Qualities Emphasized in Lay
Ministry Formation Programs
According to program directors, lay ministry formation programs emphasize the
development of each of these qualities a great deal.
How much does your program emphasize
the development of these qualities in program candidates?
Percent responding:
|
"Very Much" or
"Somewhat" |
"Very Much"
Only |
| Commitment to the person of Jesus Christ |
99% |
84% |
| Openness to life-long faith formation |
99% |
83% |
| Commitment to the Catholic Church |
98% |
73% |
| Desire to serve others |
98% |
72% |
| Sense of community |
97% |
82% |
| Sense of mission/discipleship |
97% |
81% |
| Openness to ongoing conversion |
97% |
80% |
| Ability to reflect theologically |
97% |
77% |
| Appreciation of diverse models of the Church |
97% |
66% |
| Commitment to social justice |
97% |
65% |
| Ability to articulate personal faith experiences |
96% |
70% |
| Sensitivity to diverse expressions of faith |
96% |
69% |
| Healthy sense of self |
95% |
70% |
| Openness to transforming grace of ministry |
95% |
72% |
| Commitment to prayer |
95% |
68% |
| Ability to integrate ministry within the multiple
roles in one's life |
94% |
67% |
| Willingness to serve diverse populations |
93% |
58% |
| Ability to invite others to a life of faith |
92% |
51% |
| Sense of personal call |
91% |
67% |
| Ability to engage in discernment |
90% |
56% |
No fewer than 90 percent of the respondents say that the development of each of the
qualities listed above is emphasized at least "somewhat" in their programs. There is some
variation, however, in the extent to they emphasize the development of these qualities "very
much."
At least eight in ten say they emphasize developing a commitment to Jesus Christ, an
openness to ongoing conversion and life-long faith formation, a sense of community, and a sense
of mission and discipleship.
Developing an ability to engage in discernment, an ability to invite others to a life of
faith, and a willingness to serve diverse populations are somewhat less likely to be emphasized
"very much." Still, each of these is emphasized "very much" in about half or slightly more of the
programs.
All of the other qualities are emphasized "very much" by between about two-thirds and
three-fourths of the programs.
Diocesan and independent programs are especially likely to emphasize commitment to
the person of Jesus Christ and development of a sense of mission and discipleship. These
programs and CPE programs also indicate that they emphasize the development of a sense of
community "very much."
How much does your program emphasize
the development of these qualities in program candidates?
Percent responding "very much":
|
Diocesan |
College |
Seminary |
CPE |
Independent |
| Commitment to the person of Jesus
Christ |
93% |
70% |
88% |
73% |
100% |
| Sense of community |
90% |
74% |
64% |
90% |
91% |
| Sense of mission/discipleship |
89% |
77% |
68% |
64% |
91% |
| Openness to life-long faith formation |
89% |
74% |
88% |
80% |
64% |
| Openness to ongoing conversion |
88% |
64% |
88% |
80% |
82% |
| Commitment to the Catholic Church |
87% |
56% |
68% |
44% |
82% |
| Commitment to prayer |
87% |
40% |
76% |
50% |
64% |
| Openness to transforming grace of
ministry |
78% |
67% |
61% |
80% |
64% |
| Desire to serve others |
77% |
69% |
68% |
45% |
82% |
| Appreciation of diverse models of the
Church |
76% |
67% |
50% |
50% |
36% |
| Ability to integrate ministry within the
multiple roles in one's life |
76% |
53% |
56% |
100% |
55% |
| Sense of personal call |
76% |
61% |
46% |
82% |
73% |
| Healthy sense of self |
74% |
67% |
58% |
100% |
64% |
| Ability to articulate personal faith
experiences |
74% |
66% |
64% |
80% |
80% |
| Sensitivity to diverse expressions of
faith |
74% |
66% |
46% |
100% |
73% |
| Commitment to social justice |
70% |
62% |
56% |
50% |
73% |
| Ability to reflect theologically |
69% |
85% |
92% |
100% |
45% |
| Willingness to serve diverse
populations |
61% |
51% |
50% |
82% |
73% |
| Ability to invite others to a life of faith |
60% |
41% |
37% |
60% |
64% |
| Ability to engage in discernment |
57% |
59% |
40% |
82% |
45% |
- CPE program directors report their programs "very much" emphasize the ability
to integrate ministry within one's life, a healthy sense of self, sensitivity to diverse
expressions of faith, and the ability to reflect theologically.
- Seminaries and schools of theology are least likely to emphasize "very much"
sensitivity to diverse expressions of faith and the ability to invite others to a life of
faith, while independents are least likely to emphasize "very much" the
appreciation of diverse models of the Church.
- Colleges and universities, as well as seminaries/schools of theology and CPE
programs, are most likely to emphasize "very much" theological reflection.
Programs that indicate that they have a formal spiritual formation component are even
more likely than programs overall to say that they emphasize the development of each of these
qualities in program candidates.
How much does your program emphasize
the development of these qualities in program candidates?
Percent responding:
|
"Very Much" or
"Somewhat" |
"Very Much"
Only |
| Commitment to the person of Jesus Christ |
99% |
90% |
| Openness to life-long faith formation |
99% |
89% |
| Sense of mission/discipleship |
99% |
86% |
| Sense of community |
99% |
85% |
| Ability to reflect theologically |
99% |
79% |
| Desire to serve others |
99% |
78% |
| Commitment to the Catholic Church |
99% |
77% |
| Commitment to prayer |
99% |
75% |
| Sensitivity to diverse expressions of faith |
98% |
73% |
| Ability to articulate personal faith experiences |
98% |
72% |
| Appreciation of diverse models of the Church |
98% |
69% |
| Openness to ongoing conversion |
97% |
86% |
| Openness to transforming grace of ministry |
97% |
80% |
| Ability to integrate ministry within the multiple roles in
one's life |
97% |
73% |
| Commitment to social justice |
97% |
68% |
| Healthy sense of self |
96% |
74% |
| Sense of personal call |
95% |
71% |
| Willingness to serve diverse populations |
95% |
59% |
| Ability to invite others to a life of faith |
95% |
56% |
| Ability to engage in discernment |
93% |
63% |
After rating the emphasis placed on each quality on a scale ranging from "not at all" to
"very much," respondents were asked to rank the three qualities that are emphasized most
strongly in their program. The table below shows the percentages that ranked each quality as one
of the top three most emphasized.
Qualities Lay Ministry Formation Programs Emphasize Most Strongly
Percent identifying each quality as among the three most strongly emphasized
|
Most
Emphasized |
2nd Most
Emphasized |
3rd Most
Emphasized |
| Ability to reflect theologically |
25% |
9% |
6% |
| Sense of mission/discipleship |
20% |
11% |
8% |
| Commitment to the person of Jesus Christ |
12% |
9% |
6% |
| Healthy sense of self |
8% |
4% |
3% |
| Openness to ongoing conversion |
5% |
7% |
4% |
| Openness to life-long faith formation |
5% |
6% |
10% |
| Sense of personal call |
5% |
2% |
2% |
| Sense of community |
4% |
10% |
5% |
| Desire to serve others |
3% |
5% |
4% |
| Commitment to prayer |
3% |
4% |
5% |
| Ability to integrate ministry within the
multiple roles in one's life |
2% |
4% |
6% |
| Commitment to the Catholic Church |
1% |
5% |
6% |
| Sensitivity to diverse expressions of faith |
1% |
5% |
5% |
| Ability to engage in discernment |
1% |
4% |
4% |
| Ability to invite others to a life of faith |
1% |
4% |
3% |
| Openness to transforming grace of ministry |
1% |
2% |
3% |
| Willingness to serve diverse populations |
1% |
2% |
2% |
| Appreciation of diverse models of the Church |
1% |
0% |
4% |
| Ability to articulate personal faith experiences |
<1 |
5% |
4% |
| Commitment to social justice |
0% |
2% |
9% |
When the most important quality is considered alone, the ability to reflect theologically is
more likely than any of the other qualities to be identified as the one that is most strongly
emphasized. A sense of mission or discipleship is rated as most strongly emphasized by 20
percent of the respondents.
When the top three qualities are considered together, that is, when the percentages that chose
each item as first, second, and third most strongly emphasized are totaled, 40 percent of
respondents consider the ability to reflect theologically as one of the three most emphasized
qualities. About as many, 39 percent, see sense of mission/discipleship as one of the most
emphasized qualities. Fewer, between about one in four or one in five, rate commitment to the
person of Jesus Christ, openness to life-long faith formation, and sense of community as among
the three most emphasized qualities.