Purpose

Governance of the Missioners is a crucial area in extending and implementing the vision and mission or the organization. All aspects of leadership within Missioners are viewed as positions of stewardship and servanthood.

Decision-making processes are established which promote and utilize collegiality, while at the same time providing a significant degree of autonomy for those discerned for these positions to utilize their gifts, as well as providing a level of efficiency which allows Missioners to respond rapidly to both internal and external needs. Sufficient checks and balances are also established to ensure proper accountability for those who have discerned into decision-making roles.
 

Principles

There are three guiding principles in how Missioners of Christ is governed and how decisions are made

Infusion: First and foremost, the vision and mission of the Missioners must be infused in each member. The purpose for its existence is interwoven with the overall mission of the Catholic Church, namely, the salvation of souls.  

Those exercising decision-making authority for the Missioners of Christ must have a thorough understanding of its core identity and purpose, an inspired knowledge which serves as an internal compass for each and every decision.

Collegiality: All decisions should be made in the spirit of collegiality. Input should be sought from not only others who may have expertise in the specific area being inquired about, but also those who would approach the decision in a more critical manner.

It should be noted that collegiality is not synonymous with democratically. In arriving at any decision, the goal is not to discover what the majority desires (no matter how well intentioned), but what God desires. As Moses learned with the Hebrew’s unanimous vote to worship the golden calf, majority only rules when it is in line with the Will of God.

Gift- Led Autonomy: Positions of authority for making decisions need to be properly discerned from the beginning, matching the gifts of the person with the needs of the position.

To the degree that a person understands the vision and mission of the Missioners, recognizes the parameters of their role and the budgetary constraints, and is able to approach leadership with a humble, serving-oriented disposition, he/she should be given sufficient autonomy by their immediate superior to fulfill their position to the best of their ability, fully utilizing their God-given gifts.

Accountability

Checks and balances are established to ensure that decision-makers who are not functioning in light of the three Principles of Governance and Decision Making might not cause damage or unnecessary strife to the common good of the Missioners.

A Spirit of Charity and Humility

In all aspects of decision making, admonishment, and authority, we must approach each other in a spirit of humility and charity, understanding that we are all striving towards the same goal; the salvation of souls.  Any good work for God is going to come up against our flesh, the world, and the devil. Like gold tested in fire; we become holy through the sometimes-painful admonishment of others. Nowhere do we encounter greater opportunities for ego-crucifixion than in matters of power and authority.