Council took to the highway, meeting at St. Catherine’s Church in Port Coquitlam.
Bishop Michael welcomed DC and offered thanks to St. Catherine’s Incumbent, Rev. Paul Strudwick and the parish for extending their hospitality to DC.
Bishop Michael welcomed DC and offered thanks to St. Catherine’s Incumbent, Rev. Paul Strudwick and the parish for extending their hospitality to DC.
Bishop Michael turned the meeting over to Paul who spoke to the group about the various challenges involved in not having a “footprint,” not actually having a building. This does present some challenges and limits St. Catherine’s visibility in the neighbourhood.
St. Catherine’s does partner with Trinity United who own the building on a number of initiatives: a very successful weekly soup kitchen, various worship events and Christian education programs that are led by both Paul and the United Church Minister
However, even without a building the ministry of St. Catherine’s is healthy, thriving and benefiting the neighbourhood.
Trinity have been very gracious hosts to St. Catherine’s over the last 11 years following the demolition of the St. Catherine’s building. It is an harmonious relationship.
Paul went on to give a brief description of the churches in the Westminster deanery (of which he is Regional Dean and illustrated their locations with the help of a map program displayed on the church’s overhead projection system).
Bishop Michael continued the opening remarks by speaking to Council about the National House of Bishops meeting that he attended in April.
Bishop Michael said that this meeting was one of the most pleasant meetings in recent years and believes that one of the reasons that relationships have improved has been the implementation of daily morning Bible studies, the positive leadership of our Primate, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, and the gradual change in the make-up of the House of Bishops due to changes in membership.
Bishop Michael said that this meeting was one of the most pleasant meetings in recent years and believes that one of the reasons that relationships have improved has been the implementation of daily morning Bible studies, the positive leadership of our Primate, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, and the gradual change in the make-up of the House of Bishops due to changes in membership.
There were two major issues at this meeting that he thought would be of general interest: The first discussed was the question of the Open Table.
Asking the question, who should be admitted to the Eucharist?
The Bishops spent the better part of a day looking at scholarly papers that examine this issue.
The tensions in the Anglican Communion over the past 10 years have made everyone much more aware of the importance of our relationships with other members of the Anglican Communion, as well as other world communions, such as the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches.
The Bishops thoughtfully but unanimously agreed that the journey to the Eucharist begins at Baptism. As the world changes and fewer people are baptized as part of the dominant culture more and more people come to the Communion rail who have not been baptized.
Bishop Michael mentioned that in his travels around the D of NW there are a number of churches that either in print or by announcement or both invite those who seek the divine to participate in the Eucharist.
The Bishops decided that a better and more theologically correct option would be to take the opportunity when addressing seekers to offer to teach them about the Christian Faith through the Baptism and Christian Initiation leading to the Eucharist rather than direct admission to the Open Table.
Bishop Michael will write a short piece for the Diocesan communications vehicles about this tradition and the conversation that we need to have about it.
This is the first time in a long time that Bishop Michael recalled a unanimous vote by the House of Bishops on a doctrinal question.
The Second issue has to do with Full Communion with the ELCIC.
The actual issue is around Confirmation being performed by Anglican clergy.
In the Lutheran Church it is appropriate for the Lutheran pastor to take confirmations.
Where there are Shared Ministry Parishes involving Anglicans and Lutherans (there are none in our Diocese) the question of whether Anglican clergy should celebrate a sacrament normally reserved to the Bishop created some concern in the House of Bishops. They feel there is a need to revisit this issue later in the year when Lutheran bishops can be part of the conversation.
Minutes of March and April.
The minutes were unanimously accepted.
Andrew Wilhelm- Boyles
Andrew as Chair of the Plan 2018 Action Group spoke for a few minutes to thank everyone involved in the May 7th, 2011 Pre-Synod Day – Moving Forward in Mission.
Andrew thought that the event went very well and he wanted to thank in particular Synod Office point person Tasha Carrothers for conceiving and organizing the event and Synod staffer, Bettina Gruver as again her planning and implementation skills were key to the success of the day.
Bishop Michael thanked Andrew for his leadership both for the Pre-Synod Day event and for his leadership as Chair of the Plan 2018 Action Group.
In Camera for various Funding and Real Estate Items 6.1, 6.2,
6.3 Programs for Inclusion Going the Extra Mile: 2012 and 2013
The Rev. Douglas Fenton gave some brief history about GEM and GEM recipients and he listed the current groups. Street Outreach will continue for another term and new ministries were asked to present their offering to Ministry Resources Committee (MRC) for recommendation to Synod for the next round of funding.
Click the link to download the MRC MEETING BRIEF for a list of the ministries that applied for funding.
8.2 GEM Going the Extra Mile re-branding
For information only.
Douglas presented some historical background on the wrapping-up of the decade long Stewards In Action and it’s evolution into GEM.
SIA was well-known but GEM never achieved the profile and brand identity.
This BRIEF presents that case. Please download the link.
8.1 Financial Statements
Mark pointed out that there were some minor variances in some investments but otherwise everything is going well in terms of Diocesan finances. Please click the link to download the Executive Summary, the Unaudited Total Balance Sheet and the unaudited Income Statement. MARCH FINANCIALS
8.3 Richmond Gathering Lands
8.3 Richmond Gathering Lands
Treasurer Ian Robertson updated DC on the ongoing issues of gathering lands and re-zoning changes in Richmond. The ecumenical group led by Ian and Business Administrator, Rob Dickson spearheading the lobby will need to appear at a number of Richmond Council Meetings over the next few weeks.
Diocesan Communications will keep the community apprised of this story as it continues to develop.
Diocesan Communications will keep the community apprised of this story as it continues to develop.
At 8:45 Bishop Michael adjourned the meeting.
The next meeting of Diocesan Council will take place at St. Augustine’s June 14th, 2011 at 7:30pm.
The next meeting of Diocesan Council will take place at St. Augustine’s June 14th, 2011 at 7:30pm.
Diocesan Council is the decision making, governing body of the Diocese of New Westminster consisting of:
- the Diocesan Officers (Bishop, Dean, Executive Archdeacon,Chancellor, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer)
- the Archdeacons of the five Archdeaconries
- the Archdeacon who is the Director of Deacons
- two additional Diocesan Legal Officers, (Registrar and Legal Assessor)
- a Lay Secretary, a Clergy Secretary,
- the chairs of the Diocesan Standing Committees
- there are two Deanery reps either Ordained or Lay. Sometimes Deaneries have two lay reps and sometimes two clergy reps, sometimes one of each. A Deanery is a group of churches, geographically affiliated and the reps are elected at the Annual Synod Meeting.
- Synod Staff also attend meetings but are not members of Diocesan Council. They include: Business Administrator, Director of Planned Giving, Comptroller, Youth Coordinator and Communications Officer (and other staff as required).
Diocesan Synod consists of all the active clergy in the Diocese of New Westminster and 2-6 lay people elected from each diocesan parish proportionate to the size of the parish community.
Diocesan Council functions as the Synod between Synods, it is a representation of the large group that meets annually.
Diocesan Council and Diocesan Synod are both chaired by the Bishop.
Diocesan Council meets monthly on the second Tuesday of the month usually at St. Augustine, Marpole at 7:30pm. Diocesan Council is adjourned for the months of July and August.