So when Hurricane Melissa hit the Caribbean island nation last October, killing 54 people and causing widespread destruction, he felt it keenly. “When you hear the stories and see the pictures of the devastation and people living with the aftermath – the damaged homes, the disrupted lifestyles, the anxiety and uncertainty – it truly brings ache and pain to the heart,” he says.

The hurricane was the worst in the island’s history, damaging elementary and secondary schools and creating food and water shortages. About half of the country’s places of worship were destroyed or damaged.

“There were a lot of people who had little resources and then had none,” says Canon Francis. “A lot of people are still homeless. They’ve built temporary shelters that will keep them from the rain and the sun. A lot of people are still hungry. A lot of people are still anxious and looking for avenues for hope as they face a future that is unknown to them.”

Canon Francis is urging Anglicans in the Diocese of Toronto and across Canada to give to the newly created Bishop’s Appeal for Jamaican Relief and Reconstruction, which will help with relief and rebuilding efforts. “When one part of the Body of Christ suffers, we all suffer,” he says. “As Anglicans, we are not strangers to one another; we are part of a global communion rooted in shared faith, shared history, and shared responsibility.”

He says the appeal is not just about reconstructing buildings: it’s about restoring communities. “Local churches in Jamaica are often the first places people turn to in times of crisis – for shelter, food, comfort and hope. By giving, Canadian Anglicans are helping those churches continue to be centres of strength and healing in the midst of devastation.”

Bishop Andrew Asbil, with the support of the FaithWorks Allocation Committee and Synod Council, launched the appeal in late February and hopes that parishes across the diocese will embrace it as part of their Lenten journeys. The appeal will end on April 17.

In his weekly Friday letter to the diocese, Bishop Asbil wrote, “In moments such as this, Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:40 speak with clarity and urgency: ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these siblings of mine, you did for me.’ The call is not abstract. When churches lie in ruins and families gather without shelter, we are compelled not only to pray, but to act.”

Bishop Asbil has spoken with the Bishop of Jamaica, the Rt. Rev. Leon Golding, who told him, “The needs on the ground are so great. While many of the church buildings have been heavily damaged, the first priority is restoring electricity and water supply, rebuilding schools and homes.”

The appeal includes a $50,000 matching grant from FaithWorks, meaning that every dollar given up to that amount will be matched, resulting in a possible $100,000. All funds will be forwarded to Alongside Hope (formerly the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund) for distribution. Gifts may be made online at www.FaithWorks.ca or sent by mail to the Synod Office, 135 Adelaide St. E., Toronto, Ont., M5C 1L8.

“Please share this Lenten appeal as widely and as quickly as possible within your parish networks,” writes Bishop Asbil. “Together, during this holy season of Lent, we can restore sacred spaces, strengthen communities, and bear witness to Christ’s compassion in a time of profound need.”

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Surrounded by family members and colleagues, Mr. Creal was invested into the Order on June 29 by the Hon. Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, on behalf of the Rt. Hon. Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada. The small ceremony took place close to home on account of Mr. Creal’s failing health.

“My brother-in-law phoned the Governor General’s office and told them about the circumstances, and then very quickly the Lieutenant Governor’s office organized it,” says Marg Creal, the Diocese of Toronto’s chancellor and Mr. Creal’s daughter. “It was just pure delight. It was a marvellous event.”

Mr. Creal, 96, has dedicated his life to being an educator, activist and faith leader. He was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Niagara but has been living and serving in Toronto for more than 60 years.

“He worked in church-land for a few years and left when York University came into being,” says Ms. Creal. Mr. Creal joined the faculty of York University in the early 1960s and played a significant role in establishing its internationally renowned Centre for Refugee Studies. He is now professor emeritus.

Mr. Creal’s advocacy for refugees has also marked his personal and faith life. He is a founder of the Sanctuary Coalition, established in 1993 as an ecumenical movement centred at Holy Trinity. The group advocates on behalf of refugees whose claims, in the view of the coalition, have been wrongly rejected by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.

He and his wife, Lee, also helped to establish Sanctuary North, a property on the York River not far from Algonquin Park. The site gives refugees the opportunity to spend time together in a safe rural setting to enrich their experience of Canada and build community.

