|
October 27th: Bishops Recognize Women of the Word, Ask Reexamination of Lectionary
It is premature to declare victory, but our Women and the Word Campaign can certainly take some credit for encouraging the recognition of the ministry of women of the Word, and discussion of the hidden women of the lectionary at the Synod on the Word.
Aside from heeding our request to invite more women experts to the synod, on Saturday, the Bishops approved two propositions addressing our other synod requests. Proposition 17 “recognized and encouraged” the ministry of women of the Word. Perhaps even more surprising, Proposition 16 recommended “that an examination of the Roman lectionary be opened to see if the actual selection and ordering of the reading are truly adequate to the mission of the Church in this historic moment.”
I’m told that 45 bishops voted against the women’s proposition, the most “nays” of all the 55 propositions voted upon, yet still a very substantial majority of the 253 bishops voting. The propositions now go to the Pope and Synod office for final approval and processing (respectively). At this writing the propositions are only available in Italian. A friend kindly translated the two that involved us the most (see below). A future post will include all the propositions once I have them in English.
After hearing the promising news, FutureChurch released the following statement to the media.
FutureChurch Statements on Synod Propositions Recognizing Women of the Word; Lectionary Reexamination
Proposition 17 Ministry of the Word and Women The Synod Fathers recognize and encourage the service of lay people in the transmission of the faith. Women, in particular, have an indispensable role in this especially in the family and in catechesis. In fact, they know how to kindle listening to the Word, the personal relationship with God and how to communicate the sense of forgiveness and evangelical sharing. It is hoped that the ministry of Lector (lectorate) would be open also to women so that the Christian community might recognize their role in announcing the Word.
FutureChurch Statement on Proposition 17 (see full text of proposition above) “Proposition 17 represents a good faith attempt by the world’s Catholic Bishops to acknowledge the enormous contributions made by “delegates of the Word” (easily half of whom are women) in the developing world where there is little to no access to Mass because of the priest shortage. It is a significant sign of progress that women’s leadership as animators of faith communities and presiders at services of the Word is at last being recognized and affirmed by the universal Church.
While FutureChurch warmly welcomes this recognition, our Bishops would do well to expand preaching opportunities for prepared lay women and men in the developed world as well as in the developing world. The ministry of lector, while not formally named as such, is already open to women who have been proclaiming readings at Mass for well over 30 years. It is difficult to understand what is to be gained by formally naming women as lectors. Rather, our bishops would be better advised to reopen the discussion of changing mandatory celibacy rules and ordaining women to the diaconate as important next steps in their inclusion in all the ministries of the Church. “
Synod Proposition 16 The Lectionary It is recommended that an examination of the Roman Lectionary be opened to see if the actual selection and ordering of the reading are truly adequate to the mission of the Church in this historic moment. In particular, the connection of the Old Testament with the Gospel passage (pericope) should be reconsidered in a way that not does lead to a too restrictive reading of the Old Testament or an exclusion of some important passages. The revision of the Lectionary could be done in dialogue with those ecumenical partners that use this common Lectionary. It is hoped that there will soon be an authoritative examination of the problem of the Lectionary in the liturgies of the Eastern Catholic Churches.
FutureChurch Statement on Proposition 16 (see full text above) “FutureChurch congratulates synod fathers for suggesting a reexamination of the lectionary to evaluate if texts are adequate to this time in our history. If we want to reach the next generation of Catholics, there is a need for Catholic proclamation of the Word to reflect the gender balance found in Jesus and St. Paul's counter cultural practices. Opening the lectionary for possible revision allows church leaders to restore the witness of women leaders such as Phoebe and Mary of Magdala, whose stories have been deleted or made optional. Cooperation with other denominations and with the eastern rite churches will enrich and expand gender-balanced proclamation of the Word throughout the Christian communion.”
Note: While the lectionary proposition doesn’t mention our issue per se, a bishop I spoke with last week told me that the first objective was to get an affirmative vote on looking at the lectionary at all. He had heard a number of small groups discussing the need to address biblical women leaders who have been deleted or downplayed in lectionary texts. The code here is that bishops are asking if the texts are “truly adequate…in this historic moment.”
This morning I attended the Mass at St. Peters, officially closing the Synod on the Word. While there is still too much processing and posturing going on for my blood, I was surprised and pleased to see that the cover of the worship aid had BEAUTIFUL artwork from the St. John’s Bible from Collegeville, MN. It was Mary of Magdala and Jesus. Mary is portrayed as a beautiful dark-skinned woman clothed in a rich red garment of African design... with (gasp) a hint of a stole. She is gazing thoughtfully, perhaps quizzically at a mysterious, faceless Jesus who is gloriously robed in a cloak of lapis blue and purple. Above are the words, “Do not hold on to me because I have not yet ascended to my Father.”
A very fitting portrait, I thought, to close a Synod that invited the most women ever. It made me wonder who designs the worship aides. Could it be that we “women of the Word” have a sympathetic friend (or two or three) behind the scenes?
|
