2007 National Symposium on Lay Ecclesial Ministry

Saint John’s School of Theology·Seminary, in cooperation with the USCCB Secretariat for Family, Laity, Women and Youth, the USCCB Committee on Hispanic Affairs, and fifteen co-sponsoring and collaborating organizations, welcomes you to the website of Working in the Vineyard of the Lord: A National Symposium on Lay Ecclesial Ministry! The symposium is a response to the U.S. bishops’ call in Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord to better understand the critical issues facing lay ecclesial ministry.

At the symposium over 200 Catholic leaders representing U.S. bishops, diocesan offices, Catholic colleges and universities, Hispanic, African American and Asian Pacific ministry leaders, pastors, lay ecclesial ministers and national lay ministry organizations discussed compelling questions affecting the advancement of lay ecclesial ministry formation, authorization, pathways and workplace issues.

The outcomes of the symposium include a set of recommendations to advance lay ecclesial ministry in the United States and organizational commitments to foster this change. 

Documents from the Symposium are available online.