What can we learn from the Synod on Synodality?
In 2021, Pope Francis inaugurated the Synod on Synodality. It was an opportunity for the Church to actively listen to its members at the grass roots level. Organized by the General Secretariat of the Synod, a permanent office in the Vatican, listening sessions were encouraged throughout the world to be held in every parish, diocese, and religious institution around the globe. Data was collected and reports were generated. Out of those reports, Instrumentum Laboris, working documents were compiled that contained issues for further discussion at the General Ordinary Synod Assemblies in Rome held in October 2023 and 2024.
What is interesting about the Synod on Synodality, in addtion to the issues that emerged for the future of the Church to consider, but the processes that it encouraged and promoted. In other words, the “how”? I would like to take sometime to explore those components of the Synod of Synodality that have been incorporated into the Gifted in the Spirit: Catholic Leadership Development Institute.
1) CONVERSATIONS IN THE SPIRIT - Conversations in the Spirit, like Leadership Coaching from the secular realm, seeks to asks us to consider the “big questions”, especially when discerning where the Holy Spirit is moving us to action within the Church, as well as our own individual lives. By learning how to quiet ourselves and invite the Holy Spirit into the conversation. Often times, this means going beyond our comfort zone and not doing things the way we have always done them.
2) ACTIVE LISTENING / INTENTIONAL SPEAKING / THE ART OF ACCOMPANIMENT - Conversations in the Spirit cannot be effective without active listening and intentional speaking. Listening to the voice of the other without judgment or even without thinking about how we are going to respond. Then, and only then, can we formulate a response that is fruitful and actually articulates the voice of the other. Pope Francis was an avid proponent of accompaniment which is at the heart of the synod - “journeying together”. Being present to one another. It is critical for everyone, especially leaders to accompany those that they have been entrusted to lead.
3) ECCLESIAL DISCERNMENT - As leaders, especially ordained pastors, are called to discern the gifts of their parishioners and empower them to use them for the service of the community and to advance the Mission. So often, as the Synod rightly noted, members of the clergy try to take on all the responsibility for running the parish and they experience burnout and isolation. Discernment helps the entire community take ownerhip for the wellbeing and flourishing of the Church.
At Gifted in the Spirit, we conducted extensive research on the Synod on Synodality and found that it provides an excellent foundation for leadership development deeply rooted in Catholic spirituality. We invite you to learn more about how understanding the Synod can make you a more effective leader!
