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FutureChurch is celebrating 25 years of working alongside Catholics like you seeking changes that provide all the baptized the opportunity to participate fully in the life, ministry and leadership of the Church.
Together we have advocated for both a married and celibate priesthood; brought women's leadership and ministry into sharper focus through our Women and the Word campaigns; celebrated the powerful witness and unique leadership of St. Mary of Magdala; supported Catholics as they work to keep their vibrant parishes open and so much more!
In the summer of 1990, the Community of St. Malachi formed a committee to deal with issues of internal reform in our Catholic Church. The council had endorsed the Resurrection Parish Council position that the centrality of the Eucharist outweighs disciplinary considerations of the state-in-life and gender of ordained ministers.
Members of the two parishes met to discuss their concerns and decided they needed to organize. Desiring broad participation, they invited pastors, pastoral associates and lay leaders of some 20 faith communities to explore ways of educating and advocating around concerns, especially as they related to the Eucharist.
On October 16, 1990, 33 people from 16 faith communities met at St. Malachi Center to form the FutureChurch coalition. Members of parishes throughout the diocese gathered for monthly meetings.
In 1990, FutureChurch called for these reforms:
1. We call upon Church officials to incorporate women at all levels of ministry and decision-making.
2. We call upon the Church to open the priesthood to women and married men, including resigned priests, so that the Eucharist may continue to be the center of the spiritual life of all Catholics.
3. Just as the U.S. Bishops invited participation in developing their teaching
 on social justice for their pastoral letters on peace and economic justice, we call for extensive consultation on such issues as officially permitting divorced and remarried Catholics to receive the Eucharist, intercommunion, selection of bishops, etc. Read more.
Do you know who is in the photo at the top of the page? Do you recognize the people in this photo? Click here for the answer!
Did you know that Fr. Richard McBrien, who sadly died on Sunday, January 25th, was the FutureChurch guest speaker at the first big fundraiser in 1991? His presence drew over 700 people! Fr. McBrien will be sorely missed by everyone at FutureChurch and we are deeply grateful for his steady and strong leadership in the reform movement!
FutureChurch exists because of Catholics like you who have shared your gifts, time, talents and resources.
If you have a story you'd like to share about an event or a special moment with FutureChurch for our 25th anniversary, please send it to Deb Rose-Milavec at debrose@futurechurch.org. If you have a photo to share, please send it to Deb. We will post your stories and photos on our 25th Anniversary story page and include some of them on our 25th Anniversary CD. .
Building on our past, FutureChurch looks toward the future! We are as committed as ever to bring about the reforms needed for today's church. We will continue to lead the way working for:
- Just, open and collaborative structures for Catholic worships, organization and governance
- A return to the Church's early tradition of both married and celibate priests
- A return to the Church's earliest tradition, modeled on the inclusive practice of Jesus, of recognizing both female and male leaders of faith communities
- Regular access to the Eucharist, the center of Catholic life and worship for all Catholics.
Celebrate our first 25 years and help us to continue to carry out this important work by becoming a Quarter Century Club Member. Click here for details and THANK YOU for all you do to create the future church!
FutureChurch 17307 Madison Avenue Lakewood, Ohio 44107 futurechurch.org info@futurechurch.org 216.228.0869 x 5
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