The Eighth Seminar was held for the Fathers, members of the Holy Synod on “Towards a Targeted, Fruitful and Developing Church” from Tuesday 16th November to Friday 19th November 2021 AD at the Logos Center at the papal residence at St. Bishoy Monastery in the presence and patronage of His Holiness and His Beatitude Pope Tawadros II and the Holy Synod Secretary and the presence of about 97 Fathers members of the Holy Synod.

The seminar opened with a speech by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, during which he addressed the features of the work and challenges of the bishop.

Based on a mandate from His Holiness Pope Tawadros II and the Secretariat of the Holy Synod, the Coptic Institute for Church Administration & Development prepared the program and topics of this seminar, which included:

First: Topics:

– Ecclesiastical management and institutional work.
– Presenting and discussing a survey of administrative management needs in dioceses and monasteries.
– The bishop’s tools for achieving wise management (good governance).
– Aiming service and management with fruition.
– Development work (going from charity to development).

Second: Workshops:

Bishops were divided into 5 groups and the following were discussed:
1. Human resources management in the diocese/monastery.
2. Management of material resources and projects in the diocese/monastery.
3. Putting development into practice.

Among the direct results of the seminar:

1. The recommendations of the honorable fathers, members of the Holy Synod, on the development of administrative management systems in dioceses and monasteries, and how to activate these recommendations in a practical way.
2. Synod Fathers interacted with the tools proposed by the Coptic Institute for Ecclesiastical Management and Development, which aim to assist the bishop in his efforts to develop administrative management systems in dioceses and monasteries.
3. Determining the technical support that the institute can provide to the dioceses and monasteries in the coming period, within the framework of the recommendations decided by the seminar.

Members of the Holy Synod prayed the Divine Liturgy headed by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II on Thursday, November 18th, corresponding to the ninth feast of His Holiness’s ordination. On the role and interest of His Holiness the Pope in ecclesiastical education.

The closing session included the presentation of the recommendations and results of the workshops.

In his closing speech, His Holiness thanked the Secretariat of the Holy Synod and the Coptic Institute for Church Administration & Development for this wonderful effort that helps in modernizing the service system in our ancient church and in developing the concepts and tools of administrative management in line with the needs of the times.

The atmosphere of the seminar was filled with the spirit of unity, company, and joy.

The Lord can use such studies for the glory of his holy name, the growth of his holy church, and the salvation of our souls.