COUPLES FOR CHRIST CHAPTER HEAD’S MANUAL Contents I. THE CHAPTER 1. Definition 2. Purpose 3. Composition 4. Qual Qualiifica ficati tion on II. THE CHAPTER HEAD 1. Role 2. Duti Duties es and and Res Respo pons nsib ibil ilit itie iess 3. Qualifications 4. Gifts 5. Training 6. Con Concur curren rent role roless 7. Mem Members bershi hip p in CFC CFC Coun Counci cill III.
THE CHAPTER DIRECTOR 1. Role 2. Duti Duties es and Resp Respon onsi sibi bili liti ties es
IV. CHAPTER ACTIVITIES 1. Chri Christ stia ian n Life Life Progr Program am 2. Mont Monthl hly y Pray Prayer Mee Meeti ting ng 3. Form Format atio ion n Pro Progr gram am 4. Traini Training ng of househ household old heads heads 5. Others V.
SERVICE MEETINGS 1. Purpose 2. Frequency
VI.
REGROUPING 1. Definition 2. Purpose 3. Timing 4. Princ Princip iple less of Regr Regrou oupi ping ng 5. Pari Parish sh group roupss
VII. RELATIONSHIP WITH THE REST OF CFC VIII.“ASSOCIATED CHAPTER” 1. Definition 2. Qual Qualiifica ficati tion onss 3. CFC CFC Res Resou ourc rcee Cen Cente ter r
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COUPLES FOR CHRIST CHAPTER HEAD’S MANUAL 1. Definition A chapter is a grouping of various units which are geographically proximate to one another. It is headed by a Chapter Head with Unit Heads working under Him. A chapter is established for various reasons: a.) When an existing chapter has gotten to big and needs to be split up, for better care and supervision.
b.) When a parish unit has grown and has developed the resources needed to become a chapter. c.) When new units (especially parish units) are set up and cannot be accommodated into existing chapters due to size limitations or other considerations. The decision on establishment of new chapters is made by the CFC Council, upon recommendation of CFC Director. 2. Purpose A chapter aims to achieve the following : a.) Effective governance. A chapter is an administrative district if CFC. This division of CFC into smaller units allows the CFC Council, through the Chapter Head, to better exercise its government functions. b.) Better pastoral care. The Chapter Head directly oversees the work of Unit Heads, enabling them to better care for their unit members. Unit Heads have ready access to men who are extensions of the CFC Council. c.) Identification and development of leaders. The Chapter Head looks to increasing and strengthening pastoral resources within the chapter and also to providing such for new chapters to be established. d.) Overseeing the development of existing parish units within its jurisdiction. 3. Composition The ideal size for a chapter is about 150 couples. However, the actual size of a chapter could range from less than 100 couples to more. In fact, an established chapter would normally add new members within the year, such that its membership would not be fixed but increasing.
4. Qualification Certain resources should be existent within a chapter. A chapter should be existent within a chapter. A chapter should be able to: a.) Field enough leaders who can give teachings (such as in a CLP and MER) and conduct training sessions. It should provide the majority of the speakers in a CLP. b.) Conduct it’s own prayer meeting. c.) Tap members for music and service ministries. II. THE CHAPTER HEAD 1. Role The role of the Chapter Head is to be the overall pastor and governor of the chapter. To better situate his role in the overall authority structure of CFC, we refer once again to the family that is CFC. The familial role of the various heads are as follows: Position
Role
Household Head Unit Head Chapter Head
Big brother Father Patriarch
While it is the Unit Head who is the main pastor of the unit members, the Chapter Heads acts as overall pastor. While the Unit Head is the one directly concerned wit and involved in the lives of his unit members, the Chapter Head provides overall guidance and care. As “patriarch”, the Chapter Head: o o o o
Has more wisdom Has greater authority Has regular direct access to the CFC Council Is not involved in the day-to-day actual running of the units.
2. Qualification The qualifications for a Chapter Head are as follows: a.) He must have been a Unit Head, with all the necessary qualifications as such, and he must have done well as a Unit Head.
b.) He must have a high degree of appreciation for the vision and mission of CFC. c.) He must have well-established spirituality. - good prayer life
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regular reading and study of the Bible (must have read the whole New Testament at least once) regular reading of spiritual books (must have read most of the book in our 3-year Reading Guide)
d.) His family life must be in good order and he can act as model for being a husband and father. e.) He must be fully committed to CFC and must assign a high priority to his life and work in CFC. f.) He must be zealous for God, His work and the couples placed in his care. g.) He must be gifted for service and leadership. - has exhibited outstanding leadership over people. - Has the heart of a servant. - Has administrative skills h.) He must be regularly supporting CFC with hid finances, preferably with tithe. i.) He must not be addicted to any vice.
