Archdeacon Harry Huskins advised that this Covenant was considered at General Synod in 2010 and that Resolution A137 directed the Governance Working Group to prepare a report about the legal and constitutional implications and consequences presented to the Anglican Church of Canada by the proposed Anglican Communion Covenant. The GWG issued its report in June 2011. Archdeacon Huskins paid tribute to former Primate, Archbishop Andrew Hutchison, and to Archbishop Hiltz for their efforts and he described the rationale for this resolution now presented to COGS. He requested members to respond to the following questions:
1. Is the following text what COGS wishes to forward to General Synod, and
2. How can it best be presented at General Synod?
Proposed Resolution
That the following resolution be forwarded to General Synod 2013:
Resolved that General Synod:
1. receive the final text of The Covenant for the Anglican Communion;
2. request that materials be prepared under the auspices of the Anglican Communion Working Group, for parishes and dioceses in order that study and consultation be undertaken on The Covenant for the Anglican Communion;
3. request that conversations, both within the Anglican Church of Canada and across the Communion, reflect the values of openness, transparency, generosity of spirit, and integrity, which have been requested repeatedly in the context of the discussion of controversial matters within the Communion;
4. request that the proposed Covenant be referred to the Faith, Worship and Ministry Committee and to the Governance Working Group in order to support these conversations by providing advice on the theological, ecclesiological, legal, and constitutional implications of a decision to adopt or not to adopt the Covenant;
5. direct the Council of General Synod, after this period of consultation and study, to bring a recommendation regarding adoption of the Covenant for the Anglican Communion to the General Synod of 2013.
Act 74 of GS 2010
As a result of this resolution:
- In June 2011, the Anglican Covenant Working Group prepared and issued materials entitled Exploring the Anglican Communion Covenant—A Study Kit for Individuals, Congregations and Dioceses. This study guide is designed to help people in parishes and dioceses dig more deeply into the wording of the Covenant, and the meaning behind the words, and to discuss together what the implications of adoption might be.
- In June 2011, the Governance Working Group prepared and issued its report entitled Legal and Constitutional Issues Presented to the Canadian Church by the Proposed Anglican Covenant. The GWG’s report discusses legal issues arising from the definitions and procedures in the Covenant; constitutional issues which the Covenant presents to the Canadian Church; and the consequences of not adopting the Covenant.
- In November 2012, the Faith, Worship and Ministry Committee presented its report to COGS about the Theological and Ecclesiastical Reflections on the Adoption or Non-Adoption of the Anglican Communion Covenant. FWM’s Reflections can be found at
Since General Synod 2010:
- At the Fall 2011 meeting of the House of Bishops, the Primate asked each Bishop to describe how their diocese was studying and considering the Covenant. This process is still underway. No consensus has yet emerged about what decision the Canadian Church should make about adopting the Covenant.
- Some Churches in the Communion have adopted (or subscribed) to the Covenant; others have made a decision not to adopt it; others have determined that their constitutions and canons prevent them from adopting the Covenant, even if they are in general accord with some parts of it; and numerous others are still in the process of considering whether or not to adopt it.
- The Anglican Consultative Council did not make a decision about the future of the Covenant at its meeting in New Zealand in late 2012, but will consider this question at its next meeting in 2016.
- Apart from the issue of whether to adopt the Covenant, there remains a strong and vibrant commitment by the Canadian Church to the life and witness of the Anglican Communion, which is manifested in many ways.
Given these developments in the Canadian Church and the Communion, the Council of General Synod recommends the following resolution to General Synod 2013:
- Resolved that General Synod:
-- 1. request the conversation in the Anglican Church of Canada about the proposed Covenant for the Anglican Communion continue during the next triennium, and
-- 2. direct the Council of General Synod to bring a recommendation regarding the adoption of the Covenant to General Synod 2016.
Ms. Martha Gardner provided details with respect to a resolution embraced in 2012 by TEC on the Covenant.
Lengthy discussion ensued and it was agreed that the text required modification.
Motion to Table
Moved by: The Rt. Rev. James Cowan
Seconded by: The Ven. Harry Huskins
That the proposed resolution regarding the Covenant be tabled.
ADOPTED
Motion to Lift from the Table
Moved by: Chancellor David Jones
That the proposed resolution regarding the Covenant be lifted from the table.
The Chancellor introduced an amendment for consideration (see item 1 below in italics) with respect to the final paragraphs of the resolution, which was agreed:
[N.B. Italics in electronic text indicated by text enclosed in quotation marks.]
