Since its inception in 2017, the church’s prayer shawl ministry has grown significantly. About 200 shawls have been created, blessed, and distributed to anyone who might benefit, including recipients as far away as the Channel Islands, Sri Lanka, Baffin Island and British Columbia – as well as many parishioners and friends. In addition, the church has presented a shawl or blanket to each baptismal candidate and young person leaving home for further education. Recipients have told heart-warming stories of their appreciation. A cancer patient kept his shawl with him at home, used it often to keep warm, took it with him to treatments and appointments, and had it with him as his life ended; it helped him feel closer to God.

The shawls are created by skilled crafters at the church. Each shawl is unique in shape, size and colour. A parishioner gift-wraps each shawl to make it even more special. Parishioners distribute each gift personally, accompanied by prayer and the assurance that St. George’s prays for each recipient.

Responding to a need to comfort trauma patients at St. Michael’s Hospital, the crafters have reached out (with the help of Knitters and Knatters of Newcastle, Ont.) with blessed prayer blankets and knitted teddy bears for Ms. Lucas to distribute. In her sermon, she testified to the immense appreciation of the hospital patients.

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The congregation grew quickly, and soon it had to move to the larger science room, then to the stage area and, finally, to the gymnasium. This growth in numbers continued, bringing the congregation closer each year to realizing its dream of building a permanent home. A name for the new church was discussed and “St. Michael the Archangel” was agreed upon, after Coventry Cathedral, a church with a history based on hope, reconciliation and community.

During the week of July 22-28 this past summer, the church celebrated its 40th anniversary by inviting past members to come home and join the congregation for several events. There was a karaoke night, filling the church hall with a large crowd consisting of young and old, singing their hearts out and applauding the efforts of the brave souls who went to the mike. Then, on the following weekend, the church had a well-attended picnic at Morningside Park. Youth enjoyed potato sack races, a tug of war, and various other activities, whilst their elders cheered them on and swapped stories of days gone by.

Finally, parishioners and returnees filled the church to capacity for the reunion service. The Rev. Rob Payton returned to preach and reminisce about the founding of the church and the current incumbent, the Rev. Canon Richard Tanner, spoke of more recent days and the church’s dreams for the future. The “junior choir” sang once again, as it did 20 years ago under the leadership of the beloved Mrs. Batson, whilst her son, Curtis, accompanied it on the piano. Stories were shared by representatives of the congregation. There was much laughter and a few tears as people looked back over four decades of parish life.

The church is grateful to the reunion committee members, Julene Goring, Cynthia Bovell and Eulalie Walling-Sampson, who did all the hard work, planning, organizing and drawing together so many people for a series of events that will be remembered for years to come.

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As much as 40 per cent of the homeless shelters in Toronto are occupied by refugees, and Ola and Lewis fit that profile. Ola, who grew up in Nigeria, arrived on a chilly night in October 2017. At the processing station, he was offered a place to sleep at a shelter, but one look at it made him apprehensive and he said he would rather stay on the street. After a couple of phone calls, he was directed to St. Simon’s shelter, where he lived for the next two and a half months. He eventually found employment at a food company, preparing meals to be sent across the city.

Lewis was born in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. An artist and sportsman, he studied design and played football. After joining one of his brothers in the U.S. and coaching soccer at a school in North Carolina, he decided that Canada was where his future lay. In August 2018, he arrived at Pearson airport and applied for refugee status. The Red Cross processed him and sent him to an Ontario Service Centre, where officials picked up the phone and located a bed – at St. Simon’s shelter.

The crowded confines and mix of residents at the shelter were “a shock,” Lewis confesses, but he had few options. Come Sunday, when his fellow residents saw him put on a clean shirt and shine his shoes, they asked him where he was going. “Upstairs,” he answered, “to where you can hear organ music.” Three other young men – all refugees from Nigeria, Uganda and Mexico – joined him.

