The following material is taken from a report on major presentations and decisions of the General Synod which is supplied daily to members and other participants. It has been reorganized by topics for the convenience of other members of the church and is made available with a minimum of editing. Digests of presentations and descriptions of decisions are unofficial. Those who wish to consult the texts of speakers should contact the individuals concerned. The official minutes will be published at a later date in the Synod Journal.
The Synod opened on the evening of Thursday, 1 June, with a celebration
of the eucharist attended by the His Excellency the Rt. Hon. Roméo
LeBlanc, Governor General of Canada, members of the Synod, and
guests. Grandfather William Commanda, a member of the Algonquin
First Nation, offered an elder's prayer, honouring a First Nations
custom by which members of one nation solicit the prayers of the
spiritual leader of a territory when visiting the home of another
nation. The Primate addressed the Synod as president. At the conclusion
of the eucharist the Governor General, as Head of the Canadian
Heraldic Authority, presented the coat of arms, flag and badge
of the Anglican Church of Canada. On the following morning the
Vice-Chancellor declared the presence of a quorum. The Bishop
of Ottawa welcomed the Synod on behalf of the host diocese. The
Synod adopted the address of loyalty to be forwarded to the Queen,
which was presented in English, French, and Cree. The Primate
introduced the Officers, Secretaries, Assessors, and Chairs of
the Sessional Committees of the General Synod, as well as the
ecumenical partners, external partners, and others, and extended
the courtesies of the house to a number of persons. The Minutes
of the 33rd session of the General Synod were adopted as printed
in the Journal and approved by the Certification Committee. The
Synod received information on procedural matters and adopted resolutions
relating to agenda, reports, elections, and resolutions.
The Presidential Address (A digest)
The Primate welcomed the Synod not as delegates but as
members, chosen to exercise responsibility and accountability
for the good of the whole of the Anglican Church of Canada no
matter how strong their local and regional commitments. Speaking
in French, the Primate indicated the presence of the Governor
General, noting that it was the first time since 1918 that the
Governor General had attended the Synod. His visit witnesses to
the deep interaction between his role as chief of state and the
role of our church in Canadian life. Some years ago the Governor
General had received the right to confer coats of arms and the
church had decided at the time of the General Synod's centenary
to "repatriate" our heraldic tradition. The Governor
General's act this evening (in conferring the arms of the Anglican
Church of Canada) would reinforce our vocation to be a church
of our own place, embedded in a multicultural context and at the
service of the people among whom God has placed us.
The theme of this Synod is "prepare the way," words
in the Book of Isaiah which were written during the exile of Jewish
captives from their homeland by a prophet who called people to
prepare the way for God who would turn upside down all the suffering
and sorrow of the present reality. This prophet chose to see the
salvation of a people rather than their death and, without rejecting
the learnings of the past, he called his people to let go of what
had been and accept a "new thing." The Primate quoted
Walter Brueggemann who has argued that, "the loss of the
authority of the dynasty and temple in Jerusalem is analogous
to the loss of certainty, dominance and legitimacy in our own
time." Both State and Church have come under fire: the vision
of Canadians is diminished and the church is holding together
with a sense of unease, even fearfulness. The Primate said he
wanted to call his hearers to hope, to new imagination, and to
look with the eyes of the prophet and choose to see a new thing.
The Synod has gathered in Ottawa, the nation's capital and consequently
for some a place of anger, blame, and distrust. At the same time,
Ottawa is a symbol of unity, chosen to be the capital of the young
nation as a new beginning beyond the sectional identity of major
francophone and anglophone centres. Ottawa is a good place to
search not for what distinguishes us from everybody us,
but for what unifies us with everyone else, for the search
for what unifies us is the source of our ultimate hope. Preparing
the way (searching for the things of the Spirit) means risking
more chaos but it also means openness to the possibility of grace,
connection, relationship.
The Primate recalled that three years ago the General Synod had
asked the National Executive Council to develop a strategic planning
process for presentation to this Synod. The NEC has applied itself
to this task. A small group called "the Beginners" coordinated
consultations in many areas and levels of the church. Slowly a
plan was shaped and a proposal is before the Synod which will
involve members in testing, assessing, wrestling together in order
to make it their own and eventually discern the will of God.
The Primate reported that in May 1993 the NEC asked that he apologize
on behalf of the church around issues relating to former residential
schools at a time when he felt it appropriate. He listened for
two days to stories about the effects of these schools at the
second Native Convocation in August 1993. The time was right and
he made the apology and he remains grateful for the opportunity
to participate, for the openness of the participants, and for
the grace of their acceptance of the apology. Not everyone has
agreed with his words and some have felt targeted or blamed. He
said these people are not to blame; however the church was captive
to a system which did much damage and in which specific instances
of abuse were well-documented. The apology was meant to acknowledge
the past and to prepare for God's new thing.
In 1994 representatives of the indigenous people of the Anglican
Church agreed to call their people into a new self-determining
community within the church and to work as partners with those
who would help them build a truly Anglican indigenous church in
Canada. The Anglican Church of Canada has been involved with the
indigenous people from the beginning. Since 1969 we have been
trying to walk a new path, marked more by common cause in concerns
identified by the aboriginal community, and now we are called
into a new partnership which will involve both loss and gift but
also potential for growth and dialogue and "mutual responsibility
and interdependence."
The last General Synod began to address the issue of homosexuality
which is on the agenda of societies everywhere, including the
Anglican Communion. The recent Primates' meeting called for a
process of reflection, which we began in 1992 with a forum which
highlighted both differences and our ability to speak honestly
and listen in a context of support and caring. The 1992 Synod
set in motion the development of the Task Force on Homosexuality
and Homosexual Relationships which will report later in the Synod,
providing opportunity for hearing and response. Throughout history
the church has wrestled with issues of discipline and has, for
example, in the cases of divorce and contraception been able to
change its discipline while making it clear that there is no change
in doctrine. Issues of morality are so conditioned by culture
and mores that they are unlikely to stand tests of time and eternity
applicable to doctrine. The Primate called the Synod to participate
with sensitivity, reminding members that they will be discussing
not only principles but people.
During the last three years the church has had to address reduced
resources at diocesan and national levels. The national church
has had to cut block grants to the North and to partner churches
and last year cut national staff by more than 20 positions. This
situation has led to tensions, but also to a will to be and work
together. Signs are encouraging. Dioceses report better results
and the Anglican Appeal last year reached its goal.
Last June there was a gathering in Montreal known as Essentials,
which has led to ongoing local meetings. Those involved have reflected
love for the church and a resolve to wrestle with the basics of
the faith. The process has produced lively debate and discussion
and we can only be better for it. At the same time, the Primate
said he wanted to discourage a tendency to suggest that one group
is right and another not--a tendency that moves into issues of
power and talk about winners and losers rather than brothers and
sisters. He said he would pray that we will be generous in our
common search.
In this troubled age some people say the church is giving in to
the trends of the times. But the real danger is not in yielding
in ethics or morality or in forsaking scripture or the Christian
faith but is the battle against cynicism and hopelessness. The
prophet of the exile chose to believe in and to proclaim hope.
Let us choose the path of hope and demand of one another that
we be the Body of Christ and thus prepare the way for God to do
a new thing among us.
Amy Newell, Robert Pynn, Jim Boyles, Suzanne Lawson and others
presented the report of the National Executive Council on the
strategic plan, with the assistance of audio-visual resources.
Their presentation emphasized the reality of change and recalled
the resolution of the 1992 General Synod to undertake a strategic
planning process in consultation with all dioceses and provinces,
and in consultation with youth and aboriginal peoples, leading
to a proposal for the approval of the 1995 General Synod which
will enable reshaping of the directions and priorities of the
work of General Synod and the national office for the next three
triennia. A.J. Finlay described the process by which those responsible
for the process, known as "the Beginners," addressed
their task. A process of learning led to visioning and to the
shaping of a plan which was eventually approved by the NEC. The
time had come, she said, for the General Synod to choose a plan
for implementation. The options considered by the NEC, and their
implications, were described in detail, as well as the process
by which they were reached. The Synod watched video clips of people
engaged in consultation on the planning procedure. The Primate
told Synod that a request had been made for the articulation of
a theological basis for this process. The church was described
as "the body of Christ," incarnating God's presence
in the world, while at the same time it was recognized as imperfect.
