Skip to content

USCCB Survey for Lay Ecclesial Ministers

Thank you for taking a few moments to share some helpful information with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth in collaboration with the Subcommittee on Certification for Ecclesial Ministry and Service.

This survey will aid the USCCB in its advocacy for the field of lay ecclesial ministry, most especially in light of the impact that the global pandemic and other current realities have had on the work of the Church throughout the country. Thank you in advance for your time and honesty. In addition, please feel free to forward this survey to any other current or former lay ecclesial ministers, both paid and unpaid, working at any level or setting within the Catholic Church in the United States.

Please complete this survey no later than December 15, 2020.

If you wish to take this survey in Spanish, please click here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8YR7M38

1.Name
2.City/State(Required.)
3.Arch/Diocese/Eparchy(Required.)
4.Where You Minister/Work: (please list parish/diocese/organization/department name and location)
5.Age Group
6.Your Ethnicity/Cultural Community: (choose all that apply)
7.What ministries and/or other responsibilities are you fulfilling? (choose all that apply)
8.Which of the following best describes you? (choose one)
9.Educational Background and Training (check all that apply)
10.Are you currently a student in anticipation of a certificate or degree?
11.If you answered "yes" above, for what certificate or degree are you studying?
12.What is your primary ministry setting? (choose all that apply)
13.How many years have you been working in ministry? (Choose one)
14.Did your status or work conditions change as a result of our current realities (pandemic, health issues, economy, racial injustice, among others)
15.If "yes" to above, what is different about your responsibilities/work now?
16.In what ways have the current realities impacted your work? (check all that apply)
17.Please list any additional non-ministerial responsibilities (i.e. technology, maintenance, clerical work) added to your work because of the current realities, if applicable. 
18.In what areas would you like additional training, education, or formation? 
19.What is your familiarity with the 2005 USCCB document on lay ecclesial ministry, Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord?
20.How has Co-Workers been helpful to your in your ministry? (choose all that apply)
21.Would you like to see Co-Workers updated in any way?
22.If you responded "yes" to the question above, what should be taken into consideration by the USCCB when reflecting on any potential updates or revisions to the document?
23.What are your ideas for revitalizing the Church's mission and its ministries in light of current realities (i.e. the global pandemic, economic crisis, racial injustice, polarization, among other concerns)?
24.How can the U.S. bishops and the USCCB support and advocate for you as a lay leader in the Church, especially in today's context?
25.Are there any other concerns you would like to share with the USCCB?
Feel free to forward this survey onto any other lay ecclesial minister serving in the Church. We would love to hear their feedback, too. The deadline for completing this questionnaire is December 15, 2020.

Thank you for your time in responding to these questions. 
We are grateful for your ministry and we are praying for you.


This survey was developed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, in collaboration with the Subcommittee on Certification for Ecclesial Ministry and Service. If you have any concerns or questions, please email laity@usccb.org.