CDCF — Catholic Digital Commons Foundation

CDCF Governance Bodies

This document outlines the governance structure for CDCF technology projects, based on principles of Catholic governance and established open-source models.

1. CDCF Board of Directors

The highest level of oversight for the Catholic Digital Commons Foundation.

  • Responsibility: Final authority on mission alignment, canonical scope, and overall Foundation strategy.
  • Authority: Approves new projects for incubation and graduation based on recommendations from specialized committees.

2. Technical and Canonical Standards Committee (TCSC)

A central body responsible for defining and maintaining the CDCF Project Vetting Criteria and related technical standards.

  • Composition: Experts in Catholic theology, canon law, technology, and governance.
  • Responsibility: Reviewing project proposals and evaluating incubating projects against the Gate 1 and Gate 2 criteria.

3. Project Management Committee (PMC)

Each active CDCF project is governed by its own PMC.

  • Composition: Committed maintainers and contributors who have demonstrated merit and alignment with the CDCF mission.
  • Responsibility: Day-to-day management of the project, including technical direction, security, documentation, and community growth.
  • Accountability: The PMC is accountable to the CDCF Board through the TCSC.

4. The CDCF Community

The CDCF is an open commons. The community includes:

  • Contributors: Individuals and institutions that contribute code, documentation, or expertise.
  • Users: Parishes, dioceses, and Catholic organizations that deploy CDCF-vetted tools.
  • Advisors: Bishops, theologians, and experts who provide guidance on mission and canonical alignment.