerial specialization, such as a project, program description, or recital;integration paper that shows the candidate’s ability to approach ministry in a way that includes one’s personal, spiritual, intellectual, pastoral, and specialized competencies. The task group developed a portfolio structure that includes a number of common elements. Within that common structure, each organization has also specified elements particular to individual ministries. For example, while specifying the number of hours of course work expected in theology, pastoral ministry, and other areas of intellectual formation, each organization has also provided for equivalencies—various ways that intellectual competence may be demonstrated.
CharlotteThe structure of the national standards is that they move from broad and general to more and more specific and measurable. The first part of the common standards apply to all lay ecclesial ministers serving in these roles followed by specialized competencies and indicators that are role specific. This structure was true for both the current set of standards and the revised set with the addition of the indicators in this newest version.Briefly highlight the major aspects of the revision of the standards.Core standards and competencies page 19Specialized competencies on page 24Indicators on page 58