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Synod 2010
Highlights of Bishop John Chapman's
Charge to Synod
Delivered October 14, 2010
Bishop John Chapman called on the Diocese to focus on key ministries, based on the Five Marks of Mission, over a two-year period, with a report card at next year's Synod to look at what has been accomplished.
Cross-cultural membership
Commenting that white Anglo-Saxon people occupy most of our pews, the Bishop is calling on parishes to study the local demographic and create a strategy to foster outreach to the various cultural communities.
Congregational development
The Bishop says it is time to implement a small church coach program and volunteers will be sought to support this program.
Diocesan Council will be asked to ensure that appropriate subcommittees and working groups are aiming to realize the greatest potential for our real estate holdings. There are a number of properties that no longer serve the ministry and mission of the region or Diocese, while there are areas that could benefit either from new buildings or a creative configuration of existing buildings and ministries.
Clergy leadership
Addressing the issue of vocations to priestly ministry, the Bishop is asking congregations to include in their weekly intercessions prayers for vocations to ordained ministry and to identify individuals who might appear called to serve as clergy.
Dialogue with government
The Bishop reports that a Government Relations Panel that he called for in last year's Charge has been put in place and is producing fruit. The panel has "opened doors and facilitated conversations."
Environmental concerns
Following a resolution approved at General Synod, the Diocese is looking to join with other faith groups to press the federal government to adopt a comprehensive action plan with firm targets for greenhouse gas reductions. The Diocese is also planning to form an environmental working group to provide information and guidance.
Ongoing dialogue with the international church
The Bishop said that conversations between five Canadian bishops, including Bishop John, and five in Africa to share their struggles and joys will continue in 2011 with a meeting in Dar-es-Salaam in February.
Partnership with Jerusalem
The Diocese's Jerusalem Panel is working on a variety of proposals to enhance and "make real" our ministry and education with the Diocese of Jerusalem. The dioceses are now companions.
Highlights from Synod 2010
$12-million financial campaign approved
"I am asking you to give money to do God's work," the Bishop told Synod in introducing a motion to approve the launch of a five-year financial campaign to raise $12 million to support parish, diocesan and General Synod programs. "I am excited about this and not ashamed to ask for it," he said. Monica Patten, a member of the Financial Development Panel, said a study showed strong financial support for the campaign, with 94 per cent of clergy in support and 95 per cent of study participants saying they would consider a gift. The money will be spent on mission and ministry initiatives, education and training, and capital initiatives. Parishes will receive 50 per cent of funds raised to meet their needs. The motion was carried after a lengthy debate.
Equalized Cost of Priestly Services
Equalized Cost of Priestly Services (ECOPS) is a new way to assess parishes their cost of priestly services. It assesses equalization according to a parish's ability to pay and enables the Bishop to appoint clergy to parishes without affecting their COPS assessment.
Child poverty
Synod heard that one in 10 children is living in poverty. The plan is to set up a task force of dedicated people who will look into this problem and decide how we can respond.
Homelessness
It was reported that 10,000 households in the Ottawa area are waiting for affordable housing, resulting in a five- to seven-year wait. The solution is more affordable housing and support, and the Community Ministries have joined with a number of coalitions dealing with this problem.
UN Conference on the Status of Women
Catherine Chapman and Sue Garvey reported on their attendance at the UN Conference in New York. They told of stories of the horrors facing women in many parts of the world, and the large
number of aboriginal women who are missing around the world, including Canada. Parishes were given a list of ideas, such as a mentoring project or educating members about the practices that endanger women and children, and were challenged to pick up on some of them to work on.
Facts and figures about the Diocese
Deaneries, 10; parishes, 72; congregations, 124; full-time priests, 67
Members on parish rolls in 2009: 24,110, an increase of 43
Members in full communion: 15,787, an increase of 2,329
Receipted donations: $10,571,627, an increase of 6.6 per cent
Governance and Communications Committee
Synod approved the following slate of nominees for Diocesan Council: the Rev. Karen Coxon, Parish of March; Audrey Lawrence, St. Richard's; the Rev. Ann Salmon, Good Shepherd, Barrhaven; Garry Smith, Parish of Glengarry.
Youth Faith Development
Judy Steers, General Synod Coordinator of Youth Initiatives, complimented the Diocese on being one of two out of 30 in Canada to have a full-time youth worker. She added that five dioceses have cancelled this position in the last year.
Stewardship Council
Francis Christensen, chair, said the Council fully supports the $12-million campaign approved earlier and will be available to mentor and assist parishes. The council is also preparing to develop its next three-year plan.
Election to advisory panel
Three nominees elected to the Advisory Panel on Termination of Clerical Appointments are: The Ven. Bruce Crockett, John McBride and Monica Patten.
Members of Trinity College Corporation
Selected for membership of the Trinity College Corporation are: The Rev. Canon Roger Young, the Rev. Karen Coxon, Patricia Bays and Jane Waterston.
Human trafficking
Two motions concerning human trafficking received unanimous approval. In the first, Synod declared that human trafficking is the modern-day slave trade, and directed the Community Ministries Development Committee to write letters to both the Government of Canada, urging it to take action to end human trafficking in Canada and internationally, and to General Synod, encouraging it to add its voice and resources to combating human trafficking.
In the second, Synod directed the Parish Ministry Development Committee to help members of the Diocese become more informed about slavery and human trafficking, and its local manifestation in the Ottawa region in particular. The committee was also asked to encourage members of the Diocese to engage in efforts to combat human trafficking locally and also to inform parishes about Freedom Sunday, to take place on March 31, 2011. The committee was asked to report back to Synod 2011.
It was stated that the RCMP estimated there are 600 to 800 cases of human trafficking each year in Canada. The Rev. Dr. Gary Hauch moved both motions.
Bishop's Charge to Synod 2010
Download (word document)
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