We, the Council of General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada, meeting in Fredericton, New Brunswick between May 4 and 7, 2000 give thanks to God for the opportunity which we have enjoyed to pray together, to study scripture, to reflect and to struggle with the major issue facing this Anglican Church of Canada today.
Initially, there was an appearance of “business as usual.” We quickly realized that there were two streams of work – one that could be called “regular business” and one called the “crisis at hand”. The “regular business” included things like receiving and approving committee reports, approving financial statements, appointing people to committees and taskforces.
The “crisis at hand” is the potential death of the General Synod of The Anglican Church of Canada dues to the costs of litigation resulting from the abusers of residential schools children, and cost of claims. There are approximately 1,600 claims involving General Synod. Most of these also involve particular dioceses. The damages claimed exceed $2 billion.
In the face of this, the Council of General Synod re-affirmed its commitment to healing and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. In order to accomplish these goals, we re-affirmed the goal that we need to remain financially viable. To do that, the General Synod needs to reach an agreement with the Government of Canada. Without federal assistance our resources will soon be exhausted, leading to bankruptcy. This would massively disrupt our ability to participate in healing and reconciliation.
We heard about the meetings of the officers of General Synod with various levels of federal government. A consultant is assisting in the approach to government. We need now to mobilize all our church members to speak with/write to their Member of Parliament. Suggestions about how to do this are available from the Council of General Synod member from your diocese or the General Secretary of General Synod, Archdeacon Jim Boyles.
We were delighted to receive messages of support given by our partners, from the Episcopal Church, USA and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. Our Lutheran partner emphasized that we are not alone. We ask our Christian brothers and sisters in Canada to participate in advocating with the federal government.
Our partners from the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples reminded us about the careful use of languages and images. The Primate in his opening reflection spoke of the death of Christ. “On Good Friday, Jesus stopped. His heart stopped beating…but the story didn’t stop.”
It took time for the Council of General Synod to absorb the impact of hard-hitting financial facts and dramatic images. There were also stories of hope in the report from the Healing Fund, conversations with the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples partners and with members from dioceses now involved with litigation.
To move into the future, the Council of General Synod put task groups in place to prepare proposals for alternative forms of organization, and make decisions about financial viability if required. We received a statement “Healing and Reconciliation” and commended it for study and discussion. We identified the values and strengths that must be maintained as we move forward. We directed the Officers of General Synod and the staff Management Team to develop a crisis management plan in the event of a bankruptcy of General Synod. More information can be obtained at www.anglican.ca.
We identified that the Pension Plan (including group benefits) and the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (through separate incorporation) will continue. We acknowledged the stress put on our staff of General Synod, who are highly valued and part of the strength of General Synod.
In the face of many unknowns, we remain certain that God is at work. Living with uncertainty is the present reality. In worship, reports, conversations, we lived 1 Corinthians 13:12: “For now we see in a mirror dimly, … now we know only in part, then we will know fully…”
