Anglican Church of Canada's Governing Body Adopts Sweeping Changes in Policy, Structure
Episcopal News Service. June 21, 1995 [95-1158]
(ENS) The Anglican Church of Canada emerged June 9 from a nine-day national meeting in Ottawa with a new structure, new priorities and plans to publish a new hymn book.
The church's General Synod, a chief governing body of more than 300 lay people, clergy and bishops, also affirmed the presence and contributions of gay men and lesbians to the church and agreed to "deepen and extend" a three-year-old study of homosexuality.
The synod heard presentations about the on-going work of healing and reconciliation within the Anglican Church for former students of Native residential schools and approved a covenant drafted by indigenous people in which they express a desire to form a self-determining community within the Anglican Church.
The priorities adopted call for the church to focus on advocacy for social justice causes and on developing overseas partnerships. The church also approved a new national structure which is less legislative in style and relies more on networking and consultation.
Called "Preparing the Way," the church's plan emerged from a three-year consultation with church members from across the country. Under the plan, the national church will concentrate its resources on nurturing and building overseas partnerships and on advocacy for social justice issues. It will also work at developing ecumenical relationships with other churches and on clarifying Anglican identity, doctrine, liturgy and worship.
Much of the domestic work that the national church has done in the past, such as congregational development and stewardship education, will now be the responsibility of local dioceses. The restructuring plan also calls for a reduction in the number of national committees and boards as a cost-saving measure.
An open hearing on homosexuality brought a host of calls for tolerance and only a few assertions that homosexuality is wrong and ought to be condemned.
"How long, oh Lord?" asked William Sibley, superior of the Anglican Order of the Holy Cross, who noted that the discussion of homosexuality had been going on for 20 years. "It is time to stop hiding behind Scripture and deal with the ethics of reality. The church is crucifying people."
Pamela Klym, a youth delegate from British Columbia, shared her belief that homosexuality is wrong but said that "it is possible to love every person. That doesn't mean that we have to agree with all that they stand for and all that they do."
The ensuing debate in legislative session led to passage of resolutions that:
- affirm the presence and contributions to the church of gay men and lesbians, and condemn bigotry, violence and hatred directed against people because of their sexual orientation;
- urge parishes and dioceses to "continue, deepen and adapt" the learning and dialogue begun by national task force on homosexuality and homosexual relationships;
- urge the primate to encourage dialogue on homosexuality throughout the church;
ask the church's bishops to indicate whether they intend to review sexuality guidelines that forbid the blessing of same-sex unions and require ordained homosexuals to remain celibate.
After a lengthy debate, synod members authorized the church's Hymn Book Task Force to complete preparation of a new book that introduces female imagery of God, inclusive language and a broad range of musical styles. In addition to well-loved traditional tunes, the new book includes popular folk tunes, gospel music, contemporary praise choruses and music from countries around the world.
Some speakers expressed strong reservations about proceeding with a new hymn book at a time of financial constraints, while others objected to the removal of old familiar hymns or to proposed changes to them. Supporters of the book, however, praised the emphasis on hymns with inclusive language and more modem style.
In other business, the church agreed to extend use of its modern Book of Alternative Services for another three years and to continue developing inclusive language for its rites. It also approved a motion to develop a eucharistic rite that includes "native spiritual traditions and other cultural traditions."
The synod responded enthusiastically to a report commending further work on healing and reconciliation for former students of Native residential schools. The report from a working group created three years ago outlined physical, emotional, sexual and cultural abuse suffered by indigenous people in government-funded schools.
The group recommended that its work developing educational resources and support programs for abuse victims continue "We've come a long way, but we have a long way to go before the healing and reconciliation is complete," said Angeline Ayoungman, the group's co-chair. She said it may take several generations before the impact of residential schools, manifested in alcoholism, drug abuse and suicide, can be fully resolved.
The synod also affirmed a covenant encouraging indigenous people to create a self-determining community within the church.
"I believe one of the great promises of the Gospel is that we can be responsible for our own lives," said Bishop James Cruickshank of the Diocese of Cariboo. "What I hear our native brothers and sisters saying is that it is time for them to accept responsibility for their future and to move from a feeling of dependency on the church to a sense of independence."
The General Synod also dealt with more than 60 resolutions on a wide variety of topics including matters of domestic and foreign policy, the Anglican Church's relationship with other churches, peace and environmentalism. Among these were resolutions:
- commending the federal government's commitment to devoting 0.7% of GNP to development assistance but expressing concern that foreign aid policy emphasizes Canada's economic interests;
- expressing "grief and outrage" at genocide in Rwanda and Burundi and regretting that governments, including the Canadian government, failed "to anticipate and prevent the evil that occurred";
- reaffirming support of First Nations' struggles "to obtain justice regarding land claims through negotiations";
- commending the Canadian Fisheries minister for his strong stand on conservation of East Coast fish stocks, and urging a similar stand with regards to the West Coast; and
- calling on the Minister of Immigration to exempt refugees and their families from paying a landing fee.
Nine ecumenical visitors from across Canada, the United States and overseas were invited to attend and reflect on General Synod as "partners" of the Anglican Church.
One of these partners, Bishop Dinis Sengulane of the Diocese of Lebombo in Mozambique, spoke at a service at Cathedral Christ Cathedral, calling on the church and on all Canadians to denounce gun ownership and the shipment of arms to war-torn countries.
Bishop Sengulane is internationally known for his role in negotiating an end to civil war in Mozambique.