Representative Council Orientation

1. Representative Council Orientation

2. Agenda • NCCL History and Mission • NCCL Strategic Directions • NCCL Structure • Representative Council • Committees/Forums/Federations • Individual responsibilities

3. Brief History of NCCL • 1930s – Diocesan Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) directors meet • 1960s – NCDD (National Conference of Diocesan Directors of Religious Education) is part of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee • 1982 – Becomes an independent organization • 1991 – Reorganized as National Conference for Catechetical Leadership (NCCL) • 2000 – Individual PCLs are voting members

4. The Mission of NCCL We, the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership, formed as an organization of Diocesan, Parish, and Academic Catechetical Personnel and striving to enrich and strengthen the ministry of catechesis throughout the Catholic dioceses of the United States, seek to serve the multi-cultural, multiracial Church by …

5. The Mission of NCCL Promoting the Church's Catechetical Ministry in accord with the vision of the Scripture, the wisdom of the Church, the expertise of our members, and the needs of the people we serve in our continually changing world; 1

6. The Mission of NCCL Collaborating with the Bishops of the United States, international, national, regional and local organizations, other leaders who relate to catechetical ministers, and one another in the development of catechetical ministry and religious education;

7. The Mission of NCCL Nurturing the continual spiritual, professional, and personal development of religious educators and catechetical ministers in the Church:

8. The Mission of NCCL Gathering with one another at the national, regional, provincial, and diocesan levels to challenge our vision, foster our unity, strengthen our ministry, grow in faith, deepen our spiritual life, increase our understanding and broaden our perspective for catechetical leadership in the Church.

9. NCCL’s Strategic Directions Goals and Objectives developed by the Board of Directors. Action Items developed by Rep Council.

10. Structure of NCCL • Board of Directors • Executive Director • Rep Council • Forums • Committees • Federations • General Membership

11. Governance Overview Representative Council Membership of NCCL Board of Directors Ex. Dir.

12. Board of Directors: Composition • 4 Officers (elected by voting members) • 5 At-large members (elected by Rep Council) • 3 Ex-officio members • Executive Director of NCCL • Episcopal Advisor to NCCL • USCCB liaison to NCCL

13. Board - Responsibilities • Chief governing body / act as trustees of NCCL • Sets and monitors the mission & strategic direction • Collaborates with the Representative Council in clarifying and focusing the strategic direction and objectives of the Conference • Establishes budget / monitors NCCL’s financial well-being • Makes all official public position statements • Develops, approves and applies the vision of NCCL as well as all Conference policies • Hires and evaluates the Executive Director.

14. Executive Director – Lee Nagel • Ex-Officio Member of Board of Directors • Translatespolicy into action within executive limitations policy of board • Serves as chief executive officer of NCCL • Carries out duties assigned by the Board

15. At-Large Board Members • Elected to 3 yr terms by Rep Council • Brian Garcia-Luense (2014, 1 term) • Mike Westenberg (2014, 1+ term) • Pete Ries (2014, 2 term) • José Amaya (2016, 1 term) • Sr. Sally Russell (2016, 1 term)

16. Officers • Elected to 3 yr terms by the Professional, & General members of NCCL (2015) • President – Bill Miller • Vice-president – Mary Jo Waggoner • Secretary – Linda Stryker • Treasurer – Joanie McKeown (VII.7; VII.8)

17. Officers (cont’d) • President • Convenes and presides at all meetings of Board, Executive Committee and Rep Council • Appoints all Committee Chairs • Serves on all committees except LDC • Vice President • Acts on behalf of the President as required

18. Officers (cont’d) • Secretary • Records and makes available minutes • Treasurer • Serves as NCCL’s Chief Financial Officer • Annual financial audit on behalf of the Board • Submits financial report (at least annually) • Chair of the Finance Committee • Oversees Membership issues with the Membership Committee

19. Membership Different membership types have different rights • All members may retain their membership type upon retirement from active ministry • All members may serve on committees if they meet that committee’s eligibility requirement • Only Professional and General members may vote • Only Professional members vote on by-law changes • Only Professional members may serve on Rep Council and the Board

20. Membership of NCCL • Three categories of membership: Professional, General, Associate • Membership category determined by two criteria: • role/responsibility • formation/education

21. Do you have a master level degree in the field? yes Professional member yes no no Have you been appointed to a diocesan/eparchial catechetical position by an appropriate ecclesiastical authority? yes Associate member Professional member no Have you been professionally certified as a PCL by NCCL or another entity granted that right by the USCCB-CCA? Professional member General member yes no Membership Type Do you exercise catechetical leadership at the national, diocesan/eparchial, parish, academic, or publishing level?

22. Representative Council Composed of Professional members only • Diocesan Catechetical Leader (1 from each province) • Parish Catechetical Leader (1 from each province) • 1 Rep from each partner organization • 1 Rep from each Forum and Federation • 2 Reps from Eastern Churches • Board Approved representatives

23. Rep Council Relationships and Responsibilities • Articulates the values that drive the Conference • Represents the membership constituencies • Serves as consultative bodyto and for the Board • Elects at-large membersof the Board • Other responsibilitiesas established in NCCL policy.

24. When you look around the room at Rep Council…. • Who is represented? • Who is not represented? • Why is this a concern?

25. Individual Responsibilities • Attend meetings of the Rep. Council • Represent your constituency • Serve on a Committee • Represent NCCL to catechetical ministers at the local/regional level • Orient new members of NCCL • Keep participation info current

26. NCCL at Work: Committees • Board Committees • Conference Committees • Ad Hoc Committees

27. Board Committees Made up of Board members only • Executive • (Officers and Ex. Director, VIII, XII.1) • Finance (XII.1) • Development Subcommittee • Personnel

28. Conference Committees • Leadership Discernment (XII.1) • Membership (III.2, XII.1) • Adult Faith Formation • Annual Conference Planning • Bylaws • Communications • Development • Evangelization

29. Conference Committees (cont’d) • Practical and Theoretical Foundations for Catechesis in the U.S. • Product Development • Rural Catechesis • Standards and Certification Catechist Formation Sub-Committee • Technology

30. Forums: Role and Responsibility • Constituency-based groups, consultative to the Representative Council • Board Determined: Diocesan Directors, Diocesan Staffs, Parish Catechetical Leaders • Forum Leaders • Belong to Leadership Discernment Committee • Belong to Rep Council

31. Federations: Role and Responsibility • Focus specific groups, open to all NCCL members • May convene at NCCL’s Annual Conference

32. Some Concerns affecting the Health of NCCL • Annual Conference Attendance • Financial Health • Diocesan Bankruptcies / Catechetical Office Closures / Consolidations • Parish and Diocesan Budget Reductions

33. Individual Concern: In what ways will I hold myself accountable to my constituency and to my peers on this council for the responsibility with which I have been entrusted as a member of the Representative Council?

34. Which Committee(s) is right for you? • My service on the ________________ Committee serves the good of NCCL by _____________________ • I can contribute to the ______________ Committee in the following ways: ________________________________