- The new profile of the General Treasurer in a Religious Institute:

role and responsibilities

Introductory note:

-         The General Treasurer must be chosen in accordance with the provisions of Canon Law and the particular rules of the religious institute.

ROLE

Preliminary note:

-         Should be in accordance with the provisions of Canon Law and the particular legislation of the religious Institute.

Advisor to the General Council and/or to the General Chapter:

-         Gives information concerning the material resources available for the mission of the Institute;

-         Helps make short term and long term financial plans;

-         Brings financial information and economic expertise;

-         Assists in understanding financial reports and budgets;

-         Brings information on ethical investments;

-         Helps understand situation of poverty and best ways to fight poverty

-         Helps the General council distribute available funds to the various missions of the Institute.

Team-player:

-         With the General Council;

-         With the economic committee of the Institute;

-         With counterparts from other Institutes

-         With experts/financial advisors;

-         Ensures continuity by keeping systems and procedure in place.

Facilitator-Fundraiser:

-         Promotes solidarity within and outside the Institute;

-         Co-ordinates the sharing of resources among different entities of the Institute;

-         Collaborates with those responsible for contacting funding agencies and mission partners;

-         Ensures that the Institute is paying just wages and providing other benefits;

-         Makes certain that the Institute has proper insurance to protect its assets;

-         Helps the Institute provide health insurance and pension plans for all its members and employees.

Educator and formator:

-         Promotes transparency and accountability among the members of the Institute;

-         Assists in budgeting and accounting in various missions of the Institute;

-         Assists local bursars at all levels of the Institute Government, taking the context of different cultures into account;

-         Insures that bursars are properly formed at all levels of the Institute,

-         Ensures that basic economic training is included in initial formation

Auditor:

-         Does an internal audit of the financial operations of the Institute;

-         Prepares the accounts for external audit.

QUALITIES:

-         Strong sense of the charism and mission of the Institute;

-         Sense of appropriate discretion;

-         Ability to keep up-to-date with trends in religious life;

-         Ability to make recommendations which are not solely justified by financial reasons;

-         Honesty in reporting finances of the Institute;

-         Competency;

-         Entrepreneurial skills

-         Good relational abilities;

-         Good communicator;

-         Detachment;

-         Able to handle stress;

-         Fit to travel.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

-         Presence of the General Treasurer at meetings of the General Council on a regular basis, especially when items with financial implications are discussed;

-         The USG should look into the idea of an economic committee on a national level (for Italy) to assist General Treasurers both spiritually and economically.

-         To develop a spirituality for Treasurers.