Parish Leadership Formation

You are fellow citizens with the holy people of God and members of God’s household.
You are built upon the foundations of the apostles and prophets and Christ Jesus himself
is the cornerstone. Every structure knit together in him grows into a holy temple in the
Lord, and you, too, are being built up into a dwelling-place of God in the Spirit.
                                                                                                        (Ephesians 2:19-22)

Among the baptized, all of whom are called to serve the mission of the Church,
some experience a further specific call to lay ecclesial ministry. The call may come
in a dramatic moment. More often, it comes as the person grows - within the
community of faith - in love for God and a desire to do His will. One considers
that the graces received could now be put in service to the Church.”
                                                                                                       (Co-Workers, p.29)

The First Synod of the Diocese of Metuchen (2007) calls for the establishment of a diocesan certification program for lay ecclesial ministers, following the guidelines set forth in Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord (USCCB, 2005).

The Office of Parish Leadership Formation works collaboratively with pastors and pastoral teams to encourage discernment among the baptized for ministry in the Church, to provide appropriate education, formation and on-going support for lay ecclesial ministers, and to promote certification and authorization for those who already serve in parish leadership roles in the Diocese of Metuchen.

For more information on national certification through the Alliance for the Certification of Lay Ecclesial Ministers, please contact our Office or go to the Alliance website at  http://www.lemcertification.org/.