National Council Resources
Elections
The following form is very useful for the session of elections because it allows the person acting as secretary to easily transcribe the nominations and the result of each round of voting. On the last page of the document, the president, secretary, scrutineers and guards (if any) place their signatures witnessing the result of the election. A copy of the document when completed must be sent to the council of the higher level.
Establishment of a Fraternity
This procedure for the canonical establishment of a new fraternity is based on Articles 46 and 47 from the General Constitutions (Rome 1991).
Candidate Interviews
At the end of the period of formation, and concluding a progressive journey towards temporary or permanent profession, the candidate officially asks to be professed. This request will be made at a meeting of the Minister, the Director of Formation, the sponsor and, if possible, the Spiritual Assistant.
Transfer Procedures
If a brother or sister, for any reasonable cause, desires to transfer to another Fraternity, he or she first informs the Council of the Fraternity to which he or she belongs and then makes the request, including the reasons for the transfer, to the Minister of the Fraternity to which he or she wishes to belong. The Council makes its decision after receiving the necessary information in writing from the Fraternity of origin. (General Constitutions, Article 55)
Guidelines for Inactive Fraternities
Living Fraternity
A monthly formation program for Secular Franciscans