Chapter Conclusions

Revision of the General Constitutions of the Secular Franciscan Order

Introduction

Revision: Work of the whole Fraternity

The Chapter thanked the Presidency for all the work it has done over the past three years and unanimously approved the Minister General's report. In particular after a thorough orientation of the critical situations that presented themselves in the SFO in Lebanon and Italy, the Chapter:

1. Ratified the determination by the CIOFS Presidency regarding the constitution of a provisional National Council in Lebanon.

2. Accepted, ratified and endorsed the course of action and the measures and plan adopted by the Presidency, in applying the Rule and General Constitutions in conformity with the Chapter decisions of 1990 and 1996, concerning the unification of the SFO in Italy.

3. The Chapter unreservedly gave its mandate to the CIOFS Presidency to pursue the course of action outlined by the Minister General.

After careful consideration and discussion the Chapter voted to adopt proposals to amend the 1990 General Constitutions and thus completed their revision. The Chapter unanimously gave the mandate to the Presidency to update the International Statutes in line with the approved amendments.

1. Continue with the projects pursued by CIOFS: Eastern Europe, Baltic countries, Africa, Cuba.

2. Continue with the current quality the various publications, Bolletino and CIOFS Weekly.

It was suggested that an emphasis be placed on publishing articles addressing the following topics:
Ecumenism,
Interreligious dialogue,
Contemplation,
CCFMC (Comprehensive Course on Franciscan Missionary Charism),
Our missionary and prophetic charism,
Ecclesial aspects of our vocation.

3a. Formation

To summarise the necessary basic elements to be contained within all formation programs and to conduct a demographic analysis of the International Fraternity to provide a complete profile of the SFO.

3b. Leadership formation

To recommend the leadership manual adopted by the Presidency and take steps to increase its availability to all National Fraternities.

4. Implementation of General Chapter decisions

That the CIOFS Presidency takes due steps to regularise National Fraternities with respect to the implementation of the General Constitutions, specifically regarding elections where terms of office have expired, submission of national statutes and carrying out of pastoral and fraternal visitation.

5. Communication

To encourage greater communication between National Fraternities, possibly through area congresses, such as has been carried out in Africa.

6. Justice and Peace

a. To encourage the establishment of Justice and Peace Commissions within each National Fraternity.

b. To appoint a member of the Presidency with the responsibility of responding to critical issues regarding justice and peace violations by the dissemination of information to National Fraternities through the use of electronic media with the aim of relieving persecution or harassment of Franciscans world wide.

7. Jubilee

a. To highlight the year 2000-2001 for the promotion and collection of funds aimed at the establishment of new permanent CIOFS headquarters. This is to be carried out specifically by National Fraternities through National Councils.

b. To encourage National Councils to engage in ongoing fraternal dialogue with Franciscan Youth, specifically during the Jubilee year.

Madrid, October 31, 1999

Introduction

This fourth issue of KOINONIA of 1999 is dedicated to the revisions of the S.F.O. General Constitutions which were made at the extraordinary General Chapter of the S.F.O. celebrated in Madrid, October 23-31, 1999.

The past nine years, from the approval of the Constitutions "ad experimentum" (1999), up to the extraordinary General Chapter of 1999, has been a long journey which was animated by a better understanding of the Pauline Rule as the "gift of the Spirit which leads us to the Father."

Revising the Constitutions to fit "the changing times"[1 has helped reach a more profound understanding of the Secular Franciscan charism and has led all the fraternities to drink from its fountain, with the goal of adapting themselves to today's needs. The renewing force of the Spirit invites us to a continuous conversion and to live the Gospel in today's world with all its problems and hopes, as witnesses of the merciful love of the Father, and builders of his Kingdom in the city of Man.

To revise the General Constitutions involves an in-depth study of the proper identity and mission of the S.F:O. in today's society and church, in order to respond to the concrete situations of people who walk beside us, "moving from the Gospel to life and from life to the Gospel"[2 as missionaries committed to making the earthly city more human and Christian. The architect of the city is the Lord, because "if the Lord does not build the house, the builders labor in vain." (Psalm 127:2).

Revising the General Constitutions reinforces the experience of unity within the S.F.O., accepting its "special place in the Franciscan Family.."[3 It reaffirms autonomy "as the concrete sign of communion and co-responsibility." It encourages "faithfulness to the charism and observance of the Rule."[4 And it stresses secularity as a characteristic of the presence in the world "so loved by God" (cfr. John 3:16) because the Second Vatican Council said, "The secular character is proper to and specifically of the laity."[5

Revision: Work of the whole Fraternity

Study, discussion, and decisions reached in this ninth General Chapter of the SFO depended on remote and proximate preparations, which involved the whole Order. The final step of the revisions, the Chapter, has far-reaching consequences, but we must not forget the journey made by the National Fraternities in revising the Constitutions and that their concrete contributions began in January, 1995. Suggestions of the first study, sent to CIOFS, were presented to the General Chapter of 1996 in Rome. That Chapter directed the Presidency to name a commission which was to "Formulate proposals for changes, with alternatives they believed opportune," presenting them to the Presidency "for its examination and evaluation."

This Commission, formed of Francisco Cortés, Paolo Machado, Marguerite Stein and Gerard Lenglet, was created in January of 1997, and prsented its work to the Presidency in January, 1998. The Pesidency "considered, analyzed, and completed" the text in its June meeting of the same year, and sent it to the National Councils for a new revision of the texts and asked them to hand in the text to their respective International Councillors with any recommendations they might have.

Given that the task was to revise the Constitutions and not to reformulate the text approved in 1990, our constant concern was to respect the texts themselves, keep the organization of the Order flexible -- a fundamental requisite in face of the diversity of life in the S.F.O. -- and amplify the role of particular Statutes. And we always tried to guarantee openness to cultural and linguistic adaptability of the General Constitutions.

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[1 Rule, 3
[2 Rule, 4
[3 Rule, 2
[4 Rule, 26
[5 Lumen Gentium, 31; cfr. Christifideles Laici, 15.