Leadership Conference of Women Religious
A U.S. association of leaders of Catholic women religious congregations, focused on collaborative leadership, religious life, dialogue, and social engagement.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) is a canonically approved association representing leaders of Catholic women religious congregations in the United States. It is one of two national organizations serving superiors of women religious in the country; the other is the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious. LCWR is not a commercial consumer brand but an institutional identity used for leadership formation, collaboration, public advocacy, resource development, and dialogue within the Catholic Church and wider society. The organization originated in 1956 after the Holy See’s Congregation of the Affairs of Religious asked women religious in the United States to establish a national conference. Later that year, general and provincial superiors of pontifical communities met in Chicago and unanimously created the Conference of Major Superiors of Women (CMSW). Its initial purpose was to support the spiritual welfare of women religious, strengthen the effectiveness of their apostolic work, and encourage cooperation among religious communities, Catholic clergy, the hierarchy, and affiliated organizations. The group adopted the name Leadership Conference of Women Religious in 1971. Its statutes received further approval in 1989, and a separate alternative conference, the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, was established in 1992. LCWR describes its mission in terms of helping members carry out leadership collaboratively in service of the Gospel, fostering dialogue among religious congregations and with society, and developing relationships and resources that can address social needs. Its work includes leadership education, formation resources, annual assemblies, publications, research and discussion concerning religious life, and a collective voice on issues involving violence, oppression, justice, human dignity, and institutional change. The organization also provides information for people outside its membership who are seeking to understand religious leadership and contemporary religious life. LCWR’s membership reflects congregations shaped in significant part by the reforms and theological developments associated with the Second Vatican Council. Its membership profile has differed from that of CMSWR, including differences in average age, formation patterns, institutional culture, and approaches to church and social questions. Available demographic material indicates that LCWR-affiliated congregations have represented a large majority of U.S. women religious, although their total numbers have declined over time alongside broader demographic changes affecting Catholic religious institutes. The organization became the subject of sustained Vatican scrutiny over doctrinal, governance, and programmatic questions. A Vatican apostolic visitation of U.S. women religious was announced in 2008, while the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith conducted a doctrinal assessment of LCWR from 2009 to 2012. The assessment criticized aspects of conference addresses, publications, program content, and positions or approaches associated with women’s ordination, sexuality, and contemporary theological language. In 2012, the Vatican required a reform process and placed Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of Seattle in delegated oversight of the organization for a period of up to five years. The mandate included reviewing statutes, programs, publications, speakers, formation resources, liturgical practices, and relationships with affiliated groups. LCWR participated in the process while expressing concern about the way the assessment and mandate had been conducted. The conference revised its statutes, submitted them for approval, and reviewed its programming and publications. In April 2015, the Holy See and LCWR concluded the process. The Vatican’s final communication praised the service of U.S. women religious while also emphasizing the need for sound doctrinal foundations and fidelity to Catholic teaching. The conclusion ended a highly contentious period that had generated substantial public debate among American Catholics about ecclesial authority, women’s religious life, theology, and the appropriate role of a national leadership association. By 2025, LCWR reportedly included nearly 1,270 members representing 288 congregations and approximately 66 percent of the roughly 35,000 women religious in the United States. Its present identity remains centered on collegial leadership among congregational superiors, institutional resources, dialogue, and service to the mission of religious life rather than on commercial products or revenue-generating offerings.
History
The LCWR began in 1956 in response to a request from the Holy See that women religious in the United States create a national conference. In November of that year, general and provincial superiors of pontifical communities gathered in Chicago and voted unanimously to establish the Conference of Major Superiors of Women. The new body sought to promote the spiritual welfare of women religious, improve the effectiveness of their apostolic service, and encourage cooperation among religious communities and Catholic institutions. Its statutes were approved by the Sacred Congregation for Religious in 1962. The conference changed its name to the Leadership Conference of Women Religious in 1971, reflecting a broader emphasis on leadership and the evolving role of congregational superiors. Its revised statutes were approved in 1989 by the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. In 1992, that congregation approved the formation of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious as an alternative national conference. The two organizations came to represent different institutional and theological tendencies: LCWR was generally associated with communities influenced by post-Vatican II reform, while CMSWR was more closely associated with traditional or conservative approaches. LCWR’s mission developed around collaborative leadership, dialogue, formation, and public engagement. It presents itself as a resource for its members and for the wider public, offering materials and programs related to religious leadership and the lived experience of religious life. Its stated objectives include helping members serve the mission of Christ collaboratively, strengthening relationships among congregations and with society, and building partnerships capable of responding to social needs. The conference’s corporate voice has addressed systemic change and solidarity with people experiencing violence, exclusion, or oppression. The organization’s public profile increased during disputes over theology, church authority, and the role of women religious. In 1979, during Pope John Paul II’s visit to the United States, former LCWR president Theresa Kane publicly appealed for the possibility of women’s inclusion in all ministries of the church. Other conference events and publications later drew scrutiny for discussions of women’s ordination, pastoral ministry involving LGBTQ people, feminism, religious pluralism, and theological interpretations of Jesus and Christian doctrine. A 2007 keynote by Laurie Brink also became widely discussed after it included language about having moved beyond Jesus, although the broader address concerned the relationship between Christian identity and learning from other religious traditions. In 2001, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith requested information concerning LCWR members’ reception of church teaching on the sacramental priesthood, the document Dominus Iesus, and homosexuality. The Vatican later determined that concerns about doctrinal content in conference addresses remained. In December 2008, the Holy See announced an apostolic visitation of U.S. women religious, appointing Mary Clare Millea as apostolic visitator. The visitation examined community life, ministries, recruitment and vocation efforts, and finances, and was understood by many observers as focused particularly on less traditional communities. Separately, in April 2008, CDF prefect William Levada informed LCWR leaders that the congregation would conduct a formal doctrinal assessment. From 2009 through 2012, the assessment examined speeches, policies, publications, and approaches to questions including women’s ordination, homosexuality, abortion, euthanasia, feminist theology, Christology, the Trinity, and the authority of Scripture. Bishop Leonard Paul Blair of Toledo initially helped oversee the assessment and communicated with LCWR representatives. In 2012, the CDF announced that significant problems required correction and delegated a reform mandate to Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain. Sartain’s mandate included revising the statutes, reviewing programs and annual assemblies, approving speakers, developing formation resources, examining liturgical practices, and reviewing links with affiliated organizations such as NETWORK and the Resource Center for Religious Life. The conference was also directed to withdraw the Systems Thinking Handbook from circulation pending revision and to strengthen programs for superiors and formators. LCWR leaders expressed dismay at the intervention, while Vatican officials argued that the reform was necessary and warned that a new organization might replace LCWR if it could not be brought into conformity. The reform process ended in April 2015 after meetings between LCWR representatives and Vatican officials, including Pope Francis. Revised statutes had been submitted to the relevant Vatican congregation and approved. The joint conclusion described LCWR as centered on Jesus Christ and faithful to church teaching, while stating that its publications and presentations required a sound doctrinal foundation. The process was controversial and left a significant mark on discussions of religious freedom, ecclesial oversight, women’s leadership, and the future of Catholic religious communities in the United States. In the twenty-first century, LCWR has operated in a context of declining numbers among U.S. women religious, changing age profiles, and debates about recruitment and formation. By 2025, it reportedly represented nearly 1,270 leaders from 288 congregations, together accounting for approximately 66 percent of the country’s roughly 35,000 women religious. Its continuing role is that of a national association and resource network rather than a commercial enterprise.
- 2025
Reported membership scale
[1]LCWR was reported to include nearly 1,270 members representing 288 congregations and about 66 percent of women religious in the United States.
- 2015
Vatican oversight process concluded
[1]The Holy See concluded the multi-year doctrinal assessment and reform process, praising the work of U.S. women religious while reiterating doctrinal expectations.
- 2012
Vatican reform mandate imposed
[1]The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith announced reforms and placed Archbishop J. Peter Sartain in delegated oversight of LCWR.
- 2008
Apostolic visitation and doctrinal assessment announced
[1]The Vatican announced both a visitation of U.S. women religious and a formal assessment of LCWR’s doctrinal content and activities.
- 1992
Alternative superiors conference approved
[1]The Holy See approved the establishment of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious as an alternative association.
- 1989
Revised statutes approved
[1]The conference’s revised statutes were approved by the Vatican congregation responsible for institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life.
- 1979
Public appeal concerning women’s ministry
[1]Former president Theresa Kane publicly called for the possibility of women being included in all ministries of the church during Pope John Paul II’s U.S. visit.
- 1971
Organization adopts current name
[1]The Conference of Major Superiors of Women became the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.
- 1962
Initial statutes approved
[1]The organization’s statutes received approval from the Sacred Congregation for Religious.
- 1956
National conference established
[1]U.S. general and provincial superiors of women religious created the Conference of Major Superiors of Women after a request from the Holy See.
Products and positioning
A collaborative, national leadership network for Catholic women religious in the United States, emphasizing shared governance, formation, dialogue, social responsibility, and service to the Gospel.
Educational resources
Leadership resources
Materials intended to help leaders of women religious congregations develop collaborative leadership practices, understand contemporary religious life, and carry out institutional responsibilities in service of their communities and the Gospel.
Formation and education
Formation resources
Programs and materials for superiors, formators, and members of religious congregations, addressing leadership development, ongoing formation, church teaching, community life, and the changing conditions of religious ministry.
Conferences · 1956
Annual assembly and conference programming
LCWR’s assemblies and related programs provide opportunities for congregational leaders to exchange experience, study social and ecclesial trends, discuss religious leadership, and develop cooperative responses to issues affecting church and society.
Controversies
2012
Vatican doctrinal assessment and reform mandate
The Vatican criticized aspects of LCWR’s addresses, publications, programs, and approaches to disputed theological and social issues, then required a multi-year reform process under delegated oversight. The intervention became a major public controversy concerning ecclesial authority, women’s religious leadership, and theological dissent.
Brand decisions
2015
Conclude Vatican reform processStrategyBackground
After several years of assessment and delegated oversight, LCWR and the Holy See reached a conclusion to the reform process.
Action taken
The conference completed statutory and programmatic revisions and continued its leadership, dialogue, and resource functions under its approved institutional framework.
Aftermath
The Vatican ended the formal oversight process and publicly recognized the contribution of U.S. women religious, although the broader debates that prompted the intervention continued in Catholic public life.
2012
Accept structured reform and oversightStrategyBackground
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith determined that significant doctrinal and programmatic concerns required correction and assigned Archbishop J. Peter Sartain to oversee the process.
Action taken
LCWR participated in a review of its statutes, programs, publications, speakers, formation materials, liturgical practices, and affiliated relationships while the Vatican supervised the process.
Aftermath
The process concluded in 2015 with approval of revised statutes and a joint conclusion that praised the service of women religious while emphasizing doctrinal fidelity and sound theological foundations.
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