NEWS: 8 June 03

ACMICA Constituted at First General Meeting

ACMICA was formally constituted at its General Meeting yesterday following the adoption of a National Constitution and the election of the first national Coordination Committee.

The structure of ACMICA, as set out in the Constitution, envisions a national movement of autonomous Christian groups and individuals sharing the values of proactive inter-faith and inter-cultural dialogue and the commitment to justice, peace and human rights. The Constitution was drafted by the former President of Pax Romana, Bill Neville, in close consultation with the Provisional Committee.

Bill Neville’s work in helping to establish ACMICA and his significant contribution, spanning over 4 decades, to the Catholic graduate movement in Australia and across the globe was recognised at the inaugural meeting with ACMICA’s first honorary life membership. Bill Neville will continue to retain an important role in the movement as National Adviser.

Other items considered at the meeting included the National Strategic Plan for 2003-4; a document intended to set goals and define priorities for the movement for the next committee year. The document identified the nationalisation process, continued social action, student outreach and international contact as priority areas for the movement, and set out strategies to achieve these goals.

The formal proceedings followed an address by Bruce Duncan CSsR who called for new structures of participation that can enable Catholic intellectuals and professionals to constructively engage with social issues. He also offered practical suggestions as to ways in which ACMICA can position itself to promote the development of such structures.

The Coordination Committee consists of Minh Nguyen (Convener), Stephen Leung (Treasurer), Rachel Galea (Secretary), Peter Maher (Pastoral Animator), Jenni Whelan (Member), and Bruce Duncan (Member).

General Meeting proceedings, including the Provisional Committee’s report, strategic plan and Bruce Duncan’s paper, can be downloaded at: http://www.acmica.org