V. THE GENERAL CHAPTER

1. Preparation

The functions of the Preparatory Commission were considerably increased to include: revision of the Rules of Procedure, preparation of a "Working Document" for presentation to the Chapter, proposal of a general plan for the work of the Chapter, including an indication of a date for the end of the Chapter.

2. Representation at the General Chapter

The Chapter rejected a proposal that the Brothers Provincial not be members of the Chapter by right.

It decided that the number of elected members must be fifteen more than the number of members by right and that each administrative unit will elect at least one member.

3. Rule for the election of Delegates and Substitutes

A new electoral rule was adopted. It takes into consideration that the positions to be filled are those of delegates and substitutes. Hence each voter will mark on his ballot paper as many names as there are positions to be filled.

For Brothers absent from their provinces, there is the possibility of voting by proxy.

All these provisions result in changes in the Statutes of the General Chapter. The complete text of these new Statutes is found in the section entitled "The Constitutions and Statutes concerning the General Chapter".

4. The Rules of Procedure

A pre-chapter group appointed by Brother Superior General, and working in collaboration with the Preparatory Commission, presented a proposal for the Rules of Procedure. The Chapter adopted this proposal which, among other things, facilitated the use of a discernment method in plenary Commission. It decided that the Moderators of the General Assembly need no longer also be members of the Central Commission. Other Capitulants were elected for this function by the Chapter.

Criteria were established to determine the constitution of the Central Commission and the election of its members, for this XIX General Chapter:

Principle : The Capitulants divided into groups and each group nominated candidates for election as members of the Central Commission.

1. Each group corresponded to a "part of the world" as follows:

— Africa and Madagascar

— Latin America

— North America, Australia, and New Zealand

— Asia, and the Islands of the Pacific

— Europe

2. The Central Commission was composed of 8 members - Commissioner, Vice-Commissioner, Secretary General, and five other members, each representing a group.

3. Each group nominated:

a) One capitulant for election as either Commissioner or Vice-Commissioner, and one other capitulant for election as Secretary General.

b) Two other capitulants from the group, in order of preference.

4. Qualities required in members of the Central Commission were determined as:

In the group - capacity to communicate amongst themselves in a common language; for each - capacity for animation and organisation, ability to listen, ability to work in a team.

5. Election process

1°        Election of two scrutators

2°        Election of the members of the Central Commission in the following order:

a)         Commissioner

b)         Vice-Commissioner

c)         A representative of each group.

[Those eligible for this election are the two capitulants nominated by the group [See 3 (b) above] as well as any capitulant member of the group, nominated for the position of Commissioner or Vice-Commissioner, and not elected. A non-elected nominee for the position of Commissioner or Vice- Commissioner is placed at the top of the list of candidates from the group.]

As far as possible the electronic voting system is used to elect the Central Commission.

(Details are contained in The Rules of Procedure.)