DECEMBER 2011 THE NEW BRUNSWICK ANGLICAN / 1 A SECTION OF THE ANGLICAN JOURNAL DECEMBER 2011 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF FREDERICTON Synod A B L E S S E D C H R I S T M A S harvests first fruits Optimistic there will be more in coming years BY ANA WATTS efforts to proclaim the Gospel for the making of disciples in accor- Synod 2011 delegates did indeed dance with our diocesan mission. celebrate the First Fruits of the They also saw their parishes as Nicodemous Project when they more healthy, mission-focused gathered in Fredericton Oct. and welcoming; and their leaders 28 and 29. It may be early days better prepared for the future. As to evaluate the fruitfulness of individuals the delegates also felt the wide-ranging strategy to they had grown spiritually over improve the spiritual, numeri- the past two years. cal and financial growth of our The progress report offered by diocese as prescribed by Synod Ann Fairweather, vice-chair of 2009, but a progress report item- Diocesan Council and a member izing the myriad actions and ac- of the Diocesan Administration tivities in support of the project’s Team that oversees the Nicode- five priority areas — re-learning mus Project, itemized dozens of Anglicanism, preparing leaders initiatives undertaken in several for change, support of struggling quarters over the past two years parishes, self-assessment and a in support of the spirit of the commitment to transformation Nicodemus Project. Diocesan — was impressive and appreci- clergy met with several national ated. As was a 20-minute video and international speakers at produced by the diocese featur- their clergy colleges and confer- ing feedback and glimpses of the ences to explore transforma- project throughout the province. tional ministry, congregational A Nicodemus Project survey development, evangelism and circulated among the delegates spiritual renewal. Lay leaders by administration team chair concentrated on the goals of the Jim Morell also revealed a posi- Nicodemus Project and financial tive attitude. Respondents gen- stewardship at the wardens’ days erally agreed that parishes are sponsored by the Parish Develop- The image for this, the PWRDF card for Christmas 2011 is by Kelley Aitken, visiblespirit.com. improving in their abilities and See Committee Concerned on page 2 New Brunswick Anglicans support DIMS and covenant study, will consider fewer synods BY ANA WATTS dressed the issue of embryonic say and the Rev. Chris Hayes of of the Parish of Richmond called invalid if the agenda were not The six resolutions presented stem cell research raised at the Quispamsis moved that the issue for greater procedural accessibil- circulated the seven days in to the 131st Synod of the Diocese 2009 diocesan synod in Saint of incomplete data in DIMS be ity in order to strengthen the role advance. Diocesan Chancellor of Fredericton held in Freder- John. They all passed easily and referred to Diocesan Council for of Greater Chapter meetings. Clyde Spinney said “as practi- icton Oct. 28 and 29 called for mostly unanimously with little review and corrective action. They moved that, as far as prac- cable” indicated not every item the possibility of three years or no discussion. Canon law requires annual par- ticable, the notice of meeting for had to be included on the agenda between synods, consequences Concerned with the signifi- ish statistical returns to be filed a Greater Chapter would include and the seven-day notice was for failure to provide parish cant cost of a synod, Betty Ken- with the diocese through DIMS. a call for suggested agenda items “not essential or fatal to the data through DIMS (the Dioc- nett and Rod Langis of the Parish The information in these returns and that a draft agenda be circu- legitimacy of the meeting.” The esan Information Management of Hampton gave notice that at is essential to many administra- lated (or otherwise made avail- intent was to make the chapter System), improved preparation Synod 2013 they will move the di- tive and planning tasks but some able) at least seven days prior to meetings more accessible to lay for greater chapter meetings, ocesan constitution be amended parishes do not file them at all the meeting. During discussion input. The motion passed with a study of the proposed Anglican to allow, with the approval of the and others make incomplete of the motion some concern was few nay votes. Covenant, and the development bishop, the time between synods returns. raised that last-minute items A motion to encourage clergy, of a protocol for church closing to be extended to three years. A motion from Professor Da- could not be accommodated, or and deconsecrating. It also read- Ann Fairweather of Rothe- vid Bell and Lawrence Carpenter that meetings could be declared See Synod revisits on page 2 2 / THE NEW BRUNSWICK ANGLICAN DECEMBER 2011 S Y N O D N E W S BI S H O P ’ S C H A R G E Committee concerned by poor uptake of 10-10-10 model continued from page 1 ment and Support Team. And report shows that although par- being viewed as a way to reduce the Parish of Coldbrook and St. ish offerings did rise by nearly parish support for the Diocesan Mary organized several events three per cent in 2009, they fell Shared Ministry Budget. The that they opened to the diocese, one per cent in 2010. With aver- report, which was accepted by like the Mobilize God’s People age weekly offerings reflecting Synod 2009, was clear that this for Ministry event earlier this an unrealistic parishioner an- giving model is firmly grounded fall. The recent diocesan youth nual income of about $11,000 it is on the first ‘10’, i.e. the need for leader workshop was also held clear that most New Brunswick Anglicans to grow in our person- in that parish. Anglicans have yet to move sig- al response to God’s generosity Clergy and lay leaders alike nificantly toward a tithing model. and a commitment to the tithe have travelled to conferences on “The degree of change in as our standard of giving. Fresh Expressions/Messy Church individual giving will determine “The committee feels that and attended the Every Member the success of this stewardship unless there is a concerted will Visitation workshops held in No- model,” said Ms. Fairweather. throughout the diocese to in- vember of 2010 and May of 2011. “Fruitfulness equals commit- crease giving at the personal A newly developed network of ment plus action toward tithing, level, moving towards the tithe, Parish Communications Officers toward giving 10 per cent of our the viability of 10-10-10 will be throughout the diocese met for a income back to God.” seriously compromised.” workshop in September. In his report to synod in the Ms. Fairweather echoes his And of course the appoint- convening circular, finance com- concern. “Our statistics show ment of Archdeacon David Ed- mittee chair Gerald McConaghy that the average offering of wards as Parish Development also addressed the 10-10-10 is- $21.08 per week represents an Officer is a major accomplish- sues under the heading Shared annual income of about $11,000 ment and will bring tremendous Ministry Budgets. “The com- for the people in our parishes support to the project. mittee has spent a great deal of and that is clearly not realistic. Statistics included in the prog- time discussing the Task Force So while many people across ress report document looked at Report on Budget support and our diocese have embraced the diocesan trends between 2006 and that discussion has also involved Nicodemus Project and positive 2010 as revealed by parish reports Diocesan Council. A specific and things are happening in our to the Diocesan Information Man- effective plan for implementing parishes, statistics show that agement System (DIMS). Four the 10-10-10 stewardship model we remain in decline. We can’t parishes — Simonds, Sussex, East remains illusive. let up. We need to stay commit- Archbishop Claude Miller’s charge was one of the highlights Saint John, and Cambridge & Wa- “The committee is deeply con- ted to spiritual, numerical and of the synod service on Friday evening, Oct. 28, at Christ terborough — saw their annual cerned that the 10-10-10- model is financial growth.” Church Cathedral. He took the members through the birth offerings increase by 10 per cent. and first growing years of the Nicodemous Project and Lakewood, Sussex, Cambridge predicted a continuing fruitful future in his comprehensive & Waterborough and East Saint S Y N O D T A B L E T A L K charge. The entire text is available on-line. Find it at John, also saw the average offer- anglican.nb.ca —> Governance—> Diocesasn Synod —> ings of givers increase between Meetings of Synod —> Synod 2011 then scroll down to the 11 and 18 per cent respectively. However, the diocesan average bottom of the page. weekly offering per giver remains stagnant around the $20 mark and the number of identifiable givers has declined from 6,250 in Synod revisits embryonic 2006 to 5,916 in 2010. Along with the Nicodemus Project, Synod 2009 also voted stem cell research issue to adopt a 10-10-10 stewardship model that calls for parishioners continued from page 1 and churchwardens with the pro- to tithe to the parish, the parish synod delegates and parishes cess of church building closure in turn to tithe to the diocese to study the draft Anglican from the beginning of the process and the diocese to the national Covenant with the best aids to its conclusion with guidelines to Left-right, David Henderson, Renforth; Ken Breen, Andy Gunter church.