Synod Gathers to Consider New Directions

by The Reverend Canon Bill Mous, Secretary of Synod 

Drawn from Psalm 96 and chosen by Bishop Susan Bell, the theme for the 145th synod of our diocese reflects a focus on renewal and our work towards a new mission action plan.

Each fall, our annual synod brings us together as a diocesan family for the building up of our Church through discernment and decision-making, sharing and learning, relationship-building and worship. Close to 300 members, guests, and displayers will gather together over the course of two days on November 8 and 9. As Anglicans, we are episcopally-led and synodically-governed and synod creates the sacred space for both aspects of our polity to be lived out.

One of the exciting components of our synod this year will be an engaging and much-anticipated presentation by our Mission Action Plan leadership committee. They have been faithfully gathering hopes and dreams for our diocese alongside environmental scan reports, community interviews and organizational data. The key themes arising from their prayerful work of discernment will be shared with members of synod; themes which will ultimately guide the development of a new diocesan mission statement as well as our first-ever mission action plan.

The agenda committee has been hard at work in recent months to weave this and the many other components of synod together into a spiritually invigorating experience. Members of synod will share in the joy of some of our exciting ministries, consider several changes to our diocesan canons, including a new canon that will foster new missional endeavours, elect regional representatives to synod council, and approve our diocesan budget for 2020. 

In addition to a charge by our bishop, we are delighted to welcome the Right Reverend William Cliff, Bishop of Brandon, as our featured synod speaker. Bishop Cliff is a pastor, musician, and liturgist who has served in the dioceses of Huron and Brandon and is well known in our diocese as a member of the group “The Three Cantors.”

Consistent with our theme, synod will take place at a new venue this year, the Lincoln Alexander Centre in downtown Hamilton, which will allow greater flexibility for breakout space and partner displays, offer delegates a comfortable experience, and keep our meeting costs reasonable. 

The full and complete convening circular will be posted on our synod webpage. You can also follow all the happenings from the floor of synod as it happens through our diocesan Facebook and Twitter accounts. 

Please uphold the work of our synod and its members in your prayers as we strive to sing a new song through our many ministries, empowered by the Spirit working through us.