That this Council of General Synod congratulates National Church staff members Dr. Eleanor Johnson, Rev. Canon Alyson Barnett-Cowan and Mrs. Esther Wesley, and Archbishop David Crawley in being honoured as recipients of honourary Doctor of Divinity degrees at the respective Spring 2006 convocations of Montreal Diocesan College; Trinity College, Toronto; Huron College, London, and the Vancouver School of Theology. CARRIED #07-05-06
That the Council of General Synod test this triennium (2007-2010) the increased use of a consensus decision-making model for matters requiring considerable reflection and discernment. CARRIED #05-11-07
That this Council of General Synod request that the General Secretary of General Synod cause a representative from the Council of the North to be immediately appointed to the Governance Task Force. CARRIED #07-11-06
That this Council of General Synod notes the Council of the North policy as approved at our October 2003 meeting that the Length of Service Allowance be adjusted annually by the May-over-May C.P.I [Canadian Price Index] for Canada as supplied by Stats Canada and since that figure is 2.8%, therefore the 2007 LOS incremental base will be $220 effective January 1, 2007, and that this Policy be reviewed at General Synod 2007.
Friendly Amendment
The mover and seconder agreed to strike the words "and that this Policy be reviewed at General Synod 2007".
The motion now reads:
Text
That this Council of General Synod notes the Council of the North policy as approved at our October 2003 meeting that the Length of Service Allowance be adjusted annually by the May-over-May C.P.I [Canadian Price Index] for Canada as supplied by Stats Canada and since that figure is 2.8%, therefore the 2007 LOS [Length of Service] incremental base will be $220 effective January 1, 2007. CARRIED
That this Council notes the Council of the North policy on remuneration, “that the minimum stipend for clerical members within the Council of the North dioceses be adjusted by the May-over-May C.P.I [Consumer Price Index] for Canada as set out by Stats Canada” and since that figure for 2006 is 2.8% therefore the 2007 Council minimum stipend will be $28,402 effective January 1, 2007, and further, that the Policy be reviewed at General Synod 2007.
Friendly amendment
The mover and seconder agreed to strike the words "and further, that the Policy be reviewed at General Synod 2007". from the motion.
The motion now reads:
Text
That this Council notes the Council of the North policy on remuneration, “that the minimum stipend for clerical members within the Council of the North dioceses be adjusted by the May-over-May C.P.I [Consumer Price Index] for Canada as set out by Stats Canada” and since that figure for 2006 is 2.8% therefore the 2007 Council minimum stipend will be $28,402 effective January 1, 2007. CARRIED #15-11-06
That the Primate, after consultation with the House of Bishops, be requested to initiate discussion with the provinces and dioceses of the Anglican Church of Canada regarding:
1) the possible reform of the provincial organization of the Anglican Church of Canada, and, in particular, whether the effectiveness and efficiency of the Anglican Church of Canada would be significantly improved by:
- a) entirely eliminating the four provinces from the organizational structure of the church and transferring the powers and authority the provinces presently hold to the General Synod, or
- b) maintaining the existing provincial structure for some part of its present purpose and transferring part of provincial power and authority, for example part or all of provincial legislative authority, to the General Synod, or
- c) reorganizing the dioceses into groupings with greater common goals, concerns, needs and interests than the collections of dioceses forming the existing provinces.
2) the possible reform of the diocesan organization of the Anglican Church of Canada, in particular by:
- a) adjusting diocesan boundaries to reflect modern transportation patterns and population shifts created by social and economic changes,
- b) reducing the number of dioceses within the Anglican Church of Canada,
- c) implementing any other change that might improve the effectiveness, efficiency, or economy of the operation of dioceses.
Friendly Amendment
The mover and seconder accepted a friendly amendment from the Rev. Stephen Peake to add the words ‘enhance the mission and’ in item 2) c) after the word ‘might’. Item 2) c) now reads:
- c) implementing any other change that might enhance the mission and improve the effectiveness, efficiency or economy of the operation of dioceses.
The amended motion was then put and CARRIED AS AMENDED Act 50
That this Council of General Synod confirm the resolution of the House of Bishops concerning legislation before the Nigerian parliament that would prohibit or severely restrict the freedom of speech, association, expression, and assembly of gay and lesbian persons in Nigeria.
Friendly amendment
The mover and seconder agreed to replace the word “confirm” with the words “strongly endorse” The resolution now reads:
That this Council of General Synod strongly endorse the resolution of the House of Bishops concerning legislation before the Nigerian parliament that would prohibit or severely restrict the freedom of speech, association, expression, and assembly of gay and lesbian persons in Nigeria. CARRIED #19-05-06
Notes
The resolution of the House of Bishops is attached as Appendix C.
Appendix C
The Meeting of the Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada, The Mount Carmel Spiritual Centre, Niagara Falls, April 23-27, 2006
RESOLUTION
Nigeria
Moved by: Bishop Lawrence
Seconded by: Bishop Poole
"The House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada notes with grave concern legislation before the Nigerian parliament that would prohibit or severely restrict the freedom of speech, association, expression, and assembly of gay and lesbian persons in Nigeria. This legislation is inconsistent with the United Nation’s International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, that recognizes these rights as derived from the inherent dignity of the human person.
The Archbishop and Bishops are especially grieved by the strong and public support for this legislation given by the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). Whereas Lambeth 1998 Resolution I.10 called on churches to listen to the experience of homosexual persons, the proposed legislation criminalizes civil and religious same-sex marriage as well as the public and private expression of same-sex affection, all public affiliation between gay persons, and even publicity, public support, and media reporting of the same. The proposed legislation, endorsed in an official communiqué of the Standing Committee of the Church of Nigeria signed by its Primate, would make the very act of listening to homosexual persons impossible.
The members of the House of Bishops are in full agreement with the Primates’ statement from Dromantine in 2005 that, ‘The victimization or diminishment of human beings whose affections happen to be ordered towards people of the same sex is anathema to us.’ The Nigerian legislation, and its endorsement by the Church of Nigeria, is indeed anathema to us, and quite at odds with the grace and love given to all human beings in Jesus Christ.
We therefore disassociate ourselves from the actions of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) that are inconsistent with the Commitments of its bishops made at Lambeth and Dromantine, and we call on Anglicans throughout the Communion to listen to and respect the human rights of homosexual persons.. CARRIED
That this Council express its thanks to The Rev. Canon Petero Sabune for his contribution to this Council and ask the General Secretary to write to him expressing its thanks. CARRIED #01-05-09
1. support the Primate’s appointment of a National Indigenous Anglican Bishop, on the recommendation of ACIP, with the understanding that:
i) financial arrangements are being reviewed by the Financial Management and Development Committee
ii) that this Bishop will be responsible to the Primate
iii) that the timing of the appointment will rest with the Primate; and
iv) that the Primate will determine, in consultation with the House of Bishops and the dioceses, the relationship of this bishop with the provinces and dioceses of the church.
2. ask the Planning and Agenda Committee to recommend, in consultation with ACIP, resolutions for the Council to place on the agenda of General Synod 2007 confirming this appointment and embodying this position within the Constitution and Canons of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada. CARRIED #38-05-06