Council of General Synod highlights - March 11, 2007
March 8 – 11, 2007
Queen of Apostles, Mississauga, Ont.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Members gathered for Eucharist at 9 a.m. and convened in session at 10:15 with the Primate in the chair.
Archdeacon Michael Pollesel, General Secretary, presented the report from the Anglican Award of Merit Committee. Council agreed to confer the award on:
- Dorothy Davies-Flindall of the Diocese of Ontario.
- Klaus Gruber of the Diocese of Saskatoon.
- J. H. Clyne Harradence, Q.C. of the Diocese of Saskatchewan.
- Elizabeth (Betty) Livingstone of the Diocese of Huron.
- Tsuyoshi Eddy Nishida of the Diocese of Calgary.
Council considered resolutions and canonical amendments regarding the St. Michael Report. The resolutions were revised by Ron Stevenson, Stephen Andrews, Sue Moxley and Bob Falby. A significant revision is that the motions at General Synod would required approval by 60 per cent of each order or 60 per cent of dioceses if a vote by diocese is requested.
The Chancellor moved that three of the resolutions proposed be sent to General Synod:
- 2. That resolutions 3 and 4 below be deemed to have been carried only if they receive the affirmative votes of 60 per cent of the members of each Order present and voting and if a vote by diocese is requested, only if they receive the affirmation of 60 per cent of the dioceses whose votes are counted.
- 3. That this General Synod resolves that the blessing of same-sex unions is consistent with the core doctrine of the Anglican Church of Canada.
- 5. That this General Synod requests the Council of General Synod to consider revision of Canon 21 (On Marriage) including theological rationale to allow marriage of all legally qualified persons and to report at the next General Synod (2010).
The motion carried.
John Steele moved that the proposed wording regarding a canonical change also be sent to General Synod. The motion was defeated.
Council considered messages for the next Council of General Synod. Dorothy Davies-Flindall described several suggested messages arising from a meeting last week of Planning and Agenda, Management Team and CoGS members of committees. Council members discussed possible messages in table groups which then reported on different ideas in plenary.
Council recessed for lunch at 12 p.m.
and reconvened at 1:30 p.m.
Council considered resolutions.
Council approved a motion authorizing the Officers of General Synod to complete negotiations with Augsburg Fortress Canada regarding the Anglican Book Center.
Council approved a motion affirming the important of financial development as a priority of General Synod.
Council approved a resolution forwarding certain resolutions contained in the Governance Working Group Report to General Synod.
Council approved a resolution forwarding to the next CoGS information and recommendations contained in the report of the Governance Working Group report.
Council approved a motion asking Planning and Agenda committee to appoint a group to continue the Governance Working Group in the next triennium with appropriate funding.
Council approved a resolution waiving the requirement for an independent annual audit for 2006 for the Anglican Journal.
Council approved a motion asking for time on the General Synod agenda for a report on youth initiatives.
Council approved a motion asking the Handbook Concerns Committee to consider changing the criteria for the Anglican Award of Merit so that it can be awarded to Anglicans eminent in fields not directly related to the church.
Council approved a motion transferring responsibility for the Prioritized Operations Plan to the Planning and Agenda Team.
Council heard a report on the residential school Healing Fund.
Council approved a motion thanking the Primate for his care during the past triennium and wishing him and Mrs. Hutchison well.
Council adjourned at 2:15 p.m.
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