COGS Highlights

Council of General Synod Friday, June 1, 2018

Council members gathered at 8:45 a.m. at the Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre in Mississauga, Ont. At the inaugural session, Archbishop talked about the need for strength and Opening Eucharist harmony, calling for those attending the first Dean , co-chair of the Planning Team, General Synod “to throw themselves into this great provided a homily during the opening Eucharist. venture”. At the third and fourth sessions in 1908 Invoking Justin, Martyr at Rome, Dean Wall and 1911, Archbishop Samuel Matheson wrote discussed martyrdom as a form of sacrifice and that Anglicans had laid good foundations for a self-giving, setting aside things that might be national church. In 1931, Archbishop Clarendon important to us personally and taking up things Worrell called for a constitution that would more that are important to all. This concept of exactly outline the roles and responsibilities of martyrdom, he said, was also part the “crucible of General Synod. leadership” to which members of the Council of General Synod (CoGS) were called at the present In 1943, the approach of the 50th anniversary of meeting as they prepared to pray, discern, and General Synod saw Archbishop decide. argue that the national decision-making body of the church had proved itself to the older units of Welcome, Opening Formalities, Orders of the administration, dioceses and ecclesiastical Day provinces. Whatever the controversial issues of the Archbishop , Primate of the Anglican day, Owen said, “I view with horror any signs of Church of , welcomed everyone to the widening divisiveness among us” at a time when meeting. He listed regrets and introduced a the foundations of faith were crumbling in other number of council members, partners, and staff areas of society. His later successor, Archbishop members from General Synod. Edward Scott, presented an image of the church moving into the complexities of the world and Peter Wall read out the Orders of the Day. Council sustaining individuals from all different members carried a motion to approve the minutes backgrounds and walks of life in his “I have a from the last CoGS meeting in November 2017. vision” speech. By 1992, in anticipation of the The Primate led a prayer before moving into the centennial anniversary of General Synod, main agenda items of the day, starting with his Archbishop could speak of how own report. General Synod had come together to form a structure that would strengthen national unity as Primate’s Report well as forming a common mission for dioceses. In his report, Archbishop Hiltz recounted how five months ago, he took the time to read the With 2018 marking the 125th anniversary of presidential address from every General Synod General Synod, Archbishop Hiltz announced that since its establishment in 1893. Quoting from to celebrate this milestone, he was inviting the different addresses over the years, the Primate Anglican Church of Canada to “listen to its charted evolving attitudes towards the institution heartbeat” through a new initiative encouraging of General Synod within the Anglican Church of people to hold conversation circles in their homes Canada. and churches about their relationship to God, Jesus, and the church. Hiltz called a “watershed moment for the ”. Archbishop The Primate outlined different steps for this hosted the 1963 conference, Heartbeat of the Church initiative. As designed by declaring at the outset: “If there is to be a Dean Shane Parker to help guide the rebirth of the Anglican Communion conversations, these steps would include: Communion, it must be a rebirth of loving service to the world.” 1. Drawing people together and leading off • The 45th anniversary of the church with a memorable prayer; appointing the Primate’s Council on the 2. Inviting participants to speak from the North, which later became the Council of heart; to consider when and how we pray; the North. The Primate highlighted the and to describe times when prayer came support of Anglican Church Women (ACW) deeply to our hearts, when we felt God was across the country for the Council of the very close to them, and when we felt very North, noting that ACW in Huron earlier close to Jesus; that week had donated $50,000 to help 3. Reading and reflecting on a conversation support the council. from John’s gospel that Jesus brings • The 25th anniversary of the Anglican followers into in every generation: “This is Healing Fund, which saw a large influx of my commandment, that you love one donations last year reflecting concerted another as I have loved you…”; linking it to fundraising efforts. The Primate thanked times when the church made our hearts Healing Fund coordinator Esther Wesley glad, when it made our hearts ache, and for her “incredible work” over many years. went it gave us hope; • The 25th anniversary of the apology of 4. Asking participants to ponder what our then-Primate Michael Peers for the own heartfelt prayer to the church might church’s role in the Indian residential be. school system. Archbishop Hiltz noted that the anniversary on Aug. 6 coincides with Trial runs of the Heartbeat program in the Diocese the upcoming meeting of Sacred Circle in of have garnered positive feedback from Prince George, B.C., and said that he would participants, who said the format allowed for be working with National Indigenous meaningful conversation, enabled people to share Anglican Mark MacDonald to find stories, and made for some sacred moments. In the the best ways to commemorate the context of the present meeting of CoGS, the anniversary. Primate said council members would have the opportunity to try out the Heartbeat In addition, the church would be marking two conversational model in marketplace discussions, more significant anniversaries in 2019: Bible studies, and hopefully table group discussions. Within the coming month, he hoped • The 25th anniversary of the 1994 covenant to write a letter inviting people to participate in in which Indigenous Anglicans embarked the Heartbeat initiative between September 2018 on a journey of spiritual renewal and and May 2019. extended a hand to the rest of church to join them. In the years since, the church Alongside the 125th anniversary of General Synod has witnessed the installation of the that Heartbeat of the Church aims to National Indigenous Anglican Bishop, commemorate, the Primate pointed to an array of establishment of the Indigenous Spiritual other anniversaries the church will be celebrating Ministry of Mishamikoweesh, and the in 2018: creation of numerous Indigenous bishop positions including two more in Manitoba • The 55th anniversary of first Anglican and ; Congress in , which Archbishop • The 25th anniversary of the consecration of