Lewis attended Roman Catholic schools in the Congo but claims to be non-denominational and just “happy in any church where Jesus is king.” It is a similar story for Ola, who attended an Anglican school in Nigeria. Once in Toronto and settled in the shelter, he says, “I was looking for a church, and then realized there was one right above my head.”

That, of course, was not the end of it. Less than a year later, Ola – now with his own apartment in the west end – continues to come back to St. Peter and St. Simon every Sunday, where he helps with the Sunday School. “The kids help me Canadianize my accent,” he says with a smile. His real reason for pitching in: “This is family. I want to give back. I’m happy I found this place.”

Lewis, who also no longer lives in the shelter, now nevertheless finds himself at the church pretty much every day. In April, just after he obtained his Canadian work permit, he was hired as St. Peter and St. Simon’s verger. The verger, of course, is a traditional role within an Anglican Church, working “for the order and upkeep of a house of worship, including the care of the church buildings, its furnishings, and sacred relics, preparations for liturgy, conduct of the laity, and grave-digging responsibilities.”

Lewis hasn’t had to dig any graves yet, but he opens the church on Sunday mornings as well as frequently through the week, oversees that everything is clean and ready for events, and attends to a hundred and one other chores.

They say God works in mysterious ways. The journeys of Ola and Lewis to find St. Peter and St. Simon – and us them – have surely been in that category of happy marvels.

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Following the service, the parish welcomed former park chaplains, former incumbents, guests and parishioners to a barbecue on the waterfront in the provincial park, just a short walk from St. George’s. The church is built on property adjacent to the park, which is located on the south shore of Lake Simcoe.

In 1957, Sibbald Point Provincial Park opened to the public, bringing crowds of visitors to St. George’s every weekend. To accommodate the growing summer congregation, the church instituted a 9:30 a.m. Sunday service the following summer; in August 1959, they became “Campers’ Services”. Young parishioners distributed flyers in the park, announcing the services and indicating that comfortable clothing was welcomed, and ladies were not required to wear hats. The average attendance was 80 persons, the largest service attracted 185 people. The last official “Campers’ Service” occurred in July 1979. A Sunday Morning Prayer service in summer continued until 1990.

In 1978, the Rev. Charles Edwards and Dr. Betty Graham inaugurated the church’s summer chaplaincy program to the park and surrounding area. Since then, 38 people have served as chaplains. They have been lodged in trailers (at campsites in the park and now in the church’s parking lot), the park’s lodge and parishioners’ homes. In the early days, the chaplain’s responsibilities were focused on programming within the park and at the church, as well as assisting with Sunday services. Programming included family softball games and other sports, campfire sing-alongs, nature walks and crafts. The 10-week contract expanded to include ministry within the Town of Sutton, including Vacation Bible School, worship services at River Glen Haven Nursing Home, and home visits to shut-ins.

Today’s chaplaincy is a ministry of presence focused primarily at St. George’s, where thousands of visitors drop by to view the church and cemetery. People come from all walks of life and from throughout the world. It is not unusual for St. George’s to have more than 6,000 visitors during the summer months. The chaplain is available to answer questions, listen to people and pray with them if desired. The chaplain may conduct weekday morning prayer and mid week compline services which are open to both the public and parishioners.

Recent chaplains were involved in weekly Bible studies, Tuesday evening ecumenical community dinners, monthly nursing home services, and two services each Sunday. Many of our chaplains have continued to develop their ministry, leading to ordination.

The Parish of Georgina has been assisted considerably by grants from the Diocese of Toronto, without which this ministry could not continue. We are truly grateful.

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So we did the obvious thing: we asked our neighbours to help us feed our neighbours.

St. Michael and All Angels, located in the bustling community of St. Clair Avenue West and Wychwood Avenue, is seated in the heart of a neighbourhood that celebrates a rich and diverse group of ethnicities, religions, ages and financial situations. This is where the magic came into play. Within 48 hours of a post to the community social media page, the Beeton Cupboard’s barren shelves were heaving with food. More than that, we had more than $1,000 in pledges and a freezer on the way.

