COGS Highlights

Council of General Synod Thursday, March 14, 2019

Council members gathered at 8:45 a.m. at the Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre in Reflecting on this text, the Primate found the Mississauga. language of mapping and pilgrimage to be very helpful in discussing the journey of the Anglican Opening Eucharist Church of Canada. Quoting his predecessors The Very Rev. Peter Elliott presided over the Archbishop Derwyn Owen and Archbishop morning Eucharist. The Ven. Michael Thompson, on the developing sense of General Secretary of the General Synod, served common mission in the church, the Primate as preacher. drew connections with the role of discipleship, as outlined recently in The Arusha Call to Welcome and Opening Formalities Discipleship that underscored what it means to Archbishop , Primate of the Anglican be a community of disciples. Church of Canada, welcomed members and guests of the Council of General Synod (CoGS) Last month, Archbishop Hiltz attended a to their last meeting of the triennium. Motions meeting in the Diocese of Moosonee that to approve the minutes from the November included a gospel reading using the Heartbeat 2018 meeting, as well as the agenda for the of the Church model. Participants in the current meeting, were adopted by consensus. meeting prayed that there would be a “mighty revival” of the church. The Primate underscored Primate’s Report the need for such a revival as he pointed to The Primate began his report by expressing his challenges such as dropping attendance at great respect for the Society of St. John the Sunday worship. He expressed hope that as Evangelist. During meetings of CoGS and the CoGS members participated in the Heartbeat of House of Bishops, Archbishop Hiltz said he has the Church at their present meeting, they would often referenced teachings or councils of the view the questions related to the gospel text society which he feels are relevant to the wider from a national rather than a local perspective. church. In this case, the Primate chose to read from the monastic reflection Pilgrimage, written Noting that the May edition of the Anglican by Br. Geoffrey Tristram. Journal would focus on the colonialism and imperialism of the Church and its commitment “As Christians, we are a pilgrim people,” to right relations with Indigenous Peoples, the Tristram wrote, noting that Abraham, Moses, Primate described some of the Anglican Church and Jesus could all be considered pilgrims in of Canada’s recent efforts to move toward post- the journeys they undertook. He continued: “As colonial models of what it means to be church. pilgrims, we are not simply wanderers … We He pointed to the release of the new have a specific destination: our heavenly home. documentary Doctrine of Discovery: Stolen Our pilgrimage journey is toward God!” Lands, Strong Hearts, produced by Anglican Video. At the March 8 premiere of the film in a long journey of 50 years, the Primate said Toronto, Bob Watts, chief of staff to National discussion over same-sex marriage also Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Perry constituted a pilgrimage. Evoking the words of Bellegarde, praised the documentary and Br. Tristram, he reiterated: “The destination is suggested that it would impact the entire God. The destination is our life together in country. Christ, and how we find a way to live with our differences, and to do that with grace and In 2017, General Synod created the full-time respect.” staff position of reconciliation animator for the Anglican Church of Canada to respond to the Archbishop Hiltz acknowledged that in the 93 Calls to Action of the Truth and course of this journey, Anglicans had Reconciliation Commission. In 2018, CoGS experienced moments in which they had deeply appointed a Jubilee Commission tasked with offended and hurt one another; moments in investigating historical and present funding for which they have been angry with each other Indigenous ministries and commitment for and lashed out; and moments for which they Indigenous oversight of these. At its must express “deep lament, words of contrition, forthcoming meeting, General Synod would be apology, and prayers for forgiveness.” Yet the invited to consider the establishment of a church had also experienced moments in which national committee to guide the ongoing work Anglicans prayed for the grace to listen with of truth, justice, and reconciliation. more patience and respect, and to understand where others were coming from. With 2019 marking the 25th anniversary of the 1994 covenant, the Primate recounted steps of In the current council, the Primate said, the church’s journey of spiritual renewal members had “journeyed in a good way thanks towards reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, to the work of the Marriage Canon Working including the appointment of a National Group,” making strides towards being able to Indigenous Anglican Bishop and the fact that engage in this conversation more effectively. He the church now has 10 Indigenous bishops. thanked the Marriage Canon Working Group for Archbishop Hiltz said that these national guiding CoGS in the matter throughout the commitments are reflected by many positive triennium. Significant time had been set aside at developments in parishes, theological colleges, the present meeting to consider further and dioceses. “In this journey, in this pilgrimage, amendments to the marriage canon. The our church is changing,” the Primate said. The Primate believed that conversations at the Anglican Church of Canada is striving to leave upcoming General Synod would be marked by behind the vestiges of the colonial church and principles of good disagreement and passion to to rid itself of any taint of “spiritual arrogance”, continue the church’s unity in Christ. instead pressing on to be a “church of jubilee” that embodies the gospel. Images of pilgrimage, the Primate said, are also applicable to much of the church’s work in The image of journey and pilgrimage, the communion-wide dialogue. He offered the Primate added, could also be applied to annual meetings of the Anglican Bishops in ongoing conversations within the church Dialogue as an example. For 10 years, bishops regarding sexual orientation, same-sex primarily from Africa and Canada—but also relationships, and proposed amendments to the other provinces—have met to discuss issues marriage canon. Describing such discussions as including those which threaten to divide the

