Developing Leaders for Faith Formation

Resource: Cultivating Your Catechists: How to Recruit, Encourage, and Retain Successful Catechists. Jayne Ragasa-Monday. Loyola Press, 2017. 

1. Developing Leaders: Principles & Practices

Review the four theological insights for developing an empowering mindset in ministry in the Guide to Leadership Practices for Catechetical Ministry – Part Two.

1. The Church is the Body of Christ; and through our Baptism, we are members of the one Body.
2. Individuals and the entire community are blessed with gifts for ministry.
3. There is an abundance of gifts for ministry.
4. Ministry leaders are called to empower and equip individuals and the entire community to utilize their gifts for the mission of the Christian Church.

Reflect on these four insights:

• How do or could these insights guide your approach to developing leaders?
• What would you add to these four? 

Review the five principles for developing a leadership strategy in the Guide

1. Every leadership experience in the church deepens a leaders relationship with Jesus Christ.
2. Leaders are respected as full partners in ministry.
3. The gifts, abilities, interests, and passions of the leader are honored.
4. Leaders receive specialized training, resources, and support so that they can adequately perform their ministry, especially when the knowledge or skills involved are new to them.
5. Leaders are appreciated and recognized for the value of their contributions to their ministry and to the church.

Assess your current leadership system using the 20 indicators on the "Leadership System Checklist" in the worksheets at the end of the Guide: Part 1. Inviting People into Leadership, Part 2. Preparing and Training Leaders, and Part 3. Supporting Leaders. 

When you have completed the assessment, consider the following questions:

• What are we doing well?
• What are the areas in need of improvement?
• How might we improve our leadership development system?

2. Developing a Plan for a Leadership System

Review the "Practices for Becoming Volunteer Friendly” in the Guide before you begin outlining your approach to developing leaders. Try incorporating these ideas into your plan. 

Read "Re-Engaging the Volunteers" by Susan Beaumont (May 18, 2022). (Attached for download)

Use the three parts of a leadership system to develop strategies that will improve your parish's approach in each of the three areas. 

Part 1. Inviting People into Leadership

• Develop ideas and strategies for inviting people into leadership in your parish. 
• See Chapter 2 (Catechist Role Description) and Chapter 3 (Strategies for Recruiting Catechists) in Cultivating Your Catechists: How to Recruit, Encourage, and Retain Successful Catechists. 

Part 2. Preparing and Training Leaders

• Develop ideas and strategies for preparing and training leaders in your parish. 
• See "Formation of Catechetical Leaders." (Attached for download)
• See Chapter 2 (Catechist Role Description), Chapter 3 (Strategies for Recruiting Catechists), and Chapter 6 (Ongoing Formation) in Cultivating Your Catechists: How to Recruit, Encourage, and Retain Successful Catechists. 

Part 3. Supporting Leaders.  

• Develop ideas and strategies for supporting and supervising leaders in your parish. 
• See Chapter 7 (Supervision and Evaluation of Catechists) and Chapter 9 (Supporting Catechists) in Cultivating Your Catechists: How to Recruit, Encourage, and Retain Successful Catechists. 

Produce a report of your work for your Assignment. 

Assignment: Leadership Development System

Produce a report with your strategies to strengthen and improve your current approach to developing leaders for catechetical ministry. (2 pages)

Online Class Discussion Weeks 7 & 8

Engage in conversation with your co-learners by responding to the starter prompts offered below, along with reading and replying to comments offered by others.