(All Perspectives messages are designed to be viewed with a non-proportional typeface, such as Courier or Terminal. To subscribe to, or unsubscribe from, this list, see the bottom of this message.) ___________________________________ p e r s p e c t i v e s by tod maffin tuesday may 26 1998 ____________________________________ t h e f i r s t w o r d It's beginning to catch up with us. Partly from the heat on Plenary floor, partly the tiny beds and uncomfortable pillows. On this Day 6 of the General Synod, more than a few people were walking slower today. No long first word today as a result (it's only 10am and I'm already ready for a nap!), but an image from last night I thought I'd share. At the end of the day, youth members and a few guests "made midnight entry" into the McGill Stadium (draw your own conclusions) and started an impromptu game of frisbee football. Then, into the early hours, sang just about every camp/youth conference song ever written. Because the stadium was closed at the time, the only lights were the orange glow of a nearby industrial floodlight, casting an eerie campfire-like glow on the members. It was a nice way to end a busy day. ____________________________________ q u i c k t a k e s DON'T LOOK NOW, YOU'RE ON SYNOD CAMERA! As a result of close votes, Synod members occasionally find themselves waiting for a few moments while the results of voting are tallied. Lately, the four TV camera operators have been playing a fun game of "zoom in on someone who doesn't realize they're on the big screen and wait for them to do something embarassing." Victim #1: the Suffragan Bishop of Toronto, Ann Tottenham, who was fanning her face to keep cool (not realizing she was on camera and had the entire Synod floor watching her) then proceeded to fan her underarms. The Synod burst into laughter, and she turned bright red. THE MEMBER FROM THE DIOCESE OF WHATEVER Chris Harwood-Jones, a clergy member from the diocese of Kootenay, was more than a little confused his first time at the microphone. When he forgot to identify himself and his diocese, as all speakers are required to when they begin their comments, Harwood-Jones identified himself as being from "the diocese of whatever." TELEVISION SHOW TONIGHT At 7pm tonight (Pacific and Eastern time zones) on Vision TV, tune in to see coverage of last night's Unity forum, plus information on the new Hymn Book, and a complete review of the day's news and events. COUNCIL ELECTED Members elected the Council of General Synod yesterday for the 1998-2001 term. You can find a complete list on the Synod98 web site (http://www.anglican.ca/synod98/) in the News Archive. TWENTY-THOUSAND AND COUNTING Speaking of the Synod98 web site, site administrator Keith Nunn reports the site has received more than 20,000 hits since the beginning of the month. BUZZWORD OF THE DAY "The General Sauna." -- the Rev. Richard Leggett, Diocese of New Westminster, commenting on the overwhelming hot Plenary floor. CHECK THE RECEIPTS OF ALL THOSE ANGLICANS! Announcement read on the Plenary floor yesterday: "Contrary to what some members appear to have believed, the books on the display table of the Anglican Book Centre are not, in fact, free. If you have taken some, please go back and settle up. Thank you." ____________________________________ f o r u m s by Maragaret Shawyer, Daily Report In his address to Synod on "Nation and Identity, the Rt. Rev. Andrew Hutchison, Bishop of Montreal said that his vision of the church in Quebec would see it stay out of partisan politics while pursuing goals of reconciliation, justice and peace. The address was an introduction to the evening session when a panel engaged the Synod in a discussion on the same topic. Bishop Hutchison told the Synod that the church has no mandate to advocate one form of government over another. "How we choose to organize ourselves for collective security and well being is a political question that must be settled by voters at the ballot box, be they Christian or not, " he said. But he added: "We do, on the other hand, have a mandate...to strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being." "It is my view that the church has no business aligning itself with the Yes or No side of the referendum on such issues. It must, however, be vigilant in safeguarding the fundamental rights and well-being of its citizens. It is not acceptable to achieve a political agenda at the cost of the just and core values of a society." Bishop Hutchison admitted that as leader of an overwhelmingly anglophone diocese in a francophone province, his refusal to take political sides has at time been uncomfortable both for him and for members of the church who look to him for leadership. On the other hand, he said he has not hesitated