“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10-10b
Following the 9am Opening Eucharist, the front 30% of the ballroom at the Italian Cultural Centre in East Vancouver was reconfigured by ICC and Synod staff to make the space more conducive to a two-day meeting. The completion of the set change indicated that it was time to begin the Constitution of Synod. Prior to the business of the diocese getting underway, Bishop John Stephens greeted the Delegates to Synod (they wouldn’t be Members of Synod until the Quorum was certified and that certification - Moved, Seconded and then voted on) and said,
“First of all I’d like to say that it is really great to see all of you in person. This is the first time we as Synod have gathered in-person since 2019… and that seems like a long time ago.”
This was met by enthusiastic applause.
Chancellor, George Cadman, KC, ODNW, AAM, affirmed that a Quorum of 88 Clergy and 136 Lay Delegates had been duly registered for a total of 224. A Quorum must be, not less than: the bishop; one quarter of the clergy and one quarter of the Registered Lay. Two Hundred and twenty-four was substantially more than the minimum. The Head Table for the 122nd Synod consisted of: Lay Secretary to Synod, Belinda Kishimoto; Clerical Secretary to Synod, the Reverend Justin Cheng; Vice Chancellor of the Diocese, Kevin Smith, ODNW; Bishop John Stephens; Chancellor, George Cadman; Registrar, Donald Paul, ODNW; Legal Assessor, Jennifer Dezell, ODNW and Executive Archdeacon of the Diocese, the Venerable Philippa Pride. Archdeacon Pride had suffered some hip and leg injuries earlier in the month which did not prevent her from performing her many duties throughout the two days. The two secretaries were tasked with timing the speakers and for that they were equipped with a bell and gavel.
The 122nd Synod consisted of six liturgies, led by a variety of clergy and lay with special thanks to the Reverend Lorne Manweiler, Rector of St. Philip, Dunbar and Regional Dean of Point Grey for accompanying the hymn singing on an electric keyboard. The Reverend Manweiler, a skilled organist did a marvelous job with the hymns, complete with some very nice reharmonizations. There were a dozen program and ministry reports and presentations. Over the two days, the Treasurer, Bob Hardy presented the 2023 Audited Financial Statements, the 2023 Diocesan Budget, the 2024 and 2025 Diocesan Vision Budgets. Treasurer Hardy’s PowerPoint presentations assembled in collaboration with diocesan Director of Finance, Shailene Caparas were clear, concise and easy to read. The three financials were received by Synod with overwhelming majority votes. Rounding out the business of Synod were Elections and Resolutions.
Street Outreach Initiative (SOI) based at St. James, under the leadership of the Reverend Fr. Matthew Johnson was the recipient diocesan ministry of donations made by Members of Synod. Donations were received at all liturgies and were encouraged during break times. In the early afternoon the tradition of auctioning off the plants that decorated the Synod Hall's presentation and worship space continued. Chancellor, George Cadman was happy to auction off the six orchids. All six were sold at an average price of $180. The proceeds from the sale also went to SOI. As of this writing a few days after Synod the total is approximately $9,000.
For those who may want to dive more deeply into the 122nd Synod, the SYNODS section of the diocesan website is currently being populated with content from Synod, including the reports and presentations that were made available to diocesan communications. Also, the Synod was livestreamed and the links to the archived livestreams on the diocesan YouTube channel are here:
Bishop John’s sermons on YouTube are available:
Opening Eucharist, 9am, May 12
Earlier in the Synod planning process it was identified that the Homelessness and Housing Affordability Task Force Report and Recommendations; Exploring and Identifying Diocesan Priorities workshop and table discussions; Property Development Committee presentation would be the key events at the 122nd Synod. In order that Members of Synod had some access to background prior to May 12 & 13, two diocesan pre-Synod gatherings were held via Zoom in late March to discuss the first two agenda items mentioned.
Co-Chairs of the Task Force, the Reverend Simbarashe Basvi and Mrs. Vicki Potter, ODNW presented the Task Force Report and Recommendations at 2pm on Day One. The Report is comprehensive and covered lots of ground. Originally there was one Resolution with six subsections, however, they were broken out into 6 resolutions to be examined individually. That version of the Report is linked here and below in .PDF. For details on the Resolutions please refer to the SYNODS webpage on the diocesan website.