Ms. Creal recalls seeing her father riding an ATV in the spring to help clear rocks and debris from the road before other vehicles could pass. “The concept of radical hospitality really defines my dad in terms of his teaching and his advocacy work, and the embodiment of that really is Sanctuary North,” she says. “He spent a lot of time there with members of that community.”

The guest list on June 29 included many people with whom he and Lee have worked in the refugee movement, including Mary Jo Leddy, founder of Romero House, who spoke about Mr. Creal’s dedication to supporting refugees.

Ms. Creal says her family is incredibly proud of her father’s work and this public recognition of his decades of service. “Dad has never been a person that calls a great deal of attention to himself in terms of his achievements. He’s not a boastful person in any way,” she says.

Despite the bittersweetness of celebrating while knowing that Mr. Creal is in the last days of his life, Ms. Creal describes the gathering as a gift. “What did we see on his face that day? Joy.”

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Although the diocese’s outreach campaign fell just short of its $1.5 million target, it raised enough to fulfil its funding obligations to its ministry partners, says Peter Misiaszek, the diocese’s director of Stewardship Development.

“More important than reaching the goal is being able to fund the ministries at the level they need, and once again we’ve done that,” he says.

FaithWorks funds 16 Anglican-affiliated ministries that serve the needs of people who are Indigenous, homeless, hungry, at-risk women, children, youth, immigrants, refugees or those struggling with HIV/AIDS. Since its inception in 1997, the annual campaign has raised about $40 million.

Bishop Andrew Asbil says the level of commitment and generosity shown by Anglicans across the diocese is wonderful and inspiring. “I am deeply grateful to all who donated in 2023 from the pews, from small and large parishes – rural, suburban and urban – and from communities and individuals who have given so much. I am also grateful to all the agencies that have served so faithfully.”

About 88 per cent of parishes in the diocese participated in last year’s campaign, giving a total of $835,700. Of this amount, $174,000 was given by parishioners through direct mail solicitation or online giving.

Many parishes once again showed exceptional generosity. St. Christopher in Richmond Hill raised nearly $40,000 for the campaign through its annual Ping Pong Rally. St. Barnabas, Chester gave a gift of $20,000 out of a bequest it received.

The campaign also received a boost through a “challenge grant,” whereby every dollar given was matched by an anonymous donor, up to $100,000.

Corporations and foundations gave $474,000, a slight increase from 2022. The campaign also benefitted from high interest rates, receiving $48,000 in interest, enough to fund one of its ministry partners.

Mr. Misiaszek says he is grateful to all those who took part in the appeal. “I am humbled by the fact that so many people, whether they’re in parishes or as individuals, corporations or foundations, are making a place for FaithWorks in their hearts, and are committing, not only as volunteers but as donors, to support the important ministry that is taking place.”

He praised Peter Mentis, the FaithWorks campaign manager, for his efforts. “Peter’s commitment to working with our parishes, his preaching and the production of our online newsletter, Faithlines, has had a tremendous impact. He continues to serve us well by presenting the face of FaithWorks across our diocese.”

The 2024 campaign goal is $1.5 million and Mr. Misiaszek hopes every parish in the diocese will participate. “As good as last year was, I’d really love to see every parish get involved in this year’s campaign.”

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As the couple landed at Pearson airport on Jan. 12 to begin their new ministry at St. James Cathedral, the Greater Toronto Area experienced its first cold snap.

But the freezing temperatures didn’t lower their spirits. “The weather has been cold but the welcome has been overwhelmingly warm,” said Dean Hance. “It’s been beautiful. We’ve been very deeply touched by how kind and warm people have been to us.”

Just 48 hours after they arrived from the UK, Dean Hance was installed as the new rector of St. James Cathedral and dean of Toronto. The Sunday afternoon service was full of warmth, joy and excitement as the cathedral began a new chapter in its life.

Dean Hance becomes the 14^th rector of the cathedral and the ninth dean of Toronto, succeeding the Very Rev. Stephen Vail, who retired in 2022. The Very Rev. Peter Wall served as the interim rector and dean until Dean Hance’s installation.

In his address to the congregation, Dean Hance thanked Dean Wall, the Rev. Canon Dr. Stephen Fields, sub-dean and vicar, the Rev. Canon Beth Benson, interim associate priest, “and all those who have stewarded this place with joy, love, compassion and care over the months and years leading up to this point.”

