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What about Synod?

 

Over the past few weeks, we discussed, in light of the upcoming Synod, the church, the wardens, the Diocesan Executive Council (DEC), General Synod Delegates, and Provincial Synod Delegates, and referred to our Best Practices (found on our diocesan website: go to www.athdio.ca, click on “resources”, click on “Diocesan”, and you can download our Act of Incorporation, our Constitution, our Canons and Regulations, some Guidelines I have put out, and the Diocese of Athabasca Best Practices.

 

All of this is to help you prepare for our upcoming Synod (October 15-18 in Peace River — please contact the Synod Office at dioath@telusplanet.net to register).

 

Why do we have Synod (why do we gather as a diocese)? Synods are important. 

 

Our Act of Incorporation states, "11. All questions relating to the constitution, power, meetings, and proceedings of vestries, the qualifications, term of office, powers and accounts of church warders and such other matters relating to the regulation and management of all or any of the temporalities of the Diocese of Athabasca shall be settled from time to time by the Synod of the Diocese of Athabasca, and the said synod by by-law or canon may, from time to time as it may see fit, repeal, charge, alter, and amend any of its previous provisions.”

 

Our Synod meetings are where we decide how we shall govern ourselves, and what we want our DEC to focus on for the next three years.  

 

At this upcoming Synod, we are welcoming the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, the Most Reverend Shane Parker, who will speak to us Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

On Saturday, we shall have three workshops available, one regarding a New Definition of Mission, a second regarding Being a Healthy Small Church, and a third on Contemplation.

 

All are welcome to come and be part of this, even if they are not voting Synod members.

 

As well, we shall have short presentations on finances and on training, a “state of the nation” address, and voting for membership in DEC, for Provincial Synod Delegates, and General Synod Delegates.

 

Most of all, we shall have sharing.  There will be short presentations from each parish, where we can learn about each other.  There will be opportunities to get to know people from across the diocese.  We shall have an opportunity to worship, and to experience and share the love of Christ, with each other.

 

You are most welcome if you decide to come.

 

All glory be to God;


+David