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  • Jill Pioter

11-23-2022 Questions and Answers
11-23-2022 Questions and Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: Can members use personal funds for payment of neighbor’s utilities if the treasurer is not available to write a check to the utility company?

A: Vincentians should refrain from providing help using their own personal resources, especially since those we serve will view the assistance as being provided by SVdP.  We are not a personal ministry for individuals; we are a group ministry, and members should treat the Conference as such.  In extenuating circumstances, if no one is available from the Conference to issue the check, the member may do so from their funds if they are available.  But the member must be reimbursed by the Conference as soon as possible.  Remember, this is not a personal ministry.  This is the work of the Conference.

Q: Are volunteers who are not Active members considered to be Associate members?  (We think yes, according to most bylaws versions). 

A: That is true to a point.  There are people who help the Society in order to get credit for community service hours, court-ordered hours, etc.  These are strictly volunteers.  Associate Members are those who buy into who we are and what we do without the fulfillment of an obligation.

There are two categories of Members: Active and Associate.  If you look at the Conference Annual Report, under Membership, it asks for the number of “Non-Vincentian Volunteers.”  There is a distinction.  Volunteers are not Members and, therefore, not Vincentians.

Spanish Translation

P: ¿Pueden los miembros usar fondos personales para pagar los servicios públicos de un vecino si el tesorero no está disponible para escribir un cheque a nombre de la compañía de servicios públicos?

R: Los Vicentinos deben abstenerse de brindar ayuda utilizando sus propios recursos personales, especialmente porque aquellos a quienes servimos verán la asistencia como proporcionada por SVdP. No somos un ministerio personal para individuos; somos un ministerio grupal, y los miembros deben tratar a la Conferencia como tal. En circunstancias atenuantes,si no hay nadie disponible de la Conferencia para emitir el cheque, el miembro puede hacerlo de sus fondos si están disponibles. Pero el miembro debe ser reembolsado por la Conferencia lo antes posible. Recuerde, este no es un ministerio personal. Este es el trabajo de la Conferencia.

P: ¿Los voluntarios que no son miembros Activos se consideran miembros Asociados? (Creemos que sí, según la mayoría de las versiones de los estatutos). 

R: Eso es cierto hasta cierto punto. Hay personas que ayudan a la Sociedad para obtener crédito por horas de servicio comunitario, horas ordenadas por la corte, etc. Estos son estrictamente voluntarios. Los Miembros Asociados son aquellos que creen en lo que somos y lo que hacemos sin el cumplimiento de una obligación.

Hay dos categorías de Miembros: Activos y Asociados. Si observa el Informe anual de la Conferencia, en Membresía, solicita el número de “Voluntarios no Vicentinos.” Hay una distinción. Los voluntarios no son miembros y, por tanto, no Vicentinos.

  • Jill Pioter

11-17-2022 Questions and Answers
11-17-2022 Questions and Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: Our Council gets funds donated to us from a couple of grocery chains. The funds are then passed on to the Conferences in the form of gift cards which they either give to people or use to purchase food for their pantry. How would these funds be listed by the Conferences?

A: The financial section of the annual report is for actual money that is deposited in the Conference accounts. Gift cards cannot be deposited and must be included under in-kind.

If the food pantry is designated as an official SVdP Special Work and a Special Works report is submitted to national at the end of the year, then the money donated to the food pantry should be entered on 3A of the Council report. If the food pantry is not an official special work, then the money donated for food should go into Restricted Funds. This does not include gift cards because they are in-kind donations.

Q: I am pretty sure there is a policy, recommendation, or guideline that “home” Councils are supposed to pay costs of participation for their members to national-level meetings, but I can’t put my hands on it. Where is this policy written? 

A: The Rule, Part III, Statute 28 states: Vincentians entrusted to undertake previously and duly authorized offices, missions, or tasks for the Society are entitled to the refund of the expenses incurred. This is more than just an entitlement. Within the Spirit of the Society, all the works of the Society are works of the group and not the individual. If a member does not get reimbursed for expenses, the work becomes an individual effort, and this often causes confusion when members then do what they want rather than what is agreed to by the Conference or Council. This does not directly address National and Regional meetings. That said, on page 136 of the 2002 version of the manual, it states: “In accord with the long-established practice, the individual Councils and Isolated Conferences are expected to assume financial responsibility for their delegates and committee members to attend meetings, as necessary.”