“We had no idea there was a food bank at the church!” “How can we help?” “Where can we send financial donations?” “Can you meet me at the church this evening for a donation drop?” These were some of more than 100 comments on the page within hours of its posting. Julian Back, the page’s host, made sure it was the first thing that people saw when they checked to find out what was happening in the neighourhood.

Media outlets called as well, including CBC Radio, which did a segment on its Fresh Air program.

The Jewish congregation that meets every second Saturday at St. Michael’s got in contact. Mitzvah, the art of giving, is a Jewish practice. Suddenly, our ministry became their ministry: we are doing ministry together, thanks be to God.

Sometimes it is easy to think about the many ways we can serve our community; that week, St. Michael and All Angels learned how ministry can be so much better when we admit our limitations and ask the community for help.

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Ms. Kogawa, who was one of about 21,000 Japanese Canadians who were sent to internment camps during the war and forced to disperse across the country afterwards, says it is important to remember the people who supported them and fought for redress.

“I think it’s incumbent on people who have experienced victimization to remember that there are things for which to be grateful,” she says. “There is always somebody who will stand with you in the midst of whatever your community is going through. This celebration is to acknowledge that there were good people.”

Several of those people were Anglican, says Ms. Kogawa, including missionaries Grace Tucker and the Rev. Dr. Cyril Powles and MP Andrew Brewin, who spoke out in defence of Japanese Canadians during and after the war and fought to get compensation for their losses.

Holy Trinity, Trinity Square played an important role in helping Japanese Canadians seek redress in the post-war years, says Ms. Kogawa, who is a member of the church. A committee that included Dr. Powles, the Rev. Dan Heap, Alice Heap and the Rev. Michael Creal worked tirelessly for the cause, and the first public meeting on redress was held there.

The work of those at Holy Trinity and others across the country came to fruition in 1988 when Prime Minister Brian Mulroney apologized on behalf of the Canadian government for the wrongs it committed against Japanese Canadians during wartime. The apology came with symbolic redress payments to individuals and to community funds.

Ms. Kogawa says she isn’t bitter about what happened to her and other Japanese Canadians during and after the war. “We got dispossessed and dispersed and our community was destroyed, but out of that there is still gratitude for a good country that was able to acknowledge what it had done wrong. I’m so proud of this country for that.”

She says the event on Oct. 5 could be a model for other groups that have been and continue to be victimized. “If their hearts can look and see where there is a cause for thanksgiving, I think they can gain strength from gratitude.”

The event on Oct. 5 is called “Remembering Redress by Those Who Were There.” Former NDP leader Ed Broadbent will be the keynote speaker. Shin Imai, a human rights lawyer and the son of an Anglican cleric who served Japanese Canadian Anglicans worshipping at Holy Trinity in the 1950s, will be the Master of Ceremonies. Former MP John Brewin, son of the late Andrew Brewin, will speak, as will Justice Maryka Omatsu, co-chair of the B.C. Redress Steering Committee, and Ms. Kogawa.

The event will include a potluck supper, live music and a selection of books by Japanese Canadian authors for sale. The event is from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.). All are invited. The church is located at 19 Trinity Square, Toronto, near the Eaton Centre.

One who helped

Former MP John Brewin of Toronto writes about his father, Andrew Brewin:

My father, Andrew Brewin, was counsel to the Cooperative Committee on Japanese-Canadians. His involvement began shortly after the official removals started to take place in 1942 and through the immediate post-war years. He was lead counsel in the committee’s case before the Privy Council, at that point the final appeal court for judicial decisions in Canada. He was also one of the main spokespersons for the committee in negotiations with the federal government that had initiated the forced removals from the homes and property of Japanese Canadians on the West Coast, their incarceration in camps in the B.C. interior and the threatened deportations after the war.