The relationship of the church to the culture around it was expressed
both incarnationally and also in terms of the need to resist and
critique its context. The church's commitment to proclaim Christ
in worship and action provided common ground. The plan adopted
by the NEC was described in terms of its priorities and the need
for coordination of resources and for greater local and regional
responsibility was outlined. Jim Cruickshank emphasized that the
plan comes at an important time for the self-determination of
native people and for the development of local responsibility.
Amy Newell said that the plan points to a new relationship between
the national church and the dioceses, a new partnership focusing
vision in the location that will make the best use of resources.
The plan is built on a partnership model in which we need one
another. There are exciting possibilities in the proposals for
networks. The plan is about renewal as we let go of work in one
place and pick it up in another. It will free us to find new ways
to do the ministry and mission of Jesus Christ. Members of the
Synod were asked to reflect on the plan and to return with questions
for clarification. Robert Pynn highlighted some of the principles
on which proposed structural change is based. Jim Boyles described
some new ways in which working together may be accomplished. The
proposed national structure, composed of a Council of General
Synod, seven committees and allied councils and boards, was described.
A Mission Coordination Group will bring the work of these bodies
together and provide consultation and support. The Synod was told
that the new plan is not based on projections of a reduced budget.
New priorities will mean that some work will no longer be initiated
at the national level although other avenues of support may be
available and new methods of working will be found. The process
of transition will take at least a year.
The Primate introduced a listening panel of partners who had been
asked to give attention to the reports of small groups on their
discussion of the strategic plan. Groups were asked to report
first on the plan and then on the structure it implies.
Affirmations included the following. The plan was felt to emphasize
trust, collaboration, flexibility and interdependence; allowing
the national church to do what it does well, mission, partnership,
and self-sufficiency, and allowing the dioceses to do the rest.
The national church is becoming more efficient in downloading
responsibilities to local areas. The plan will force us to use
our own gifts in dioceses and parishes. The plan is faithful to
the mission statement. A group affirmed the transfer of congregational
development to the dioceses and the reduction of national administration.
We have a clearer sense of mission and vision than before. New
ways of ministry and the development of Anglican identity are
affirmed, as well as overseas partnerships and concern for native
people. The quality of the process behind the plan was affirmed
for its realism and the sense of new and urgent challenges which
are being placed before the dioceses and parishes. It is positive
that Anglicans are willing to move and look at change. One group
affirmed the emphasis on commitment overseas and on Anglican identity.
Networking and sharing are also affirmed. One group expressed
support of the aboriginal people and encouraged the church to
develop faith and trust among them; they can best do the work
of healing in their own communities. One group strongly affirmed
the networking dimension of the plan and another agreed that there
has been progress in dealing with the native people. One group
affirmed the return of social justice and prophetic mission to
the central agenda of the church.
Concerns included the following. There were concerns around the
accessibility and availability of resources and the willingness
of dioceses to use them; that the national church would be isolated
as it takes on a different focus from the local church, and with
problems of communication; that the plan should be explicitly
grounded in the mission statement and that it might suffer from
remoteness from the dioceses. While self-sufficiency is important
it is also important to remember that some places will never be
self-sufficient. There is concern whether we will develop new
ways of working and whether there will be a loss of national identity
and connectedness and a loss of programs that support that connectness.
There was concern about the reduction of block grants to the north;
that we may miss opportunities and that it may be difficult to
organize financial support during the short period of expected
transition. Some dioceses will have difficulty picking up what
is delegated to them because of lack of resources.. Will this
plan actual lead to the renewal of the church? Not all dioceses
may be represented in the Council of General Synod (a constantly
recurring concern). Congregational development and leadership
issues are being deleted from national responsibility and there
is a desire for some communication and support for them. Concerns
include the need for a timeframe for evaluation of the plan as
it develops and whether dioceses would be able to carry the downloading
that is contemplated; the challenges placed before the north and
smaller dioceses which are equal to those faced by larger dioceses;
the human ramifications of this plan at the national office. Evangelism
should remain with the dioceses and parishes, but will downsizing
cut us off from each other? Concern was expressed in regard to
the editorial policy and the independence of the Anglican Journal.
Assignments in dioceses should be based on diocesan income, not
parish income. Concern was expressed regarding financial self-sufficiency
for the Council of the North. The absence of education for "preparing
the saints" was a subject of concern. Renewal of the church
was not an immediate goal of the plan, although it may be a result.
Is the plan dollar-driven?. Anxiety was expressed regarding the
financial soundness of the plan. Concern was expressed regarding
the number and coordination of committees proposed for the national
structure. There is a need to develop partnerships between pairs
of Canadian dioceses, so the stronger can support the weaker.
Who will do the prophetic role for the church if the national
church steps back? How will we sell this plan at home if it reduces
services and costs the same? There is nothing in the plan that
explicitly addresses the spiritual health of the church (for instance,
in terms of evangelism).
The proposed structure will result in improved communications
without reduction of work. The national church should continue
to act as a clearing-house for all dioceses. Why has the word
"doctrine" been dropped from the "worship committee"?
In reducing the number of committee members we should not reduce
the level of expertise. The communications group should function
as a tool and not as an overseer of the committees. The presence
of youth in the new Council was affirmed and the existence of
a mission coordinating unit. There may, however, be too few people
to fulfil the mandate they are given, and fewer staff to support
smaller committees. Not all dioceses have representation on the
Council and there is no apparent place for coalitions. The Committee
on Faith, Worship, and Ministry will have one-third the numbers
and three times the task. What is the role of the House of Bishops?
How can it be realized? The Council of General Synod will be smaller
and more workable. Will the work of standing committees be continued
or will it be lost? The downsizing and overlapping of structures
was affirmed. There was concern that the emphasis on the local
church was not balanced by concern for bishops and their work.
Full committees need to meet sooner than is scheduled in order
to set priorities and plan their work. Will the reduction of national
structures place too great a burden on the structure of Provincial
Synods? The structure is honestly consistent with the plan but
there was concern about the size of some committees and the number
of support staff. What is the distinction of the roles of the
coordination unit and the Council of General Synod? There was
concern about evaluation and what happens if we discover in two
years that we do need the representation of every diocese
on the Council? Do the local levels have the resources they need?
Parishes may become more self-centred than they already are, and
abandon the "episcopal way." Will an evaluation group
challenge dioceses to see if they have picked up the dropped work
after a suitable interval? The reduction of the number of standing
committees was welcomed, but attachment of the continuing education
plan to the Pension Committee was questioned. The plan will force
the church to make better use of its resources but there was concern
regarding the structure of the mission coordinating committee
whose responsibilities must be very clearly defined. There is
a distinction between downloading and trust and there is a need
to build up trust. There will be a need for transitional leadership
which will involve the participation of every diocese on the Council
for a while at least. There was concern that the overview diagram
of the plan shows the House of Bishops as outside the structure.
There was concern that the relationship of the roles of the information
group and the mission coordinating group may be ambiguous.
The young youth attending the General Synod expressed their aspirations
for the church, which included the acceptance of people in action
and not only in intention, concern for animals and the environment,
the greater involvement of young people in liturgy, and care for
those in need.
At a later point in the Synod, members of the Synod who constituted
a Review Committee on responses to Preparing the Way presented
their report to the Synod. They noted that their assignment had
been to review reports from small groups, to receive a report
from the listening panel, to analyze data, and to present a report
to General Synod. The Review Committee noted that the Synod had
strongly affirmed the plan's challenge to parishes and dioceses
and had expressed trust in the church doing what it does best
especially overseas and in development partnerships. The Review
Committee had also noted concerns which include: a question whether
the plan is driven by our financial situation or by the desire
for renewal; questions about the financial implications of the
plan and whether there are resources to fund it; whether the work
assigned to dioceses by the plan might be unmanageable because
of limited resources; the possibility that dioceses might become
more isolated from one another and the rest of the church; how
environmental issues will be addressed; how youth will be supported;
the possibility that the role of bishops will be diminished as
fewer people hold the national structure together with an attendant
risk to Anglican identity.
In relation to structures the Committee noted that the Synod had
affirmed emphasis upon coordination and innovation in working
arrangements as well as simplification of structures. Members
of Synod had asked questions about the process of transition and
the Committee suggested that transition will take time, which
will mean experimenting, risk-taking, and perhaps further change
in response to evaluation.
The Committee identified a number of questions which require clarification
and noted that an implementation plan has already been elaborated
and some members of a team have been appointed. The plan does
not depend upon the self-sufficiency of the Council of the North
and there is no proposal to eliminate the block grants immediately.
