I think professionalism in youth ministry boils down to two
non-negotiables: competence and a code of ethics.

Competence
Competence means knowing your stuff, broadly and deeply. It means being prepared for ministry personally, spiritually, theologically, ecclesially, pastorally, and administratively. It is not enough to be "good with kids" or "faith-filled" or "passionate." The Code of Canon Law puts it this way: permanent and temporary ministers of the church "are obligated to acquire appropriate formation which is required to fulfill their function properly and to carry it out conscientiously, zealously, and diligently." (§ 231, Code of Canon Law, copied from the Vatican website).

In the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, developing competence for youth ministry is the cornerstone of everything we do. The recently published National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers (NALM, NCCL, NFCYM, 2003) provides a comprehensive and detailed description of the competencies of youth ministry leaders. Based on this, we have developed education, formation, and training for all levels of youth ministry leaders, from the greenest recruits to advanced professionals. Competent, well-formed youth ministry leaders are recognized through certification, which assesses and publicly acknowledges their capabilities.

Code of Ethics
Another earmark of a bona fide profession is a code of ethics. The National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry has developed and approved one for youth ministry leaders in the United States, which provides a framework and boundaries for ethical behavior in youth ministry.

The bottom line: youth ministry professionals are broadly and deeply competent, relative to the National Certification Standards, and they conscientiously adhere to their profession's code of ethics.

Order a copy of the National Certification Standards by visiting the NFCYM On-line Store. You may also wish to scroll down the page for a self-assessment instrument (Growing in Competency: A Self Assessment Tool for Youth Ministry Leaders) based on the National Certification Standards. To get a copy of the NFCYM Code of Ethics for Youth Ministry Leaders, and other resource materials on professional youth ministry development, visit the NFCYM Public Website on Professional Development.