[Agenda of the 25th Session of General Synod]
http://archives.anglican.ca/en/permalink/official5087
- Date
- 1970 November 5
- Source
- Anglican News Service
- Record Type
- Press Release
- Text
- Planning for the agenda of the 25th Session of General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada at Niagara Falls, Ontario, from January 25th to February 2nd, 1971, has moved into its final phase under the direction of the General Secretary, the Venerable E.S. Light.
- Archdeacon Light and his staff, are assisted in their work by two task forces of the Church's Organization Committee: the Program Task Force which plans the agenda; and the Arrangements Task Force which looks after the physical arrangements of General Synod. Each of these task forces has representatives from across the country, and the local members have met frequently over the past six months.
- General Synod will convene at 9:30 am, Monday, January 25th, in the Sheraton-Brock Hotel, with the opening Eucharist and the opening address, to be given by the senior Metropolitan and Acting Primate, the Most Reverend W.L. Wright. That afternoon, the Lower House of the Synod (clergy and lay delegates) will reconvene in Christ Church, Niagara Falls, as an Electoral College to elect a new Primate. At the same time, the Upper House of Synod (the Bishops) will meet at the Church and nominate candidates from amongst their number to submit to the Electoral College. When a new Primate has been elected by a majority vote from both clerical and lay delegates, the delegates will return to the Sheraton-Foxhead Inn, where the meetings of General Synod will begin that evening. It is expected that there will be approximately 270 delegates in both Houses.
- For the first time in the history of the Anglican Church of Canada, the meetings of the regular sessions of General Synod will be presided over by a woman. Her title is Deputy Prolocutor, and she will be acting in the place of the Prolocutor elected at the last General Synod, who has since been made a Bishop. The Prolocutor fulfills the same functions as the Speaker in the House of Commons, and is elected by the Lower House (clergy and lay delegates) at each General Synod. The Deputy Prolocutor is Miss Betty Graham, who has been prominent in the affairs of the Church in the Toronto area. Since 1966, Miss Graham has been the Director of Child Welfare, in the Province of Ontario Department of Social and Family Services.
- The last General Synod met at Laurentian University in Sudbury, in 1969, from August 18-26. At that General Synod, a new Canon on the Primacy was passed releasing the Primate from particular diocesan responsibilities, and locating his office in Toronto. The election in January will be the first one under this Canon. Other work at the Sudbury General Synod concerned a report on Theological Education across the country, and a report on Manpower in the Church, from which came resolutions establishing a national office for Personnel Resources. The General Synod also accepted new guidelines for Inter-Communion.
- Under the general theme of "change," the General Synod heard reports on the Changing World, the Changing Church and the Changing Ministry.
- Perhaps the single, most significant action taken by the 1969 General Synod, was the acceptance of the Hendry Report which redirected the Church's attitude towards the Native Peoples of Canada. A report on the implementation of this report will be one of the most interesting features at the General Synod to be held at Niagara Falls.
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- Subjects
- Anglican Church of Canada. General Synod (25th : 1971 : Niagara Falls, Ont.)
- Anglican Church of Canada - Government
- Graham, Betty Campbell, 1919-2004
- Anglican Church of Canada. Primate - Election
- Anglican Church of Canada. Primate
- Anglican Church of Canada. General Synod. Constitution. Canon III