Synod Session 2, Part 5: Important Conversations

Dialogue at the Tables and Other Important Conversations

When conversations at the table groups began, synod members were expressing their hopes in words such as:
We are in a pilgrim church and we need to bring everybody with us. The crucial act of the pilgrimage is finding your way together. We do this not by giving in to each other but by learning from one another. We must be willing to receive understanding from our walking mates. This is the essence of the church’s pilgrimage. - Gerry DeCubber, permanent deacon from Belgium and Synod member
Please stay, whatever your frustrations with the church. Go on questioning! Together we shall discover the Lord’s will. - Timothy Radcliffe, O.P.
And Jesuit Fr. James Martin, in commentating on the fact that Synod members are reconnecting with delegates they met at last year’s Synod, said, “Tackling tough subjects is easier when you know the person as a friend.”

The table groups are continuing to meet about synodality and their discussions are being summarized and reported on a daily basis. But many believe that rather than talking about synodality in an abstract way, the most effective way is to do it would be in regard to concrete issues facing the church.

In addition to the table groups, many evenings and Wednesday afternoons (theoretically, time off) are busy with additional meetings. Among others, these include official Synod Forums sponsored by the study groups, sessions with prepared texts that members brought to the Synod, and both official and unofficial meetings with advocates on controversial issues such as women deacons. Delegates have also requested to have additional direct input into the continuing work of the study groups before they submit their final reports in June 2025.

With all this going on, it will be interesting to see how these elements will all fit together, including whether the final report of the synod will focus solely on synodality, or whether the delegates will also add their input to the work being done on the controversial subjects which are still being dealt with by several of the study groups. In any case, the next couple of weeks are certain to be significant time in the church concerning both synodality and other current issues.

Next time: Updates on continuing developments at the Synod and the final report.
Click here to start from part 1 of our coverage of the second Synod session.

Want to learn more? Check out our series on the Synod on Synodality, from the first session, to our parish listening sessions, to today!