I am now in the General council for last
three years and gaining tremendous and valuable experiences. The animation of
the Order or Province is totally different from each other but the roles we
play are similar. But the smooth and effective functioning of the council very
much depends on the entire council members. The constitutions are very clear
about the role and responsibilities of the General, Provincial Minister and
their councilors. The entire team functions for the order or Province. They
have been given mandate by the chapter and they would have to work together and
promote the good and unity of all friars. To work hand in hand is very much
satisfying and rewarding. There are moments where it can be beyond our talents
and gifts, it can be difficult to agree to certain issues and points but we
need to keep in mind the common good. It is not my ego and selfishness that
should dominate but the good of the Order. Sometimes the councilor feels that
his voice is not heard or left out from taking important decisions. From the
part of the councilors it is very important to learn how to communicate and
collaborate with the entire team. It is not power but service that is expected
of the entire team. When the service becomes power then the team begins to
behave like political parties
The
best provincial council is the one which learns to communicates within and
without. They communicate everything and nothing is secrete within, except they
have to maintain secrets about the decisions taken. The healthy council would
be the one which expresses feelings together. They nurse any bad feelings but
allow themselves to be a bridge of communication.
The Council
plays no blame game: It may happen that the tendency to blame each other for failures
or some targets not achieved within a stipulated times. It is not the
responsibility of one person but the entire team that is involved in making a
decision and so the team must feel responsible for achieving the goals. The
team takes upon themselves the responsibility of guiding and animating the
provinces and the members. The councilors should not be just mere spectator or
a voter in the council but be a creative contributor. He is not just to attend
the council but the council comes prepared for the meeting. He shares his
valuable opinion in the council. When he does the above he would never blame
anyone in the team.
The council
respects each members contribution: The team builds up a bond when they feel
accepted and appreciated for their contribution and ideas, for suggestions and
expertise offered. The entire council may not be intellectually sound and
experts in the entire field but whatever they share goes to build the province
and allows the council to arrive at a solution, which would be beneficial for
the entire province. So one need not be a MBA student to be a councilor but it
is enough that one has sufficient knowledge of the history of the Order, deep
study of the constitutions and capuchin charism and spirituality.
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