The majority of members of Diocesan Council gathered at St. Augustine’s, Marpole at 6pm on November 12th for sandwiches followed by the commencement of the meeting at 6:30pm. The Dean and Administrator of the Diocese, the Very Reverend Peter Elliott began by welcoming new DC members, the Venerable Grant Rodgers the new Archdeacon of Westminster, and Mr. James Conklin who is the new DC rep filling a vacancy from the Burrard Archdeaconry. The Dean then drew the attention of Council to the newly invested members of the ODNW who are also DC members; Nancy Southam and Charles Nurse and invited Council to offer their congratulations which they did with sustained applause.
The Dean next pointed out that there were many guests present at the meeting: a representative of the Ecumenical Advocates group to the TRC Reconciliation Week , three members of the Sorrento Centre “Embracing Transformation” capital campaign team and two representatives of the Christian Camping Task Force of the diocese.The Dean thanked diocesan communications for its coverage of TRC Reconciliation Week events and then he introduced the Venerable Ian MacKenzie who presented at the meeting in place of the Reverend Clarence Li who was originally scheduled to present the report but sent his regrets.
Ian who with his wife, the Reverend Paula Sampson is an adopted member of the Nisga’a Nation gave a personal reflection of being at the front of the Walk for Reconciliation on September 22nd, 2013.
Ian did not want to dwell on the first two pages of the report, he wanted to direct Council’s focus to the follow-up recommendations on page 3. He did however comment on then-Bishop, Michael Ingham’s Pastoral Letter of May 19th urging all parishes to consider cancelling their morning worship and participating in the walk. Ian shared with Council that the parish of St. David and St. Paul in Powell River a parish with no First Nations members cancelled their morning worship so people could attend a walk in concert with the Vancouver Reconciliation walk hosted by the Sliammon First Nation on the Sunshine Coast.Ian said that the overriding principle of the recommendations is for all of us to consider what was and is present in our society, and in our church that enabled our ancestors to do these terrible things. We must keep that question present in our minds, prayers and in our discussions and interactions with First Nations people.
For the remainder of his time Ian went through the four recommendations points on page 3 and stressed the importance of following through.He focused Council’s attention on the importance of the Bishop to the First Nations persons as the main representative of the Church and of Jesus. The new Bishop will need to take leadership on this as a major part of reconciliation is giving First Nations people, Residential School Survivors, the opportunity to speak with a Bishop if that is what will help them.
The Dean then proposed that later in the meeting these recommendations particularly number 3 be moved for adoption by Council and that the National Church Office for Indigenous Ministry be contacted as they are an excellent resource for material to effectively adopt these recommendations particularly number 3.The Dean introduced the representatives from the Sorrento Centre in attendance at the meeting.
Dr. Christopher Lind the Executive Director of Sorrento Centre introduced their Fundraising Consultant, the Reverend Rob Waller who began their presentation by showing a video. Following the video, Council’s attention was directed to the Embracing Transformation - The ‘Next 50’ Campaign case for support. A web version of the case document and the video are available by clicking this LINK. Dr. Lind directed Council through the document.
Dr. Lind described and provided context for the various programs that have been introduced at Sorrento Central and have displayed growth every year, specifically programs for youth. Youth leadership development is a key purpose of the Sorrento Centre and the programming that relates to that purpose is showing phenomenal growth in registration.Dr. Lind reminded Council of the 1.6 million dollar ask made to the Diocese of New Westminster in 2012, and the loan of $250,000 received from the Diocese of New Westminster to launch the campaign. The 1.6 million if received will be used for the proposed Endowment Fund (the 1st Pillar) and for Youth Leadership Development.
Dr Lind closed his portion of the presentation by informing Council that there is a healthy potential for partnerships with Sorrento, local, regional, national and international.The Venerable Andrew Pike, Chair of the Sorrento Board said that of the 6 dioceses accessing Sorrento programs the Diocese of New Westminster is by far the largest contributor of participants at Sorrento.
He said that Sorrento’s funding problem is not because of dwindling numbers but is a consequence of the majority of subscribers to the programming being young, with limited resources and therefore need to be subsidized by Sorrento.
In Andrew’s presentation he stressed that the church must participate in a meaningful and generous way. When donors are approached for major gifts to Sorrento, often the question asked is “What is the church doing?”
What the Sorrento Group was asking DC for is contained in the first paragraph of the linked document.
Dean Peter reminded Council that the information given by the Sorrento group and the Christian Camping Task Force that evening is for Council to consider and then pass on to the appropriate committees to develop motions that would return to Council for voting.
