Baseline Certification

Lay Ecclesial Ministry Certification Defined

Lay Ecclesial Ministry Certification is a credential from the Archdiocese of Detroit that recognizes that a candidate has successfully completed a baseline formation for ministry which meets standards for intellectual, spiritual, human and apostolic formation appropriate to a given level.

Levels of Lay Ecclesial Ministry Certification

This baseline certification for all ministries is offered at 4 graduated levels.

• Initial/Catechist - the candidate has completed the On Fire for the Faith online training program, attended an Encounter retreat, completed 5 hours of ministry specific training and is recommended by a priest or staff member in their parish. This would be appropriate for a volunteer catechist, catholic school religion teacher, OCIA volunteer, evangelical charity or worship volunteer, committee/commission chairs, etc.
  

• Staff - the candidate demonstrates formation consistent with a disciple who is prepared to serve their parish or organization in a staff position contributing to the mission of making disciples, and raising up new leaders (e.g. liturgical staff, baptism/wedding staff, youth ministry or religious education assistants, evangelization or communications staff, evangelical ministry leaders or staff).
  

• Coordinator - the candidate demonstrates formation consistent with a disciple who is prepared to take leadership with other staff and volunteers, assisting their priests in pastoral care and contributing to planning, assisting other parishioners and staff in discovering their gifts and responding to them, and raising up new leaders (e.g. religious education coordinator, youth ministry coordinator, family ministry coordinator, OCIA leader, director/coordinator of worship, etc)
  

• Director - the candidate demonstrates formation consistent with a disciple who is prepared to take a leadership role within a Family of Parishes, assisting multiple priests and parishes in pastoral care, planning and executing initiatives, programs and events, coordinating ministries across the parishes, and training staff and volunteer leaders.

Ministry Endorsements

Lay Ecclesial Ministry Endorsement Defined

Lay Ecclesial Ministry Endorsement is an additional credential which can be added to the staff, coordinator or director levels of certification to demonstrate proficiency in a particular area of ministry.

Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministry Endorsements

An endorsement should include at least 6 credit hours of credit-bearing coursework from Sacred Heart Major Seminary, or 90 hours of non credit bearing training from SHMS or other approved schools/organizations/apostolates, or a combination of both.

Endorsement standards are proposed by working groups empaneled by the CRB, and ultimately approved by the CRB itself. As with all certification standards, equivalencies are reviewed and approved by the SHMS Dean of Institute for Lay Ministry under the guidance of the CRB.

Up to 2 credits, or 30 hours of an endorsement can be granted for 5 or more years of supervised employment or volunteer experience provided the applicant can produce examples of their work and a reference letter from a priest or supervisor attesting to their demonstrated abilities in the given ministry.

Endorsements can be attached to the staff, coordinator and director levels of certification, and upon renewal, 10 training hours related to that specific ministry are required to maintain the endorsement. Endorsements can be added at any time for those who already have a prior or existing level of certification, even prior to their renewal of certification.

Currently there are endorsements in the following areas:

• Cultural Ministries
• Discipleship Formation (Catechesis)
• Engagement Ministry
• Evangelical Charity (Christian Service)
• Family Ministry
• OCIA
• Worship
• Youth Ministry