U.S./Toronto Region Board Formation

Educational Governance: The Church and Lasallian Ministries Educational Governance: The Church and Lasallian Ministries

Topics I. Sponsorship II. The Church and Canon Law III. Governance Structures of the Brothers of the Christian Schools IV. Variety of Schools and Governance Structures V. Concluding Points

Sponsorship Sponsorship Sponsorship of a ministry is a formal relationship between a recognized Catholic organization and a legally formed entity entered into for the sake of promoting and sustaining the Church’s mission in the world.

Sponsorship Sponsorship Sponsorship is a relationship between the Brothers of the Christian Schools and their ministries that insures and sustains its Catholic identity and the Lasallian charism into the future.

Why Sponsorship? NOT because there are fewer and fewer Brothers in Lasallian ministries!

Why Sponsorship? A deliberate desire to insure and sustain the Catholic, Lasallian mission of schools into the future.

Why Sponsorship? A deliberate desire for Brothers and Partners to collaborate in shared mission and association.

Why Sponsorship? A deliberate desire to maintain a relationship in areas of influence, governance, and management.

The Evolution of Sponsorship The Evolution of Sponsorship 1. The Family Business 2. The Franchise 3. The Partnership 4. The Next Generation

1. The Family Business a. 1681(The Founding) b. The Brothers predominate in management, governance, and staffing c. Brothers’ community and institution overlap d. “Keys,” “Kitchen privileges” and “Privileged Information” are signs of Family membership.

2. The Franchise a. 1970’s – 1990’s b. Fewer Family members (Brothers) involved in work c. Trusted co-workers given selective influence d. Introduction of new legal structures and governance e. Key positions of power and influence still held by Family members.

3. Partnership a present b. A developing understanding of “Shared Mission” and “Association” c. Expansion of Lasallian formation programs d. Greater collaboration of Brothers and Partners e. Less hierarchical in approach

4. The New Generation a. Somewhere in the future b. Absence of any significant number of Brothers to serve in governance roles c. No longer a focus on control and influence, but one of co-creation d. “Shared Mission” and “Association” become a reality

II.School Governance and Canon Law A. Background B. The “Juridic Person” C. The Authority of the Bishop

Canon Law What is it? The law of the Catholic Church The law of the Catholic Church It governs the existence and continuation of Catholic institutions. It governs the existence and continuation of Catholic institutions. How does it work? It recognizes an entity as a ministry of the Church It recognizes an entity as a ministry of the Church It assures the faithful administration of the ministry. It assures the faithful administration of the ministry. It assures the preservation of ecclesiastical goods. It assures the preservation of ecclesiastical goods.

The Juridic Person The Juridic Person is the equivalent of a civil corporation. The Juridic Person is an individual legal entity recognized by the Church.

The Juridic Person Schools may be either -separate juridic persons, or -part of a juridic person of another entity, such as a parish or A RELIGIOUS ORDER.

The Authority of the Bishop 1. Consent of the Bishop is required for a school to call itself Catholic. --Canon 803

The Authority of the Bishop 2. The Bishop has the duty to inspect Catholic schools. 3. The Bishop has the duty to exercise supervision over religious education programs and those who teach in such programs Canons 806, 804

The Authority of the Bishop 4. The Bishop has the right to appoint and remove religion teachers for/from schools in his diocese. --Canon 805

The Authority of the Bishop ‘Such prescriptions are also operative for those schools which are directed by religious orders with due regard for their autonomy regarding the internal management of their schools.”

The Authority of the Bishop The Bishop has authority over the Catholic identity of a school in areas such as -Religion curriculum, texts, and teachers -Religious Facilities -Public utterances, image, and guests

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III. Structures of Governance in the Brothers of the Christian Schools

The International Institute C o u n t r i e s 81,000 Partners B r o t h e r s 800,000 Students

The Superior General The Superior General He is elected by a General Chapter of Brothers to a seven-year term He is supported in his work by a vicar general and the General Council He resides in Rome

The General Council The General Council

The Motherhouse in Rome

The USA-Toronto Region (circa 2005) The USA-Toronto Region (circa 2005)

