RESOLUTIONS - 121st Synod of the Diocese of New Westminster

As it reads in the subheading of this post all 6 resolutions were approved by Synod by large majorities. Bishop John Stephens gave his assent to all 6.

IMAGE: Chair of the Resolutions Committee, Legal Assessor of the diocese, Jennifer Dezell, ODNW

RESOLUTION 01

MOVED: The Reverend Alex Wilson

SECONDED: Mrs. Shirin Theophilus, ODNW

THAT,

1. The Diocese of New Westminster acknowledge the dual crises of housing affordability and homelessness in the Lower Mainland;

2. Synod 2021 direct Diocesan Council to create a task force made up of a wide variety of lay, ordained, and Aboriginal voices, to engage with leadership at every level of the church, with other faith traditions, and those in the public square:

• a) to explore and assess the impact of housing affordability and homelessness within regional and parochial communities, consulting with civic, business, and community support programs to understand the ways in which race, Aboriginal identity, age, socioeconomic status and human sexuality impact accessibility to housing;
• b) to explore the ways in which other churches, ecumenical, and multifaith bodies across Canada have responded to their own affordability and homelessness crises;
• c) to develop and propose a diocesan response to these two crises that may include, but not be limited to, utilizing current land holdings in this Diocese;
• d) to report its findings and response options, based on those findings, to Diocesan Council in a timely manner.

3. That members of the task force conduct this work in the course of their regular duties, with any budget requirements identified being allocated from the Diocesan Justice and Peace Fund at the discretion of property and finance.

RESOLUTION 02

MOVED: The Reverend Alecia Greenfield

SECONDED: The Reverend Philippa Segrave-Pride

(on behalf of the Standing Committee of Mission and Ministry Development)

THAT,

1.     Synod receive and affirm the Recommendations of the Climate Emergency Working Group (CEWG) document in principle from a liturgical, ethical and theological perspective;

2.     Synod approve, and direct the Diocese to adopt, the Anglican Church of Canada’s policy paper, “Investing with a Mission: A Guide to Responsible Investment and Church Funds”;

3.     Synod direct the Diocese to establish a grant fund, subject to available funds, which can be accessed by parishes and worshiping communities to engage in the Recommendations proposed by CEWG at the Parish level (up to $1000 per parish per year for two years);

4.     Synod approve and direct the Diocese, subject to available funds, to hire a staff term person for a minimum of two years to assist parishes to:

a)     Build capacity within the diocese in making the work of Climate Emergency Response a priority and actionable.

b)     Establish a network of leaders, innovators, and practitioners in Climate Emergency Response within the Diocese.

c)     Establish partnerships with organizations that are values-aligned around Climate Emergency Response.

d)     Develop a Strategic Action Plan in accordance with the Recommendations throughout the Diocese.

e)     Promote, support and report on parishes working on Climate Emergency Response, including the reduction of greenhouse emissions.

f)      Develop a Diocesan policy and for investing that reflects the principles of the Anglican Church of Canada’s “Investing with a Mission: A Guide to Responsible Investment and Church Funds”.

g)     Develop the framework to establish a diocesan fund to promote, and support Climate Emergency Response work within the Diocese.

h)     Develop the framework to establish the CEIG as a unit of Diocesan Mission and Ministry for a minimum of two years

RESOLUTION 03

MOVED: The Reverend Philippa Segrave-Pride

SECONDED: The Reverend Tellison Glover

(on behalf of the Standing Committee of Mission and Ministry Development)

THAT,

Synod approve the following list of ministries to receive funding during the 2022/2023 care ╬ share cycle:

1.     St. Thomas, Chilliwack – Food Ministry;

2.     St. Dunstan’s, Aldergrove – Thursday Community Meal;

3.     Holy Trinity Cathedral, New Westminster - The Breakfast Club;

4.     St. Barnabas, New Westminster – Grab-n-Go;

5.     St. Alban’s, Richmond – The Lunch Box;

6.     St. Augustine’s, Marpole – St. Augustine’s Community Meals & Marpole Community Food Hub;

7.     St. Mary’s, Kerrisdale – Food Ministry;

8.     St. Agnes, North Vancouver – Sharing Abundance; and

9.     St. David and St. Paul’s, Powell River - Sycamore Commons Vegetable Garden Community Partnership.

RESOLUTION 4

Motion to revise Canon 8

Rationale for this Motion

In both the Constitution of the Diocese (Article 2.12) and in the Rules of Order (2.3 and 9.9) the required super-majority is two-thirds. The proposed motion brings Canon 8 in conformity to the Constitution and the Rules of Order by replacing a 75% super-majority with a two-thirds super-majority.

