General Synod and associated corporations
December, 2008
In the mid 1960s the General Synod engaged Price Waterhouse for a thorough review of the management and structure of the national church. That report led to major changes in both the council and committee structure, and in Church House management. Its guiding principle is one that is still appropriate for the General Synod today: One Church, One Body
As a result of the report, semi autonomous agencies -- the Missionary Society, the General Board of Religious Education, the Council for Social Service and the Department of Information and Stewardship -- were incorporated into one program under the direction of the General Synod, its National Executive Council and seven standing committees. Other committees, sub-committees and small groups were dissolved and their work taken over by these committees.
Since then, various factors, particularly the threatened bankruptcy of the General Synod in the late 1990s because of Indian Residential Schools lawsuits, has reversed this trend and has lead to the spinning off of several parts of General Synod into independent corporations.
The residential schools crisis itself lead to the creation of the Anglican Church of Canada Resolution Corp., a legally separate though affiliated entity.
The other bodies now relating to General Synod are as follows:
The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF)
For the past 50 years, the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund has been committed to emergency response, refugee protection, sustainable development and advocating for social justice, both in Canada and internationally. General Synod established The Primate’s World Relief Fund in 1959 following a mine disaster in Springhill, NS. The goal was to create a mechanism for Anglicans to respond quickly to emergencies.
In 1969, the mission was expanded to include international development. PWRDF became a vehicle for members of the Anglican Church of Canada to respond to long-term development needs in countries around the world. The same year, General Synod mandated PWRDF to support programs to reduce marginalization and poverty of Indigenous People in Canada.
In 2000, PWRDF was incorporated as a charitable, not-for-profit corporation. Dioceses act as the voting membership.
Today, PWRDF works in partnership with Anglican churches, ecumenical organizations and community-based groups in more than 20 countries in three international regions: Asia-Pacific; Africa; and Latin America-Caribbean. It also works with numerous Indigenous communities across Canada.
PWRDF is governed by a Board of Directors that includes the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, Indigenous and international partners as well as bishops and other clergy and laity from across the four ecclesiastical provinces. There is a provision for PWRDF to report to General Synod and have representatives attend meetings of Synod and of the Council of General Synod, however PWRDF does not have a vote.
PWRDF celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2009.
Anglican Journal
The Anglican Journal serves as much more than a national newspaper. Diocesan newspapers depend on it for their circulation and distribution. Concerns that the General Synod might have to cease operation lead to a decision to incorporate the Anglican Journal as a separate entity in 2002.
Although the Journal depends financially on a subsidy from General Synod which in effect pays the cost of subscriptions with money received from the dioceses, the newspaper now has an independent Board of Directors. The General Synod is the owner, or ‘member’ of the corporation, and the directors are elected by the Council of General Synod.
The Anglican Journal continues to have an independent editorial policy. Although the Journal’s principal vehicle continues to be a printed newspaper, there is also a growing online presence.
The Pension Office
For many years the pension and benefits plans were administered by the General Synod on behalf of the Pension Trustees. In 2004 the trustees and the Pension Committee decided that it would be more appropriate to incorporate the Pension Office and this was done. The incorporated pension office now administers the plans under contract with the trustees. In early 2009, the Pension Office will move out of the General Synod offices at 80 Hayden Street into a nearby building. Given that all departments have experienced challenges with regards to space availability and that the Pension Office required more space than was available in Church House, the move was the only option.
The Anglican Foundation
The Anglican Foundation of Canada was incorporated in 1957. It is completely and intentionally independent of General Synod. The Foundation is comprised of members, both corporate and individual and is governed by a board elected or appointed from its members. The Primate acts as Chief Executive Officer and chair. The Foundation solicits, invests and manages its own funds and other funds held in trust. It awards grants or loans to parishes and Anglican groups within Canada.
Missionary Society of the Anglican Church of Canada
This society was incorporated in the early years of the last century and was a venerable and well-loved institution. At the time of the implementation of the Price Waterhouse report, the program work of the society was transferred to the National and World Mission Division of the national office, and the policy functions fell to the Program Committee. The society was not dissolved, however, and remains in place, mainly to receive bequests from people who perhaps long ago included it in their wills. Each year, it makes an operating grant to General Synod. It also holds and manages designated funds, and provides car loans for northern clergy. The Council of General Synod members serve as the Board of Management for the society.
Anglican Book Centre
During the residential schools crisis, legal steps required to incorporate the Anglican Book Centre were taken, but for operational reasons, the corporation was never activated. In 2007, after running deficits for several years, the management of ABC was turned over to Augsburg Fortress Canada, a Lutheran partner. Augsburg Fortress has managed the store since then, although the site of the bookstore remains at 80 Hayden Street.
Anglican Video
In the early 1990s Anglican Video was incorporated as a separate entity for business purposes. This corporation was allowed to lapse in the late 90s and Anglican Video remains a part of the Communications and Information Resources department.
Conclusion
While there may be very good reasons why certain bodies are separately incorporated, there may also be reasons to raise questions about their "de-incorporation" from time to time.
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