Upon This Tradition IV: Toward Full Discipleship was approved in 1984 by the members of the Conference of American Benedictine Prioresses as an interim statement. The designation interim has led some to believe that the statement did not receive the full approbation of the Conference. It is true that the process of writing the document and discussing it among the prioresses did stimulate many difficult and probing questions. Nevertheless, when the vote was taken to approve the statement as interim, the support was overwhelmingly positive.

What did interim mean to the prioresses? The introductory paragraph on the inside cover of the initial 1984 printed statement explains that this is a study document, designed to initiate discussion, to evoke thought and to elicit response from the members of communities of American Benedictine women. The writers go on to say that the purpose of the study is that as Benedictine women we can take a position on this issue that is life-giving to both women and men.(1) The statement did accomplish half of its stated purpose. It did stimulate study, discussion and prayerful consideration in many monasteries. The prioresses never did follow up with a firm statement of position, however.

The study of the document was fruitful in many respects. The Second Vatican Council and the women's movement had already stimulated efforts to reclaim the rich tradition of the monastic women of the past. Toward Full Discipleship gave further incentive to American Benedictine women to learn about and appreciate the lives of their monastic foremothers. Their examples of courage, faith, dedication and leadership were discovered and celebrated in diverse ways, including research, scholarly works, popular books and articles, retreat conferences, symposia and other gatherings devoted to these women's lives and teaching.

The stories of the monastic women of history contributed much to the self-understanding of twentieth-century monastic women. Not only did American Benedictine women recognize and cherish their solidarity with their monastic ancestors, but also, because of their common heritage, they forged new bonds of solidarity with one another. An unmistakable result of Toward Full Discipleship, indeed of all the Upon This Tradition statements, was a strong sense of unity in spirit and in purpose among the women in the monasteries of the Conference of American Benedictine Prioresses.

A further outcome of Toward Full Discipleship was the impetus it gave to the raising of consciousness about the situation of women in the contemporary world. Many monasteries were developing programs to address women's issues prior to the issuance of the document; however, in some cases, the statement served to initiate or intensify these efforts. Whether the document directly influenced it or not, American Benedictine women became conscious of the situation of women in society and church. They reached out to their lay sisters with help and support in a variety of ways. They especially became sensitized to the role of women in the church. This awareness had an impact on their lives of worship and work. For example, they began to use inclusive language in liturgical texts and reflect on images of God that were not exclusively masculine.

Why have the prioresses never readdressed the issue of women in society and church with a formal definitive statement? Undoubtedly, a part of the reason has to do with the question of women's ordination. Official church pronouncements have repeatedly declared the impossibility of women being ordained to the presbyterate, and discussion of the subject has been forbidden. Further, the prioresses acknowledge that there is not unanimous agreement on this topic in their communities. The absence of a statement of position may be motivated by loyalty and obedience to church authority. It may also arise out of sensitivity to differing opinions in monasteries themselves or among their various publics.

Perhaps a more weighty reason may be that American Benedictine women, in the years since Toward Full Discipleship was published, have understood and assumed their role in church and society to the fullest extent possible under present conditions. They have made enormous efforts and achieved much for themselves and for women everywhere. There is little that a public statement could accomplish, given the present stance of the official church. American Benedictine women prefer to do what is practical, effective on the local level, and likely to have greater impact in the long run.

Toward Full Discipleship proved to be prophetic in many ways. It was a call to examine basic understandings of justice and equality among all those baptized into the life and freedom of Christ. Although the agenda it presents has not been fully accomplished, strides have been made. The document should be valued for its contribution and viewed as a positive expression of the concerns of its time.

NOTE

(1) The complete statement in the front cover of the original printing of the document reads: As a study document TOWARD FULL DISCIPLESHIP is a first statement by the Benedictine Prioresses of the United States on the important and emerging topic of women in church and society. This work is designed to initiate discussion, to evoke thought, and to elicit response from the members of our priories, so that as Benedictine women we can take a position on this issue that is life-giving to both women and men.