By Christmas this year Sorrento Centre is on target to raise more money corporately than has ever been raised before for Sorrento Centre Ministry.3.4 Camping Ministry Task Force – presentation of report.
Gordon Lee, ODNW, with the other members of the Task Force, Phil Colvin and Maria Denholm presented the report.
The Key Recommendation is that an integrated Christian Camping Ministry be affirmed as an essential component of diocesan ministry.
Following a brief break, the Chancellor, George Cadman, QC, co- Chair, following a began by thanking the members of the Search & Nominations Committee particularly those present at Council that evening: Helen Brown, Starr Allaby, Charles Nurse, Reinhard Rudersdorfer, and the absent members of Council that evening who are also members of the Committee, the Reverend David Price, the Reverend Brian Vickers and the Venerable John Struthers.
The Chancellor reminded Council about the second call for nominations as per Canon 219 which will close 4pm, Tuesday, November 19th.The Chancellor responded to Mr Goater with this RESPONSE. The Chancellor went on to give some context for his response. Because four of the current eight candidates are not resident in the diocese he would not be in favour of a forum of this nature. He did however, inform Mr. Goater that he would take his request to Council for their consideration.
There was no interest from any members of Council to propose a resolution to support Mr. Goater’s request.
Granville-Point Grey Deanery Representative Elizabeth Hodgson began the discussion by asking if there would be Q&A time with the nominees at the Electoral Synod. This prompted an additional discussion about information from the nominees and how it is obtained.
The Dean reminded Council that a discussion about the amending of Canon 2 will happen after the election.
ACTION – FOR DEBATE
6.1 St. John, Maple Ridge - request to sell duplex
Rob Dickson the Business Administrator of the diocese gave an executive summary of the linked documents. Archdeacon Grant Rodgers asked what the vote tally was at the Vestry meeting at St. John’s when the issue was discussed and he was told the vote was unanimous
The MOTION was CARRIED
The Dean began the discussion on this item by thanking the Reverend Janice Lowell for her ministry and to Diocesan Legal Registrar Don Paul for his work with the parish. The Dean gave the floor to Don who went into some details with the issues surrounding the financial ramifications of the closing of the parish. This involves the diocese loaning the money to the parish to pay the parish mortgage to CNIBC so that the equity of the parish assets is not jeopardized.
Only Bishop’s may close a parish so the work of council is to determine whether or not to facilitate the loan. In Don’s words in “round ballpark figures” the diocese loans $100,000 to the parish in order to secure a 1.1 million dollar asset.Don then went into more detail about the financial holdings of the parish including a fund of $60,000 restricted under the Charitable Purposes Preservation Act, the Norah Norman Fund which is a bequest to fund Christian Education. A bequest that can certainly be honoured through diocesan ministry
The RESOLUTION was CARRIED
6.6 Church of the Epiphany – request for extension of daycare leaseOne of the reasons that the extension for the daycare lease is so short is that Epiphany is working hard toward their goal of tearing down their current building and building a new church, and they don’t want to be committed to a multi-year lease situation when they are ready to build.
There was a question about details involved in the lease but those details are already dealt with, as this is a lease extension.
The RESOLUTION WAS CARRIED
Proposed boundary changes and re-naming of Deaneries and Archdeaconries were presented at Diocesan Council for discussion at the October 8, 2013, meeting.
After receiving comments from across the Diocese and requests for changes from a number of parishes in the Fraser Archdeaconry, a revised plan for boundary changes was presented to Diocesan Council on November 12, 2013.
Diocesan Council tabled the report for decision until January 14, 2014, to give Parishes an opportunity to provide their comments to the reports. The report was updated and is now being sent to Parishes for review and comment. Parishes are asked to respond to the Venerable Lynne McNaughton, Chair, at lynne@mcnaughton.org by December 9, 2013 so that an interim report can be made to Diocesan Council at its December 10, 2013 meeting with final decisions to be made at the January 14, 2014 meeting of Diocesan Council. This will also give the Bishop-elect an opportunity for input if desired.
Helen Cheung of St. Matthias and St. Luke has been nominated to serve on the Ordained Ministry Division a standing committee of the diocese. Her nomination was accepted and she is duly appointed.
Diocesan Council adjourned after joining hands and saying the Doxology (“Glory to God whose power working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine…”) at 9:50pm.Images: Top and homepage, DC members transitioning between dinner and the meeting as the unusual 6:30pm start time draws near. Other photos from top to bottom: