Ms. Mardi Tindal, Moderator of the United Church of Canada (UCC)
Ms. Tindal brought greetings from the United Church of Canada. She thanked Synod for its prayers for the United Church of Canada during its 85th anniversary year. She spoke of the financial challenges facing both churches and the need, in the appearance of scarcity, to turn to the reality of God's abundance.
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That this General Synod:
a) congratulate the United Church of Canada on its 85th anniversary, and
b) welcome the renewal of dialogue with the United Church of Canada and authorize the Council of General Synod to continue the dialogue for a period of three years, focused on an examination of the doctrinal identities of the two churches and the implications of this for the lives of the churches, including understandings of sacraments and orders of ministry.
- a) receive with gratitude the final report of the latest iteration of the dialogue between the Anglican Church of Canada and the United Church of Canada; and
- b) endorse the report’s recommendations, including the establishment of a national coordinating committee for unity and mission between at least our two churches, whose size, membership, and mandate will be determined by the Council of General Synod in consultation with the United Church of Canada and any other participating churches.
A motion to vote by orders was put forward by the following six members: The Very Rev. Iain Luke, The Rt. Rev. William Cliff, Mrs. Shelley Andres, The Rt. Rev. Greg Kerr-Wilson, The Very Rev. Fr. Robert-Charles Bengry, The Ven. Jane Humphreys.
That the Council of General Synod send a letter to the members and staff of the Consultation of Bishops in Dialogue expressing the gratitude of the Anglican Church of Canada for the witness of A Testimony of Grace.
Be it resolved that this Council of General Synod forward the following motion to the General Synod 2019:
Be it resolved:
That this General Synod receive and affirm the Statement of Mutual Affirmations and Commitments produced by the Anglican Church of Canada-United Church of Canada Dialogue.
ADOPTED #CoGS 035-03-19
On behalf of Andrew Asbil, Chair of the Faith Worship and Ministry Committee, the Very Rev. Peter Wall opened the presentation with two resolutions.
Anglican Church of Canada/United Church of Canada (ACC/UCC) Dialogue
According to the terms of the 2010 General Synod resolution, the Dialogue’s current mandate is to conclude this year. Because this round of Anglican-United Church conversation is bearing fruit, the Dialogue requests that their work continue.
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That the Council of General Synod:
a) authorize the current iteration of the Anglican Church of Canada-United Church of Canada Dialogue to continue its work on mutual recognition of ministries;
b) request the addition to the dialogue of one representative from the House of Bishops; and
c) request that the Dialogue report to the General Synod of 2016.