About the Roundtable
The Roundtable Association of Diocesan Social Action Directors is the national professional association for those who staff Catholic bishops on matters of justice and peace. Its mission is to provide professional support to members through education, formation, professional relationships, and management development. Associate membership is available to religious order peace and justice directors.
The association is committed to deepening the capacity of social action directors to engage in the social mission of the church. Social action directors founded the Roundtable Association of Social Action Directors in 1985. For its first 25 years, the Roundtable was a program of the National Pastoral Life Center in New York City before transitioning to an independent organization.
Activities of the Roundtable
Social Action Summer Institute (SASI)
This multi-day program offers first-time participants grounding in Catholic social teaching, biblical theology, and the spirituality of social justice. Returning attendees take part in an advanced program focused on particular areas of social action ministry. SASI is planned jointly with partners USCCB-Justice, Peace, and Human Development, Catholic Relief Services, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Catholic Charities USA and JustFaith. Recent topics covered at SASI have included Peacebuilding for the 21st Century, Economic Justice, and Racial Reconciliation, as well as numerous skills-building workshops.
Annual Symposium
Each February, as a joint meeting with the larger Social Ministry Gathering, the Roundtable conducts a Symposium through which its members, with the help of resource persons, share their understanding and approach to social justice issues and diocesan social action ministry. The two-day event (covering a span of 24 hours) also includes the Harry A. Fagan Roundtable Award Banquet, The Servant of Justice Award Luncheon and the Annual Membership Meeting. Topics at recent Symposia have included Right Relationships, Food Justice, and Faithful Citizenship.
Annual Catholic Social Ministry Gathering (CSMG)
In tandem with the annual Symposium, the Roundtable is a major partner in planning the CSMG, a joint project led by USCCB-Justice, Peace, and Human Development and co-sponsored by the Roundtable’s SASI partners and a number of other national organizations and USCCB offices. More information about the gathering is available here.
Virtual Roundtable
The Virtual Roundtable is a discussion group, moderated by the Roundtable’s coordinator, on key issues of interest to members. Recent topics have included responding to economic strains, voter’s guides, partnering with Latino/Hispanic ministries and more.
Roundtable Report: An E-Newsletter
This quarterly newsletter, geared to the needs and interests of diocesan social action offices, keeps members abreast of developments in the field, activities of member offices and resources for social action ministry.
Peer Consultation
Roundtable members and staff serve one another as consultants on issues, strategies, board and commission development and other matters of mission and management. The Coordinator serves as a source of referrals and information for members, linking people with potential allies and pertinent resources.
Conference Call Book Discussions
The Roundtable organizes conference call discussions with the authors of books dealing with social justice issues. Book titles for discussion come from the membership.
Harry A. Fagan Roundtable Award & Servant of Justice Award
Named in honor of the Roundtable’s first secretary, the Harry A. Fagan award is given annually by the Board to a person or persons who have made an outstanding contribution at the national or international level to the Church’s social justice mission. The Servant of Justice award is given to a member or former member of the Roundtable who has made an outstanding contribution to the Church’s social justice mission at the local level. The awards are presented at the Roundtable Symposium.
USCCB Policy Committees
The Chair of the Roundtable serves as the representative of diocesan social action offices on the Domestic Policy Committee and International Policy Committee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Roundtable Publications
When specific needs arise, committees of the Roundtable develop publications geared toward the membership. Some current publications include “Standards and Expectations for Diocesan Social Action Offices” and accompanying “Evaluation Tool,” “Congregation-Based Community Organizing,” and “Choose Life: A Roundtable Strategy Guide on the Death Penalty.” The Roundtable also undertakes a comprehensive study of diocesan social action offices every five years. These studies, dating back to 1985, document trends and developments in the field.
Online Certificate in Social Justice
The University of Dayton’s online Certificate in Social Justice Program was started in partnership with the Roundtable (although it is now independent of the Roundtable). The University of Dayton’s Institute for Pastoral Initiatives offers this program through their Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation. To learn more, click here or contact Jewell Truxal at 800/443-6348.
The Certificate in Social Justice requires a four-month, five hours-weekly internship working on a specific social action project (not direct service). For assistance locating an internship in your area, call the Roundtable at 202/635-2757 x133.
Membership and dues
Membership is currently limited to diocesan social action directors (whose duties may include social and economic justice, respect life and missions, among other duties) and their staffs. Associate memberships are also available to social action directors of religious orders. A sliding scale of annual dues, set by the members, corresponds to the budgets of the offices. The Roundtable is governed by 13-15 members who are elected at an annual membership meeting. Terms are for three years and a member may serve two consecutive terms. The Board elects the Chair, who serves a two-year term and may be elected for a one-year extension.
Click here to download the 2010 Dues letter from the Roundtable Chair.
Click here to download the 2010 Dues form to mail your payment by check.
Our leadership
Staff
Ms. Jennifer Svetlik, Coordinator: coordinator@catholicroundtable.org
Board
Chair: Mr. Scott Cooper (2-12), Diocese of Spokane
Vice Chair: Dr. Robert B. Shelledy (2-12), Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Secretary/Treasurer: Ms. Cori Thibodeau (1-13), Archdiocese of Hartford
Ms. Barbara Budde (2-11), Diocese of Austin
Ms. Adrienne Curry (1-11), Archdiocese of Chicago
Mr. Robert D. Gorman (2-11), Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux
Ms. Tricia Hoyt (2-13), Diocese of Phoenix
Sr. Maureen Joyce RSM (2-11), Diocese of Albany
Ms. Kathy Langer (1-13), Diocese of St. Cloud
Mr. Tom Navin (1-13), Diocese of Little Rock
Mr. Tony Stieritz (2-13), Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Sr. Gail Young (1-11), Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Mr. Andy Zampini (1-13), Diocese of Wilimington