The status of the House of Bishops in relation to General Synod
structures has not been altered. The NEC has asked Metropolitans
to study provincial structures as well as diocesan boundaries
and viability. A new national staff structure will be designed
and implemented by January 1996 and work will be reallocated to
reflect the priorities of the plan. Instead of resources related
to discontinued programs, which would no longer be produced (e.g.,
resources for people who work with children, for congregational
development, and for Stewards for Life), the plan envisions emphasis
on the coordination of communications and the production of resources
in relation to priorities set by General Synod. Collaboration
among theological colleges will be fostered, although General
Synod exercises no direct supervisory authority in this area.
The plan reaffirms ecumenical coalitions. The plan assumes that
most dioceses will continue to support national church work and
that income will remain constant over the next few years and an
increase may be possible.
In relation to structures and in response to concerns, the Committee
noted more than 50% of the members of the proposed Council of
General Synod would be elected and some of the appointed members
might also be members of General Synod. While unification of PWRDF
and Partners in World Mission is not recommended, collaboration
in networking, advocacy, education, and fundraising must be encouraged.
While concern with delay of meetings of the new Council and committees
reflects affirmation of the proposed structures, there is no budget
for a full round of meetings in 1995 (conference calls and new
communications vehicles will be encouraged). In response to concern
that the workload of volunteer committee chairs may be increased,
the Committee suggests that the chair could choose a delegate
to the Mission Coordination Group and that the representative
of a standing committee to the Council need not be the committee's
chair.
There were concerns that the plan does not provide for members
of the Council to include persons from every diocese and that
a smaller council will involve fewer people doing more work. On
the Committee's recommendation and by resolution the Synod moved
into Committee of the whole to debate the structure of the proposed
Council of General Synod.
On a straw vote in Committee of the whole a majority of members
of the General Synod indicated that they were not in favour of
proceeding with the proposed 30-member Council of General Synod.
The Synod reconvened and referred the resolution on the membership
of the Council of General Synod (A27) to the Resolutions Committee
in consultation with the Hon. Ronald Stevenson.
At a later point inthe Synod the strategic plan, Preparing
the Way, was submitted to the Synod with amendments to Section
B (to include the word "doctrine" in the priority and
in the national approach). Section F was amended to change a sentence
referring to the Anglican Journal from, "Independence
in editorials continues as so defined," to "The Independent
editorial policy continues ..." Section E was amended to
change the priority to read, "Strengthen commitment of the
whole Church to domestic mission in partnership with the Council
of the North and work with the Council of the North toward self-sufficiency,"
and the national approach was reworded to read, "Coordinate
transfer payments and encourage improvements in stewardship: 1.
identify needs not currently being met, 2. encourage increased
stewardship education in assisted dioceses, 3. continue to develop
Anglican Appeal partially for the Council of the North."
The Synod made the following decisions.
AGREED to approve the strategic plan, Preparing the Way, pages
19-21, as amended, to guide its work for the next three triennia.
(A90)
AGREED to endorse the principles of "New Ways of Working
Together" (page 26 of Preparing the Way, namely: new
themes: flexibility, responsiveness, trust; less legislative,
more consultative; more use of cross-country networks; fewer standing
committees, more short-term and ad hoc groups; greater use of
electronic communication; perhaps a databank of skilled, committed
people willing to be involved. (A91A)
AGREED to give general approval to the proposed committee structure
(as found in the Strategic Plan report). (A93)
AGREED to declare as an immediate priority the need to consult
dioceses about funding requirements of the [strategic] plan, Preparing
the Way, for parishes, dioceses and the national church and, specifically
the feasibility of a coordinated fundraising campaign throughout
the church, primarily to benefit parishes and dioceses; that the
Council of General Synod be authorized to respond to the recommendations
of the feasibility study; and that funding for the consultative
process to a maximum of $100,000 come from funds already designated
for financial development. (A95)
AGREED that the Information Resources Committee during 1995 is
to identify the advanced electronic communications facilities
available to the New Plan implementation team, determine which
may be appropriate for use by the implementation team during the
year of transition 1996, and make recommendations to the Council
of General Synod for implementation in coordination with the implementation
of the Strategic Plan. (B73)
AGREED to express thanks to the Primate, to the Beginners who
have worked on the strategic plan, to the Executive Director of
Program and other members of staff who worked with them, and to
Kathleen McLaughlin of McKinsey and Company who volunteered her
services to the General Synod with the support of her company.
The Synod made the following decisions.
AGREED (on second reading) to amend the Declaration of Principles
to lower the minimum age of diocesan youth representatives to
the General Synod from 18 to 16 years, including the youth representative
from the Canadian Forces, and to provide that those who will be
either 16 or 25 years of age when the Synod meets are eligible
to be elected. (A10)
AGREED to amend the Constitution to lower the minimum age of diocesan
youth representatives to the General Synod from 18 to 16 years,
and to authorize expressly the election or appointment of substitute
youth representatives. (A22B)
AGREED (on first reading) to amend the Declaration of Principles
to provide for the appointment of two representatives of Anglican
Religious Orders with communities in Canada recognized by the
House of Bishops, such representatives to be appointed by the
Superiors of the religious orders acting in concert. (A13A)
AGREED to amend the Rules of Order and Procedure to provide that
in any unprovided case resort shall be had to "Kerr and King's
Procedures for Meetings and Organizations (second edition)
instead of the Rules of Order of the House of Commons of Canada.
(A41)
AGREED to amend the Rules of Order and Procedure to preclude referral
of motions which have not been submitted in advance of Synod and
included in the Convening Circular or have not been presented
for debate on the floor of the Synod. (A42A)
AGREED on second reading to further amend an Amendment to the
Declaration of Principles in regard to structural uniformity to
the episcopal prerogative of licensing clergy. (A12)
AGREED on first reading to replace Canon XVII - EPISCOPAL JURISDICTION
RESPECTING THE CLERGY with Canon XVII - STRUCTURAL UNIFORMITY
IN RELATION TO THE EPISCOPAL PREROGATIVE OF LICENSING CLERGY,
i.e., to define the authority and jurisdiction of the General
Synod in relation to licensing, and in particular in response
to concerns expressed with respect to revocation on notice at
the 1992 Synod to provide that a diocese could adopt a procedure
for assessing whether a situation is one in which revocation on
notice is appropriate and for determining the length of reasonable
notice, to provide that payment of stipend or other compensation
may be made for the period of reasonable notice in lieu of giving
notice, to remove the default definition of notice and to leave
the matter as in the civil law for determination on a case-by-case
basis, to create a right for a licensee dissatisfied with the
length of notice to appeal to the "appeal tribunal"
(as designated by diocesan canon or, in the absence of a canon,
by the metropolitan or senior bishop of the province on request);
and to require that a license identify the party responsible for
payment of the stipend or other compensation payable in respect
of the licensed ministry. (A62)
DEFEATED a proposal to amend the Canon XXI, on Marriage in the
Church, to bring the canon into conformity with the law as enacted
by the Parliament of Canada to provide that the minister shall,
with respect to impediments of relationship, be guided by the
Marriage (Prohibited Degrees) Act which prohibits marriages
between persons who are related lineally by consanguinity or adoption;
as brother and sister by consanguinity, whether by the whole blood
or by the half-blood; or as brother and sister by adoption. (A63)
AGREED on second reading to amend Canon XX, The Supreme Court
of Appeal, to authorize the National Executive Council to make
rules for the Supreme Court of Appeal when no court is in place.