"1. request the conversation in the Anglican Church of Canada about the proposed Covenant for the Anglican Communion continue during the next triennium;"
2. request the Anglican Communion Working Group to monitor continued developments about the proposed Covenant for the Anglican Communion and report to the Spring 2016 meeting of the Council of General Synod; and
3. direct the Council of General Synod to bring a recommendation regarding the adoption of the Covenant to General Synod 2016.
Text
That the following amended resolution be forwarded to General Synod 2013:
General Synod 2013
Resolution
Subject: The Proposed Covenant for the Anglican Communion
Background:
General Synod 2010 passed the following resolution:
Resolved that General Synod
1. receive the final text of The Covenant for the Anglican Communion;
2. request that materials be prepared under the auspices of the Anglican Communion Working Group, for parishes and dioceses in order that study and consultation be undertaken on The Covenant for the Anglican Communion;
3. request that conversations, both within the Anglican Church of Canada and across the Communion, reflect the values of openness, transparency, generosity of spirit, and integrity, which have been requested repeatedly in the context of the discussion of controversial matters within the Communion;
4. request that the proposed Covenant be referred to the Faith, Worship and Ministry Committee and to the Governance Working Group in order to support these conversations by providing advice on the theological, ecclesiological, legal, and constitutional implications of a decision to adopt or not to adopt the Covenant;
5. direct the Council of General Synod, after this period of consultation and study, to bring a recommendation regarding adoption of the Covenant for the Anglican Communion to the General Synod of 2013.
Act 74 of GS 2010
- In June 2011, the Anglican Covenant Working Group prepared and issued materials entitled Exploring the Anglican Communion Covenant—A Study Kit for Individuals, Congregations and Dioceses. This study guide is designed to help people in parishes and dioceses dig more deeply into the wording of the Covenant, and the meaning behind the words, and to discuss together what the implications of adoption might be.
- In June 2011, the Governance Working Group prepared and issued its report entitled Legal and Constitutional Issues Presented to the Canadian Church by the Proposed Anglican Covenant. The GWG’s report discusses legal issues arising from the definitions and procedures in the Covenant; constitutional issues which the Covenant presents to the Canadian Church; and the consequences of not adopting the Covenant.
- In November 2012, the Faith, Worship and Ministry Committee presented its report to COGS about the Theological and Ecclesiastical Reflections on the Adoption or Non-Adoption of the Anglican Communion Covenant.
Since General Synod 2010:
- At the Fall 2011 meeting of the House of Bishops, the Primate asked each Bishop to describe how their diocese was studying and considering the Covenant. This process is still underway. No consensus has yet emerged about what decision the Canadian Church should make about adopting the Covenant.
- Some Churches in the Communion have adopted (or subscribed) to the Covenant; others have made a decision not to adopt it; others have determined that their constitutions and canons prevent them from adopting the Covenant, even if they are in general accord with some parts of it; and numerous others are still in the process of considering whether or not to adopt it.
- The Anglican Consultative Council did not make a decision about the future of the Covenant at its meeting in New Zealand in late 2012, but will consider this question at its next meeting in 2016.
- Apart from the issue of whether to adopt the Covenant, there remains a strong and vibrant commitment by the Canadian Church to the life and witness of the Anglican Communion, which is manifested in many ways.
Given these developments in the Canadian Church and the Communion, the Council of General Synod recommends the following resolution to General Synod 2013:
- Resolved that General Synod:
- 1. request the conversation in the Anglican Church of Canada about the proposed Covenant for the Anglican Communion continue during the next triennium;
- 2. request the Anglican Communion Working Group to monitor continued developments about the proposed Covenant for the Anglican Communion and report to the Spring 2016 meeting of the Council of General Synod; and
- 3. direct the Council of General Synod to bring a recommendation regarding the adoption of the Covenant to General Synod 2016.
ADOPTED #13-03-13
Notes
Discussion continued and it was agreed that a report submitted by the Anglican Church of Canada to the Anglican Consultative Council-15, which met in the Fall of 2012, could be used as a background document to provide information about the above resolution in the General Synod Convening Circular.
The Chancellor, David Jones, advised that at the 2009 meeting of the Sacred Circle, the Governance Working Group asked ACIP the following questions:
- 1. How will future members of ACIP be selected?
- 2. How will future members in the Sacred Circle be selected?
- 3. How will the next NIAB be selected?