Spanish Translation

P: Nuestro Consejo recibe fondos donados por un par de cadenas de supermercados. Luego, los fondos se transfieren a las Conferencias en forma de tarjetas de regalo que les dan a las personas o las usan para comprar alimentos para su despensa. ¿Cómo se enumerarían estos fondos en las Conferencias?

R: La sección financiera del informe anual es para el dinero real que se deposita en las cuentas de la Conferencia. Las tarjetas de regalo no se pueden depositar y deben incluirse en especie.

Si la despensa de alimentos se designa como Trabajo Especial oficial de SVdP y se presenta un informe de Trabajos Especiales a nivel nacional al final del año, entonces el dinero donado a la despensa de alimentos debe ingresarse en 3A del informe del Consejo. Si la despensa de alimentos no es un trabajo especial oficial, entonces el dinero donado para alimentos debe ir a Fondos Restringidos. Esto no incluye tarjetas de regalo porque son donaciones en especie.

P: Estoy bastante seguro de que existe una política, recomendación o directriz de que los Consejos “de origen” deben pagar los costos de participación de sus miembros en las reuniones a nivel nacional, pero no puedo poner mis manos sobre eso. ¿Dónde está escrita esta política?

R: La Regla, Parte III, Estatuto 28 establece: Vicentinos encargados de llevar a cabo oficinas, misiones, y trabajos debidamente autorizados por la Sociedad tienen derecho a reembolso de los gastos incurridos. Esto es más que un derecho. Dentro del Espíritu de la Sociedad, todas las obras de la Sociedad son obras del grupo y no del individuo. Si a un miembro no se le reembolsan los gastos, el trabajo se convierte en un esfuerzo individual, y esto a menudo causa confusión cuando los miembros hacen lo que quieren en lugar de lo acordado por la Conferencia o el Consejo. Esto no aborda directamente las reuniones nacionales y regionales. Dicho esto, en la página 136 de la versión 2002 del manual, se establece: “De acuerdo con la práctica establecida desde hace mucho tiempo, se espera que los Consejos individuales y las Conferencias aisladas asuman la responsabilidad financiera de que sus delegados y miembros de comités asistan a las reuniones, como necesario.”

  • Jill Pioter

11-10-2022 Questions and Answers
11-10-2022 Questions and Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q:  Should Conferences pay tuition for Catholic school education since elementary and high-school education is free? 

A:  The National Governance Committee has recently reviewed and agreed to the following:

  1. Helping a family make a tuition payment under the right circumstances can be justified.
  2. Making a contribution from Conference funds to the parish or school to support the tuition-assistance program is prohibited by the Rule as a donation to an outside organization. Tuition payments are directed to benefit specific families.
  3. There are a couple of appropriate conditions that the Committee identified: the case of a student needing to be removed from public school as a way to ensure his/her health and safety; and a case in which a student is already attending Catholic school, but the parents are having financial problems and it would be improper to force the child to attend a new school.  These are not the only possible special conditions.
  4. The Committee confirms this is actually a decision to be made by the Conference.
  5. The Committee recommends that a possible alternative is to pay other bills for the family allowing them to pay the tuition.
  6. The Committee also believes that Conferences need to have good advice related to this available to them.

Q: Since we paid rental assistance to some of our neighbors in need, their landlords may have received assistance from the government for the past due rent and therefore were paid twice. Can we get the landlords to refund the money?

A: That would be a requested arrangement made between the Conference and the landlord.  The Conference made the payment in good faith.  If the landlord gives the tenant future credit for the payment, that is all the Conference can ask.

Spanish Translation

P: ¿Deberían las Conferencias pagar la matrícula de la educación en las escuelas católicas ya que la educación primaria y secundaria es gratuita? 

R: El Comité Nacional de Gobernanza ha revisado y acordado recientemente lo siguiente:

  1.       Puede estar justificado ayudar a una familia a hacer el pago de la matrícula en las circunstancias adecuadas.
  2.       La Regla prohíbe hacer una contribución de los fondos de la Conferencia a la parroquia o escuela para apoyar el programa de asistencia para la matrícula como una donación a una organización externa. Los pagos de matrícula están dirigidos a beneficiar a familias específicas.
  3.       Hay un par de condiciones apropiadas que el Comité identificó: el caso de un estudiante que necesita ser retirado de la escuela pública como una forma de garantizar su salud y seguridad; y un caso en el que un estudiante ya asiste a una escuela católica, pero los padres tienen problemas económicos y sería impropio obligar al niño a estar en una nueva escuela. Estas no son las únicas condiciones especiales posibles.
  4.       El Comité confirma que en realidad se trata de una decisión que debe tomar la Conferencia.
  5.       El Comité recomienda que una posible alternativa es pagar otras facturas para la familia que les permitan pagar la matrícula.
  6.       El Comité también cree que las Conferencias deben tener a su disposición buenos consejos relacionados con esto.

