By Father James Maciejewski

In a dramatic and unprecedented move, delegates to the annual convention of the Canon Law Society of America, held here in Atlanta, elected a woman to one of its highest offices.

Chosen as recording secretary was Sister Joan Range, an assistant professor of theology at the Divinity School of St. Louis University. She is a member of the religious community of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ.

Never before in the 33-year history of the Society, which concerns itself with Catholic Church Law, has a woman been elected to the official board.

The name of Sister Joan Range was not on the official list of nominees. Instead, she was nominated from the floor in a surprise move by another religious sister. Rev. John Finnegan, a member of the Board of Governors, said it was the only time within memory that a nominee from the floor emerged victorious. In addressing the heavily-male assembly of canon lawyers after her election, Sister Joan said she hoped to impart the "affective dimension of love" to their deliberations.

During the four-day conclave, which was held at the Regency Hyatt House, the 300 delegates heard a series of addresses that treated the subject of Church law from the standpoints of theology, psychology, sociology, history, and business management.

Several of the speakers urged reform in the exercise of Church authority.

Father Anthony Padovano, theology professor from Darlington, NJ, suggested that the Church be "de-Romanized" and that authority be exercised with the understanding of the Church as a community.

Father Thomas Swift, a Jesuit theologian from St. Louis, echoed the same theme in speaking of Church authority as properly the expression of the community will. Greater attention to the human, personal dimension in the exercise of authority will resolve the current crisis of obedience in the Church, he said.

Dr. William Sexton, a layman who is Professor of Management at Notre Dame University, delivered one of the best received talks at the convention. Stressing that he was speaking as a social scientist, he urged upon the Church the concept of "participative leadership."

In describing it, he said: "The process is simply one of creating opportunities, releasing potential, removing obstacles, encouraging growth, and providing guidance … The task of the leader is then to liberate, to stimulate, to cultivate, and to bring to bear the influence of his organization. When issues arise as to what the organization should be doing or where it should be going, the answers are found within its membership."

The formula for such leadership, Dr. Sexton declared, is found in the documents of the Second Vatican Council. "Collegiality" is a synonym for participative leadership. The formula must be applied, he said, from the top, right down to the parish level, where the lay Parish Council should possess "a legislative role in decision making and an intimate relationship of co-responsibility with the pastor."

In other official business of the convention, Father Kevin O'Rourke reported that the revision of the Church's code of canon law is not going well.

The revision is being done in Rome by some 125 experts under the direction of 56 cardinals. The first fruit of their labors, a proposal for a written Church constitution called Lex Fundamentalis, has met with severe criticism from Cardinal Suenens and others.

The basic problem with the revision, said Father O'Rourke, is the secrecy surrounding it. It forces canon lawyers to wait until a finished draft is printed before they can hope to influence the revision process.

In still other business of the convention, the Selection of Bishops Committee recommended a new process in the choosing of bishops, one which they claimed can be implemented immediately.

Their new process calls for a nominating committee to be established in each diocese by the Pastoral Council, or, if there is none, by the Senate of Priests. This committee would investigate the current needs of the diocese, spell out the qualifications desired in the new bishop, and suggest a list of nominees. Thereafter, the process would not differ greatly from the current practice, wherein nominees are evaluated by the bishops of a given region and their names forwarded to Rome.

The Canon Law Society concluded its convention on Thursday, October 14. It reconvenes next year in Seattle.