Administration in Ministry

Course Summary

Any area of ministry - catechetics, pastoral care, social justice, liturgy, youth ministry, adult faith formation, music, etc. – requires Administration. People in roles of leadership, management, and supervision who possess an authentic “spirituality of administration” are needed for effective ministry. The specific nature of their role will depend on the size and scope of the organization and the number and type of employees.

Most ministers, whether paid staff or volunteers, find themselves needing to plan, make decisions, set goals, facilitate meetings, prepare budgets, mediate conflict, give feedback, and evaluate people and processes. Many are also responsible for recruiting volunteers, building on their own strengths and those of others, and facilitating the willingness to serve. Ministers are expected to do all of this in an atmosphere of calm and control, while keeping within the framework of civil law, Canon Law, and local diocesan and parish directives.

Successful completion of this course earns 2.5 CEU's.

General Course Objectives

• Explore the connection between a “spirituality of administration” and the roles of an administrator, e.g. leader, manager, supervisor.
• Demonstrate how principles of stewardship and budgeting are applied in your organization or department.
• Become aware of ways to engage and encourage co-workers/volunteers.
• Apply effective planning, decision making, and evaluation processes to ministry situations.
• Understand basic organizational skills, such as assessing needs, developing agendas, facilitating meetings, and calendaring.
• Clarify areas of civil and canon law that affect pastoral situations, especially safe environment issues.

Course Materials

• Required Book: Shaughnessy, Mary Angela Religious Education, Youth and Campus Ministry: Legal Issues for Catechists, Ministers, and Volunteers Washington, NCEA: 2006 ISBN: 1558333827; ISBN-13: 978-155833826
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• Required Book: Bins, Ingrid Facilitation at a Glance: A Pocket Guide to Facilitation GOAL/QPC, Salem, NH. 2008 3rd Edition ISBN: 978-1576811047
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• Required Book: McKenna, Kevin A Concise Guide to Canon Law Ave Maria Press, 2000 ISBN: 0877939349; ISBN-13:978-0877939344
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Course Structure and Highlights

• Week 1: Overview of Administration in Ministry
  • Discuss the interplay among leadership, management, and supervision
  • Give examples of the characteristics of effective managers/supervisors
  • Develop an understanding of the spirituality of administration
  • Describe one’s own developing spirituality in relation to Administration in Ministry
• Week 2: Stewardship of Human and Material Resources
  • Explore the meaning of Stewardship in the administration of ministry.
  • Explain the meaning of “coworker” and the purpose and structure of a Job Description.
  • Understand the relationship among income, expenses, accounting, and a budget.
  • Examine a budget in light of the Strategic Plan of the parish, department or organization.
• Week 3: Individual and Collaborative Planning and Decision Making
  • Develop facility in using the various types and steps of a planning process
  • Describe a group decision making process for a project or event in your ministry
  • Name some elements of a plan for your ministry setting that encourages continuing engagement and development of co-workers/volunteers
  • Explain the purpose and elements of a Performance Appraisal
• Week 4: Managing Meetings, Facilitation, and Feedback
  • Identify appropriate agenda topics and purposes for meetings in today’s ministry settings.
  • Analyze the basic skills involved in needs assessment, agenda creation, and meeting facilitation
  • Discuss the do’s and dont's of giving effective feedback
  • Examine forms of meeting evaluation and follow-up.
• Week 5: Legal Considerations: Civil and Canonical
  • Describe the essential connection between God’s Law and human law.
  • Identify basic types and categories of civil law that impact your ministry setting
  • Understand the basics of Canon Law in regard to your ministry setting
  • Become aware of parish/diocesan safe environment policies and procedures

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