The Diocese of Toronto’s 163rd Regular Session of Synod was held Nov. 7-8 at the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North hotel in Richmond Hill. The theme was “Chosen to tell the good story.” (Act 16:10 First Nation Version) Here are some of the highlights. For more information about Synod, including the Convening Circular and other documents, visit the Synod page of the diocese’s website, www.toronto.anglican.ca.
DAY 1
Synod starts with Eucharist, Charge
Synod started with a worship service that included a land acknowledgement and the Bishop’s Charge. In his Charge, Bishop Andrew Asbil spoke about the diocese being on a pilgrimage since the COVID-19 pandemic. Inspired by John 21 and the Cast the Net visioning process, the diocese and parishes are engaging with the 20 Calls, which were unanimously endorsed by Synod in 2023. Bishop Asbil gave examples of how the calls are being lived out. Initiatives include the Season of Creation’s 40 workshops and five Lift Up Our Hearts services; St. George, Grafton providing food and funding to a Habitat for Humanity build; St. Stephen in-the-Field, Toronto supporting the homeless; the diocese hiring a DEI advisor; hybrid ministry; and regionalization. He thanked the clergy and deacons, Synod Office staff, the chancellor and his wife Mary. “My love for you grows day by day,” he told them.
Honorary secretaries announced
The honorary secretaries for Synod were the Rev. Canon Lisa Newland (honorary clerical secretary), Constance Kendall, ODT (honorary lay secretary) and the Rev. Jason Prisley (assistant honorary clerical secretary).
Sponsors thanked
The honorary secretaries thanked the sponsors of Synod, which included The Anglican Diocese of Toronto Foundation, Ecclesiastical Insurance, M&M International, Plan to Protect, Trinity College and Wycliffe College. The sponsors helped to offset the costs of Synod.
New platform explained
JP Copeland from Data on the Spot walked Synod members through Synod’s new information and voting platform, a website allowing Synod members to vote, view documents, see the Synod schedule, enjoy Call and Response Moments and more.
Consent Agenda approved
Synod approved the Consent Agenda for the 163rd Regular Session of Synod. It included several non-controversial items that are grouped together. It can be found in Section A of the Convening Circular.
Synod Council reports
The honorary secretaries presented Synod Council’s Report to Synod. The report outlines the work done by Synod Council between Synods. It covers activities from July 2023 to June 2025. During that time, the Synod Council had 17 meetings, including one in-person meeting and eight email polls. Highlights of the council’s work included: the Cast the Net Working Group has completed its mandate and a new group, the Netminders, has been formed to tend to Cast the Net’s vision and its 20 Calls; the Areas and Area Council Working Group continues its work and will make a presentation at this at Synod; Synod Council continued to do its work between Synods – approving Cast and Learn grants, MAF grants and Stretch grants, and continuing to work with the Human Resources, Finance, Risk and Governance and Property committees as they support ministry in the Diocese. The full report can be found in Section B of the Convening Circular.
Synod thanks bishop
Archdeacon Cheryl Palmer, speaking on behalf of Synod members, thanked Bishop Asbil for his leadership. Bishop Asbil is now in the eighth year of his episcopacy. “Our love for you increases day by day,” she said. Synod gave Bishop Asbil a standing ovation.
Ministry responds to calls
After lunch, Synod enjoyed a Call and Response Moment, which showed how churches and groups in the diocese are responding to Cast the Net’s 20 Calls. In this moment, Synod members watched a video about the Durham Region Migrant Workers Ministry.
Reconciliation Land Tithe extended
Synod approved Motion #2, which commits to a continuation of the Reconciliation Land Tithe through Synod 2027. The motion read as follows: “It is moved and seconded that, whereas the Diocese of Toronto is committed to upholding our sacred obligations to reconciliation, we commit to a continuation of the Reconciliation Land Tithe through Synod 2027. With the oversight of the Reconciliation Land Tithe Committee and Synod Council, we will continue to commit the balance of the MAF (Ministry Allocation Fund) tithe (on a rolling basis) for the purpose of Indigenous-led initiatives. The extension of Motion 12 (approved by Synod in 2021) from 2026 forward to 2027 will support Synod Council and the Reconciliation Land Tithe Committee so that, in 2027, a new motion may be presented that embeds permanent funding for reconciliation with Indigenous peoples into the life of our Church.”
