Presider Task Force
May 2004 Listening Night Follow-up Notes

On May 16, 2004 the Presider Task Force held a Listening Night, which allowed the Dignity Community to continue to explore the Presidership issue. Participants were seated in small groups at tables. Each group was asked to write down their thoughts and ideas about several pre-determined terms and concepts related to Presidership. Later, each small group shared their ideas with all those assembled and the resulting output is recorded below. Everyone present was also given an opportunity to ask general questions or make comments about Presidership and the work of the Task Force and this too is recorded below.

Catholic

• Rigid

• Institution headquartered in Rome

• Universal

Inclusive

• All encompassing

• Recognizing and honoring diversity as a given

Community

• Family

• Shared goals and vision

Progressive

• Constructive moral change

• Anticipate the future and adjust for change

• Daring to change and overcoming fear

Eucharist

• Communal celebration of God’s gift to us through Jesus

• Receiving Body and Blood in one’s life

• Consecration

• Respect for varying views

• Sharing spiritual meal of Thanksgiving, created in community

• God provides

• Presence of Christ

• Lord’s Supper

• Faith

• Mystery

• Life-giving

• Agape

• Nourishment

• Table

• Fulfillment

• Healing

• Connection

• Help

Presider

• Director of the celebration

• Representing God

• Facilitator (not gender-specific)

• Comes from the community

• Someone called to lead

• Responsible and responsive

• Spiritual leader with some education in Theology

• Leader, guide, conduit, called from community to lead in prayer

• Prophetic

• Equal

• Servant

• Interpreter of Scripture

• Overseer

• Prayer giver

QUESTIONS & COMMENTS

• We are making presidership more universal (“small c-catholic”)

• Need for more visibility of B & T in presidership

• Tonight’s (May 22, 2004) lay led liturgy as example of a thoughtful model (and we, as community, have high standards ­ we listen to our homilists)

• Presider dress should reflect gender equality

• Focus on training ­ how to be effective preachers and presiders, so more can confidently participate

• This community reflects God’s saving presence

• How to invite, call, mentor folks who might want to preside

• Every model has a “shelf life”

• Expand net of inclusivity

• Not all are called to preside (how to balance this)

• It’s a process!

• We’re not “lowering” when we have lay led ­ we’re lifting up gifts

• How to develop a supportive, constructive evaluation of all presiders ( not just the lay presiders but ordained)

• How are other Catholic faith communities wrestling with these issues? (sense of perspective)

• Thanks to the Presider Task Force

• How to lift up all of our gifts (and not just elevate the Presider role)

The following information was also provided at the Listening Night as a handout:

EUCHARIST

A sacrament is a festive action in which Christians assemble to celebrate their lived experience and to call to heart their common story.

The action is a symbol of God’s care for us in Christ.

Enacting the symbol brings us closer to one another in the church and to the Lord who is there for us.

Tad Guzie ­ “Book of Sacramental Basics”

What happens to us as humans when we share a “good meal” together?

When have you experienced this at Eucharist?

What elements must we have in our celebrations of the Eucharist?