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the church’s first female bishop. Today, great gratitude” for all these accomplishments Archbishop Hiltz said, 10 out of the 42 through the ministries of the church, and gratitude in the Anglican Church of Canada for those who have helped in these ministries. He are women, including eight diocesan expressed his hope that this anniversary period bishops. “What a blessing it has been to would also be a time of prayer for the kind of have women in episcopal ministry in our rebirth that Archbishop Clark described. beloved church,” the Primate added, and highlighted the recent election of Melissa Members broke for coffee from 10:30 a.m. to 10:45 Skelton as the church’s first female a.m. archbishop and metropolitan. • The 10th anniversary of efforts to deepen Anglican Journal & Communication and the church’s relationship with the Information Resources Committee Working Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, with Group General Synod staff members making After the break, Canon Ian Alexander gave a multiple visits to Israel-Palestine and presentation on the work of the Anglican Journal repeatedly welcoming Archbishop Suheil and Communications and Information Resources Dawani to Canada. The Primate thanked Committee Working Group. He recounted the Canadian Anglicans for supporting the background that prompted the church to explore Diocese of Jerusalem in its ministries such current and future trends in diocesan newspaper as the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza— distribution, and their potential impact on support that was particularly important in distribution of the Anglican Journal. the wake of recent protests on the Gaza Strip that saw more than 100 Palestinians Thus far, the working group has made initial killed by Israeli forces and thousands of presentations to CoGS laying out its work plan and others wounded. seeking initial input. It has undertaken quantitative opinion surveys as well as a qualitative study, and 2019 will also likely mark the end of the Anglican compared media strategies of other churches both Church of Canada’s 50-year relationship with the inside and outside Canada. Episcopal Church of Cuba, as the latter seeks reintegration with The Episcopal Church in the One of the clear conclusions emerging from United States. That history together saw the surveys is that Canadian Anglicans value their Canadian church spearhead numerous projects in church publications very highly. More than three- conjunction the development office supported by quarters of respondents said it was “somewhat” or the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund “very” important that “a national publication of (PWRDF). “Cubans never, ever forget that in some interest to the members of the Anglican Church of of the hardest times of the last 50 years, the Canada continues to exist in some form”, as well as Anglican Church of Canada, as they put it, was for a “diocesan publication of interest”. One there for them,” the Primate said, praising the representative sample quote called the Anglican Cuban church for its exemplary living out of the Journal “a unifying factor in the life of Canadian Marks of Mission. Anglicans.”

