Archbishop Colin Johnson presented the Sladen Award to Lance Williams and Yvette Langevine of St. Margaret-in-the-Pines, West Hill, Elizabeth McCaffrey of St. Mary Magdalene, Toronto, Charlotte Orser of St. John, York, Mills, Jean Oldershaw of St. Paul, Innisfil, and Laird Moore of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Arthur, Ont.

The award, which recognizes excellence in children’s ministry, was named after the late Kathleen Sladen, a former parishioner of St. John, York Mills who led children’s ministry at the church and wrote several books on the subject.

About 40 people attended the conference, which featured a keynote address by the Rev. Stephanie Douglas-Bowman, the incumbent of Christ Memorial Church in Oshawa and a doctoral student at Wycliffe College. In her address, “Why Your Ministry to Children and Families Matter,” Ms. Douglas-Bowman shared findings from her research and provided practical ideas for children’s ministers and Sunday School teachers to take back to their parishes.

“What I really liked was that Stephanie combined theology with the practical,” said the Rev. Dr. Catherine Keating, one of the organizers of the conference. “Her suggestions were real. They were things she’s actually done and experienced, even with her own children.”

Ms. Keating, who is a deacon at St. John, York Mills, said that is one of the best features of the conference – it provides practical ideas that are also grounded in theology. “You don’t have to be a bionic children’s minister to do these things – anyone is able to do them, to implement these strategies. They’re real and they work.”

The conference included 10 workshops on a variety of subjects, including choosing the right curriculum, transforming the nursery, using simple objects as tools for instruction, ministering to children with disabilities, exploring the biblical and theological foundation for the place of children and families in worship, and intergenerational ministry. Local presenters included the Rev. Graham McCaffrey of Grace Church in Scarborough, the Rev. Jennifer Schick of St. Mary Magdalene, Toronto, and Brian Suggs of St. Philip-on-the-Hill, Unionville.

In addition to the speakers and workshops, there was plenty of opportunity for casual conversations and networking, said Ms. Keating. The conference also included lunch and free child care.

Ms. Keating said the conference is unique. “I don’t think there is anything like this in the Anglican community that really addresses children’s ministry to this degree. Our belief is that the whole foundation of the church stems with the children. The children bring their parents and friends to church, and if it’s a wonderful experience for them, the church grows.”

The conference, which is funded by the diocese, will be held next year on Nov. 5 at St. John, York Mills. The Rev. Canon Judy Paulsen of Wycliffe College will be the keynote speaker.

Anyone can nominate someone for a Sladen Award, which is given to a person in each episcopal area and to one person outside the Anglican Church. For details of the award and to learn more about the conference, visit the Centre for Excellence in Christian Education’s blog at www.thecece.org.

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Again, Paul was writing in reply to a perceived problem: some of the Galatians were seeking to be circumcised. We are not sure if this was the result of some Judaizers who were following Paul. (Judaizers were people who insisted that Christian converts be obedient to the laws of Judaism before they could be admitted to the church. They plagued Paul for most of his ministry.)

The issue of circumcision had been settled at the Council of Jerusalem in 50 CE. Paul and Barnabas had been present with the leaders of the Jerusalem church and had argued on behalf of the Gentile converts. The council pronounced that Gentile converts were not required to follow the Torah and thus did not need to be circumcised for membership.

Galatia was a Roman province in modern-day Turkey and included the cities of Pisidian-Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, which were evangelized by Paul during his first missionary journey. Perhaps this letter to the Galatians was a circular letter that travelled from church to church and read to each congregation. It was addressed “to the churches in Galatia” (1:2). It was probably written from Ephesus during Paul’s third journey, or about 54-55 CE. Paul spent two years in Ephesus during that trip.

It is possible that some Galatians thought that circumcision would give them greater status, that somehow it would make them purer or more holy (and thus more faithful to the church), than those who were merely baptized. Baptism was considered necessary for salvation, and that was all that was needed for those who believed in Jesus Christ. Whatever the reason for this growing phenomenon, Paul wrote this letter to cease what was actually damaging to their salvation.

Paul argued that to proceed with circumcision was to deny the power of God as it was first given to them by their faith in Jesus. To live according to the law of the Jews was a form of slavery and death, he said. They had been freed from the law through their faith. Paul sketched a vision of life empowered by the Spirit and shaped by a pattern of Jesus’s faith and love.

Paul then demonstrated his knowledge of the Midrash in 3:6-18, where he states that all who rely on the works of the law are cursed. No one is justified before God by the law. The one who is righteous will live by faith, he said. Christ redeemed us by faith from the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written “cursed is everyone who hangs upon a tree” (Deut. 22:21). Christ did this so that the Gentiles may receive the blessing of Abraham through the promise of the Spirit by their faith in Jesus (3:14).

For Paul, to be baptized in Christ meant that there was no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female – all are one in Christ (3:27). To be circumcised was to be a Jew and a man, and to be enslaved by the Torah, he said. This was not what Christ willed for us.

Paul tells the Galatian Christians “if they allowed themselves to be circumcised, then Christ is of no benefit to you” (5:2). We are saved by Christ’s faith in God. In our baptism we became children of God in Christ and were no longer under the law (3:26-28).

Bear one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ, he wrote. When I was under the law, he continues, “I persecuted the church of Jesus Christ. I became an apostle when I experienced the risen Christ.” Paul then reminds them that it was by living in the fruit of the Spirit that they demonstrated that they were indeed in Christ. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law against these things (5:22). In baptism we become children of God in Christ (3:28). In baptism all are equal.

It is the Holy Spirit working within us that empowers us to live a Christian lifestyle. We must be empowered by this Spirit of God and respond by living in the gifts of this Spirit.

We will continue next month with the epistles to the Corinthians. Enjoy the dialogue.

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A number of years ago, the late bishops Arthur Brown and Basil Tonks, along with a number of other dedicated and enthusiastic clergy and laypeople, had a vision to help our Christian brothers and sisters in the Caribbean. To this day, the Canadian Friends to West Indian Christians has upheld that legacy by hosting a yearly dinner in which we pay tribute, show appreciation and continue the work that the bishops began so many years ago. Some of this work has enabled theological students to pursue their academic education and help prepare them for ordained ministry.

The 29^th annual fundraising dinner was held on Oct. 24 at the Church of the Ascension, Don Mills. We began the evening with the Eucharist, with Archbishop Colin Johnson presiding, followed by an exceptional dinner. The mood was light and cheerful, the camaraderie was great and the food prepared by our caterer, Mrs. Singh, was tantalizing to our taste buds.

Over the years, the dinner has featured a number of informative speakers. Some have challenged us to spread our wings and fly beyond our comfort zones. This year, our guest speaker was the Rt. Rev. Claude Berkley, bishop of the Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago. In his address, Bishop Berkley gave us a synopsis of the pros and cons of the work of the church and being a member of the clergy. He spoke about the challenges facing the church in recruiting new priests, the factors that encourage ordained ministry in the West Indies, and how God’s Holy Spirit is moving in Trinidad and Tobago and the Church in the Province of the West Indies.

The shortage of clergy in the Caribbean has always been an area of concern, he said. The Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago has been fortunate to have priests of good quality, but not always enough of them. However, there has been much improvement, with the ordination of 10 priests and 17 deacons. Currently there are six candidates for ministry at Codrington College in Barbados. From 2011 to 2015, his diocese conducted a training program using local courses, which was successful.

In all of this, there is still hope for the ministry of the church, he said. There is work to be done and there is commitment and enthusiasm towards the process, for the church has been the centre of the lives of the people who love the Lord.

Archbishop Johnson spoke of the contribution that Anglicans from the West Indies have made and continue to make to the Diocese of Toronto and the wider Anglican community. He also took the opportunity to congratulate the Canadian Friends to West Indian Christians on the work it is doing in making a difference in the lives of the theological students in the West Indies. Archbishop Michael Peers, the former Primate, said the closing prayers, and guests were sent home with God’s blessings.

Elsa Jones is the chair of the Canadian Friends to West Indian Christians.

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The event drew nearly 100 participants, including anti-poverty advocates, low-income people, rabbis, imams and other faith leaders such as Bishop Michael Bird of the Diocese of Niagara. It was sponsored by the Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition.

Ms. Yalnizyan, an economist, media commentator and Christian, urged her listeners to keep up the fight against poverty. “Remember that you have a voice that all of us need to hear. You can raise questions that people don’t hear anywhere else. We need the faith communities to remind us why we are here and who we are serving.”

She noted that some progress has been made in combatting poverty, such as the provision of dental care for low-income children, Toronto’s adoption of a poverty reduction strategy, and a promised new federal child benefit that will benefit low-income families. Yet one-quarter of senior women living alone live in poverty, as do 19 per cent of all children in Ontario.

“You have to get angry about it,” she said. “That’s how change happens. How? Walk a mile in the shoes of the poor.”

Deputy Premier Deb Matthews told the forum that when she knocked on doors during the recent federal election, the issue of poverty was not raised once. While admitting that more could be done to benefit the poor, she said that a single mother working at minimum wage with two children lived on less than $20,000 in 2003, but now receives more than $36,000 due to a higher minimum wage, the Ontario Child Benefit and tax changes. Ontario has 47,000 fewer children in poverty since the province’s poverty reduction plan began in 2008. “That’s real progress,” she said. “You should all own that success.”

Speaking for the NDP, MPP Cheri Dinovo said the shortage of affordable housing has never been worse, with 168,000 Ontario households waiting up to 12 years for an affordable apartment. “Your job is to hold the politicians’ feet to the fire,” she said. Conservative MPP Julia Munro urged participants to read to children so they can learn better, and improve their future prospects.

Ideas for mobilizing more people to act against poverty were outlined during a panel discussion led by Muslim and Christian anti-poverty advocates. Many participants volunteered to take part in a new campaign called Voices From the Margins. Low-income people and those working with them will speak of the challenges they face and possible solutions at hearings in communities across Ontario during the spring. For more information, visit www.isarc.ca.

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Bishop Michael Bedford-Jones, a retired area bishop of the diocese who lives in Newcastle, brought greetings from Bishop Linda Nicholls, who was unable to attend the fundraising event. ““It’s time to celebrate the bonds of friendship, forged throughout our shared life of Christ within our Anglican parishes here and across the sea, and to make new friends across the table,” he said, reading a message from Bishop Nicholls.

He greeted many in the crowd, including Bishop Douglas Blackwell and his wife Sandra, and members of Trinity College School in Port Hope, which is celebrating its 150^th anniversary.

He welcomed Ms. Elliott, saying that Anglicans are proud when “one of their own” takes on extraordinary leadership roles. “Anglicans have done this since the beginning of our province, and Christine has modelled that in our time,” he said.

