Convening Circular and Synod Journal for the One Hundredth And Twenty First Session of The Synod of the Diocese of New Westminster “Wonderful are your works, that I know very well.” (Psalm 139:146) May 15, 2021 8:30am to 1:30pm To be held by Videoconference Circular for 121st Synod 2 Diocese of New Westminster Prayer for Synod ______________________________________________________________ 3 Officers of Synod ______________________________________________________________ 4 Circular ____________________________________________________________________ 5 Clerical Secretary Lay SecretaryInformation for Delegates _________________________________ 5 Positions to be Elected at Synod ____________________________________________________ 7 Synod Committees _____________________________________________________________ 9 Bishop’s Report ______________________________________________________________ 10 REPORTS __________________________________________________________________ 20 Introduction to Reports _________________________________________________________ 21 Report of the Diocesan Council ___________________________________________________ 22 Report of the Standing Committee on Management, Finance and Property _______________________ 23 Report of the Standing Committee on Mission and Ministry Development ________________________ 24 Report of the Anglican Initiatives Fund _______________________________________________ 25 Report of the Constitution and Canons Committee& Constitution and Canons Working Group _________ 27 Report of the Property Development Subcommittee ______________________________________ 28 Report of the Cathedral Chapter ___________________________________________________ 29 Report of the Bishop’s Advisory Committee on Appointments ________________________________ 30 Report of the Murrin Fund _______________________________________________________ 31 Report of the Chaplain to St. Jude’s Anglican Home ______________________________________ 31 fReport o the Chaplain to University and College Students __________________________________ 35 Report of the Chaplain at Vancouver General Hospital ___________________________________ 36 Report of the Westside Anglicans NeighbourhoodMinistry __________________________________ 36 Report of the Salal+Cedar Watershed Discipleship Community ______________________________ 37 Report of the Anglican CanAsian Ministry (ACAM) Group __________________________________ 38 Report of the Diocesan Youth Movement (DYM) ________________________________________ 39 Report of the Ecumenical and Multi-faith Unit __________________________________________ 41 Report of the Eco-Justice Unit _____________________________________________________ 42 Report of the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund Unit _____________________________ 43 Report of the Refugee Unit _______________________________________________________ 44 Report of the 127 Housing Society _________________________________________________ 45 Report of the Camp Artaban Society ________________________________________________ 45 Report of the Coming Home Society ________________________________________________ 46 Report of the Mission to Seafarers __________________________________________________ 48 Report of Sorrento Retreat and Conference Centre _______________________________________ 49 Report of the Vancouver School of Theology __________________________________________ 50 Report from the Anglican Director of Formation, Vancouver School of Theology _________________ 54 Report of the Society of Anglican Church Women _______________________________________ 55 Report of the Diocesan Archivist ___________________________________________________ 56 Report of the Diocesan School for Parish Development ____________________________________ 57 Report of the Education for Ministry Program __________________________________________ 58 Report of the Indigenous Justice Ministries ____________________________________________ 59 Report of the Street Outreach Initiative _______________________________________________ 60 Minutes of the 119th Synod of the Diocese of New Westminster ______________________________ 62 Minutes of the 120th (Electoral) Synod of the Diocese of New Westminster ________________________ 84 RESOLUTIONS _____________________________________ ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. Resolutions ______________________________________________ Error! Bookmark not defined. ADDITIONAL REPORTS ________________________________________________________ 88 Memorials _________________________________________________________________ 89 Nominations _____________________________________________ Error! Bookmark not defined. Circular for 121st Synod 3 Diocese of New Westminster Prayer for Synod Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with those who take counsel in the Synod of this diocese for the renewal and mission of your Church. Teach us in all things to seek first your honour and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right, and grant us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Circular for 121st Synod 4 Diocese of New Westminster The Diocese of New Westminster Officers of Synod President of the Synod The Right Reverend John R. Stephens Dean of the Diocese The Very Reverend Christopher Pappas Chancellor Mr. George E. H. Cadman, Q.C., ODNW Vice-Chancellor Mr Kevin Smith, ODNW Registrar Legal Assessor Mr. Donald N. Paul, ODNW Ms. Jennifer Dezell, ODNW Clerical Secretary Lay Secretary The Reverend Justin Cheng Ms. Clare Urquhart Treasurer Auditors Mr. Robert Hardy, ODNW Rolfe Benson & Co. Circular for 121st Synod 5 Diocese of New Westminster The Synod of the Diocese of New Westminster One Hundred and Twenty First Session of Synod To be held by Videoconference on May 15, 2021 Circular The Synod of the Diocese of New Westminster One Hundred and Twenty-First Session of Synod Vancouver, B.C. March 22, 2021 Dear Officers and Delegates to Synod: We are instructed by the Bishop of New Westminster to inform you that in accordance with Article 2 of the Constitution, he summons the Synod of the Diocese of New Westminster to meet on Saturday, May 15th from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. by videoconference. Synod will begin with Morning Prayer and the Bishop’s Address. The Rev. Justin Cheng Ms. Lea Starr Clerical Secretary Lay Secretary Circular for 121st Synod 6 Diocese of New Westminster Information for Delegates Registration Registration will take place online via the Zoom Registration process. The link for registration will be circulated via email, and can be found on the Diocesan Website and here: tinyurl.com/synod121 Each Delegate to Synod is responsible for entering their zoom credentials correctly on the registration page. An email confirming registration will be sent to each delegate. The email address and contact information that the delegate enters will be used by Data On the Spot (DOTS) to email the delegate’s voting credentials. Members of Synod will need to have continual access to their email for the entire Session of Synod. Email accounts will be used for both voting and requesting to speak. Please read under “speaking form the floor” for more details on this will work via video conference. Zoom registration will open at 9am on May 3rd and will close Monday May 10th at 9am. If an Alternate Delegate will replace an initially elected parish Synod Delegate it will be necessary to contact the Synod Office at: [email protected] and the Executive Archdeacon prior to the close of registration on May 14th at Noon. Please ensure that the Alternate Delegate has been given access to the Convening Circular material in advance of the Synod meeting. This should be provided by their Parish Priest or other delegate. When the full quota of delegates from a parish has registered, no substitutes for the parish may be made, even if some of those who have registered are unable to attend all Sessions of Synod. Opening Worship An Order for Morning prayer will be displayed on the registered Members of Synod’s devices. Transportation Allowance As this Synod is taking place via video conference there will be no Transportation Allowance. Synod 2021 Location Synod will be held through Videoconference only. Attendance All delegates are urged to make every effort to be present at all times during all sessions of Synod beginning with Morning Prayer on Saturday, May 15, 2021, from 8:30am – 1:30pm. Sessions Synod will assemble via Video Conference for the opening worship at 8:30 a.m. After Morning Prayer and the Bishop’ Address the opening business session will begin. Constitution of Synod The Synod is the Parliament of the Church. It is the body in which is vested the power to transact all business done by the Church in the Diocese. It also has the right to initiate action in some matters pertaining to Church policy, to endorse or veto others, and in general, to act as a consultative body to advise and assist the Bishop and the Diocesan Officers. Quorum of Synod Circular for 121st Synod 7 Diocese of New Westminster A Quorum of Synod shall consist of the “Bishop or the Bishop's Commissary and not less than one- fourth of the Licensed Clergy of the Diocese, and not less than one-fourth of the Lay Delegates entitled to take part in the proceedings”. Article 2 (2.6) Procedure While it is essential that a Synod should exercise some measure of freedom in the conduct of its gatherings, it is also of great importance that all things be done “decently and in order”. To attain that end,