The Task Force members defined their task as one of assisting the ESC Provincial Ministers in exercising their fiduciary responsibility to:
- preserve and transmit the Franciscan charism and intellectual tradition;
- provide initial and ongoing formation to the friars for their life and ministry as Franciscans; and
- serve as transmitters of the tradition to the emerging parts of the Order which use English in training and education.
It is the conviction of the Task Force members that the English Speaking Conference finds itself, because of this unique historical moment, at a critical juncture in the history of the Order and the development of the Church's presence in the world. Action is imperative, as the window of opportunity in terms of the present infrastructure, the movement of the Order, and the development of younger scholars is rapidly narrowing. This is well indicated in the paper identifying the Franciscan Intellectual Tradition and in the address which Joe Chinnici gave at the Franciscan Institute, July 11, 2000. Fundamental to the entire presentation is the statement of vision and values underlying the suggestions found in Part II of that presentation.
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