Since 2018, the Church in Australia has been on a journey of listening, dialogue, and discernment to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This has led to the creation of ten decrees awaiting final approval from the Pope in Rome. To further explore the practical implementation of these decrees at a local level, the Archdiocese of Brisbane is organising a Synod with two assemblies in September and October this year. This Synod is a culmination of years of progress towards a more synodal and missionary Church, building on past initiatives like the 2003 Hearts on Fire Synod.
As we look towards the future, watch Archbishop Mark’s pastoral message about the upcoming Synod, which aims to seek divine guidance and invites everyone in Brisbane to participate, bringing their unique gifts and insights as we journey together.
SYNOD24 FAQ with Bishop Tim Norton SVD and Steph Unger
So, Bishop Tim, what is a Synod?
A Synod Steph, is a gathering of God’s people. So it can be a gathering that includes bishops and pastors and people who run parish groups, and people who just sit in the pews. But it’s actually all of God’s people, or representatives of all of God’s people who can gather and talk about the Church and the mission.
What are some of the ?themes in the Plenary Council Decrees?
So the decrees are asking us to really explore ways to engage people who maybe have experienced domestic violence, or who are in prisons, or who are refugees, or people maybe who identify as being LGBTQi+. So people that otherwise, yeah, maybe just haven’t felt like they’ve been welcomed in our Church. And so that is really exciting. But it’s also, again, really challenging to do that. Yeah, it is indeed, it is indeed. So because these actions need to be voted on and by an assembly of people who represent the diversity of our Archdiocese. We can only have a certain number of people present in the room, it’s just the practicalities of it.
So, knowing that we are going to be very intentional about who is present at the Synod, how can everybody else be involved?
Well, I know a lot of people want to be involved, but we, as you said before, we go back and say that there has already been this consultation process prior to the Plenary Council, and we take that as important, but that as given. And so with the smaller number of people who will be actually looking at those actions, some would say, well, what about us? But we would say, look, don’t wait for the Synod. Go out on mission. If you want to move out to some of these groups that have been marginalised and neglected. And you can nominate them, see them in your communities then just get together and go, go on mission with the grace of God. Don’t wait for the Synod. The Synod is important, but don’t wait for the Synod. Just go out on mission.