Further topics for Holy Synod seminars

His Holiness the Pope reviewed the seminars conducted by him with a large number of the members of the Holy Synod from 17-19 July 1994 in the Monastery of St. Bishoy.

The seminars included the following topics:

1. Church membership
2. Pastoral care
3. The issue of redemption and the surrounding misconceptions.

His Holiness said that the translated text requires revision, and it required translation into English. His Holiness requested that the members of the Synod make their observations on the seminar document.

His Holiness said that there are mistakes in the teachings about the inheritance of the original sin, redemption and divine justice, and whether the cross merely a manifestation of God's love. When there are great writers writing mistakes in the faith, it is dangerous. Some of them read foreign books, and translate and publish what is in them!

In its report, the Committee proposed topics for other seminars, such as spirits and reincarnation, between the miracle and myths, the age difference in marriage, and medical examination before marriage.

[The following are seminars for members of the Holy Synod:]

1. The second seminar was held for the members of the Holy Synod between 16-17 July 1995 in the Monastery of St. Bishoy in the Natrun Valley, in the presence of 42 Metropolitans and Bishops, and the subject of study in this seminar was "souls"."
2. A Seminar was held for the members of the Holy Synod between 18-19 July 1996, and the subject of the study was "The Life of the Bishop and the Pastoral Duties"."
3. A seminar was held for the members of the Holy Synod on 17/07/1997 in the monastery of St. Bishoy in the Natrun Valley and attended by about 60 Metropolitans and Bishops, and the subject was, "doctrinal errors that exist in some books of the Coptic authors and their gravity."
4. A seminar was held for the members of the Holy Synod on 18/07/1998 in the Monastery of St. Bishoy.
5. A seminar was held for the members of the Holy Synod on 17/07/1999 in the Monastery of St. Bishoy.
6. A seminar was held for the members of the Holy Synod on 17/07/2000 in the Monastery of St. Bishoy, attended by Metropolitans and Bishops and it topic was "The Adventist and Jehovah's Witnesses". "
7. A seminar was held for the members of the Holy Synod on 17/07/2001 in the Monastery of St. Bishoy to study and discuss some theological matters.
8. A seminar was held for the members of the Holy Synod, chaired by His Holiness the Pope at the Papal Residence in the Monastery of St. Bishoy, on Thursday 18 July 2002 regarding the pastoral aspects and the role of the priesthood in this pastoral work.
9. A seminar was held on 14 November 2002 at the Papal Residence in the Monastery of St. Bishoy, on the subject of Protestant sniping.
10. A seminar was held for the members of the Holy Synod, chaired by His Holiness the Pope at Papal Residence in the Monastery of St. Bishoy, on 17 July 2003 on the topic "Orthodoxy of Teaching Within the Church"."
11. A seminar was held for the Bishops, members of the Holy Synod, chaired by His Holiness the Pope at the Papal Residence in the Monastery of St. Bishoy, on 18 July 2004 on "Contemporary Heresies"."
12. A seminar was held for the Bishops, members of the Holy Synod, chaired by His Holiness the Pope at the Papal Residence in the Monastery of St. Bishoy, on 18/07/2005 on "Bishop spirituality and its dealings with its Priests, people, and with other institutes."
13. A seminar was held for the Bishops, members of the Holy Synod, chaired by His Holiness the Pope at the Papal Residence in the Monastery of St. Bishoy, on 14/11/2005 on "The Concept of Obligatory Freedom"."
14. A seminar was held for the Bishops, members of the Holy Synod, chaired by His Holiness the Pope at the Papal Residence in the Monastery of St. Bishoy, on 13 November 2006, on the importance of positive action that eliminates negatives.
15. A seminar was held for the Bishops, members of the Holy Synod, chaired by His Holiness the Pope at the Papal Residence in the Monastery of St. Bishoy, on 17 July 2007 about the historic visit of His Holiness Father Paulos, the Patriarch of Abyssinia and the Ethiopian Synod delegation to Egypt and the meeting with the Coptic Orthodox Church, the conditions of the Eritrean Church, and the Vatican document named Dominus lesus, and the relationship of the Bishops with the Priests.
16. On 14 November 2008, His Holiness the Pope requested that this be a meeting of the Synod, because he had traveled for treatment just before the Holy Synod meeting before Pentecost.
17. A seminar was held for the Bishops, members of the Holy Synod, chaired by His Holiness the Pope at the Papal Residence in the Monastery of St. Bishoy on 18 July 2009, on "Our place as Monks while we are Bishops"."
18. A seminar was held for the Bishops, members of the Holy Synod, chaired by His Holiness the Pope, on 12 November 2009 at the Papal Residence in Cairo about what was stated in the Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Bishop Timothy, "Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you." (1 Timothy 4:16)."
19. A seminar was held for the Bishops, members of the Holy Synod, was chaired by His Holiness the Pope at the Papal Residence in the Monastery of St. Bishoy, held on 12 November 2009, about:

a.     Personal Status Law

b.     Ecclesiastical judgment