Discernment, decision-making and accountability Welcome the School for Synodality’s second podcast series: Reading the Final Document Together. In this third of six episodes, Dr Avril Baigent, one of the Directors of School for Synodality and a facilitator in Rome during October 2024, is in conversation with Dr Estela Padilla to discuss the transformative capacity of healthy discernment, seeing how contextual approaches helps the gospel enter daily life as an “energy of hope”, and how synodal decision-making is “not based in a power structure, but a mission structure”. Her experiences of synodality in the Philippines highlighted new perspectives on how we can approach this chapter, called the ‘Conversion of Processes’. Dr Estela spoke about a number of practical tools during her talk, including Bible Mirroring, Asian Integral Pastoral Approach, Theory U 3D mapping, and Two Loop Theory of Change with the Berkana Institute. The Final Document was written by the 350 delegates of the16th ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, a month-long meeting in October 2024 of cardinals, bishops, Religious and lay men and women from around the world. It was the culmination of an extraordinary three-year global listening process. In the closing moments of the assembly, Pope Francis took the document to form part of the ordinary teaching of the church. The document is the fruit of the joys of these encounters, and can be downloaded for free via our website and in different languages on the Synod official website. In this series of six podcasts you are invited to join us as together we explore the Final Document, officially named For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission, and unpack its meaning so that we can begin to live out its fruits in our parishes, communities and wherever we are. The School for Synodality is an organisation supporting the synodal conversion of the Catholic Church. Through conversations, resources and programmes, we aim to enable an openness to the Holy Spirit with listening, sharing and discernment. The website has guides and resources for prayer, discernment, and parish practice including downloadable materials for Reimaging Parish Pastoral Councils, Small Group Resources for exploring the Final Document further and Conversation in the Spirit videos and workshops. Sign up for our newsletter to keep up to date with our activities. Episode 4: “The Conversion of Bonds” Dr Avril Baigent talks to Dr Cathy Clifford, professor of Systemic and Historical theology at St Paul's University in Ottawa, Canada. Links Podcast Episode 3: Transcript Bible Mirroring Asian Integral Pastoral Approach Theory U 3D mapping Two Loop Theory of Change with the Berkana Institute The School for Synodality Full list of episodes The Heart of Synodality – Jos Moons SJ The Conversion of Relationships – Professor Anna Rowlands The Conversion of Processes – Dr Estela Padilla The Conversion of Bonds – Professor Cathy Clifford Forming a people for Missionary Discipleship – David McCallum SJ and Sandra Chaoul A Feast for All peoples – what next for our Church? – Archbishop Jason Gordon
