World News
Expanded role for lay ministers emerges as summit topic
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ORLANDO, Fla. (CNS) -- An expanded role for professional lay ministers is high on the list of possible models for pastoral leadership that emerged from an unprecedented gathering in Orlando of 1,200 Catholics -- clergy, religious and laity -- preparing for the future of a changing church. Ideas for recruiting, training, utilizing, valuing and rewarding lay ministers abounded in Orlando April 22, as representatives of six national organizations reached the midpoint of their first National Ministry Summit, aimed at setting an agenda for responding to new realities in parish life. "Lay ministry is not about filling in the gap because of a shortage of ordained ministers and it's not about a struggle for the rights of people," said Bishop Blase J. Cupich of Rapid City, S.D., episcopal adviser for the Emerging Models of Pastoral Leadership Project, a collaboration of the six national Catholic groups. The groups are the National Association for Lay Ministry, Conference for Pastoral Planning and Council Development, National Association of Church Personnel Administrators, National Association of Diaconate Directors, National Catholic Young Adult Ministry Association and National Federation of Priests' Councils.
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