Exhibit Hall Open
12:00pm-1:00pm Eastern

Opening and Prayer
1:00pm Eastern

Session 1: Concurrent Sessions
1:15pm - 2:15pm Eastern
 

• Session 1A: Legal and Practical Tips for Religious Institutes in Employment Matters in the Era of COVID-19
  Presented by: Andrew Kopon & Colette Kopon
  This legal update on employment law will discuss the complexities of COVID-19 on the religious institute as an employer, and provide the latest EEOC technical guidance in this area. This workshop will provide advice regarding new developments in light of the pandemic, and the application of these laws to the workplace. It will also discuss a variety of topics relevant to the religious institute, including, Title VII and the application of Title VII’s exemptions and the ever-evolving “ministerial exception.” Lastly, legal and practical tips will be provided to help the religious institute prepare for, and defend against, employment matters before and after they arise.

• Session 1B: Balancing data and dialogue when making decisions about properties and ministries
  Presented by: Bethany Jaeger
  There is no common, accepted standard or benchmark used by individual religious institutes or by national religious organizations to define the point at which a Motherhouse or other major property should be vacated and/or sold.  Similarly, there is no checklist a religious institute can apply to know exactly when it is time to divest of a sponsored ministry. No metric can compassionately consider Sisters’ quality of spiritual or community lives. This virtual workshop will discuss how Leadership Teams and Finance Offices can work together to consider metrics and indicators on one hand, and dialogue and discernment with membership and ministries on the other. Workshop participants will receive handouts that include general frameworks for evaluating property stewardship and for evaluating the sustainability of a religious institute’s relationship with its sponsored ministries to support such dialogue.
   
• Session 1C: Pandemic Online Security Lessons Learned
  Presented by: Tom Drez
  The pandemic forced everyone online very quickly, religious institutes, churches, businesses, employees, and consumers. Some were prepared well to function in an online environment, some were note. This session will highlight aspects of a highfunctioning, secure, online environment and explore some lessons learned including remote working, consumption of online services (e.g. Zoom), and more.

Break and Exhibit Hall Open
2:15pm-3:00pm Eastern

Session 2: Concurrent Sessions
3:00pm-4:00pm Eastern

• Session 2A: Faith Based Investing in a Time of Climate Crisis:  The Promise of Laudato Si
  Presented by: Beth Collins, Lauren Compere, Sr. Carolyn Marshall, HM & Bryan Pini
  In his encyclical, Laudato Si, Pope Francis calls all of us to consider our actions, including our financial decisions, which have an impact on the planet. As Christians, we are united by the concern for our planet, and especially the poorest and most vulnerable.  The panel will explore how we can best align our investable assets in a way that honors the Pope's call.  Expert panelists will discuss how frameworks like the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals provide guidance to investors, how Catholic institutions are integrating concern for the climate in their investment decisions and how we can use our voice as asset owners to improve financial and sustainability performance. 
   
• Session 2B: United States Conferences of Catholic Bishops Group Exemption Overview and Recent Tax Developments
  Presented by: Madeline Obler
  This session will go over the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop's IRS Group Exemption and the Official Catholic Directory, including what it means to be part of the USCCB's group exemption, how to apply for inclusion, and ways to modify current listings. This session will also go over recent tax developments relevant to religious organizations.
   
• 2C: COVID-19 and Aging: A Learning Opportunity to Best Support your Aging Member
  Presented by: Dayna Larson-Hurst
  With the Covid-19 pandemic the way our lives “have always been” is no longer. While this has caused huge challenges it also gives us an opportunity to step back and learn how we might want to live and support our elders a bit differently. Many of you have learned that communication can be challenging and disruption to routines can cause struggles. Experiencing what is it like to live with others day-to-day without the normal outlets of recreation, socializing, and ministry has been a challenge for many communities.  Those with cognitive and physical decline are special concerns.  Noticing the need for increased services, new uses of technology or new ways to make best use of the physical plant has forced us to be creative.  This workshop will raise questions for you to ponder and potential answers that you may want to consider as your community learns new ways of being together as you age.

 

Exhibit Hall Open
4:00pm-5:00pm Eastern