MINUTES OF THE THIRTY-EIGHTH SESSION
OF THE GENERAL SYNOD
JUNE 19 – 25, 2007
FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 2007
Primatial Election
Members gathered in the Church of the Holy Trinity. The Holy Eucharist was celebrated with Archbishop Andrew Hutchison presiding and Archbishop Tom Morgan preaching.
Following the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, General Synod reconvened with the Prolocutor, Dean Elliott, in the Chair. The Order of Bishops withdrew. The Order of Clergy was seated on the left and the Order of Laity was seated on the right. Ballot books were distributed to clergy and lay members.
The Prolocutor appointed the following and gave instructions on the balloting procedure:
| Lay Scrutineers | Clergy Scrutineers | Assessors |
|---|---|---|
| Ms. Kathy Derksen | Rev. Canon Maureen Crerar | Dr. Beth Bilson |
| Dr. David Gould | Archdeacon Dennis Drainville | Canon Robert Falby |
| Captain Rob Marsh | Archdeacon Patricia Johnston |
First Ballot
The first ballot was taken at 11.00 a.m. Names on the first ballot:
| Bishop George Bruce | Bishop Frederick Hiltz |
| Bishop Bruce Howe | Bishop Victoria Matthews |
The Prolocutor asked three times if all had voted and then declared the balloting closed.
The scrutineers counted the ballots. The Prolocutor announced the results.
Results of the First Ballot
| Clergy | Laity | |
|---|---|---|
| Bishop George Bruce | 14 |
9 |
| Bishop Frederick Hiltz | 40 |
57 |
| Bishop Bruce Howe | 5 |
18 |
| Bishop Victoria Matthews | 56 |
54 |
| Total | 115 |
138 |
Point of Order
Mr. George Power raised a point of order with respect to the number of lay members of Synod registered to vote, as the report of the Credentials Committee listed 135 lay members and 138 lay ballots were counted. The Chancellor advised that there had been additional registrations by members after the initial report.
Second Ballot
The Prolocutor called for the second ballot at 11.30 a.m. He asked three times if all had voted and then declared the balloting closed.
The scrutineers counted the ballots. The Prolocutor announced the results.
Results of the Second Ballot
| Clergy | Laity | |
|---|---|---|
| Bishop George Bruce | 1 |
4 |
| Bishop Frederick Hiltz | 49 |
69 |
| Bishop Bruce Howe | 1 |
5 |
| Bishop Victoria Matthews | 64 |
60 |
| Spoiled Ballot | 1 |
- |
| Total | 116 |
138 |
The Prolocutor declared that, as Bishops George Bruce and Bruce Howe had each received less than 10% of the votes cast in the second ballot, their names would be dropped from the third ballot.
Third Ballot
The Prolocutor called for the ballot at 12.40 p.m. He asked three times if all had voted and then declared the balloting closed.
The scrutineers counted the ballots. The Prolocutor announced the results.
Results of the Third Ballot
| Clergy | Laity | |
|---|---|---|
| Bishop Frederick Hiltz | 53 |
73 |
| Bishop Victoria Matthews | 62 |
64 |
| Total | 115 |
137 |
Request for Additional Nominations - Order of Laity
Moved by: Ms. Heather Dixon
Seconded by: Mr. Eric Parsons
That the Order of Laity requests further nominations from the Order of Bishops for the Office of Primate.
DEFEATED IN THE ORDER OF THE LAITY
Request for Additional Nominations - Order of Clergy
Moved by: Rev. David Parsons
Seconded by: Rev. Gregory Mercer
That the Order of Clergy requests further nominations from the Order of Bishops for the Office of Primate.
DEFEATED IN THE ORDER OF CLERGY
Fourth Ballot
The Prolocutor called for the fourth ballot at 1.15 p.m. He asked three times if all had voted and then declared the balloting closed.
The scrutineers counted the ballots. The Prolocutor announced the results.
Results of the Fourth Ballot
| Clergy | Laity | |
|---|---|---|
| Bishop Frederick Hiltz | 56 |
75 |
| Bishop Victoria Matthews | 60 |
62 |
| Total | 116 |
137 |
Request for Additional Nominations - Order of Laity
Moved by: Ms. Angela Morgan
Seconded by: Ms. Cathy Hartsook
That the Order of Laity requests further nominations from the Order of Bishops for the Office of Primate.
DEFEATED IN THE ORDER OF THE LAITY
Fifth Ballot
The Prolocutor called for the fifth ballot at 1.40 p.m. He asked three times if all had voted and then declared the balloting closed.
The scrutineers counted the ballots. The Prolocutor announced the results.
Results of the Fifth Ballot
| Clergy | Laity | |
|---|---|---|
| Bishop Frederick Hiltz | 60 |
81 |
| Bishop Victoria Matthews | 56 |
56 |
| Total | 116 |
137 |
At 2 p.m. the Prolocutor declared that an election had occurred.
He thanked the scrutineers for their work.
The Prolocutor, Deputy Prolocutor and General Secretary delivered word of the election to the Order of Bishops. The Order of Bishops returned to the Church of the Holy Trinity to a standing ovation. The Primate presented Bishop Fred Hiltz and proclaimed him as the new Primate Elect. Bishop Hiltz accepted.