Ms. Elliott said she entered public life in 2006 to advocate for the rights of vulnerable people and their families. Her passion for helping the vulnerable started years earlier, when her infant son John was stricken with encephalitis – swelling of the brain – and almost died. He recovered but was left with an intellectual disability.

She said John’s condition had a profound effect on her and her husband, the late Jim Flaherty. “Over time, Jim and I realized how blessed we were, not just because of John’s survival, but because John opened our eyes to a whole new world. Because of John, we became acutely aware of the many challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and their families. We saw families struggle with financial and health issues, in many cases with little or no support.”

She and her husband became deeply supportive of people with disabilities and their families, both on a personal and professional level. They helped to create the Abilities Centre, a fully accessible recreational and community facility in Whitby. As federal finance minister, Mr. Flaherty introduced the Registered Disability Savings Plan, which helps parents of special-needs children put savings aside to care for their kids after the mother and father die. As an opposition MPP, Ms. Elliott brought forward two private member’s bills to deal with issues that people with disabilities face; both received the support of all parties and led to action.

Ms. Elliott reflected on her recent campaign for the leadership of Ontario’s Progressive Conservative Party, and said she had no regrets about leaving politics. “I’m looking forward to the next chapter of my life and the tremendous opportunity to work in partnership with individuals to support our most vulnerable citizens.” She closed with a quote from Philippians 2:4: “Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.”

The dinner – the third held in Trent-Durham since 2007 – raised a total of $18,000. The funds will be used to support clergy and their families in the diocese who are in difficult circumstances. The Bishop’s Company holds dinners every year in downtown Toronto and in one of the diocese’s four episcopal areas. Since it was established in 1960, the Bishop’s Company has raised more than $4 million.

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He said: “It is an irony of language that one of the meanings of the word pastoral is ‘pertaining to a tranquil rustic scene.’ A pastoral painting depicts an idealized landscape of calm and beauty with nymphs and shepherds. Now our pastoral scene is in violent contrast, one in which we are coming to terms with the necessity of chaos and the inevitability of conflict in communities that evolve or perish.”

He recalls reading the sequel to Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park, a novel called The Lost World, where one of the characters, Ian Malcolm, discusses how complex systems such as corporations learn to adapt or face extinction. Mr. Malcolm says this:

“But even more important is the way complex systems seem to strike a balance between the need for order and the imperative to change. Complex systems seem to locate themselves at a place we call ‘the edge of chaos.’ We imagine the edge of chaos as a space where there is enough innovation to keep a living system vibrant, and enough stability to keep it from collapsing into anarchy. It is a zone of conflict and upheaval where the old and the new are constantly at war. Finding the balancing point must be a delicate matter: if a living system drifts too close, it risks falling over into incoherence and dissolution; but if the system moves too far away from the edge, it becomes frozen, totalitarian. Both conditions lead to extinction. Too much change is as destructive as too little. Only at the edge of chaos can complex systems flourish.”

Brother Martin Smith goes on to comment that this “is remarkably suggestive about the role of pastoral leadership. It is scary to realize that chaos is vitally central in God’s creation, and that is why leadership has to be pastoral, a ministry of encouragement and guidance. Pastoral leadership will take its stand at the place of discernment in this ‘zone of conflict and upheaval where the old and the new are constantly at war.’ The episcopal charism of maintaining unity will not consist in repressing the war between the old and the new, but encouraging and continually re-centering a community in which we know that both the resources of stability and the risks of change come from the Spirit. What kind of spirituality will enable pastoral leaders to live consciously at the edge of chaos?”

Brother Martin’s speech was directed at bishops and their role in leadership, but I think his words are equally applicable to us today as we gather as leaders of the church in this diocese, assembled in Synod.

Things new and old

“And [Jesus] said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old’” (Matthew 13:52 NRSV).

Things new and old, old and new.

It sounds like a china cabinet we have at home, filled with family heirlooms that both remind us of our roots and give pleasure by their enduring beauty. And, every once in a while, we add to this collection new treasures that we have discovered on our travels.

That’s what it sounds like. But it’s not the Gospel. It does not match the dynamic energy, the powerfully unsettling turmoil of Brother Martin’s image or indeed of the Gospel itself.

This saying of Jesus comes at the end of a series of parables about the realm of God, a catalogue of images that no longer catches us off guard, putting our notions off balance as they did their first audience. God’s kingdom is described not in terms of mighty acts of power or accomplishment, not a calling to mind of the seven wonders of the world, but by ordinary things: yeast, seeds, merchants, widows, subversive behaviour, a lost coin or, in a similar vein, a loaf of bread, a cup of wine, the water of a muddy river – the stuff of life and the ordinary folk who are caught up in something they think is so valuable that they give everything to pursue this thing that captivates their attention.

“And he said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’”

The scribe is the interpreter, not just a record-keeper. The one who pays attention, the one who stands in the present and joins hands both with the ancient tradition and the contemporary circumstances. The discerner who can search the witness of the tradition – who knows the scriptures and the church’s commentary on them, who knows the lives of the saints shaped by faithful discipleship, who has been formed and informed by the inherited customs and their meaning. The scribe is the one trained who puts all this together with the teachings of Jesus, both as received through the tradition and from the living Lord speaking to the listening, arguing, praying, conversing community today in which the Spirit continues to dwell and work. The trained scribe is the one who knows the ancient stories – The Story – of God’s interactions with humankind so well that she or he can see the traces of the themes, the same patterns of relationship in the new stories today, and can name glimpses of God’s presence now.

