Gender equity in MPJP governance

International Women’s Day 08 March 2022

There is a part of the Catholic Church where women consistently have a place as equals in Church governance.

The annual report on women in Ministerial Public Juridic Persons (PJP) governance has, for the fifth year, shown women are close to equally represented as both as Canonical Stewards (aka Trustees) and as Directors of their Boards.

Eva Skira, Chair of the Council of the Association of Ministerial PJPs said:

 “ASX listed companies have had a target of 30% women on their boards[1] for some time but we have consistently about 50% due in large part to the tradition many of us inherited from women Religious who have always governed their own Religious Institutes.”

In 2022, women make up 55% of the 77 Canonical Stewards across the twelve members of the AMPJP.

There is some difference between MPJPs. At one end we have one MPJP with 86% women and at the other end are two MPJPs where women make up 40% of their Council.

There are 294 people on Boards that are appointed by MPJPs. 54% of these Board Directors are women.

The fact that women have been about half of the membership of MPJPs and their boards each year for five years says that gender equity is a normal feature of MPJP governance.

Gender equity is consistent with the AMPJP document “Governance Principles, Foundations and Applications.” That document calls us to:

• uphold the dignity of all;
• draw on wisdom from all sources in pursuit of continuous improvement; and
• have a preference for team work.

For MPJPs, gender equity is part of a broader commitment to value: diversity, openness, and collaboration in governance. God is active among us bringing women and men together in governance that promotes the Reign of God.

Under canon law, Church property and ministries are usually entrusted to either: a Bishop; the leader of a Religious Institute/Order or to the Canonical Stewards of a Ministerial PJP.

Ministerial PJPs in Australia are relatively new, having emerged over the past three decades to steward the ministries previously in the care of Bishops/Parishes or Religious Institutes.

There are now twelve Ministerial PJPs responsible for education, health, aged care, welfare and other ministries across Australia. They are: Calvary Ministries, Catholic Healthcare, Dominican Education Australia, Edmund Rice Education Australia, Good Samaritan Education, Kildare Ministries, Mary Aikenhead Ministries, Mercy Ministry Companions, Mercy Partners, MercyCare, St John of God Australia; and Sophia Education Ministries.

[1] https://aicd.companydirectors.com.au/media/media-releases/asx-200-hits-30-per-cent-women-on-boards