COUNCIL OF GENERAL SYNOD Daily Highlights 2 communion. The testimonies published after relationship together will continue. each meeting are all available online and well worth reading, the Primate said, bearing witness Members broke for coffee from 10:15 a.m. to to the importance of dialogue and the fact that 10:45 a.m. there is more that unites Anglicans in common mission than could ever divide us. Orders of the Day Dr. Karen Egan and the Very Rev. , co- Last November, Archbishop Hiltz was privileged chairs of the planning and agenda team, read to host a meeting of the primates of the out the Orders of the Day. Americas, which took place in Toronto. The gathering was one of five regional meetings Deputy Prolocutor Nominations across the Anglican Communion in advance of Bishop-elect Lynne McNaughton explained the the next Primates’ Meeting. Coming together to process for nominating a new deputy discuss the nature of communion, the Primates prolocutor. Having held the position since 2016, used the text Towards a Symphony of the McNaughton is now stepping down as deputy Instruments of Communion as a guide. prolocutor following her election as the new bishop of Kootenay as she will no longer be a In the course of their discussion, the primates of member of the order of clergy. This is a the Americas had frank discussions about the requirement of the Deputy Prolocutor, as the divisions within the communion, including their current Prolocutor, Ms. Cynthia Haynes Turner, own region of North and South America. Yet is a member of the order of laity. Both roles the primates also experienced “profound grace- must be filled by a member of one of these filled moments” with regard to gestures of orders. Nominations are open until noon, reconciliation in that region. The 2020 Lambeth tomorrow, March 15. conference was a major point of discussion. The primates also elected a new member to the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples Primates’ Standing Committee, and discussed National Indigenous Anglican Bishop Mark the initiative Come and See, in which a primate MacDonald introduced the report of the invites one of their counterparts to visit their Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples (ACIP). province and see the missional context in which In its plan for ministry going forward, the others are trying to be faithful ministers of strategy of ACIP is centred on the concept of Christ. Archbishop Hiltz said that these regional prophetic pastoral care. meetings if primates will go some distance to creating more of a sense of community among Four ACIP members —Canon Norman Wesley, all the primates when they next gather. “We Canon Murray Still, Ms. Donna Bomberry, and grow together in our life in Christ,” he said. Ms. Sheba McKay—took the podium to identify four critical areas of this ministry. These areas Finally, the Primate reflected on the journey of included: the Anglican Church of Canada with the Episcopal Church of Cuba over the last 60 years. 1. The development and formation of Though that relationship may be different in the disciples by practicing gospel-based future, due to the 2018 readmission of the discipleship, working with existing Cuban church into The Episcopal Church of the resources and institutions to provide United States, Canadian Anglicans have leadership training that will support signalled to their Cuban counterparts that their God’s work, and working to “make the

