National Certification Standards
The National Conference for Catechetical Leadership partners with other Catholic organizations to revise the current National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers. This is a formal partnership known as Alliance (Alliance for the Certification of Lay Ecclesial Ministers). The official website is http://www.lemcertification.org/
A one-page PDF flyer with basic information can be downloaded by clicking on LEM Flyer
It lists four important reasons one might consider undertaking this process.
- •· Affirmation & Credibility
- •· Identity and Connection
- •· Portable Credential
- •· Development of your Field
On the website (http://www.lemcertification.org/) for the Alliance, you can find answers to What, Why, Who and How. You can also can download the Standards, Indicators and the Process for Certification.
Certification Alliance Partners
History
In 1990, NFCYM received approval of their standards from the USCC Commission on Certification and Accreditation for the first parish-based lay ecclesial ministers, youth ministers.
The following year, 1991, NALM followed suit and received approval of standards for pastoral associates and parish life coordinators. In 1996, NCCL received approval of parish catechetical leaders’ standards. In 1999 NCCL , NALM, and NFCYM joined efforts to combine their standards for different fields within lay ecclesial ministry into the National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers, which was released in 2003. These combined standards were for parish catechetical leaders, pastoral associates and parish life coordinators. In 2005, NPM joined this effort and certification standards for directors of music ministries were added to the combined certification standards. NPM successfully sought approval that year from the USCCB CCA for its new standards and existing certification process. In the spring of 2009 FDLC also became a partner after opening its own file with USCCB/CCA.
Current Efforts
The certification alliance has formed two task groups to address:
- Revision of the National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers, following the guidelines from USCCB Commission on Certification and Accreditation
- Development of a national certification process offered by the alliance partners but approved by the USCCB Commission on Certification and Accreditation
These items were submitted in September, 2011 for approval by the USCCB Commission on Certification and Accreditation. Following that meeting, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Commission on Certification and Accreditation approved the certification standards of the Alliance, thereby allowing our organization to offer national certification for parish catechetical leaders.
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