Council of General Synod highlights - March 9 , 2007
March 8 – 11, 2007
Queen of Apostles, Mississauga, Ont.
Friday, March 9, 2007
Council convened at 9 a.m. with the Primate in the chair. Bishop Jim Cowan, chair of the Planning and Agenda Committee described the format for the day.
Members of the Council were invited to participate in three of an available four conversations during the day. One of those conversations will deal with the St. Michael Report. He said he hoped that the resolutions committee could take the results of that conversation and bring a further report to the council later in the meeting. The conversations are:
- General Synod and CoGS;
- Fundamental organization of the Anglican Church of Canada;
- The Prioritized Operations Plan / Letting Down the Nets;
- The St. Michael Report.
Members of Council worshipped together. The business of the day is built around worship
Jim Boyles, former General Secretary and a member of the governance working group, introduced the discussion on governance. He was joined by Brian Burrows, vice-chancellor of General Synod.
Archdeacon Boyles traced the history of work the church has done on its own structures and described previous studies that have been done. He reviewed the major reasons to reconsider church structures at this time, including declining finances and the ‘heaviness and complexity’ of church structures. He said he starts with the premise that the church is over-governed.
Mr. Justice Burrows said he believes there are substantial expectations around what the governance working group might deliver. It is easier to look at governance than to do other things. The enthusiasm for looking at governance is also a result of frustrations with structures, with ever- diminishing resources and with the costs incurred because of the large geographical area that the church must live with. One possibility is to live with existing structures and their inefficiencies and just get on with the work the church is called to do.
Worship resumed. Archbishop Terry Finlay gave council members a number of questions to reflect on in table groups.
Canon Allen Box introduced the conversations and the process for them.
Break
Council resumed, with members meeting in the different available conversations. These sessions lasted until late afternoon.
Council reconvened in plenary at 4:45 for prayers of the people.
Council adjourned for dinner at 5 p.m. and reconvened at 7 p.m.
Council heard report-backs from the four conversations. Canon Allen Box facilitated.
Deputy Prolocutor Sue Winn reported on behalf of the group that considered the make-up of CoGS and General Synod.
Participants did not like the idea of a larger CoGS but did like the concept of a simpler selection process and of a smaller General Synod. Participants felt that proposed changes should be further refined. Members felt that fewer meetings and alternate ways of meeting should also be considered.
Dorothy Davies-Flindall reported on behalf of the group that considered the fundamental organization of the Anglican Church. She noted that many changes discussed are actually outside the purview of General Synod. There is a need to look at existing structures that are currently working for people but that might work better in a different way. We can be creative in looking at how we do ministry and how our structures can assist.
Michael Pollesel reported on behalf of the group looking at the Prioritized Operations Plan working group and at Letting Down the Nets. The LDTN program is being ended but some of the work the program has done must be maintained. The POP group never did actually set priorities and more work needs to be done. An office of development at Church House would be a good thing for the whole church and this should be approved by this council.
Jim Cowan reported on the group that discussed the St. Michael Report. There was discussion around procedural issues and how this will come to General Synod. There was discussion on what is the issue and on how it should be approached. In some ways there was not much more clarity than there was during council’s discussion last night. There was discussion on what is doctrine, core doctrine and adiophora. A series of four motions were proposed and will come to the council.
Council moved to committee of the whole to discuss the reports and some of the issues raised.
Council focused primarily on the four motions produced by the St. Michael Report discussion group. An extensive discussion of the proposed resolutions ensued.
There was also a brief discussion on governance.
Council moved out of the committee of the whole to conclude the liturgy begun in the morning with the Eucharist Prayer and Communion.
Council adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
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