A collaborative formation program for sponsors

Trends in sponsorship of Catholic health care have opened the door to lay members of the church to become the ministry's canonical stewards. This has led to the call for educational programs to help laity become effective sponsors. The Collaborative Formation Program for Public Juridic Persons--to train potential PJP sponsors--was launched in 2003 by five Catholic health ministries that adopted a PJP model of sponsorship. The program consists of four weekend seminars that are held over an 18-month period. The curriculum is based on an adult education model that combines lecture and selected readings with discussion, personal reflection, ritual, and informal interaction in a reflective setting. Theological and personal competencies are woven into several of the four program sessions. Survey results show that participants see the Collaborative Formation Program as a valuable experience. Their comments indicate that, in addition to formation, the program provides opportunities for networking, brainstorming collaborative actions, mentoring, and accessing a pool of resources. The surveys also revealed that there is some confusion about what participants might expect of themselves once the program has been completed. Their comments suggest that they would like more clarity concerning the program's anticipated effect on them both personally and in their role as potential sponsors. Some questions raised by participants showed a desire for a better understanding of what sponsors might actually do in response to content covered in the formation program. Participants wanted more insight into addressing justice issues, in responding to the poor when health system discretionary funds are limited, and in enacting ethical decision-making processes. The answer to the critical question "How will we know when this transition in roles has been successful?" will emerge as lay colleagues are appointed to sponsorship roles and the effectiveness of that sponsorship is evaluated over time.