Dean Hance shared his dreams for the cathedral. “I want people to say, if you want to see what the diocese’s vision looks like, look at the cathedral – they’re embodying it. I’d love us to be a cathedral that acts as a hub for the arts and culture in this great city, where there is so much to celebrate. The arts have been a pathway to God for me and I want it to be a pathway to God for others as well. I want it to be a cathedral that looks like the city we exist to serve, in all its beautiful diversity. Finally, I want us to be a cathedral that helps people discover and to grow in faith in Jesus – to know Jesus, held and loved by God who reveals himself to us most fully in Jesus Christ and invites each of us into a loving relationship with him for his glory.”

Before coming to Toronto, Dean Hance was the Church of England’s national lead for evangelism and witness. Previous to that, he was the Dean of Derby. Earlier, he served as the director of mission and evangelism in the Diocese of Southwark and was the canon missioner of its cathedral. He has written or contributed to books on fresh expressions, mission action planning, evangelism, forgiveness, confirmation, parenting and preaching. Jacqui Hance was the evangelism and witness priority coordinator at Lambeth Palace. The couple have three adult children, Eliott, Simeon and Isaac.

Bishop Andrew Asbil said he was delighted with the new Dean’s appointment, describing him as “warm, smart, committed, faithful, playful – all of the attributes you’re looking for in a prophetic, mission-focused leader. As someone who has a really good handle on what it means to be missional, and who also understands discipleship and helping people claim their faith, Stephen is exactly the kind of leader we need. And as the Dean – the first amongst equals as clergy – he can model that for us.”

In addition to his duties at the cathedral, Dean Hance said he was looking forward to meeting and working with the clergy and laity of the diocese. “I want them to know that this is their cathedral and I’m their dean, and if there are ways that I and we can support their ministries, their parishes, please pick up the phone or send an email. Whatever we can do to support and help, we will.”

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Bishop Andrade and his wife Sandra will be in the Diocese of Toronto Nov. 15-20. In addition to speaking at Synod, he will preach at a Sunday service. There will also be a workshop at Synod about Portuguese-speaking ministry in Toronto.

Bishop Andrew Asbil hopes the visit will lead to a companionship program between the Diocese of Brasilia and the Diocese of Toronto. “The hope is that we start learning from each other and finding ways of visiting each other’s contexts and building on that partnership together,” he says.

He is thrilled by the upcoming visit and the possibility of closer ties between the two dioceses. “I think it’s really an exciting time for us in the Diocese of Toronto. We are so multicultural and so diverse when it comes to language, culture and tradition, and this gives us another opportunity to spread our wings.”

The Diocese of Brasilia is one of nine dioceses and a missionary district in the Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil. Located in central Brazil, the diocese has four parishes and 10 church missions. The capital of Brazil, Brasilia, is in the diocese.

According to its mission statement, the Diocese of Brasilia is “to be a missionary church, instruments in announcing and witnessing to the Kingdom of God through example and words; to live in diversity and inclusiveness in our way of being Anglican, becoming part of the social, cultural context of our communities.” Its vision is “to be bold and dynamic in witnessing to the gospel and in missionary action in the promotion of life, serving in love, faithfulness and solidarity.”

The diocese runs the Anglican Social Centre, which helps students with their homework and provides them with recreational activities. It also runs Casa A+, a program for those at risk of HIV/AIDS. The diocese’s Advocacy and Human Rights department “aims to promote the advancement of human and environmental rights for all persons suffering vulnerabilities, either personal, physical or social. It also aims to educate local and regional church leadership about human and environmental rights as well as provide information to churches about those issues.”

The Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil is the 19^th province of the Anglican Communion. The Most Rev. Marinez Bassotto is its Primate.

Brazil’s population is about 213 million and the primary language is Portuguese. About 50 per cent of the population is Roman Catholic and 31 per cent is Protestant. The last census showed that secularism in Brazil has increased more than any religion. Those with no religion represent more than 10 per cent.