Two other entities related to the work of the According to the survey results, most Canadian church national are also marking anniversaries Anglicans currently read their church publications within a short timeframe. In 2017, the Anglican in print, but a significant amount are open to Foundation commemorated its 60th anniversary, alternative forms of distribution. General while PWRDF is set to celebrate its own 60th expectations are that Canadian Anglicans will see a anniversary in the fall of 2018. “long, slow transition from print to digital distribution.” On the subject of editorial All of the aforementioned anniversaries have, for independence, Alexander said that the most the Primate, created what he called “a time of important issue for many respondents was that the

COUNCIL OF GENERAL SYNOD Daily Highlights 3 church offer diverse voices in its publications. RITF members are currently prepared to complete During a short discussion period, table groups a resource for use by the wider church, with talked about how the conclusions reached by the members also willing to engage key stakeholders working group might influence two key issues: the such as bishops and diocesan financial officers to future of print distribution, and the mandate and raise awareness of the resource. An RITF report governance of the Anglican Journal. Alexander said provided to CoGS included a discussion of that following discussions at the present meeting, theological foundations, highlights of current the advisory committee would be meeting again in investing practices, and recommendations for October, and would hopefully return to the increased engagement and updated practices by November meeting of CoGS with a more concrete the General Synod Consolidated Trust Fund, set of recommendations in mind. General Synod Pension Plan, and the Anglican Church of Canada. Members broke for lunch from noon until 1:30 p.m. Two motions were put forward. Members adopted Bible Study the first by consensus. After lunch, council members engaged in Bible study based around the passage highlighted in Resolution Heartbeat of the Church from the Gospel Be it resolved that the Council of General According to John. Synod receive with gratitude and

appreciation this report of the Responsible Responsible Investing Task Force Investing Task Force. Mr. Ryan Weston, General Synod staff to the Responsible Investing Task Force (RITF), began a presentation about the recent work of the task Debate over the wording of a second motion force. Since its establishment by CoGS in related to recommendations in the report led to November 2016, the RITF has held two in-person the motion being returned to the Resolutions meetings, in January 2017 and March 2018, and Committee. The committee intended to review the surveyed Anglican and Anglican-affiliated funds motion and bring it back before council members related to responsible investment practices. Its 17 later at the present meeting. respondents thus far include dioceses, theological schools, and foundations. Currently, its three main Pension Committee areas of work are theological reflection; examining Presenting again for the Pension Committee, current investment practices and the context of Boeckner put forward three motions related to Anglican investment; and crafting a General Synod benefit plans administration and communications strategy. expenses regulation, regulation of Canon XII for the Continuing Education Plan (CEP), and long- Fellow RITF member Bob Boeckner outlined the term disability plan regulations. four primary approaches to investing explored by the group: 1) integration of environmental, social, Council members passed each motion by and governance factors; 2) active ownership, i.e. consensus. trying to influence change from within companies as shareholders; 3) impact investing, or making Resolution specific investments with social goals in mind; and Be it resolved that the Council of General 4) investment exclusions, or divestment. These Synod approves the recommendation of approaches, Boeckner said, are more likely to be the Pension Committee to make the used in combination rather than taking only one following amendments to Regulations 1 approach. In each case, the goal is for earnings to and 2 of General Synod Benefit Plans be used in the mission of the body making the Administration and Expenses Regulation investment.

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made pursuant to Section 4 of Canon VIII effective January 1, 2018. Ms. Lisa Barry, senior producer for Anglican Video, offered additional context on the process leading

up to the production of the documentary. Since Resolution her first involvement 25 years ago in a video Be it resolved that the Council of General sharing the story of a residential school survivor, Synod approves the recommendation of Barry had come to recognize the Doctrine of the Pension Committee to a three-year Discovery as the source of the intergenerational plan to double the CEP contribution to trauma and destruction that followed the first $900 per year beginning at: contact between European settlers and Indigenous peoples. She presented a short promo video for • $600 (effective January 2, 2019) council members to give an idea of their work and • $750 (effective January 1, 2020) what the documentary would look like. • $900 (effective January 1, 2010) Council members watched the short video, which and also make the following amendment began with footage of the ocean and captions to Regulation 1 of the Regulations of discussing the 1492 voyage of Christopher Canon XII effective January 1, 2019, Columbus to the New World. Prior to contact with January 1, 2020, and January 1, 2021 Europeans, the Indigenous population of the respectively. Americas was estimated at more than 100 million people across 800 different nations. Food was