Mr. Brewin was a leading Anglican at the time, active in the national councils of the Anglican Church of Canada, including later representing the Church at the World Council of Churches General Assemblies at Evanston (1954) and New Dehli (1961). He became an NDP Member of Parliament from Toronto (1962 to 1979) and was a major voice on human rights issues. With considerable effect, throughout his life he encouraged the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, the NDP and the Anglican Church to speak out in defence of the rights of Japanese Canadians. His involvement was the highlight of his legal career and contributed to his leadership in the work of securing for Canada the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982.

His main contribution (to the redress for Japanese Canadians) was in the 1940s, in the courts and in raising public awareness of the grave injustice of the wartime treatment of Japanese Canadians. He fought to get compensation for their losses. Redress was a big issue for him. Our family was very aware of the warm relations he had with Japanese Canadian leaders and the community generally. Many came to our home and sat around our living room and dinner table discussing strategy. Many older Japanese Canadians attended his memorial service in Toronto in 1983. I was later a campaign worker for my father, a candidate in my own right in provincial and federal elections. Especially the older Japanese Canadians were excited to meet me because of my father’s role and for his support of the cause from the outset. He joined in with a gladsome heart, angry at what was occurring, honoured to be able to help and glad of the friends he made.

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Last year, Grace Church wanted to try something new that engaged the south Scarborough community, so instead of our annual fall bazaar that took place in our church hall, I decided to plan an outdoor fall fair. Unfortunately, it was cold and rainy, and most things had to move indoors. Nevertheless, it was still a success. This year we are trying it again a month earlier, on Sept. 28. It will feature a barbecue, carnival food, live music, a bouncy castle, games, raffle, a wine and beer garden, and the blessing of animals. This event really interests and excites me because it has the potential to draw people in and gives us a great opportunity to engage with our community in a lively, fun way and there is something for everyone.

At Church on Tap, we are about to celebrate our fifth anniversary of worshiping together at Christ Church, Deer Park. We offer a contemporary Anglican worship experience on the fourth Friday of each month, which brings together people from all walks of life and church backgrounds. Many unchurched, dechurched and those from other ecumenical backgrounds have found a home at Church on Tap. We are a diverse, loving, affirming, accepting community, about 70 per cent of which is LGBTQ. As a ministry leader, you can usually find me serving the beer and cider after the service; however, I also take part in monthly planning meetings, and as a prayer leader and communion minister. Being involved and attending Church on Tap has been one of the most spiritually and emotionally rewarding experiences for me.

I was born and raised in Scarborough and went to Centennial College and Ryerson University, graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing Management with a minor in e-Business. While in college and university, I worked part-time at the Centennial College bookstore. When I graduated from Ryerson, I was hired full-time as a textbook buyer for the bookstore, and after a year was promoted to store manager. After working in that position for a few years, I was offered a job at the Seneca College bookstore as its general merchandise buyer for their four bookstores. I have been working at Seneca now going on eight years. When I am not busy with work and Church, I love travelling, cooking, gardening, sampling craft beers and wines and singing Karaoke.

When I was six, my family moved from an apartment to a house in Scarborough. We were welcomed to the neighborhood by the Rev. Canon Dennis Dolloff, who was the incumbent of St. Giles, Scarborough, located just down the street. He invited our family to worship at St. Giles and invited my brother and I to Sunday School. Our grandmother was living with us at the time, and she encouraged my brother and I to attend. It was Dennis’s warm welcome, his joyful and caring nature, crazy sense of humour, and the strong faith he upheld in the face of his disability, that kept me going back every Sunday. St. Giles was also full of amazing people like him who helped form and shape me, especially my Sunday School teacher Grace Mills, head server Bill Waddell, Vacation Bible School teachers Lois Reid and Doug Whittemore, organist Silvia Slemmestad, and the Rev. Helen Bradley, who came after Dennis. These people made me feel part of a loving, welcoming Christian community, and made me want to be more involved. As the years went on and I grew out of Sunday School and youth group, I became a reader, server, chalice bearer, head of the fundraising committee, representative to diocesan Synod, advisory board member, and a churchwarden at the young age of 25.