(A65)
AGREED to adopt a new Section 35 of the Constitution providing
for an Executive Council consisting of the Primate, the Prolocutor,
the Deputy Prolocutor, the Chancellor, and the bishops, clerical
members and lay members elected by the General Synod on nomination
of the members of the orders of bishops, clergy, and laity from
each Province meeting together, in which the number of ordained
persons shall be equal to 45 percent of the number of dioceses
in each Province to the next larger whole number, in which not
more than one ordained person shall be selected from any one diocese,
in which at least one bishop and one priest or deacon shall be
from each Province, in which there shall be an equal number of
lay members and at least one representative from each diocese,
and in which there shall be two youth members elected by the General
Synod, and one representative from the Anglican Ordinariate of
the Canadian Forces on the nomination of members of Synod representing
the Ordinariate. The Section also indicates who may be present
at meetings of the Council and provides for the replacement of
members when a vacancy occurs. (A26A)
AGREED to adopt a new Section 41 of the Constitution to establish
a new committee structure for the General Synod consisting of
the Faith, Worship and Ministry Committee, the Partners in Mission
Committee, the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund Committee,
the Ecojustice Committee, the Pension Committee, the Financial
Management and Development Committee, the Information Resources
Committee, and providing for the number of members and the process
for appointment of members in each case, for the developing and
publication of terms of reference, and stipulating that the committees
shall report to the General Synod and regularly to the Council
of the General Synod. (A30A)
AGREED to delete the words National Executive Council where
they appear in the Constitution, Canons, and Rules of Order and
Procedure of the General Synod and to substitute the words Council
of the General Synod in each instance. (A29)
AGREED to replace Section 44 of the Constitution (Vacancies on
Committees, Councils or Boards) to refer to commissions except
in section c). (A25A)
AGREED to replace subsection 37(a) of the Constitution to provide
that a quorum of the Council of the General Synod shall be a majority
of the members, provided that all Orders are represented. (A28)
AGREED to amend the Constitution by deleting the words Administration
& Finance Committee wherever they appear in Section 30
and substituting the words Financial Management and Development
Committee in each instance, and by deleting the words after
consultation with the Program Committee from Section 20(a)
and 36(d)(v). (A33)
AGREED to amend the Canons by deleting references to Administation
& Finance Committee and replacing them with Financial
Management and Development Committee. (A69)
AGREED to amend the Canons to delete references to Administration
and Finance Committee and replace them with Financial Management
and Development Committee, to provide for the election of
the Committee's chair, and to substitute the words Pension
Committee for Committee on Ministry in Canon
XII (Continuing Education Plan). (A69)
AGREED to amend Canon VI, Administration and Finance Committee,
by deleting the title and replacing it with Financial Management,
and by the adoption of measures which clarify the role of the
Treasurer in relation to General Synod and the Committee, and
other matters. (A70)
AGREED to amend the Rules of Order and Procedure by deleting the
words Organization Committee in section 1(b), by replacing
them with the words Credentials Committee in section 2(a),
by replacing Organization Committee in section 6 with Council
of the General Synod, and by replacing Organization Committee's
Agenda Task Force and from in section 6(a), Administration
and Finance Committee in section 6(f) and section 15(a) with
Financial management and development Committee in each
instance. (A43)
AGREED to amend Canon XI (Anglican Book Centre) to create an Anglican
Book Centre Advisory Board to replace the Anglican Book Centre
Committee and to provide for the Board to report to the Information
Resources Committee instead of the Council of the General Synod.
(A67)
AGREED to replace Canon V, Archives, with a new canon in which
the Archives Committee is replaced by the Archives Advisory Board
and provision is made for the development and realization of policy
by the Advisory Board. (A66)
AGREED to replace Section 47 and to provide that all staff employed
by the General Synod shall be responsible to the Primate as Chief
Executive Officer, for the performance of their duties, and that
the organization of the National Staff shall be under the direction
of the Primate in consultation with the Officers of the General
Synod. (A31)
AGREED to replace Section 2(a) of the Constitution and to provide
that the General Synod shall meet in every third year, or as otherwise
determined by the Council of General Synod, at such time and place
as the Council determines, provided that such meetings are not
more than five years apart. (A21A)
AGREED to approve changes to the Regulations of Canon VIII (General
Synod Pension Plan) as approved by the National Executive Council.
(A225)
AGREED to approve changes to the Regulations of Canon IX (Lay
Retirement Plan). (A226)
AGREED to adopt a procedure for use at this General Synod by which
the Resolutions Committee shall in consultation with movers identify
and list on a No Debate List in the Orders of the Day resolutions
likely to be approved without debate; that this list shall be
read at the beginning of the first session of the day when any
resolution shall be removed from the list and scheduled for debate
at a time arranged by the Agenda Committee upon the request of
any member; resolutions remaining on the No Debate List
shall be decided in turn without debate except that the mover
of the resolution may speak for not more than three minutes.
AGREED, as provided for in section 7 (b) (iii) of the Declaration
of Principles, to give consent to the declaration of the Synod
of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada in September 1994 that
the boundaries of the Diocese of Nova Scotia are co-terminous
with the boundaries of the civil provinces of Nova Scotia and
Prince Edward Island. (B20)
AGREED that the Council of General Synod present to the next meeting
of General Synod appropriate amendments to Canon XXI on Marriage
in the Church with particular view to the appropriate role and
purposes of the Marriage Commission in the Church. (B30)
AGREED to ask the Council of General Synod to give consideration
during the next triennium to an amendment of the Declaration of
Principles allowing for representation of the Church Army in the
membership of Synod. (C14)
REFERRED to the Council of General Synod a Memorial on the Discipline
Canon from the Diocesan Synod of Fredericton requesting that the
Council prepare, for consideration at the next General Synod,
a motion to amend Canon XVIII to adopt proof beyond a reasonable
doubt as the required degree of proof in disciplinary proceedings.
The Council for Native Ministries made a presentation in liturgy,
story, music, and drama. The presentation began with processions
from the four directions, followed by a drama, "Jumping off
the Cradleboard," which addressed the mature development
and liberation of people from a state of dependence, subjection,
and a sense of rejection. A speaker said that it was time to jump
off the cradleboard and assume responsibility.
A video presentation told the story of the separation of people
of the First Nations from their land, their culture, and their
spirituality, and especially of the impact of the residential
schools, as well as the rediscovery of the spirituality which
had been preserved in secret until it could dawn again. The video
also told of the development of the Native Convocations and their
healing impact on the participants, and of the Primate's apology
for the role of the church in the painful experience of many First
Nations people in the residential schools. Native people on
screen expressed their pride in being who they are and their determination
to build an indigenous church, extending the hand of partnership
to all who would help them. "We invite the white church to
join us," said one of the voices, "therefore let us
choose life."
The Synod participated in an Iroquoian strawberry harvest ritual
which is usually observed in the Spring and speaks of new life
and of God's gift of the land and all it brings. The ceremony
is an occasion of thanksgiving and is always observed as a public
event. Scripture was read, thanksgiving was offered, and strawberries
were distributed and eaten.
Laverne Jacobs announced the publication in August of a book,
Dancing the Dream, edited by by Joyce Carlson and illustrated
by Teresa Altiman.
The Residential Schools Working Group reported on its work over
the last three years in regard to the Anglican-run schools. They
noted that the schools had been a major tool of the policy of
assimilation adopted by the Canadian government. They spoke of
the loss of language, culture, and identity which resulted from
the schools, and described the process by which the native people
who had experienced the schools were eventually able to give voice
to the grief and pain they had experienced twenty years and more
after the Anglican Church of Canada ceased to be identified with
this educational program. At the same time, they suggested, white
people have had to learn to listen to these expressions of pain
and to discover that there are other modes of human experience
than theirs. The Working Group presented a video production, The
Healing Circle. The Synod was reminded that the term of the
Working Group's assignment now ends but responsibility for its
concerns now pass to the Council for Native Ministries. Members
of CNM joined members of the Working Group and marked this handing
on of responsibility ceremonially.
The Residential Schools Working Group reported on its work over
the last three years in regard to the Anglican-run schools. They
noted that the schools had been a major tool of the policy of
assimilation adopted by the Canadian government. They spoke of
the loss of language, culture, and identity which resulted from
the schools, and described the process by which the native people
who had experienced the schools were eventually able to give voice
to the grief and pain they had experienced twenty years and more
after the Anglican Church of Canada ceased to be identified with
this educational program. At the same time, they suggested, white
people have had to learn to listen to these expressions of pain
and to discover that there are other modes of human experience
than theirs. The Working Group presented a video production, The
Healing Circle. The Synod was reminded that the term of the
Working Group's assignment now ends but responsibility for its
concerns now pass to the Council for Native Ministries. Members
of CNM joined members of the Working Group and marked this handing
on of responsibility ceremonially.
The Synod made the following decisions.
