2 June 2009
Report of the Pre-Chapter Discernment Committee
The Pre-Chapter Discernment Committee (membership of committee: Anton Subianto Bunyamin osc, chairman, Steve Henrich osc, Joe Op de Kamp osc) reports the results of the names and comments submitted by the membership of the Order in the pre-Chapter election discernment process for master general and general councilors. The results are reported in three documents:
- Announcement of the Result of the Pre-Chapter Discerment. This document is the list of names “that are worthy to [be] consider[ed] by the Capitulars for being elected as Master General.”
- 2009 Pre-Chapter Discernment for the Election of Master General. This document is a compilation of the names and comments submitted from the pre-Chapter Election discernment which took place for the election of master general.
- 2009 Pre-Chapter Discernment for the Election of General Councilors. This document is a compilation of the names and comments submitted from the pre-Chapter Election discernment which took place for the election of general councilors.
General Schema of the 2009 General Chapter
The General Chapter Planning Committee proposed a general outline or schema of the General Chapter sessions day-by-day. In putting together this schema, the planning committee notes:
- The schema will assist the steering committee is developing a more detailed agenda to be submitted to the General Chapter.
- The progression of the chapter is seen in the presentation of the state of the Order report, discussion and resolution of any issues related to the Constitutions, consideration of proposals from the Instrumentum Laboris and from Capitulars followed by elections.
- More time at chapter will be focused on the discussion of the direction setting proposals in the Instrumentum Laboris, dealing with “normative community life”. “Normative community life” is a substantial, a foundational, but at the same time –within the Order- a problematic issue in need for general chapter resolution. The purpose of this particular time allotment is to get at careful decision making, before moving on with the next proposals included in the Instrumentum Laboris.
- Strong consideration was given to providing adequate time to discussion of concrete propositions and proposals and moving the chapter to resolving concrete issues and direct setting.
Proposals for the General Chapter
In the convocation, the Master General said: “Communities have already submitted agenda to the planning committee at the time the lineamenta was distributed for consultation. In accord with the norms of the above-mentioned general statute (35.1), I invite superiors and community chapters of the Order who wish to submit topics to be discussed and deliberated at the general chapter to send them to me by 30 November 2008.” The planning committee incorporated the suggestions for topics into the agenda of the chapter (see schema above). Of course, given the agenda, as well as the State of the Order Report and the Instrumentum Laboris which were received and discussed subsequent to November 2008, confreres and specifically capitulars may have specific proposals that might be considered in the course of the general chapter. So, that these proposals can receive adequate consideration in the course of the general chapter agenda, you are asked to submit these proposals to the chairmen of the planning committee as soon as possible. While proposals may be submitted at anytime, submitting your proposal by 1 July 2009 will insure adequate consideration in chapter preparation and planning.
To assist you in submitting proposals, a form has been developed. This form can be found at this link.
Capitular Contributions
The complete article can be found at this link.