Our church and other churches in south Scarborough were seeing a decline in money, membership and buildings. With the guidance of Canon Dave Robinson and Bishop Patrick Yu, I took part in a visioning process as to what our future could look like in south Scarborough. This visioning group eventually became the South-Scarborough Amalgamation Committee. It was through this process of amalgamating and working with members of my parish and the other three parishes that allowed me to really see the Holy Spirit at work. We sacrificed our comfort and traditions and church buildings to work together on the building up of the Kingdom and Church of the future in south Scarborough. This required a lot of faith and hope and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us and take the wheel. The Rev. David Howells was instrumental in shepherding us through the amalgamation, and our current incumbent, the Rev. Graham McCaffrey, has been a blessing to work with in leading this parish and ministries in the direction God is calling us. I have been very blessed with the clergy leadership I have had over the years.

Five years from now I hope to have found someone to travel the world and enjoy life with. I also look forward to further opportunities for faith formation, spiritual growth, networking, experiencing new forms of worship, and involvement in new church ministries.

Different passages of scripture speak to me at different times in my life. Since General Synod this past July, the passage that has been speaking to me is Isaiah 43:1-3, which is what Synod’s theme was based on: “I have called you by name.” Overall, General Synod was a good Synod; however, when the motion to amend the marriage canon failed to pass in the House of Bishops, emotions flared up like high waves and flames. Many felt overwhelmed and consumed with pain and sorrow. In the days following the vote, I looked at this passage and it challenged me. But since returning from Vancouver, l have found that this passage brings me hope. It was challenging because in that moment on the floor of Synod I felt that the waters had overwhelmed me and the flames had consumed me. I had thought, “but, He promised they wouldn’t!” Later, I reflected: did they, though? The water has calmed and the fire has diminished. I am still here and I am still standing. God was with me then and is with me now. He has called me by name, and I am His. He sees me, he knows me, and he loves me. And that is what will get me through the waves and flames each and every day.

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I believe that giving of one’s first fruits is not only financially prudent but theologically sound. First Fruits Giving (FFG) is often presented to members of a congregation solely as a financial benefit to the church: it guarantees a stream of reliable revenue, supports ministry in our absence, helps the stewardship team plan for future expenses and provides peace of mind to the churchwardens and clergy. Rarely do our conversations about FFG focus on the theology of giving, but they should. Giving a planned and prayed-for gift is good theology.

In ancient Israel, the practice of consecrating first fruits to the Lord sprang up naturally among agricultural people from the belief that the first, and hence, best of the harvest should be offered to God in thanksgiving for all the gifts received during the growing season. Today, the fruit of our labour most often comes in the form of money (though it can come in terms of time and talent as well) which we use to purchase those things that nurture and sustain us.

The concept of giving our first fruits illustrates giving to God from a grateful heart, and it sets a pattern of giving back to God the first – and best – of what God has given us. FFG inclines us to think about the needs of the church and its ministry before other priorities begin to compete for our time and resources. This might seem like a radical departure from the act of making a weekly offering on the collection plate, but it helps us realize that if we are to be truly intentional about giving it must become a priority in our life. FFG ensures consistency, reliability and commitment.

In our diocese, there is a striking contrast between parishes where FFG is a priority and those where it is only marginally encouraged or avoided altogether. With few exceptions, parishes that boast an FFG rate of more than 40 per cent of participants experience a higher level of average annual giving per donor, enjoy above-average overall giving, avoid falling into deficit-budget scenarios and benefit from a degree of fiscal certainty. Of the 54 parishes that are growing in our diocese, more than 80 per cent have exceptional levels of participation in FFG.

Without doubt, FFG is the fastest and most effective way for any parish to increase its level of giving and overall financial health. The arithmetic is simple. Let’s assume that your typical adherent attends church three times a month and each time donates $20 via an offertory envelope. This results in an annual gift of $720. Employing the same assumptions, that same donor would give $1,040 if they use an FFG method – giving $20, 52 times a year. The result is a nearly 45 per cent increase in giving without any heavy-handed message about proportionate giving or the need to give more.

