Your Synod Council at work

Synod Council met in person at St Mark’s Church, Barriefield, and online, Tuesday 25 April 2023. The ACW of St Mark’s served a light dinner and refreshments.

DFO Alex Pierson offered devotions. He reflected on Psalm 121 with a recording of music (setting by Barry Rose) and ended with prayer.

Bishop Oulton had just returned from the clergy retreat featuring Jack Shitama who presented on Family Systems theory. He found it a wonderful and insightful two days.

Archbishop Chris Harper, the newly elected National Indigenous Archbishop will be installed on May 29. He and Bishop Oulton had a conversation about Indigenous Ministry. The Council of the North is facing reductions in its budget for 2024.  Archbishop Harper is planning to attend the 26 September meeting of our Synod Council, and introduce himself and respond to questions.

A motion to approve the 28 March minutes of Synod Council was approved.

From business arising from the minutes of the previous Synod Council (28 March 2023), a motion was introduced responding to the former Primate’s request for support for additions to the Sisters of St John the Divine’s (SSJD) hospitality quarters. Discussion ensued on a variety of issues about this. A resolution to go to Synod 2023 was discussed and approved.  The motion resolves $30,000 of pledged support for SSJD in contributions and solicited donations for the refurbishment of the guest house.

Executive Officer David Selzer presented items for the diocesan Synod 26 to 28 May, to be held at Queen’s University. The agenda for the Synod as provided by the Synod Planning Committee was approved. The Nominations for Synod Council as received by 21 April were approved. The Rev. Jeff O’Hare from the Hastings Deanery agreed to be the clergy nominee from Hastings Deanery. The Nominating Committee is actively soliciting clergy and lay nominees for Provincial Synod to be held the last week of September 2024 – four clergy and four lay and four each of alternates are needed (To date we have three clergy and two lay.)

Currently, there are two resolutions. One is on support for SSJD, and the other on greenhouse gas emissions supported by parishioners at St Paul, Cardinal.

There were no resolutions for Canon changes.

The Green Group offered a written report regarding their parish carbon emissions survey, with questions of Synod Council. Due to difficult Internet access, the Group was not able to offer an in person report, but from the conversation about the report and the questions to Synod Council, there was a general affirmation of the work of the group. The bishop supported the Anglican Communion Forest Project, which he personally participated in twice over the weekend.

DFO Alex Pierson presented a report on the property issues of the Diocese. He indicated that the diocese has finally been billed for our parish insurances, which will be part of the April statement. There has been a 27% increase in insurance premiums over 2022. Given the length of the meeting, the bishop moved the agenda to the finance report. DFO Alex Pierson presented the finance update, in which the diocese is basically breaking positively even in the first Quarter of 2023. Alex discussed the 3-year Financial Framework and the finance consultations, including what was heard, priorities for the diocese, and comments relating to urgency and parishes. Alex said that the 3-Year Financial Framework Plan is now deferred until the next budget season. He then presented a motion on finances that will go to Synod 2023, which was approved.

Bishop Oulton thanked the current members of Synod Council for their work. There is no May Synod Council due to Synod 2023 being at the end of that week.

The next meeting of Synod Council will be on 26 September 2023. Synod Council adjourned at 9:30 pm.

For questions about Synod Council please contact Diocesan Executive Officer, the Ven. David Selzer at dselzer@ontario.anglican.ca.