Peer Ministry Guidelines, Expectations & Covenant

Parish Community of Saint Joseph

8701 36th Avenue North

New Hope, MN  55427

2006-2007

 

The following guidelines and expectations were revised in April of 1999 and again in March of 2002.  Revisions from previous forms are based on the construction of the Peer Ministry Mission Statement in Winter of 1997-98. 

Peer Ministers are youth who desire to serve Jesus through His Church.  Peer Ministry empowers these youth, who support and encourage each other, to lead other youth by example into a relationship with Christ.  Peer Ministers will accomplish this goal by taking an active role in the Faith Life of the Community and by living their discipleship to Jesus Christ everyday.

The following guidelines and expectations are the means to fulfill the above statement.  Peer Ministers are expected to adhere to these guidelines in order to continue to be a part of this ministry.  These guidelines and expectations are effective May 1st, through April 30th.

  Peer Ministers are committed to God through Jesus Christ and Catholicism.  This commitment to God is expressed through regular participation in Life Nights or In Touch meetings which provide opportunities for spiritual growth and conversion.  Prayer and commitment to Scripture Study are also very important expressions of faith. Peer Ministers are willing to communicate their faith with others.  (Note: Peer Ministers anticipating Confirmation with the Parish are expected to attend Confirmation Preparation when in session.)

  Peer Ministers accept the Biblical teaching that the human body is a Temple Of The Holy Spirit and thus are expected to commit to abstinence from sexual activity, drugs and alcohol.

Peer Ministers are active members of the Parish Community of St. Joseph. This includes participation in weekly Sunday Liturgy and Parish-wide events. Leadership roles in Liturgy (particularly, but not exclusively, at the 6:00pm Mass) are strongly encouraged.  Peer Ministers can be involved as lectors, readers, hospitality ministers, choir members, Eucharistic Ministers, ushers, etc...

Peer Ministers attend all monthly meetings.  Failure to attend 3 consecutive meetings (without communicating the intended absence)  indicates a lack of interest in this ministry. You will receive a letter releasing you from future responsibility to the Peer Ministry team and your name will be removed from the roster. Peer Ministry meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of each month with times varying due to season (summer, school year).

Peer Ministers take responsibility (with Ministry Coordinators) for leadership and planning of the monthly Peer Ministry Meetings. They serve on the Organizational  Board, and on one of the following three teams: Service, Parish Involvement, Social. 

Peer Ministers are required to attend the Autumn Retreat (in September) for Peer Ministers, Middle School and High School Core Team Members. This retreat is designed as spiritual preparation for the Ministry we are beginning this school year. During this retreat, Peer Ministers will be encouraged to partner with another, as prayer partners for the purpose of mutual support, accountability and mentoring (where appropriate). In addition the Peer Ministers will dedicate some time to gift discernment and to choosing an apostolate to which they can dedicate their gifts for one year. Peer Ministers will complete a form on which they name their apostolate for this school year and will turn it in to the Youth Ministry Coordinators before the end of the retreat weekend.

Possible Apostolates:

Peer Ministers are Mandatory Reporters. They are often treated as confidants, requiring them to honor confidentiality. However, when a Peer Minister acquires knowledge (not hear say) that someone intends to do violence to themselves or to others, the Peer Minister is required, by law, to report this information to a parent or other adult AND to one of the Youth Coordinators as soon as it is practical (within 24 hours). Not reporting because, “I thought he/she was just trying to get extra attention.” would be a dangerous risk, not worth taking.

 

Peer Ministers accept the Christian responsibility to support one another and also to hold one another accountable. Using the guidance given by

II Thessalonians 3:15:

“Do not regard him as an enemy but admonish him as a brother”

and by Matthew 18:15-17:

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between

you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your

brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you,

so that every fact may be established on the testimony of two or

three witnesses.  If he refuses to listen to them, tell the Church.

If he refuses to listen even to the Church, then treat him as you

would a Gentile or a tax collector.”

Peer Ministers are called to practice  “Fraternal Correction” (the Biblical directives given above) when the behaviors of a fellow Peer Minister are obviously the antithesis of this set of Guidelines and Expectations, reflecting poorly on Peer Ministry, the community, and on Catholicism.

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Signing this Covenant is a statement that I am making about my faith and how it will be lived out through this ministry.  I believe in the Mission Statement and will follow each of the guidelines and expectations fully and completely!

    COVENANT SIGNATURE:_________________________________________

 

                                                                         OR

At this point in my faith life, I am simply not being called to this ministry at this time!

            SIGNATURE:_____________________________________________________

 

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This page was last updated on 03/29/2007