In the ancient Church, synodality was the practice of gathering. Church leaders met to think deeply for the good of the Church’s mission and its members. Pope Francis made synodality a hallmark; a posture of slowing down, listening, and being the people of God together.
For leaders in theological education, synodality means that we can be better together. We experience the power of this way of thinking, being, and acting through the work of the emerging Catholic Education Network to Enact and Resource Synodality, a project of a Pathways for Tomorrow Large-Scale Collaborative Grant. We are moving from competing to collaboration.
Synodality is rooted in prayer and helps remove obstacles to serving our mission. Individually and collectively, we practice deep relationship, discerning the path forward. When people experience this way of being Church, they want more: There is a shift toward abundance. We are invited to show up at the table and say our truth and hear each other. It is the heart of “nothing about us without us.”
That, it turns out, is a very mature way of faith and a path forward.
So many of our institutions carry financial pressure, declining enrollment, fraying morale. Collaboration built on genuine listening and discernment orients us toward what is possible. Together, we resource and hearten one another.
