Vow of Poverty in Civil and Canon Law

The vow of poverty has many dimensions: spirituality, simplicity, solidarity, work, sustainability, interdependence. The vow of poverty binds members to one another in a common economic unit. Our actions affect one another, for better or for worse. The vow also has raises legal issues under both Civil and Canon Law. Canon 600 gives a theological [...]

Fall Covenant Project Workshops

This project assists religious institutes facing an uncertain and changing future. In this difficult but grace-filled time, a community can live today's challenges with the same courage, fidelity and creativity that have marked its entire history. We assist communities in developing a timeline, in identifying the covenant(s) and/or partnership(s) that will be helpful along the way and in putting the necessary documents.

• OnGround: St. Louis, MO Sept 21, 2013

• Webcast: Tuesdays in September 2013

For more information see: www.ahereford.org/covenant

Transitioning Sponsorship

A fundamental part of the life and work of religious is carrying on the mission of Jesus in the world of today. Most institutes have a specific mission or a particular way of doing ministry that inspired their founding members, and that continues to animate generation after generation.... Read more...

Covenant Project Update

The Covenant Project assists religious institutes as they take responsibility for their own future in uncertain and changing times. We think of it as estate planning for religious institutes.

estate plan [ih-steyt plan] – arrangements made in anticipation of a changing future. The estate plan attempts to eliminate uncertainties over administration, maximize resources and establish a legacy. Taking responsibility for one's future is an ongoing process that begins when one has a measurable asset base. As life progresses and goals shift, the estate plan moves to be in line with new goals.

1. Full-Day On-Ground Workshops
-- September 22, 2013 - St. Louis, MO
    Register -- Printable Flyer -- More information
2. Online Workshops - Four 90 minute sessions.
-- April 2013 (Tuesdays)
-- September 2013 (Tuesdays)
(Online Sessions are at 2pm Eastern, 11am Pacific.)
--Charism & Completion - Apr 2
--Models of Completion - Apr 9
--Transitioning Sponsorship - Apr 16
--Covenants and Partnerships - Apr 23
--Follow-up conference call with each community
   Register for one of the online series.
Participants will have access to both Live and recorded sessions - in case not all members of your team can be present for the full series.

Search Charities Online: Select Check

Learn how to search for charities and other nonprofits using the IRS online tool called Select Check in this new YouTube video.
Watch this and other videos on the IRS YouTube Channel.

Webcast on New Member Legal Issues

November 20, 2012: New Members Legal Issues - This updated webcast will discuss the various issues in screening and incorporating new members. New members are diverse in age, education, experience, culture and ethnicity. For this reason flexibility practices and policies is necessary. Participants will receive a newly revised Screening Workbook for use with new members; it is available in English and Spanish. For more information & to register...

Online Symposium on Consecrated Life

Fourth Session - October 14, 2012, 2pm ET

Karen Rose, OSB

Charism: Yesterday, Today and Forever

Charism: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Using oral histories of sisters entering a Benedictine monastery in the early 20th century and interview data from women entering in the last 30 years, the paper will compare and contrast the call to religious life in the pre- and post-Vatican II eras. Discussion will focus on the lessons to be learned as we move into the future.

Presenter:
Sr. Karen entered religious life in 2007. A British citizen, she has a BA/MA in philosophy and theology from Oxford University. She holds an MSc in social anthropology, PhD in palliative care and has researched extensively on social aspects of health care. Currently, her research interest is in applying the lens of social science to the study of history.

Responder:
Sr. Juliet Mousseau teaches theology at Aquinas Institute in St. Louis, MO.

For more information or to register go to www.ahereford.org/symposium

Covenant Project Update

Registrations are still open for the Covenant Project Phase One workshops in September.

• September 8, 2012 in St. Louis MO
• September 4, 11, 18, 25 online.

Go to www.ahereford.org/covenant to register for either workshop by August 15.

Webcast: Social Media, Religious Life and the Law

August 21, 2012 - What could these topics possibly have in common? Whether you’re well on your way with social media or just exploring this new frontier, chances are you have questions. This one hour webcast will explore this new meeting place of law, life and culture, raise legal issues and propose policy statements. Read more...

Covenant Project

This newly launched project provides comprehensive service to religious institutes that wish to explore coming to their historical completion. In this difficult but grace-filled time, a community can live today's challenges with the same courage, fidelity and creativity that have marked its entire history. We assist communities in developing a time-line, in identifying the covenant(s) and/or partnership(s) that will be helpful along the way and in putting the necessary documents in place. Click here....

Social Media Resources

For a recent presentation, I prepared a series of links regarding the use of Social Media by Religious and Nonprofit organizations. Click here.... I will also be doing the presentation as a webcast next August. You can find more information or register on my website: Click here....

Webcast on Associates

November 15, 2011: Associates of Religious Institutes This one hour webcast will propose models for understanding the evolving relationship of religious institutes and societies to their associates. It will discuss the civil and canonical issues raised and explore best practices. For more information...

Webcast on Immigration

Webcast on August 16, 2011: Immigration for Religious
This one hour webcast will introduce the law of immigration to those within the institute who are charged with managing religious immigration cases, or need to understand the immigration process so that they can coordinate formation or ministry. See CSJ Ministries Webcast Newsletter or click here to register.

Records: Privacy in and Electronic Age

Monthly Webcast:
November 21, 2006 2:00 pm EDT, 11:00 am PDT

Records Have a Life Cycle - Generally records questions are posed as record retention or record destruction problems. However, it is helpful to view the issues from a broader perspective of the entire life cycle of a record. In this perspective, records are managed from the moment of their creation through their entire useful life to their final destruction.

Record Types - Records come in many types and descriptions, from the most casual doodling to formal documents to highly sensitive documents. Management of records will must take account of document type.

Records in an Age of Privacy - The age of privacy has made its mark on the way records are made and preserved. Concerns about privacy should impact record management, but they should not paralyze the organization.

Records in an Electronic Age - The electronic age has made more records available to more people in more places. Is privacy possible in an electronic age? How do organizations deal with data, metadata, the sheer volume and near indestructibility of records?

Documenting an Incident - In view of the forgoing, practical principles can be developed regarding documenting events. What should be written, how long should it be kept, who should have access to the records and who should be able to add to or remove documents from the record?

Developing a Policy - A well crafted records policy is indispensable in order to help an organization navigate the demands of an increasingly litigious society with its heightened concern for privacy and the increasing availability of electronic storage and retrieval of information.

Register online

November's webcast will review the range of legal issues affecting record retention, consider the entire range of records management concerns and discuss necessary elements of a Records Policy.

Programs will be held every third Tuesday, at 2:00 pm Eastern time, 11:00 am Pacific Time. Future programs will focus on corporate documents, tax issues, board responsibilities. Other planned webcasts include: strategic organizational development and software tools for nonprofits.

Upcoming Seminars on the Web

The Legal Audit - A series of webcasts designed to assist religious orders and other nonprofits review their legal documents and ensure that they are complying with applicable law. Workshops will include:

1. Overview
2. Governance and Corporate Documents
3. Related corporations, foundations and trusts
4. Federal Tax issues
5. Liability, Insurance and Risk Management
6. Record Management
7. Property: Asset Management and Asset Structure
8. Member Legal Audit