In accordance with the principle of self-determination, it was recognized that the answers to these questions must come from the Indigenous members of our Church and, after extensive consultations during the present triennium, the 2012 meeting of the Sacred Circle unanimously confirmed how these selections will be made in the future. Accordingly, the GWG [Governance Working Group] is proposing to COGS that Canon XXII be amended.
Text
That the Council of General Synod forward amended Canon XXII to General Synod.
ADOPTED #06-03-13
Notes
The text of amended Canon XXII reads:
Be it resolved that this General Synod amend Canon XXII to read as follows:
CANON XXII
THE NATIONAL INDIGENOUS MINISTRY
The origin of this Canon is the Covenant made by the participants at the 1994 Journey of Spiritual Renewal sponsored by the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples:
“...We acknowledge that God is calling us to a prayerful dialogue towards self-determination for us, the Indigenous Peoples, within the Anglican Communion in Canada. Through this new relationship we can better respond to the challenges facing us in a relevant and meaningful way....
“We, representatives of the Indigenous people of the Anglican Church of Canada, meeting in Winnipeg from the 23 to 26 April 1994, pledge ourselves to this covenant for the sake of our people and in trust of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ:
“Under the guidance of God’s spirit we agree to do all that we can to call our people into unity in a new, self-determining community within the Anglican Church of Canada.
“To this end we extend the hand of partnership to all those who will help us build a truly Anglican Indigenous Church in Canada.
“May God bless this vision and give us grace to accomplish it.”
The purpose of this Canon is to provide canonical recognition of structures through which the National Indigenous Ministry may be a self-determining community within the Anglican Church of Canada.
1. The National Indigenous Anglican Bishop
The National Indigenous Anglican Bishop (NIAB) has a pastoral episcopal relationship with all indigenous ministries in the Anglican Church of Canada. This role is exercised in partnership with diocesan bishops.
The NIAB is a member of the Sacred Circle, the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples, the House of Bishops, General Synod and the Council of the North.
Selection Process for the NIAB
A person is eligible for selection as the NIAB if that person
(a) is of the full age of thirty years;
(b) is a priest or bishop in Holy Orders of The Anglican Church of Canada, or of a church in full communion therewith;
(c) is faithful in the doctrines and discipline of The Anglican Church of Canada as determined and defined by the official formularies of that church;
(d) is known and recognized as being a person of integrity and moral stature; and
(e) has those qualities and abilities of leadership, experience and learning that will enable that person to fulfil the duties of a chief pastor in the Church of God.
When a vacancy occurs (or is about to occur) in the office of NIAB, ACIP will create a search committee (which must include an elder) to determine the specific qualities and additional qualifications that might be required or desirable with respect to the person to fill the vacancy; identify potential candidates; assemble information from the persons who are prepared to become candidates; and prepare a short list of candidates for ACIP.
ACIP will elect a person from the short list submitted by the selection committee, and will send the name of the NIAB-elect to the Primate for concurrence by the Primate and the four Provincial Metropolitans.
Following concurrence, the Primate will consecrate the NIAB-elect (if not already a bishop) and install the NIAB in office.
At the first opportunity following the NIAB’s installation in office, the Sacred Circle will receive the NIAB as its presiding elder.
Term of Office for the NIAB
The term of office for the NIAB is nine years from the date of installation. The NIAB whose term has been completed is eligible to stand for election for a further term.
The NIAB must retire on reaching the age of 70.
Vacancy in the Office of the NIAB
If the NIAB dies, resigns, retires, or for any other reason the office of the NIAB is vacant, or the NIAB is unable to act by reason of absence or illness, the Primate in consultation with the chair or co-chairs of ACIP will designate the senior indigenous bishop in The Anglican Church of Canada willing to undertake the task as the Acting NIAB.
2. The Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples
The Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples (ACIP) consists of representatives from dioceses where significant Indigenous ministry is taking place, the National Indigenous Anglican Bishop (who is the ACIP liaison with the Council of the North and the House of Bishops), and additional members as determined by ACIP.
The members of ACIP must be aboriginal, members of The Anglican Church of Canada, and active in their parish or diocese.
ACIP will consist of the following persons:
(a) The NIAB.
(b) Two persons elected by each Provincial Caucus at the Sacred Circle.
(c) One youth, one elder and one member-at-large appointed by the NIAB.
Except for the NIAB, the terms of ACIP members will end at the conclusion of the next Sacred Circle. Where a vacancy occurs on the Council between Sacred Circles, ACIP may appoint a replacement for a person who was elected by the Sacred Circle, and the NIAB may appoint a replacement for a person whom the NIAB had appointed. A person who has served on ACIP is eligible for re-election.