The initial Exploring Priorities segment began on Day One at 11am and ran for just over an hour. Bishop John with Deacon, the Reverend Helen Lingham and the Venerable Philippa Pride supplied some context and then described the two-day process. Initially, Members of Synod were asked to confer in their table groups and identify priorities for the diocese for the next 1-2 years. The notes were collected, and the Reverend Lingham and the Venerable Pride met to go over the content submitted and identify the priorities that had been explored. They selected 13:
- Asset Management
- Children, Youth and Families
- Community Building
- Culture Change
- Diocesan Engagement
- Evangelism and Anglican Identity
- Homelessness
- Parish Collaboration
- Parish Development
- Reconciliation
- Social Justice
- Spiritual Development
- Support to Clergy and Lay Leadership
Upon arrival on DAY 2 for the early 8am elections, Synod staff created 13 stations around the ICC Ballroom each with a blank sheet of newsprint with the ‘priority’ title at the top and beside that sheet another sheet with some descriptions of the priority culled from the table reports of the previous day. At the next session titled “Identifying Priorities” Members of Synod were given three round stickers and asked to place one only on three preferred priorities. The top five of the 13 to be considered diocesan priorities and the work of Diocesan Council over the next 1-2 years. They were as follows:
- Homelessness with 83 votes
- Social Justice with 73 votes
- Spiritual Development with 66 votes
- Children, Youth and Families with 56 votes
- Parish Development narrowly edged out Reconciliation 52-51
Members of Synod were invited to come to the floor mics and offer observations and opinions on the Priorities chosen and that continued until the Resolutions segment of Synod which closed out the business portion of Synod.
Synod concluded with Closing Prayers and Bishop John’s blessing on all those elected, acclaimed, and appointed to positions of responsibility in the Diocese of New Westminster.
And where would the Diocese of New Westminster be without volunteers. Jane Dittrich, ODNW was happy to assemble an All-Star team of folks to work the Registration Tables and also fill in where needed, showing up both days at 7:15am. A few of these helpers were Synod Delegates... however... Along with Jane, many thanks to:
- Kate Walker, ODNW
- Vera Morgan, ODNW
- Anne Fletcher
- Linda Moore
- Elaine Renforth, ODNW
- Judith Pike
- Sharon Grove, ODNW (credentials registration & various help over the two days)
- Andrea Gailus
- Meg Stevens
- Margaret Briscall, ODNW
- Peter Roulston
- Richard Sulkers
- Deirdre Thornton
The current Members of Synod registered for the 122nd will continue in their roles until the next Synod, the 123rd which will convene the Friday and Saturday of the week in May either before or after the May long weekend.
Synod Video Links
Four parishes were featured in the Reverend Joyce Parry-Moore’s two brief reports to Synod on Day One and Two. The Reverend Parry-Moore is the recently appointed Minister for Climate Justice on Synod staff, and she is also the new Vicar of the Parish of St. Aidan and Bartholomew (St. Bart’s), Gibsons. The four parishes profiled are all parishes that had successfully applied for diocesan grants to move ahead with projects that address the Climate Crisis. Please follow the links to view the videos on the diocesan YouTube channel.
- Restoring Nature at the Parish of St. David’s, Tsawwassen
- Relieving the Climate Crisis One Flush at a Time in Squamish
- Herbal Plant Boxes and Rain Barrels at St. Michael’s, Multicultural
- Awash in Rainwater – St. Hilda’s, Sechelt’s Climate Emergency Response (And apologies to St. Hilda’s Christine Pawley who is incorrectly identified as ‘Christina’ on the screen at the beginning of the video)
Here is a link to a YouTube video consisting of images summarizing the ministry of the Mission to Seafarer’s and Senior Port Chaplain, the Reverend Peter Smyth and his team. The program report took place mid-afternoon of Day One, and following some introductory remarks, the Reverend Peter Smyth turned the mic over to Prince Camota, who came to Vancouver in December 2021, from the Philippines having worked as a seafarer for 5-6 years as an OS- Ordinary Seaman and AB- Able Bodied Seafarer on bulk ships. He has a brother in Vancouver and as is the case with some seafarers from the Philippines, he is looking for better opportunities. Prince is presently studying and hopes to work in the marine sector. His story of life at sea as a crewmember was compelling and many Members of Synod were moved by his words.
Here is a link to the care+share promotional video which introduced the Reverend Tellison Glover’s report and the moving of the resolution to establish the care+share recipients for 2024-2025. This proved to be the fourth resolution of Synod and specifically directs the relevant Synod office staff in collaboration with diocesan ordained and lay leadership (archdeacons, regional deans) to determine where the donations will be directed based on regional needs. This is a process amendment to the 2021 model for care+share disbursements to several parish compassionate food service ministries that ultimately created the "Feed My Sheep" two year initiative.
The Motion was CARRIED.
