India’s religious hold ‘coffee-shop’ on good governance of congregations
(October 03, 2011) The religious orders of India are envisioning a major shift in
the way their communities are being administered in the light of emerging trends in
civil society using principles of good governance. The Conference of Religious India
(CRI) that brings together the major superiors of religious congregations in India
took its cue from a café billboard caption that read, "a lot can happen over a cup
of coffee," and held its first ever ‘coffee-shop’ in New Delhi on Sept 26. The CRI
secretariat organized the meet at CRI house, Delhi, with a small gathering of six
major superiors from in and around the capital and four members of CRI house. Religious
congregations in India are today stressing upon good governance like participatory
approach in decision-making, accountability and transparency. Participants in Delhi
‘coffee-shop’ underscored the need for proper training and education to animators
and members of religious communities. They also said stressed on accountability on
the part of leaders and members not only in decision-making but also in standing up
to the decisions in the process of implementation. CRI National Secretary, Montfort
Brother Mani Mekkunnel guided the discussions, focussing on the issue-based approach
and concerns such as decision-making, transfers and appointment. The coffee-shop has
kick started wider consultation on the vision, principles, characteristics of good
governance and its possible implementation in congregations.