Although the Diocese of Brasilia has only four parishes, it can teach the Diocese of Toronto a lot about mission work, says Bishop Asbil. “There are many lessons we can learn from the Diocese of Brasilia about frontline ministry in small communities. They can help us think about what it means to be mission-oriented in a new time. Many of our congregations are small and how do we reinvigorate our mission in a new way, and what will it look like?”

He says the companionship program would help the Diocese of Toronto serve newcomers from South America and Central America. “We have a growing Lusophone community here in the Diocese of Toronto, so Bishop Maurício’s presence is really going to help us formulate that.”

More information about Bishop Andrade’s visit will be posted as it becomes available.

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Dean Hance currently serves as the national lead for evangelism and witness for the Church of England, a role he has held since 2019. He was previously the Dean of Derby, and before that the Canon Missioner of Southwark Cathedral and the director of mission and evangelism in the Diocese of Southwark.

He is married to Jacqui, who currently serves as the evangelism and witness priority coordinator at Lambeth Palace.

“I ask your prayers for both of them as they prepare to move across the pond,” Bishop Andrew Asbil wrote in a letter announcing the appointment. “Please welcome them both with warmth and joy as we all begin a new ministry together in this place.”

The couple was present at the cathedral for the announcement. “Jacqui and I are so excited to begin this new adventure together. Do please pray for us and for the community here at St. James as we get ready to go forward together, moving in early January,” Dean Hance said in a video posted on Twitter.

The service of installation will take place at St. James Cathedral on Jan. 14 at 4:30 p.m.

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“I am really excited by it,” says Bishop Andrew Asbil. “We’ve been hearing over and over again in Cast the Net’s consultations with clergy and laity a deep need to steep ourselves in prayer and discipleship and a renewed sense of our life in Christ. My hope is that this will lead us to a deep and profound joy in the gospel of Jesus Christ and a sense of communities large and small feeling a part of a rekindling of the Anglican Church in the Diocese of Toronto.”

Cast the Net, the diocese’s visioning and strategy process, has consulted with about 1,000 clergy and laity since last fall. One of the major themes emerging from the discussions is a desire for spiritual renewal – for people to re-connect with their faith, to deepen their own discipleship and to be more articulate about their life in Christ.

In response to that desire, Cast the Net’s steering committee originally proposed a year of spiritual renewal, to be held in 2024. However, it was felt that a two-year time frame was more realistic to plan and hold activities. Therefore, the Season of Spiritual Renewal will start with Synod this November and run until the fall of 2025.

The steering committee is proposing that the season unfold in four phases:

• Clergy will be oriented to the project with easy-to-use educational and promotional materials. Every parish will be asked to participate in a three-session program of bible study and reflection on mission, co-led by teams of clergy and laity, online or in person. There will be additional resources for young adults, youth and children, to engage them in what it means to be committed to a life in Christ. Materials will be available in a variety of languages, reflecting the cultural diversity of the diocese.
• Bishop Asbil and others will travel throughout the diocese, conducting and preaching at special services with a focus on strengthening the people of the diocese in their work and of being the Church. Services will include inspiring music, testimonies, scripture and sermons, as well as time for anointing and prayer for those who seek it. The services will be held in easily accessible venues and will also be available virtually for those who cannot attend in person.
• The bishops and others will preside and preach at liturgies in large locations. Baptism, confirmation and reaffirmation will be offered. These will be lively, diverse celebrations of Christian commitment and service.
• Sunday worship celebrations will include times for lay people to share testimony about how they experience God as active in their lives, or share “Spirit sightings,” where they see the Holy Spirit of God at work in the world. Every parish and congregation will be invited to engage in an examination of mission opportunities within their region. Many of these will be held in regional groupings. Reports from these efforts will be brought back to Synod.

The College of Bishops requested that $400,000 be set aside from the diocese’s Our Faith-Our Hope funds to support the season, including the hiring of a coordinator and an administrator and coordinator of volunteers. Synod Council approved the request at its June meeting.

Bishop Asbil believes the time is right for the Season of Spiritual Renewal. “I think every parish understands that where we were before the pandemic is not where we are now. On the one hand, we feel the vulnerability of that but on the other hand we feel the possibility of it, too. And there is a real sense of kindling of new ideas and a new sense of God’s spirit working with us.”

