During the past several years, LCWR has sought to support LCWR members (canonical leaders) by exploring ways for lay executive leaders to network with one another and engage in conversation about the many issues that are affecting all religious institutes. Lay executive leaders serve in unique circumstances. LCWR has spoken with and about lay executive leaders at Discerning the Emerging Future Hubs, LCWR national assemblies, and when the LCWR Collaborative Administrative Initiative (CAI) was created.
In some congregations, lay executive leaders have been serving in key leadership roles for quite some time. Some congregations are newly exploring this option. How are canonical and executive leaders thinking about the future together, building trust, handling conflict, and serving the charism/mission? What are we learning together?
New resources regarding these ongoing conversations will remain accessible here.
LCWR defines executive leaders as those lay leaders serving within a congregation who are accountable directly to the canonical leader and/or the leadership team as a whole while addressing high-level administrative objectives. Some examples of the types of roles found in this group are chief administrative officers, chief operations officers, chief financial officers, directors of human resources, etc. This grouping is not directed toward managers of buildings, leaders in healthcare centers, executive leaders in external ministries, and/or consultants.
