To Seek the Mind of Christ Together
by Bishop John E. Privett
Dear Friends,
In January I issued the formal call for our Diocesan Synod to gather in Kelowna on the long weekend in May. The decision to hold our biennial formal meeting of the Diocese on that weekend was to allow delegates to travel without having to take undue time away from work or other responsibilities. A planning committee chaired by Canon Michael Karabelas is well into the detailed work of preparing for our gathering and parish Annual General Meetings will have elected delegates who will attend this year's Synod.
The word "synod" comes from a Greek word which means "a coming together." Related words are translated as "a journey in company," or "to see together." The Synod meeting will certainly be filled with routine business, but it is an opportunity for us to come together as a diocese to celebrate our faith, to look to the future together, and to make decisions that will make a difference in the life of our congregations and the communities in which we live and serve.
The Synod in May will be an important one. The theme is "Stewards of God's Mission" and we will be considering the ways in which we as individuals, congregations and diocese participate in God's mission in the world. We will have an opportunity to hear gifted speakers and see reports of the work of our diocese since our last Synod. We will discuss the blessing of same-sex unions for the first time as a diocese and delegates will have an opportunity to express their understanding of God's will for us in this matter. We will review some changes proposed in the way we determine and choose delegates to Synod, and the way congregations are defined and organized. And through it all we will worship, study, pray and enjoy a time with members of other churches around the diocese. Parish delegates of course will be at the forefront of our time together but decisions made at this Synod will set important directions for all of us in the coming years.
As we prepare for our Synod can I make two suggestions? Although very few of you who read this column will be present at Synod as either delegates or guests, there are ways to participate which are important. First of all, please remember the Synod in your prayers especially the Planning Team and their work, the delegates who are preparing to come, and the Synod staff and volunteers. Secondly, our delegates are elected to vote, not on behalf of your congregation, but according to their own faithful understanding of God’s will for us. However, they do not do that in a vacuum. They study, pray and discuss the opportunities and challenges with other delegates and they will want to know your thoughts about the life of our Church and the issues before Synod. I hope you will seek out your parish delegates to share your reflections and convictions and to hear their thoughts as well. Your incumbent and other clergy will be present and they too would be glad to discuss any matters before Synod with you.
In my view, the gathering of the Diocese in Synod is not simply another business meeting that we need to endure and finance. It is a sacred gathering — a coming together of a great variety of disciples who are the Body of Christ and who, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, together seek to discern the mind of Christ for our Church in this time and place.
Faithfully, +John
