> Founded to promote the quality of ministerial education in the service of church and society
Membership
AGPIM Member Institutions
- Barry University
- Boston College
- Cardinal Stritch University
- Catholic Theological Union of Chicago
- Chaminade University
- College of Mount St. Joseph
- College of Our Lady of the Elms
- Congar Institute for Ministry Development
- Creighton University
- Dominican University
- Duquesne University
- Fordham University
- Franciscan School of Theology
- Gonzaga University Ministry Institute
- Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University
- Santa Clara University Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries
- Loyola Marymount University
- Loyola University Chicago, IPS
- Loyola University, New Orleans
- Loyola University Maryland – Pastoral Counseling Dept.
- Saint Bernard’s School of Theology & Ministry
- Saint John’s Seminary-MAM/MTS, Braintree, MA
- St. John’s University School of Theology & Seminary
- Saint Meinrad Seminary & School of Theology
- St. Norbert College
- St. Thomas University
- Seattle University
- Spring Hill College
- University of Dallas School of Ministry
- University of Dayton
- University of the Incarnate Word
- University of Notre Dame
- Ursuline College
- Villanova University/Theology & Religious Studies Department
- St. Joseph’s Seminary and College
About AGPIM
AGPIM was founded in 1987 to create a forum for graduate program directors and administrators to participate in collegial conversations about the education of ministers. Member institutions are currently training numerous students for roles as lay and ordained ministers of the Catholic Church. Members share common experiences and challenges, offer mutual support and dialogue, and work together to improve the state of training for ministers in the Catholic Church. Members are also able to participate in the annual member meeting, which occurs in various retreat centers throughout the United States.
Creation of AGPIM
In February of 2007, the Association of Graduate Programs in Ministry celebrated twenty years as an organization. The organization of 35 Catholic colleges, universities and seminaries was founded in 1987 to create a forum for graduate program directors and administrators to participate in collegial conversations about the education of ministers. Member institutions are currently training numerous students for roles as lay and ordained ministers of the Catholic Church. Annual member meetings have occurred in various retreat centers throughout the United States since the 1987 meeting.
Early AGPIM achievements
Initially the vision for the organization focused on the 1986 report, Preparing Laity for Ministry: a Report on the Progress in Catholic Diocese throughout the United States.Since this first gathering at the Julie Penrose Retreat Center in Colorado Springs, CO, annual meetings have taken up a variety of topics. Several significant studies were conducted by AGPIM including A Same and Different Future: A Study of Graduate Ministry Education in Catholic Institutions of Higher Learning in the United States.
Recent AGPIM efforts
More recently AGPIM has continued to develop relationships with the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), Emerging Models of Pastoral Leadership Projectand others who are studying the shifting sands of ministry formation. AGPIM cosponsored the National Symposium on Lay Ecclesial Ministry at St. John’s School of Theology, July 31-August 3, 2007. Sixteen AGPIM-member schools were represented. One result of this important gathering was the call for national dialogue in four strategic study areas: Pathways to Ministry, Formation for Lay Ecclesial Ministry, Authorization for Lay Ecclesial Ministry and Quality of Life in the Workplace.
2023 Membership Dues
2023 Membership Dues
Catholic colleges and universities with graduate programs in ministry may join the association as an institution.
- Membership is annual from January through December
- Annual dues for educational institutions are $190
- Annual dues for associate member organizations are $125
- Multiple faculty and staff members may be listed as part of a single institutional membership