Certification Process for Lay Ministers

The certification process of the Religion and Spirituality Division of the American Association on Mental Retardation (AAMR) seeks to assure that persons whose work focuses on providing and/or facilitating ministry with people with developmental disabilities meet standards of competence as delineated in this document.

This certification process is designed for those lay persons already in ministry with persons with developmental disabilities or who plan to enter the field of this specialized ministry.

There are many qualified and dedicated lay people who work in the field of ministry with people with developmental disabilities. It is not the intent of this certification process to demean those persons who do not meet the standards for certification found in this document. Nor does this process in itself guarantee the performance of persons who are certified.

With the complexity of pastoral ministry both in residential facilities and in the community, a lay minister must have competencies in a variety of areas. These include:

1. education/formation in pastoral ministry;
2. understanding of current philosophies, values, and social issues within the field of mental retardation and the ability to make appropriate application to pastoral ministry;
3. the ability to work within ecclesiastical, institutional, and community systems; and
4. the ability to relate to persons with developmental disabilities and their families and/or caregivers.

Certification is meant to indicate that the applicant has achieved the level of competence necessary for sensitive and effective pastoral ministry with persons with developmental disabilities.

Basic Requirements for Certification
Two years of college training or two years of other specialized training in the field of developmental disabilities with five years of ministerial experience with persons with developmental disabilities and their families and/or caregivers; OR

Graduation with a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university (Preferably the degree should be related to human services or religious studies), with two years of ministerial experience with persons with developmental disabilities and their families and/or caregivers; OR

Graduation with a master’s degree from an accredited college or university in the field of human services or religious studies, including courses and field work related to specialized ministry with persons with developmental disabilities or at least one year of experience in such specialized ministry.

Training and/or experience equivalent to the above requirements may be submitted. The Certification Committee will rule on the equivalent nature of alternate training and/or experience which is submitted.

Competency implies the following personal and professional characteristics:

1. the ability to facilitate good interpersonal relationships with church leadership, with agency/facility personnel, and with members of local community of worship;
2. the ability to lead volunteers in ministry with persons with developmental disabilities and to foster a change in attitude resulting in meaningful relationships;
3. the ability to set goals, plan strategies, make decisions, and evaluate progress;
4. the ability to work in interfaith and ecumenical contexts with an understanding and appreciation of both similarities and differences among various religious traditions;
5. the ability to communicate goals in a manner that facilitates the integration of persons with developmental disabilities in communities of worship.

The Certification Process
The first step toward certification is the applicant’s submission of required materials to the chair of the Certification Committee. The $75.00 certification fee should accompany the documents listed below (check or money order payable to the Religion and Spirituality Division/AAMR). All items shall be submitted at least two months before the date of the AAMR national convention, which is in the last week of May. These items include:

1. The official application form documenting education, training, experience, and work history.
2. Evidence of current AAMR Religion and Spirituality Division membership or a completed membership application with fee.
3. Copies of all appropriate documents (diploma, certificates, etc.) giving evidence of completion of education and/or training pertinent to the certification process.
4. Letters of recommendation indicating the applicant’s professional competence in ministry with persons with developmental disabilities:
   1. a letter from a pastor or clergy person affirming the applicant’s active participation in the faith community;
   2. a letter from an appropriate church agency endorsing the applicant’s competency in assignments directly related to ministry with persons with developmental disabilities;
   3. a letter from the administrator/director of an agency or residential facility giving evidence of the applicant’s competence in understanding issues related to the field of mental retardation and his/her abilities to relate to persons within that system;
   4. a letter from a consumer, family member, or support person giving evidence of the applicant’s effective ministry to that individual or family.
5. A biographical paper (3-4 pages, double spaced) noting factors in personal religious/spiritual formation with emphasis on how he/she was became involved in the work of lay ministry with persons with developmental disabilities.
6. A paper on ministry (4-6 pages, double spaced) defining past and present experience with persons with developmental disabilities, including employment history or volunteer work, if pertinent, as well as the applicant’s direction or goals in specialized ministry.
7. A paper (5-7 pages, double spaced) describing the applicant’s faith perspectives that direct or undergird his/her ministry and how these perspectives relate to persons with developmental disabilities. The applicant may discuss any training, education, or mentoring in the field of specialized ministry and its relationship to his/her faith perspective.

The applicant will be expected at their own expense to appear before the Certification Committee at the national convention for review. The Presenter for the applicant will review his/her documents, prepare a summary highlighting significant issues, and present the applicant to the committee.

Final decisions on certification will be made by the committee at the annual meeting held at or in conjunction with the national convention of the AAMR. The committee may provide full certification, vote for a two-year provisional certification, or deny certification. Provisional or denial of certification will be accompanied with a written explanation of the reasons for the committee’s decision along with appropriate recommendations for training, study, and/or professional development. Once certified, an individual maintains certification by ongoing active membership in the Religion and Spirituality Division of the AAMR.

Adopted, 6/97, Religion Division/AAMR