23. Report of the Long Range Planning Committee - 24. Report of the Joint Task Force of the Organization and Long Range Planning Committees on General Synod, Provincial, Diocesan Relationships
Canon W. Asbil informed the National Executive Council that four draft reports have been distributed. Approximately 300 people have received these reports and many answers were returned. A final draft has been written with the assistance of these replies and will be presented to General Synod.
Canon Asbil expressed appreciation to those who took the time to reply.
The Prolocutor thanked Canon Asbil for the report.
24. REPORT OF THE JOINT TASK FORCE OF THE ORGANIZATION AND LONG RANGE PLANNING COMMITTEES ON GENERAL SYNOD, PROVINCIAL, DIOCESAN RELATIONSHIPS
Canon Asbil, the Rev. W.E. Lowe and the General Secretary presented this report.
The General Secretary spoke to the report, after which the Council considered the report by sections.
23. Report of the Long Range Planning Committee - 24. Report of the Joint Task Force of the Organization and Long Range Planning Committees on General Synod, Provincial, Diocesan Relationships
Concern was expressed that there is no Provincial representation working with the Task Force.
Text
That the National Executive Council recommends that a further consultation of representatives from the Provinces, Organization Committee and Long Range Planning Committee be held to consider this report before the presentation to a General Synod. CARRIED
Notes
It should be stated to General Synod that all four Provincial Synods were in common agreement that there should be a three-year Synod.
There was considerable discussion and a number of questions were asked. The Primate reported that Lambeth '78 would be considering the whole role of synodical government out of which would probably come guidelines and directions for future consideration.
This report will now be distributed to the Provinces, Diocesan Bishops and future members of the Task Force, along with the action taken by the Council.
A consultation of 20 Aboriginal Anglican leaders met in Winnipeg, Man., from 23-26 April 1994. "The group, which included members of the church's Council for Native Ministries and Aboriginal members of other national committees, presented a statement to the church's national executive council in May [1994]. The statement invites the Anglican Church 'to covenant with us, the indigenous Anglicans of Canada, in our vision of a new and enriched journey'. 'We were elated by how clearly we all felt led to this unanimous vision', said Donna Bomberry, chair of the Council for Native Ministries. .... 'We feel like new missionaries', said the Rev. Arthur Anderson, an Aboriginal member of the national executive council. 'We are bringing a proposal to our church for a new spiritual relationship between ourselves and non-native Anglicans'". "Aboriginal people are estimated to make up about 4 percent of Canadian Anglicans. There are approximately 210 Aboriginal congregations, 70 Aboriginal clergy, and two suffragan bishops".
The text of "A New Covenant": "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 we can to call our people into unity in a new, self-determining community with 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 of Canada. May God bless this new vision and give us grace to accomplish it. Amen".
"Edited by J.W.C. Wand, D.D., Bishop of London, Formerly Archbishop of Brisbane".
Includes bibliographical references, p. 337-343.
"The purpose of this book is to offer a survey of the whole Anglican Communion. A short time ago Canon McLeod Campbell, in his fascinating 'Christian History in the Making', traced the history of that Communion in the course of its formation. We wish to take up the story where he left it, and to present a bird's-eye view of the finished product, or at least of that product at the stage of development it has reached to-day. It is hoped that the publication will at least be found timely. The meetings of the Lambeth Conference have always been important since their inception in 1867. .... Also it should help the various branches of the Anglican Communion to know each other better. Such knowledge is all too obviously lacking at the moment. .... The following survey should thus lead to a more exact and widespread knowledge of what the Anglican Communion us. There will be some gain if it is no longer confused with the Church of England. It includes the Church, but is not identical with it." -- Intro., p. vii.