ACIP will select its chair or co-chairs.
ACIP maintains relationships with the House of Bishops, General Synod, the Council of General Synod, the Council of the North, and the International Anglican Indigenous Network.
ACIP organizes the Sacred Circles.
3. The Sacred Circle
The Sacred Circles have met approximately every three years since 1988.
The Sacred Circles are organized by ACIP.
The Sacred Circle will consist of the following voting members:
(a) Ten indigenous members from each of those dioceses identified by ACIP as having significant indigenous ministries. (More persons from these dioceses may attend the Sacred Circle, and may be granted voice but shall not vote.)
(b) Up to ten indigenous members identified by ACIP to represent urban indigenous ministries.
(c) Up to three indigenous members from the Anglican Military Ordinariate
(d) The indigenous bishops of The Anglican Church of Canada, as identified by ACIP.
(e) The NIAB, who is the presiding elder at its meetings.
The Primate is always an invited guest at the Sacred Circle, and has voice but not vote.
Invitations are also generally sent to the bishops from the Council of the North dioceses and the diocese in which the Sacred Circle is being held (if not otherwise included). In addition, ACIP may invite up to twelve partners to attend the Sacred Circle. These invited persons may be granted voice but shall not vote.
The date and location of the meeting of the Sacred Circle are determined by ACIP.
The Sacred Circle performs many of the functions of a “Synod” for the indigenous ministries: it provides an opportunity for representatives of the indigenous communities to come together to worship, to discuss, and to communicate with the broader Church.
4. Organization of Indigenous Ministries
Developments in the organization of the indigenous ministries will take place over time, and can be accommodated by changes to the existing constitutional and canonical structures.
Dr. Randall Fairey was applauded for his work on Canon XXII.
The Primate, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, was in the chair. The meeting began with a hymn and prayer. The Primate welcomed members and noted regrets. He introduced the Chair of the Planning and Agenda Team, partners, members of the Church House Leadership Team, staff and guests. He welcomed COGS new chaplain, Sr. Elizabeth Rolfe-Thomas, Sisters of St. John the Divine, and noted that her official duties would begin with the November meeting.
Text
That the minutes of the November 18 – 20, 2011, meeting of the Council of General Synod, Document #004-08-12-05 Revised, be approved as revised.
Noting that General Synod had delegated to COGS the authority to approve a change to diocesan boundaries, Chancellor David Jones outlined the proposed changes necessary for the creation of the new Diocese of the Indigenous Spiritual Ministry of Mishamikoweesh.
Text
That: Exercising the authority delegated to it by General Synod, Council of General Synod approve the boundary changes to the Dioceses of Keewatin, Rupert’s Land, and Brandon occasioned by the creation of the new diocese in Northern Ontario, subject to consent being given to these changes by the Executive Council of the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert’s Land as authorized by the Provincial Synod.
ADOPTED #08-11-13
Notes
Bishop Lydia Mamakwa expressed gratitude for the support received on the journey of self determination. She spoke of the meaning and significance of the name of the new diocese, The Diocese of the Indigenous Spiritual Ministry of Mishamikoweesh.
The new diocese, a member of the Council of the North, will be born on June 4th, the birth date of William Winter, and Bishop Lydia will be its first diocesan bishop. “The vision of the elders is being fulfilled.”
The Primate thanked Bishop Lydia for her leadership.
The re-written resolution on electronic voting was presented.
Text
That when votes are required between in-person meetings of the Council of General Synod, these shall be done by email. The request for such a vote shall:
- 1) Indicate in the subject line that it is a request from COGS for an email vote, and
- 2) Specify a deadline by which the email vote must be received by the General Secretary.
The outcome of the vote shall be determined by a majority of the votes received by the deadline (provided that votes have been received from a majority of the members of COGS and all Orders are represented as required by Section 35 a) of the Constitution).
All members of COGS are expected to vote.
A member of COGS who does not have email may be notified by mail that the vote will occur and may vote by mail.
Bishop Cowan introduced the revised Statement and advised that it is reviewed annually to ensure that it continues to be appropriate to the committee’s needs as well as being responsive to changing economic and investment conditions. COGS members had numerous questions.
Text
That the Council of General Synod approves the revised Statement of Investment Policy and Goals.
That the Council of General Synod ratifies the Grants approved by the Ministry Investment Fund Committee totaling $250,000 for 2011 and $130,000 for 2012.