to speak passionately on political issues, both in private and in public, where he feels that questions of justice are involved. He noted that he has spoken out on the question of native self-determination and on the removal of Passover foods from store shelves because they lacked French language packaging. "These are matters that for me touch our baptismal commitment," he explained. "Political organization, on the other hand, does not in such an obvious way." Bishop Hutchison said that in the context of his views on church and politics, it "is important to say that we do not intend to debate on the issue of the aspirations of Quebec or any group." Rather, he added, it was important that General Synod members be exposed to an exchange of information, to the realization that concerns about the issues of nation and identity are common among many groups across the country and to the exploration of ways in which these diverse groups can help each other. On the question of Quebec, however, Bishop Hutchison said it is a myth that Canada consists of "two solitudes." Politicians and others, he said, have been quick to exploit this myth of a nation based on a duality for their own purposes. "It is a myth that does not take into account societies that have evolved clear across this land over thousands of years prior to European immigration. It takes no notice...of any countries other than France and Great Britain." The myth as exploited by politicians "has effectively re-enforced a victim mentality among French Québecois, he said. Rather than a nation of "two solitudes", Bishop Hutchison argued, Canada is, in fact, based on a notion of partnership, an area, he added, where the Anglican Church has a great deal to teach the rest of the country. The Anglican concept of partnership, he said, consists of listening to others, understanding their aspirations and sharing resources required for them to achieve their dreams. "I believe that the partnership principle that has become so respected internationally and in the affairs of our church in Canada could have a wider application within our land and serve us well in the future." Bishop Hutchison said. Anglican News Service Panelists for the Hearing on Nation and Identity were Grand Chief Matthew Coon-Come, Grand Council of the Cree Mrs. Joan Fraser, Director-General, Centre for Research and Information on Canada The Ven. Rod Gillis, Archdeacon of Cape Breton The Honourable Claude Ryan, Former Liberal Leader, Assemblée Nationale du Quebec The Honourable Brian Smith, Chairman, BC Hydro and Power Authority The Honourable Senator Ann Cools moderated. Each panelist addressed the Synod and spoke about Nation and Identity as seen from their particular part of the country. In the question and answer period that followed, Mrs. Lizzie Epoo-York spoke about the North and and the Innu people she said "we pray for our leaders that you will make sound decisions- we are down to earth proud to be Canadians." ____________________________________ d e c i s i o n s DEFEATED a resolution to give first reading to amendments to Canon XXI on Marriage in the Church. (A67) AGREED to repeal Canon XVII, Episcopal Jurisdiction Respecting the Clergy, and replace it with Canon XVII, The Licensing of Clergy. (A62). The above resolution was voted on in 2 parts. No amendments were made to Part I and amendments were made to Section II articles 16, 17. AGREED (on first reading) that subsection 17 b) of Canon XVIII (Discipline) be amended to read presumed innocent until the commission of the offence by them is proved beyond a reasonable doubt. (A-68) AGREED to approve the minutes of the 34th General Session of the General Synod, held in Ottawa, Ontario, June 1-9, 1995, as printed in the Journal and with a minor amendment on p. 85. AGREED to amend Canon XI, Anglican Book Centre, by deleting sections 1, 2 and 4; by deleting the words and in consultation with the Advisory Board, in section 3; adding the words of Information Resources and the word Director in section 5; and renumbering the sections accordingly. (A-72) AGREED to approve the Terms of Reference for the following committees: Eco-Justice, Faith, Worship and Ministry, Financial Management and Development, Information Resources Committee and its sub-committees (Anglican Journal, Information Resources, Merchandising and Distribution and Resource Production), Partners in Mission, Pension Committee and Primate's World Relief and Development Fund. (A81) DEFEATED a resolution to give first reading to an amendment to the Declaration of Principles subsection (i) of section 3. (B20) AGREED to commend, eucharistic prayers S1, S2 (revised and amended) and S3 (revised and amended) contained in Section III A of the Report of Faith Worship and Ministry