Action on child poverty

The Bishop will ask the new Community Ministries Development Committee to look at how the diocese can respond to the issue of child poverty which has reached critical proportions in our community. The committee is asked to prepare a recommendation for Synod 2010.

Governance Relations Panel

Because of the Diocese's strategic position in the nation's capital, the Bishop intends to establish a Government Relations Panel to advise him, Synod and Diocesan Council as to how the Diocese and its ministries might respond to specific government actions or policies. It will also aim to build creative relationships with key government personnel so that the Diocese might be informed sufficiently in order to engage in meaningful dialogue with policy formation and execution.

New Governance approved

Synod Friday approved a new governance structure, the work of the Governance Task Force chaired by Dean Shane Parker, that will see Diocesan Council and five new committees replace the Diocesan Executive Committee and existing committees.

Members expressed concern with the nomination process for Council members, citing a lack of` "democracy." In the end, Synod approved the process but called for a review by the Governance and Communications Committee with a report back to Synod 2010.

Synod approved the following slate of nominees for Diocesan Council:
One year: The Rev. Robyn Cuming, The Rev. Catherine McCaig, Linda Morrison, Garry Smith Two years: Arch Campbell, Jim Carruthers, David Morgan, The Rev. Dr. Linda Privitera Three years: Steven Chaplin, The Rev. Kathryn Otley, Ericka Stevens-Rennie, Darren Théorêt.

Three-year budget approved

Synod approved a budget presented by the Budget Management Committee for the years 2010-2012. Glenn Bloodworth, chair, said they were projecting a balanced budget over the three years. "Our determination is to break even," he said. He said there would be no increase in total parish fair share, although he warned that doesn't mean that some churches will not see an increase.

Transition Team wraps up

Peter Martin, deputy chair of the Transition Team, gave a final report of the team's work as it prepares to hand over the overseeing of the implementation of the Strategic Plan to the new Diocesan Council and its committees. Peter, who received a standing ovation, was thanked by the Bishop for his work.

Stewardship Council

Diocesan Stewardship and Development Officer Jane Scanlon said stewardship is essential to the mission of our diocese and the Anglican Community. The vision is for all the parishes to have a vibrant stewardship. To help parishes, she said the Stewardship Council has revitalized its mentoring program, including the addition of more mentors. Additional resources are also available.

Financial Development Panel

Monica Patten described a proposal for a "very major financial initiative" in conjunction with General Synod to take the Diocese into the future. She said the panel will undertake a planning session to see what support there is for the initiative.

Synod approved a motion to endorse the work of the panel in planning and implementing a financial development strategy in partnership with the General Synod's Department of Philanthropy, and direct the panel to report back to Synod in 2010.

New Cornerstone residence

Sue Garvey, Director of Cornerstone/Le Pilier, gave Synod an update on the exciting plans for a fourth residence for homeless women that will be purposely built with 42 units, 20 of which will be for seniors. Work will start on March 30 on clearing the site -the site of the first Loeb store in Ottawa —at Booth and Eccles streets, across from a community health centre.

The new residence, which will include many green features, and offer a wide range of support, will cost more than $11 million. More than $9 million has already been raised because of the support for the project from various agencies.

Sue urged parishes to consider adopting a room at the residence to help furnish it.

Parish renewal progresses

In an update on the work of the Parish Growth and Renewal Committee, Ron Brophy said teams were now working with 25 churches in six parishes - Hawkesbury, Vankleek Hill, Eastern Outaouais, Mattawa, Northern Pontiac and Clarendon - to implement the recommendations of the Ottawa Diocese Planning Study (Boken Report). Meetings, including full parish meetings, have been held so that parishioners can share their perspective on parish life and offer suggestions for the future. Congregations were later presented with suggested ways forward with the aim of reaching a plan of action with congregational support.

Ron said the committee was hoping soon to begin work with urban churches and assist parishes that are growing.

HST concern

Canon Bill Prentice told Synod that the Community Ministries were very concerned about the effect of the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) on the working poor and those on disability programs. It will also be a significant burden on those who use the Community Ministries.

Synod agreed to express its concern to the province, suggesting efforts be made to mitigate these effects and by asking the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario to make similar representations.

"We are worried about this," said Canon Prentice. Mary-Martha Hale, Director of Centre 454, said the Community Ministries could be negatively impacted by the HST, on rent, utilities and other services.

Seeking partnership with Louisiana

Synod agreed to ask the Youth Ministries Development Coordinator to develop a partnership agreement between the youth ministries in the Diocese of Ottawa and the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana, and present a draft agreement to Diocesan Council in time for Synod 2010 to consider adopting it.

The Rev. Dr. Linda Privitera, in moving the motion, saw it as an exciting new mission initiative. She said the relationship between the two dioceses has already grown through the Jeremiah Project, in which a group of young people spent a week in New Orleans last February to help with the rebuilding following two hurricanes and another group will head there next February.

There were some suggestions that relationships should be built first with native communities in Canada but other speakers felt that the diocese could accommodate several partnerships.

Poverty-Free Canada campaign endorsed

Synod agreed to support the Dignity for All Campaign for a Poverty-Free Canada, by providing a public endorsement of this campaign, make a financial contribution from unspent funds in the 2009 diocesan outreach budget allocation, and by asking the new Community Ministry Development Committee to inform Synod of campaign development and other ways to participate.

Greenhouse gases

Synod and the Bishop were asked to express our concerns to the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Environment about the effects of greenhouse gas emissions on the environment and our support for Canada signing a global treaty to reduce the emissions.

Peace Initiative supported

Synod agreed to express its support to the appropriate bodies of the Government of Canada for the Canadian Department of Peace Initiative proposal for the establishment of a cabinet-level Minister of Peace and a Department of Peace within the government.

Nuclear disarmament supported

Synod agreed to express its support for a world free of nuclear weapons and asked the Bishop to convey our position to the federal government. It also requested, from the government, information about Canadian activities in support of nuclear disarmament, and from the Prime Minister a public affirmation of Canada's commitment to a world free of nuclear weapons.

Highlights of Bishop's Charge, October 22, 2009 found here