by Randall Fairey
When you read this, summer will be fading, the second meeting of COGS for the triennium will have long passed (May 22-25), and the Lambeth Conference will have adjourned.
I want to highlight three topics out of many. Firstly, COGS recognized the powerful leadership of our new Primate, Archbishop Fred Hiltz. Less than a year after his election, our Primate has set a torrid pace with visitations to more than two-thirds of our Dioceses; he has been on the international stage, particularly in Cuba and other countries. He functions as the Chairman of the PWRDF. Accompanying Bishop Mark MacDonald, he was a key player in Remembering the Children: the Aboriginal and Church Leaders Tour. Archbishop Hiltz offered opinions to our Prime Minister, and was in the House of Commons on June 11 to hear the apology to our Aboriginal peoples from the Canadian Government. He articulates a clear vision for the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) based on our moving forward in Gospel-inspired Mission, encouraging each of us to fulfill our baptismal vows with energy and integrity.
Secondly, there was important work led by Dean Peter Elliott who chairs the 2019 Vision and Planning Task Group. COGS is being challenged by Dean Elliott to have an important plan ready for General Synod in 2010. Its purpose will be for directing the priorities of the ACC from 2010 - 2019 through three General Synods.
To facilitate this, all parishes across Canada will be offered materials for a Lenten study in 2009, the feedback from which will be used to receive “grass-roots” ideas. As was stated, too often we are a Church that gets discouraged and thinks in terms of survival, rather than growth. Lent 2009 will be an opportunity to focus on the Mission of God - what we as Gospel-inspired people believe God is calling us to be, and to do, in the 21st century. Unlike the Anglicans in Mission program in the 1980s this initiative will solicit input from Canadian Anglicans with an emphasis on discerning Mission, rather than emphasizing finances, or self-preservation. Look forward to this parish-based opportunity in 2009!
A third important matter mandated by General Synod 2007 was the giving of four directions to the Faith, Worship and Ministry Committee concerning (paraphrased) a possible revision of the Marriage Canon including a theological rationale to allow marriage of all “legally qualified persons”:
1. FWM is to consider “legally qualified persons” as including same-sex couples at least one of whom is a baptized Christian.
2. The development of a theological rationale for the marriage of such couples is to precede any proposed changes to the Marriage Canon
3. To report to COGS no later than November 2009
4. If a rationale is developed, to prepare possible draft amendments to the Marriage Canon in time for COGS to bring to General Synod 2010.
COGS also endorsed the FWM’s plan to develop a process by the Sexuality and Ethics Working Group to engage dioceses, parishes and individuals of the ACC to study human sexuality through the lens of scripture, informed and interpreted by reason, tradition, and current science.
Finally, I want to comment on concern expressed at our Diocesan Council that Kootenay sends too much money to National Church, especially when glossy brochures are published, etc. The fact is that Kootenay falls below the average contributions to General Synod quite significantly. In 2008 we are committed to contributing only 1.2 % of the total diocesan giving across Canada, placing us 22nd out of 30 of the dioceses in absolute dollars. We are exceeded by dioceses such as Moosonee, the Arctic, and three Newfoundland dioceses. The problem I believe is closer to home, recognizing our national gift approaches 21% of our total diocesan budget. The answer it seems is quite simple; to reduce this supposed “burden,” we need to be giving significantly more to our Diocese, directly or through our parishes. As partners in our National Church I think we receive much, and perhaps across Kootenay what we really need are several reality “cheques”!
