Principles and Practice of Church Governance

The conference, Principles and Practice for Church Governance, is targeted at those in or preparing for Church governance roles and will increase participants’ understanding of good governance principles and the accountabilities of both civil and canon law.

At the 2018 Catholic Social Services conference in Melbourne, Elizabeth Proust AO, Chair of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, spoke about “a tsunami of change” facing those in governance roles of Catholic agencies and other not-for-profit providers. The challenges include service provision regulations, requirements relating to charitable status, organisational size, financial viability and sustainability, changing government funding models, mergers and amalgamations, the competitive fundraising environment, and the increasing professionalisation of boards.

In this climate it is critical that those in or preparing for governance of Catholic entities undertake professional learning in support of their roles. Importantly, besides their corporate accountability, they are accountable for the mission of their Church entity. They need to be qualified to take responsibility for both the civic and canonical aspects of their role.

Further, effective governance in the Catholic sector must to be underpinned by a responsiveness to the “signs of the times” to ensure that Church ministries are developed and adapted to meet the needs of the contemporary Church and society. Those governing the ministries must ensure not only that the facilities for which they have responsibility exemplify contemporary best practice but also that they remain ministries of the Church.

Registration: https://www.trybooking.com/ZRCC

Flyer: Flyer 5.2.2019

Draft program: Draft Governance Conference program – 11.2.2019