3. Gifts The gift level of a Chapter Head is as follows: a.) He must be able to work under the direction of the CFC Council, Chapter Director or Executive Director, and to govern as directed and delegated to do. b.) He can call forth respect from others. People tend to follow him easily. His men tend to trust him and open their lives to him. c.) He can get men and women to serve faithfully and loyally under him, directly or through the service heads he designates.
d.) He can get people to live the covenant of the CFC. e.) He can get men to grow in commitment to CFC and to one another. He can foster brotherhood and sisterhood. f.) He has the pastoral wisdom and prudence to help people through many common problems, as well as major decisions and problems. g.) He can help others recognize, accept and deal with weakness effectively. h.) Above all, he can lead people to the Lord, call forth zeal, and help them grow and serve as followers of Christ.
4. Training The training and exposure of a potential Chapter Head, aside from what he would receive as household head and Unit Head, would include the following : a.) b.) c.) d.)
Being a team leader for CLP Being a team leader for an MER Giving talks (as many of the CLP/CO?MER talks as possible) Leading a prayer meeting
5. Duties and Responsibilities The Chapter Head is responsible for: a.) Seeing to it that all members are properly integrated in the households in particular and in CFC in general, and receiving proper care. b.) The proper discharge of the duties and responsibilities of unit and household heads. c.) The identification and development of couples who could be a part of the resource pool of leaders and servants. d.) The proper and effective implementation of all directives, memoranda, guidelines, etc. from the CFC Council of Directors. e.) Reporting to the Chapter Director as needed or required.
More specifically, the Chapter Head: a.) Govern the chapter. - Over see the work of unit heads. - Exercises overall pastoral care of members. - Enforces discipline and good order. - In coordination with the Chapter Director, undertakes the regrouping of members, as well as transfers, leaves of absence, suspensions and expulsions. - Appoints and supervises the Chapter servant and secretary. b.) Handles the development of leaders and other resource persons within the chapter. - plans and carries out training exposure for such persons. - Takes occasional inventory of pastoral resources. c.) Takes charge of new CLPs, recollections, MER’s and follow-up formation programs (unless done together with other chapters). -
decides schedules
-
appoints speakers and teams
d.) Takes responsibility for the monthly prayer meeting -
arrange for a priest if there is a mass appoints a service team collects titles leads the prayer meeting or appoints a senior Unit Head to lead it checks the attendance and follows up (through the different heads) on those who were absent.
6. Areas of special concern The Chapter Head should take particular attention and care for the following areas: a.) Raising up another Chapter Head b.) Meeting the evangelization targets set by the CFC Council. c.) Raising up and training new speakers for our programs. d.) Chapter members taking responsibility for the financial needs of CFC, especially growing in the area of tithing. e.) Pastoral oversight of members loans with CFC. f.) Purging our membership of uncommitted members. g.) Updating of the Chapter membership list regularly and submission of same to the CFC office. h.) Management of our outreaches, apostolates and ministries (e.g., outreach to the poor; marriage preparation program; JOD; etc.)
6. Concurrent roles A Chapter Head may concurrently be a Unit Head and a Household Head. The different possible role combinations are as follows: a.) A Chapter Head only. b.) A Chapter Head and also a Unit Head. (i.e., also heads a unit within his chapter, but does not handle a weekly group or household). c.) A Chapter Head, a Unit Head and also a Household Head (i.e., heads a unit as well as handles a cell group of couples). d.)A Chapter Head and Household Head (i.e., handles a cell group of couples but does not head a unit.) The decision on what role (s) to undertake depends on the Chapter Head’s personal circumstances. Some determinants in making the decision are as follows: a.) Tine availability of the Chapter Head.
b.) Other service commitments of the Chapter Head. c.) Availability of Units Heads in the chapter. o
If there are not enough, the Chapter Head may be forced to act as Unit Head as well.
d.) The Chapter Head’s personal growth as a pastor and governor. o
o
One of the best ways for a couple–leader to grow in the Christian life is to handle other couples on a regular, ongoing basis (thus the household) Likewise, a Unit Head is more directly in touch with the life and needs of couples, thus the built-in growth opportunities for a Unit Head.