Contents: Introduction / the Bishop of London i.e. J.W.C. Wand -- The Church of England and its Offshoots / the Very Rev. R. H. Malden, Dean of Wells -- The Protestant Episcopal Church in the U.S.A. / the Rt. Rev. Edward L. Parsons, formerly Bishop of California -- The Church of England in Canada and Newfoundland / the Most Rev. Philip Carrington, Archbishop of Quebec -- The Church of India, Burma and Ceylon / the Rt. Rev. Stephen Neill, formerly Bishop of Tinnevelly -- The Church of the Province of South Africa / the Most Rev. J.R. Darbyshire, Archbishop of Cape Town -- The Church of England in Australia and Tasmania / the Rt. Rev. F. de W. Batty, Bishop of Newcastle, New South Wales -- The Church of the Province of New Zealand / the Most Rev. C.W. West-Watson, Archbishop of New Zealand -- The Anglican Communion in the Far East / the Rev. Michael Bruce, formerly Assistant Chaplain of Shanghai Cathedral an Secretary of the S.C.M. in China -- The Church of the Province of the West Indies / the Rt. Rev. John Dauglish, formerly Bishop of Nassau -- The Mediterranean and the Near and Middle East / Rev. W.A. Wigram, D.D. -- Tropical Africa / the Rev. R.W. Stopford, formerly Principal of Achimota College -- The East Indies / the Rt. Rev. B.C. Roberts, formerly Bishop of Singapore -- The Disestablished Home Churches / the Rev. C.B. Moss, D.D. -- The Mission of the Church of England / the Rev. Roger Lloyd, Canon of Winchester -- Summary and Conclusion / the Bishop of London i.e. J.W.C. Wand -- Bibliography -- Index -- Map of the Overseas Dioceses of the Anglican Communion.
Map entitled "Overseas Dioceses of the Anglican Communion 1945" includes note: "The accompanying map is reproduced, by permission of the author and the Missionary Council of the Church Assembly, from 'Church History in the Making' by Canon J. MacLeod Campbell (Press and Publications Board of the Church Assembly, 1946). The list shows all dioceses (excluding British Isles and U.S.A.) existing at the end of 1947".
"At its May 1 [2015] assembly, the Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior (APCI) unanimously passed a historic resolution asking the synod of the ecclesiastical province of British Columbia and the Yukon to recognize APCI as a territory with rights to elect a bishop through its own nomination and electoral processes" (p. 1). "If APCI becomes a territory, it will be named as a geographic area and it will 'enshrine our unique governance model', said [Bishop Barbara] Andrews" (p. 1). "APCI's members would like to attain a greater degree of autonomy over their affairs, but they also do not seek to become a diocese. Bud Smith, speaking on behalf of the bishop's task force, explained the reluctance to return to a diocesan form of organization as being rooted in a commitment to practicing concrete reconciliation" (p. 16). "As part of this, back in 2001, APCI committed to placing the needs and considerations of its indigenous members first, followed by the needs and considerations of the non-Indigenous parishes, and finally, the administrative needs and functions of the ecclesiastical province. It is a commitment that APCI has attempted to realize by providing its Indigenous members with 15 extra seats with voice and vote at its assembly, in addition to those already held by delegates from Indigenous parishes" (p. 16).
Originally published as "Journal of the Canadian Church Historical Society" Vol. XXXIV, No. 1, April 1992.
"[By] H.R.S. Ryan".
Includes bibliographical endnotes and index.
Contents: Foreword dated 1992 / H.R.S. Ryan -- Introduction -- Synods and Their Development Prior to 1893 -- Constitutional Structures of the General Synod -- Issues in the Life of the Church -- The Basis of the Jurisdiction of the General Synod -- Notes -- Appendices -- Index -- H.R.S. Ryan [Biographical Information].
Contents of: Synods and Their Development Prior to 1893 section: Pre-Diocesan Period -- Development of Diocesan Synods -- Formation of Provincial Synods -- The Impact of Constitutional Development.
Contents of Constitutional Structures of the General Synod section: Formation of the General Synod -- Development of General Synod Constitution -- The Roles of the General Synod, the Province, and the Diocese -- Constitutional Changes Since 1967 -- The Role of Bishops.
Contents of Issues in the Life of the General Synod section: Remarriage after Divorce -- Church Union -- Internal Structural Change -- The Primacy -- Ordination of Women -- The Book of Alternative Services (BAS).
Contents of The Basis of the Jurisdiction of the General Synod section: A Summary -- The Whole Body -- Looking Forward.
Contents of Appendices: 1: Some Stages in the Progress of Separation of Church and State and Self-Government in British North America -- 2 : Anglican Dioceses in Canada [chart showing the creation date of the diocese (and other important dates)] -- 3: First Letters Patent of the Bishop of Nova Scotia (1787) -- 4: Declaration of the Synod of the Diocese of Ontario.
