At the Corpus Canada National Coordinating Team (NCT) meetings and subsequent AGM at Bragg Creek, I proposed that Corpus Canada undertake a proposal for a more effective hospitality ministry. The outline of this strategy was published in the Sep-Oct issue of The Journal. The AGM accepted the second proposal. It could not deal with the strategy (hospitality ministry), because at the time the proposed National Project Leader was Grant Croswell, and since he and his wife, Colleen Lissamer, were chosen to be the National Coordinators for the organization, Grant decided to remove himself from a leadership position for the hospitality ministry. When I learned of this a few days later, I decided to take on the leadership role for this project, because I feel that it is too important to let it just slide into oblivion. After a conversation with Arthur Menu about this, I presumed the NCT members would eventually support this proposal for a more effective hospitality ministry, and I have decided to go ahead with it. For the benefit of those who have not seen the proposals, I copy them here: "That the AGM approve the following two strategies as practical applications of specific Corpus Canada objectives:

Strategy: A proposal for a more effective hospitality ministry:
National project leader: François Brassard

A: Target audience: (regardless of sexual orientation)
•Active priests in transition or already having transitioned.
•Active priests in relationships with women.
•Active priests needing support/counseling.
•Women seeking equality of treatment in terms of ministry.
B: Types of hospitality being offered:
•Social contact, empathetic listening.
•Career counseling.
•Emotional support from qualified people.
•Promotion and practical support of women s ministerial equality movement.
C: How to strategies:
•Establish updated directories of active clergy and members of religious life.
•Establish updated directories of inactive priests and resigned members of  religious life.
•Identify Corpus members or others capable and willing to offer services.
•Promote efforts at the local level to make contacts and offer services.
•Connect with bishops via e-mail, etc. to offer support services for active priests needing help.         
•Place advertisements in well chosen publications offering services for target audiences. Note: The national project leader(s) would act as a central clearing house for information as well as an enthusiastic enabler of action at the local level. The leader(s) would report to the National Coordinator. 

I would now like to write about why I feel that this strategy is very important for the life and growth of Corpus Canada as an organization (not to mention the attainment of its goals). I have been concerned for some time now that interest and membership in organizations like Corpus Canada have been dwindling. There have been several assessments by competent people in different countries speculating as to the reasons for this decline: age, energy level, disinterest in fighting Don Quixote battles with handicapped leaders of a clerically dominated patriarchal institution, disinterest in returning to parish ministry either as it presently exists or in any form, etc. Yet, as a counterpoint to this dreary assessment, I have also observed to my utter amazement and edification the gifting and service that resigned priests and religious (women and men) continue to offer the People of God in myriad, faith based ways. In view of the above, it occurred to me that Corpus might invite these God-called people to do something fundamentally Jesus-like that was age and energy level tolerant, namely to offer compassionate hospitality to those people for whom Corpus has particular concern. To offer support to the people that God has called to service is a good thing to do. It is nothing new. Many Corpus members and others have been doing this for years. In fact, I think it is really what Corpus has done best. I just think we could do it better, that is, in a more organized way, providing more information and expertise to facilitate local activity. For this to work, we need updated directories of the people we would like to contact. As project leader, I need people who could help me set up a data-base; I need people who are willing and capable of offering specialized support; I need to hear and promote all the hospitality stories, because they inspire other creative endeavours. This is something Jesus would do. This is something we can do. Let's do it.