AGREED, responding to the invitation of the representatives of
the indigenous people of the Anglican Church of Canada, to receive,
accept and affirm the Covenant [adopted by representatives of
the indigenous people of the Anglican Church of Canada in Winnipeg,
23-26 April 1994, pledging, "to do all we can to call our
people into unity in a new, self-determining community within
the Anglican Church of Canada," and extending the hand of
partnership, "to all those who will help us build a truly
Anglican indigenous church in Canada"] trusting in the Spirit's
leading, anticipating "that as we covenant and speak and
worship ... and journey together new structures and forms will
emerge" which will enable and express our commonality in
Christ. (A187A)
AGREED that in response to the church's commitment to the Native
Covenant, the Council for Native Ministries be renamed
Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples and that new terms
of reference be established over the next triennium.(A186A)
AGREED to support and encourage the Anglican Council of Indigenous
Peoples as it works at redefining the role of Indigenous Anglicans
in the Church, and specifically to encourage the exploration of
the establishment of the office of a national indigenous bishop
who will work in partnership with the national church and dioceses,
the development of indigenous forms of church government and decision-making,
and ways for the indigenous congregations to move toward self-sufficiency.
(B90)
AGREED to reaffirm recognition and support of the First Nations
struggle to obtain justice regarding land claims through negotiations,
to reaffirm commitment to support the process of negotiations
with First Nations towards a just and timely resolution of outstanding
land claims, to urge the Governments of Canada and British Columbia
to bring forward proposals that will provide a land and resource
base sufficient to assure self-determination for the Nisga'a people
and all other First Nations, to urge the Government of Canada
to settle all outstanding Native land claims in a just and expedient
manner, and to request the Primate to make this position known
to the respective Governments. (C22)
Barry Hollowell reviewed the development of Anglican - Lutheran
relationships and the adoption of an Interim Agreement on Eucharistic
Sharing in 1989 as well as the decision made by General Synod
in 1992 to request a response to The Niagara Report and
an evaluation of the sharing agreement.
The Synod made the following decision.
AGREED to reaffirm and extend the Interim Agreement on Eucharistic
Sharing between the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Canada to 2001; to provide for agreements which
permit an ordained minister (priest or pastor) to serve the people
of both churches, including presiding at the sacraments of the
Church, wherever, and according to which rite, the local bishop
of each church deems appropriate; to request that bishops specifically
invite neighbouring congregations (where appropriate) to commit
themselves to undertake at least one joint project and celebrate
at least one joint eucharist yearly; to adopt and implement a
policy to permit lay people of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in Canada moving to the Anglican Church of Canada to be received
with the same status (baptized, communicant, confirmed) which
they held in the ELCIC, such a move to be marked liturgically
by a service of reception (Occasional Offices, pp 106-107, BAS
pp 161-162); to request dioceses and bishops to develop structures
with the purpose of evaluating and improving the bishop's ministry,
through collegial and periodic review; to encourage continuing
work toward entering full communion, as defined by the Canadian
Lutheran Anglican Dialogue by 2001, and to dismiss CLAD II with
thanks, and mandate a Joint Working Group to oversee the process
leading to the implementation of these recommendations. (A120A)
Bishop Telmor Sartison of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
greeted the Synod after adoption of the resolution. He told the
Synod that we are on a journey together but the promise always
lies in the future. He said he looked forward to taking the resolution
to his own assembly in July.
The Synod held a hearing on the report of the Task Force on Homosexuality
and Homosexual Relationships. The convener, Gary Genge told the
Synod that the hearing provided members of the Synod an opportunity
to hear and be heard against the background of the Task Force's
report. He noted that the dialogue is not finished yet. The hearing
provides an opportunity for ongoing dialogue separate from debate
on resolutions which will be considered later. Helena-Rose Houldcroft,
chair of the Task Force, told the Synod that the Anglican Church
has been dealing with sexuality in a formal way since 1976. The
last General Synod called for a task force on homosexuality and
homosexual relationships, using biblical, ethical, and scientific
information. The task force, representing a spectrum of viewpoints,
developed a study resource in which more than 2,500 people participated.
Many of them submitted responses and the task force worked to
give focus to their voices. The report reflects common ground
that we can affirm and room for further dialogue. As a church
we need time to allow more people to participate in a deepening
discussion. We need to be able to participate in informed action
in the future. Some will think we have not gone far enough, others
that we have gone too far. She reminded Synod of the Pentecost
scripture which tells us not to be anxious or afraid. There is
courage in our church, in the words we have received from dialogue
and in the voices of people who shared their stories on video
and in groups. Even when we feel lost to each other we are never
lost to God.
Members of the Synod discussed the report and the study material
produced by the Task Force from a variety of points of view.
At the conclusion of the discussion Helena-Rose Houldcroft thanked
the Synod, the Moderator, the Task Force, and Janet Marshall-Eibner
and Susan Graham-Walker who served the Task Force as consultants.
The Synod made the following decisions.
AGREED to affirm the presence and contributions of gay men and
lesbians in the life of the church and to condemn bigotry, violence
and hatred directed toward any due to their sexual orientation.
(A125)
AGREED to encourage parishes and dioceses to continue, deepen,
extend and adapt the learning, reflection and dialogue identified
by the Task Force on Homosexuality and Homosexual Relationships
(as reflected in Recommendations 1 through 4 of the Task Force
Report); to encourage parishes and dioceses to give particular
attention to the ongoing dialogue with respect to the issues identified
in Recommendation 5 of the Task Force Report; to encourage parishes
and dioceses to develop plans of action to further the dialogue
as described in the Recommendations of the Task Force Report;
and to request the Faith, Worship and Ministry Committee to make
provision for leadership to ensure that this process continues
at the parish and diocesan levels and that a report be made at
the next General Synod (Recommendation 6). (A126)
AGREED to request that the Primate continue to encourage dialogue
on "homosexuality and homosexual relationships" throughout
the church. (A127)
AGREED to request the House of Bishops to indicate whether it
is currently reviewing or intends to review its 1979 Statement
and Guidelines on Human Sexuality (reaffirmed in 1991). (A128A)
Helena-Rose Houldcroft thanked the Synod for the reception of
the Report of the Task Force on Homosexuality and Homosexual Relationships.
The Primate thanked the Task Force and its staff for their work.
Tribute was paid to the late Sharon Marshall's work in this field.
a) The Hymn Book
George Black, convener of the Hymn Book Task Force, and Patrick
Wedd, vice-convener, reported for the Hymn Book Task Force at
a Hearing moderated by Archbishop Percy O'Driscoll. George Black
told the Synod that the hymn book is a collection of diverse voices,
which speak in different ways to different people. The mandate
was to provide hymns and other material for worship which complement
the Common Lectionary, in a wide variety of traditions, and broadly
inclusive in terms of gender, piety, and culture. George Black
identified members of the task force and its service music sub-committee
and described the process by which the task force worked. He reminded
Synod that we live in a tradition of pluralistic hymn books, in
which not every hymn appeals to everyone and every congregation.
Patrick Wedd told the Synod that some of the work on the music
of the book has been done but some is still in process. The music
sub-committee has worked its way through the texts and has assigned
tunes to most of them, but some hymns still do not have a tune
and tunes will have to be found. Most of the hymns in the book
are in traditional musical styles--plainsong, chorales, the music
of the 17th and 18th centuries, Victorian and Edwardian favourites,
and tunes which have become classics in this century, like those
composed by Canadians like Walter MacNutt, Healey Willan, and
Robert Fleming. In addition the sub-committee identified hymns
which fell to one side or the other of the central tradition,
e.g., authentic folk, spirituals, popular folk, Taizé,
multicultural, etc. The sub-committee found that 120 hymns fell
into this less traditional set of categories. Patrick Wedd introduced
sample pages of texts and music, noting that when possible the
texts have been set between the staves.
The Moderator opened the meeting to questions and comments. The
Hearing closed with a hymn.
The Synod made the following decision.
AGREED to receive the collection of hymn texts presented
by the Hymn Book Task Force and to authorize the Hymn Book Task
Force to complete the preparation of "a hymn book" and
to present the completed material to the Council of General Synod
for permission to publish for use. (A230)
b) Evaluation Commission on The Book of Alternative Services
Eric Bays, chair of the Evaluation Commission on The Book of Alternative
Services reviewed the process by which the Commission was established
and the way in which it addressed its work. The Commission agreed
to focus on three themes: the theology of the BAS, and future
patterns of worship. The Commission used data supplied by three
questionnaires as well as correspondence received by the Liturgical
Office, the Journal, and by the Commission directly. The Commission
determined that the book had been well received and that its use
had probably increased during the time of the Commission's work.
The Commission actively sought theological comment from people
with appropriate expertise. The Commission concluded that the
BAS reflects a theologically orthodox presentation of the Christian
faith, noting however that there is a difference of opinion between
those who regard 16th century formulations as definitive and those
which have a more developmental notion of theological process.
