That in view of the Supreme Court of Canada's decision with regard to abortion law, we ask the Primate to appoint a small Task Force to review the Church's position on the abortion issue and to report its recommendations to the May meeting of the National Executive Council, and to the October meeting of the House of Bishops.
Amendment
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That the words "to appoint a small task force to review the church's position on the abortion issue" be deleted and the following inserted in their place, "to appoint a small task force to study what action needs to be taken to uphold our Church's stand on abortion in relation to changes in the abortion law".
The motion, as amended, was put and CARRIED.
The motion, as amended, is as follows:
That, in view of the Supreme Court of Canada's decision with regard to the abortion law, we ask the Primate to appoint a small task force to study what action needs to be taken to uphold our Church's stand on abortion in relation to changes in the abortion law, and to report its recommendations to the May meeting of the National Executive Council, and to the October meeting of the House of Bishops.
Bishop Ferris, chair of the Agenda Committee for the triennium made announcements. He handed out a questionnaire about format for the committee to consider when planning the meetings over the next triennium. He concluded with changes to the agenda.
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That the agenda move forward as proposed. CARRIED #01-11-98
Bishop Ferris, chair of the agenda committee announced additions to the agenda. He reminded the members that the day to be spent with the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples had been planned with representatives from that group.
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"That the agenda be adopted with those changes." CARRIED Res. #HB-01-10-99
Bishop Ferris, chair of the Agenda Committee announced changes to the time allotted on the agenda to the Waterloo Declaration and to residential schools.
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"That the agenda be adopted with those changes." CARRIED Res.#HB-01-05-00
Archbishop Simon and Mrs. Frieda Kim from the Church of South Korea were introduced and welcomed to the House of Bishops. A warm welcome was extended to them by the members of the House.
The night before Archbishop and Mrs. Kim's visit to the House of Bishops the following motion was made.
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That Archbishop Simon and Mrs. Frieda Kim be invited to attend in camera sessions. CARRIED
That mature affirmation of faith with laying-on-of-hands by the Bishop, and prayers for the Holy Spirit, be normative in the Anglican Church of Canada and that further episcopal laying-on-of-hands is appropriate at significant points in the Christian life. CARRIED 7-2-82
Notes
It was agreed that the Joint Committee on Christian Initiation be asked to give consideration to additional rubrics for clarification. Suggestions are to be sent by the members of the House forthwith to Dr. Fairweather, Trinity College, Hoskin Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1H8. After consideration, these will be directed to the Committee on Doctrine and Worship.
Bishop Payne reviewed the Guidelines as approved at the February, 1986 meeting of the House. He shared a letter from Mr. Charles Fenton, Chairman of the Board of the Church Army, written following a meeting of the Board in June. The Board requested that guidelines number 4 and 5 be revised, and suggested the names of Bishop Sperry and Bishop Lawrence as a possible Visitor.
The House agreed that the suggested revisions to the guidelines are not acceptable. Concern was expressed regarding the future of the Church Army in Canada and the relationship between the Church Army and the Bishops.
It was:
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That the Primate arrange for a meeting of the whole Board of the Church Army with representatives of the House of Bishops. CARRIED #5-9-85
Notes
It was agreed that Bishop Lawrence should be one of the episcopal representatives, plus the original members of the House of Bishops in the Consultation.
That we accept the schedule as suggested by the Metropolitans for 1987, 1988 and 1989 meetings of the House of Bishops.
The House agreed to defer the schedule of meetings and ask the Agenda Committee to consider putting it on the agenda after Wednesday's discussion relative to standards, etc.
Bishop Ferris presented his report on the status of the House of Bishops' List. He also gave a brief update on the work he and Bishop Hockin had done since the spring meeting of the House. Bishop Ferris reviewed the report which included the proposed recommendations discussed at the House of Bishops meeting held in Quebec City.
The report had nine recommendations. Recommendation #5 was: "That the Primate be requested to write to each of the bishops, giving the names, addresses and confidential files of those previously on the list from their dioceses." After some discussion point #5 was revised so that after "That the Primate be requested to write ..." the words `to the clergy on the List, outlining the changes in our process, and then write to ...' were added.
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"That the House adopt the recommendations with the revisions." CARRIED Res. #HB-04-10-99
Notes
Bishop Mason suggested the initial step in the process of bringing the House of Bishops' List to an end, should be made by the Primate. He requested that consideration be given to having the Primate's Office send a letter to those people currently on the List (indicating it was being brought to an end), before they are contacted by their diocesan bishops. He suggested that the letter could say "The House of Bishops has passed the following recommendations and as a consequence you are now under pastoral oversight and discipline of the diocese which submitted your name to the list. You will be hearing from that diocese ... etc." The Primate said he would be happy to correspond with those on the House of Bishops' List.
Bishop Bedford-Jones asked about the possibility of having a discussion about letters bene decessit at a future meeting. There was consensus that such a conversation would be helpful.
Archbishop Peers thanked Bishop Ferris and Bishop Hockin for their work on the House of Bishops' List.