200 - Religious Education Leadership

The value sought:  A christian community characterized by mutual respect, charity and justice

201.00: Each parish will have a designated religious education leader(s) to assist the pastor.
Hiring a Religious Education Leader: Introduction
Qualities of a successful Religious Education Leader
Needs Assessment Form for parish religious education
Job posting and advertising
Interview helps/legal guidelines
Interview form
Reference checking
Reference checking form and sample letter
Applicant response form for reference checking

202.00: The religious education leader(s) is a member of the Catholic faith and models this tradition in both words and lifestyle. This policy is further explained by the document Standards of Catholic Practice approved by Bishop Trautman on December 21, 2010.

203.00: Religious education leaders will be assigned titles by the diocesan Department of Religious Education. These titles are defined in the Religious Education Leader Guidelines promulgated by Bishop Donald W. Trautman on May 3, 1993.

204.00: Religious education leaders must meet current requirements identified by the Diocesan Policy for the Protection of Children. Paid employees are required to provide this at their own expense as required by Bishop Trautman on June 25, 2001.

Policy for the Protection of Children and Youth
Office for the Protection of Children and Youth

204.10: No parishes will host catechetical classes in homes.

205.00: Every parish will have a confidential personnel file for the religious education leader(s) which contains all appropriate records as defined by current diocesan policy.

Personnel File contents for Religious Education Leaders


210.00: The religious education leader(s) serves, under the direction of the pastor, as the educational administrator(s) in the parish for programs outside the parish school (if one exists). 

Month by Month tasks of a Religious Educator
The role and duties of a Religious Education Leader
Understanding the RE Leader's place in Church relationships
Why are there a variety of titles for religious educators?

211.00: The religious education leader will ensure that all materials presented under the auspices of the parish religious education program are in conformity with Church teaching.

Teaching authentically

211.10:The religious education leader will supervise catechists to ensure that they are covering the Diocesan Curriculum and meet the standards of 211.00.

Catechism of the Catholic Church: Source for authentic teaching

220.00: Religious education leaders will meet Diocesan certification standards. 221.00: The designated religious education leader(s) will have as a minimum the credentials to meet Diocesan standards for an Administrator of Religious Education. Those who do not yet have these credentials will be enrolled in an approved certification program. Established by Bishop Donald W. Trautman on May 3, 1993.

Titles for religious educators used by the diocese

230.00: Religious education leaders will enter into a professional agreement with the parish.

Professional Agreement Template

Click the link and choose "SAVE" to save the document to your computer. Then make any necessary changes.

231.00: The elements of a Professional Agreement shall include a job description and a process for the completion of an annual review.

See 230 Professional Agreement - pages 15-23 Click the link and choose "SAVE" to save the document to your computer. Then make any necessary changes.

232.00: Lay religious education leaders will be compensated, at least minimally, in accordance with the Diocesan salary process approved by Bishop Donald W. Trautman on May 3, 1993.

See 230 Professional Agreement - pages 7-12 Click the link and choose "SAVE" to save the document to your computer. Then make any necessary changes.

232.10: Lay religious education leaders will receive a benefit package in accordance with Diocesan guidelines approved by Bishop Donald W. Trautman on May 3, 1993.

See 230 Professional Agreement - page 11 Click the link and choose "SAVE" to save the document to your computer. Then make any necessary changes.

232.20: Religious working in the capacity of a parish religious education leader will be compensated at the Diocesan salary and benefit scale for Religious.

Contact the Director for Religious

233.00: Once a year religious education leaders will have a formal documented performance review initiated and performed by their immediate supervisor based on their job description.

Performance Appraisal Forms
Exempt employee evaluation form (Diocesan)
Non-exempt employee evaluation form (Diocesan)

234.00: Religious working in the capacity of a parish religious education leader will follow hiring guidelines established by the Director for the Office for Religious.

Contact the Director for Religious

240.00: Religious education leaders are required to participate in yearly continuing education and formation.

241.00: Religious education leaders will complete at least seven contact hours of academic continuing education per year. Academic continuing education is achieved through courses, workshops or conferences in theology, methodology or related subjects. (A contact hour is defined as participation in a learning environment excluding breaks, lunch, etc.) This requirement will be stated explicitly in the contract between the religious education leader and the parish and will be paid for by the parish or funds paid to the religious education leader specifically for this purpose.

Resources for continuing education
Continuing education/Spiritual formation recording form

242.00: Religious education leaders will participate in a retreat or other spiritual formation program each year. This requirement will be stated explicitly in the contract between the religious education leader and the parish.

Resources for continuing spiritual formation
Continuing education/Spiritual formation recording form

250.00: Religious Education Leaders are to know and adhere to all provisions of Diocesan policy.

The Religious Educator as steward

251.00: The religious education leader will obtain a completed Class Planning Schedule Form from each catechist for each year.

Class planning form for catechists

252.00: Religious education leaders will oversee the training of all catechists and volunteers concerning the current Diocesan Policy for the Protection of Children approved by Bishop Donald W. Trautman.
Diocesan resources for the Protection of Children and Youth

252.10: Religious education leaders will oversee catechists’ and volunteers’ adherence to the current Diocesan Policy for the Protection of Children approved by Bishop Donald W. Trautman.

Policy for the Protection of Children and Youth
Catechist personnel file requirements concerning child protection
See Child Protection page to download annual report forms

253.00: Religious education leaders will oversee the training of all catechists concerning the diocesan Blood Pathogens Policy.

Diocesan Policy for Blood Pathogens
Blood Pathogens In-service form
Blood Pathogens incident reporting form

253.10: Religious education leaders will oversee catechists’ adherence to the diocesan Blood Pathogens Policy.

Catechist personnel file requirements concerning blood pathogens

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