University News

Graduate Ministry Program Goes Online

Prepares Lay Ministers for
Professional Service to the Church

Creighton's new Master of Arts in Ministry program is preparing to go online next year, offering greater opportunities for lay men and women — regionally, nationally and even internationally — to gain the preparation, formation and professional competencies necessary to undertake a wide variety of roles in Church ministries.

While this program is designed to prepare participants for professional ministry in the Roman Catholic Church, it is also open to those outside the Roman Catholic tradition.

The program consists of three elements: the study of Scripture and the Catholic theological tradition, development of personal and ministerial competencies, and apostolic formation.

Applications to the program are currently being accepted through the Graduate School. For more information, contact LuAnn Schwery, coordinator of graduate programs, at schwery@creighton.edu or (402) 280-2870.

Eileen Burke-Sullivan, STD, MChrSp'84, assistant professor of theology, serves as director of Creighton's Master of Arts in Ministry program, which began as a cooperative venture between Creighton University and the Archdiocese of Omaha. The on-campus program began in 2003, and its first class graduated in May 2007.

Teresa Roll, one of those May graduates, for instance, has served as a volunteer in the Church since she was a teenager, but she never had any formal theological education or training.

"The biggest gift of the program, for me, was my new appreciation for the doctrine and theology of the Catholic Church, which has helped me be a better mom, wife and Christian," Roll said. "The program inspired me to be more creative in what potential ministry can be — in all my relationships going forward, not just limited to a church setting."

Catholic Church leaders nationally have expressed as a priority furthering the theological and ministerial development of its lay ministers, who continue to grow in numbers.

In 2005, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops published Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord to serve as a "common frame of reference for ensuring that the development of lay ecclesial ministry continues in ways that are faithful to the Church's theological and doctrinal tradition and that respond to contemporary pastoral needs and situations."

The bishops wrote that lay ministers cooperate with ordained religious in parishes, schools, Church institutions and diocesan agencies — "a sign of the Holy Spirit's movement in the lives of our sisters and brothers."

Burke-Sullivan said these lay ecclesial ministers serve in a variety of roles. Examples include hospital chaplains, youth ministers, parish council members, religious education coordinators, liturgical directors, choir directors, parish business managers, pastoral associates and diocesan program directors.

By taking the program online, Burke-Sullivan said, Creighton is attempting to answer the call of the U.S. bishops among the wider Church community — including lay ministers working in rural areas.

"There is a big need in the rural areas for this type of program," Burke-Sullivan said. "Many rural parishes share professional lay ministers, and there are not many master's programs available to these lay leaders."

Burke-Sullivan said an intense course of study allows participants to complete the program in two and a half years. Courses are generally eight weeks in length. In addition, graduates also must complete a final thesis project and an internship, volunteering in a diocesan or parochial position.

"We made a serious evaluation and assessment with the Omaha Archdiocese in making the decision to take the program online," Burke-Sullivan said. "We thought we could serve a larger population and better serve the needs of the Catholic Church as a whole."

The Master of Arts in Ministry complements Creighton's other graduate theology programs: the Master of Arts in Theology and the Master of Arts in Christian Spirituality (CSP). The latter is a summer-only program and focuses primarily on preparing laity, religious and clergy to do spiritual direction and to give individually directed retreats in the Ignatian tradition.

"The Master of Arts in Ministry is an ideal fit with our CSP and master's in theology to round out our service to the Church," Burke-Sullivan said. "The three programs allow for crossover, providing our students with a wide range of opportunities for study."