by Randall Fairey
As we enter the New Year the news from the CoGS meeting of November 14 - 16 is both challenging and exciting. The agenda was very full but time is always made for daily prayer, Bible reading, and Eucharist.
Notwithstanding our weak national economy, the Financial Management and Development Committee presented a deteriorating picture of finances and the clear imperatives to place GS on a much better footing. Too many years of deficit budgets have been tolerated, slowly draining the reserves of the Church and impairing the programs necessary to carry out the Mission of God. A three year deficit reduction plan was accepted, including a resolution that by 2012 the Church may not accept a deficit budget. However for 2009, CoGS passed a budget that has cut $1,300,000 from 2008 levels, with deficits for 2009-2011 of $800,000, $500,000, and $100,000 respectively. Sadly that has entailed staff cuts at Church House, and major program cuts. A light on the horizon however is that CoGS also accepted the Development Plan of the new Department of Philanthropy and its director, Dr. Holland Hendrix. Recognizing that traditional approaches to faithful stewardship simply don’t appear to be working, CoGS is prepared to consider the approaches and language of secular not-for-profit fund-raising. That said, a theology of financial development will be pursued, as stewardship includes recognizing that we gladly give back to God from His generous abundance.
Dean Peter Elliott leads a Vision 2019 Task Force that is asking for feedback from "grass-roots" Anglicans in the Parishes and Dioceses. CoGS endorsed a Canada-wide Lenten Study (or other) on the Five Marks of Mission (see CoGS Wheels December). This is available on-line as a means of telling planners where Canadian Anglicans would like the Church to be in 2019. Additionally, a "Tell Us your Story" project, partly as an inventory of Mission, is to be considered by Pentecost 2009. If these are ignored by parishes and dioceses I am very concerned that not only will we be ignoring the future of our church, but also agendas with which we may be in strong disagreement will come to predominate. We will have no one but ourselves to blame if we don’t like the face of the future Anglican Church of Canada!
The Governance Working Group presented some important initiatives leading to resolutions for General Synod 2010. It is working to create a National Indigenous Ministry that will finally recognize the aspirations of Aboriginal Anglicans for Self-Determination, Authority, and Jurisdiction. Working with the National Indigenous Anglican Bishop, and the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples the GWG has placed before CoGS recommendations to gradually move Area Ministries, Native Programs and Parishes, and future Indigenous Dioceses into the governance of General Synod with the ultimate goal of a new Ecclesiastical Province incorporating terminology and concepts that are uniquely Indigenous.
You may recall the proposed amending resolutions (A021 and A022) from GS 2007. The GWG is recommending that these be withdrawn as there was universally negative reaction to both. However there will be improvements to redundancies in the Handbook.
GWG is proposing that the formula used to determine the number of delegates to GS be changed using average weekly attendance (excluding weddings and funerals) instead of the number of licensed clergy. Consideration will be given to down-sizing the number of delegates although the principle of core representation from every Diocese will be maintained. There was also a proposal to downsize CoGS including the possibility that not all dioceses would necessarily have a delegate. It was emphasized that dioceses do not elect CoGS members (although they provide the pool) and the reporting back to dioceses ranges from none, to written documents.
The budget stresses have meant CoGS may have to cancel a face-to-face meeting in May 2009. Delegates felt strongly enough about the synodical responsibilities of CoGS that dioceses will be approached to pay for a regular meeting. I suggested that delegates might consider paying for their own travel if they are able.
Please pray for our church in the challenging and exciting times ahead.