The scribe is not a curator of a museum but stands on the edge of chaos seeking what was, and is, and is to come. (See Gary Peluso-Verdent, Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, Year A, Volume 3.)

That’s where we are, I think, in this diocese today: scribes trained for the Kingdom, standing on the edge.

Our focus in this diocese

We have not changed our focus in this diocese. Our mission is to worship, proclaim, embody. We do that by seeking to build communities of hope and compassion through healthy, vital parishes and ministries. We are working to be a diocese that is mission-shaped in all of its parts, responsive to the ongoing activity of God in healing and reconciling the world to Himself. We are invited to be partners in the Missio Dei, the mission of God.

This is not new. The Anglican Church, of which we are the local expression, is formed by scripture, shaped by worship, ordered for communion and directed to mission. (See The Anglican Way: Signposts on a Common Journey, The Anglican Communion Office.) It was the ministry of the first Anglicans in this province. It was the vision of the first bishop of this diocese. It was the driving force of those who worshipped, proclaimed and embodied their faith in the Triune God through the centuries. It has never been done perfectly. It has erred. It has been badly broken. But it has been incredibly gifted by God to serve and witness to His redeeming love.

We need to find encouragement here for the ministry we have traditionally done. We have a rich heritage on which to draw: a strong history of intelligent engagement with scripture that has undergirded our life and practice and links us to the history of God’s redeeming purposes; a luminous liturgical tradition that many non-Anglicans are just beginning to discover and appreciate, a style of worship that draws us into the holy mystery of God; a pastoral sensitivity that embraces widely diverse communities in God’s loving compassion; a model of governance that balances bishops and synods, leadership and accountability, the individual and the collective, direction and autonomy.

We all know that at its worst, the Anglican Church can be truly dreary! Let’s also remember that at its best, the Anglican Church can be astonishingly good!

Let me continue the list: word and sacrament; prayer and outreach; study and service; gathered community and civic engagement; a parish structure that identifies a whole region and not just the weekly worshippers as the field of mission; connections into the local community and connections across the world; talented clergy and dedicated laity. These are “old” treasures of our church that we have in our storehouse. This is a valuable part of our missional repertoire. We have invested in these old treasures, and appropriately so. You can see both in the report card on “Plans and Priorities for 2013-2015” and the proposals for 2015-2017 that, with Synod’s approval, we are expending money and personnel in this.

Let me reiterate: these are valuable and indispensable gifts – tools for mission that we already know how to use, even if in our familiarity with them, we sometimes write off or diminish their significance.

A changing world

But we are also called to constantly renew ourselves and our ministry. God is an ever-creative God, Christ is alive, the Spirit is active. God is doing a new thing. That is a clear word from our biblical heritage, our theological tradition and our prayed experience.

The world is changing around us, even as we are changing. People speak in new idioms. Technology has reshaped our patterns of connecting, opening up undreamed opportunities both intriguing and nightmarish. We need to respond to new ways of meeting, new moral dilemmas, new cultures, new alliances. We no longer share a common history or familiar stories.

The Gospel is not different, but how it is presented might be. Our innate human need to worship has not changed, but the models for how we do that might have to. The needs of the poor and marginalized remain, but how, and with whom, we engage in outreach might be different. Discipleship still is at the core of our relationship with God and each other, but how we are formed as disciples requires new practices.

So we, in this diocese, are engaged in projects and experiments that take us beyond our comfort zone in order to reach out to others who would not otherwise come within our purview. You will see that, too, reflected in the budget and ministry priorities. You will hear it in the Missional Moments throughout Synod.

We have funded seed projects with Reach and Stretch Grants, started new congregations, rethought education programs, found new partnerships for social justice ministries, authorized new pastoral responses, spent more time researching the needs and aspirations of our local communities. We are trying to listen creatively to the critique of those outside and to respond faithfully to the pain we have caused some. We are trying to figure out more effective ways to make disciples and form leaders. We must take some creative, principled risks for the sake of the Gospel, even if we make mistakes – which we surely will.

This does not mean we jettison what is important from the past. But some of it needs to go; some of it is not important; some of it is stifling the Spirit.

It does not mean we embrace everything new. Some of it is quite transitory; some of it is quite destructive and soul destroying; some of it is stifling the Spirit.

Which is which? It is not readily apparent, although it will be perfectly obvious to certain groups of people. Unfortunately, they will be on opposing sides. That is the difficult place on the edge of chaos. It is the creative place of discernment where we meet God’s Spirit. It is the place at the foot of the Cross. It is a place of uncertainty and loss, of grief and confusion, of conflict and pain. It is a place of hope and possibility, of faith and new life, of reconciliation and, yes, consolation. It is a place of waiting for what only God can accomplish, for what God will accomplish. It requires courage and encouragement – patient listening and persistent faith to stay long enough in that place to recognize the presence and the direction of the Spirit’s leading.

Not everything will work. That should not stop us. Not every experiment will yield the results we want. That should not discourage us. What did we learn from the attempt? Not every seed planted will flourish. In the history of the church, many initiatives took years, even generations, to come to fruition, and often then, not in the form originally planned. “One sows, another reaps.”

Re-centering the community

Remember Brother Martin Smith’s point: “Pastoral leadership will take its stand at the place of discernment in this ‘zone of conflict and upheaval where the old and the new are constantly at war.’ The episcopal charism of maintaining unity will not consist in repressing the war between the old and the new, but encouraging and continually re-centering a community in which we know that both the resources of stability and the risks of change come from the Spirit.”

