In my February column I indicated that I hoped to keep Kootenay members of the ACC apprised of matters that are the business of General Synod, notwithstanding the fact that COGS will not meet until May. However important intercurrent developments are happening in the life of our church.
New Working Groups
In March the Office of the General Secretary organized three working groups meeting in conjunction with the Planning and Agenda Team of COGS (of which Bishop John is a member). These include the Strategic Planning Process Group, the Primatial Task Force, and the Governance Working Group. I will report on updates in another column. However, broadly speaking, these groups are formed to plan for the future Mission of the Anglican Church of Canada, to examine and improve, if necessary, the roles of the Primate and the Office, and to consider improvements to the governance of the Anglican Church of Canada in terms of effectiveness and efficiency. Each of these groups will meet before the COGS meetings to bring to the agendas the progress of their work. Ultimately COGS will bring to the General Synod in Halifax issues from these groups for decisions and actions. I have been appointed to the Governance Working Group, so my particular interest in how we govern our Church may well bias my future reports! As you know this Group continues the excellent work of the committee chaired by our former Metropolitan, the Most Reverend David Crawley. I regret that there was not more attention paid to their Report to General Synod in June 2007, including a very professional information video. I hope the current GWG will further what that group so ably began.
The Covenant Agreement of the Anglican Communion
Following endorsement at the Diocesan Council in December a report from the Diocese of Kootenay Anglican Covenant Response Group went to the Anglican Communion Working Group of Faith, Worship, and Ministry (a Standing Committee of GS). I was very proud of the scholarly theology and ecclesiology that was produced on your behalf and I am sure it contributed enormously to the quality of the Canadian input to the Covenant Design Group of the worldwide Anglican Communion. You see it is possible for your ideas to get to the top!
In early February a new covenant document was produced and is known as the St. Andrew’s Draft. A good friend of Kootenay, Dr. Eileen Scully of Toronto, has also been appointed to the CDG so Canada has a seat at the table. The St. Andrew’s Draft will go to Lambeth for full discussion; there is still much to be settled however it is a singular improvement on the Nassau Draft and contains much clearer dispute resolution processes in its appendices.
A Church Facing Schism
The growing importance of an agreed Anglican Communion Covenant is critical at this time in the life of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Some people already believe it will be impossible to formulate a Covenant but I believe that God will lead us to where we should go to further His Kingdom on this earth. We must continue to pray for our Bishops and leaders.
Of course we don’t have to go to international forums to experience schism as the Anglican Church of Canada recognizes there are members expressing a desire to leave the Church. That is very disheartening to all, and certainly the members of COGS view it with great concern. However I am convinced that at the end of all the controversy there will still be an Anglican Church of Canada faithful to the Gospel and teaching each of us how to honour God in our daily lives.
Blessings and Peace to you all.
by Randall Fairey
