Important Qualities in Lay Ecclesial Ministers
Almost all of the respondents say that each of these qualities is important in a lay
ecclesial minister.
How important are these qualities in a lay ecclesial minister?
Percent responding:
|
"Very Much" or
"Somewhat" |
"Very Much"
Only |
| Sense of mission/discipleship |
100% |
98% |
| Sense of community |
100% |
95% |
| Desire to serve others |
100% |
94% |
| Openness to ongoing conversion |
100% |
92% |
| Openness to transforming grace of ministry |
100% |
86% |
| Commitment to the person of Jesus Christ |
99% |
96% |
| Commitment to prayer |
99% |
94% |
| Openness to life-long faith formation |
99% |
93% |
| Ability to integrate ministry within the multiple roles in one's life |
99% |
90% |
| Healthy sense of self |
99% |
87% |
| Sense of personal call |
99% |
87% |
| Commitment to social justice |
99% |
78% |
| Sensitivity to diverse expressions of faith |
98% |
86% |
| Commitment to the Catholic Church |
98% |
84% |
| Ability to reflect theologically |
98% |
82% |
| Ability to articulate personal faith experiences |
98% |
75% |
| Willingness to serve diverse populations |
98% |
68% |
| Ability to invite others to a life of faith |
97% |
77% |
| Appreciation of diverse models of the Church |
97% |
76% |
| Ability to engage in discernment |
97% |
73% |
While the program directors are nearly unanimous in their agreement that each of these
qualities is at least "somewhat" important, there is some variation among them in the qualities
they think are most important.
At least nine in ten consider a sense of mission or discipleship, a commitment to the
person of Jesus Christ, a sense of community, a commitment to prayer, the desire to serve others,
an openness to ongoing conversion, and an openness to life-long formation to be "very much"
important in lay ecclesial ministers.
Qualities that are somewhat less likely to be regarded as very important, that is, that are
considered to be "very much" important by fewer than eight in ten respondents, include a
commitment to social justice and an appreciation of diverse models of the Church as well as the
ability to invite others to a life of faith, to articulate personal faith experiences, and to engage in
discernment.
Respondents are least likely to view a willingness to serve diverse populations as
important in a lay ecclesial minister. Nonetheless, two-thirds deem it very important.
There are relatively few differences among the types of formation programs in the
qualities they consider most important in a lay ecclesial minister.
How important are these qualities in a lay ecclesial minister?
Percent responding "Very Much"
|
Diocesan |
College |
Seminary |
CPE |
Independent |
| Sense of mission/discipleship |
97% |
98% |
100% |
90% |
100% |
| Commitment to the person of Jesus
Christ |
97% |
93% |
92% |
80% |
100% |
| Commitment to prayer |
97% |
93% |
92% |
80% |
100% |
| Sense of community |
97% |
92% |
88% |
100% |
100% |
| Desire to serve others |
93% |
95% |
92% |
91% |
91% |
| Openness to life-long faith
formation |
92% |
97% |
84% |
100% |
73% |
| Commitment to the Catholic
Church |
92% |
79% |
80% |
44% |
82% |
| Openness to ongoing conversion |
91% |
94% |
92% |
100% |
82% |
| Ability to integrate ministry within
the multiple roles in one's life |
89% |
95% |
88% |
90% |
82% |
| Sense of personal call |
89% |
89% |
72% |
90% |
91% |
| Sensitivity to diverse expressions
of faith |
87% |
87% |
71% |
100% |
91% |
| Openness to transforming grace of
ministry |
86% |
90% |
88% |
90% |
46% |
| Appreciation of diverse models of
the Church |
85% |
82% |
56% |
60% |
46% |
| Healthy sense of self |
84% |
90% |
88% |
90% |
91% |
| Commitment to social justice |
77% |
81% |
88% |
55% |
73% |
| Ability to invite others to a life of
faith |
77% |
81% |
68% |
70% |
82% |
| Ability to articulate personal faith
experiences |
77% |
76% |
64% |
82% |
73% |
| Willingness to serve diverse
populations |
77% |
56% |
60% |
80% |
64% |
| Ability to reflect theologically |
75% |
90% |
84% |
91% |
64% |
| Ability to engage in discernment |
71% |
76% |
72% |
91% |
64% |
- Respondents from CPE programs are considerably less likely than those from other
types of programs to consider commitment to the Catholic Church to be very
important.
- Respondents from independent programs are less likely to view an openness to the
transforming grace of ministry and an appreciation of diverse models of the Church
as "very much" important in a lay ecclesial minister.
- Respondents from seminary and school of theology programs are somewhat less
likely than others to think that a sense of personal call is very important. They are
also relatively less likely to consider sensitivity toward diverse expressions of faith
and appreciation of diverse models of the Church to be very important qualities in
a lay ecclesial minister.
After rating the importance of each quality on a scale ranging from "not at all" to "very
much," respondents were asked to rank the three qualities that are most important in a lay
ecclesial minister. The table below shows the percentages that ranked each quality as one of the
top three.
Most Important Qualities in a Lay Ecclesial Minister
Percent identifying each quality as among the three most important
|
Most Important |
2nd Most
Important |
3rd Most
Important |
| Commitment to the person of Jesus Christ |
29% |
9% |
5% |
| Sense of mission/discipleship |
19% |
13% |
12% |
| Sense of personal call |
14% |
5% |
2% |
| Healthy sense of self |
10% |
8% |
4% |
| Openness to ongoing conversion |
8% |
11% |
4% |
| Commitment to prayer |
4% |
10% |
7% |
| Openness to life-long faith formation |
3% |
8% |
6% |
| Ability to reflect theologically |
3% |
3% |
4% |
| Desire to serve others |
2% |
7% |
8% |
| Openness to transforming grace of ministry |
2% |
2% |
5% |
| Commitment to the Catholic Church |
1% |
8% |
6% |
| Sense of community |
1% |
3% |
7% |
| Ability to articulate personal faith experiences |
1% |
<1 |
1% |
| Ability to engage in discernment |
1% |
<1 |
1% |
| Ability to invite others to a life of faith |
<1 |
3% |
8% |
| Ability to integrate ministry within the multiple
roles in one's life |
<1 |
3% |
8% |
| Commitment to social justice |
<1 |
2% |
3% |
| Sensitivity to diverse expressions of faith |
<1 |
<1 |
5% |
| Willingness to serve diverse populations |
0% |
3% |
2% |
| Appreciation of diverse models of the Church |
0% |
2% |
2% |
When the most important quality is considered alone, commitment to the person of Jesus Christ
is more likely than any of the other qualities to be identified as the most important quality. A
sense of mission or discipleship is considered to be most important by 19 percent of the
respondents.
When the top three qualities are considered together, that is, when the percentages of first,
second, and third most important are totaled for each item, some 44 percent consider a sense of
mission as one of the three most important qualities. About as many, 43 percent, see
commitment to Jesus as one of the most important qualities. Fewer, but still more than one in
five, rate sense of call, sense of self, openness to conversion, or commitment to prayer as among
the three most important qualities.