The ideal situation is one where the Chapter Head is also a Unit Head and a Household Head. The decision is based on a consensus among the Chapter Head himself, his own head or pastoral leader, and the Chapter Director (or CFC Director) III. THE CHAPTER DIRECTOR
1.
Role
A Chapter Director is assigned to oversee the life and mission of a number of chapters in CFC. The Chapter Director exercises direct authority over the Chapter Heads and is not just a consultant. However, running the Chapter is the Chapter Head’s job, which the Chapter Director does not assume but rather supports. 2.
Duties and Responsibilities The Chapter Director should:
But is not expected to:
a.) Oversee the life of the chapter
* Take over administration and management of Chapter.
b.) Monitor performance of Chapter Head and give input/direction as needed.
* Make the chapter’s plan Of activities for the year.
c.) Review chapter plans as submitted by CH. Give input, direction as necessary. d.) Be available to the CH for consultation re
CFC and chapter life.
e.) Visit the chapter or the units when necessary to obtain first hand information and inputs.
*Do visitation on a Regular basis
f.) Be available for referral of and action on more difficult pastoral cases.
*handle most or even Many of the pastoral cases in the chapter.
g.) Be available for occasional teachings for the
* handle the teaching load of the chapter.
h.)Approve all new CLP’s and entry into new Parishes.
* plan and work out The details of new CLP’s and new parishes.
i.)Check the inventory of pastoral resources And monitor leadership development And quality.
* take on the responsibility of pinPointing and developing Leaders.
j.)Confirm the appointment of New leaders k.)Approve and implement major Regroupings.
*plan and work out The details of regroupings.
The Chapter Director is under the CFC Director, acting as his extension/deputy. Director still maintains overall responsibility over the Chapters.
The CFC
IV. CHAPTER ACTIVITIES
A chapter is in effect a “mini-CFC”, i.e., it has all the or most of the elements and resources with which to carry on the work and mission of CFC. Aside from the regular weekly household meetings, the chapter would have the following activities: 1.
EVANGELIZATION
Every CFC member is to be an evangelist. We want to encourage our members to do person-to-person, day-to-day evangelism. Our goal should be for each couples to bring at least one other couple a year to CFC. The entry point into CFC is the Christian Life Program (CLP). The chapter, either by itself or in coordination with other chapter should plan out and mount CLP’s during the year as follows: a.) An annual CLP for existing parish units which are part of the Chapter.
b.) CLP’s in new parishes which are within the territorial jurisdiction of the chapter. These should be planned and carried out in coordination with the Chapter director. c.)Others as many be deemed necessary or desirable. The chapter should try at least double its membership within the year. 2.
Monthly Prayer Meeting
Monthly (perhaps every First Friday of the month), CFC members come together for a Eucharistic celebration (for Catholic members) and a prayer meeting (for all). Except for those times when there is a joint meeting of the larger CFC, each chapter should arrange for and carry out its own meeting. Some guidelines for the Mass are as follows: a.) Celebrants should preferably be the priests of parishes where we have a CFC unit, on rotation. b.) Collections during the Mass are for the benefit of CFC. A stipend is given to the celebrant. Some guidelines for the prayer meeting area s follows: a.) The Chapter Head leads. Sometimes he may designate one of the Unit Heads to lead, for the purpose of training. b.) The prayer meeting would normally be for a period of 1 ½ to 2 hours, with the following ingredients: - worship - sharing and/or teaching at eh Chapter Head’s option) - intercession - announcements c.) Attendance is always taken. Attendance sheets should be submitted to the CFC office within the following week. d.)There should be a tithe table where tithes may be accepted and a provisional receipt given. Such contributions should be turned in to the CFC office within the following week. 3.
Formation Program
The CFC Formation Program for all members may be either independently by the chapter or in coordination with other chapters. The formal CFC Formation Program consists of the following : a.) b.) c.) d.)
Covenant Orientation Financial Stewardship Marriage Enrichment Retreat Spiritual Gifts
e.) Evangelization Training In addition, the Chapter Head should strongly encourage his chapter members to: a.) Subscribe to “The word Among us” b.) Subscribe to “New Covenant” magazine c.) Read all the books in our 3 year Spiritual Reading Guide.
