The General Chapter of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ is the highest legislative body in the congregation as a whole.It is held every six years at the Motherhouse in Dernbach, Germany.The General Chapter elects the General Leadership and makes decisions on questions and recommendations submitted by the provinces and regions.
The General Chapter is comprised of ex officio members--General Leadership, Provincial Superiors and past General Superiors--and delegates elected from the various provinces and regions.Prior to 1935 the American Province elected one superior and one sister from each of several districts as delegates to the General Chapter.In 1923 there were six districts.It is not clear how these districts were composed.Beginning in 1935 two delegates were elected by the Provincial Chapter to accompany the Provincial.Since 1972 the number of delegates for each province or region is proportional to the number of sisters in the province or region.
What follows is a list of the General Chapters for which the Archives has material.There was no chapter during World War II.The first post-war General Chapter took place in 1948.There was a special Chapter of Elections in 1977 necessitated by the death of the General Superior.An extraordinary Chapter of Affairs was held in March 1979 to promulgate a new constitution.
General Chapter - 1923
General Chapter - October 24, 1935
General Chapter - October 28-29, 1948
General Chapter - October 29-30, 1954
General Chapter- October 1960
General Chapter - October 29 - November ?, 1966
General Chapter- October 26 - November 26, 1972
General Chapter of Elections - July 27 - August 1, 1977
General Chapter - March 6-24, 1979
General Chapter - July 18 - August 3, 1983
General Chapter - July 16 - August 4, 1989 - "Ready to Risk for the Gospel"
The Archives has material related to the General Chapters gathered and/or produced by the American Province.
For the General Chapters prior to 1935, the Archives has received only a list of delegates and alternates from the Americal Province along with a list of sisters in voting district four for the General Chapter of 1923
For the General Chapters from 1935 to 1966 there are lists of decisions reached at the General Chapter which concern the American Province.There are description of the proceedings of many of these chapters produced by delegates from the American Province in the series PROVINCIAL CHAPTERS & ASSEMBLIES.
Materials from General Chapters from 1972 on include circular letters; reports and recommendations from General Leadership, Provinces and Regions; agendas; minutes; and summary reports.
The 1972 General Chapter was prepared for by a number of committees, for which there are minutes, reports; correspondence with the American Provincial Leadership.
Materials for the 1979 General Chapter include minutes and reports from the (non-American) Provincial and Regional Chapters which preceded it.These are accompanied by handwritten English translations where necessary.The materials for this General Chapter also include drafts of the new Constitution and General Directory, and also a letter of promulgation for the Constitution.
A professional-style binder of reports for distribution was published before the 1989 General Chapter.All materials have been removed from binders and placed in folders.