The Rev. Samantha Caravan and the Rev. Leigh Kern of the Reconciliation Land Tithe Committee spoke about the work of the committee and the funds that have been distributed to date. They said the tithe is part of a commitment to address the Church’s historic privilege and the imbalance of power. It is a practical expression of restitution for land dispossession and redistribution of wealth, and an expression of a deeper movement for recognizing Indigenous sovereignty and repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery, they said. Their presentation included a powerful video about the Residential Schools and the devastation they caused to Indigenous children and their families.
Church responds to calls
During the second Call and Response Moment, Synod watched a video about Trinity East (Little Trinity) and its Good Food Market, which reflected Calls 4, 5 and 13 of Cast the Net’s 20 Calls.
Members’ Time raises issues
During a 30-minute Members’ Time, Synod members spoke about many issues, including: personal tithing to Indigenous-led initiatives as a way of reconciliation; affordable housing; creation care and the Communion Forest movement; retired clergy voting at Synod; Anglican, Lutheran and Moravian collaboration; regional ministry; COP 30 and climate change; General Synod’s motion on an arms embargo on Israel; refugees; a book on theology and AI; youth speaking about their faith; the sacredness of the Eucharist; churches that attract young people; learn about Israel and Palestine before writing to political leaders.
Brasilia brings greetings
Bishop Mauricio Andrade brought greetings in a video from the Diocese of Brasilia, which is the companion diocese of the Diocese of Toronto. The companionship is now in its second year and will continue until 2031. Before the video, the Rev. Pam Trondson of the Diocese of Toronto spoke about the companionship, which has included monthly online meetings, in-person visits, an online theology day and a priest from Basilia giving the keynote address at the Diocese of Toronto’s outreach and advocacy conference in October. Future initiatives will include a visit by people of the Diocese of Toronto to Brasilia in the summer of 2026.
Season of Spiritual Renewal presented
The Rev. Canon Philip Der and the Rev. Canon Jennifer Schick gave a presentation about the Season of Spiritual Renewal, which is Call 1 of Cast the Net’s 20 Calls. Their presentation included prayers for spiritual renewal and a video clip showing the Rev. Canon Stephanie Douglas talking about the season’s helpful resources. The season, which officially concludes in January, focused on prayer, scripture, worship and evangelism. The season featured 40 workshops, booklets and other resources and five special worship services, which attracted about 1,600 people. The season has provided hope and inspiration to Anglicans in the diocese, they said. They thanked the Rev. Canon Dr. Judy Paulsen, Jacqui Hance, Bishop Asbil and Canon Mary Conliffe for their efforts.
Synod hears about the Netminders
The Rev. Canon Pamela Rayment, the Rev. Yohan Dumpala and Deborah Whalen-Blaize spoke about the work of the Netminders, a group of clergy, laity and Synod Office staff who have been brought together to tend to Cast the Net and its 20 Calls. The Cast the Net visioning process, which was held from 2022-2024, included consultations with more than 1,000 participants and resulted in the new vision statement for the diocese – “Followers of Jesus, inspired by the Holy Spirit, serve the world God loves!” – and 20 calls to action. The vision and the 20 Calls were unanimously endorsed by Synod in 2023. The calls are grouped into four areas – renewing spirituality, inspiring faith in action, transforming diocesan culture, and reimagining ministry – and at the centre of them is the Good News of Jesus Christ. In a 2025 pastoral letter to vestries, the bishops encouraged parishes to engage with a call or two. To help with this, the Netminders created resources, including a discussion guide, a poster and a video, all of which are available on the Cast the Net page of the diocese’s website, www.toronto.anglican.ca. After Synod, the Netminders will continue to support and encourage engagement with the calls. “We will amplify, celebrate and share the story of how living the calls is helping us to tell the good story, which is the ongoing work of those learning to follow Jesus,” said Canon Rayment.
