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A hybrid meeting of the Synod Council of the Diocese of Ontario was held on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at 6 pm at St. Mark's Barriefield. Highlights of the meeting include:

DFO Alex Pierson opened the meeting with reflections on George Herbert (Welsh-born English poet, orator and Anglican priest (1593–1633), whose day it was on the Anglican Church calendar. He briefly outlined the life of Herbert, offered some of Herbert’s poems, played a hymn composed by George Herbert, and then prayed a collect honouring Herbert and his life.

Bishop William spoke of his parish visits, his upcoming two prison visits, the positive responses he has received from his Lenten letter and reflection series, his visit with the Tyendinaga parishioners and his correspondence with the Archbishop for Indigenous Ministry and ACIP council members.

The minutes from the January meeting of Synod Council were approved with slight modification. There was no business from the minutes.

Archdeacon Wayne Varley presented the update from the Reach and Stretch Grant program, with a restructuring of the grants for 2024. Discussion ensued questioning the timing of the grants and the change of the structure of the grants for 2024.  There was a motion to approve the restructuring, which carried.

Noel Henry, who continues his apprenticeship begun last year with the executive archdeacon, presented XressChek, a new way to perform police record checks. A method more timely and less expensive than what is currently done through the OPP. The future records will be centralised at the Synod Office. After questions from Council, the process will now be active and available on the Diocese of Ontario website.

DFO Alex Pierson presented a property update and a legal update.

Archdeacon Wayne Varley noted that the staff person of Doors, Mimi Ferrell, has received nationwide exposure. 

The March meeting of Synod Council was moved from Tuesday in Holy Week to the following week.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of Synod Council will be Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at 6pm. There will be no other April meeting.

The approval of the minutes of the February 27 meeting are pending. For questions about Synod Council, please contact the Ven. David Selzer, Diocesan Executive Officer, by email at dselzer@ontario.anglican.ca or by phone at 613-777-0540.