About the Center for Ministry Development - Visit CMD's Website
The Center for Ministry Development is an independent, non-profit organization whose core purpose is to bring the Good News in new ways to the people of God. Our mission is to empower faith communities and their leaders for effective ministry with adolescents, young adults, and families through ministry education for leaders, ministry development training and resources, programs, and publications. The Center is funded through a combination of fees for services, publication sales, and foundation grants.
The Center for Ministry Development was founded in 1978. The Center originally focused on ministry with adolescents, providing the Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies program, adult training workshops, youth leadership and peer ministry training. This mission has evolved to embrace ministry with families (1987) and ministry with young adults (1994). We are currently expanding our mission to include an emphasis on lifelong, intergenerational faith formation.
The Center has built a reputation of excellence through its work with over 100 Catholic dioceses and organizations in the United States, Canada, Ireland, and Australia. The Center provides its programs, services, and resources to parishes, dioceses, Catholic schools and universities, and national organizations. The Center has worked for the National Conference of Catholic Bishops on youth ministry, young adult ministry, family ministry, and Catholic social teaching projects.
The Center has received grants from several foundations for youth ministry, young adult ministry, and family ministry projects. The Humanitas Foundation funded the five-year Catholic Families Project (1987-1992). The Center has served as the project staff for the national Young Adult Ministry Initiative (1994-2000) funded by the Raskob Foundation with supporting grants from the Koch Foundation, Humanitas Foundation, and Louisville Institute. In 2001 the Center received a four-year grant from the Lilly Endowment for the Generations of Faith Project.
