Synodality – medicine for a divisive world

Archbishop at Synod Gathering II

There is divisiveness in the world – in families, institutions and even nations, but there’s a solution, Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon suggested.

“Somehow or the other we have become disconnected from one another.…Synodality is a medicine for a divided world in which we live.”

The Archbishop made the statement last Saturday, November 18 at Synod Gathering II at Torenia Hall, Centre of Excellence, as he addressed a diverse representation of Church leadership. He made an impassioned plea for greater synodality – journeying together in a spirit of open dialogue, discernment and communion.

Speaking on the concept of synodality, the Archbishop likened it to traditional practices of communal support in Caribbean culture – gayap, sou sou, and more – where people unite across divisions to lift each other up.

“Synodality is a journey that we are making, not to a future that is unknown but to an experience that we have had as a Caribbean people that we have forgotten.”

The Archbishop reflected on last year’s synodal consultation held November 19, 2022, at the Centrum Auditorium, Centre Pointe Mall, Chaguanas. Leaders identified priority themes of building community, inclusivity, and dialogue in the Church.

He admitted that the chosen themes were not his favourites, but added, “synodality is about discernment, and discernment requires that you step aside, you ask for holy indifference because the Holy Spirit is the protagonist of a synodal movement.”

Archbishop Gordon continued, “We’re not here to make our ideas stick and impose on anybody else our ideas. We’re here together to listen to God’s Holy Spirit so that we come to God’s idea for what God wants for His Church.” While underscoring that “politics has no business in synodality,” he described it as a process of “contemplative listening” to discern where Christ seeks to lead His Church.

Archbishop Gordon pointed to the recent Synod of Bishops on synodality in Rome last October which he attended as President of the Antilles Episcopal Conference of Bishops, thereby representing the English, Dutch and French-speaking Caribbean Church.

He explained that Synod delegates from around the world spent the month listening to each other in language groupings and having conversations in the Spirit. “This is an ancient practice moving the Church to the Church Jesus Christ wants us to be.”

The Archbishop said during the sessions in Rome, many times he said to himself, “Lord dis cyar wuk, and each time the (Holy) Spirit broke through allowing a convergence to emerge.”

He described to the 600-odd gathering that a conversation in the Spirit is “a fusion of spirituality, social science and group dynamics”, a contemplative act of “listening to each other through the ear of the heart”.  It is a process, he acknowledged, that asks everyone to temper ego and individual desires for the greater wholeness of the community. He said the purpose of Synod Gathering II is to discern and “to help us as Church to building community, inclusivity and dialogue”.

The Archbishop challenged clergy, religious and laity to lead synodal conversations within their own parishes and communities. The hope, he shared, is for every parish to have a group that understands conversation in the Spirit.

Archbishop Gordon closed inviting leaders to enter into the continuing experience of synodality with openness and courage, knowing, “We are building Church together”.

Fr Peter Mc Isaac SJ, Director of Synodal Transformation for the Archdiocese later gave an ‘Intro to Spiritual Conversations’ before participants began round-table discussions.

Fr Urban Hudlin OP led the Healing Service before the lunch break. Reports on the conversations were presented after lunch. Allan Julien and Denise Scott served as emcees for the day. —RS  More in a coming issue