OTCH has 2 copies. Copy 1 is edition published by Anglican Book Centre. Copy 2 is edition published as Vol. XXXIV, No. 1, April 1992 by Canadian Church Historical Society
"When the House of Bishops met in Niagara Falls, Ont., from April 13 to 17 [2015], they discussed some contentious issues, including possible amendments to the marriage canon and a call from the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples (ACIP) for significant changes to church structures. But Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, said there was, nevertheless, 'a spirit of hopefulness' at the gathering". "The bishops discussed the document, 'Where We Are Today: Twenty Years after the Covenant, an Indigenous Call to Church Leadership', in terms of what they thought needed more clarification, what they found encouraging and what they found challenging." "Hiltz observed that what underlies much of these discussions is the question, 'What is everybody's understanding of self-determination ?' This is a conversation that needs to continue, he said. People are not sure what self-determination will mean in terms of concrete changes, said Hiltz". "Bishops also endorsed the #22days campaign calling Anglicans to commit to working toward healing and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. ... Hiltz noted that Bishop Robert Hardwick of the diocese of Qu'Appelle shared plans to ring church bells for murdered and missing women and girls, and other bishops decided that could be done in all of their dioceses".
"Less reliance on standing committees and more on task forces, a review of the size and function of General Synod, increased partnership with dioceses and other churches, an 'overhaul' of the national church's communications strategy and a review of the national stewardship initiative. These are but a few of the wide-ranging as well as immediate and long-term, changes that were identified in the national consultation convened by Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, Jan. 8 to 10 [2013] in Mississauga, Ont. Forty participants gathered 'to identify desirable changes in the structures and roles by which the Anglican Church of Canada carries out its ministry in the service to God's mission', as mandated by the General Synod strategic plan, Vision 2019. Participants included lay, clergy and bishops from all regions of Canada, and various generations, as well as representatives from the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples (ACIP) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC)". "Proposed changes will have 'no immediate implications' for General Synod staff, but Hiltz said adjustments are to be anticipated over time because of General Synod's 'financial realities' and the commitment made by CoGS to a balanced budget for 2014".
"Several staffing and structural changes at Church House have been announced to bring the national organization in line with the priorities and focus set by General Synod when it approved the strategic plan this summer. The key element in the new structure as described by Archbishop Michael Peers, is the creation of a management team that will set policy and budgets, coordinate inter-departmental tasks and approve salaries and personnel". "The nine-member team replaces three former structures and eliminates a good deal of overlap". "Two areas where the new structure will have immediate implications are the Anglican Journal and the Anglican Book Centre (ABC). Part of the strategic plan approved by General Synod placed the Journal and ABC within the ambit of a unified information resources committee which was given the mandate to oversee and overall communications policy. Archbishop Peers announced that the position of editor and general manager of the Journal had ceased to exist and that Carolyn Purden, who had held the position, had been given severance. ABC publisher Michael Lloyd also accepted severance. Under the new structure, the editing and publishing of the Journal, the operation of the Anglican Book Centre, and the Archives will become part of an Information Resources department". "Archbishop Peers stressed that the purpose of the changes was to find ways in which the staff of the national organization can better work together to serve the whole church".
"Several staffing and structural changes at Church House have been announced to bring the national organization in line with the priorities and focus set by General Synod when it approved the strategic plan this summer. The key element in the new structure as described by Archbishop Michael Peers, is the creation of a management team that will set policy and budgets, coordinate inter-departmental tasks and approve salaries and personnel". "The nine-member team replaces three former structures and eliminates a good deal of overlap". "Two areas where the new structure will have immediate implications are the Anglican Journal and the Anglican Book Centre (ABC). Part of the strategic plan approved by General Synod placed the Journal and ABC within the ambit of a unified information resources committee which was given the mandate to oversee and overall communications policy. Archbishop Peers announced that the position of editor and general manager of the Journal had ceased to exist and that Carolyn Purden, who had held the position, had been given severance. ABC publisher Michael Lloyd also accepted severance. Under the new structure, the editing and publishing of the Journal, the operation of the Anglican Book Centre, and the Archives will become part of an Information Resources department". "Archbishop Peers stressed that the purpose of the changes was to find ways in which the staff of the national organization can better work together to serve the whole church".