USCCB - (FLWY) - Lay Ecclesial Ministry

Lay Ecclesial Ministry

Lay Ecclesial Ministry:
Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord

Welcome

Welcome to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Lay Ecclesial Ministry site. In November 2005, the United States Catholic Bishops approved a major document, Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord: A Resource for Guiding the Development of Lay Ecclesial Ministry.

Click here to read the Co-Workers in the Vineyard

Click here to read Spanish text of Co-workers

Click here to order copies of Co-Workers in the Vineyard from USCCB Publishing

The bishops have offered Co-Workers in the Vineyard as “pastoral and theological reflection on the reality of lay ecclesial ministry, as an affirmation of those who serve in this way, and as a synthesis of best thinking and practice.” The document examines: theological foundations for lay ecclesial ministry, discernment and suitability for lay ecclesial ministry, formation of lay ecclesial ministers, authorization of lay ecclesial ministers, and policies and practices in the ministerial workplace.

Lay ecclesial ministers are women and men whose ecclesial service is characterized by:

Authorization of the hierarchy to serve publicly in the local church
Leadership in a particular area of ministry
Close mutual collaboration with the pastoral ministry of bishops, priests, and deacons
Preparation and formation appropriate to the level of responsibilities that are assigned to them

For more information about lay ecclesial ministry, please see our
Frequently Asked Questions.