Some people criticized Pope Francis for emphasizing synodality as the practice of the Church. He was, in fact, going back to the earliest reported way of being Church. In the Acts of the Apostles the early leaders of the Church met at 49AD in synod to decide the issue of their day — did one needed to become a Jew before becoming a Christian. It was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others should go up to Jerusalem to the Apostles and presbyters about this question. (You have to love the way St. Luke puts it — “there arose no little dissension and debate” — which probably means they were yelling at each other.) Taking of counsel in synod is actually an act of faith in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Each of us has our perspective and point of view but when we get together we can tease out what is essential from what is unnecessary because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst.
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By Church Staff
