CHAPTER PREPARATION
Apart from members of the Congregation Leadership Team, present were:
Chapter Facilitator Renee Stevens [Canada], and co-facilitator Mark Da Costa [India]
Liturgist Frank Andersen [Australia] and co-liturgist Steve Rocha [India]
The Steering Committee as elected by Delegates: Barry Lynch [North America], Francis Hall [Europe], Clement Sindazi [Africa]. Philip Pinto, as President of the Chapter, is also a member of the Steering Committee.
The Congregation Chapter has as its theme ‘Dare to be Disciple - Passion and Possibility’. The Team’s report to the Chapter has a foreword which will be of assistance as we prayerfully prepare for Chapter. This forward is available on this website.
A period of Immersion for all who are coming to the Chapter is being planned to take place in India in the week prior to the Chapter. The aim of this Immersion is to come to know a larger God through an inter-faith experience and placements for these immersions will be in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata.
Delegates to the Chapter will receive reports prior to the Chapter including:
- Congregation Leadership Team’s Report
- Report on ERN following the survey on the ERN
- Report on Congregation Policy on HIV/AIDS, following the survey on this policy.
Reports that will be delivered in the first week of the Chapter include:
- Reports on each of the Provinces
- Congregation Renewal Team Report
- Finance Report
- Advocacy for Justice Report
- Eco-Justice Report
The process of the Chapter, which will unfold over the course of the month of March, will include:
- Telling one another the story of our Gospel vision, of our Congregation, and of our mission in recent years.
- Envisioning together where the Spirit is leading us into the future.
- Discerning our leadership needs and electing a Leadership Team to carry the vision forward.
All are encouraged to continue to pray that, as a Congregation, we will be open to the voice of the Spirit during this important time of discernment and visioning.