“Generation to Generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus,” is a familiar phrase to many Anglicans in our diocese, and it will serve well as the theme for the 152nd Synod of the Diocese of Niagara.
Inspired by the letter to the Ephesians and the words of our doxology, Bishop Susan has chosen this compelling and visionary theme to highlight the importance of passing the faith we have in Jesus from one generation to the next. The synod will have a particular focus, drawn from our Mission Action Plan, on ministry with children, youth and young adults, to highlight how our Church is engaging in this missional aspiration in faithful, creative, and inspiring ways.
Our annual diocesan synod will take place on Saturday, November 7, 2026, returning to the familiar and hospitable Burlington Convention Centre, following our recent pattern of alternating between meeting virtually and in-person for Synod.
With voices united through song and prayer, we will begin Synod with the celebration of the Eucharist. This opening worship service will include the bishop’s charge to members, reflecting on the theme and casting a vision for our diocese in the coming year. Members of Synod will also hear how, through our diocesan Mission Action Plan (MAP), we are fostering opportunities to ignite faith, strengthening our missional culture, and prioritizing God’s way of social and environmental justice.
Shaped by Word and sacrament and guided by our MAP, more than 200 Anglicans from Oakville to Dunnville and all points in between will seek, over the course of the one-day Synod, to build up God’s Church in our diocese through prayer, story-sharing, relationship-building, discernment, and decision-making.
Kristen Jackson-Dockeray, the diocese’s children, youth, and family missional coordinator, will share a featured presentation with Synod, highlighting our theme while introducing her ministry and the ways she is helping to equip parishes and missions. Synod will also be blessed with an opportunity to hear from both Alongside Hope, our Anglican relief and development agency, and the Anglican Foundation of Canada and engage with their staff members during the breaks throughout the day.
In terms of the business coming before members, the 2027 budget will cast a vision for God’s renewed mission as we move from recovery to renewed financial stability. We’ll also receive the 2025 auditor’s report, appoint auditors for the present fiscal year, and consider a few changes to the canons.
This year, our Synod will also elect representatives for the upcoming Provincial Synod, which will be held in Kingston, Ontario, in the fall of 2027. The election of regional representatives to Synod Council is also on the agenda. Both elections will be conducted using an online voting platform.
All the reports and resolutions for the Synod will be posted at https://niagaraanglican.ca/synod/synod-2026.
In the coming weeks, please also hold the members of Synod in your prayers as they discern how best to engage with matters on our agenda, seeking in all things to faithfully equip our diocese to pass the faith of Jesus Christ which we have inherited from generation to generation.
Archdeacon Bill Mous serves as the Executive Officer and Secretary of Synod.
The Harvest is Plentiful