P: Dado que pagamos asistencia de alquiler a algunos de nuestros vecinos necesitados, es posible que sus propietarios hayan recibido asistencia del gobierno para pagar el alquiler atrasado y, por lo tanto, se les pagó dos veces. ¿Podemos hacer que los propietarios devuelvan el dinero?

R: Ese sería un arreglo solicitado hecho entre la Conferencia y el propietario. La Conferencia hizo el pago de buena fe. Si el propietario le da al arrendatario crédito futuro para el pago, eso es todo lo que la Conferencia puede pedir.

  • Jill Pioter

11-3-2022 Questions and Answers
11-3-2022 Questions and Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q:  This is not officially in any of the Society’s documents.  When no one comes forward to run for Conference or Council President, should a Council President have the ability to appoint temporarily a Conference President or, in the case of a Diocesan Council, a District President to serve temporarily until an election can take place?

A:  The National Governance Committee decided on the following:

  1. It is the responsibility of SVdP leadership to make every effort to keep Conferences and Councils running.
  2. The President of the next Council (or the National Vice President for the Region in the case of an (Arch)Diocesan Council) has the authority to appoint a temporary President of a Conference or Council until an election can take place.
  3. The temporary period should be four to six months, but flexibility should be a consideration when circumstances warrant.
  4. In the case of a Conference, if no one comes forward after that period, the Conference should be dissolved on the basis that the Conference Members are not accepting their responsibilities as an SVdP Conference.  In the case of a District Council, the Council should be dissolved, and the Conferences should be allocated to another District, or the Conferences may be dissolved on the basis that they are not accepting their responsibilities as SVdP Conferences.  In the case of an (Arch)Diocesan Council, the National Vice President may recommend the dissolution of the Council.  To be clear, voluntary dissolution of a Council or Conference may occur at any time.  Forced dissolution of a Conference or Council must have the approval of the National President.

Spanish Translation

P: Esto no está oficialmente en ninguno de los documentos de la Sociedad. Cuando nadie se presenta para la elección de presidente de la Conferencia o del Consejo, ¿debería un presidente del Consejo tener la capacidad de nombrar temporalmente a un presidente de la Conferencia o, en el caso de un Consejo Diocesano, un presidente de distrito para servir temporalmente hasta que se realice una elección? 

R: El Comité Nacional de Gobernanza decidió lo siguiente:

  1.       Es responsabilidad del liderazgo de SVdP hacer todo lo posible para mantener las Conferencias y los Consejos en funcionamiento.
  2.       El Presidente del próximo Consejo (o el Vicepresidente Nacional para la Región en el caso de un Consejo (Arqui)diocesano) tiene la autoridad para nombrar un Presidente temporal de una Conferencia o Consejo hasta que se lleve a cabo una elección.
  3.       El período temporal debe ser de cuatro a seis meses, pero la flexibilidad debe ser una consideración cuando las circunstancias lo justifiquen.
  4.       En el caso de una Conferencia, si nadie se presenta después de ese período, la Conferencia debe disolverse sobre la base de que los Miembros de la Conferencia no están aceptando sus responsabilidades como Conferencia SVdP. En el caso de un Consejo de Distrito, el Consejo debe disolverse y las Conferencias deben asignarse a otro Distrito, o las Conferencias pueden disolverse sobre la base de que no están aceptando sus responsabilidades como Conferencias SVdP. En el caso de un Consejo (Arqui)diocesano, el Vicepresidente Nacional puede recomendar la disolución del Consejo. Para ser claros, la disolución voluntaria de un Consejo o Conferencia puede ocurrir en cualquier momento. La disolución forzosa de una Conferencia o Consejo debe contar con la aprobación del Presidente Nacional.
  • Jill Pioter

Governance — A Council’s Job One: Serve the Conferences
Governance — A Council’s Job One: Serve the Conferences 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Monitor Special Conditions
The following special conditions should be monitored regularly and addressed as necessary.

1. Conference President’s term of office is limited to two consecutive three year terms. After the two terms, the President must be out of office for at least three years before being elected once again. Technically, as soon as the six years expires, the President is no longer in office and the Conference operates under the leadership of the first Vice President until the election of a new President takes place. In the case of violation of this rule, the Council must ensure that an election is held to replace the outgoing President as soon as possible.