The Primate Elect addressed Synod and his remarks, in part, included the following:
I would like to express my appreciation to the other Primatial candidates. I will enter the Primacy with a great deal of trepidation, as it is a daunting and overwhelming task. I love this Church and I have always loved it. I pray to God that I will always give generously of myself to it. As I currently reside in the Eastern part of the country, I will need to get to know Central, Western and Northern Canada and, hopefully, I can arrange to spend plenty of time visiting the areas I do not know. I will work very hard to further the key initiatives that have already occurred in this Synod around the Church re-committing itself in wonderful ways to the Church in the North. I look forward to visiting the dioceses within the Council of the North and will do everything I can to support them.
I am a supporter of Full Communion with the ELCIC and will do my best to ensure that this relationship is deepened and nurtured at every level of the Church. I shall look forward to meeting the new National Bishop and continuing the relationship. I shall also do my best, with your help and prayers, to be a Primate who will draw the Church together, to keep members in dialogue and at the table, so that we may remain together in Christ.
My hope and prayer for our Church is that the world will be able to look at us as ‘gospel people’. Please pray for my wife and I as we prepare to leave Nova Scotia for Toronto.
The Primate Elect delivered the benediction.
The Primate, Archbishop Hutchison, thanked Synod for its work and advised that the Primate Elect would be installed as the 13th Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada in Winnipeg on June 25, 2007.
The Prolocutor thanked the Rector and parish members of the Church of the Holy Trinity for their kind generosity and hospitality.
Announcements
The General Secretary advised that the Diocese of Rupert’s Land had been invited to the Synod this afternoon for an Open House tour. He also reminded Synod members about the following deadlines:
- receipt of nominations for Deputy Prolocutor – 7.00 p.m.
- receipt of resolutions – 9.00 p.m.
The meeting reconvened in the Plenary Hall. The Primate was in the chair.
Orders of the Day
Mrs. Barbara Burrows presented the Orders of the Day, noting that nominations for Deputy Prolocutor had closed.
Youth Presentation
The National Youth Initiatives Coordinator, Judy Steers, presented details of youth initiatives which are happening at the National level, including:
- Eco-Justice Camps for young adults between 18 and 30
- The Ask & Imagine programs, based at Huron University College in London, Ontario (which since 2004 have been in partnership with the General Synod), which train Anglican Youth, aged 14-26, for leadership and ministries.
- The national youth website www.generation.anglican.ca, which was initiated by the Primate’s office.
The aim of these various initiatives is to resource, provide training for and encourage local parish and diocesan youth ministries.
Generation 2008, a National Youth Ministry Forum (for youth workers, youth ministry staff and clergy) was announced. It will be held in June 2008 and details are available at the website: www.generation.anglican.ca.
Bishop Moxley spoke in support of these “good news initiatives” which have sparked and encouraged youth ministry in her diocese (Nova Scotia and PEI). Bishop Moxley advised that Synod would be asked to authorize additional funding for youth initiatives from the General Synod budget.
Special Presentation to Bishop Charles Arthurson
Archbishop John Clarke and Bishop Anthony Burton made a special presentation to Bishop Charles Arthurson (Saskatchewan), the first indigenous Bishop in the Anglican Church of Canada who was attending his last General Synod. Some of the words used to describe “Charlie” were – sincere, honest, a friend, tireless, a pioneer of episcopal aboriginal ministry who performed his duties with sincere grace and patience. Bishop Arthurson responded in Cree and English and gave thanks to God for his health and his family. He advised Synod that he will celebrate his 70th birthday on July 3rd at the Calgary Stampede!
The Prolocutor took the Chair.
Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples (ACIP) Presentation
Ms. Donna Bomberry, Coordinator for Indigenous Ministries, introduced the session. It commenced with a Drum Song by the Rev. Mervin Wolfleg during which all ACIP members and Partners entered the hall from the east, south, west and north.
The ACIP Co-Chairs (Rev. Gloria Moses and Archdeacon Sidney Black) welcomed everyone to this special ACIP event to celebrate the appointment (on January 4, 2007) of the first National Indigenous Anglican Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Mark MacDonald. Ms. Bomberry provided the history and background since 1993 of the Indigenous Ministries’ Covenant Journey and the Primate welcomed Bishop MacDonald, his wife Virginia and their three children to the Anglican Church community in Canada.
Bishop MacDonald greeted Synod members in the native language of Alaska, saying that “you are all my relatives”. He paid tribute to all indigenous bishops in Canada – and to Bishop Charles Arthurson in particular – and reflected on the issue of indigenous peoples being treated like aliens in their own land. He quoted from the Book of Revelation (Chapter 3) about the words of the Holy One, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens (doors) that no one will shut and shuts (doors) that no one opens. He concluded with the hope that Jesus will be able to close a door to misery that no one will ever be able to open again.
Numerous visitors were acknowledged, including the Secretary General of the Anglican Indigenous Network, Mr. Malcolm Naea Chun from Hawaii.
Representatives of many First Nations’ groups and communities presented gifts to Bishop MacDonald, his wife and children. Each Synod member also received a gift.
The Primate resumed the Chair.
Nominating Committee – Nominees for Deputy Prolocutor
Bishop Moxley announced the following nominees and advised that biographical information would be available on Saturday morning:
| Ms. Heather Dixon | Canon Robert Falby |
| Mr. Matt Koovisk | Captain Rob Marsh |
| Mrs. Sheila Vanderputten |
The nominators briefly introduced their candidates and all nominees introduced themselves to the members of Synod.
Announcement
Dean Peter Wall advised Synod that the Rev. Canon Susan Johnson had been elected National Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.
Evening Prayer
The session concluded with prayers in the Taizé tradition.