Statement of Policy on “Membership” and Communications

A.  “Membership”

1. Endorsers of Declaration. Any person, organization, corporation, or community may endorse the Declaration and be listed, upon request, on the ACC website as an endorser.  Persons may identify themselves by profession (including but not limited to academic position) without implying that the named institution is itself endorsing.  Organizations, communities and/or corporations may list individuals under an institutional heading.  Endorsers indicate substantial agreement with the principles of the Declaration, but not necessarily the mission or goals of other endorsers.  ACC does not necessarily endorse the mission or goals of endorsers.  An Endorser may request that his, her or its name not be used in publications, including the web site, without providing reasons.
2. Interested Persons. Any person, organization, corporation, or community shall be entitled to receive periodic reports of the activities of the ACC and/or to engage in the posting of comments on the comment section of the website of ACC.  This is the “general email list.”
3. Planning Committee Membership. The ACC planning committee is ad hoc and inclusive, and therefore it is open to membership of individuals, whether or not designated by organizations, with the provision that such individuals are  (1) Endorsers, (2) Catholic, (3) interested in reform of the Catholic Church in accordance with the principles of the Second Vatican Council, and (4) committed to active participation in the work of the committee, including intellectual contributions, financial contributions, and/or willingness to provide time to the work of the Planning Committee.  Existing members of the Planning Committee are actively seeking representatives of various groups in furtherance of the Declaration’s inclusiveness principle.
4. Committee Membership. The principles of paragraph 3 shall also apply to the committees of ACC.  One need not be a member of the Planning Committee to be a sub-committee member.
5. Representative of Local and Regional Meetings. ACC will promote, facilitate and foster local and regional meetings designed to explore the principles of the Declaration among baptized Catholics.  Such meetings shall be requested to designate participants to the national Council.  ACC will establish a process whereby local and regional meetings may designate “representatives” to the national Council.  Individuals who are interested in the work of the ACC will be invited to attend and contribute
6. Council Attendance. All individuals who wish to attend and participate in the national Council will be able to do so.  Procedures will be established whereby such participation may be effective and meaningful to the individuals participating and to the goals of ACC.
   
7. International Liaison. ACC has designated a committee to permit persons outside the US to participate in the work of ACC, to attend regional and local meetings, and to participate in the national Council.
8. Inclusiveness. In all of the above, the operating principle shall be inclusiveness.  The secondary principles shall be (1) opportunity for local and regional groups and individuals to participate through their ideas and visions as reported and heard and (2) the desire that the Council will result in a tangible action plan to effectuate the principles of the Declaration—and to measure the effectiveness of that action plan.

B.  Communications

1. General. Aside from the technical communication vehicles available to us, our communications within the Council are rooted in covenant values that demand civil discourse, openness to the opinions of others without pre-judgment along with a charitable respect for one another.  The tone and tenor of all “conversations”, debates, brainstorming, problem solving and decision making will honor the covenant that we are all gifted (in different ways) and all members of the Body of Christ and therefore, interdependent and equally needed.
2. The Web Site. ACC will maintain a user-friendly, accessible web site.  Inclusions on the website shall be determined by the ACC Planning Committee from time to time and/or by an editorial board established by the Planning Committee.
3. ListServ. All members of the Planning Committee are currently listed on a private listserv for internal communications, which will be amended periodically.
4. Committee ListServs. Private listservs will be established for each committee of the Planning Committee.
5. Email list. A general email list is maintained and periodically updated.  Any interested person may request to be included on this email list.  Any person requesting inclusion on the email list must register and provide minimum contact information (email address, full name (title—optional), mailing address, phone number, and affiliation if any (optional).  Persons will be asked to indicate whether they might like to contribute (time, talent, treasure) to ACC.  No financial commitment shall be necessary for Registration.
6. Open Communications. ACC will maintain an open communications forum in which individuals may post messages.  Inappropriate communications may be deleted at any time.
7. Hot Links. Any organization which indicates an interest in the work of ACC may request a “hot link” to that organization’s website provided such linkage is reciprocal. Hot links do not necessarily imply reciprocal endorsement of goals and/or missions.

Approved by ACC Planning Committee, March 20, 2009