2. Each Conference is to have at least four officers: President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. Each office must be held by a separate person. No one person may hold multiple officer positions. In addition, Statute 12 of Part III of the Rule indicates that a President may not appoint his/her spouse or other closely related individual to an officer position.

3. Service area comes into conflict often within the Society. The District Council should ensure that Conferences provide service only to those people living within the boundaries established for the Conference. These boundaries should be established as a formal agreement between the Conferences in the Council. In some cases, the boundaries will simply be the parish boundaries. In other cases the boundaries may be more extensive, as long as they are agreed upon by the Council. This way, people seeking service cannot simply go from Conference to Conference seeking help. The Conference covering the area where that person or family lives is the one that makes the decision as to help or not help.

Voice / Vote in the Council
Conferences should have a voice in every major decision. No Voice, no Vote, no Vincentian will be at the meeting or activity. It is important that every Conference is represented at the District Council and that the Conference President (or his/her designated representative) is there to speak for them.

Most Council bylaws have a clause that will remove a Conference President from Council membership/voice/vote if the President misses a certain number of meetings. This removal is a tragedy for the Council, the Conference and the people we serve.

Up-to-Date
Conferences should be aware of all conditions and circumstances both local and global that will impact them or the Council. Conferences should be especially aware of any major situation that threatens the well-being of the Council. Therefore, it is an obligation of the Council to keep the Conferences well-informed and in a timely manner.

The Council should strive to develop a fabric of communication. One that goes up and down the normal channels but also goes sideways from Conference to Conference and from Vincentian to Vincentian. A strong fabric of communication will strengthen the Council and avoid the problems of it relying on a few people to make it run. If those few leave the Council for any reason it can take weeks or months to learn all that needs to be known on how the Council operates. A fabric of communications creates an informal communications network that helps keep the members informed.

Help in Council Efforts
Conferences should be involved in a regular and frequent basis in the operation of the Council. This can be accomplished by involving them as Council Members, as volunteers, as committee members, on special projects, on fund raising, in special works, in general membership meetings, and in every other way that may be appropriate.

  • Jill Pioter

10-27-2022 Questions and Answers
10-27-2022 Questions and Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: I have a comment in my notes that all officers of the board [and I assume officers of Councils and Conferences as well] must be Vincentians [I read this to mean Catholic]. I can’t find any reference to this in the Rule or the bylaws. Can you lead me to where this distinction is made?

A: The Rule, Part III, Statute 3: An active (full) member accepts the Rule and Statutes of the Society, belongs to the Catholic Church, and is received as a Vincentian brother or sister into the Society’s Conference or Council with which he or she is affiliated. Normally, membership implies Conference affiliation. Less commonly is membership obtained through direct Council affiliation. Only Active Members hold office in the organization.

Q: Conference names must be religious in name and cannot be St. Vincent de Paul or Frederic Ozanam. (I know I’ve seen this somewhere but cannot find it now.)

 A: It’s related to the application for Aggregation: You must choose the name of a saint (other than Vincent de Paul or Frederic Ozanam); but the Virgin Mary titles, titles of Christ, or holy angels can also be chosen. Typically, the name of the parish where the Conference is located is used. St. Vincent de Paul and Blessed Frederic Ozanam may be used only if that is the name of the parish.

Spanish Translation

P: Tengo un comentario en mis notas de que todos los oficiales de la junta [y asumo que los oficiales de los Consejos y Conferencias también] deben ser vicentinos [leí que esto significa católico]. No puedo encontrar ninguna referencia a esto en la Regla o los estatutos. ¿Me puede decir a dónde se hace esta distinción?

 R: La Regla, Parte III, Estatuto 3: Un miembro activo acepta la Regla y los Estatutos de la Sociedad, pertenece a la Iglesia Católica y es recibido como un hermano o hermana Vicentino(a) en la Conferencia o Consejo de la Sociedad con la que está afiliado. Normalmente, ser miembro implica afiliación con una Conferencia. Menos común es la membresía obtenida por medio de afiliación directa con un Consejo. Solamente los Miembros Activos pueden tener posiciones en la organización.

P: Los nombres de las conferencias deben ser de nombre religioso y no pueden ser St. Vincent de Paul o Frederic Ozanam. (Sé que he visto esto en alguna parte, pero no puedo encontrarlo ahora).

