The LCWR Governance Model Exploring Possible Changes To Strengthen the Organization for the Future  

Introduction Proposed adaptations in the LCWR governance model reflect an acceptance of the organic process of change that will continue into the future as the transformation of religious life continues.   As the planning process continues to unfold it will influence the presidency, the present and future design of the regions, the national office, and other parts of the organization. Discernment has led to beginning the change with the redesign of the board.

Composition of Current National Board of LCWR (21 members): President President-elect Immediate Past President Secretary Chairperson from each of 15 regions Treasurer (non-voting) Executive Director (non-voting). Terms of office are ordinarily for 3 years.

Proposed Change to Board: 9-15 persons Total number of Board members includes the following ex officio members: President President Elect Immediate Past President Secretary (non-voting) Treasurer (non-voting) Executive Director If future needs might call for an even smaller board, the range written into the revised statutes after the period of experimentation will be adjusted to allow necessary flexibility. The national board will not be constituted, ex officio, by those who are regional chairs for LCWR.

Selection of Board Members Board members other than officers and the executive director will be elected as individuals (not as a “slate”) by the members from names put forward by a nominating committee. Procedures for the election of board members are yet to be developed. It is assumed that the nomination process will involve the surfacing of names from the regions. Because of the skill set needed the treasurer and secretary will be appointed by the board and will serve on the board without vote.

Selection of Board Members (continued) Board members who are not officers serve a three-year term, renewable once. Staggered terms of office will ensure continuity as well as renewal. Board members must be LCWR members when elected or appointed to serve a term on the board.

Selection of Board Members (continued) Board members will be nominated according to competency-based criteria. Some criteria will apply to the personal skills and qualities of the individual board member candidates. Other criteria will be used to ensure that the board as a collective body has the appropriate diversity of experience, perspectives, geographic regions and skill sets represented.

Continuity in LCWR In order to assure continuity among the work of the major LCWR committees, the board, and the national office staff, all major committees will include the presence of at least one board member and at least one member of the LCWR staff.  

Regions Because there will no longer be a built-in link between the national and regional levels of LCWR through the dual role of regional chair/board member it is essential that LCWR commit to ongoing, two-way, regular communication and mutual influence across all parts of LCWR that connect the board, the regions, regional chairs, the staff, committees, and others. Meetings for this type of communication and sharing may occur by using gathering opportunities around the LCWR assembly (before, during or after) and/or through use of technology (videoconferencing) LCWR will be very intentional about ensuring member engagement, voice, and buy-in regarding the agenda of the organization.

During their annual Vatican visit, the LCWR officers will be seeking approval from CICLSAL for a period of experimentation with changes in the various levels of LCWR governance. The LCWR presidents have appointed a task force to work on the details of this proposed change to the board and to begin looking at possible changes to the other governance levels. LCWR regions might also consider themselves to be in a period of experimentation and think about: The most effective work of the regional chairs when they no longer have board responsibilities The evolution of the regions as US religious life demographics shift and LCWR, as an organization, changes