Encouraging and continually re-centering the community in which we know that both the resources of stability and the risks of change come from the Spirit.

Re-centering. Remembering what is at the heart of it all – God’s unquenchable love for the whole of creation.

And then Brother Martin’s haunting question that we need to think and pray more about: “What kind of spirituality will enable pastoral leaders to live consciously at the edge of chaos?”

This is the uncomfortable place we are called by God to be as leaders of the church in this diocese at this time. By virtue of your office as members of Synod, you are the leaders – bishops, clergy and lay.

There is no quick fix. But I believe that we as Anglicans in this Diocese of Toronto are extraordinarily well positioned for this challenge – deeply rooted in a lively tradition, attempting to embrace a multi-dimensional diversity that is our social reality, still large enough and well enough resourced to be willing to risk experimenting, trying some new things and being changed by that. We really are being intentional about becoming a diocese missional-focused in all its parts. We really are attempting to work out what it might look like in practice to be Archbishop Rowan Williams’ “mixed-economy church.”

Bishop Graham Tomlin, Bishop of Kensington, wrote a short article in the Church Times (July 9, 2015). I’ve changed the term he used, “priestly leaders,” and extended it to include all Christian leaders, for that fits with his intent:

“[Christian] leaders do not dominate: they mediate. By entering into the experience of others, they create and forge community by reconciling what would otherwise be at loggerheads, or separated. They make connections between unlikely people and institutions, and hold together communities that might otherwise break apart in disunity and division.

“[Christian] leaders do not placate, they perfect. Rather than aim to keep everyone happy, they are fiercely dedicated, not to the furtherance of their own careers, but to the nurture, growth and development of those in their care, and the institutions they are called to preserve and develop, even when that means making tough and unpopular decisions. They keep their eye on the goal, the big picture, the ultimate purpose of all things.

“Finally, the purpose of their work is not self-glorification, but offering. They work hard, not out of some secular work ethic, but because they remember that the goal of their work as leaders is not ultimately the success of their organisation, the year-end profit margin, or even the number of people affected, but to serve a much greater and higher goal: the creation of something good, life-giving, and worthwhile — an offering worthy of God the Creator himself. Human work is noble activity, ultimately finding its purpose in worship — the sabbath offering of all that has been done and achieved; the work of human hands, to the glory not of the creature but of the Creator.”

Wisely and courageously

We cannot expect to agree on all things, but can we “enter into the experience of others” and “create… community by reconciling what would otherwise be at loggerheads”? What is the wisdom another brings that needs to be part of our mutual flourishing? Where does my intransigence serve to block rather than to protect that flourishing? Who are the unlikely people here and at home with whom you can make connections for the sake of the Kingdom? How can you act to hold together communities that might otherwise break apart in division, because you are committed to a larger vision, a higher goal, and find your profound unity in Jesus Christ? In spite of our differences, can we make decisions wisely and courageously, not simply to achieve our own purposes but to “nurture, grow and develop those in our care” – the people, churches and institutions we are called to serve in Christ’s name? Can we glimpse the big picture, the greater goal – “the creation of something good, life giving, worthy” – and make our endeavors “an offering worthy of God the Creator himself”?

May that be the goal of our work during this Synod and in our diocese over the next years.

I conclude with a prayer:

O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending,
by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown.
Give us faith to go out with good courage,
not knowing where we go,
but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Evening Prayer, p. 317.)

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DAY 1

Archbishop delivers Charge

In his Charge to Synod, Archbishop Colin Johnson spoke about how leaders in the church, both clergy and lay, need to draw on both the traditional and the new as they “stand on the edge of chaos, seeking what was, and is, and is to come.” (See pages 8-9 for the full text.)

New canons named

Archbishop Johnson named the following honorary canons of St. James Cathedral. They will be installed on Jan. 10 at 4:30 p.m. at St. James Cathedral.

• The Rev. Canon Andrew Wesley
• The Rev. Canon Beth Benson
• The Rev. Canon Clair Wade
• The Rev. Canon Janet Read-Hockin
• The Rev. Canon Jenny Andison
• The Rev. Canon Judy Paulsen
• The Rev. Canon Nicola Skinner
• The Rev. Canon Paul J. Walker
• The Rev. Canon Simon Li
• The Rev. Canon Stephen Vail

Missional Moment: Just Reach Out

Sue Savage from the Parish of Penetanguishene spoke about its free community breakfast, funded by a diocesan Reach Grant. The breakfast averages 27-35 guests a month. The parish was recently approached by a nearby church, and the breakfast now happens on two Thursdays a month instead of one. Ms. Savage encouraged others to approach their priest or their bishop with ideas. She said that when you can put a smile on someone’s face first thing in the morning, you know your mission is successful.

No mandatory retirement for office holders

Synod approved changes to the Constitution and Canons that abolished mandatory retirement for office holders in the diocese (clergy, the secretary of Synod, the registrar, the chancellor, the vice-chancellors and the diocese’s solicitor).

Synod defeats motion to reduce size of membership

Synod defeated a motion that would have reduced the size of its membership. A number of members spoke against the motion, saying it would have excluded too many clergy and laity from the decision-making body. Archbishop Johnson said the opposition to the proposed changes showed how much many members valued Synod and their participation in it. He said some of the proposed items in the motion that did not need canonical change, such as the creation of Synod Forum days, might still be considered. He said the matter would go back to Diocesan Council.