shared, disease was minimal, and there were Resolution extensive and well-established trade networks. The Be it resolved that the Council of General Spanish fleet was initially well-received by Synod approves the recommendation of Indigenous peoples. the Pension Committee to make the following amendments to Regulations A.5, Within 25 years, the settlers had exterminated the C.3 and the Benefit Schedule of LTD entire population of Hispaniola, the island where Regulations effective January 1, 2019. Columbus had landed. Within 100 years, ravaged by violence, disease, and slavery, the entire Members broke for coffee from 2:55 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Indigenous population in the New World had declined to 10 million. The video explicitly linked Primate’s Commission on Discovery, this demographic displacement with the Doctrine Reconciliation, and Justice of Discovery. Interviews featured figures such as Ms. Ginny Doctor, Indigenous Ministries Murray Sinclair, Dr. Martin Brokenleg, and Ginny coordinator, introduced the presentation by the Doctor discussing the loss of land, culture, and self- Primate’s Commission on Discovery, esteem rooted in the doctrine. Reconciliation, and Justice. Having served as staff liaison to the Primate’s Commission since its After the video, Mr. Andrew Wesley, co-chair of the inception, Doctor said she would soon be retiring Primate’s Commission, described their last and relinquishing that role to Ms. Melanie Delva, meeting on Walpole Island First Nation in Ontario. national reconciliation animator. The gathering saw a presentation from a local chief on their journey to self-determination, as well as In working with the commission, Doctor said, the discussion on the various working relationships idea of producing a video documentary on the between the commission and the Vision Keepers Doctrine of Discovery had come to the fore. The Council, the Anglican Council of Indigenous documentary would be for both Indigenous and Peoples (ACIP), and reconciliation animator non-Indigenous audiences as a way to understand Melanie Delva. They also touched on plans for the impact of the Doctrine of Discovery on Sacred Circle in August. Indigenous and settler peoples alike.

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Bishop , co-chair, expressed the self-determining Indigenous Anglican excitement from the commission about the church. potential for the Doctrine of Discovery video as an educational tool, supplemented with study guides The Commission would: for Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. She noted that the meeting in Walpole included • have a three-year term, potentially lengthy, focused discussion on the commission’s renewable priorities and assigning responsibility to wrap up • consist of 6 members its work by the next General Synod. • report to the Council of General Synod • include significant representation from Part of that discussion involved how to keep the the current Primate’s Commission on work of the commission going after General the Doctrine of Discovery, Synod. In addition to a proposed Indigenous Reconciliation, and Justice. Justice and Reconciliation Coordinating Committee of the General Synod, which would The Commission would be charged with serve as a permanent working group with links to examining historic and current funds made ACIP and the Vision Keepers Council, the available for Indigenous ministry at various commission was looking to form a Jubilee levels of the Church’s structure, assessing Commission, tasked with auditing how money had current funds designated to Indigenous been invested by the church in Indigenous programming, and assessing broader Ministries in the past and present, and how it property questions. Topics for might be invested in the future. consideration might include current salary levels of Indigenous clergy and strategies A motion was put forward laying out the to move towards parity, possible framework for the Jubilee Commission. During a redistribution of portions of property sales vote on the motion, two CoGS members indicated on a principled basis, and increasing the need for further discussion. Members who alignment between funds for Indigenous supported the motion explained their belief that it ministry and Indigenous oversight of these would better help the church move forward funds. towards funding a self-determining Indigenous church. In response to concerns over the speed of The passing of the resolution by consensus the process, Doctor also noted that Anglicans in prompted Archbishop Hiltz to describe the Indigenous ministry had been referring to self- decision as “a very important moment in the life of determination back in 1969. Other members from this council. It’s a really important moment in the the floor pointed to the high number of young life of our church”—one that evoked the spirit of people in Indigenous communities, underscoring the 1994 covenant and served as a practical follow- that the concerns of the Jubilee Committee would up to discussions at the Road to Warm Springs relate not just to the past of the church, but to its gathering. future.

