Diocesan Council reviews unfinished business in preparation for Synod 2009

by Ana Watts

At its meeting in May and in preparation for Synod 2009, Diocesan Council reviewed unfinished business assigned to it by Synod 2007. Archdeacon Geoffrey Hall, secretary of synod as well as executive assistant to the bishop listed the unfinished items for council. A code of pastoral conduct, and the “brutally honest” conversation on issues of marriage and sexuality promised by the bishop, are among the items that require more work. The May meeting of Diocesan Council held at St. Martin’s in the Woods, Shediac Cape, was the last before Synod 2009 next month in Saint John.

Former diocesan chancellor Beverley Smith developed a pastoral code of conduct at the behest of then Bishop Bill Hockin. They envisioned it as a written form of guidance for clergy in their work and their lives, a tool to measure conduct, and a teaching tool for those studying for Holy Orders. Clergy had serious concerns about the first draft of the document and it has been revised several times since, most recently by a clergy working-group.

Present diocesan chancellor Clyde Spinney told Diocesan Council that he met recently met with the clergy working-group to review the latest draft, but he found it unacceptable as a code. He said it lacks the necessary standards to be supported by a canon (church law). The clergy and the chancellor agreed to a compromise. The document, with a changed form but the same substance, will be included in the bishop’s pastoral guidelines. The changes in format, however, will not be complete in time to present the document to next month’s synod.

“The human sexuality conversation is lacking since the last synod,” admitted Bishop Claude Miller, citing time and information constraints among the reasons. “But now I am aware of better resources so all we need are a time and place for that conversation to happen.”

He gave Diocesan Council members a Council of General Synod (CoGS) document prepared at its May 2009 meeting that provides access to several documents related to the issue:
• The Galilee Report of the Primate’s Theological Commission, which reflects the diversity of opinion and lack of consensus in the Anglican Church of Canada about whether ‘the blessing of same-sex unions is a faithful, Spirit-led development of Christian doctrine.
• A flexible framework for the study of human sexuality developed by the national church Faith Worship and Ministry Committee (FWMC).
• The Rothesay Report, a theological rationale for changes to the marriage canon to allow for the marriage of all legally qualified same sex couples. CoGS asked FWMC to include a broader spectrum of theological thought in its next draft. (This report was prepared when the Faith, Worship and Ministry committee met at Villa Madonna in Rothesay earlier this year.)
• The House of Bishops 2007 Guidelines on Pastoral Generosity (as a pastoral response within the context of local mission).

CoGS also asked Canadian dioceses with Companion Dioceses in Africa and Brazil to talk with their companions about the same-sex issue, as part of the learning process.

“We’re in the same place as most of the rest of the church,” said Bishop Miller.

At its meetings earlier this month, CoGS announced it does not feel prepared to ask General Synod to amend the marriage canon to allow for the marriage of same-sex couples at its 2010 meeting.

Notices of motion relating to same-sex blessings, however, are included in the Convening Circular of our 2009 Diocesan Synod. (address)

Diocesan Communications
19 May 2009