← [[session-08-f1b|Session 8: Organization and Government of the Order and Community]] | [[formation-I-b-handbook|Table of Contents]] | [[session-10-f1b|Session 10: OCDS Members' Responsibilities to the Community and the Order]] → # Session 9: The Local Council — Understanding the Function of the Council “The Devil chooses to deceive some people in the following way. He will marvelously inflame their brains with the desire to uphold God’s law and destroy sin in everyone else. … They will rebuke everyone for their faults … and it seems to them that they dare not do otherwise for God’s sake. They tell them of the faults they see, claiming to be impelled to do so by the fire of charity and the love of God in their hearts; but in truth they are lying, for it is by the fire of hell surging in their brains and their imaginations.” — The Cloud of Unknowing, chapter 55 Required Reading: Constitutions 15, 24a-d, Ratio 24-29; Local Statutes and policies on roles and responsibilities in the community; Community policies (if any) on community roles and responsibilities. Additional Reading: Our First Duty as Carmelites, Fr. David Centner, OCD. (Appendix N) Essential Points to Discuss: • The need for mutual support in the spiritual life • The need for shared responsibility and cooperation in community life • Developing interpersonal skills and attitudes Further Points to Cover: • All members have the responsibility to: ° Attend the meetings – prepared for the discussions, on time, and present for the entire meeting (unless excused by the local Council for valid reason) ° Help with various tasks during the meeting, as the need arises ° Foster an attitude of charity toward the other members ° Develop an attitude of cooperation toward the local Council and the Superiors of the Order ° Pay dues to the community and the province (unless excused by the local Council for valid reason) • Professed members also have the responsibility to: ° Take an active interest in the wellbeing of the community and the other members ° Safeguard the harmony of community life by their friendliness and charity toward all members ° Take turns with the roles of the Liturgy of the Hours ° Cooperate with the local Council when asked to take on extra responsibilities – e.g., Secretary, Treasurer, infirmarian, librarian, liturgist, webmaster, retreat coordinator, assistant, etc. (every member has a job unless excused by the local Council for valid reason) ° Actively participate in the community apostolate (unless excused by the local Council for valid reason) ° Take an interest in activities of the Order beyond the local community 22 ° Be willing to serve on the Council, if needed (see Const 52) • Definitively professed members have the added responsibility to: ° Be willing to serve as formators or on the Council ° Be willing to help with community and ongoing formation sessions ° Promote vocations to the OCDS Note to the formator: By this time in their formation, candidates should be well on their way from mostly being nurtured to wanting to help and support others. It would be appropriate to begin discussing the various roles of service and which ones the candidates feel drawn to. Note to the Council: Community responsibilities should be shared among the members as much as possible. Every professed member should be responsible for some ongoing service to the community (unless excused by reason of age or illness). Continuously nurturing leadership skills and experience in all the members ensures that most will be equipped and confident to take a turn on the Council. It is unhealthy for a community to always rely on just a few individuals, however gifted they may be. --- **Source:** [[maps/bibliography#^biblio-ocds-of1b|OCDS Formation I Year B]]