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March 31, 2022

Holy C-suite: Maine church diocese, business school launch MBA-like program

people standing in pews Courtesy / Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland A view from the pews of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland, the seat of the state's Roman Catholic diocese.
By William Hall

Even if you report to a higher power, running a $60 million organization has its earthly challenges.

Now the administration that oversees Maine’s Catholic churches is teaming with a top business school to train the people who manage and operate them.

A partnership between the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland and Villanova University School of Business has launched a two-year, online Master of Science degree program in church management.

The working relationship may seem similar to those between other schools and employers, who typically operate work-study programs, share personnel or develop curriculum together. Details of the Villanova joint venture aren't available yet, but this is the “first business-focused partnership” for the diocese, spokesman Dave Guthro told Mainebiz on Wednesday.

“The diocese thought this was a wonderful opportunity to enhance skill sets and understanding across Maine parishes,” he added. “Villanova University has a proven record of helping to train administrators and staff members in other dioceses in an effective way.”

Villanova said it will fund up to $73,500 in scholarships annually for students from the diocese, which serves all of Maine, including 141 churches and 280,000 Mainers who identify as Catholic.

Villanova is a Catholic university with 11,000 students and a campus just west of Philadelphia. In addition to a championship basketball team — scheduled to tip off Saturday in the NCAA March Madness semifinals — the school is known for its online MBA program, ranked No. 16 in the country by U.S. News & Report magazine.

The business school’s Center for Church Management was founded in 2004 and is the world’s first, according to Villanova. 

The master’s degree track is a 30-hour program intended for church leaders and managers, including those in finance roles, as well as clergy and lay people serving in pastoral ministry, and individuals who have worked in business and want to transition to roles in the church.

Earthly duties

In recent years, the Diocese of Portland has had to deal with issues familiar to many businesses.

Headquartered at offices on Ocean Avenue in the city, the organization employs nearly 1,000 people at the diocesan and parish level and had operating revenues of $60.8 million in the 2021 fiscal year.

The leader of the diocese, Bishop Robert Deeley, has at times criticized COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the state, such as limits on church gathering sizes. Even before the pandemic, the diocese has had to grapple with fluctuations in church attendance and a shortage of clergy. The pressures have led to the reorganization of local parishes and the sale of some church real estate.

In addition to performing over 5,000 baptisms, marriages, funerals and other services annually, the diocese oversees Saint Joseph’s College in Standish, two high schools, 10 elementary schools, and a range of health care and social services throughout Maine.

Deeley is optimistic about the impact of the new training program. “This partnership will allow for our professionals at the diocesan and parish levels to enhance their understanding of effective management and strategic planning," he said in a news release. "I am certain the program will help participants learn the best ways in which to preserve, protect, and administer the resources of the diocese, our churches, and our schools with transparency and integrity.”

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