Partners in Empowering Leadership offers funds for individuals to receive formation

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
August 27, 2006

In light of the present and future need for knowledgeable lay leaders in the Diocese of Sioux City, the diocese offers financial assistance for Christian leadership formation through Partners in Empowering Leadership.

"We want to assist men and women who are serving in ministry within the parishes - to help form lay ministers," said Bev Hurni, director of the Office of Adult and Family Ministries. "All leadership in the church is rooted in the baptismal call of Jesus. Leadership is a vital component of our church, but people need to be formed adequately to provide good leadership."

This fund was established in order to encourage people to seek formation.

Through Partners in Empowering Leadership, funds are available to help pay for theological formation, education and spiritual development of people presently serving or those interested in serving in ministry in the diocese. As people are asked to take on more and more leadership positions, the diocese recognizes that they have a responsibility to assist them financially in obtaining their goal.

"They can use these funds for something like the Church Ministries Program or other college credit courses," noted Hurni. "It can also be used for conferences and workshops."

Monies from Partners in Empowering Leadership have assisted people as they work toward their bachelor or master's degree in theology or another ministries-related field as well as those seeking a Certificate of Youth Ministry.

Persons serving as DREs, youth ministers and liturgists are the primary benefactors of this fund. Sometimes recipients of the funds are paid parish staff members and sometimes they are parish volunteers.Persons interested in filling out an application form for Partners Empowering Leadership funds may find a copy of the form at:

http://www.scdiocese.org/PartnersEmpoweringLeadership2006.pdf

The application deadline for fall courses is Aug. 15. The financial assistance is not to exceed one-half of the tuition for academic courses nor one-half of registration for conferences or professional workshops.

Responsibility of the allocation of funds and the ongoing evaluation of the recipients rests upon the Diocesan Partners in Empowering Leadership Committee for review. This committee is made up of diocesan personnel. Anyone receiving funds makes a written commitment to serve in the diocese for a specified period of time.

For more information call (712) 233-7530.