Chapter 21. Pastoral Care and Services

Efforts towards creating new resources for preaching and education

Original Arabic Text
  1. The Holy Synod agreed that the Diocese of El Behera and the Youth Episcopate are to publish a series of simplified books, in a question and answer manner, in the topics of faith, doctrine, spiritual life, family, church history, rituals, and society; provided that the answers are adequate, including more than one verse if necessary. It is to be reviewed before issuance by the Synodal Committee, and then by His Holiness the Pope personally.
  2. Audio-visual conference: His Holiness, at the request of the Pastoral Care and Service Committee, agreed to hold a conference of audio-visual media centres to exchange information, experiences and material, and to develop a future plan in this important field. It was decided to set a date for this meeting, provided that each centre has a file with all its possessions in this regard. (It appeared from the preliminary survey that there are centres in Cairo, Alexandria, the youth, Al-Buhaira, Shubra Al-Khaima, Port Said, Helwan, Zagazig, HG Bishop Boutros, Al-Fayoum, Mallawi, Abnoub, Nag Hammadi, Qena).
  3. Concerning the audible gospel: It was decided that the Service Episcopate – as a first stage – is to produce the four Gospels on cassette tapes, in the short Coptic tune, and with a spiritual voice, adhering to the known version. But there are to be limited modifications, such as "full of grace" and the word "priest" instead of "elders" in some places."