4.
Training
This training is done independently by each chapter, following the prescribed two-year training program for all CFC household heads. a.) Every new household head and his wife must be given training before they actually take on a household. b.) The Chapter Head can opt to schedule the two-year program differently. example, he may prefer a monthly teaching.
For
c.) As much as possible, the Chapter Head should give teaching and also take this opportunity to be in direct touch with the household heads in his chapter. d.) The different chapters can conduct joint training sessions whenever feasible and desirable. 5.
Others
The Chapter Head should plan for any other activities that would help form and develop chapter members and chapter life. Some such activities are: a.) Joint Lord’s Day Celebration o o o
Intra-household Intra-unit Whole chapter
b.) Special teaching nights c.) Sports or social activities d.)
Young Adults and Children’s Formation Programs
V. SERVICE MEETINGS
The Chapter Head meets regularly with the Unit Heads under him. 1. Purpose
The meeting is a service meeting and is undertaken for the purpose of: a.) Providing pastoral guidance and direction for the Unit Head’s in their service.
b.) “Feeling the pulse” of CFC and its members, thereby enabling the CFC Council to be more responsive to goings-on and needs of the body. c.) Training the Unit Heads in anticipation of greater tasks ahead. 2. Frequency
A monthly meeting is recommended. It may be held in either of two ways. a.) One-to-one, i.e., only between the Chapter Head and one Unit Head; or b.) As a group, i.e., the Chapter Head together with all the Unit Heads of the chapter. This latter form is preferable. The actual frequency depends on the Chapter Head’s perception and assessment of how the chapter is doing. VI.
REGROUPING 1. Definition
Regrouping is the movement of members from one household to another. 2. Purpose
Regrouping is a pastoral tool to be made use by the CF leadership in order to: a.) Build unity and brotherhood/sisterhood. o
o
As our members are brought into new households and thus meet other brother and sisters, the network of interpersonal and fraternal relationships within CFC is expanded, thus building unity and community. Household do not degenerate into “islands” providing support and strength to its members but having no meaningful identification or interaction with the rest of CFC.
b.) Streamline the membership geographically o
o
o
o
As membership increases, members will be more and more grouped proximate to one another. “Make-do” group assignments made during the year can be corrected. Natural “clustering” is to be promoted. Parish units will eventually be composed only of parishioners.
c.) Raise up new pastoral resources. o
o
Potential leader couples can be grouped under a strong household head and pit on a “fast track” of spiritual development. Members with a common service (e.g., music ministry) may be placed together in one household.
d.) Position CFC for further growth o
3.
Establish new or reorganized units/chapters as made necessary by the increasing membership.
Timing
a.) In principle, new members will not be subject to regrouping until after one year from the time they joined CFC (after the CLP) b.) However, there are exceptions, such as: o
o
o
o
o
A couple transfers residence A household is depleted by dropouts, such that the remaining small number o f couples are better integrated with other households. Personal request of a member-couple, the reasons for which have been evaluated and found meritorious. A parish unit reorganizes, resulting in the ability to take in a parishioner-couple that currently is in a household outside of the parish unit. Others
The principle to follow in handling exemptions to the one-year tenure is : will a movement or transfer now be beneficial to the couple concerned? c.) The regrouping may be general or limited. o
o
General regrouping involves the wholesale movement of couples, among households are as well as among units/chapters. This would be undertaken at strategic times, e.g. at the end of CLPs or at the start of the year. Limited regrouping would involve a smaller number of couples, and would be undertaken as needed, such as in the case of minor transfers or reassignments.
4.
Principles of Regrouping
The decision to regroup is made by the Chapter Head or the Chapter Director I coordination with and with the approval of the other. The Chapter Head implements decisions made. Such regrouping should take into consideration the following: a.) Tenure A member-couple would normally stay wit their CLP groupmates for one year, and o only thereafter be grouped more properly. b.) Two tracks only Older members (from one year and older) can be freely mixed together. o o
Thus there are at any time only 2 tracks, i.e., new members and an yone else.
c.) Existence of a parish unit. o
o
Members whoa re parishioners of a parish where there is a CFC unit would normally be integrated into such parish unit. Conversely, non-parishioners who are part of a parish unit due to having taken a parish-based CLP would eventually be taken out of the parish unit and integrated elsewhere.
d.) Geography “Cluster” as much as possible. o e.) Various personal characteristics o
o
o
5.