The Commission suggests that the examination of this tension should
be the work of a Theological Commission which would have the time
and expertise to examine issues and to produce educational resources.
The Commission noted several areas where liturgical work is needed,
e.g., native spiritual traditions and language about God. The
Commission recommends the creation of an alternative eucharistic
rite that is inclusive in its imagery about God and a eucharistic
rite that would allow local congregations to explore cultural
expressions in their worship. The Commission also recommends the
provision of a French translation of the BAS eucharistic rite,
and a contemporary language eucharistic rite that embodies Reformed
theological conscience. All of these additional rites would be
for optional use. They would become, with the BCP and the BAS,
the background for future revision. The Commission recommends
such a revision after 2001 and that in the meantime the present
use of the BCP and the BAS continue.
The Synod made the following decisions.
AGREED to authorize The Book of Alternative Services for use until
the thirty-sixth session of the General Synod (2001). (A105)
AGREED to instruct the Faith, Worship, and Ministry Committee
to prepare as soon as possible supplementary material to The Book
of Alternative Services containing a contemporary language eucharistic
rite that is inclusive in its language and imagery about God and
is in keeping with Christian worship; a contemporary language
eucharistic rite that embodies Reformed theological conscience
over such issues as the manner of the presence of Christ's saving
work on the cross, eucharistic oblation, and epiclesis; a eucharistic
rite that would allow local communities to explore ways of including
native spiritual traditions and other cultural expressions that
are in keeping with Christian worship; a French translation of
Holy Baptism, the Holy Eucharist, the Celebration of Marriage,
and the Funeral Liturgy in The Book of Alternative Services, pp
151ff, 185ff, 528ff, and 571ff; and a "Service of the Word"
for use as the main Sunday act of worship, this material to be
submitted to the Council of General Synod for approval for use
where permitted by the Ordinary. (A106)
AGREED to request the Primate to establish a Theological Commission
composed of ten Anglicans, which would include one member of
the Council of Native Ministries, with appropriate expertise and
representative of the diversity of theological opinion in the
church, with duties and terms of reference as set out in Recommendation
5 in the Final Report of the Book of Alternative Services Evaluation
Commission. (A107)
AGREED to encourage bishops and other liturgical leaders to exemplify
sensitivity in matters concerning liturgical change, to honour
diversity, and to encourage openness to critique and mutual listening
in matters concerning the church's worship. (A108)
AGREED to approve Recommendations 1, 3, 4, and 6 of the Book of
Alternative Services Evaluation Commission (i.e., to continue
to use the BCP and the BAS unchanged and undertake no full-scale
liturgical revision during the next six years; that the first
General Synod of the next century establish a revision commission
to undertake a full revision of the BAS taking into account experience
of the use of supplementary materials, ongoing theological discussion,
and new developments in liturgy in Canada and in the Anglican
Communion; that alongside any revised book of contemporary language
liturgies, the Book of Common Prayer retain its canonical status
and availability; and that the processes of production and testing
of liturgical texts be as inclusive of the variety of theological
and liturgical convictions as possible). (A109)
The Primate thanked the Evaluation Commission on behalf of the
Synod.
c) Lectionary
AGREED to adopt the Revised Common Lectionary, as appended to
this motion, and commend it to the dioceses for use where authorized
by the Ordinary. (A233A)
a) Mutual Ministry Review
AGREED to accept The Guidelines for Mutual Ministry Review
and commend them to the Anglican Church of Canada. (A191)
b) Pay Equity
AGREED to receive the document "Pay Equity, What is it?"
[included in the Report of the Committee on Ministry] for study
and comment by the dioceses and to ask the Council of General
Synod to establish a task force to work with two dissimilar dioceses
to develop, implement, monitor and evaluate an instrument based
on the principles outlined in "Pay Equity, What is it?"
(A192A)
c) Continuing Education Plan
AGREED to direct the Pension Committee to prepare a proposal to
revise the Continuing Education Plan so that both costs and benefits
of the Plan are revised to reflect increased costs of continuing
education and that the proposal be submitted to the Council of
General Synod for appropriate action. (B40A)
d) Anglican Church Women
AGREED to recognize, affirm, and support Anglican Church Women
as an integral part of the mission and ministry of the Canadian
Church and to encourage national, provincial and diocesan decision-making
bodies to provide opportunities for their representation and leadership.
(C10)
e) Ministry Symposium
AGREED that work on the Ministry Symposium video and workshop
kit resource continue and be completed by December 31, 1995 under
the direction of the Faith, Worship and Ministry Committee, with
an appropriate level of General Synod staff support and expertise.
(C18)
The Synod made the following decisions.
AGREED that the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada,
having already consulted with the communion dioceses in Latin
American and the Caribbean, urge the Government of Canada in its
policy to extend hemispheric free trade through an expanded North
American Free Trade Agreement, to promote democracy and human
rights (including social, economic, cultural and ecological dimensions
to human rights) in the Latin America/Caribbean region, and to
give preferential consideration to governments which are committed
to reducing military expenditure and are dedicating more resources
to the education, environment, health and welfare of their populations.
(A162)
AGREED to rejoice and celebrate with all the people of the Republic
of South Africa in their hard won freedom and in the peaceful
election of their first democratic government, and therefore to
affirm the sacrificial and invaluable contribution made by the
church's partners (the South Africa Council of Churches and the
Church of the Province of Southern Africa) to the process of dismantling
apartheid; to encourage all Canadian Anglicans to continue to
hold up their partners in prayer and solidarity as they continue
their transforming mission; and that the contents of this resolution
be conveyed to the SACC and the CPSA. (A163)
AGREED to communicate to the church's partners in Sudan (the Episcopal
Church of the Sudan, the Sudan Council of Chues, and the new Sudan
Council of Churches) its compassion and solidarity in their ongoing
suffering, and to call upon the Canadian government and the international
community to support actively efforts that will bring a just peace
and especially the right to religious freedom for all peoples
of the Sudan. (A165)
AGREED to urge the Minister of Foreign Affairs to continue to
resist pressure on the Government of Canada, Canadian business
and foreign subsidiaries operating in Canada to join the U.S.
