Preparing for Elections
Thursday, April 20 brought the transition to preparing for the election process. The day ended with Sisters and Associates coming together for Taize prayer and a blessing for the next day’s elections.
Thursday, April 20 – Morning Session
By S. Georgia Kitt
Facilitators led the group into the adaptive landscape once again, paying close attention to shared meaning, seeing where this aids us into going deeper and leading us into the communal discernment process.
The morning was spent with the nominees responding to inquiries from the body and the table groups having conversations around what information they felt would provide them greater clarity and direction for choosing the next Leadership Team.
Thursday, April 20 – Afternoon Session
By S. Noreen Ellison
Thursday afternoon began with Chapter delegates gathering in their chronological age groups (cohorts) for group photos arranged by S. Georgia Kitt and the Communication Office.
The delegates were called to order by S. Annie Klapheke, co-chair of the Chapter Planning Committee. S. Annie presented the procedures for the election process. She explained that the first steps had begun in January when every Sister was able to nominate six Sisters. Fifty-one Sisters received nominations and were given time to discern if they wished to remain in the process.
In their own personal discernment, the majority of these Sisters withdrew their names. At the start of this day, there were nine remaining nominees.
Chapter delegates then voted on two pieces of business: 1) They approved the proposed election process to take place on Friday, and 2) Delegates voted to have four councilors. Thus, the Leadership Team will be the president and four councilors.
The rest of the afternoon was spent in table conversations identifying the gifts that each of the nine nominees would bring if elected to the Leadership Council. Discussions were serious, but lively as delegates configured various groupings of those who remained as nominees. The table conversations also entertained the question: How would this grouping of leaders help us live into what we say we want to do in the next four years? Table members co-mingled with delegates from other tables as discernment continued for the afternoon.
To conclude the day, the nominees returned to the Chapter room for prayer and a song-blessing to the Holy Spirit. Delegates united in thankful applause for our generous Sister-nominees who are willing to give their lives in leadership service, if elected to the Leadership Council.
Thursday, April 20 – Evening
By S. Georgia Kitt
The delegates were joined by Sisters and Associates in a prayerful Taize evening prayer in the Motherhouse Chapel which consisted of song, voice, violin, cello, piano and quiet mediation, asking God’s blessing and presence for the Chapter of Elections on Friday.
