AMPJP’s Strategic Direction 2020-2023
AMPJP streamlines its strategic direction
The Association of Ministerial Public Juridic Persons (AMPJP) has recently adopted a new strategic direction 2020-2023.
The two principal objectives of the AMPJP’s new strategic direction are:
- Collaboration for excellence in Ministerial PJP governance; and
- Communion with the rest of the Church
Over the past six months, the AMPJP has reflected upon its unique identity and mission in the Church. The Association’s primary focus is on the 11 Ministerial PJPs[1]. It is these Ministerial PJPs [stewarded by some 70 Canonical Stewards] who have responsibility for many of the Church’s education, health, aged care and other ministries.
The features of Ministerial PJPs include:
- being largely autonomous in canon law (similar to Religious Institutes);
- having an exclusive focus on Church ministries (whereas Bishops and Leaders of Religious Institutes have a broader mandate);
- governance by a college of canonical stewards (whereas diocese and parishes are governed by a single person);
- canonical stewards can be, and almost always are, lay people (other PJPs require their canonical stewards be a vowed Religious or an ordained cleric); and
- a clear and set demarcation of roles with the boards they appoint to govern their ministries.
Eva Skira, Chair of the Council of the Association of MPJPs (AMPJP) said:
“While excellence in Ministerial PJP governance has always been one of the Association’s previous strategies, it will now have a sharper focus.”
“We have confidence that our diverse organisations are well-governed. A main element of the priority is to help others to better understand the nature of governance in the context of Ministerial PJPs.”
Since its formation in 2016, the Association has increasingly engaged with the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Catholic Religious Australia and other key Church agencies. The AMPJP sees the COVID-19 crisis and its aftermath as exacerbating a number of challenges that faced Australian society and the Catholic Church.
Eva Skira also said:
“After 4 years, AMPJP members have grown in appreciation of their different approaches and have a positive basis for working together and with others in the Church to bring Christ’s love to our world.”
Click here for a copy of the AMPJP Strategic Direction 2020-2023
[1] “Public Juridic Person” (PJP) is the term used in Canon Law for a corporate entity established within the Catholic Church, e.g. a diocese, parish. Ministerial PJP is the term often used to refer to PJPs that were established for the specific purpose of operating Church ministries (e.g. health, education and social services).