More and more, I am inclined to encourage clergy and parish leaders to look at their level of FFG as an indicator of parish health. First Fruits Giving isn’t just about money: it’s about commitment to the ministry of the parish. It tells me that congregants “get it,” that they understand that discipleship means walking with and supporting the ministry of the church day in and day out – even when they are not present at worship.

I believe it is within our grasp to secure exceptional FFG participation across our diocese and beyond. Currently, only a handful of parishes (12, to be exact) have FFG greater than 60 per cent.  All parishes should strive for this level of participation. Though it is a vehicle for giving that has been around for at least 20 years, FFG has only been promoted sporadically, such that even today less than 30 per cent of the total givers in our diocese use it.

Let us imagine how the benefits of FFG might impact our parishes and make a commitment to invite members to enter a giving relationship that strengthens our churches and helps us build up our important mission and ministry.

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Firstly, I attended General Synod in July. Some parts of that Synod were filled with great joy. We elected a new Primate – the first woman to hold this office – and we are delighted that Archbishop Linda Nicholls, who served our diocese for most of her ordained ministry, will now be returning to Toronto, at least for part of the time. Please pray for Archbishop Linda as she takes on this ministry. She is a great gift to our Church.

We also had the joy of affirming various resolutions that will allow the emerging Indigenous Church to be more autonomous and self-governing. Among the changes, the National Indigenous Anglican Bishop assumes the title of Archbishop, and new efforts will be made by our Church to strengthen our commitment to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. After Synod adopted the various changes, the room erupted in “How Great Thou Art.” It was a moment of joyful celebration, not only for our Indigenous siblings, but for our whole Church.

Of course, General Synod also brought moments of deep pain. The second reading on the proposed changes to Canon 21 (the Marriage Canon) narrowly failed to receive the required two-thirds support in the House of Bishops, though it passed easily in the other two Houses. This was heartbreaking for many people on the floor of Synod and across the country, particularly for those of us in the LGBTQ2S+ community. Many are questioning whether there is still room for us in the Anglican Church of Canada in light of the decision to leave the Marriage Canon unchanged. Our Church needs to acknowledge that many LGBTQ2S+ Anglicans are deeply hurt.

At the same time, I am proud of our own diocese. Bishop Asbil has said that same-sex marriages will continue to be celebrated according to the 2016 pastoral guidelines, and I’m aware that a number of parishes are in the process of requesting approval. Elsewhere in the Canadian Church, several dioceses have made the decision to move forward with same-sex marriage in accordance with the “local option” that was affirmed by General Synod. While some Anglicans have asked how a handful of bishops could have thwarted the will of the vast majority of General Synod members, even here we may see some positive change, as these governance questions will be taken up by the Council of General Synod in the coming triennium. So, I pray that much good will come out of a difficult General Synod.

Secondly, within days of the conclusion of General Synod, my spouse and I accepted the Archbishop of Canterbury’s invitation to be his guests at Lambeth Palace in London. While we were there, Mohan and I had a good and frank conversation with Archbishop Justin Welby about his decision to exclude same-sex spouses from next year’s Lambeth Conference. We look forward to continuing that conversation with him between now and next summer.

One of the things that emerged from the decision to exclude same-sex spouses was an invitation for me to join an international consultation of “Anglican Bishops in Dialogue.” The consultation brings together approximately 30 bishops from across the Communion. We met in Liverpool in June, and will meet again in Tanzania in February. I have deeply valued the building of new relationships with African bishops in particular, and I believe our work together is already bearing fruit for the unity of our Church.

I often hear that these ongoing conversations about sexuality and marriage are a distraction for us, and that the Church needs to just get on with the real business of mission and ministry. While I take the point, I believe that the inclusion and welcome of all God’s people is the work of mission and ministry. It’s at the core of our calling in Jesus Christ. Through times of joy and challenge, may we grow more deeply into our baptismal calling to be those who strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.

