It was like a mini-council of the Church. There were even “observers” from other denominations present. Protestant, Orthodox and Jew sat in on the deliberations. This first Synod of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, held in 1966, was a most unique gathering of the local church.

Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan determined that the synod would proceed in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council. He appointed Father Michael Manning to be chairman of the synod and urged clergy, sisters and laity to participate in the renewal process.

The synod would be called The Church of Christ. In a pastoral letter to all parishes on Nov. 13, 1966, signed by Archbishop Hallinan and Bishop Joseph L. Bernadin, the people were reminded: “You are the Church. That is, you do not just belong, you really ARE the Church.”

The entire year was used, both in the parishes and the archdiocese, as the synod year. From January until May, the Lay Congress and the Sisters Congress was organized. Agendas were set and delegates picked.

On May 1 and 2, the Sisters Congress was held in the Cathedral center. Two hundred sisters working in the different ministries of the archdiocese attended. The deliberations were set down for discussion at the formal synod.

From May 20-22 the Lay Congress was held in the Biltmore Hotel. One hundred representatives of the parishes convened and made recommendations for the synod.

On Sept. 24 and 25 the Young Adults Congress convened in the Cathedral Center. The voices of the youth of the archdiocese sent their views to the synod.

On Nov. 20-23 the First Synod of Atlanta took place at the Cathedral Center. The bishops, the clergy and representatives from the three congresses attended, along with the other church observers. Other dioceses sent observers also.

After thorough discussion, decrees were written on education, social services the Word of God, sacraments, Church structure, the call to holiness, youth, the call to unity, communications, hospitals and other parochial and diocesan matters. Promulgation of these decrees would afterward be implemented through the booklet “The Church of Christ.”

On Dec. 8, 1966, at a concelebrated Mass in the Cathedral of Christ the King, these documents were formally presented to Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi, apostolic delegate to the United States, for transmittal to Pope Paul VI.

Dec. 8, 1966 was the first anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Council.