One takeaway from the First Assembly of the Plenary Council that might come as no surprise is that the controlling elite in the Church, the bishops, are not dependent on popular support. They are appointed not elected. They are generally irremovable. They come from a culture that is about preserving ‘the tradition’ (which can easily be expanded to include historical novelties that are not really part of the tradition). Moving into the new world of synodality brings obvious challenges.

The methodology of the Australian Plenary Council is similar to the one proposed by the preparatory document of the Synod of Bishops: a deep, prayerful listening. As the preparatory document states: In a synodal style, decisions are made through discernment, based on a consensus that flows from the common obedience to the Spirit [30].
In many ways this synodal process is somewhat counter-intuitive to the usual way in which groups, whether secular or ecclesial, make decisions. We are comfortable with the parliamentary style with its emphasis on ‘who has the numbers’. Deals are done and compromises sought to elicit support for a particular idea. Often there are winners and losers, with the losers marshalling to fight a rear-guard action.
The problem with agitating for reform and presenting ‘an idea’ and seeking support, especially from a controlling elite, is that good ideas are easily dismissed. The elite consider themselves intelligent and when confronted with a new idea, something out of the proverbial ‘left field’, the tendency is to be dismissive. The subliminal thought process goes like this: ‘Here is a new idea. I have not thought about things that way. Since I am intelligent either I should have thought of it (and I didn’t), or it cannot be a good idea. Really it is not such a good idea (because if it was, I would have thought of it).’
The mistake that some of the proponents of the reform make is to assume they can use the usual methodology of parliamentary persuasion (mustering the numbers) to impose their views on the bishops. The presenter of the idea looks to marshal support, exert pressure, ‘sell’ the idea, and try to persuade the controlling elite to change their minds and embrace the new way of thinking. This works if the position of the elite is dependent on ‘popular support’. It does not work so well in the Church.
Coalitions of reformist groups and public shaming in the secular media are counterproductive. That strategy only further reinforces the defensive reaction, with the risk that those bishops who are more tradition minded, become even more protective.
'The Australian bishops have set themselves a course and there is now no turning back. Now is the time for dreams to flourish.'
In the process of discernment, all the participants share their good ideas with everyone else’s. This seems to have been the outcome of the group process during the first assembly of the Plenary Council. A common theme in the various published comments and podcasts of some of the participants is that many were surprised by the diversity of participants which, naturally meant a diversity of opinions.
The melting pot of ideas will now become the basis for an approach that sees these possibilities as solutions to what are discerned as the common problems needing attention.
That will be the next stage of the Plenary Council journey as the ‘good ideas’ are sifted, researched and presented to the second assembly in July next year. While some will remain sceptical and there is likely to remain an undercurrent of negativity by some people, it seems from the comments there is an overall sense of optimism that the Spirit is at work and will bear fruit.
Plenary Councils are legislative instruments. Good law has to be practical and achievable and well-received. But more important than the black letter law of whatever decrees might be enacted next July, is the change in culture that the process brings about.
Pope Francis addressed the Jesuit community in September 2019 in Mozambique and spoke about shepherding. ‘Great shepherds give people a lot of freedom. The good shepherd knows how to lead his flock without enslaving it to rules that deaden people. The shepherd has the ability to go in front of the flock to show the way, stay in the middle of the flock to see what happens within, and also be at the rear of the flock to make sure that no one is left behind.’
The Australian bishops have set themselves a course and there is now no turning back. Now is the time for dreams to flourish.
As the Synod preparatory document concludes: [32] the purpose of the Synod, and therefore of this consultation, is not to produce documents, but ‘to plant dreams, draw forth prophecies and visions, allow hope to flourish, inspire trust, bind up wounds, weave together relationships, awaken a dawn of hope, learn from one another and create a bright resourcefulness that will enlighten minds, warm hearts, give strength to our hands.
Fr Brian Lucas is National Director of Catholic Mission Australia.