embargo against Cuba, to offer to mediate between Cuba and the
U.S.A. with a view to normalization of relations, and to intensify
efforts to promote the entry of Cuba into the O.A.S. (A167)
AGREED to request the Government of Canada to urge the Government
of Mexico to seek a just and non-military solution to the conflict
reflected in the Chiapas situation, and that the General Synod
also urge communication with those who feel disenfranchised in
Mexico to pursue their aspirations for justice by non-violent
forms of protest and persuasion. (A168A)
AGREED to express to the Government of Canada strong concern about
the great increase in prostitution of children, especially in
Asia, and to urge the Government of Canada to consider legislation
to enable the criminal prosecution in Canada of Canadians who
while travelling outside Canada engage in the sexual exploitation
of children. (A169)
AGREED to express to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dili and to
the Gereja Kristen Di Timor Timus (Christian Church in East Timor)
our prayerful support and encouragement in their ongoing suffering,
and to the urge the Government of Canada to express (a) its strong
concern to the Government of Indonesia about its continued violation
of human rights in East Timor, particularly its ongoing assault
on East Timorese culture, language and religion, (b) to urge the
Government of Indonesia to participate fully in the United Nations-mandated
tripartite peace talks between Portugal, Indonesia and the East
Timorese people, including the National Council of Timorese Resistance,
on the future of East Timor, and (c) to refrain from sales of
any military equipment to the Government of Indonesia until the
East Timor situation is satisfactorily resolved. (A170)
AGREED to urge the Government of Canada to work towards ensuring
that current Structural Adjustment Programs and policies be substantially
altered so that, in keeping with the stated purpose of the Canada
and the World document, a central emphasis be placed on meeting
basic human needs and social infrastructure needs of the poorest
people; and to request the International Financial Institutions
to begin a process that would make them more democratic, representative
and accountable to those who are affected by their decisions;
and to request the World Bank to review its governance structures
pertaining to the International Development Association with a
view to finding alternatives which either remove the International
Development Association from the World Bank or make it more free
to fulfil its mandate. (A160A)
AGREED to affirm the Government of Canada's commitment, contained
in its statement Canada in the World, to making progress
towards the Official Development Assistance (ODA) target of 0.7%
of Gross National Produce (GNP) but urges that this commitment
not be qualified by the words "when Canada's fiscal situation
allows it"; to affirm that the primary purpose of ODA is
the alleviation of poverty and global injustice and welcomes Canada's
commitment that 25% of its ODA will respond to basic human needs
but urges that this percentage be increased to 60%; to express
serious concern that Canadian foreign aid policy, as articulated
in the Canada in the World statement, places more emphasis
on Canadian economic interests than on the document's stated values
and priorities (support for sustainable development, reduction
of poverty, and contributing to a more secure equitable, and prosperous
world) in determining the allocation of ODA and Canada's response
to human rights situations in the context of trade relationships
where traditionally Canada has not traded with countries consistently
violating human rights; to commend the Government of Canada for
its affirmation of multilateral approaches in solving problems
in an interdependent global community and, particularly, to welcome
the government's intent to press for reform in those multilateral
institutions, such as the United Nations, the World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund, which affect the lives of people
in southern countries; and to convey these concerns and recommendations
to the Government of Canada. (A161A)
AGREED to express grief and outrage at the genocide that has occurred
in Rwanda and Burundi; to communicate to the Province de l'Église
Épiscopale du Rwanda and the Église Épiscopale
du Burundi our compassion and solidarity; to acknowledge gratefully
the response of members of African churches who reached out to
Rwanda and Burundi and of those in Canada and throughout the Communion
who responded to the Communion-wide appeal; that it regrets that
governments and churches in Central Africa, Canada, and the international
community failed to anticipate and prevent the evil that occurred;
to thank the Government of Canada for its exceptional role in
the Rwandan crisis; to thank the men and women of our Canadian
forces and those who have worked to bring relief to those who
suffer and an end to the suffering itself; to call upon Canada
and the international community to ensure that those responsible
for organizing and/or implementing genocide, and for gross violations
of human rights, be justly tried and, where guilty, punished;
and to offer continued prayers for our partners and the people
in this troubled region of God's world. [A164A, abbreviated and
condensed]
AGREED to request the Government of Canada to urge the Government
of the Republic of Korea to continue its improvement of human
rights and democracy by repealing the National Security Law, releasing
political prisoners, abiding by the internationally recognized
standards of human rights; to urge the Government of Canada to
give diplomatic recognition to the Democratic People's Republic
of Korea, support the peaceful and democratic reunification of
Korea, support the enhancement of human rights in the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea; to be represented at the Jubilee events
marking the Korean Jubilee Year of Peace and Reunification in
August 1995; and to continue to participate in developing relations
with the emerging churches of the Democratic People's Republic
of Korea as part of our contribution towards the reunification
of Korea. (A166)
AGREED to express to our church partners in Sri Lanka prayerful
support and encouragement as they pursue their ministry of seeking
justice and peace in Sri Lanka; to request the Government of Canada
to take a more active leadership role in the international community
to facilitate a permanent cease-fire, authentic mediation and
a negotiated political settlement between the Government of Sri
Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, to continue to
urge the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of
Tamil Eelam to work towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict,
to urge all parties in the conflict to respect the human rights
of all who are affected by the conflict, including minority ethnic
and religious groups, and to ensure that all Canadian government
development assistance to Sri Lanka (including all aid going through
International Financial Institutions) goes towards programs that
address the root causes of injustice and violent conflict in Sri
Lanka, rather than to programs that perpetuate them. (A171)
AGREED to declare opposition to the use, production, stockpiling,
sale, transfer or export of anti-personnel landmines and to communicate
in writing this opposition to the Prime Minister, the Minister
of National Defence, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs; to urge
the government to work for an international ban on the use, production,
stockpiling, sale, transfer or export of anti-personnel landmines
within the international community; to communicate in writing
to the above persons support of present Canadian initiatives and
of further initiatives to assist in humanitarian mine clearance,
including the Cambodia Mine Action Centre and other United Nations
and bilateral mine clearance activities; to urge the federal government
to declare an immediate Canadian moratorium on the production
and export of landmines, their component parts, and related technology;
and to ask the federal government to increase its support for
and participation in bilateral and multilateral programs providing
assistance to the victims of landmines. (A200A)
AGREED to condemn all forms of prostitution and to direct the
Social Justice Committee to identify or establish an appropriate
national or international ecumenical or inter-faith coalition,
and participate with such a coalition to work toward the elimination
of prostitution; and to direct that the strategy to eliminate
prostitution address all issues of social, economic, psychological
and spiritual justice involved so that those who are presently
victims of prostitution not be further victimized by the actions
taken to eliminate prostitution. (B80)
AGREED to declare Canada's opposition to NATO's long-standing,
stated policy of possible first use of nuclear weapons and to
press NATO to foreswear the first use of nuclear weapons in any
form; to press at the United Nations and in other fora for more
substantial and rapid reduction by all nuclear powers of the existing
global stockpile of 45,000 nuclear weapons, as well as support
a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, together with a ban on laboratory
experiments; and to adopt as a foreign policy objective the elimination
of nuclear weapons from the world in the near term, as General
Synod in 1986 envisaged in calling for this elimination by the
year 2000. (C12A)
AGREED to request the Government of Canada to urge the Government
of Guatemala to remain faithful to their Agreement of October
8, 1992 with the Permanent Commissions of the Guatemalan Refugees
in Mexico, in all its component parts and, specifically, to address
Part 6 regarding land access; to redress in particular the contradictory
treatment of those returning with the South Vertiente group; to
take action against the increasing human rights violations in
Guatemala addressed by the United Nations Mission for the Verification
of Human Rights in Guatemala; and to request the the Government
of Canada to encourage the Government of Guatemala and the Guatemalan
National Revolutionary Unity to pursue a peace accord that addresses
the underlying issues of the armed conflict. (C13A)
AGREED to commend and support federal Fisheries Minister Brian
Tobin in his strong action regarding the conservation of fish
stocks on the East Coast, to urge that he take a similar position
on the West Coast, and to call on the Minister to address the
high level of fisheries interception by the Alaskans on the West
Coast. (C19)
AGREED to call upon the Minister of Immigration to exempt refugees
and their families from the landing fee. (C21)
REFERRED to the Eco-Justice Committee for consideration and presentation
to the next General Synod a proposal to endorse and commend the
Human Rights Principles, received by the 33rd General Synod for
study, to all parishes, dioceses, provinces and national bodies
for adoption and implementation as policy. (B50)
AGREED, commending the Government of Canada in its commitment
to peacemaking and peacekeeping in our world today and acknowledging
the continuing sacrifices of our young people and citizens who
are risking their lives in peacekeeping service, especially since
the end of the cold war, to call upon the Government to continue
to pursue changes in foreign policy, defence policy, and social
policy which will promote common security and peace by placing
increasing emphasis on peacemaking, peacekeeping, conflict resolution,
environmental protection, disaster relief, and search and rescue
operations as roles of the Canadian Forces, by providing training
in conflict resolution skills for Canadian Forces personnel as
well as personnel from other nations; supporting initiatives to
develop and provide civilian services of conflict resolution and
mediation; and by establishing economic development plans, with
community participation, for communities affected by base closures
and any ensuing unemployment. (A201A)
The Primate reminded the Synod that in 1989 the General Synod
asked the church to become involved in "the decade of evangelism"
(Lambeth 1988). The question was how to approach evangelism nationally.
The National Executive Council asked the Primate to form a small
group to work at the question of facilitating the work of evangelism
at the local level. There was a presentation at the 1992 General
Synod of ways in which this was being done in a number of places.
A decision was made to take advantage of the visit of the Archbishop
of Canterbury for the Christian Festival in Hamilton and enable
him to make contact with places he could not possibly visit around
the question of evangelism. This resulted in a number of church
agencies and programs working together to create video resources
intended for use at the local level. The model of evangelism offered
by the archbishop is the enabling of the whole church to undertake
this work which is of the essence of the life of the church but
is not as widely observed as it could be. The result of this project
was the creation of three video resources. The Synod watched one
of these resources, "One Generation from Extinction."
The Synod discussed the presentation in small groups.
The Synod made the following decisions.
