That this General Synod adopt the following "Covenant of Protection" as policy and direct the Council of the General Synod to develop a process for implementation.
THEOLOGICAL PREAMBLE
Since 1949, General Synod has been urging Canadian and foreign governments to conform their policies to principles of Universal Human Rights. This position of the church is deeply rooted in Scripture.
In the first chapter of Genesis we read that all human beings have been made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). We conclude from this that all human beings, regardless of their background, identity, status, ability, accomplishment or belief have a fundamental dignity which comes from God. All members of the Anglican Church affirm this position when, in the words of our baptismal covenant we promise to "strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being."
As Christians, we also acknowledge with St. Paul that we have done those things we ought not to have done and we have not done those things we ought to have done. We are sinners and we need to build into the structures of our common life the same standards of right behaviour and safeguards against discrimination that we demand of others. We do this in the knowledge that the real test of our support for human rights is how we treat the minorities in our midst -- the poor, the stranger, the outcast and the foreigner (Matthew 25:40).
In the summary of the Law recorded in the Gospel of Mark, we are told by Jesus that we must love God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind and with all our strength, and love our neighbours as ourselves (Mark 12:29-31). From this we understand that Christians are a covenant community called by God to join others in protecting the rights of all persons in society and in the church. One of the ways we do this is by ensuring that our own processes of participation and deliberation are fair and transparent.
COVENANT OF PROTECTION
The Anglican Church of Canada enters into a Covenant of Protection with its members, with its employees, and with those who seek the services of the church, in order to protect vulnerable persons. We call this Covenant, "Human Rights Principles."
1. The right to be treated with courtesy, compassion and integrity
All persons who seek the services of the church, including sacraments, counsel and pastoral care, shall be treated with courtesy, compassion and integrity by the church and its representatives or officials, without discrimination on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, family or marital status, race, colour, ethnic (or place of) origin, ancestry, disability, creed or socio-economic status.
2. The right to fair treatment
a) All persons receiving educational, medical or financial assistance from the church shall be treated fairly and without discrimination on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, family or marital status, race, colour, ethnic (or place of) origin, ancestry, disability, creed or socio-economic status.
b) All persons occupying church property or being accommodated in institutions provided by or governed by the church shall be treated fairly within the stated purposes of these institutions and without discrimination on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, family or marital status, race, colour, ethnic (or place of) origin, ancestry, disability, creed or socio-economic status.
3. The right to vote
All baptized persons who qualify, in accordance with the relevant canons and constitutions, shall be eligible to vote at General Meetings of their Parish and Synod without discrimination on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, family or marital status, race, colour, ethnic (or place of) origin, ancestry, disability, or socio-economic status.
4. The right to be considered for election
All baptized persons who qualify, in accordance with the relevant canons and constitutions, are eligible to hold elected positions in the church without discrimination on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, family or marital status, race, colour, ethnic (or place of ) origin, ancestry, disability, or socio-economic status.
5. The right to be considered for service
All baptized persons who qualify, in accordance with the relevant canons, constitutions and guidelines, shall be eligible to have their vocations tested and to be considered for service in the life and on the committees of the church without discrimination on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, family or marital status, race, colour, ethnic (or place of) origin, ancestry, disability, or socio-economic status.
6. The rights of employees
All persons employed by the church in positions not requiring ordination shall be employed on the basis of ability, skills and experience appropriate to the position without discrimination on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, family or marital status, race, colour, ethnic (or place of) origin, ancestry, disability, or socio-economic status. [Revised 11 November 1999 -- See GS minutes pg. 58. The amendment to leave these words out was defeated but when re-transcribed the words were left out.]
Six members of Synod requested a vote by orders, in accordance with Section III of the Rules of Order and Procedure.
The resolution was then put in the Order of Laity and - CARRIED
The resolution was then put in the Order of Clergy and - CARRIED
The resolution was then put in the Order of Bishops and - DEFEATED Act 78
Notes
The Prolocutor confirmed that the resolution had been Defeated.
[Correction of General Synod minutes by Chancellor Ron Stevens amended first sentence in paragraph 6 on p. 104 to be the same as paragraph 6 on p. 55. Correspondence dated 15 November 1999 laid in original General Synod Journal of Proceedings.]
Act 5 of the 36th General Session of the General Synod, held in Waterloo, Ontario, p. 19 enacted the following: "That the minutes of the 35th Session of the General Synod, held in Montreal, Quebec, May 21-29, 1998, as printed in the Journal and as approved by the Certification of Minutes Committee, be adopted subject to the insertion of the words "in positions not requiring ordination" in the first line of paragraph numbered 6 on page 104. CARRIED Act 5"
That comments from the Administration and Finance Committee, the Chairman's Advisory Committee, the Council of the North, the National Executive Council Stipend Sub-Committee and the National Executive Council be passed on to the Committee on Ministry for consideration when the Guidelines for Remuneration are reviewed and redrafted for further consideration by the National Executive Council and eventual consideration by the dioceses. CARRIED
"The Rev. Robert Flowers has settled a breach-of-contract lawsuit with the Diocese of Algoma out of court but no details have been released. Rev. Robert Flowers and his wife Marolyn had claimed damages of $4.2 million plus costs against the diocese, the then-bishop Rt. Rev. Leslie Peterson and the Archdeacon of Temiskaming, Ven. Leonard Shaw". Good summary of case.
"Anglican clergy are paid less than clergy in many other churches according to an interim report on compensation conducted for the Anglican Church". "The survey shows that a broad range of pay practices and policies exists throughout the church. Generally, dioceses provide only minimum pay guidelines for a parish which then sets a stipend according to its ability and the degree of satisfaction with the incumbent. Actual stipends paid to clergy range from $14,244 to $45,000, the study shows. ... Bishops' stipends range from $22,625 to $50,654, with an average of $32,530, according to the study undertaken by the management consultant firm of Woods Gordon and presented to National Executive Council in November [1988]". "A major objective of the study was to identify and understand the issues which affect compensation policies and practices and determine their impact on bishops, clergy and lay employees of the church". "A document, 'Principles of a Healthy Remuneration System', was approved by General Synod in 1986 to provide a framework upon which compensation standards could be set".
The Anglican diocese of the Arctic has given notice that it will not employ anyone who does not conform to a strict moral code. Questions are being raised as to whether their decision to not hire gays contravenes the Canadian Human Rights Act.
The Diocese of the Arctic will consider at its May 2005 synod whether its employees will be required to approve the Montreal Declaration which is opposed to gay unions.
Anglican bishops will continue to study human sexuality, specifically homosexuality, until at least the spring of 1994.
In a special presentation on employment and the law, lawyer Linda Barry-Hollowell told the bishops that dioceses should have formal employment contracts with priests.
Letter to the editor from Capt. Canon Al Knight responding to December 2005 letter from M. Lane about the Diocese of the Arctic's decision to not employ homosexuals. "The church is called to stamp out sin by the blood of the Lamb rather than encourage it".
Canada's three largest churches say the services they provide to the most vulnerable will suffer if the Supreme Court of Canada rules employers are vicariously liable for sexual assaults committed by their employees.
The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the two appeals early in the new year.
"Having rejected a union, national church employees are looking to a staff association to represent their interests. The option, one of six considered, received 51 per cent support in a February [1998] vote". "An elected staff association would bargain with management for voluntary agreements on such issues as benefits, grievances, salary scale and personnel policies. Last year [1997], employees who are not managers at Church House voted 2-1 against joining a union". "A 12-member staff group will now research similar models in other organizations, such as the United Church, before proposing a model for Church House".