IMAGES
- Bishop John Stephens preaching during the Opening Eucharist, Day One of Synod, May 12, 2023
- Bishop’s eye-view of the Synod Hall (the Italian Cultural Centre Ballroom) at 6:45am on Day One, May 12
- Signage directing folks to the Hall
- The Procession is assembled for the Opening Eucharist
- Nisga'a' Elder, parishioner at St. James', and former Synod staffer, Nii K'an Kwsdins (aka Jerry Adams) is in place to offer the Territorial Acknowledgement before the opening announcements and Procession in for worship.
- The Venerable Peggy Trendell-Jensen, Archdeacon for Deacons proclaims the Gospel
- Bishop John preaching
- Ten of the eleven Regional Deans are installed
- Chair of Nominations, Kerry Baisley, ODNW and the Venerable Philippa Pride take a look at where nominations are progressing halfway through the first morning of Synod. Kerry Baisley had his work cut out for him sourcing candidates for the 65 elected positions.
- The Chancellor, George Cadman, KC, ODNW, AAM provides context for the Constitution of Synod.
- Archdeacon Philippa with the morning announcements
- Bishop John and Deacon, the Reverend Helen Lingham presented the principal program segment of the morning, "Exploring Priorities"."
- Exploring Priorities" table discussion
- Day One Lunch Buffet
- The Reverend Joyce Parry-Moore reporting in her role as Minister for Climate Justice on Synod staff. Mtr Joyce is also Vicar of St. Aidan and St. Bartholomew, Gibsons. Mtr. Joyce was elected as the Capilano Clergy rep. to Diocesan Council for 2023-2025.
- Vicki Potter, ODNW is Co-Chair of the Housing Affordability and Homelessness Task Force and a member of he Parish of St. John, Shaughnessy. Vicki presented the Task Force report at Synod.
- Prince Camota's address to Synod was a major component of the Mission to Seafarer's Synod Ministry Report
- Treasurer, Bob Hardy presents the Audited Financial Statements for 2022.
- Vice-Chancellor, Kevin Smith, ODNW briefs Synod on the rules regarding 'Resolutions'.
- The Reverend Simbarashe Basvi, Rector of St. David, Tsawwassen, Co-chair of the Housing Affordability and Homelessness Task Force and recently elected Diocesan Council member (Clergy Rep for Fraser Archdeaconry)
- A major focus of Day Two is Identifying Diocese Priorities. The newsprint sheets will display members of Synod's responses to the priorities that were explored on Day One
- Super Synod Staff members, Elias J Neto and the Reverend Alecia Greenfield have the "priority" stations up and the ballot boxes ready by 7:30am.
- Early on Day 2 a Member of Synod checks out Spiritual Development one of the 13 proposed diocesan priorities
- The Reverend Monte Tugwete, Assistant Curate at Holy Trinity, Cathedral and St. Stephen the Martyr, Burnaby pops a ballot in the box for the first time in his ordained career.
- The Reverend Paul Woehrle, Chair of the Property Development Group leads Synod through the presentation.
- Director for Mission and Ministry of the Diocese of New Westminster, the Reverend Tellison Glover presents the resolution that will see the diocesan flow-through giving initiative care+share continue to direct money to compassionate food service ministries of the diocese but with some process changes involving collaboration with ordianed and lay diocesan leaders.
- Christ Church Cathedral lay member of Synod, Irene Pang offers some insights on the Property Development report.
- The Reverend Helen Lingham
- A south facing view of Chaplain Bryan Rivers’s report.
- The Reverend Rob James, Associate Professor, Anglican Formation and Studies at VST offers a report.
- Lunch with the bishop. The tradition is that on Day 2, Youth and Youth leaders with the bishop fill their plates and retire to another room to have lunch and talk before Synod reconvenes for the final afternoon session
- Day 2 Lunch Buffet
- Time to raise a little dough. The Chancellor becomes the auctioneer with the goal of selling 6 decorative orchids for as much as possible. Proceeds to be directed to Street Outreach Ministry (SOI) at St. James.
- SOLD!
- Treasurer Bob Hardy leads Synod through the 2023 Budget and the 2024 and 2025 Vision Budgets.
- Identifying Priorities table session Day 2
- The Reverend Adam Yates, Rector of St Faith, Vancouver gives the ‘Vote of Thanks’
- The newly elected, appointed and acclaimed stand for the Bishop’s Blessing during the Closing Prayers of Synod
- The Episcopal Blessing. Adjournment followed. Next regular Synod, May 10&11 or May 24&25, 2025
Photos: Wayne Chose and Randy Murray