Release
Christian Life Community-USA National Coordinating Council
Annual In-Person Meeting ~ October 12-15, 2017

The grace sought for the NCC meeting was a greater openness to God’s Spirit and true “union of minds and hearts” so that we may grow more deeply in relationship with one another.  The objectives for the meeting were to evaluate and discern CLC-USA’s ongoing needs in areas of spirituality (including formation), community life, (including membership and communications), ministries, and other priority issues and to “make operational” some clear next-steps in these high-priority areas, moving them to “the next level of implementation,” and to reach a consensus on certain other “directional goals” that need further NCC attention. 

 
Highlights and Actions Taken
 
Formation

• NCC provided directional affirmation for the continuation of the guides’ training program which it saw as being part of the larger dynamic of “formation.”
• It recommended the expansion of the formation team and re-evaluation of assets and needs.
• NCC viewed membership in context of formation.

 
Communications

• NCC supported greater “engagement” of the membership in CLC-USA communication efforts which includes the website, eNewsletter and Harvest magazine.  It affirmed the need for increased communication at all levels and supported efforts at “bridge building” with the Jesuits, members of the Ignatian family and beyond through personal contact and the expanded use of Zoom and other media technologies.

 
Ministries

• NCC re-affirmed the importance of working with CLC university programs and will continue to reach out to these groups and program alumni.
• NCC reviewed the Lightworks proposal and will take further action.
• NCC approved the formation of a committee to formulate procedures for coordinated social justice activities in CLC-USA.
• NCC allocated resources to continue the ministries fund which will provide grants to CLC-USA projects consistent with World CLC frontier ministries with an emphasis on activities relating to youth and young adults. 

 
Other

• CVX-CLC Ecclesial Vice Assistant, Fr. Herminio Rico, S.J., (via Skype) stressed the need to recognize that we, as CLC, are all part of one CLC body and we need to integrate with the larger CVX-CLC world community.
• NCC welcomed the new National Ecclesial Assistant, Fr. John Lan Tran, S.J.
• NCC welcomed the Polish CLC (PCLC)-Chicago which became an affiliate of CLC-USA on June 27.
• We are in the process of selecting four delegates and ExCo nominees to the World CVX-CLC Assembly which will be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on July 21-August 1, 2018. 
• We expressed deep appreciation for Ed Plocha for his service as President of CLC-USA.