Exploring Mission and Ministry in 2nd Book Club session
A great turnout for the second part of our book club, ‘Reading the Final Synod Document Together’, a deep dive with Professor Anna Rowlands on ‘the Conversion of Relationships’ on 28th May 2025.
Our guest’s extensive knowledge of the synodal documents, the decisions taken and the journey we are all on as the People of God really shone through in her conversation with Avril Baigent. In rediscovering our true nature and purpose, we can shift the perspective on challenges the church faces, “re-rooting us in a language and economy of gift, of abundance, of cooperation and of communion”. The video is available to view via our Resources page here >>.
“The very imagery, beginning with this image of the abundant catch, shifts the way we may think about challenges in the life of the church, re-rooting us in a language and economy of gift, of abundance, of cooperation and of communion. And that for me is hopeful, uplifting, theologically correct, and an appropriate response to the things that we heard from the grassroots. ”
Professor Anna Rowlands is the holder of the St Hilda Chair in Catholic Social Thought and Practice at Durham University. She is a political theologian who works at the interface of political and social theory and Christian theology. She was one of the theological advisors for Pope Francis’s Fratelli Tutti document, and a member of the group that wrote the Frescati Document, (now called Enlarge the Space of your Tent), the document for the continental stage of the Synod process. She was seconded for two years working with the General Secretariat of the Synod and was one of the experts at the Synod Assembly 2023-2024.
This event is the second in a series of conversations hosted by the School for Synodality and synod experts to reflect on the Final Synod Document in more depth. For 6 weeks, the School for Synodality’s Director Dr Avril Baigent unpacks with guest speakers a different section, reflecting on its theological and practical implications, with time for questions afterwards.
Watch Part 2: ‘The Conversion of Relationships’ with Anna Rowlands below:
The Conversion of Relationships - reflection questions:
What really stood out for you with Anna’s description of an ‘abundance’ mindset when approaching challenges in the church?
How do we help all who serve in the Church - clergy, lay ecclesial ministers, committed volunteers - to develop capacity for mature and meaningful relationships? (with thanks for Fr Raymond LaFontaine for this question during the live Q&A!)
How does the second chapter of the Final Synod Document explore how we can discern and meet the mission needs in our contexts right now?
Anna takes us through the differences between charisms and ministries. Reflect on current roles within your church community – are there ways you could review and renew these responsibilities? Is there space to do so?
What is the potential for a synodal approach to revive or renew current structures?