The Very Rev. Peter Elliott, one of the Cast the Net’s coordinators, echoes his words. “I think the pandemic – that period of being disbursed and losing the pattern of regular church attendance – has had an impact on people, and it’s a new day. Things have changed and we need a renewal of the Spirit to face the challenges that this new day is bringing,” he says. “In some ways, the season of spiritual renewal is casting the net on the other side.”

He says Bishop Asbil has the gifts to lead the year. “In my view, Bishop Andrew is one of the most gifted communicators of the Christian way in the church in Canada and in the whole Communion. So let’s put his gifts to the fore. Rather than sitting in meetings and puzzling over problems, what if the bishop’s time could be used to do one of the things he does the best, and communicate out the faith and the importance of that in daily life and work?”

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“I am really excited by it,” says Bishop Andrew Asbil. “We’ve been hearing over and over again in Cast the Net’s consultations with clergy and laity a deep need to steep ourselves in prayer and discipleship and a renewed sense of our life in Christ. My hope is that the year will lead us to a deep and profound joy in the gospel of Jesus Christ and a sense of communities large and small feeling a part of a rekindling of the Anglican Church in the Diocese of Toronto.”

Cast the Net, the Diocese’s vision and strategy process, has consulted with about 1,000 clergy and laity since last fall. Its steering committee hopes to bring recommendations to Synod in November that will help set a course for the Diocese for the next several years.

One of the major themes emerging from the discussions is a desire for spiritual renewal – for people to re-connect with their faith, to deepen their own discipleship and to be more articulate about their life in Christ. The theme is so strong and widespread that the steering committee decided to act on it now rather than waiting for the final report that goes to Synod.

The steering committee proposed the year of spiritual renewal to Synod Council on May 25. The proposal calls for the year to unfold in four phases:

From Epiphany to Lent, clergy will be oriented to the project with easy-to-use educational and promotional materials. Every parish will be asked to participate in a three-session program of bible study and reflection on mission, co-led by teams of clergy and laity, online or in person. There will be additional resources for young adults, youth and children, to engage them in what it means to be committed to a life in Christ. Materials will be available in a variety of languages, reflecting the cultural diversity of the Diocese.

During the Easter season, Bishop Asbil and others will travel throughout the diocese, conducting and preaching at special services with a focus on strengthening the people of the Diocese in their work and of being the Church. Services will include inspiring music, testimonies, scripture and sermons, as well as time for anointing and prayer for those who seek it. The services will be held in easily accessible venues and will also be available virtually for those who cannot attend in person.

During Pentecost, the bishops and others will preside and preach at liturgies in large locations. Baptism, confirmation and reaffirmation will be offered. These will be lively, diverse celebrations of Christian commitment and service.

In autumn, Sunday worship celebrations will include times for lay people to share testimony about how they experience God as active in their lives, or share “Spirit sightings,” where they see the Holy Spirit of God at work in the world. Every parish and congregation will be invited to engage in an examination of mission opportunities within their region. Many of these will be held in regional groupings. Reports from these efforts will be brought back to Synod.

Bishop Asbil believes Anglicans are ready for spiritual renewal. “People are really engaged in and grateful for the Cast the Net conversations. They’re also speaking of a hunger and being able to say, how do I share my faith? How do I equip myself? They’re saying, I know I need to be a part of it to spread the gospel and grow the Church, as we’re called to.”

He says the time is right for spiritual renewal. “I think every parish understands that where we were before the pandemic is not where we are now. On the one hand, we feel the vulnerability of that but on the other hand we feel the possibility of it, too. And there is a real sense of kindling of new ideas and a new sense of God’s spirit working with us.”

The Very Rev. Peter Elliott, one of the Cast the Net’s coordinators, echoes his words. “I think the pandemic – that period of being disbursed and losing the pattern of regular church attendance – has had an impact on people, and it’s a new day, things have changed and we need a renewal of the Spirit to face the challenges that this new day is bringing,” he says. “In some ways, the year of spiritual renewal is casting the net on the other side.”

He says Bishop Asbil has the gifts to lead the year. “In my view, Bishop Andrew is one of the most gifted communicators of the Christian way in the church in Canada and in the whole Communion. So let’s put his gifts to the fore. Rather than sitting in meetings and puzzling over problems, what if the bishop’s time could be used to do one of the things he does the best, and communicate out the faith and the importance of that in daily life and work?”