The United States-Toronto Region 2009 ■ 100 ministries ■ 56 high schools ■ 14 “Miguel” schools ■ 3 “Cristo Rey” schools ■ 7 Colleges / Universities ■ 3 elementary schools ■ Programs for Youth with Special Needs San Francisco District New Orleans/Santa Fe District Midwest District District of Eastern North America (DENA) Districts of the United States/Toronto Region

The Christian Brothers Conference The Christian Brothers Conference A Coordinating and Service Organization for the USA/Toronto Region A Coordinating and Service Organization for the USA/Toronto Region Located in Washington, DC Located in Washington, DC A structure of administration, not governance, for the four Districts in the Region A structure of administration, not governance, for the four Districts in the Region

Districts Districts the basic administrative units of the Institute the basic administrative units of the Institute Each District has a history. Hence, the geographical boundaries are sometimes “unique”. Each District has a history. Hence, the geographical boundaries are sometimes “unique”. Districts are led by Brother Visitors (Provincials) and their teams. Districts are led by Brother Visitors (Provincials) and their teams.

District Governance Structures District Governance Structures 1. One structure, the District Council, required in Canon Law, is composed of elected, appointed, and ex officio Brothers. a. Consultative in all but a few areas 2. One structure, the Mission Council, is composed of Brothers and Partners. a. Mandated by the last General Chapter b. Advisory in terms of the apostolate 3. An Economic Council is required in law, and other committee structures exist.

Varieties of Schools and Governance Structures The purpose of the Institute is to give a Christian and human education to the young, and especially the poor, according to the ministry which the Church has entrusted to it. The purpose of the Institute is to give a Christian and human education to the young, and especially the poor, according to the ministry which the Church has entrusted to it. The student is at the center of Lasallian ministries. The student is at the center of Lasallian ministries. The various structures of governance exist to create schools which provide the best education possible for the young men and women “entrusted to our care” The various structures of governance exist to create schools which provide the best education possible for the young men and women “entrusted to our care”

Varieties of Schools Parish Elementary or High Schools -Governed by a pastor -Limited only by the bishop’s right of review Diocesan Schools -Governed by a board directly under the bishop

Varieties of Schools Schools Operated by a Religious Congregation -Religious congregations are not generally as directly related to dioceses as other types of schools. -The school may be part of a juridic person as represented by the religious congregation.

Varieties of Governance Structures Boards Canon law governs all aspects of the Catholic school. Thus, Catholic schools and board members have no authority to act outside the provisions of Canon Law. BUT, within these provisions, boards have great freedom so long as no civil laws are broken.

Varieties of Governance Structures Consultative Boards These are established by a pastor, a religious order, or diocesan policy. Strictly speaking, this type of board is advisory. These may be found in parish and diocesan schools.

Varieties of Governance Structures Boards With Limited Jurisdiction These are constituted by the pastor or Brother Visitor to govern the education program, subject to certain decisions, which are reserved to the pastor or Brother Visitor. These have more autonomy than consultative boards because decision-making has been delegated to the board.

Varieties of Governance Structures Boards in Private Schools Owned by Religious Congregations These boards are usually boards of limited jurisdiction. These boards, sometimes called two- tiered boards, would relate to the Brother Visitor, who has reserved certain powers to the congregation. These powers may include appointment of head of school, alienation of property, changes in by-laws, maintaining the Lasallian mission, capital projects, and assumption of debt. (This list is not meant to be exhaustive.)

Varieties of Governance Structures Boards of Total Jurisdiction These boards, also known as corporate boards, are found in schools founded by a group of lay people, or which a religious order had given over responsibility for. This type of board is often found at Catholic colleges and universities.

IV. Concluding Points 1. Our schools are Catholic at the core, and Lasallian is their charism in the Church. 2. “Our schools cannot be both Catholic and independent.” If we call ourselves independent, we mean we are non- systemic.” 3. Once we claim to be Catholic, our independence is subordinate in several areas to the authority of the Church. Thus teachers don’t have “academic freedom.” They teach as agents of the Church.

IV. Concluding Points 4. Finally, sponsorship is an invitation to the Church to co- create a future even greater than the past; an active, dynamic, creative form of collaboration.

The Lasallian Mission

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