EAM 502 Administration and Pastoral Ministry
This course introduces seminarians to the practical side of ministering as a priest in a parish to integrate the hard skills of business administration and management into the processes and protocols regarding the preparation, administration, and registration of the sacraments and other features of pastoral ministry, especially within the life of the parish. Within the context of effective management for institutional mission and excellence in "customer service," participants review the universal law and learn their respective diocesan policies concerning sacramental records, the 7 sacraments, the declaration of nullity process, vocations, funerals, and parish devotional life. The course assignments integrate the theoretical through practical exercises of best business practices such that the participants develop communication and conflict management skills, leadership, group dynamics, time management, contact record management (CRM), and pastorally effective web design along with theological reflection to minister to the Christian faithful from a variety of cultural backgrounds. The course will implement an asynchronous e-learning format that can be completed during a Vocational Synthesis period or other pastoral period and is designed to leverage the experience in the pastoral setting to accelerate learning of theory in practice under the supervision of a local instructor.