Breakout sessions focus on 20 Calls
After the Netminders presentation, Synod members went into 50-minute breakout groups to talk about the calls and what their parishes were doing. Most of the sessions dealt with more than one call. The hope was to begin conversations across the diocese about the calls. Highlights from these gatherings will inform the Netminders as they focus on efforts moving forward.
Primate addresses Synod
After a banquet dinner, Synod resumed with Archbishop Shane Parker, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, as the guest speaker. Quoting from Prof. Henry Chadwick, a New Testament scholar at Cambridge University, he said the Church was like a stained-glass window. “A stained-glass window reflects the light, reflects the goodness of the gospel, the love and compassion and gentleness and mercy and courage and justice of God,” he said. “But in this world, the same glass that is the stuff of the Church needs to be held by oak and iron, otherwise it will just fall to the ground.”
Archbishop Parker said the diocese’s Cast the Net vision has a good balance between addressing the oak and the iron – the structure, canon law, programs and good order of the Church – and allowing the stained glass of spirituality and justice to shine.
He congratulated Synod members on the vision and 20 calls. “You recognized that you have to pay attention to the stained glass, but you also have to look at the oak and iron which supports it,” he said. “You have to look at property and structures and the way parishes are configured and where ministry is happening – all of those things that support the stained glass.”
Bishop names new canons
The following were made honorary canons of St. James Cathedral by Bishop Asbil. They will be installed on Jan. 11 at St. James Cathedral.
- The Rev. Canon Dr. Christopher Brittain, Dean of Divinity at Trinity College
- The Rev. Canon Kenute Francis, St. Hilda, Fairbank
- The Rev. Canon Daniel Graves, Trinity Church, Aurora and St. James the Apostle, Sharon
- The Rev. Canon Dr. Robert Hurkmans, Trinity, Streetsville
- The Rev. Canon Dr. Isaac Kawuki-Mukasa, St. James the Apostle, Brampton
- The Rev. Canon Dr. Patrick McManus, All Saints, Kingsway
- The Rev. Canon Julie Meakin, Holy Family, Heart Lake (Brampton)
- The Rev. Canon Pamela Rayment, St. Clement, Eglinton
- The Rev. Canon Jennifer Schick, All Saints, Whitby
- Major The Rev. Canon Bradley Smith, St. John the Evangelist, Peterborough
- The Rev. Canon Susan Spicer, St. John, Ida and St. Luke, Peterborough
- The Rev. Canon Michael Van Dusen, St. Aidan, Toronto
- Canon Sister Elizabeth Rolfe-Thomas, Sisterhood of St. John the Divine
DAY 2
Synod resumes
Synod resumed on Nov. 8 with a pre-recorded musical reflection from St. James, Orillia and Morning Prayer led by the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine. Cdr. (Ret.) the Rev. Carol Bateman and Major (Ret.) the Rev. Murray Bateman led an Act of Remembrance. Today was Indigenous Veterans Day. The ceremony included the laying of a Remembrance wreath.
Support for Jamaica on way
Bishop Asbil spoke about the devastation caused by the hurricane that hit Jamaica in late October. He said the diocese will work with Alongside Hope and other agencies to provide help, and he encouraged parishes to assist as well. “Please keep the people of Jamaica in your prayers,” he said.
Areas and Area Council Working Group reports
The Rev. Canon Jesse Parker and the Rev. Canon Rob Mitchell spoke about the work of the Areas and Area Councils Working Group. Their full report is in Section G of the Convening Circular. The group was formed in 2023 to look at the diocese’s former episcopal area structure, which included area bishops and area councils, and to juxtapose that with the new episcopal leadership model, which includes territorial archdeaconries, and to make recommendations based on those changes.
