BVM Assembly 2021

Directional Statement 1: Spirituality/Worldview

We, together as BVM Sisters and Associates, drawn by grace

• into living more profoundly into the mystery of God
• into living more consciously our interconnectedness with all of creation
• into living more intensely our understanding of freedom
• into living more acutely and publicly values aligned with the Gospel

commit ourselves humbly, boldly, and courageously

• to participate and join others in profound institutional shifts transforming our congregation, church, and society toward a more just, inclusive, equitable, and sustainable world for all
• to engage and collaborate with those suffering injustices and a lack of resources for all life to flourish
• to seek conversation with and listen deeply to people with divergent perspectives, cultures, and experiences
• to widen our global awareness and connections.

Directional Statement 2: Inequality

There is a deep grief for the current situations of injustice in our world that calls us to be and become the face of an inclusive, welcoming, and merciful Church working for a just, equitable, and sustainable world in which all flourish.

We therefore commit ourselves to:

• being led by the spirit of God to listen to the people we have hurt and humbly acknowledge what we have done and failed to do
• reflecting in dialogue with all concerned on how our prejudices and biases are present in BVM policies and practices and making revisions that build relationships
• confronting inequities we have caused and acting boldly in the company of others to repair injustices and make communal acts of reparation
• educating ourselves about systemic issues of injustice in all its forms, especially racism, and letting our study change us and move us to action
• exploring the abundance provided by our own privilege and evaluating our processes for making financial distributions from our abundance
• raising our communal voice for justice in collaboration with other women and men religious and other organizations in the US and internationally when appropriate
• engaging in a congregation-wide conversation around how much we are willing to risk by publicly challenging the continued exclusion within our Church of various groups (women; LGBTQ+; etc.) around language, governance, ministry, and sacrament.