New programs emerging to train church leaders in management

Published: 2006-07-26

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Three U.S. Catholic universities are working to give church leaders the management and administration skills needed to complement their training in ministry. Villanova University in Pennsylvania ran a five-day Church Management Institute in July for 33 church leaders from across the country. Among participants were diocesan vicars general and chancellors, religious order superiors and a variety of directors of personnel, finances or development in dioceses, parishes and religious orders. Boston College this summer announced that in September it will introduce a graduate program in church management. The University of Notre Dame in Indiana, whose Mendoza College of Business has had a master's program in administration for leaders of religious orders since 1954, retooled the program last year and renamed the degree master of nonprofit administration. "Recent years have shown there is a need for training in church management, especially in Catholic parishes, schools and dioceses," said Jesuit Father William P. Leahy, president of Boston College.

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