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A Synod and a Pastoral Plan: The Reception of Ecclesia in Oceania in Papua New Guinea

Adobe PDF A Synod and a Pastoral Plan.pdf (PDF, 92KB)

Philip Gibbs SVD

Abstract

The reception by the Church of the decisions or statements of a Synod contribute to their eventual authority. It is commonly understood that a Council or Synod is divinely guided in its deliberations, yet the people of God, sharing in the prophetic role of Christ, play a part in recognising the guidance of the Spirit when "the whole people 'from the bishops to the last of the faithful laity' expresses the consent of all in matters of faith and morals" (Lumen gentium 12). The process may take a long time. This paper concentrates on the Apostolic Letter Ecclesia in Oceania (EIO) and consent being expressed in the local Church of PNG. While a Synod document is written for the universal Church, a document such as EIO puts the local Churches of Oceania on show as part of a global picture. The paper will trace the history of the document as part of an event, through to the impact and reception of the Letter, particularly in the Church of Papua New Guinea.[1]