(This message should be displayed with a non-proportional typeface, such as Courier or Terminal. For information on how to subscribe to or un-subscribe from this list, see the bottom of the message.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- An electronic daily update of events from the Anglican Church of Canada's General Synod 1995 in Ottawa Ontario ___________________________________ S y n o d N E W S l i n k by tod maffin wednesday, may 31, 1995 ___________________________________ t h e f i r s t w o r d Hello from 32,000 feet above Canada. Across the country today, two hundred Anglicans are gathering in Ottawa to spend ten days praying, listening, and deciding -- helping shape our common future as worshipping communities. I'm glad you'll be following our work in this way. Although the actual business of Synod doesn't get underway until tomorrow (June 1), many groups and committees will get a jumpstart on their work this evening. I want to express thanks to all the kind comments received after the first mailing yesterday. Some people offered very good suggestions, and I'll be incorporating them into the mailing as we go along. The first such addition, the "snickerings" section below, will give us a chance to laugh at ourselves. Got any good Anglican jokes? Let me know! Some people wanted to know what the section headings meant. Here's an overview of what I hope to present each day. first word The "first word" section will serve as an introduction to the newsletter, perhaps an update on the list itself. quick takes Brief notes of interest about General Synod, this list, or other items which you may be interested in. reflections I see this as sort of an editorial about General Synod and the church in general. Consider it the closest thing to a sermon this will ever have. Caveat reader.snickerings Your chance to share your best Anglican jokes with the rest of the list. I especially like Bishop jokes, so haul 'em out if you've got 'em. :-) glances ahead A detailed review of tomorrow's agenda on the floor of Synod, including television coverage on Vision TV. your turn Exactly what it says: YOUR turn. Use it as either letters to the editor, or if you'd like to wax eloquent about something on your mind about the church, send it in by e-mail. This is in addition to the official church report of actions taken on the floor of Synod. I don't know precisely the content of this, as it will be prepared by Church House staff, but it will offer more of the "news" content, while I hope this list will help you get a sense of the sights and sounds of a Synod. Consider this the carbohydrate content in your meat and potatoes. :) And because you and I are making this up as we go along, I'd be delighted to hear your suggestions. I *do* have a secret agenda, by the way, with this list -- to help demonstrate to the wider church that electronic communication can be used as an effective means of sharing and getting information out. Okay, enough rambling. On today's Synod NEWSlink. ___________________________________ q u i c k t a k e s SYNOD95 HITS THE BIG LEAGUE Just heard this morning that both Compuserve and America Online have selected this list, along with the Anglicans Online! website as a featured resource in their forums. Welcome to everyone from those two services -- we're delighted you're with us. MAKING IT EASIER TO SPREAD THE WORD Many people have offered to help spread word of this list to others -- in parish bulletins, newsgroups, and more. To help you do just that, feel free to use this text: Synod NEWSlink is a mailing list on the Internet, free of charge, offering news and views from the Anglican General Synod in Ottawa, June 1-9. To subscribe, send e-mail to "synod95@infomatch.com" with the words: "subscribe synod-list" (without the quotes) in the body of the message. You'll get a welcome message back in a minute or two. Published live from the floor of Synod, the daily newsletter is a super way to keep track of the national church's decision-making conference. SYNOD ON THE WEB Some of you already know about the Anglicans Online! website, but I thought I'd give it a free plug here as well. If you have the ability to browse the Internet's World Wide Web, point your browser to this URL address: http://infomatch.com/~haibeck/anglican.html This website offers a number of resources about the General Synod, its issues, agenda, a schedule of TV coverage, and more -- plus pointers to other Anglican/Episcopal resources on the Internet. SYNOD NEWSlink "EXTRA" With so many important issues and discussions coming to the floor of Synod, trying to present everything in this capsule form will do somewhat of an injustice to the issue. For that reason, I'm wondering what you think about receiving an "extra" edition of Synod NEWSlink each evening. It would be likely be equal or shorter in length than the regular mailing, and would feature verbatim text of an important speech, report, or resolution. I am very conscious that some people pay for the e-mail they receive and I don't intend to swamp e-mail boxes. I'll send a sample with today's mailing -- be sure to let me know if you would appreciate such an extra or if you'd like it dropped. ECUNET/QUEST FORMS THREE ONLINE MEETINGS Those of you with access to the Quest/Ecunet online service may want to check out the three meetings set up specially for General Synod -- "chat", "news", and "reports". If you are on Ecunet, please let people know how they can subscribe to this mailing list if they would like. PRAYER VIGIL UNDERWAY AT 2pm EST TOMORROW Members of the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer