DIOCESAN POLICIES ON THE LAITY
(based on DPA-I Decrees)

PROVISIONS ON LAY MINISTRIES, ORGANIZATIONS AND MOVEMENTS

The term “ministry leaders” shall apply to all lay persons who exercise certain roles of service in the following ministries: GKK, Kriska, Catechetics, FLM, LLL, Youth, Liturgy, Social Apostolate and other ministries which may be established.

Ministry leaders shall be classified as elected, appointed, or commissioned.

·         Elected – usually those elected as officers of the ministry such as: chair, vice-chair, secretary, treasurer and auditor.

·         Appointed – usuall those appointed/hired for special tasks, such as coordinator, lecturer, and the like.

·         Commissioned – usually those trained, tasked and sent to serve as LLL ministers, catechists, Kriska alagads, Family and Life Workers, among others.

In the selection of ministry leaders, a uniform standard of qualifications should be applied. A general policy defining duties and functions, rights and privileges, renewal, prohibiions and sanctions, cessation and re-admittance of ministry leaders should also be applied.

1.       Witnessing Catholics

2.       Physically, intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally fit

3.       Ability to read, write and communicate

4.       Possess basic knowledge of creed, code and cult

5.       Understand and accept principles and processes of BEC

6.       Satisfactorily fulfilled the required training/seminars

7.       Endorsed by their own GKKs, ministry, and approved by competent authority

8.       Have time and willing to work towards the realization of the VMT of the Diocese of Marbel.

1.       Attend, if concerned, meetings and other activities of the ministry at the GKK, Parish and Diocesan Levels

2.       Participate in programs and activities of respective ministries in the GKKs, Parishes, and Diocese

3.       Support morally and financially their respective ministries in the GKKs and parishes

4.       Coordinate with other ministries, programs and groups whose orientation in Gospel-inspired

5.       Continually improve themselves through on-going religious formation programs and other related seminars.

1.       Right to financial support from their GKKs when they attend meetings, seminars, recollections and other activities related to their positions or work

2.       Right to financial support from their parishes when sent to diocesan meetings, seminars, retreats and recollections

3.       Right to financial support from the diocese when they fufill official function or sent on official mission by the diocese

4.       Parish to exert serious efforts to provide for emergency needs of ministry leaders, such as sickness, accident, death and calamities.

5.       Parish to provide for pastoral development of ministry staff like attending seminars, trainings, conventions outside the parish or diocese.

1.       Commissioned ministry leaders to renew commitment every two years

2.       Commissioned ministry leaders to submit in writing application for renewal to Parish Ministry Coordinator and endorsed by parish priest one month before commission expires

3.       Renewal to be preceded by re-endorsement by GKK and a retreat.

1.       Forbidden to join religious fanatical group or groups disapproved by local church, such as Banal na Pag-aaral, Society of St. Pius X, Sagrado Corazon Senor, Tadtad, PBMA, and similar others.

2.       Forbidden to advocate violence

3.       Those who violate these provisions to be dismissed after due process.

1.       Habitual absence from scheduled meetings and neglect of duties

2.       Expiration of term of office or commission

3.       Non-renewal of term or commission unless term is extended by parish priest but only for 3 months

4.       Permanent incapacity

5.       Voluntary resignation accepted by recognized authority

6.       Dismissal due to grave causes and loss of confidence as determined by parish priest.

1.       If he/she meets the requirements and qualifies for re-admission.

1.       Structure for regular meeting of parish Coordinators or heads of ministries and programs to be established in every parish. Meets at least once a month.

2.       Parish priest to sit down with his leaders during meeting to listen and provide pastoral leadership

3.       Pastoral leaders to undergo skills training in pastoral management

4.       Ministries and programs to prepare annual plan

5.       Significant percentage of parish income to be allotted for ministries and programs.

1.       Programs and activities related to catechesis, social apostolate and worship of ROMs to be coordinated  with respective ministries and programs

2.       After seminars, graduates of Movements to involve themselves in the ministries and programs of the parish.

3.       Guidelines for programs and apostolates of ROMs:

·         Avoid duplicating programs and apostolates of other groups or ministries

·         Each group to prepare short and long-term plans to be presented and discussed in the PPC. No program to be implemented without approval of the parish priest

·         ROM programs to include the following: education in the faith of members, spiritual formation and also social apostolate

·         Guidelines for admission of members:

·         Each group to set its own criteria and policies

·         Criteria and policies to be approved by recognized authorities in the parish and diocese.

·         Limit membership to 2 ROMs, but officer of only 1.

NON-RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATIONS AND MOVEMENTS

1.       Procedure to be followed when applying for admission to Diocese:

·         Notify the Bishop of intention

·         Supply the Bishop with necessary information regarding organization or movement

·         Ask explicit permission of Bishop to come into the Diocese

2.       Group to agree on the following conditions

·         To be parish-based and cooperate with pastoral thrust of the parish through the PPC

·         To be under the supervision and control of parish priest and Bishop of the diocese

·         To follow the VMT of the Diocese

·         To adopt social dimension in their programs and apostolates.

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Thursday, September 13, 2001 03:50:04 PM