Missional Moment: We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight

James Liu of St. James Cathedral and Morning Wang of St. George on Yonge spoke about the diocese’s Mandarin ministry. Their goal is to attract people into the church building and bring them to Christ, in an Anglican context. Starting in 2014 with no staff and a little budget, they now enjoy the support of four parishes and many volunteers of all ages. They have used events such as prayer services, Station of the Cross, Doors Open Toronto and reading the Book of Proverbs to teach Mandarin-speaking people about the Anglican Church. Ms. Wang said they use everything that can be used to share the Gospel in order to invite more people to walk into our faith.

Committee composition revised

Synod has agreed that half of the membership of committees of Synod and Diocesan Council can be comprised of people who are not members of Synod, provided they are Anglican and members of a vestry in the diocese or a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and a vestry in the diocese. The change was made to expand the pool of expertise available to the committees.

Electoral Synod time frame lengthened

Synod approved a change to the Constitution and Canons regarding a vacancy in the See (the position of a Diocesan Bishop). If a vacancy occurs in the See and there is no Coadjutor Bishop, an electoral Synod to elect a new Diocesan Bishop will be held within six months. Previously, it had to be held within four weeks.

Missional Moment: I’ll Be Outside With Jesus

The Rev. Maggie Helwig spoke about ministry to marginalized and low-income people at St. Stephen in-the-Fields, Toronto, with the goal of creating a radically inclusive community. St. Stephen’s serves breakfast to 200-300 marginalized people every weekend followed by morning prayer, hosts a fresh expressions service every Saturday night, and hosts events that prioritize street ministry and social justice as they intersect with the arts. Ms. Helwig said St. Stephen’s strives to be a church open to complexity and challenge.

Synod prays for massacre victims

Synod paused to pray for the victims of the massacres in Paris on Nov. 13.

Priests called to consider school chaplaincy

Bishop Linda Nicholls and the Rev. Canon Susan Bell spoke about the ministry of school chaplains in the diocese and introduced a new video calling priests to consider chaplaincy. Seven independent schools within the diocese have chaplains, whose roles can include leading regular prayer services, teaching religious education classes and providing pastoral support to their school communities.

Bishop speaks about Commission on Marriage Canon

Bishop Linda Nicholls, the area bishop of Trent-Durham, spoke to Synod about the work of the Commission on the Marriage Canon, of which she is a member. The commission was created in response to a motion from General Synod 2013 to change Canon XXI on marriage to allow for the marriage of same-sex couples in the same way as opposite-sex couples. “The one plea I have made in every presentation I have been asked to give, is please, please, please read the whole report,” said Bishop Nicholls. “Read, mark, learn and inwardly digest.” She said the report is only one part of a larger discernment that will take place at General Synod next summer. She asked Synod members to pray for all those, both in the diocese and across Canada, involved in the discernment process, and for General Synod when it meets in Toronto next summer. “This is an important and difficult discernment for us as a church,” she said. “We will find ourselves in different places, and there will be pain in the conversations. Pray that we will know the mind of Christ, that we will love one another in the process, and that we will, together, seek to do what is good and best for God’s church.” The work of the Commission on the Marriage Canon, including the commission’s final report and submissions from individuals, dioceses, parishes and others, is on the national church’s website, www.anglican.ca.

Suzanne Lawson reports on Provincial Synod

Suzanne Lawson, a parishioner of St. Peter, Cobourg and a member of Provincial Synod, reported on the work of Provincial Synod, which convened in Toronto in October. She said Provincial Synod re-elected Archbishop Johnson as Metropolitan, elected Laura Walton of Christ Church, Batteau, as prolocutor and appointed Jean Bedard of the Diocese of Ontario as its new chancellor. In addition, members heard from Provincial Synod’s executive officers, attended workshops, listened to speakers, including the Primate, and approved reports. She said several aspects of the meeting gave her hope, including the theme – “Re-imagining Church in the Public Square” – a talk by Premier Kathleen Wynne and how the dioceses that comprise the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario are cooperating on matters of importance.

DAY 2

Synod receives reports, statements

Synod received the following documents: Priorities and Plans 2013-2015 – Report Card; Financial Report for 2014; Audited Financial Statements for the Incorporated Synod for 2014; and the Audited Financial Statements for the Cemetery Fund for 2014.

Auditors appointed

Synod appointed the firm of Grant Thornton LLP, Chartered Accountants, to conduct the audit of the Financial Statements of Synod, the Consolidated Trust Fund and the Cemetery Fund for the year ending Dec. 31, 2015, at a fee to be approved by the Audit Committee.

Synod approves diocesan priorities, budget

Synod received the documents Priorities and Plans 2015-2017 and the Financial Budget 2016-2017 and approved the priorities and financial plans contained therein. Diocesan Council will implement and report back to Synod on the plans and take corrective measures from time to time as best serves the needs of the diocese.

Parish assessment rate approved

In order to meet the revenue needs of the Diocese for 2016 and 2017, in accordance with its priorities and plans for 2015-2017, Synod approved an assessment rate for parishes of 24.85 per cent for 2016 and 24.70 per cent for 2017. The assessment rate for parishes in 2015 is 24.85 per cent.