will join with people around the country to begin a continual prayer vigil throughout General Synod beginning at 2:00 p.m. tomorrow (June 1). The prayer tent will be located onsite, just outside the Plenary hall. ___________________________________ r e f l e c t i o n s The first thing you notice about Ottawa is that it's hot. Quite hot, in fact. It was 31 degrees at the peak today, and humid. Then, you get the scenery. Ottawa is a beautiful city of parks, canals, and river views, and driving in to Carleton University campus, where Synod is being held, is quite spectacular. Most members of General Synod are arriving tomorrow. They'll spend their time in the campus' residences, a series of red brick buildings, connected by an amazing labyrinth of underground tunnels. The rooms are small and somewhat run down, but comfortable and air-conditioned. Unlike the last Synod, dioceses are not housed in together; floors are separated by gender, as there's only one washroom per floor. And then there's the Plenary room. It is, in a word, tiny. Probably about the size of a small basketball gym. Inside that room, they'll somehow manage to pack 30 dioceses, 350 members and staff, a presentation stage, large head table, and a television production studio into it. Media and guests will have to watch from a closed-circuit link piped into another room. Luckily, it's air conditioned. The "Commons Lounge" as well probably represented an interesting challenge for Synod planners. It will be where services will be held (daily Eucharists, opening service, etc.) The Commons is a multi-level hall, with a recessed centre block and raised seating areas -- all at different levels -- surrounding it. ___________________________________ s n i c k e r i n g s Q: "How many Anglicans does it take to change a light bulb?" A: 114. (That's eight to form a committee to study the implications of a light study, four to form a task force to determine the make-up of the Light Fixture working group, 30 to form the working group.....) -- Submitted by Patrick Fowler Nelson, B.C. Canada ___________________________________ g l a n c e s a h e a d THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 1995 7:00 a.m. Breakfast 9:00 a.m. Registration opens for members Daytime - Sessional committees begin work - Video crew goes through rehearsals 12 noon Lunch 2:00 p.m. Pre-Synod orientation for first timers and orientation for group leaders 5:00 p.m. Dinner 7:15 p.m. Gather in the Commons lounge 7:30 p.m. Opening Eucharist with Primatial address and presentation by the Governor General 9:30 p.m. Reception Tomorrow's highlight will be the opening Eucharist. His Excellency the RIght Honourable Romeo Leblanc, Governor General of Canada and his wife, Diana, will enter the hal accompanied by the children of General Synod. The Governor General will be with members to present officially a coat of arms, flag and bade as developed by the heraldic Authority. Grandfather William Commanda, a member of the Algonquian First Nation, will be among members to pray for the Creator's blessing upon the gathering and proceedings of General Synod. The Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, Michael Peers, will give his Primatial Address during the opening service. ___________________________________ i n t e r c e s s i o n As you plan your Sunday services, or spend time in private prayer, please keep the members of General Synod close to your hearts this week. This prayer is taken from the General Synod 1995 circular. "Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with those who take counsel in General Synod for the renewal and mission of your Church. Teach us in all things to seek first your honour and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right, and grant us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." ___________________________________ y o u r t u r n "May 30 e-mail received with full clarity. Most easy to read. I appreciated the short, precise and concise notes on the various subjects. I am really excited about this media for following Synod95 news. You are to be commended for all your work. I will be sharing the subscription address with other clergy I know in Calgary who are on-line. Hopefully, they, too, will benefit." -- The Rev. David Guthrie Calgary, Alberta, Canada (Like to add your own thoughts? Just e-mail tod@direct.ca with the words "your turn" in the subject header.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- CONTACT INFO: Synod95 is a read-only mailing list; any messages you send to the list will be politely returned. If you'd like to contact the editor, e-mail tod@direct.ca -- be warned, you may not get an answer back until after Synod. SUBSCRIPTION INFO: To subscribe to Synod NEWSlink, send an e-mail message to "synod95@infomatch.com" with the words "subscribe synod-list" in the message body. To leave the list, send an e-mail message to "synod95@infomatch.com" with the words "signoff synod-list" in the message body. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Many thanks to Infomatch Internet, who have donated the use of their mailing list server for distribution of this newsletter. THE LEGAL STUFF: You are encouraged to distribute this text to people known to you, provided no automated mailing list software is used to perform this forwarding function. No fee may be charged for distribution of this text, nor can this text be bundled with other information or programs if a fee is charged for such package. The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Anglican Church of Canada or any sane person for that matter. * END OF TEXT *