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CoGS members gathered at the Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre in Mississauga, Ont., for the final day of a three-day meeting.
At a glance
- CoGS appointed a liaison to the new National Youth Council.
- Ecumenical and Anglican partners shared updates and reflections, several drawing on their own experiences of change.
- CoGS heard an update on its remaining work leading up to General Synod 2028.
- At the closing Eucharist, the Primate’s homily offered hope for finding clarity on the journey ahead.
Opening prayer
The day began with prayer led by Archdeacon Cheryl Palmer, chaplain to CoGS.
National Youth Council liaison
Following the appointment on Friday of the inaugural members of the National Youth Council, CoGS appointed a liaison to the new council, connecting the two bodies.
Motion: CoGS Liaison to National Youth Council
That this Council of the General Synod appoint the Very Reverend Doug Michael as the CoGS liaison to the National Youth Council. CARRIED
Partner reflections
CoGS heard from representatives of its ecumenical and Anglican partners.
The Rev. Chris Bishopp, representative of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) to CoGS, said the ELCIC is also in a season of change. He likened the journey to hiking in Manitoba’s Whiteshell region, where trails cross the bare rock of the Canadian Shield and markers can be hard to find. Even when the path seems unclear, he said, the church has often come farther than it realizes. He encouraged CoGS to approach change with hope, focused on thriving rather than simply surviving.
Archdeacon Lauren Schoeck, CoGS representative to the ELCIC, said the sibling relationship between the two churches, now marking 25 years of full communion, remains very much intact and warm. Each church has a full voting member on the other’s national council. She shared the ELCIC’s thanks to the Anglican Military Ordinariate for including Lutheran chaplains, giving them oversight, collegiality and mentoring in their ministry. The ELCIC recently marked its 40th anniversary with a day of action, as members served their communities, and a livestreamed national worship service in October, led by ELCIC National Bishop Larry Kochendorfer from Camp Kinasao in Christopher Lake, Sask.
Warren Hawk, representative of The Episcopal Church (TEC) to CoGS, brought greetings at his first meeting this triennium. A former co-chair of TEC’s commission researching the church’s history with Indigenous boarding schools, he described TEC’s continuing truth-telling about its role in schools that separated children from their families, particularly in the Lakota and Navajo nations. The next step, he said, is discerning what the church does with that knowledge. Despite division in the United States, he said, TEC remains united, and he has felt at home at CoGS.
Bishop of Qu’Appelle Helen Kennedy, CoGS representative to TEC, shared her experience of attending TEC’s executive council meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in June, where she learned about the wide-ranging ministries of the Episcopal Diocese of Puerto Rico. Kennedy also attended an executive council meeting in New York City in October.
The Rev. Cynthia Haines Turner, Alongside Hope’s partner representative to CoGS, said the council’s conversations on change mirrored Alongside Hope’s own experience since becoming separately incorporated in 2000. Even when change is driven by circumstances, she said, there is agency within it.
Scott Brubacher, executive director of the Anglican Foundation of Canada (AFC), expressed gratitude to the church for backing AFC programs in areas such as theological education and child and youth ministry. He affirmed that the Foundation exists to support the Anglican Church of Canada in its work.
The road to General Synod 2028
CoGS is now halfway through its three-year term, known as the triennium. Archdeacon Rhonda Waters, co-chair of the Planning and Agenda Team, outlined the road ahead. She said plans will adjust as work unfolds, but CoGS is on track.
The General Synod, the national governing body of the Anglican Church of Canada, will meet in May 2028 in St. John’s, N.L. The meeting will include reports on the work General Synod 2025 referred to CoGS and on progress on the six pathways for transformation. The General Synod will also elect the 16th Primate and hold first readings of anticipated changes to church law (canons), the first of two votes needed at consecutive meetings.
Before then, CoGS will meet three more times. In May 2027, it expects to receive the report of the task force on non-disclosure agreements, respond to resolutions on relationships with the United and Presbyterian churches and on youth representation on CoGS, and see the national strategic communications plan.
In November 2027, CoGS expects to receive the report of the task force on artificial intelligence and materials related to the Primatial election. That meeting will be the last chance to consider anything that needs CoGS’s attention before General Synod 2028.
CoGS’s final meeting of the triennium, scheduled for March 2028, will be a chance to test proposals for General Synod, review its work and reflect on lessons to pass on to the incoming CoGS.
Member reflections
After Waters’ presentation, several CoGS members shared closing reflections. One member from a remote northern community said the meetings leave them energized. Another asked how CoGS could pass on what it has learned, perhaps through mentoring future members. Waters thanked members for their willingness to engage and play together.
Closing worship
CoGS members concluded the meeting by celebrating the Eucharist in the chapel, with Primate Shane Parker presiding and preaching. Reflecting on the parable of the ten bridesmaids (Matthew 25:1-13), he said that following Jesus means expecting the unexpected and being ready. He recalled hiking in Ireland’s Connemara mountains, when fog lifted just long enough to show him the way. This time in the Church’s life, he said, is like that moment of clarity: a chance to see where the Church is and the direction ahead.
For more stories and detail from this meeting, watch for coverage from the Anglican Journal in the weeks ahead.