After widespread consultation, the Areas and Area Councils Working Group recommended the following changes:
- That the diocese not seek to replace the area councils with another analogous structure, such as an archdeaconry council or a deanery council.
- That each of the bishops be provided with a budget to fund parish-based ministry projects that do not meet the requirements of existing grants. The total amount of money would be $54,000 per year. To facilitate the administration of these grants, the regional deans would work with parishes that are applying to ensure that their requests are aligned with the goals of the grants.
- That the Faithworks funds that each area council could spend on outreach-related ministries in their areas be put back into the overall FaithWorks budget.
- Create a discretionary budget for regional deans of $2,000 per year to use at their discretion to foster collegiality among clergy and to promote ministry and collaboration within their deanery.
- Look at the deaneries as the hubs or the engines of local collaborative ministry. They will be asked to develop collaborative ministry plans and goals that suit the context of their deanery.
- That the regional deans have a job description.
Following a period of implementation, which would begin in January 2026, the recommendations would be evaluated in the early spring of 2027 at a meeting of the bishops, archdeacons, canon administrator and the regional deans. The recommendations would have had about a year and a half at that point to have been lived into, and there would be a chance to decide how it’s going and what further changes need to be made. Then at the next regular session of Synod, in 2027, the working group would ask Synod to consider striking Canons 43 and 44 – those having to do with episcopal areas, area bishops and area councils – from the canons, and also that Synod revise Canon 20 (on regional deans) to reflect a more robust job description.
At the end of their presentation, it was moved that Synod approve the resuspension of Canons 43 and 44 until the next Regular Session of Synod, as they relate to areas and area council, as recommended for approval by Synod Council and presented in the Convening Circular. The motion was approved.
FaithWorks turning 30
FaithWorks, the diocese’s annual outreach appeal, is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026. A video showed the work of FaithWorks and interviews with people who are helped by it, agencies that rely on FaithWorks funds, and donors. Since its inception, the appeal has raised more than $40 million.
Priorities and plans approved with amendment
The diocese’s executive director, Varun Balendra, and senior accountant, Rebecca Scott, presented the diocese’s priorities and plans for 2025 to 2027 and the financial budget. The document Priorities and Plans 2025 to 2027 is in Section D of the Convening Circular, with addendums in the Supplementary Convening Circular. The Priorities and Plans 2025 to 2027 document outlines what the diocese will do over the next two years to help the diocese and the parishes live out the Cast the Net vision and the 20 Calls. The work will focus on the four areas of the vision: renewing spirituality, inspiring faith in action, reimagining ministry and transforming diocesan culture. The diocese is projecting income of roughly $10.2 million for both 2026 and 2027. That’s an increase of about $1.4 million compared to the 2024 actuals. On the expense side, the diocese is budgeting $9.9 million for 2026 and $10.2 million for 2027, which represents increases of $1.4 million and $1.7 million respectively over 2024. Overall, this gives the diocese a slight surplus in 2026 and a balanced budget in 2027. Based on the diocese’s current financials, it’s unlikely there will be a deficit in 2025.
There was a motion to amend the Priorities and Plans 2025-2027 before it was voted on. It was moved by Ellen Briant and seconded by the Rev. Canon Ted McCollum that: “Be it resolved that the Priority and Plan to ‘engage all parishes in a diocesan major gift fundraising campaign’ be deferred until Synod 2027.” The motion to amend was passed, so that the Priorities and Plans 2025-27 and Financial budget motion read: “It is moved and seconded that Synod receive the document entitled Priorities and Plans 2025-27 and approve the priorities and the financial budget contained therein as amended and that Synod Council report back to Synod on this plan.” The motion was approved.
