Clergy, religious and lay leaders from across Asia have joined a consultation meeting in Thailand on synodal formation to achieve a synodal Church. Source: UCA News.
Members of a consultative body of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) are this week discussing their understanding and appreciation of the synodal church in Pattaya, Thailand, Radio Veritas Asia reported.
The consultation aims to articulate the attributes, criteria, and cultural expressions of synodal formation in Asia and formulate plans of action for implementing synodal formation in the various ministries of the Church in Asia, the report said.
The September 11-15 meeting comes ahead of the global Synod on Synodality at the Vatican in October convened by Pope Francis who envisions a synodal Church.
The two-part gathering with the theme “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission” will be held on October 4-28 and conclude in October 2024.
Several FABC offices — Office of the Laity and Family, Office of Consecrated Life, Office of Education and Faith Formation, and Office of Theological Concerns — have jointly organised the program with representatives from various Asian nations.
The Pattaya meeting is the continuation of FABC’s consultations on synodality in Asia.
During the federation’s golden jubilee celebrations from October 12-30 in Bangkok last year, some 20 cardinals, 120 bishops, 37 priests, eight nuns, and 41 laypeople from across Asia drafted a pastoral plan for the Asian Church.
The plan sought to address the emerging social, economic, religious, and political realities on a continent where Christians are a minority.
In March, the FABC released the continental synod document urging Asian churches to play an active role in tackling pressing realities including migrants, refugees, indigenous peoples, climate change, family issues, women, and youth.
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