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gospel living and real in Indigenous life.” 2. Governance and pastoral leadership of During a subsequent discussion period, Bishop the emerging Indigenous churches. The MacDonald answered questions from council ACIP focus group formed in 2016, which members. Wesley then presented two is tasked with working out the details of resolutions before the council. Both resolutions self-determination, continues to inform were carried. ACIP, the National Indigenous Anglican Bishop, and the Indigenous Leadership Resolution Circle. Preparation and planning of a That Council of General Synod approve Constitutional Gathering will lay the and send the following motion to foundation of work at the next Sacred General Synod 2019: Circle. The aforementioned governing

bodies will identify a group to develop Be it resolved that the General Synod of the final form of “Becoming What God the Anglican Church of Canada and its Intends Us To Be”, and to establish goals members and organizations live a life and norms for Indigenous ministry that declares, embodies, and promotes across Canada. the following: 3. Living in the faithful abundance of God:

stewardship and resources. The Jubilee 1) All creatures have responsibility and Commission, tasked with finding the duty to live in respect to the dignity financial resources for a self-determining and life of all other creatures and Indigenous church, will work on the that the interdependent and living issue of a just proportion of the Anglican relationship between all things is to Church of Canada’s wealth for a be reverenced in human beings “prophetic pastoral presence across the through a moral, sustainable, and land.” The commission plans to engage respectful way of life. with communities, partner with the 2) The People of the Land, the Anglican Church of Canada in providing Indigenous Peoples of our Land and resources for ministry, identify a group Nation, stand in a unique place of to develop a strategy for sustainable witness to the living relationship support of ministries, and continue to between life and Land. Indigenous provide urgently needed support for Peoples, in their teaching, way of life, existing ministries such as those in and vulnerability to climate Northern Manitoba, Northern disruption and other consequences Saskatchewan, and the Indigenous of a global society enmeshed in the Spiritual Ministry of Mishamikoweesh. culture of money and consumption, 4. Encouragement and support of an are a special model and concern for emerging youth movement among the the Church and its work. people of the land. Presenting 3) The living relationship of Indigenous photographs of activities by young Peoples to the Land is honoured and Indigenous Anglicans, such as their protected in, among other things, participation in the last Sacred Circle, the UN Declaration on the Rights of McKay highlighted “young people on Indigenous Peoples. In particular, the the move” as “our present and our principle of free, prior, and informed future”. consent is a minimum commitment

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of societies and nations to the well- against sexual and gender-based violence. The being of the People of the Land and picture was then shared on the church’s official the importance and right of their social media accounts. way of life in global society. The Anglican Church supports and Primate’s Commission on Discovery, upholds UNDRIP and, in particular, Reconciliation, and Justice the principle of free, prior, and The Rt. Rev. , co-chair of the informed consent in its own dealing Primate’s Commission on Discovery, with Indigenous Peoples and in its Reconciliation, and Justice, presented the final public witness and advocacy. report of the commission to the current 4) The Anglican Church of Canada will iteration of CoGS. She outlined the work of the seek to stand in solidarity with commission in helping the church respond to Indigenous Peoples, such as the the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Gwich’in, who are threatened by Indigenous Peoples, the 93 Calls to Action of actual and/or threatened violations the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, of their relationship to the Land. The creating a plan for reconciliation, addressing Church will do this by, among other injustices in Indigenous communities, and ways, their public witness and seeking ways to dismantle the Doctrine of advocacy and by the adoption of Discovery. The latter inspired the production of way of life, individually and together, the Doctrine of Discovery: Stolen Lands, Strong that honours and respects the Hearts documentary by Anglican Video. interdependent and living relationship of all the elements and Though the mandate of the Primate’s Creatures of creation. Commission is set to end at General Synod 2019, Shaw noted that the work of truth-telling,

justice-seeking, and reconciliation remains Resolution ongoing and must involve the whole church. That Council of General Synod shall Accordingly, she presented a resolution to the commend the following motion to council to be commended to General Synod, General Synod 2019: which was adopted by consensus.

