III. BEC AS WAY OF LIFE AND LIBERATING MISSION

1. Identifying the PUROK as natural habitat of BEC

The natural habitat of BEC is in the PUROK, cluster of families, not simply a group of women coming together for an activity. The PUROK is the smallest natural cluster of families, relating with one another in a personal communication, with a sense of belongingness, sharing common environment and experience of community. Respecting the natural cluster, without making any artificial grouping, is not only sociologically sound but also a deep respect to the presence and the activity of the God in the community since in the beginning. God indeed created life as community.

2. Transforming the PUROK into BEC

The PUROKs as natural clusters of families are called to become communities following Jesus in the mission of the Kingdom of God. When the PUROK, as community of families respond to the call of God, then it begins its process of becoming Basic Ecclesial Community. This process of transforming the natural cluster of families into BEC involves four movements:

• Building faith relationships among the cluster families, relating with one another in equal of dignity, brothers and sisters in the Kingdom of God

• Encountering the Word as bond of relationships and basis for action, sharing the Word of God as good news of the Kingdom

• Creating ministries of worship, formation and social services as way of Kingdom-life, and

• Setting up link with all the communities, with Eucharist as greatest bond, collaborative leadership, and collective mission action.

3. Directing BEC towards liberating Kingdom mission

The PUROK as transformed BEC has to be directed towards the liberating mission of the Kingdom. BEC as community following Jesus in Kingdom mission, has to make a radical stand for justice and liberation. BEC as way of promoting greater participation and co-responsibility in the Kingdom-mission, is empowering local communities into critical mass for social transformation. Liberating mission defines genuine BEC and differentiated from tools of oppression.