Members’ Time gives voice
Members spoke on a number of issues, including: the Provincial Youth Council; the book Encampment; inviting Muslim leaders to Synod; youth members expressed gratitude for being at Synod; the CLAY (Canadian Lutheran Anglican Youth) gathering this past summer; the Anglican Church Cricket Festival; Ontario’s Bill C-12 regarding refugees and immigrants; response to the Reconciliation Land Tithe; Sabbath leave for clergy; the challenges and potential of rural ministry; mental health support in the Church; and creation care.
Christian nationalism motion referred back
Due to the limited time left at Synod, a motion on Christian nationalism was referred back to Synod Council for a decision. It will be a different Synod Council than the one that forwarded it with its approval to Synod. The motion – Motion #8 – can be found in the Supplementary Convening Circular.
Members elected to Synod Council
The following Synod members were elected to Synod Council, which generally exercises the executive powers of the Synod between sessions except those of a legislative character. The 25-member governance body meets monthly to carry on the work of Synod.
- The Rev. Canon Susan Climo – Holy Spirit of Peace, Mississauga
- The Rev. Yohan Dumpala – Grace Church, Scarborough
- The Rev. Molly Finlay – St. John the Baptist, Norway
- The Very Rev. Dr. Stephen Hance – St. James Cathedral
- The Rev. Canon Mark Regis – St. Mary and St. Martha
- Lawrence Barker – St. Luke, Burnt River
- Sister Elizabeth Ann Eckert – Reverend Mother, St. John’s Convent
- Matthew Neugebauer – St. John the Baptist, Norway
- Susan Schuschu, ODT – St. John, East Orangeville
- Eirene Wee – St. Paul, Bloor Street
- Rae Anne Roberts Perez (youth member)
Members elected to Provincial Synod
The following Synod members were elected to Provincial Synod, which meets and considers matters of interest in the provincial sphere, such as theological education, social issues, government relations, chaplaincies and vocational diaconate ministries:
- The Rev. Dana Dickson – Trinity Church, Bradford
- The Rev. Canon Sister Constance Joanna Gefvert, SSJD
- The Very Rev. Dr. Stephen Hance – St. James Cathedral
- The Rev. Lucia Lloyd – St. John, Bowmanville
- (Substitutes were the Rev. Graham McCaffrey of St. Dunstan of Canterbury and the Rev. Deborah Chapman of St. John the Evangelist, Port Hope)
- Susan Schuschu, ODT – St. John, East Orangeville
- Noah Skinner – St. Michael and All Angels
- Ian Welsman – Trinty East
- Constance Kendall, ODT – St. Stephen, Downsview
- Linus Peasgood (youth member)
- (Substitutes were Lawrence Barker of St. Luke, Burnt River, Finn Keesmaat-Walsh of Redeemer, Bloor St. and Alma Regis, youth member)
Primate reflects
Archbishop Parker reflected on his time at Synod, saying, “When I look at you, I see a diocese that is poised to thrive. You are a resource to the whole Anglican Church of Canada, and you are modelling what churches need to do – positioning yourself as the light of Christ.” He described the Synod as “an amazing gathering” and noted the great diversity of its membership. He encouraged the diocese in its work over the coming years. “You are Christ’s own forever, and all shall be well.”
Bishop Asbil reflects
Bishop Asbil thanked the Rev. Canon Lisa Newland and presented her with a gift, as she was stepping down as honorary clerical secretary of Synod, a position she has held since 2021. Constance Kendall, ODT, and the Rev. Jason Prisley, honorary clerical secretary, were elected for the ensuing two-year term. In his closing remarks, he said, “We leave this Synod as a community knitted and woven together in the presence always of a loving God who calls us to take that journey in faith knowing that God will always listen, will always be present, and can always be found. You are such a rich blessing in every community in which you live and move and have your being, and may God bless and keep you. Know the love that I have for you in this diocese, and I know the love that you have for me. I will pray for you; please pray for me. Pray for our bishops; we covet those prayers, Sunday by Sunday, and we will pray for you.” Synod concluded with prayers.
On that first day, everything changes