More information about the year of spiritual renewal will be posted as it becomes available.

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That’s one of the top findings coming out of Cast the Net’s consultations with about 450 lay people. The findings were presented to Synod Council on May 25.

The Diocese’s visioning and strategy process, which takes its name from the Gospel of John, chapter 21, has been consulting with clergy and laity in the Diocese since last fall. The steering committee hopes to bring recommendations to Synod in November that will set a course for the Diocese for the next several years.

In the consultations with lay people, participants were asked what it might mean for them to cast their nets on the right (or other) side of the boat. They were asked to imagine that it was five years in the future and there was a feeling of new life and energy in their church and the Diocese. They were asked, how did your church try a different approach that resulted in new life? What new or different things did you focus on that brought energy and drew you closer to the life of Christ? What did you need to let go of to allow new things to happen?

In response to these questions, many participants referred to young people, including children, youth, young adults and young families. They felt that attracting young people to church was key to their parish’s future, and they hoped the Diocese or another church would tell them how to do that. They were concerned for young people’s well-being and wanted to hear from them directly.

Participants suggested changes to liturgy and music to appeal to younger people and newcomers. They desired more energetic, informal and engaging liturgy, and worship that is relevant to community concerns and social justice. They suggested shorter services, updated liturgical language, modern music, relevant and interactive preaching, and different physical spaces and scheduling for worship.

Another common subject of discussion was relations with the wider community, in particular evangelism and outreach, social justice and the Church’s public image. Many participants said evangelism should focus on parishioners who haven’t returned to church since the COVID-19 pandemic, younger people, new Canadians and the “unchurched.” While some expressed enthusiasm for evangelism, others described barriers to it, especially a lack of ability to express their faith and a desire to do so.

In the area of social justice, participants felt the primary focus should be on meeting the material and social needs of those in the community, especially the provision of food and shelter. Advocacy and teaching and learning about social justice issues were also priorities.

Participants said a negative image of the Church may affect engagement with the wider community. They highlighted the Church’s role in the Residential Schools and Anglicanism’s British heritage as two causes of its negative image. They said the image of the Church and the image of Anglicans must change.

In suggesting these changes, participants discussed the roles of lay leaders and volunteers, clergy and the Diocese. Some favoured a larger role for lay leaders. “We have to expand lay leadership training,” said a participant. “We have to empower the laity, too.” However, others were concerned by the burden that would be placed on them. “It’s not easy or viable to have churchwardens doing all this work,” said another. “There are so many issues, and we are not supported. It is a tremendous burden.”

Participants had high expectations of clergy. They wanted clergy to be emotionally available and relatable, to be leaders in reaching out to the community, to make preaching and liturgical leadership relatable, and to have spiritual acumen. There was a desire for younger, more diverse clergy. They said pastoral transitions and incumbent vacancies were a significant source of stress in many parishes and encouraged different approaches to staffing. Only one participant mentioned clergy burnout.

Some participants were displeased with the Diocese, for taking either too big or too small a role in parish life. They said the Diocese could contribute to parish life by supporting outreach, creating a centralized approach to technology, helping with property issues and facilitating collaboration.

Throughout the lay consultations, there was a strong, consistent desire for collaboration among parishes and with other faith and community groups. There was also affirmation of the positive role of technology in parish life, although some feared that it discouraged in-person attendance and put a strain on the parish’s finances and staffing.

Buildings were seen as both a burden and an opportunity. Participants felt congregations needed to get out of their church building as well as welcome the wider community into them. The cost of keeping buildings open was a burden, they said, and many buildings had accessibility challenges. People spoke about letting go of buildings for the good of the community, such as providing affordable housing. Others advocated for a greater investment in buildings, which were seen as anchors for evangelism. They felt that church buildings were often the heart of the community.

Some participants expressed thoughts that were different from the dominant narrative of change for the sake of survival and growth. As a starting point for naming key values, they reflected on why they are part of the Church and moments when the Church had been particularly significant in their lives. They expressed a desire for spiritual connection with God and going back to the basics of their faith. They named a need to be the Church beyond Sunday by living as disciples of Jesus Christ every day.

