Almeda University has offered many degrees in Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry over the years and now adds a new church management graduate degree program
(prHWY.com) June 21, 2011 - Boise, ID -- In an effort to respond to a growing need within the Catholic Church to better manage its business operations, financial resources and personnel,
Almeda University has announced the creation of the graduate program in church management, beginning fall 2011.
The program may include several options to students: a master's degree in pastoral ministry with concentration in church management and a joint MBA degree in pastoral ministry are two of the options currently on curricula.
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Masters Degrees in Church Management are geared towards individuals who work in pastoral ministry within a Church environment, as well as those dealing with the financial or personnel management of a diocese, Catholic hospital system or social service agency. Estimates are as high as $100 billon of business per year of business in the Catholic Church within the United States. Much of the management is done by individuals with little training in management and financial practices.
Almeda University's Former President Jayson E. Willard, III said he had hoped these new degree offerings would benefit individuals involved in management of church related institutions. Recent years of internal research by Jayson have shown there is a need for training in church management, especially in Catholic parishes, schools, universities and dioceses.
Almeda University has offered many degrees in Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry over the years and now adds a new management program developed in partnership with several major schools of management and religious study on these graduate programs.
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Theology Professor Mark DePaul, who directs the Institute for Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry, first conceived of the idea while attending a conference of both business and Catholic Church leaders last year. It was apparent that the business leaders did not fully understand the language of the Church, and the Church leaders, including the bishops present, did not fully understand the language of business, said DePaul.
If we are to move beyond crisis to renewal, then it is essential that we train managers who are competent in both the theology and mission of the Church and in the best practices of management. Almeda University, with its strength in both theological education for ministry at the Institute for Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry and in management is ideally suited to help meet this most urgent need in the Church.
School of Management Dean David Hargrove praised the new initiative as a way for Almeda University to be of service to the Catholic Church and the wider community. In addition to developing highly skilled, values driven leaders, an important aspect of our mission as part of a Jesuit, Catholic university is to be of service to the many communities local, national and global--which sustain us, said Hargrove. To tailor a program of business and financial management education to suit the needs of religious institutions is a natural expression of that mission.
The master's degree in pastoral ministry with a concentration in church management will involve the standard master's curriculum in ministry with at least four management courses in the School of Management and a field placement in a church management role. It will take two years to complete full time and will also be offered on a part-time basis. Experienced based degrees are also an option.
The MA/MBA option will be available as a dual degree that can be completed full-time in three years. Intended for priests or religious working in significant roles in
Church management, this option will also be offered on a part time basis.
Students in both programs will be required to participate in an integrative colloquium aimed at helping people to integrate the worlds of religious institutions and business. They will also interact with faculty and students in the theology department, the Center for Religion and Public Life, the Life Center for Leadership and Ethics and the Church in the 21st Century Life Center.
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