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I always feel a little more sentimental in the fall; more hopeful and grateful too for the simplest of gifts and the myriad of blessings that I have received in the year. With the advent of the fall comes the need to put summer away – storing the garden furniture, turning the garden, raking the leaves and putting things to rest.

For the Anglican Church of Canada, this was quite a summer. A Tale of Two Cities, written by Charles Dickens, opens with the familiar phrase: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.”

Dickens could very well have been describing General Synod 2019. There were moments of light and darkness, of having everything and not much at all. There were times when it seemed we were all going directly to heaven and when it appeared we were all going directly the other way. The headlines in the newspapers and the coverage in the media captured some of what happened. However, it seems to me it will take time to sift through the leaves of GS 2019 a little longer to know what really took place there for those seven days in the summer of 2019.

There were times of great light and wisdom. We bade farewell and thank you to Archbishop Fred Hiltz, who served so faithfully. We welcomed Archbishop Linda Nicholls as our new Primate. We made great strides in supporting the self-determining Indigenous Church.

It was also a time for apology, by our Primate: “Tonight, I offer this apology for our cultural and spiritual arrogance toward all Indigenous Peoples – First Nations, Inuit and Métis – and the harm we inflicted on you…”

It was a time for the elders who were present to receive the apology: “This is an historic week in the life and future of our Church. We did it together! We are partners in change. It was our finest moment as a Church. As a fully recognized self-determining people within the Anglican Church of Canada, the Apology is timely in reinforcing that the Church is walking side-by-side with us as we continue our spiritual journey for healing.”

It was a time of incredulity and despair for many on the floor of Synod following the vote on second reading of the Marriage Canon. It was a time of upset no matter which way you cast your vote. I must say, though, even in that most difficult moment there was grace. After the vote, when the evening session closed and as the room emptied, the Diocese of Toronto’s delegates huddled together off to the side, in a collective group hug, to talk, weep and pray… and then I bought the first round! We were all hurting and yet we found solace together.

It was a time for apology again, this time by the House of Bishops following the vote on the second reading of the Marriage Canon: “We, members of the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada, see the pain and anguish inflicted on LGBTQ2S+ people, on members of the General Synod, across the Church, and in the world, as a result of the work and the vote on the matter of Canon 21, concerning marriage. We see your tears, we hear your cries, and we weep with you. We have caused deep hurt. We are profoundly sorry…”

What do I take with me from General Synod 2019? I take with me a deep sense of hope for a way forward on a great many issues, in particular on the issue of same-sex marriage. The Word to the Church, which General Synod overwhelmingly approved on July 12, holds before us affirmations of who we strive to be; Indigenous spiritual self-determination, diverse understandings of the existing canon, diverse understandings and teachings on marriage, our commitment to presume good faith and our commitment to stand together.

I take great hope in the statement from the House of Bishops: “We are walking together in a way which leaves room for individual dioceses and jurisdictions of our Church to proceed with same-sex marriage according to their contexts and convictions, sometimes described as ‘local option.’”

Since 2016, our diocese has lived by pastoral guidelines allowing for the marriage of same-sex couples. These guidelines will continue to be in place. As I stated in my video following General Synod, “If your parish feels called to offer marriage to same-sex couples, please follow, for now, the current guidelines, write to me, ask for permission, and I will grant it.”

In the weeks to come, I will be consulting with colleagues in the House of Bishops, clergy and lay leaders in our diocese and working closely with the College of Bishops to develop a more clearly defined understanding of what we mean by “local option.”

In the meantime, we have work to do reconciling with our Indigenous brothers and sisters. We have work to do in reconciling with our LGBTQ2S+ community and family members, who through the legislative process of General Synod experienced pain beyond words in such a personal and public way. We have work to do to ensure that those of us who hold to the traditional teaching of marriage have a cherished place in the Church.

Hope comes in the fall. It’s time to reflect, remember and look back. It’s time to pull things in, to tug things back, like drawing the harvest into the barn before the snow comes.

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