O.C. MISSION STATEMENT
By Peter Dixon
What is OC and how ought it to work?
Firstly it may be useful to explain what it is not: -
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OC is not a simple remote question and answer service.
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OC does not provide only theological or technical answers.
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OC does not presume anything with regard to Faith Development.
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OC does not dictate anything with regard to Faith Development.
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OC is not a one-man-show; it is a network, which though small at
the moment is designed to expand as the need arises.
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OC is not separate from Pastoral or any other activities.
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OC is not a static entity.
So what is or will be OC.
A simple list will not suffice for this, but rather firstly the rationale behind
its inception needs to be clarified.
The first and crucial assumption that OC makes is that there is a need for Faith
Development within the Roman Catholic Church. Anyone within our Church if they
were honest, I believe would say that not only is there a need there is a
'crying' need and that not only are we starving, but we have forgotten how to
feed ourselves!
The second crucial assumption that OC makes is that current efforts in the realm
of Faith Development fall short in a number of ways. What are the ways that
current efforts fall short? Amongst others they are: -
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When teaching we make a number of assumptions and proceed
accordingly. We make assumptions concerning a persons ability, assumptions
concerning subject matter presented, assumptions concerning need.
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A person at the mercy of these assumptions has no way in which to
interact and redress these assumptions.
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After the teaching session has finished there is little continuity
or support on an ongoing basis, so a person is left in the hope that he/she will
have been so stimulated that he/she will be capable of finding out for
him/herself a very lonely path!
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Focus - A lecturer, or a course has a focus, a starting point and
an aiming point. These are chosen based upon perceived need and the ability
and/or the interest of the presenter, often not in align with what is needed,
desired or understood.
So having now criticised all past efforts OC has to provide answers, and also
open itself to criticism of its own assumptions. So how is OC to provide
something new and how does it provide and open a new perspective on Faith
Development?
OC is first and foremost a network, a network that can on behalf of everyone
reach everyone! OC seeks to provide links amongst Priests, theologians, group's
etc. etc. functioning both within and outside the Roman Catholic Church. It
makes no judgement establishing this network, the purpose being solely to
establish a communication link. This allows OC to be thoroughly ecumenical in
its central foundation; any faith or denomination may enter the network without
fear or antagonism.
Within this network there is to be established a
consultative sub-network composed of qualified members whose job is to provide a
resource for the functioning of OC. This Consultative body is not fixed it
simply is maintained in some shape or form and can be composed of Priests,
Theologians, Rabbi's, Mullahs, Cardinals, Teachers etc. etc. This network does
not have to consist of individuals but can be via groups such as CCF etc. etc.
From this network we proceed to the hub of OC which I am calling provisionally
CORE OC. The job of CORE is to Collect, Collate and Disseminate information
across the network and via its Parish Groups and Agents (more of which later).
OC CORE can be composed of willing lay people who must have Computer access and
be computer literate, it will also contain at least one Priest They must
appreciate the need for discretion and the seriousness of the task they are
undertaking. CORE will provide a buffer that must be neutral in its operation
and able to understand the questions presented to it. CORE should try to
establish a dogmatic skeleton of the question to assist the Consultants. It has
to be always accessible from Parishes and must oversee the work of the Parish
Groups and Agents (see below). OC Core must always be open to criticism by any
ruling body within the Church and must face such criticism in a totally open and
truthful way. OC core does not seek to be seen as remote but as establishing
real links for exchange of information and support to whoever may require it. It
has a further responsibility of remaining current, both in terms of
documentation and of what is available! The task of CORE will change as and when
required and to maintain it will require hard work and dedication by those
involved in it. I do not underestimate the work necessary to carry this part of
OC successfully but God willing it will prove possible in the long term,
providing we can establish a unity of willingness to face the challenges that
such a task entails. Over time OC Core will maintain a Database of questions and
answers which will be fed back into the loop to provide help to those planning
or carrying out Faith Development activities anywhere. This information would be
available to anyone who needed it and published from time to time stripped of
any personalisation in both cases. We now move from Core to the individual
Parish groups within the Roman Catholic Church (I would also like to see such
groups set up in other denominations operating in a way similar to that of Alpha
groups at present).
The Parish groups carry the burden of the personal face of OC; it is they that
receive the questions and they that know the questioner. The answers from Core
would be impersonal containing the facts tailored in a general way according to
the indicated needs of the questioner it is for the Parish groups to present
this information in a relevant, supportive and sensitive manner which always
looks to guiding that person on their individual journey in faith. They may even
question Core themselves concerning further ideas around the question as they
see fit - the point is that there are no rules here other than sensitivity,
honesty, and guidance based on the facts not on hearsay! All Core asks of its
Parish groups is to know what was given to the questioner (a feedback report),
adherence to its guidelines (to be published shortly) and dedication. The Parish
group must contain at least one ordained minister and all others serving on the
group should follow his leadership. The guidelines OC will publish regarding
Parish groups will not dictate how those groups are organised (save the
necessity of the involvement of the local Ordinary), but reserves the rite to
monitor the integrity of the group with regard to conveying the facts to the
user. Individual 'agents' of OC at Parish level can receive direct enquiries to
OC and can provide valuable personal information which can augment both the
question and answer emphasising the personal aspect of OC.
This is the organisation of OC now does it fulfil its
obligation with regard to the points raised earlier? OC makes no assumption on
what is to be taught, or at what level. OC will respond and support as
necessary. The individual will be given a voice which will reach much further
than ever before possible and the Church will be given bigger ears with which to
hear. OC's task is to provide what is required, when it is required and how it
is required. OC can change according to requirements. OC uses modern technology
but gives to its users a personal front end and requires of them no technical
knowledge or awareness. Since OC is always available 24hrs a day it is able to
provide continuous, ongoing support to individual faith development.
Paradoxically the larger OC becomes the more it is able to concentrate on the
individual.
We have so far mentioned nothing about the younger
members of our community and here OC is able to benefit them in two ways.
Firstly they, like anyone else are catered for on an individual basis both via
Parish groups to Core and via their own children's OC Website. Secondly OC seeks
to support Religious Education in schools for the benefit of both pupils and
teachers. Exactly the same quality of service is given to our youngsters as to
the adults and it is hoped that adults will pass on their children's questions
to OC in the same way that they themselves ask.
With regard to other Faiths and Denominations they can
use the service in the same way as everyone else, either through their own
groups, or direct through our Websites, Email, FAX, Telephone or mail. No demand
is made of them and they are treated equally with everyone else, the eventual
co-opting of their members and leaders onto the Consultative network will allow
us to exchange information freely and without prejudice in a non-hostile and
open environment.
OC can also cater for secular requirements and can
provide a service to state education via the Internet, which will allow
Religious Education to be provided in an in depth and informed way without the
cost overheads. It should be possible then to bring high quality Religious
Education to environments that would never otherwise have it.
OC can be a wonderful unifier across cultural,
religious, national and social boundaries, being all things to all people. All
it needs is people of vision to join the network and offer their time to this
worthwhile endeavour and I can only echo our Lord in saying "Freely have
you received now freely give" to what could be, with your help and interest
a worthwhile and desperately needed reality.
Thank you for reading.
[NB The Formal Proposal contains amplification of many points in this statement
and should be read in conjunction with this for an in depth view of OC.
Preliminary Instructions for use are available but all
documents may be revised as and when required and at this early stage it is
quite likely that these will be changed as more people and ideas join OC.]
Peter Dixon
30th July 1999