Age: The difference between the oldest abs youngest member of the household should normally not be more than 10 years. Socio-economic situation: Avoid extremes, e.g., very rich with the very poor, highly educated with low education level, top executives with clerks. Spiritual maturity
Parish Groups
Because one of our objectives in CFC is to help build unity and community in the territorial area that is the parish, there will be only one CF group per parish, irregardless of size.
Thus our presence in a parish could start out as one unit or even just one or more households, and grow to a number of units, a chapter, a number of chapter. In the latter case, the chapters in one parish would be integrated and unified in some way.
VII. DEVELOPMENT OF NEW CHAPTER HEADS
Because of our work of mass evangelism, we expect CFC to grow at a rapid pace. A s membership grows, we need to create new chapters. To be able to do so, we need new Chapter Heads. 1. Training
A major task of a Chapter Head is to pinpoint, nurture and raise up another Chapter Head from among his Unit Heads. In order to do so, the Chapter Head should look to the following: a.) That the potential Chapter Head is being formed and is growing in the different areas mentioned under “qualifications” in #2 of Section II. b.) That he assigned different talks in the CLP, Co and MER, with the objective of giving as many of these talks as possible. c.) That he take the following courses; Gospel sharing; Joy of Discovery. 2. Fast Track
The Chapter Head should also plan ahead and look at potential Chapter Heads even from among new members. It is possible to raise up a new Chapter Head within 3 years of his joining CFC. For certain anointed men, it could even be less time than that. Following is our suggested fast track for raising up new Chapter HEeads: Year 1, Month
1 4 7 8 10 12
Join CLP Finish CLP and join CFC Covenant Orientation (CO) Financial Stewardship Marriage Enrichment Retreat (MER) Evangelism Training
Year 2, Month
1 4 7 10
Be a CLP discussion group leader Be a Household Head Spiritual Gifts Be a CLP speakers *
Year 3, Month
1 4 7 9 10
Be a CLP Team Leader Be a Unit Head Be a CO Team Leader Lead a Chapter prayer meeting Be the MER Team Leader
Year 4, Month
1
Be a Chapter Head
* Hence CLP talks to be assigned henceforth
3. Appointment
New Chapter Heads are appointed by the CF Council. II. RELATIONSHIP WITH THE REST OF CFC
As has been said, a chapter is a “mini-CFC”, with its own resources. Life and activities. However, a chapter is still very much a part of the one CFC. Thus, on the one hand is autonomy, on the other is unity and interdependence. 1. Some working principles
a.) The Chapter’s life and activities are always to be in accordance with the CF vision, mission and culture. b.) It is the CFC Council that determines the thrust and direction for every year, and the chapters conform to such. The chapters are under the direct authority of the CFC Council. c.) While a chapter would basically look to its own resources, both human and material, to carry out its activities, when necessary it may borrow from other chapters. d.) Within the parameters stated above, there is a lot of flexibility and autonomy that can be exercised by the Chapter Head in building up the chapter.
IX. ASSOCIATED CHAPTERS 1. Definition
An associated chapter is one that is not fully integrated into CFC (i.e., CFC based in Manila). It is fully a part of the CFC network but is independent of and autonomous from CFC-Manila. This may happen in the case of groups which: a.) Merely make use of the CFC program but opt to remain independent of CFC. b.) Cannot be effectively pastured by CFC due to distance or some other circumstances. 2. Qualifications
Such groups can carry the CFC name, but would need to meet certain minimum requirements, such as:
a.) Adopting basically the same statements of mission and philosophy. b.) Adopting substantially the same covenant or commitment to CFC. c.) Following our prescribed evangelism, initiation (CLP) and formation program (CO and MER) d.) Formation of households that meet regularly. e.) Selection and Training of leaders in accordance with CFC’s standards. f.) Faithfulness to the CFC covenant. g.) Living out the CFC covenant h.) Openness to and acceptance of occasional pastoral visits and inputs from us. The “associated” chapters are set up only with the authority of the CF Council. 3.
CFC Resource Center
We are also open to being a Resource Center for other groups, wherein we would share teachings and experiences and even provide resource persons for their activities. Such groups would thus be connected with us but would not be considered CFC chapters nor would they carry the CFC name.