Be it resolved that the General Synod of Resolution the Anglican Church of Canada approve Be it resolved that the General Synod of and institute the following the the Anglican Church of Canada establish memorialization of both the Apology of a committee to strategize and guide the August 6, 1993 and the Covenant of ongoing work of truth, justice and April 5, 1994, to be observed on reconciliation, including building and separate days. supporting a network of Ambassadors for Reconciliation from dioceses and Members broke for lunch from noon until 1:20 regions. p.m.

Vision Keepers Before beginning the afternoon business, CoGS Members of the Vision Keepers Council, the members wearing black clothing posed for a Rev. Leigh Kern and Mr. Aaron Sault, sang a photograph for Thursdays in Black, a campaign

COUNCIL OF GENERAL SYNOD Daily Highlights 5 song to the accompaniment of a drum before external Anglican advocacy voice on presenting a resolution from the council. Kern social justice and reconciliation and on described the performance as an example of active implementation of the Fourth efforts to decolonize church meetings— Mark of Mission. "building a network of family” in distinction to the more formal, bureaucratic approach to Governance Working Group church organization based on Robert’s Rules of Chancellor David Jones presented two Order. The same process of decolonization, resolutions from the Governance Working Kern said, had informed the decision of Group Members adopted both resolutions by members to name themselves as the Vision consensus. Keepers Council, rather than the original title of the Council of Youth and Elders. Resolution Since 2017, the Vision Keepers have been Be it resolved that General Synod working hard on their mandate to monitor the amend: Anglican Church of Canada’s commitment to adopt and comply with the principles of the UN 1. Canon XXII to read as shown in Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Appendix 1. Peoples, and to live out the Fourth Mark of 2. Section 33 of the Constitution Mission. At the previous meeting of CoGS, the (Council of General Synod to add the council had presented on their work to date, following: including a proposal to create a permanent 33 a) x) the National Indigenous Anglican Vision Keepers group that would report every Bishop three years on the church’s progress towards 3. Section 5 of Canon III (The Primate) achieving systemic and transformational to add the following: change. xi) always be an invited guest at Sacred Circle, with voice but not vote. The Vision Keepers put forward a resolution for the creation of such a group. A discussion ensued in which council members asked for clarification on the scope of the group’s Resolution mandate and authority, and its relationship to Be it resolved that General Synod: church governance structures. The resolution was then adopted by consensus. 1. Amend section 8 of the Constitution to add paragraph h.1) as follows: h.1) In addition to the persons elected or Resolution appointed under subsections c) and d), That the Vision Keepers be established the Anglican Council of Indigenous as a permanent forum to oversee the Peoples shall be entitled to elect or work of the Church in implementing the appoint two licensed members of the spirit of the United Nations Declaration clergy, two communicant lay persons, on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and one youth who will be at least through transformed church structures, sixteen years of age upon the opening of governance systems, processes and General Synod and under the age of practices including a strengthened twenty-six years upon the prorogation of

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General Synod who shall be a Members broke for hospitality and dinner from 5 communicant member of The Anglican p.m. to 7 p.m. Church of Canada. After dinner, representatives from each table 2. Upon the adoption of this resolution, group summarized their discussions from the the persons who have been elected or discussion on the marriage canon. This appointed by the Anglican Council of feedback was written down and taken by the Indigenous Peoples meeting the above Marriage Canon Working Group for study that requirements shall become members of evening. The working group planned to redraft General Synod 2019. the summary statement and present it to the council the next day.

During the next break, members sang a song Joint Anglican Lutheran Commission and ate cake to celebrate the election of Lynne The Very Rev. Peter Wall, Anglican co-chair of McNaughton as bishop of Kootenay. the Joint Anglican Lutheran Commission (JALC),

presented the report of the commission. He Members broke for coffee from 3 p.m. to 3:30 thanked Anglican members who had worked so p.m. hard during the six-year mandate of the current

commission that began in 2013. The Bible Study commission’s work involves many aspects of The Very Rev. Peter Elliott led a Bible study work on deepening the full communion session after the break. Table groups read and relationship between the Anglican Church of reflected upon Matthew 7:7-12 for the gospel Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in reading. At the conclusion, Elliott led council Canada (ELCIC). members in a prayer.