AGREED to approve terms of reference for the Anglican Journal/Journal
Anglican which stipulate that the Journal is the national
newspaper of the Anglican Church of Canada but not the official
voice of the church; that the newspaper has a primary responsibility
to inform Anglicans in Canada about the domestic and international
work of their church but also to provide relevant news of the
worldwide communion and from other faith communities, exercising
a role in presenting faith and stimulating debate; that the Journal
is a church-sponsored and financed paper and an important instrument
of communication; that the editor makes all decisions on editorial
content acting in accordance with priorities and policies established
by the Information Resources Committee in consultation with the
Journal's Advisory Board and approved by the Council of the General
Synod; that the paper is encouraged to express the full range
of opinion within the Anglican community, is permitted to take
an independent stance in editorials with the condition that an
explanation by an informed spokesperson of the official position
of the church will be carried when there is a conflict of opinion
with official church policy; that the Journal operates in accordance
with the Statement of Ethics and Standards of Professional Practice
of the Associated Church Press; that the Information Resources
Committee is the publisher of the Journal and reports to the General
Synod and the Council of the General Synod. The Canon outlines
the constitution of the Advisory Board and the duties of the Editor.
(A81)
AGREED to approve the 1994 audited consolidated financial statements
of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada. (A240)
AGREED to appoint Ernst and Young, Chartered Accountants, as auditors
for fiscal 1995 at an agreed fee of $74,000.
AGREED to replace Sections 30 a) and b) of the Constitution to
provide that the Financial Management and Development Committee
shall annually coordinate the preparation of a budget for recommendation
to the Council of General Synod dealing with all areas of revenue
and expenditures of the General Synod for the ensuing year; that
except as provided for by other revenues, the financial requirements
of General Synod shall be provided for by an assessment of the
dioceses represented in the General Synod (which shall provide
funds for the necessary expenses of the General Synod, the Council
and Standing Committees of the General Synod, the offices of the
Primate, the General Secretary, the Ecumenical Officer, the Archivist,
the House of Bishops, and other administrative functions approved
by the Council of the General Synod) and by an apportionment allocated
to each diocese; by changing Such assessment shall be paid
to The assessment shall be paid; and to add a new section
d) to provide that the Financial Management and Development Committee
shall advise the several dioceses of their suggested share of
the General Synod apportionment and shall secure from each diocese
the acceptance of its share. (A32B)
AGREED to direct the Council of General Synod to study over the
next triennium the matter of complete unification of the revenue
budget and bring recommendations to the next General Synod. (C23)
AGREED to approve the 1994 audited financial statements of The
Pension Fund of the Anglican Church of Canada. (A227)
AGREED to congratulate Dr. Tom Millman on the occasion of his
ninetieth birthday, thanking him for devoted service to the church,
particularly to the General Synod Archives, to Theological Education,
and to parish life and praying that he will continue in good health.
(A100)
The Primate welcomed Bishop D.K. Mohanty, Bishop of Cuttack and
Deputy Moderator of the Church of North India, Ms. Smita Singh
of the Diocese of Calcutta, and Mrs. Ruth Gomez of the Diocese
of Northeast India. Bishop Mohanty brought greetings from his
Province and diocese.
The Synod elected Rendina Hamilton to be Prolocutor and Ben Arreak
to be Deputy Prolocutor.
Margaret Murray presented the names of persons elected to the
Council of General Synod.
The following elections were announced.
Eco-Justice Committee
Clergy: Arthur Anderson, Qu'Appelle, Randy Lockyer, W. Nfld.,
Margaret Marquardt, New Westminster.
Bishop: Barry Jenks, British Columbia.
Agenda Committee: David Boston, Nova Scotia, Diane Brookes,
Arctic, David Gould, Algoma.
Fund Raising: Andrew Hutchison, Montreal, Terry Finlay,
Toronto (alternate).
Anglican Book Centre Committee: John Hill, Toronto, Hugh
Mackenzie, Algoma, Reg Rickett, Saskatoon.
Implementation Team: Dariel Bateman, Calgary, Gary Genge,
Saskatoon, Lorna Janze, Caledonia, Bob MacRae, British Columbia,
Amy Newell, Ottawa.
Anglican Journal: Tim Foley, Toronto, David Smith, Toronto,
Patrick Tomalin, Qu'Appelle.
Mission Audit: Current members will continue until the
Council of General Synod's March 1996 meeting.
Continuing Education Committee: Current members will continue
until the Council of General Synod's March 1996 meeting.
Mission Coordination Group: Allen Box, Ottawa, Madeline
Critchell, E. Nfld. and L. (Co-chairs)
Archives: Harry Huskins, Algoma, Steven Sharman, Rupert's
Land, Doreen Stevens, New Westminster.
Diane Porter brought greetings from the Episcopal Church (U.S.A.).
She said that we share many wonderful partnerships between our
churches, between the Presiding Bishop and the Primate, between
individuals and various levels of church life. She commented on
the, "wonderful inclusion of youth," in this Synod.
Laura Ocampo (Philippines), on behalf of the international partners,
said that they wished to take the opportunity to express their
appreciation for being invited to be part of this church. It has
been an exciting experience to be present when old ways are being
affirmed and new ways are being fashioned. She said she discerned
hope in the adoption of the strategic plan and the assumption
of additional responsibilities at local levels, as well as in
the desire of the church to have the Government of Canada stand
with the church in the pursuit of justice. She said that the government
of her own country has been aware of the impact of resolutions
adopted by Canadian Synods in the past and church people value
this expression of solidarity.
Dinis Sengulane (Mozambique) said the partners realize that they
have been inspired by the faithfulness they have observed. "You
are really beautiful," he said, "You are smashing!"
The multicultural nature of the Canadian society is a gift from
God who calls us to seize the opportunity. There is a call to
minister to people in languages and gestures they can understand.
He said the partners note with interest that the eucharist is
central in the congregations and seems to be the standard of worship.
He said that the fact that we are all created in the image of
God means that every culture has something godly. At the same
time, the fact that Jesus came to redeem us means that we are
all in need of redemption. Inculturation is not a matter of letting
everyone do their thing or of bringing everything to worship uncritically,
but to go through the scrutiny of the Gospel.
Randall Chase (Episcopal Church U.S.A.) said he saw benefits in
our Anglican partnership. He said this has been a painful time
for the Episcopal Church. He said there is a special way in which
the Anglican Church of Canada has dealt with difficult issues--structural
change, the residential schools, sexuality, and liturgy--with
grace and openness. He said he had been impressed and comfortable
with the corporate conversation, with its humour and integrity.
He hoped this would also be represented in conversations back
home, private conversations, in dioceses. He told members of Synod
to try to keep the conversations open and evolving so they cannot
be closed by fear and prejudice. Please continue to tell your
stories, he said, which for him had been embodiment of Christ's
presence in the world.
Donna Geernaert (Roman Catholic, CCCB) said she saw a lot of similarities
between Anglicans and Roman Catholics. She had talked with Bishop
Sartison before he left and he had said he would have liked to
see more time for celebration and dreaming. She said she had been
at three Synods and there has been a growth in inclusiveness.
She appreciated the story-telling approach in this Synod, especially
in the bible studies. She asked: when you talk about ecumenism
is it a practical question about getting something done? Or is
it something more? She referred to a recent encyclical by Pope
John Paul II in which he says that the search for Christian unity
is part of our evangelical witness. She asked Synod to be vigilant
about where the search for Christian unity is put into the church's
structures.
The Primate responded to the partners. He said he had a deep sense
of positive pride (fierté) about this church. He
said genuine partnership of the kind we experience in people who
come to us from elsewhere is the way we save ourselves from pride
in a negative sense. He told the partners their presence and sharing
is so much a part of our life that it would be unimaginable to
hold a Synod without that. We could not be the nice things the
partners say about us, or avoid some of the other things, without
them.
Suzanne Lawson led the Synod in a process designed to help members
of Synod prepare to interpret the Synod to their home constituencies.
The Synod concluded with expressions of thanks and a celebration
of the eucharist.
Back to General Synod 1995
1 - The Opening of Synod
2 - Strategic Plan
3 - Principles, Constitution, Canons, Procedures, Rules
4 - First Nations
5 - Ecumenical Relationships
6 - Homosexuality and Homosexual Relationships
7 - Faith and Worship
8 - The Ministry of the Church
9 - Social Justice, Peace, and the Environment
10 - Evangelism
11 - Anglican Journal / Journal Anglican
12 - Finance and Pensions
13 - Greetings
14 - Elections
Financial Management and Development Committee
Faith, Worship and Ministry Committee
Information Resources Committee
Partners in Mission Committee
Pensions Committee
Primate's World Relief and Development Fund Committee
15 - Partners
16 - The Conclusion of the Synod
Back to Anglicans Online!Note: This is site is not formally affiliated with the Anglican Church of Canada.