Drawing on experiences of the recent synod, this workshop will discuss the challenges and possibilities for synodal leadership and decision-making, focussing especially on local and national contexts in Australia. It will explore how we in Australia might continue our efforts to implement the Synod’s understanding of the critical role of discernment, consultation and collaboration in decision-making.

Two outstanding models of Christian living, join together in this workshop to reflect on what it is to be human and bring those who are often excluded to the centre. L’Arche who work in community with people with a range of abilities, have recently rebranded their organisation to include the message ‘With and Without…We Create Together’, while the ‘See, Judge, Act’ methodology of YCS is a call to deep, reflective living. Both are prophetic guides to a transformed kingdom-centred future where people and creation are one.

This workshop begins with a sharing of insights and underlying ‘triple E’ pedagogy of the Josephite Laudato Si Urgent Hope series. We will provide examples based on a three-step conversion process; Explore – a process which begins with the current climate crisis, Embrace – connects with the teachings of Laudato Si and Laudate Deum, Catholic Social Teaching and faith, and Embody – leading to contemplation, action, advocacy and activism. The art of framing questions will provide a bridge for participants to engage with the ‘triple E’ pedagogy.

2025 has developed as one of the most momentous years that has confronted the global community in the past century. The cataclysmic shifts in the U.S. political scene (and their impact on the global community), the federal election results in Australia, and the paradigm shifts within and beyond the Catholic Church, are calling us, in strategic ways, to reflect on our responsibilities to respond to the moral issues facing us and the call to use the power we have to make a difference  – “to find a way to make a way out of no way”, as John Lewis has said.

Participants in this workshop will engage with strategies that aim to assist us to move beyond personal action to utilising effective advocacy approaches to influence systemic change:

• Sharing strategies for effective communication with political, community and religious leaders targeting influencers such as media and lobby groups
• setting up partnerships with allied communities
• strengthening relationships and strategies within our own communities.

It is hoped that the ideas shared and the strategies developed from this workshop will support ongoing relationships and possible action.

French Philosopher Simone Weil said that ‘attention is the rarest and purist form of generosity.’ This workshop will explore opportunities to create spaces for everyday curious conversations that show that we’re listening, that we’re present and available to the people in our lives. In a time of increased loneliness, social isolation, disconnection, when the languages of exclusion and hate are normalised and amplified, one of the paths we can choose is to dial down the noise and be more attentive to those around us, to be curious, to include and connect and to grow our capacity for empathy and compassion as we accompany those with whom we walk on our shared journey to thriving in difficult times.

After a brief overview of the principles of Synodality and Theory U highlighting the power of these models to help bring about the new approaches that are needed for the times we live in, participants will engage in practice. These structured deep listening and dialogue practices emphasise the need of the collective and can be used by anyone seeking to uncover new pathways. These tools and practices can be implemented by local communities and large organisational leadership entities alike.

Formation is central to being a synodal church in mission. The Archdiocese of Adelaide has been working at embedding synodal practices for several years. Drawn into the Joy of the Gospel, the Archdiocesan statement on formation, was developed as a result of the outcomes of synodal processes of the Adelaide Diocesan Assemblies and is guiding the work of synodal formation in the Archdiocese. This workshop will explore the journey and key themes of Drawn into the Joy of the Gospel as well as offer practical tools and resources for synodal formation.

As colleagues working in formation, or mission leadership, we will explore the how working together to understand formation more deeply can enhance our work and grow this profession. Through story, we will identify some of the different ways formation is defined and understood, and the impact this has on strategic direction for an organisation or ministry.  We will unpack questions of priority for the enabling elements for effective formation such as funding, staffing and governance.

These discussions will lay the groundwork for the strategic and operational priorities for the first years’ work of formation.org.au: Australia’s new membership association for people who design, deliver and lead formation for mission. Come along if you’re a wise elder, or someone just getting started in this amazing profession. Connect with your tribe and become part of something special.

For almost 20 years the Sydney Alliance has been bringing together people from all walks of life, to act together on common concerns like housing, climate and welcome for people seeking asylum. To this it uses a process called relational community organising, which starts with building relationships as the foundation for mutually respectful democratic action.  In this workshop, Chantelle will share lessons from the Alliance:

• How, through relational action, we can find the common ground to act in a polarized world
• The importance of nurturing relational leaders, who step out with courage

Celebrating our “why” as people of faith amidst diversity.

Together we will workshop ideas on how community development and systems thinking approaches can be used to work for positive social change. Using examples of scaled and local work for the prevention of domestic and family violence within parish and wider Diocesan communities in Victoria, we will reflect on the intersections between a community development approach to mission that is inspired by Catholic Social Teaching and Pope Francis’ vision of synodality, and how the resources of the broader Catholic community (health/education/social services) are a unique strength that might be galvanised in our various mission contexts. 

A brief summary of Synodal principles and a Theory U approach will be provided. Participants will then engage in the practice of 3D Sculpting, using everyday objects to map the contexts, teams or systems they work in to uncover unexpected pressure points, weaknesses and blindspots that need to be transformed. A powerful technique to unlock the new.