ATLANTA -- The Office of Education is now accepting applications for the two-year Pastoral Ministry Formation Program that will begin in September

ATLANTA--The Office of Religious Education and Faith Formation is accepting applications for the two-year Pastoral Ministry Formation Program that will begin in September.

The PMF program, now in its ninth year, seeks to prepare lay people who possess leadership potential with the foundations, principles and skills necessary for effective pastoral ministry in today’s Catholic Church.

Candidates are recommended by their pastors and are seeking a foundational knowledge and greater depth in understanding church teaching and ministry in order to begin or to continue ministry in the church. Presenters are experienced lay educators, priests, deacons and Religious of the archdiocese.

The two-year program begins Sept. 11 and is held on 11 Saturdays from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at All Saints Church in Dunwoody each year. The final session for this course year will be May 6, 2000.

The yearly tuition is $300 not including textbooks.

Courses for the first year include Theology of Ministry, Contemporary Approaches to Ministry, Church History, Spirituality of Ministry, Systematic Theology I and II and Foundations of Christian Morality. Also included in the first year’s courses are Sacramental Theology, Tomorrow’s Catholic and Leadership Skills I and II.

The courses for the second year include Old and New Testament, Canon Law, Multicultural Ministry, Evangelization and Catechesis, Faith Development and Religious Education, and Pastoral Counseling. The remaining classes are Foundations of Liturgy, An Introduction to Story Telling and Justice Ministry. An Integrative Retreat Experience is held to close the course.

An optional third year is offered to graduates who want to further develop their skills.

Applications are due Aug. 30. Applications include a pastor recommendation form. Upon acceptance, candidates will receive a letter of acceptance including program details. To request an application, call Anne Frederick, archdiocesan director of lay ministry formation and evangelization, at (404) 885-7248.