Challenges and Perspectives in Catholic Board Formation
Exploring the essential aspects of board formation in Catholic educational institutions, this content delves into models of formation, institutional needs, perspectives on faith formation, questions for reflection, governance from a mission perspective, and the significance of undertaking board formation. Emphasizing the importance of understanding the mission's "why," the narrative highlights the role of faith journeys, values, and stewardship in effective governance. Thought-provoking questions and insights offer a deeper understanding of the mission-focused governance required in Catholic schools.
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Board Formation: The Challenge of Mission-focused Governance Alice I. Hession Director of Sponsorship Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools
Models of Formation Two approaches Formational Concerned with the faith journey of individual Formational Thematic Concerned with the values a school holds and the process by which a Board member comes to accept and espouse those values Thematic
Institutional Needs Catholic Identity Culture of Your School School Legacy Goals and Values
Three perspectives on Faith Formation Those curious about spirituality but with little religious experience; now they are in our culture Never before The faithful who still need life-giving experiences to reconnect with saying yes to God; The New Evangelization which is on- going adult faith formation. Once more with feeling Those who have all the words but not the Word, don t get the heart of the Good News, need remediation. Often have been hurt by Christian communities In need of healing NCEA 2000 - Michael Horan, Evangelizing the School
Questions for Reflection What do we know about the faith journeys of your Board members? Have we ever asked? Are we even concerned about it? What relevance is the personal faith journey to the role of a Board member in a Catholic school?
Governance from a mission perspective Service Stewardship Fidelity "Building Effective Boards for Religious Organizations" Thomas P. Holland and David C. Hester
Why undertake Board formation? "Governance must be formed in the "why" of the mission if it is to be an effective force in the culture of Catholic health care (Catholic education). The "why" of mission is the transcendent purpose, the greater good of God's love and God's healing presence that motivates and amplifies Catholic health care (education) culture. When trustees fail to understand the "why" of mission -- their institution's greater and more durable good -- lesser and more proximate goods will drive the engine of Catholic health care (education). Another way of saying this is that if health care is to survive as a ministry of the church, someone has to know some theology. " Kenneth Horman Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System
"Ministry Boards exercise the same fiduciary responsibilities for finance, mission and strategy as the counterparts at publicly held companies or nonprofits. Our hospitals provide traditional board development activities that focus on what boards do and how they function. But Catholic health care is also a ministry. It mission touches on the transcendent, and this makes it different. This difference means that board members need more than the usual governance skills to be effective. In my own service as a board member, I have had to learn about cost-to-change ratios, Starks laws, and Medicare Disproportionate Share payments. Are words like "incarnation" , "church", "canon law" and "sponsorship" not equally important to those involved in Catholic health care governance?" "The Promise and Challenge of Board Formation" Rev. Charles E. Bouchard, O.P.
Governance as Leadership Chait, Ryan and Taylor Fiduciary Oversight, Accountability, Compliance Strategic Planning, Priority, External Influences Generative Inquiring, Creating New Meaning
Formation activities should contribute to generative Board thinking. Rather that merely "taking care" of their charge (fiduciary) or planning for the future (strategic) the best governance should also involve creativity. This is particularly important at a time when Catholic education, society and the Church are undergoing massive transformation. One of our most important discussions must be "How can we image a new way for the Church to be present in the world through Catholic education?"
Board Member Competencies Articulate their own spirituality Articulate how Catholic education is a ministry of the Church and how it differs from other kinds of Church ministry Use key theological words confidently in board discussions Arrive at policy decisions that take explicit account of mission values
Dimensions of Board Formation Understanding Faith and Ministry Catholic Identity and Catholic Education Board Leadership Roles and Responsibilities The culture of the institution "The Charism of Xaverian education"
GROUP Understanding Faith and Ministry Catholic Identityand Catholic Education INDIVIDUAL ONGOING BOARD The Culture of your school FORMATION Board Roles and Educational Goals Responsibilities FORMATION FORMATION
Understanding Faith and Ministry Understanding Faith and Ministry Understanding the dynamics of how faith develops how and understanding a person s faith commitment flows into service to others are necessary conditions for being able to guide a school to foster these actions in students, faculty and parents. To fulfill this responsibility, Board members need to understand their own faith perspectives and how their individual gifts and talents can be placed at the service of others in ministry.
Ronald Rolheiser, The Holy Longing Everyone has a spirituality, either a life-giving one or a destructive one Spirituality is about being integrated or falling apart, about being within community or being lonely, about being in harmony with Mother Earth or being alienated from her. Irrespective of whether or not we let ourselves be consciously shaped by any explicit religious idea, we act in ways that leave us either healthy or unhealthy, loving or bitter. What shapes our actions is our spirituality. It is about what we do with our spirits, our souls.
Ronald Rolheiser, The Holy Longing A healthy soul must do two things. It must put some fire in our veins; keep us energized, vibrant, full of hope Second, a healthy soul has to keep us fixed together. It has to give us a sense of who we are, where we came from, where we are going, and what sense there is in all of this.
Catholic Identity and Catholic Catholic Identity and Catholic Education Education An awareness of the mission of the Catholic Church and the Church s understanding of the elements of education is foundational for fostering Catholic identity in Catholic schools. While some Board members may not share a Catholic faith perspective, they need to understand and support the Catholic approach to education. Knowing the dimensions of Catholic Education is a significant responsibility of Board members.
Board Leadership Roles and Board Leadership Roles and Responsibilities Responsibilities Board members need to be effective as mission focused leaders being able to motivate others administrators, faculty, staff, parents and students in understanding and becoming committed to the Mission of the school. Board members also model a collaborative style of decision-making that fosters a team approach to education as they carry out their major responsibilities as a Board.
The Culture of your school Diocesan or Religious Community Sponsored Goals and Values History Key Persons Key Stories Mission Statement
The Xaverian The Xaverian Charism Charism of education of education Being committed to responding to the Mission, Vision, Calls, and Goals of Xaverian sponsored education is an essential quality of Board members. The ability of Board members to grow in the knowledge of the Mission is a significant factor for being successful as Board members. The Board has a crucial leadership role in integrating the Mission, Vision, Calls, Goals and Values of the Xaverian charism into the mission, policies, activities and management of a Xaverian Brothers Sponsored School.
GROUP Understanding Faith and Ministry Catholic Identityand Catholic Education INDIVIDUAL ONGOING BOARD Your School culture FORMATION Educational Goals Board Roles and Responsibilities FORMATION FORMATION
Questions for Reflection/Discussion What kind of questions do you ask your potential Board Members? How can you be assured that they have an initial understanding of their role in mission-focused governance? What particular elements have been the focus of your Board Formation efforts in the past few years? Why? What elements have not been included? Why? Do you have an operating model, formational or thematic, of Board Formation for your school? What are the specific goals of your program? How would a model supplement and inform your Board decision-making processes? You decide that it might be good to have a Board discussion of Pope Francis' new encyclical on the environment. How would you go about facilitating this discussion?
Challenges to Formation Diversity Time Symbol, Ritual and Prayer Sustainability with Board turnover Assessment
The Catholic School To commit oneself to working in accordance with the aims of a Catholic school is to make a great act of faith. Only one who has this conviction and accepts Christ s message, who has a love for and understands today s young people, and who appreciates what people s real problems and difficulties are, will be held to contribute with courage and even audacity to the progress of building up a Catholic school.
