RBWords - Volume 27 - Number 5: May 2014
Something to Think About
As I
write this, I am at an Episcopalian retreat house about 90 miles from Houston,
out in the country near the town of Navasota, TX. The place is called Camp Allen and it is
quite nice. The Episcopalians know how
to “rough it” in style! The reason I’m
here is that our Dominican province is holding its “provincial chapter.” This is a gathering that takes place every
four years in any Dominican province (geographic region) in which elected
delegates choose leadership and legislate matters pertaining to our lives. We have just elected our new “provincial”
and, thank God, it isn’t ME! We also
elected some of our new “council,” but I managed to avoid that, too! There are other elections still to occur,
however! So, stay tuned!
The
Dominican system of government is nearly 800 years old! We are one of the oldest democracies in the
world! We elect our superiors on the
local, regional and international level and each of them has a council to which
he is accountable, as well as a “chapter” which represents the membership! In Houston, at Holy Rosary, I am that elected
superior. My title is “Prior.” I am here at our provincial chapter because
all the “priors” of our “province” (eleven states in the South) come as
delegates along with other delegates elected from groups called
“colleges.” When we begin, we divide
into “commissions” which deal with various subjects like finances, formation,
community life, and mission/ministry. I
am on the Mission and Ministry commission.
Each commission goes over the legislation (“acta”)of the previous four years and decides what to
keep and what to change. Then they bring
their conclusions to the whole group which may accept or amend or reject
it. Some lively debates can occur! When the group completes its work, we turn it
over to a smaller group that we elect called the “Diffinitorium” which can
change it or even decide it is unworkable.
What they cannot do is accept anything the larger group rejected. They can also make assignments, so there are
phone calls that will be made and maybe some weeping and gnashing of
teeth! When they get done, they become
provincial councilors and the provincial takes over the reins of government for
four years.
While the
work of putting the legislation together can be tedious and the debates
nerve-wracking, it is an exercise in fraternity and worth the experience. One feels in continuity with 800 years of
governing experience. Our international
chapters meet every three years for the same purpose, but elect our international
superior (the Master of the Order) every nine years. On the local level, I have our house chapter
meet every month, but my term is three years and will end next February. I am eligible for re-election for one more
term, but not sure I want it! Keep us in
your prayers as we continue our Dominican tradition of government! IT’S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
It Has Been Said
“The
Order of Friars Preachers, founded by St. Dominic, ‘is known to have been
established, from the beginning, for preaching and the salvation of souls,
specifically.’ Our brothers, therefore, as the founder prescribed, ‘should
everywhere behave uprightly and religiously, as gospel men, following in the
footsteps of the Saviour, speaking to God or of God, among themselves or with
their neighbors.’”
From THE FUNDAMENTAL CONSTITUTION of the Order of
Friars Preachers (Dominicans) section II.