Responses from 23 of 35 leaders of lay minister education programs indicated liberal attitudes on some issues (social justice, women's ordination); 74% were hopeful about the church's future; 17% felt at risk because of their views; 32% experienced little or no congregational support; and 82% felt that the church needed to improve its acceptance…

Observations and interviews of 20 parishioners in Catholic rural parishes led by female lay pastors in the absence of priests elicited themes about informal and incidental learning: learning content included understanding the Eucharist, the Church, and pastoral leadership; and barriers to learning included priest intervention, history of parish…