Wall expressed excitement at the upcoming Marriage Canon Working Group annual meeting of the four leaders of the Joined by fellow members of the Marriage Anglican and Lutheran churches in Canada and Canon Working Group, chair Lynne the United States, which will take place in May McNaughton announced new responses from in Toronto. The discussion will include dioceses and provinces on discussion related to theological education, training for ministry, and proposed changes to the marriage canon. At how the churches seek to plan together to the current meeting of CoGS and later General develop the church of the future. Synod itself, members would begin their work by looking at a summary statement of how the The JALC co-chair presented two resolutions to church has studied the marriage canon between the council. The first affirmed the work of JALC, the 2016 and 2019 General Synods. while the second commended to General Synod

a Memorandum of Mutual Recognition of Full Within their table groups, council members Communion that would deepen the relationship spent 10 minutes reading over the summary between the Anglican Church of Canada, ELCIC, statement document. A discussion followed on The Episcopal Church (USA), and the Evangelical what each table group affirmed in the Lutheran Church in America. document, what needed to be changed, what should be strengthened, what should be After friendly amendments to make small deleted, and what should be added. changes to the wording of the text, both

COUNCIL OF GENERAL SYNOD Daily Highlights 7 resolutions were adopted by consensus. Resolution

That the Council of General Synod Resolution commend the motion on single-use Be it resolved that the Council of plastics to General Synod 2019 for its General Synod commend for consideration. consideration to the General Synod:

That the General Synod affirm the Resolution ongoing work of the Joint Anglican That the Council of General Synod Lutheran Commission in recognition of commend the motion on human our full communion relationship with trafficking and modern slavery to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in General Synod 2019 for its Canada. consideration.

Primate’s World Relief and Development Resolution Fund That this Council of General Synod Mr. Will Postma, executive director of the commend the ‘Memorandum of Mutual Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund Recognition of Full Communion’ to (PWRDF), and the Rev. Gillian Hoyer, PWRDF General Synod 2019 for approval and board member, presented a report on the work adoption. of PWRDF.

Public Witness for Social and Ecological They spoke about recent projects such as the Justice renewal of program work to some of the Dr. Ryan Weston, lead animator of Public 900,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, or Witness for Social and Ecological Justice, working with refugees from Myanmar who have presented four resolutions to the council. fled to Thailand. Working with partners on the Members adopted all four resolutions by ground, PWRDF has helped provide health care, consensus. food, clean water, shelter, and counselling to many of these refugees.

Resolution In Haiti, PWRDF has ensured funds for stipends That the Council of General Synod for women who need to travel to court. In the commend the motion on the United Democratic Republic of the Congo, they have Nations Global Goals for Sustainable worked to address gender-based violence by Development to General Synod 2019 for funding the Maison Dorcas, a transit and safety its consideration. house for women escaping violence and requiring medical care. Resolution That the Council of General Synod At its board of directors meeting the week after commend the motion on the Season of the present meeting of CoGS, PWRDF will Creation to General Synod 2019 for its receive its new strategic plan that would guide consideration. its operations over the next five years. Hoyer expressed hope that the next iteration of CoGS

COUNCIL OF GENERAL SYNOD Daily Highlights 8 would be able to receive a more extensive overview of that strategic plan. Nevertheless, she was able to describe key elements of the plan to the current council, noting that PWRDF would continue to work towards achieving stability, strengthening partnerships, and improving outcomes of its work in food security, gender equality, and access to health care.

Reminding the council that 2019 is the 60th anniversary of PWRDF, Postma presented the video At Home with PWRDF, which documents the work of PWRDF volunteers Dorothy and Leah Marshall.

Evening Prayer Council members closed out the day with a Celtic evening liturgy and prayer.

Members enjoyed an evening social from 8:45 p.m. until 11 p.m.

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