The Synodal Committee: A look at the statutes and rules of procedure

Last weekend, the Synodal Committee, the successor body to the Synodal Path, met for the first time. The statutes and rules of procedure adopted there can now be viewed by all interested parties on the reform process website. Katholisch.de took a look at the two documents that are fundamental to the work of the committee and looked for answers to the most pressing questions about the Synodal Committee.

Have the statutes and rules of procedure already been finalised?

Both documents were adopted by the members of the Synodal Committee at its first meeting last weekend in Essen. However, the statutes and rules of procedure have not yet come into force, as both sponsors of the reform process - the German Bishops' Conference (DBK) and the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) - still have to approve them. The lay umbrella organisation will put them to the vote at its plenary assembly in Berlin on 24 and 25 November. The bishops will adopt both documents at their spring plenary assembly from 19 to 22 February in Augsburg. However, the adoption of the statutes and rules of procedure is considered certain.

What are the tasks of the Synodal Committee?

The statutes name the establishment of a Synodal Council by March 2026 at the latest as the first - and probably most important - task of the committee. This council is intended to stabilise the reform efforts of the Synodal Path as a permanent advisory body of bishops and laypeople. However, the Vatican expressly prohibited the establishment of a Synodal Council in January. The statutes and rules of procedure do not comment on this. According to the statutes, other tasks include "reaching an understanding on the concept of synodality as a basic practice of the Church" and evaluating the resolutions already passed by the Synodal Assembly at diocesan, national and world church level. In addition, the members of the Synodal Committee discuss and decide on the texts of the Synodal Path that were adopted in the forums but not conclusively discussed in the Synodal Assembly.

Which texts still need to be discussed?

Twelve texts have been drawn up and agreed in the Synodal Forums but have not yet been adopted by the Synodal Assembly. A list of the texts is attached to the statutes of the Synodal Committee. In terms of content, the documents deal with topics such as abuse, sexuality, women and the church, clericalism and the rights of the faithful.

What is the structure of the Synodal Committee?

The committee is led by a four-member Presidium - just like the Synodal Path before it. The presidents of the committee are the President of the ZdK and the DBK Chairman, currently Irme Stetter-Karp and Bishop Georg Bätzing. The Synodal Committee elects two Vice Presidents from its ranks. In the selection process, "gender and intergenerational justice should be sought". The committee meets in plenary assemblies in which the fundamental decisions are made. These assemblies can set up commissions for substantive work, consisting of four to ten people who are members of the Synodal Committee.

Who are the members of the plenary assembly?

The committee consists of the 27 members of the Permanent Council of the DBK. These are the bishops of the 27 German dioceses. As three bishop's chairs are currently vacant, there are diocesan administrators in these dioceses who are in office until a new senior pastor is elected. They are members of the Permanent Council and therefore also of the Plenary Assembly. The ZdK has also elected 27 representatives to the plenary assembly. In addition, there are 20 further members who were elected by the plenary assembly of the Synodal Way. If a member elected by the ZdK leaves before the end of the Synodal Committee, a replacement is appointed in accordance with the statutes. If a member elected by the Synodal Assembly leaves the committee, the next person moves up according to the number of votes. A current list of members of the Synodal Committee can be viewed on the Synodal Way website.

What majorities are required for resolutions?

A two-thirds majority of all members of the plenary assembly is required for resolutions on texts and other important decisions. In contrast to the Synodal Way, resolutions no longer require a two-thirds majority of the bishops. It was also stipulated that abstentions in votes count as votes not cast. It has also been stipulated that requests for a secret ballot are preferable to requests for a roll-call vote. These points are now clearer than in the corresponding regulations of the Synodal Way. Both issues had led to controversial disputes at the synodal assemblies about the correct interpretation.

Can members be represented?

The statutes state that members of the Synodal Committee cannot be represented. This regulation is of particular importance because four diocesan bishops had announced before the committee was established that they would no longer continue on the Synodal Path from this stage onwards. As announced, Bishops Gregor Maria Hanke (Eichstätt), Stefan Oster (Passau), Rudolf Voderholzer (Regensburg) and Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki (Cologne) did not take part in the committee's first meeting. In accordance with the statutes, they cannot send a representative to the plenary sessions. However, they still have the right to take part in the committee meetings and vote at any time.

Are the commissions already operational?

The ZdK press spokesperson, Britta Baas, told katholisch.de on enquiry that the commissions are still "in the making". They are to be elected following the plenary assembly of the DBK in February 2024. The Synodal Committee will therefore only begin its work in full once the statutes and rules of procedure of the committee have been put into force by the two bodies.

Are the meetings held in public?

The rules of procedure state that all meetings of the plenary assembly are generally open to the press. Selected items on the agenda may be dealt with without media representatives by resolution of the Executive Committee or at the request of the members. However, the rules of procedure rule out a live stream. This rule did not yet exist at the first meeting of the committee last weekend, which is why the discussions were held in camera. This led to vehement criticism from media representatives. The meetings of the commissions will be held in camera.

Will there still be a spiritual accompaniment?

As with the Synodal Path, there will also be two spiritual guides for its successor body. They should be of different genders, may not be members of the committee and are responsible for providing spiritual impetus and spiritual reflection on the work of the committee. They can interrupt the meetings of the plenary assembly "if this appears to be furthering and helpful with regard to the dialogue process", according to the statutes.

When will the next meeting of the committee take place?

The next plenary meeting of the Synodal Committee will take place on 14 and 15 June 2024, the ZdK announced at the request of katholisch.de. The meeting is to take place in Mainz.

What about the financing of the committee?

The withdrawal of the four bishops from the reform process also meant the end of funding via the Association of German Dioceses (VDD). The bishops want to "pursue the path to a more synodal church in their dioceses together and in coordination with the synodal process of the universal church", it was stated in a press release at the time. They did not want to spend a lot of money to set up a body that would later be unable to act due to the guidelines from the Vatican. However, the other 23 bishops agreed among themselves to provide funding for the Synodal Committee. At the DBK's autumn plenary assembly, it was announced that four unspecified dioceses have taken over the organisation of the finances. It is not yet clear what form this will take in future. Discussions on a possible legal entity through which the payments are to be processed are apparently still ongoing.