Note 28 (of 92) by MICHAEL INGHAM on June 2, 1995 at 12:45 Eastern (1996
characters).

The opening service of General Synod has just concluded. It was a very
different "opener" from Toronto '92, when we had rank upon rank of vested
male hierarchs occupying all the front seats in the Cathedral, and a large
splendid (male) choir singing ancient splendid hymns. The church
triumphant, and established, was the message then.

Not tonight. This one was not in a church, but in a rather small room in
Carleton University, a sort of "pit" with the altar and leaders set below
the level of the gathered assembly. Only the Primate and the altar
assistants were vested. Everyone else - bishops, clergy, laity, youth,
visitors, staff - sat mixed up together wearing shorts or cool clothing
to fight off the heat.

The Governor-General of Canada, his wife and aide-decamp, were also in
attendance. M. LeBlanc presented officially the coat of arms, badge and
flag to the Anglican Church of Canada, and made rather a nice speech to go
with it. (Most of us thought the flag etc. were already ours, but the
Primate explained that they were now ours in a "deeper way.")

The Primatial address was given during the Eucharist (on reflection,
perhaps, not a good idea). It will probably be posted here somewhere, so
comment will be withheld. Archbishop Peers did, however, refer to the
homosexuality debate at some length in his address. He made the distinction
between doctrine and discipline, and indicated his view that homosexuality
- like divorce - falls under the second rather than the first. A change in
the church's position would be a change in discipline not doctrine.

I had a brief look at the Plenary Hall, which is awfully small. Apparently,
the gymnasium - which was the intended site - has no air conditioning. So
we're in a space about as big as a medium size church hall. We'll see how
it goes tomorrow.

+ Michael Ingham, Bishop of New Westminster
  Vancouver, BC
  Written on Thu, Jun  1, 1995 at  9:32 pm PDT at General Synod, Ottawa,
  Internet: MICHAEL_INGHAM.parti@ecunet.org