5 - 12 September 2008
Mennorode, the Netherlands
The 2008 AMI General Assembly was held in the Netherlands. Delegates expressed deep gratitude to the Dutch organizing team, the Armed Forces, the National Katholiek Thuisfront, and the Military Catholic Chaplaincy for their hospitality and excellent organization. Special recognition was given to Mrs. Nelleke Swinkels, Lt. Col. (R) Gerard Dykers, and Jan van Liverloo for their leadership and liturgical preparation.
The theme of the assembly was “Strengthening Christian Values within Armed Forces Worldwide.” Key presentations were delivered by Prof. Dr. Désirée Verweij of the Netherlands Defence Academy, Brigadier Christoph Ammon of the German Armed Forces, and Prof. Dr. Karlijn Demasure of St. Paul University, Ottawa, on topics including ethics and operations, leadership in mission, and post-traumatic spirituality. Working groups discussed the current situation and future of AMI, agreeing on several initiatives. A Permanent Working Group, chaired by Monsignor Dr. Werner Freistetter, was established to review the Declaration of Rome (2000): The Catholic Soldier at the Beginning of the Third Millennium. Delegates also approved a new AMI information folder prepared by Nelleke Swinkels and Chaplain Annie Walscharts, reviewed updates on the redesign of the AMI website, and considered efforts to obtain NGO legal status in Austria, though concerns from some bishops delayed a final decision.
The assembly also heard appeals from Kenya and Malawi for support of HIV/AIDS-related projects, particularly orphan care, and from Slovenia, which sought assistance in establishing a Catholic lay organization within its armed forces. The financial report for 2006/2007 was unanimously approved, and the Executive Committee was discharged. Elections were held for new leadership: Germany was unanimously chosen for the AMI Presidency (2009–2011) with Col. Reinhard Kloss as President, while the Netherlands was unanimously elected for the Secretariat General (2009–2011) with Nelleke Swinkels as Secretary General. Austria and Germany provided new auditors, and Lt. Col. Michael Jedlička of Austria was elected liaison officer to the Forum of Catholic-inspired NGOs.