This motion is brought forward at the request of and on behalf of the  Standing Committee on Constitution and Canons

Motion

MOVED:          The Ven. Richard Leggett

SECONDED:     Mr. Donald Paul, ODNW

(on behalf of Standing Committee on Constitution and Canons)

THAT Canons 8.6 and 8.14 be revised to change the super majority requirements of those Canons from a three-quarters to a two-thirds majority so that they will now read as follows (emphasis added to the proposed changes):

“8.6 The Bishop may initiate the merger of Parishes, whether incorporated or not, in either of the following cases:

(a) The Parishes have voted to merge by a two-thirds majority of those attending their respective Vestry Meetings specially called on 14 days’ notice for the purpose, or,

(b) The Diocesan Council shall have voted at two consecutive meetings by a two-thirds majority of those attending to merge the Parishes.”

“8.14 The Bishop may initiate the process of closing a Parish in the following cases:

(a) The Parish has voted by a two-thirds majority of those attending a Vestry Meeting specially called on 21 days’ notice for that purpose, to request closure, or,

(b) The Diocesan Council has voted at two meetings by a two-thirds majority of those attending to close the Parish.”

 

RESOLUTION 5

Motion to revise Anglican Initiative Fund By-laws

Rationale for this Motion

Following the changes made to the Constitution and Canons at the Diocesan Synod in 2019 the Standing Committee on Constitutions and Canons was tasked with updating other governing documents to bring all in line with the new Constitution and Canons. 
 
The Anglican Initiatives Fund By-laws required updating.  It is Synod’s prerogative to revise the Anglican Initiative Fund By-laws.  The Standing Committee on Constitutions and Canons consulted with the Administrators of the Fund and together recommend the revisions to the By-laws as detailed in the track changes highlighted below.
 
This motion is brought forward at the request of and on behalf of the Standing Committee on Constitution and Canons
 
Motion
MOVED:          The Ven. G Douglas Fenton
SECONDED:     Mr. Kevin Smith, ODNW
(on behalf of the Standing Committee on Constitution and Canons)
 
THAT Synod approves the changes to The Anglican Initiatives Fund By-laws as set out below.
 

ANGLICAN INITIATIVES FUND - BYLAWS

Please click here to view the above document in .PDF
 

RESOLUTION 6

Motion to revise Regulation 21 - Anglican Initiatives Fund

Rationale for this Motion

Following the changes made to the Constitution and Canons at the Diocesan Synod in 2019 the Standing Committee on Constitutions and Canons was tasked with updating other governing documents to bring all in line with the new Constitution and Canons.  
 
Regulation 21 - The Anglican Initiatives Fund needs to reflect the changes in The Anglican Initiatives Fund By-laws.  In keeping with Synod’s prerogative to make changes to the Anglican Initiatives Fund By-laws it is thought that Synod should also be asked to make the revisions to Regulation 21. The Standing Committee on Constitutions and Canons consulted with the Administrators of the Fund and together and recommend the revisions to Regulation 21 as detailed in the track changes highlighted below.
 
This motion is brought forward at the request of and on behalf of the Standing Committee on Constitution and Canons
 
Motion
 
MOVED:          The Ven. G. Douglas Fenton
SECONDED:     Ms. Sharon Grove 
(on behalf of the Standing Committee Constitution and Canons)
 
THAT Synod approve the changes to Regulation 21 as set out below:

REGULATION 21 – ANGLICAN INITIATIVES FUND

Please click here to view the above document in .PDF