Stewardship Institute Prepares Parish Lay Leaders
posted on: May 19, 2008
The newly named St. Ambrose Stewardship Institute is working to develop parish lay leaders from within the dioceses of Davenport and Des Moines, and the Archdiocese of Dubuque.
“The Institute is designed to develop lay leaders who will promote stewardship and make a commitment to advance this ministry in their parishes,” says Director of Stewardship Dan Ebener. “It’s a truly unique and collaborative program and the first of its type in the nation.”
Ebener, assistant professor in the master of organizational leadership program at St. Ambrose University, developed the program four years ago while working for the Diocese of Davenport. The St. Ambrose Stewardship Institute consists of two eight-week sessions, spring and fall, with a break during summer. Session one focuses on the spirituality and theology of stewardship. Session two emphasizes parish implementation of stewardship, including an assessment by each participant of their parish’s stewardship ministry, as well as a presentation of those findings to their pastor.
The new collaboration with St. Ambrose allows for the use of SAU faculty member time and institutional resources such as e-reserves and Blackboard, a Web-based course management system that allows instructors to present online course elements. With these resources participants have the choice to complete most of the program online and by email, or more traditionally, within a small parish group. All participants are required to meet monthly with a priest, sister, deacon or layperson coach, and participate in three group workshops. There is no cost for the institute.
Besides the partnering dioceses, the Sioux City Diocese has also sent parish members and according to Ebener, dioceses in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska have expressed interest in the program.
For more information, contact Ebener at 563/333-6335 or EbenerDanR@sau.edu.