Synod applauds action on environment

Synod passed a motion acknowledging and applauding the efforts being made by its

Investment Committee to withdraw from the most environmentally damaging of the Diocese’s investments, particularly those in tar sands oil. Synod encouraged the continuation of these efforts, in co-operation with its ecumenical partners and with national church structures.

Women invited to live in ‘God’s rhythm’

The Rev. Canon Sister Constance Joanna Gefvert of the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine made a presentation about the formation of a new monastic community within the sisterhood. The initiative, called “Spend a Year Living in God’s Rhythm: Companions on the Way,” invites up to 10 women, age 22 to 40, to live with the sisters at St. John’s Convent in Toronto, where they will experience the Benedictine life of prayer, study, recreation and service to others. Visit www.ssjdcompanions.org.

Synod marks consecration of former Wycliffe principal

Synod paused to pray as the Rev. Canon Dr. George Sumner, the former principal of Wycliffe College, was due to be consecrated the Diocesan Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese Dallas, Texas on Nov. 14.

Synod elects General Synod members

The following were elected to be members of General Synod:

• The Rev. Riscylla Walsh Shaw
• The Rev. Canon Jenny Andison
• The Rev. Canon Susan Bell
• The Rev. Canon Douglas Graydon
• The Rev. Canon David Harrison
• The Rev. Canon Mark Kinghan
• The Rev. Canon Heather McCance
• The Rev. Canon Kevin Robertson
• Chris Ambidge ODT
• Lawrence Barker
• Matt Koovisk
• Kennedy Marshall
• Israel Newell ODT
• Ryan Ramsden
• Marion Thompson
• Laura Walton
• (Mr. Peter Bennett is the substitute lay member.)
• (The Rev. David Giffen, the Rev. Canon Barry Parker, the Rev. Susan Spicer, the Rev. Sherman Hesselgrave, the Rev. Jordan Wellington and the Rev. Keith Joyce are substitute clergy members.)

Archbishop reflects on Paris violence in wrap-up

In his reflection at the end of Synod, Archbishop Johnson spoke about the massacres in Paris on Nov. 13. “I call on all of us to remember in our prayers those who have been victims of senseless violence. Not to lessen in any sense the violence that has occurred in Paris, but we need to remind ourselves that this sort of senseless violence happens in many places in our world on a daily basis, and to do what we can to lessen those challenges that people act out in violent ways. We’re also called to build communities of reconciliation that would otherwise be communities at loggerheads, to reach out to unlikely people, where we can make connections for the sake of the Kingdom of God. It’s very easy to stereotype all people of a particular class or circumstance. Muslims will be no more happy with being identified with ISIS as we as Christians would be happy about being identified as Nazis or Ku Klux Klan. We’re called to act with reason and compassion.” He read a passage from Second Corinthians.

Chris Ambidge thanked

Archbishop Johnson thanked Chris Ambidge, ODT, for his service as the Honorary Lay Secretary of Synod since 2009. Mr. Ambidge was stepping down from that role. Synod members gave him a standing ovation.

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Ms. Elnor has been attending The Christmas Story, an annual nativity play at Holy Trinity, Trinity Square, in downtown Toronto for the past 70 years. She hasn’t missed a single year.

She first attended the play when she was 11, just after the end of the Second World War. Her uncle had been badly injured in the war and would be coming back to Canada soon. To celebrate and give thanks, her mother and her decided to attend the play.

“We had the most wonderful experience, and we thought it would be great to start every Christmas this way,” she recalled.

She’s remained true to her word. Not only that, but attending the play has become a family tradition. Her sister has attended for 68 years, her daughter for 53 years, her niece for 39 years and her two grandchildren for 27 and 24 years.

One of the things she loves about it is that it has changed very little. “There’s continuity to it, and the music is so beautiful. You come away feeling uplifted.”

She has attended during blizzards and rain storms. She says the lighting has improved greatly, and the children always get a kick out of seeing a real baby play the part of the infant Jesus.

“I think families have a tradition at Christmas, and this is the greatest tradition of them all, hearing the Christmas story in that church,” she said.

Ms. Elnor first started going to the play when she was a member of the former St. Alban the Martyr in Toronto. She has attended a number of churches and is currently a member of St. Mary, Richmond Hill.

The Christmas Play has been performed at Holy Trinity every December since 1938. It was first performed at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London, England. It was brought to Toronto, complete with script and costumes, by Patricia Frank, who was the daughter of St. Martin’s vicar and then married his student, the Rev. John Frank, who became the priest at Holy Trinity.

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I am currently doing a placement at the new parish of St. Mary and St. Martha, which is a new thing for me. Even though I’ve grown up in the church, I’ve never served in some of these ways, and I really love the people I meet. I am having so much fun with our wonderful team of Beth Benson and Jonathan Turtle. We love to laugh together, and it’s a great joy for me to work alongside each other in this place.

Another real gift in my life of ministry has been spending time at the sex trade workers outreach at All Saints, Sherbourne Street. I have a sense of what Father Gregory Boyle calls “kinship” with these women, and I feel very close to Christ when I’m there. I also think all the entrepreneurial work that David Opheim does at All Saints is a real beacon for the Anglican Church. It’s a great missional focus for friends of mine in my own neighbourhood who are so interested in being part of making a difference in the lives of those who are marginalized in our city.

