White Paper for Diocesan Reorganization and Restructuring Meeting in Burrard

The morning opened with a spirited refreshment session in the StMStL Parish Hall attended by most participants. The recently installed Incumbent of St. Matthias – St. Luke, The Reverend Vivian Lam took a few minutes following Archdeacon Ellen Clark-King’s welcome to inform the group that there will be a concert produced at StMStL on the evening of November 9th , War and Peace, opera music for Remembrance Day.
Worship followed in the sanctuary presided over by Regional Dean, The Reverend Markus Duenzkofer of St. Paul’s, Vancouver
After the 20 minute liturgy, The Reverend Marnie Peterson, MAP Associate from the Synod Office assumed the role of facilitator for the morning session.
Marnie went through the process for the meeting, informing those in attendance that they would be forming smaller groups of 6-8 and in those groups they would read through the White Paper document and answer these questions:


What Can’t we affirm or what amendment would we offer?

What is missing?

The plenary split up into three groups and spent the next 90 minutes in consultation.
At 11:45am, the group gathered in the sanctuary and Marnie asked the plenary how they felt the process worked.
The group was very interested in where and when the results of these discussions will be reported and more questions about a timeline for implementation should these recommendations for reorganization and restructuring take the form of successful Synod resolutions.
The three recorders of the discussions reported back and in general the reorganization and restructuring suggestions in the White Paper were affirmed.
More reference to mission within the restructuring context would be appreciated by some participants.
A similar meeting was held in Westminster Archdeaconry at St. Catherine’s, Port Coquitlam. A comprehensive article covering all five meetings will appear in the January, 2013 issue of the diocesan publication, TOPIC.

The next two meetings are the final meetings scheduled and they will take place at St. Stephen’s, West Vancouver 10am to 1pm and St. Philip, Dunbar, 9:30am – 12pm.
Copies of the White Paper will be distributed at the sessions and the content to be discussed will be read and studied during the small group discussions.
If you would like an advance copy of the White Paper please contact your Rector or Priest-in-Charge or email Randy Murray.

Images: Top and homepage, a table group studies the White Paper. Middle Left, Facilitator, The Reverend Marnie Peterson.