 R: Está relacionado con la solicitud de Agregación: debe elegir el nombre de un santo (que no sea Vicente de Paúl o Federico Ozanam); pero también se pueden elegir los títulos de la Virgen María, títulos de Cristo o santos ángeles. Por lo general, se usa el nombre de la parroquia donde se encuentra la Conferencia. San Vicente de Paúl y el Beato Federico Ozanam pueden usarse solo si ese es el nombre de la parroquia.

  • Jill Pioter

10-20-2022 Questions and Answers
10-20-2022 Questions and Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q:  Does the Society have a policy related to investments that is based on moral objectives?

 A:  On April 23, 2016, the National Council approved Resolution 140 which identifies the criteria/process to be used in accepting donations and developing relationships. This also applies to making investments. This resolution may be found on the national website, click here.

Q: If something is not explicitly stated in the Rule, are we to assume we can use our good judgment to resolve the question?

 A: Part II of The Rule, Article 7.4, states: Any matter that is not specifically governed by any parts of the Rule and Statutes shall be governed by tradition and, in the final instance, by the decision issued by the board of the Council General. We have the “Rule.” We also have the Manual, Bylaws, National Resolutions, and local standards approved by Conferences and Councils, which are binding on decisions if they are relevant. Sometimes following simple logic and common sense does not correspond with Vincentian spirit. If the topic is not covered by the standards shown above, seek advice from Council, regional and national sources.

Spanish Translation

P: ¿La Sociedad tiene una política relacionada con las inversiones que se basa en objetivos morales?

 R:  El 23 de abril de 2016, el Consejo Nacional aprobó la Resolución 140 que identifica los criterios/procesos que se utilizarán para aceptar donaciones y desarrollar relaciones. Esto también se aplica a la realización de inversiones. Esta resolución se puede encontrar en el sitio web nacional, haga clic aquí: https://members.ssvpusa.org/governance/resolutions/

P: Si algo no se establece explícitamente en la Regla, ¿debemos suponer que podemos usar nuestro buen juicio para resolver la pregunta?

 R: La Parte II de la Regla, Artículo 7.4, establece: Cualquier asunto que no está específicamente gobernado por cualquier Parte de La Regla o Estatutos debe ser gobernada por Tradición y, en último caso, por la decisión llegada por la Junta del Consejo General. Tenemos la “Regla.” También contamos con el Manual, Reglamentos, Resoluciones Nacionales y normas locales aprobadas por Conferencias y Consejos, que son vinculantes para las decisiones si son pertinentes. A veces seguir la lógica sencilla y el sentido común no se corresponde con el espíritu vicentino. Si el tema no está cubierto por los estándares que se muestran arriba, busque el asesoramiento del Consejo, fuentes regionales y nacionales.

  • Jill Pioter

Resolve to Focus on Good Governance
Resolve to Focus on Good Governance 1200 628 Jill Pioter

A new fiscal year for our Society will start soon and this is a good time to remind ourselves that loving and supporting one another while serving the poor is an integral part of our Vincentian mission.

Our Conference meetings are where we help each other fulfill that mission of growing spiritually, developing friendships and having face-to-face encounters with those in need.  Meeting at least twice monthly as we should provides the opportunity to continually strengthen those supportive relationships.

Our Councils have a Board of Directors to guide our efforts and oversee our performance.  We challenge you to realize that even the best Councils and Conferences can be better and more effective. Our Council Boards and our Conferences should always seek to foster and facilitate improvement.  Given the importance of good governance, perhaps this should be your primary resolution for this new year.

Why not start using your Council Board as a support group to review and update your policies and procedures and clean up your record-keeping?  Encourage your Conferences to do likewise.

Review your Bylaws. This is a document that spells out your mission, how you operate procedurally and the need for compliance with IRS requirements for nonprofit organizations. They are not meant to be inflexible when circumstances signal a need for revision.  Assess your programs to see if they remain relevant and are operating efficiently with the right priority. Take a good look at how your Special Works impact all Vincentians in all of your Conferences. Look at your succession planning.  It is of vital significance at all levels of our Society.  If your operating procedures, which are a key part of good governance, need changing, take advantage of the Governance Training materials provided for you by our National Council.

Throughout the year the National Governance Committee will address some of these important matters further in Frederic’s e-Gazette.  We urge you to read that information and resolve to enhance your effectiveness.  In so doing you will be heeding the exhortation of Blessed Frederic Ozanam to always seek to be better in our service to Christ’s beloved poor.

