Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Encyclopedia
The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) is a canonically approved membership organization which exists as a support system and corporate voice for leaders of institutes, or congregations, of women religious (Roman Catholic sisters) in the United States
.
The conference has more than 1500 members, whose congregations represent over 90 percent of the 59,000 women religious in the United States. Founded in 1956, the conference assists its members to collaboratively carry out their service of leadership to further the mission of the Gospel
.
According to the Study on Recent Vocations, the average median age of women in LCWR institutes is 74. Among those who have entered in the past 15 years, 44 percent are under 30.
(CMSWR). The CMSWR is a parallel organization but does not supplant the LCWR. A number of women's religious congregations choose to be in both conferences.
LCWR serves as a resource to its members and to others seeking information on leadership for religious life and living religious life. The Conference assists its members to: carry out collaborative leadership to accomplish the mission of Christ in today’s world; foster dialogue and collaboration among religious congregations and other groups concerned with the needs of society.
's visit to the United States for the inclusion of women in all ministries of the church, including the ordination of women
.
In January 2009, the Vatican's Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
announced it would conduct an apostolic visitation of U.S. women religious to examine their quality of life, ministries, and vocation efforts, which many saw as indictment against some of the less traditional communities within the LCWR.
In February 2009, the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) announced it would be conducting a doctrinal assessment of the LCWR because of the tenor and doctrinal content of various addresses at the organization’s annual assemblies since 2001. However, the LCWR says that Vatican has not fully disclosed the reasons behind the investigation.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The conference has more than 1500 members, whose congregations represent over 90 percent of the 59,000 women religious in the United States. Founded in 1956, the conference assists its members to collaboratively carry out their service of leadership to further the mission of the Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
.
According to the Study on Recent Vocations, the average median age of women in LCWR institutes is 74. Among those who have entered in the past 15 years, 44 percent are under 30.
History
At the request of the Vatican’s Congregation for Religious, leaders of pontifical orders of women religious in the United States founded the conference in 1956 and named it the Conference of Major Superiors of Women. The name was changed in 1971 to the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. In 1992 the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life established the Council of Major Superiors of Women ReligiousCouncil of Major Superiors of Women Religious
The Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious was formed by the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life in 1992 to promote religious life in the United States...
(CMSWR). The CMSWR is a parallel organization but does not supplant the LCWR. A number of women's religious congregations choose to be in both conferences.
Purpose
The scope of the conference’s concerns is broad and includes: collaborating in Catholic Church and societal efforts that influence systemic change; studying significant trends and issues within the church and society; utilizing their corporate voice in solidarity with people who experience any form of violence or oppression; creating and offering resource materials on religious leadership skills.LCWR serves as a resource to its members and to others seeking information on leadership for religious life and living religious life. The Conference assists its members to: carry out collaborative leadership to accomplish the mission of Christ in today’s world; foster dialogue and collaboration among religious congregations and other groups concerned with the needs of society.
Controversy
Sister Theresa Kane, R.S.M., a past president of the LCWR, gained international attention in 1979 when she issued a plea during Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
's visit to the United States for the inclusion of women in all ministries of the church, including the ordination of women
Ordination of women
Ordination in general religious usage is the process by which a person is consecrated . The ordination of women is a regular practice among some major religious groups, as it was of several religions of antiquity...
.
In January 2009, the Vatican's Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for everything which concerns institutes of consecrated life and Society of Apostolic Life regarding their government, discipline, studies, goods, rights, and...
announced it would conduct an apostolic visitation of U.S. women religious to examine their quality of life, ministries, and vocation efforts, which many saw as indictment against some of the less traditional communities within the LCWR.
In February 2009, the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) announced it would be conducting a doctrinal assessment of the LCWR because of the tenor and doctrinal content of various addresses at the organization’s annual assemblies since 2001. However, the LCWR says that Vatican has not fully disclosed the reasons behind the investigation.