It can be challenging at times to figure out what a call to ordained ministry will look like for me. I’ve loved being a part of a church community for a really long time, and I know that as baptized Christians we are all called to serve God wherever we are, in all of our homes and workplaces. I’m sure that plenty of our people are trying to figure out how serving God fits in with their time and talents, and I do think a lot about how exactly God might be calling me at this time and in our Anglican context. The other challenge is learning to say no – there are lots of things I get asked to do that I would love to do, but keeping it simple is this season of life for me.

I’ve grown up in Toronto, and this return to school is definitely a second – or third! – professional move for me. I enjoyed many years as a television journalist and then later a communications strategist in both the political and not-for-profit arenas. I’m grateful for all of these experiences.

I have been a person of faith for my whole life, but about five years ago, I re-examined where I was going. I was working really hard and had a very young family. I felt tired and purposeless and that I had somehow wandered from the person that God created me to be. I spent some great time with the Sisters at the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine, where I learned about Benedictine spirituality and centering prayer, and about how to get back to being me within a new frame of life. That, along with some help from my own priest Barry Parker at St. Paul, Bloor Street, opened me up to the possibility that I could be feeling a sense of calling to ordained ministry. This has been very unexpected but a great wonder and privilege. My husband Sam thinks I was in denial about this for a long time, so he’s very supportive!

It’s a really good time to be doing this kind of reading and thinking, and the schedule fits well with my family time. I was a working mom for many years, so I’m used to multitasking – what mother isn’t? – and that’s a handy skill at this stage of life. I love the new people I meet as part of this – not just Anglicans from across our diocese, but also from other parts of the province and country. And my friends at Wycliffe are so fantastic – I love the fact that I find myself with men and women who are 15 years younger than me. It’s so encouraging for the future of the church! As for the homework routine, it may not be the worst example for my kids that we are now doing our homework together after school. Having said that, trying to shift gears from the writings of the church fathers to helping out with Grade 4 math is a bit crazy.

I’m not sure in what context I’ll find myself after this. I’ve worked in the area of social justice throughout my life, so that’s a natural fit, and I’m very interested in how the local church can engage in this kind of work but also attract and transform the lives of the people doing the outreach. At the same time, I’m realizing that I love the ways I’ve been serving and the people that I work with and meet at my parish placement, so I’m trying to be open to God’s will in all of this. One thing I really recognize is that there will be something new that the Anglican Church will be doing and I’d love to be part of that – something creative that may be outside of how a typical parish setting currently operates. It’s a very exciting time to be exploring this vocation – God is at work, that’s for sure.

Isaiah 58:6-12 reminds me of our call to serve a broken world. We’re confronted with this need more than ever in recent weeks, as we see heart-wrenching images of refugees and senseless global violence. The amazing thing about reaching out to those on the margins is that we are transformed in the process. Not only is the Gospel personally life-giving but it shows us how to create a new kind of community, of inclusivity and radical hospitality. The prophet Isaiah says of our faith: “Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear… The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters will never fail.”

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It is only fitting, in the newness of the year, that I suggest 10 stewardship resolutions that would have a markedly positive impact on your life, your parish and your community at large:

1. Sign up for Pre-Authorized Remittance. By making a monthly gift to the church through your bank account, you demonstrate the important role the church plays in your life and the value you place on ensuring that its ministry needs are met even when you are not present.
2. Consider increasing your offertory giving when your Our Faith-Our Hope (OFOH) pledge is complete. Most parishes are reimbursed 40 per cent of the total amount raised during the OFOH campaign, to be reinvested in local ministry. By upping your offertory gift, you will help ensure that new ministry can continue. For those who didn’t participate in OFOH, make a proportionate increase to your weekly or monthly giving – your church will be grateful.
3. Draw up a will or update your current one. Remember your church or favourite diocesan ministry when planning your estate gifts. A Christian legacy is a wonderful testimony to the values you professed in life.
4. Tithe your time and talent. Seek out a new volunteer opportunity in your church, the diocese or the wider community.
5. Say thank you. If you are in a position of leadership, thank your donors. If you are not, thank those who are.
6. Pray for your parish priests and deacons. They give much and don’t expect much. Pray for their vocation, their families and the good work they do – and let them know you are praying for them.
7. Invite someone to church. There is a timeless bit of fundraising wisdom that says “people give to people who give.” That same wisdom can applied church growth. People will go to church with people who go to church. In our secular age, being a seeker can be intimidating. If you know someone who is seeking, invite them to an Anglican church.
8. Encourage your parish to tithe to outreach. The tithe remains the measure of generosity that is most widely admired and yearned for, and it is a challenge for most of us. It is precisely because it is such a challenge that parishes should lead by example and endeavour to donate 10% of their revenue to outreach, including 5% to FaithWorks.
9. Encourage your children to give – just because most parishes don’t hand out offertory envelopes to kids anymore doesn’t mean we exempt from teaching them to give. If your children receive an allowance, set aside an amount for spending, saving and sharing.  Help foster a culture of generosity with the next generation.
10. Preach/lay witness about stewardship and its benefits – while it might seem obvious that we need to have a dialogue about generosity there is a general reluctance to preach on this topic. A good sermon or lay witness, presented seasonally, will help reinforce our understanding of stewardship as being inherently biblical.

For a resolution to come to fruition it needs to be realistic, reasonable and desired. Hopefully, each one of these suggestions is attainable for Christians seeking to deepen their relationship with the Church and Jesus.  Individually (and collectively), these resolutions have the potential to be transformative to both the giver and receiver.  They can enrich ministry in our parish and our community while at the same time making us feel good that we are making a difference beyond that which we can ask or imagine.

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