Inclusive Governance in a Synodal Church Symposium concludes in Rome

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

“There are various modes in which lay people, along with their sisters and brothers in consecrated and ordained life, can contribute to decision-making and decision-taking in the life of the Church, whilst acknowledging that in any Diocese, the Bishop is the decision-maker, and all of these entities operate in communion with the Bishop.” 

Professor Susan Pascoe, adjunct professor at Australian Catholic University (ACU), made this observation in an interview with Vatican News.

Professor Pascoe organized the Inclusive Governance in a Synodal Church Symposium, which concluded today at ACU’s Rome Campus. The event marked a milestone in a pioneering international research project on lay governance in the Catholic Church. Initially launched in partnership with Durham University, the project is moving toward a wider consortium and, in its first year, explored the emergence and operation of lay-led canonical structures, specifically Ministerial Public Juridic Persons (PJPs), as expressions of synodal governance.

The symposium brought together theologians, canon lawyers, researchers, and practitioners from around the world to examine governance models in which Catholic lay people play key decision-making roles in ministries such as education, healthcare, aged care, and social services.

Second edition

Now in its second year, the Inclusive Governance in a Synodal Church project has identified more than 100 MPJPs or similar bodies across English-speaking countries. Research has highlighted both the canonical robustness and theological richness of these structures, which are seen as living expressions of a post-Vatican II Church committed to shared leadership.

During the interview, Professor Pascoe explained that the project derives from the Synod on Synodality and is now in its implementation phase.

“One of the strong themes that emerged during all phases of discernment of the Synod was the active and full participation of all of the people of God, all of the baptized. Our particular interest is the kind of formation that would be useful for those baptized who wish to more fully participate in the life of the Church,” she said.

She noted that lay participation can take many forms, from pastoral councils and diocesan finance councils to governance roles in ministerial public juridic persons or associations of Christ’s faithful.

Symposium program and discussions

Reflecting on the events of the week, Professor Pascoe noted they began with Scripture, with biblical scholars guiding us through the Old and New Testament, exploring the human person in relationship with God.

“Through baptism,” she said, “people gain the capacity to contribute to the life of the Church. We then examined historical examples of full lay participation in Church life and moved on to contemporary streams, such as the implementation of synodality.”

Participants explored initiatives across Africa, parish programs, and diocesan-level implementations, analyzing factors that influence reception of synodality in different contexts.

Canon lawyers and theologians, she said, presented on the theological and canonical frameworks underpinning decision-making in the Church.

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Another stream, she highlighted, considered the work of religious institutes that have entrusted their ministries to lay governance, with case studies from Canada, the United States, and Australia.

On the final day, participants examined the theological language used to describe lay contributions and governance in the Church, and explored methods to measure whether synodality has been effectively implemented in Dioceses, parishes, and Catholic institutions.

Looking ahead to broader participation in 2028

This year’s symposium expanded its consortium of universities and addressed a broader range of topics. Professor Pascoe announced plans for the 2028 edition:

“Rather than being a symposium of academics, we aim to open it to a conference and hear from people involved in all types of decision-making and decision-taking in the Church. We hope to bring together lay people, consecrated, ordained members of the episcopacy, and scholars in a synodally planned and implemented forum.”

Professor Pascoe, who has been closely involved throughout the synodal process, concluded, “Now that we are in the implementation stage, there is enormous possibility for all corners of the Church to take this forward, mindful of local history, context, and culture.

“As Pope Francis said,” she noted, “this is part of the ordinary magisterium of the Church, to be implemented in life-giving and grace-filled ways.”