Council of the North: A Ministry of the Whole Church
“Our purpose is to respond to God’s Call to mission and ministry in the northern regions of Canada.” – from the Council of the North Policy Handbook
Young People from Split Lake, MB
The Council of the North is a grouping of financially assisted dioceses, which are supported through grants by General Synod. There are 9 dioceses, the Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior and the Archdeaconry of Labrador. They are in sparsely populated areas such as the Arctic, Yukon, Northern and Central Interior British Columbia, Alberta, northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba; northern Ontario, northern Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador.
In these parts of the country, costs, particularly of travel, are high but financial resources are scarce.
The council comprised of all bishops of the assisted diocese administers the General Synod’s grants for northern mission, the council meets twice a year to share information about the unique challenges faced by smaller ministries in the north.
They work together to provide pastoral and sacramental ministry to all who are living in isolated communities in Canada’s North.
The chair of the council isThe chair of the council is Bishop David Ashdown, Diocese of Keewatin.
Watch a video message from Bishop Ashdown.
History
The Council of the North began in 1970 when the National Executive Council of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada appointed a taskforce to consider the challenges and opportunities for ministry in the northern parts of Canada. The following year this taskforce was replaced with the Primate’s Taskforce on the Church in the North. In 1973 this taskforce became the Primate’s Council on the North. By 1976 this body had evolved into the present Council of the North.
Recent Developments
The Council wants to thank all the members of General Synod and in fact the whole of the Anglican Church of Canada for their continuing support of the mission and ministry of providing sacramental and pastoral presence to isolated communities in Canada’s north. The level of balanced support that has been provided for the Council will allow the member dioceses to begin to look at long term planning and work towards financial development that includes a stewardship and fundraising plan.
![[PDF document]](images/page_white_acrobat.png){kind=small}