We, members of the Association of Pastoral Ministers, recognize and declare that we have been called by God and commissioned by a local church, hospital, institution or organization to provide pastoral care to God’s people in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

 

APM was formally established in 1977 to be a support community for women and men in various pastoral ministries in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. APM members have an abiding concern for the human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral dimensions of the person. Our members bring to their ministry prayerfulness, the gift of being a “listening presence”, an open willingness to share their personal faith, patience, compassion, a sense of humor, and a keen sense of integrity by living by the APM Code of Ethics and Competency Standards.

 

 

MISSION STATEMENT

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The Association of Pastoral Ministers

 

provides support, advocacy and ongoing formation

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to our members who are professional lay ecclesial ministers

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committed to pastorally serving

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the human and spiritual needs in the Church.

 

 

 

The role of our members

 

is one of leadership

 

in calling people forth to ministry

 

and in modeling new ways of ministering.

 

 

 

We are dedicated to nurturing relationships

 

with individuals and organizations

 

within the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis

 

and beyond its boundaries.

 

We are concerned with broader

 

relationships and responsibilities.

 

We recognize the value of dialogue

 

within the Church

 

for human and spiritual growth for all.

 

 

 

A community of discernment,

 

we seek to discover and implement

 

ways that will strengthen and improve the quality

 

of our ministry, modeled after the life and teachings of Jesus.

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VISION AND PHILOSOPHY

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We are people

 

serving the church,

 

united in mutual support

 

and shared concern to respond

 

ever more adequately to the needs of others.

 

 

 

We are convinced

 

that we minister

 

God’s healing love as we reach out

 

to the poor, broken-hearted and alienated of our society.

 

 

 

We are called

 

to the vocation of lay ecclesial ministry,

 

to model lay ministry in the church;

 

to enter into dialogue

 

with the Church’s hierarchy and structures

 

and to be part of its leadership.

 

 

 

We are sent

 

to image the Good News;

 

to create a community which recognizes

 

that all are called to minister

 

according to the gifts they have been given.