Certificate in Foundations for Leadership in Ministry

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Audience

  • Current ministerial leaders who have never had systematic training for leadership
  • Potential ministerial leaders with pastoral experience who desire to move into leadership positions
  • Pastoral leaders who desire to update themselves with contemporary pastoral leadership training

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisite courses for this certificate program.

Requirements

  1. Complete the application form (use the link found below) and pay the $20.00 / $35.00 fee for Level 1.
  2. Complete the 5 required courses for Level 1. Successfully complete the required work for each course, including the additional certificate exercises in each session of the course.
    1. It is recommended that the courses in each level be taken in sequence.
    2. Normal Course and Seminar fees apply.
    3. You are responsible for self-registering for all courses.
  3. If you choose to continue after completing Level 1, complete the application form and pay the $20.00 / $35.00 fee for Level 2, then complete the 5 required courses for Level 2.
  4. If you choose to continue after completing Level 2, complete the application form and pay the $20.00 / $35.00 fee for Level 3, then complete the 5 required courses for Level 3.
  5. Up to two courses taken with a diocese may be applied toward the Certificate in Foundations for Leadership in Ministry.
    1. The Diocesan Catechetical Leader is required to submit a letter to the Director of the VLCFF indicating that the selected course/s was equivalent to 2.5 CEUs (25 clock hours of work) and met the equivalent VLCFF course objectives.
  6. It is your responsibility to keep track of your progress in the program: Keep track of the courses you have taken, and when you have finished a level, contact Richard Drabik to request your certificate of completion for that level.
  7. Certificate of completion for each level: You will receive a certificate of completion for each level you complete. You are encouraged to continue on to the next level, but you are not required to. If you do continue, levels must be completed in order.

Level 1 Courses

  1. Foundations and Vision for Evangelizing Catechesis
  2. Theological Reflection: Key to Connecting Faith and Life
  3. Images of Jesus
  4. Vocation to Ministry
  5. Survey of Catholic Doctrine

Level 2 Courses

  1. The Role of Missionary Discipleship in Evangelizing Catechesis
  2. Ecclesiology: A Theological, Historical and Pastoral Summary
  3. Community, Communication, and Collaboration (synodality core)
  4. Leadership in Ministry
  5. Disabilities in Parish Life: An Overview

Level 3 Courses

  1. Roman Catholic Catechesis for Faith Formation
  2. Discernment in Practical Morality
  3. Pastoral Approach to Culture
  4. Administration in Ministry
  5. Vocation, Spirituality, and Discipleship of Catechists

Textbooks

For required texts, please refer to the Course Catalog and note the descriptions for each course.

Register

If you are new to the VLCFF, please complete a user profile (in the Become a New Student page, click the link to create your profile). You must be logged in to see the registration link.