The IDC's first virtual study conference was a great success
From September 15-18 the International Diaconate Center held its first virtual study conference and general meeting. The title of the study conference was “The Future of the Diaconate in a Changing World”.
The response from the participants was very positive. Many members who could not travel to face-to-face events took the opportunity to order free tickets for the conference and meeting. Over 200 tickets were issued.
The Spanish speaking Chat-Room in action
Taking the different time zones into account, the organizers offered two lectures and a group exchange in the conference every day. The agenda of the general assembly was also kept short.
Top-class speakers gave lectures on fundamental issues through to very personal practical experiences. This mixture in particular was very well received by the participants.
The disadvantage of the lack of personal encounters could at least partially be compensated for by using many forms of online communication.
In the regular new elections of the board and the delegates, the electoral rules adopted in 2017 for the “eVoting” could be applied for the first time.
Deacon Gerald DuPont of Galveston-Houston, Texas, USA was re-elected as President. Its vice-presidents are Father Gilbert de Lima (India, Archdiocese of Bombay / Mumbai) and Deacon Erik Thouet (Germany, Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart). Together with Marie-Françoise Maincent-Hanquez (France, Archdiocese of Lille) as representative of the wives of the deacons and deacon Jörg Stein (Rottenburg), managing director of the IDZ, they form the board.
The members of the IDC confirmed Martin Brunner-Artho (Switzerland), Alberto Magno Cavalho de Melo (Brazil), Edwin Ng (China), Terttu Pohjolainen (Finland) and Benas Ulevičius (Lithuania) as delegates.
Miguel Angel Herrera Parra (Chile), José Gabriel Mesa Angulo (Colombia) and the previous Vice-President Mark Woods (England) were newly elected as delegates.