  • Jill Pioter

10-13-2022 Questions and Answers
10-13-2022 Questions and Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: How are international disaster declarations handled and who issues them?

A: The Commission for International Aid and Development (CIAD) examines funding requests regarding projects undertaken worldwide by the Society, focusing on emergency relief in response to humanitarian crisis, disaster recovery, development programs, and projects aimed at expanding and strengthening the Society internationally. It is also responsible for monitoring the allocation of project-related funds around the world.

Q: At our National Council there are 128 votes that could be cast. Do you know approximately how many votes can be cast at our Council General International in Paris? 

A: According to The Rule, Part II, the presidents of all instituted Superior (National) Councils or Assimilated Councils are voting members of the international Confederation. Assimilated Councils are lower-level Councils or Conferences that have been officially designated as representing the country in which they are located. We operate in 155 countries and potentially have 155 voting members. As is the case in the United States with our National Council members, even though 128 are eligible to vote, they don’t always attend the meetings because of various reasons.

Spanish Translation

P: ¿Cómo se manejan las declaraciones internacionales de desastre y quién las emite?

R: La Comisión para la Ayuda Internacional y el Desarrollo (CIAD) examina las solicitudes de financiamiento relacionadas con proyectos realizados por la Sociedad en todo el mundo, centrándose en la ayuda de emergencia en respuesta a crisis humanitarias, recuperación de desastres, programas y proyectos de desarrollo destinados a expandir y fortalecer la Sociedad a nivel internacional. También es responsable de monitorear la asignación de fondos relacionados con proyectos en todo el mundo.

P: En nuestro Consejo Nacional hay 128 votos que se pueden emitir. ¿Sabe aproximadamente cuántos votos se pueden emitir en nuestro Consejo General Internacional en París? 

 R: Según la Regla, Parte II, los presidentes de todos los Consejos Superiores (Nacionales) o Consejos Asimilados instituidos son miembros votantes de la Confederación internacional. Los Consejos asimilados son Consejos o Conferencias de nivel inferior que han sido designados oficialmente como representantes del país en el que están ubicados. Operamos en 155 países y potencialmente tenemos 155 miembros con derecho a voto. Como es el caso en los Estados Unidos con nuestros miembros del Consejo Nacional, aunque 128 son elegibles para votar, no siempre asisten a las reuniones por varias razones.

 

 

  • Jill Pioter

Governance — Good Stewardship
Governance — Good Stewardship 1200 628 Jill Pioter

*Information provided by the National Governance Committee

What does stewardship look like in your life? Then think of this through the prism of a Vincentian lens which should have a spiritual and biblical foundation.

Then ask yourself what stewardship means to you, to members of the Society, and to your respective Councils and Conferences.

Certainly, as good stewards we need to give thanks for all the gifts we’ve received. This means thanks to God, thanks to our bishops and pastors for allowing us to serve within their dioceses and parishes, thanks to our volunteers and employees, and thanks to every person who has helped us by donating goods and money.

Good stewardship involves, among other things, accepting and acting on the following principles:

  1. The principle that everything we have is a gift from God who has given us the ability to serve others
  2. The principle of responsibility
  3. The principle of accountability.

Let’s examine these further:

First, stewardship includes recognition that it is God who created everything and through whose grace and blessing we have been given the ability to serve others and to receive the funds needed to do so effectively. It is God who has given us the graces we need to discern how best to help people.

With this comes the principle of responsibility to use the gifts bestowed on us wisely. This may mean helping other Conferences and upper Councils as well as those who come directly to us. We help those who come to us or who we have sought out and found because they are God’s children. We help other Conferences because we know the people coming to them also need help. We help upper Councils mainly, but not exclusively, through solidarity dues so they can animate and promote our Essential Elements of Spirituality, Friendship, and Service. Responsibility also means not hoarding funds but rather honoring donor intent that those in need be helped in whatever way is prudent and will alleviate material, spiritual and emotional need and anxiety, and that the help be delivered by men and women who are well formed in what it means to be a Vincentian.

The principle of accountability also needs to be considered when discussing stewardship. When we as Vincentians become stewards of resources and money given to us, we have an absolute responsibility to give an accounting to all of our stakeholders – they were discussed in recent articles. This includes filing annual reports which have information that is shared with bishops across the country and helps the National Council fulfill its obligation to account to the greater church.

In short, we all have an obligation to be faithful stewards of all God has bestowed upon us and to see that in the end we are serving the common good and furthering God’s Kingdom.

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