Missionary Society of the Anglican Church of Reassured by the responses of fellow council Canada members, the two previously hesitant members of Reflecting a constitutional requirement in Canon CoGS expressed their support for the motion, VII, members of CoGS voted to adjourn and which was carried by consensus. reconstituted themselves as the Missionary Society

of the Anglican Church of Canada to discuss and Resolution approve the financial statements of the latter. That the Council of General Synod appoint a Jubilee Commission to propose a just, Two motions were carried by consensus, after sustainable and equitable funding base for which members officially terminated their meeting

COUNCIL OF GENERAL SYNOD Daily Highlights 6 as the Board of Management of the Missionary attend the consultations, which were funded by Society, and resumed their meeting as CoGS. parish and diocesan apportionment to General Synod as well as grants from the Anglican Foundation and the . Resolution

Be it resolved that the Board of At each consultation, participants heard stories Management approves the Financial from survivors of trafficking and exploitation. Statements of the Missionary Society of the Weston said that work against human trafficking Anglican Church of Canada for the fiscal needed to be guided by the experience of year ended December 31, 2017 and that survivors who understand these situations best any two Officers are authorized to sign the and recognize needs for the work. The statements on the Board’s behalf. consultations also featured speakers from church organizations such as the Anglican Alliance and KAIROS Canada—the latter of which focused on Resolution the exploitation of migrant workers—non-profits Be it resolved that the meeting of the such as the Canadian Centre to End Human Board of Management of the Missionary Trafficking; and community groups such as the Society of the Anglican Church of Canada Coalition Against the Sexual Exploitation of Youth, be terminated. based in St. John’s. A member of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation in Ontario also provided an Indigenous Human Trafficking perspective at the Pickering event. Mr. Ryan Weston, General Synod lead staff (along with Global Relations Director Andrea Mann) for Following Weston’s presentation, council regional consultations on the fight to eradicate members took part in a table group activity. Each human trafficking, gave a presentation detailing table group received a story of someone caught up the background to the consultations. in trafficking-like conditions. At three key junctures in the story, they were asked to reflect on the Weston described human trafficking as a global needs of the person at the centre of the story, how crime, human rights violation, and an ongoing their local church might respond to those needs, issue related to missing and murdered Indigenous and what opportunities might exist for women and girls. In 2015, Anglican Consultative collaboration. Council Resolution 15.10—The trafficking of persons requested that provinces of the Anglican Members broke for hospitality and dinner from 5 p.m. Communion commit themselves to the fight to to 7 p.m. eradicate human trafficking and modern slavery. A CoGS resolution in June 2017 established a Market Place reference group, which first gathered in Council members broke into two groups after September to begin hearing details on the scope dinner for a pair of marketplace discussions. of trafficking worldwide and in Canada. Archbishop Fred Hiltz and Dean Shane Parker Regional consultations were planned to further facilitated one discussion on the Heartbeat of the educate members of the Anglican Church of Church initiative. Meanwhile, the Rev. Dr. Eileen Canada on human trafficking and strategies to Scully and LCdr the Rev. Beverly Kean-Newhook fight it, with one consultation for each facilitated a separate discussion on the subject of ecclesiastical province. A consultation for the Safe Church and Sanctuary. Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario took place from April 10-13 in Pickering, Ont., followed by a Evening Prayer consultation for the Ecclesiastical Province of Members closed out the Friday agenda with night Canada from April 15-18 in St. John’s, Nfld. Bishops prayer in the chapel. in each province were invited to suggest people to

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An evening social took place from 9 p.m. until 11 p.m.

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