Local Chapters – An Overview

The purpose of local chapters is to provide an opportunity for members in a given city/area to gather in a personal sense of “reunion” as brothers and sisters in faith. Meeting on a set schedule, local chapters provide mutual support among its members while meeting within a defined model and with common themes provided as spiritual and intellectual guidelines. Local chapters are also in a position to help their diocese in providing encouragement and support for vocations and seminarians. CLICK HERE for more information on CALL’s role regarding vocations. Every chapter meeting consists of the following three elements:

•            Spiritual

•            Intellectual

•            Social

Chapter meetings are opportunities for spiritual and intellectual growth as well as social and networking opportunities for its members. They provide a forum for debate and discernment of ideas between Catholics while considering the issues, challenges, and virtues of daily work and family life.

Model for Chapter Structure

Chapters are chartered by the CALL Board of Directors upon a recommendation from the Membership Committee, and there shall be no more than one chapter per city. Any two members in good standing can begin the process of forming a local chapter in accordance with the policy

and procedures to be adopted by the Board. Local chapters are not contemplated to be incorporated entities, but rather a simple gathering of CALL members in a particular community.

While it is often a member of the Board of Directors who begins a local chapter effort, such Board member shall not assume the role of leader of the local chapter. When a local group

requests chapter status, and upon a recommendation to the Board by the Membership Committee, the Episcopal Moderator and chairman shall identify the leader from the chapter group and will formally invite that person to assume the leadership role.

Once a chapter has been formed, the local chapter leader shall inform the local bishop(s), in writing, as to the chapter’s formation and shall provide the bishop(s) with CALL materials developed for that purpose. In the notification letter the leader shall invite the bishop(s) to be a member of CALL and issue a standing invitation to all local meetings. A local chapter should make every effort to have their local bishop address the group at a regularly scheduled meeting at least once a year,

A local chapter may choose to appoint a spiritual director or chaplain for their group.

The role of the chapter leader will be one of convener and facilitator, and each chapter leader will receive personal and administrative support, training, and materials from the central CALL office. As the number of active chapters grows, there should also be a joint training session for chapter leaders, perhaps in conjunction with another CALL event such as annual members meeting or retreat.

It is important that a chapter design each of its meeting components (spiritual, intellectual, and social) within a format that best suits their local needs, circumstances, and customs, but within the broadly defined CALL framework. It is likewise important that all chapters include in their discussions (the intellectual component) a common “curriculum” in terms of the subjects and ideas to be considered. This does not mean that chapter discussions are limited in any way. However, it is important that all chapters across the country include in their meetings a common set of discussion items thereby creating a national sense of focus, and to accomplish a degree of unity of effort and national dialogue. The “curriculum” of common discussion items shall be determined by CALL’s Episcopal Moderator in conjunction with the Chairman and adopted by the Board. Examples would be items such as:

- What does it mean to lead an integrated life of faith and work?

- What is the role of virtue in the workplace?

- What role does ethics and morality play in our work life?

- How can we view work and family as our vocation?

- As the laity, what is our role in supporting priestly vocations?

- How can we support the spiritual formation of our youth?

- Why is access to a good education a matter of social justice for Latinos?

All local chapters shall meet at least once a quarter: January, April, July, and October. The specific point in time, format, and location is to be determined by the local leader. The local leader shall also determine the construct of the spiritual component and whether or not a speaker should be invited to address the group and/or facilitate the discussion item designated for that meeting. The design and nature of the social component is likewise to be determined by the local leadership.

Since all chapters will meet in specified months, and since they will meet on a common theme or subject, a system will be developed to enable every member to benefit from other chapter discussions. Accordingly, the results of each chapter’s meetings will be posted on CALL’s website so that all members can access the thoughts and ideas generated in every chapter meeting in every city and, in so doing, increasing our faith sharing opportunity and dialogue.

Local chapters are also encouraged to develop and hold their own special events. These events could include special liturgies, events involving special speakers, pilgrimages, days of reflection, etc. The central CALL office will assist local chapters in planning such events in any way possible. The cost of special events is to be borne by the individual chapter members.

Conclusion - The Model for Local Chapters

It is important that CALL’s local chapters are created and operate from a common framework. There is no doubt that this structure will prove to be evolutionary over time as we seek to develop the best possible model for our mission, our membership, and our Church.

Accordingly, the Board of Directors shall establish, upon recommendations from the Membership Committee, policies for applying, approving, maintaining, and revoking local chapter status.

The three basic components of a chapter meeting – Spiritual, Intellectual, and Social must be the cornerstone of our chapter efforts. What is more, chapter meetings must not serve as venues for fundraising events. If there are any costs associated with a chapter meeting, each attendee is to bear their own individual expense (such as for meals). Any stipends which may be necessary for guest speakers will be paid by the CALL national office in accordance with guidelines set by the Board of Directors and as funds may be available in the budget for that purpose.

* This text is an excerpt from CALL’s document entitled A Strategic Plan for Our Future –

2009-2011 adopted by the Board of Directors on June 19, 2009.