A number of participants named spirituality, including spiritual experiences, core beliefs and values, as key to their involvement in the Church. “Why do I come to church?” asked one. “There are so many changes in the world; our God is not changing.” Some wanted a stronger emphasis on spirituality in the Church. “Church has become more social and less spiritual – get back to spirituality,” said one. Some called for simplicity, getting “back to basics” in teaching, learning and practicing the faith. Another quiet, consistent theme in the conversations called for a shift in focus from Sunday-only worship in church to living as disciples of Jesus Christ every day.

The presentation to Synod Council on May 25 concluded with some observations from Cast the Net’s coordinators. They said the volunteer facilitators who led the lay consultations reported a lot of positive energy in the groups, alongside considerable anxiety. Participants were grateful for being listened to and were keen for more such conversations, they said, and they were willing to change and work for the outcomes they wanted. There was a need to help people focus on spiritual renewal as opposed to institutional survival – transformational rather than transactional change, “resurrection, not resuscitation,” they concluded.

Cast the Net’s steering committee asked Dr. Sarah Kathleen Johnson to analyze the results of both the lay and clergy consultations. Dr. Johnson is a professor of liturgy and pastoral theology at Saint Paul University in Ottawa and oversees its Anglican Studies programs. Her analyses of the consultations, along with other documents, can be found on Cast the Net’s web page.

Reflecting on the lay consultations, Dr. Johnson says it is not a realistic prospect for most churches to have a lot of young people, given changing demographics and societal trends. “The desire for churches full of young people is disconnected from the demographic realities that we are facing in Canada,” she says. “The Canadian population as a whole is aging. Our population grows through immigration, and most new Canadians are not Christian, and if they are, they’re not Anglican. Each successive generation is less religious than the preceding generation. These are demographic realities, all of which are not in favour of churches full of young people. So that expectation is out of step with who lives in Canada now.”

However, she says it is important for Cast the Net’s steering committee and the diocesan leadership to hear that desire from lay people. “Recognizing that this is the direction people are looking in, and that there is this underlying anxiety, will be important for the Cast the Net team in shaping a vision.”

Dr. Johnson says one of the highlights of the lay consultations for her was the participants’ focus on liturgy. “There are ways to see it initially as a focus on attracting young people through changing practices, but listening a little bit deeper, there’s a call for liturgical renewal. I describe it in terms of three characteristics: liturgy that is more emotionally engaging and energetic; liturgy that is more relevant and connected to people’s lives and understandable; and liturgy that makes the connection to everyday acts of compassion and social justice that the Church is involved with. I found that really inspiring, to see that call for liturgy that’s more connected to spirituality and discipleship. Those are principles that can be valuable regardless of the style of worship or who’s part of the worshipping community.”

In her analysis of the lay consultations, Dr. Johnson highlighted the quieter, less prominent voices in the conversations, what she called the “visionary voices.” She says these voices could play a prominent role in shaping a vision for the diocese. “My hunch is that a bold, transformative vision is likely to come from the edge of the Church rather than the centre, and listening to voices that are less central and have historically been marginalized will be important for thinking about ways forward. Looking and listening for those comments was inspiring for me.”

She says it’s important for the Church to listen to those voices. “That’s how we follow Jesus. That’s who Jesus was listening to and was attentive to – those on the margins of his community. One of the ways that we move into our calling as followers of Jesus is being attentive to those who are marginalized in our own context. That’s often where we see God at work, where we hear the prophetic call.”

She was impressed by the amount of energy and engagement shown by the participants. “It was good to hear the energy that was present and the enthusiasm that people had for a chance to gather together to share their stories and learn what other people are doing. I really applaud Cast the Net’s desire and success in listening broadly and deeply.”

Despite the challenges facing the Diocese, she is optimistic about its future. “There’s fatigue and recognition of declining membership and participation – those things are real and important to acknowledge – but this is still a large organization. It has financial resources, social power and more than 400 people showing up for a conversation about the future – that’s a strong place to be starting from. While it’s important to acknowledge the fatigue and changing demographic realities, it’s also important to recognize that the Diocese of Toronto still operates out of a position of strength and can use that to shape a future that really serves communities, that serves congregations, that leads to deeper spirituality and discipleship.”

