School for Synodality Director invited to be Synod Facilitator

Avril Baigent

The second session of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of Bishops has begun in Rome, with the theme 'For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission.'

Avril Baigent, the Co-Founder and Director of the School for Synodality, has been invited to be a facilitator during the second session, as part of her work with the School for Synodality and the Diocese of Northampton.

The School for Synodality are thrilled Avril will be working so closely on the synodal process with participants from around the world, and have interviewed her below as she begins her month in Italy.

Q. Avril, we are thrilled you have been invited to support the second session. How does it feel as you begin your time in Rome?

Exciting, but very daunting! At the School for Synodality we often say that no topic is too big for a synodal conversation, so it will be amazing to see the global church reflecting on our future together. I'm fascinated to see how conversation in the Spirit works as we move to the next steps of the three-year Synod process.

Q. How did this opportunity come about? What previous experiences do you bring to the table?

I was the Synod Co-Lead in Northampton Diocese, where our Bishop truly believes in synodality as living out the promise of the Second Vatican Council. We went on to have a Diocesan Assembly, and my role now involves helping local Catholic communities to discern their future together. At the same time, Chris Knowles and I set up the School for Synodality so that everyone could have the opportunity to take up this Spirit-filled way of being Church.

Q. What aspects are you most looking forward to?

Most of the facilitators were here last year, so are a lot more experienced than I am. I am really looking forward to learning from them and improving my practice. I am also very excited to hear about synodality in the global church, as the Assembly brings together people from just about every country in the world. I'm wondering what we can learn from communities where listening and discerning are more widespread than in our more parliamentary culture of winners and losers.

Q. What do you feel are the skills needed for good facilitation in this context?

Firstly, a need to step away from my own opinions and put myself at the service of the Holy Spirit in working with the group. Then an ability to listen prayerfully and attentively - not only to what people are saying, but how they are saying it, and what collective discernment is emerging from the conversation. Finally, I think we have not to be afraid of dissenting voices, but to hear those as part of the whole.

Q. You've observed the synodal process from the outside, and now you'll be right up close to the action. What are the common myths you are hoping to debunk?

One of the criticisms that people in the UK often have of synodality is that it is very white and middle class, and that it excludes a lot of people. In a global context however, there are stories of how synodality is transforming the African Church, how the Latin American Church are already experts at this, and that Papua New Guinea is a place where synodality is really understood. If we stop talking about synodality just as 'meetings' and reframe it as a time where everyone's voice can be heard, it stops being exclusive.

Q. How can we support you during this time?

Please pray - for me, and for all involved in the Synod process. This is a real moment of opportunity in the Church, where the Holy Spirit is leading us to new missionary forms of community and participation. I pray that we can trust where the Holy Spirit is leading us and take those next steps in faith.

The School for Synodality is a project to help support the synodal conversion of the Catholic Church in England and Wales in our day-to-day practice.

Through conversations, the development of resources and our programmes, we hope to enable an openness to the Holy Spirit in our Church through listening, sharing and discernment. Discover our latest resources here: www.schoolforsynodality.org.uk