National Youth Ministry Certificate Program
National Youth Ministry Certificate Program
The Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies is a ministry education program for those in ministry with youth, ages 11 to 18, in both parish and school settings. It equips Youth Ministry Coordinators, Prospective Youth Ministry Leaders, Directors of Religious Education, High School Campus Ministers, Youth Ministry Teams, Junior High Ministry Leaders and Catechists, Youth Retreat Coordinators and other leaders with the knowledge, skills, practical tools and techniques needed for creative and comprehensive ministry with youth.
The program includes eight courses. The primary aim of the program is to promote personal, spiritual, and ministerial growth. The Certificate program is utilized in a number of ways:
- as an integrated formation program leading to a Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies
- as an enrichment or continuing education program for veteran leaders
- as a workshop series which can be taken on a course-by-course basis by professional or volunteer leaders
Program Benefits. Participating leaders will experience the following benefits:
- Confidence. Participants feel more confident in their youth ministry role because they have integrated and applied the most recent and innovative theory and approaches into their own setting and responsibilities.
- Competence. The comprehensive sequence of courses provides a solid foundation of theory, theology and practical approaches, which can be applied in any parish or school youth ministry setting.
- Credibility. This is a nationally recognized curriculum, offered in over 30 sites and sponsored by over 50 dioceses, whose graduates are in parish, school and diocesan leadership positions all over the country.
Year One Courses:
Principles of Youth Ministry: September 6-7, 2008
Practices of Youth Ministry: November 8-9, 2008
Foundations for Youth Ministry: January 17-18, 2009
Skills for Christian Leadership: March 28-29, 2009
Credit Information. Graduate credit is available for participants of the Certificate program. One credit is awarded for each weekend course for a total of eight credits. Call Mrs. Alonzo for more information regarding taking the courses for credit.
Site and Schedule. Site is TBA. The schedule for the courses is: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Registration and Requirements
- The fee for each course is $225. This amount includes tuition, books, materials, refreshments and Saturday/Sunday lunches.
- Overnight lodging is available (and encouraged) on Friday and Saturday nights, at the Retreat House, for an additional $35 a night, which includes breakfast.
- A one-time graduation fee of $25 will be assessed upon completion of all eight courses and assignments.
- Site capacity: 30 applicants.
- Registration is first come, first served.
About the Center for Ministry Development. Founded in 1978, the Center for Ministry Development is a non-profit organization that provides leadership training, consultation, resources and program services in the areas of youth ministry, young adult ministry, family ministry and religious education. The Center for Ministry Development has been providing youth ministry leadership training through the certificate program since 1979.
For additional information, contact: Dr. Verónica Rayas, 212-371-1011 x2847, Veronica.Rayas@archny.org