Comments and questions for Cast the Net’s steering committee are encouraged. Send them to castthenet@toronto.anglican.ca.

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“This is a big first step,” says Peter Patterson, co-chair of the diocese’s Property Committee. “Kindred shares the same values as us and the same idea about ownership. We’re looking forward to working with them.”

Established by the United Church of Canada, Kindred Works is an independent company that redevelops and manages land on behalf of the United Church, its congregations and ecumenical partners, including the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. Its goal is to upgrade church properties to include housing and shared spaces that are built to meet community needs and promote sustainability.

Mr. Patterson and co-chair Stu Hutcheson say Kindred Works is a good partner for the diocese because it supports the diocese’s position that the Church should retain ownership of the property. “It’s important that the land we’re using is not sold to a developer, where we can lose control and our objectives may be compromised,” says Mr. Hutcheson. “In the agreement with Kindred, the diocese and the parish remain the owners of the land and any improvements.”

Kindred Works also shares the diocese’s vision of environmentally friendly and well-managed buildings that include market-level and affordable housing, they say.

Under the agreement, Kindred Works, in consultation with the parish, will produce a feasibility study consisting of a review of current zoning and zoning potential, a market analysis, initial potential massing and a high-level viability assessment. If Synod Council approves the feasibility study, Kindred Works will put together a development plan that will include a preliminary planning review, a heritage risk assessment, a market study review of comparable rentals, and up to three massing studies for the property. The plan will include budgets for the development and construction of the property.

Upon approval by Synod Council, the development plan will be submitted to the city, town or municipality in which the parish is located. If approved, Kindred Works will contract with the diocese to provide construction and management services.

Much of the financing for the redevelopment projects is expected to come from CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation), a crown corporation that seeks to make housing affordable for everyone in Canada. If CMHC cannot provide all the funds necessary for a project, the parish, the diocese or a third-party investor will have to provide funding.

Parishes that want to redevelop their properties with Kindred Works will first need to state what their mission is. If their plan meets diocesan goals and includes providing affordable housing, they will be put on a list of parishes to be considered for redevelopment with Kindred Works. The College of Bishops will prioritize the list.

Mr. Hutcheson cautions that it will take time for projects to come to fruition, given their complexity and the number of people needed to provide input and expertise. “Five years is not an unreasonable timeline from start to occupancy.”

Kindred Works currently has eight projects in Ontario and New Brunswick on the go, with several more in the planning stage, including redevelopments at St. Mary and St. Martha’s two sites in Toronto.

Parishes that want to redevelop their properties to include housing – or perhaps without housing at all – do not have to work with Kindred Works, but they must retain ownership of the property and demonstrate that they have the means and expertise to successfully complete the project. Under the diocese’s Canon 6, all such projects must be approved by Synod Council.

Mr. Patterson says the agreement with Kindred Works provides a framework that will make the diocese’s redevelopment process more efficient. “Every redevelopment for every parish will be different, but by nailing down some of the things we can agree on and do beforehand, that will save us a lot of time and money. If everything had to be replicated every time there was a redevelopment project, it would bring the parish and the diocese to its knees.”

He says the agreement is an important step in the diocese’s efforts to address the housing crisis in Ontario. “Affordable housing is something we all care about and is something we want to have as an outcome in situations where that is appropriate.”

Last fall, Synod passed a motion calling for the diocese to develop an affordable housing plan that will determine the feasibility of building affordable housing on diocesan-owned lands; prioritize strategic partnerships with industry experts in the fields of planning, development and affordable housing provision; establish specific, achievable targets; and clearly define the meaning of affordability for each project.

In June 2021, the diocese offered a workshop for parishes that provided a theological perspective on land and an overall governance framework for development projects. Over the course of the summer, a series of four webinars were offered that covered a variety of topics that included looking at other faith-based housing projects, planning for inclusion and diversity, ecologically sustainable development, financial sustainability, and looking at development through the eyes of a non-profit developer.

After the workshops, parishes indicated that they were looking for greater clarity and guidance around the redevelopment process and more support from the diocese as they consider whether redevelopment is the next step in their faith journey. The Property Committee’s ongoing work in this area, including the agreement with Kindred Works, is a response to that.

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