Patriarchal Synod puts focus on education, society

By Elie Hourani
Daily Star staff
Saturday, October 23, 2004

BEIRUT: Participants in the sixth day of the Patriarchal Synod discussed issues ranging from technology
to the Maronite diaspora to school tuition fees on Friday.

The participants, who met at Our Lady of the Mount monastery in the Kesrouan town of Fatqa, discussed
"important texts on education, universities, political, economic and social factors affecting the Maronite church."

The 15th text put forward to the participants explained that "belonging to the Maronite Church entails believing
 in its Antiochian, Chalcedonian, Assyrian and Lebanese roots as well as the church's partnership with Rome."

Participants in the conference discussed the "changes that have marked the world in which the Maronite church
 lives."

They concluded that the church had no alternative but to "preserve its unity in Lebanon and specifically abroad"
due to the large size of the Lebanese Maronite community living in the four corners of the globe.

They also concluded that the Maronite church had transformed "from a Lebanese church to a world one."

This text was endorsed almost unanimously by participants.

Another text, dealing with the Maronite Church liturgy was similarly endorsed.

A third text, dealing with Christian education, specifically adults, was tackled by vicar Antoine Awkar and sister
Jamila Risha.

They agreed education implied more than just giving lessons in theology and morality.

This part of the synod indicated that Christian education took place in various places, including the family, the
parish, schools, theological institutions, monasteries and even in prisons.

This part concluded that such an education was not only the responsibility of the Maronite Church in Lebanon
and that society had a part to play there as well.

This text was unanimously endorsed by participants.

Another text dealt with the role of the Maronite Church in the public and technical education sectors.

Participants also agreed that the Maronite Church had a civic and civil mission.

The last text called for turning Christian schools into institutions supported by families.

Participants agreed schools should be open to all. Therefore, no student should have to leave any Maronite
school because his parents could no longer afford the tuition fees.