Priests have rejected the idea of a national assembly of the Catholic Church now but are in favour of its introduction within 20 years.
At the annual National Conference of Priests of Ireland in Swords, Co Dublin, the general view among the 200 attending a debate on the issue was that more groundwork at parish level needed to be done first.
A show of hands called for by the chairwoman, broadcaster Ms Olivia O'Leary, resulted in an overwhelming rejection, with only a dozen people voting in favour.
On whether an assembly would be a good idea within 20 years, only one delegate voted against, and a more consultative process was favoured, with a general meeting every four or five years.
Among the speakers was Dr Laurence Ryan, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, who said: "Meaningful steps in pastoral renewal and the promotion of collaborative ministry need to be taken in local churches throughout the country and to have made appreciable progress before we plan a national assembly."
Sister Emmanuel Leonard, of the Cloyne Diocese, said the major elements of pastoral planning should be at parish level.
Ms Aileen Walsh, of the Women's Forum in Dublin, thought it would be disastrous to go ahead with an assembly. She claimed it would be agenda-driven and elitist, with token people from margins, and it would facilitate and reinforce the polarisation already there.
Father Pat O'Hagan from Strabane said there was no substitute for good dialogue. He was in favour of the process towards a national assembly but it was important to talk to each other.
One of the few speakers from the floor was Father Paschal Scallon, of the Vincentians. "I'm in favour but I don't think it will happen if we keep with the idea of `Yes, but not yet'," he said. Father Brendan Cooney of the Irish Missionary Union said he had travelled around the country. "All 26 dioceses said No, because enough hasn't been done in each diocese by the people in the diocese," he said. "If lay people don't have a voice in the organisation, we will repeat the mistakes of the last centuries."
The new president of the NCPI is Father Jim Stanley of the Redemptorist Order. A native of Woodford, Co Galway, he is now based at a monastery in Athenry, Co Galway. He has worked in the Philippines and all over Ireland. Father Stanley will succeed Father Enda McDonagh for a three-year term of office.