Committee, where authorized by the Ordinary, during a three-year period to conclude with the next General Synod; and directed the Faith Worship and Ministry Committee to report on the use and reception of the prayers to the next General Synod. (A92) (Synod voted on each of the prayers separately.) AGREED to commend the two Services of the Word contained in the Report of the Faith, Worship and Ministry Committee (Section 3A) to the Church for trial use, where authorized by the Ordinary, during a three-year period to conclude with the next General Synod; and that the Faith, Worship and Ministry Committee be directed to report on the use and reception of the rites to the next General Synod (A-93) AGREED to send warmest greetings to our brothers and sisters in Christ in the dioceses of Kuching, Sabah, Singapore and West Malaysia in recognition of their inauguration as the Anglican Province of South East Asia on Friday February 2, 1996; and to the dioceses of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama in recognition of their inauguration as the new Anglican Church of the Central Region of America on April 17, 1998. AGREED to extend greetings to John and Pamela McBeth, with grateful thanks for their years of faithful service to the Anglican Church and we add our prayers for God's blessing on them, both now and forever. (C-14) REFERRED resolution A-160 to the Resolutions Committee for further work. ____________________________________ t o d a y MONDAY MAY 25 7:00 am Breakfast 8:30 am Bible reflection and worship 9:30 am Video: "Even Synod TV Hosts Are Human" Primate's Commission on Evangelism -- Presentation BUSINESS: A-130 Human Rights Principals presentation C-20 Proclamation of Responsibility A-161 Columbia A-162 Cuba A-164 Kenya A-165 Sudan A-22 Officers in General Synod A-131R Multilateral Agreement on Investment A-132 Sustainable Community 12:00 pm Bag lunch 2:00 pm Resolutions continue where they left off from morning session 2:30 pm Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples -- Presentation 4:00 pm Deadline for reecipt of resolutions and committee resolutions 5:00 pm Eucharist at St. John the Evangelist Church 6:00 pm Dinner off campus (on members' own) with the evening free ____________________________________ y o u r v o i c e "This site is excellent. I've been keeping an even closer watch on your synod than I did on our own in Dublin last week." -- The Rev. Brian Harper Diocese of Armagh, Ireland "What a fantastic job you are doing keeping the Anglican community in touch with what is happening in Montreal. The mystery of General Synod is unravelled and we, who are not present, are able to see and hear the proceedings." -- Jennifer Davis Diocese of Ontario "I returned late yesterday from the Annual Meeting of the Maritime Conference of the United Church in Canada where I was ecumenical observer. Your coverage and archives has helped bring me uptodate on the current happenings. The photos and music clips were wonderful too." -- Rev. Carol A. Goodine Diocesan Ecumenical Officer Nova Scotia "Rarely have I read a speech on Quebec that was as balanced as the Bishop of Montreal's today. As read (and re-read) it, I found someone who put into words many of my own thoughts, sentiments and concerns. If the national press report nothing else from General Synod, let it report this address." -- Colin Fleming S. Mary Magdalene, Toronto "With the summaries, pictures and agenda - it is almost as good as being there. THANKS!" -- The Rev. John Spencer "I am on sabbatical in the UK for an extended period of time and have really appreciated reading the updates of the day's events during General Synod." -- Jerry Smith St Brice's North Bay Diocese of Algoma >> Lift YOUR voice at General Synod! Email voices@anglican.ca and put the words "your voice" in the subject line. (Text may, and likely will, be edited for space considerations only.) If you'd like your comments to reach members on the floor at Plenary, put the word "dispatches" in the subject line. - 30 - Perspectives is written by Tod Maffin, electronic news coordinator for General Synod 1998. It is distributed at about 9am EST each morning on the ACC-SynodNews mailing list on Internet email, on Quest/Ecunet, in America Online's faith centre, and on a variety of diocesan bulletin board systems. This is a read-only mailing list. Any messages sent to the list will disappear into a black hole. To contact the editor, email voices@anglican.ca. To leave this list, send an email to majordomo@ns1.anglican.ca and put the words "unsubscribe acc-synodnews" (without the quotes) in the body of the message. LEGAL STUFF: You are encouraged to distribute this text to people known to you, provided no automated mailing list software is used to perform this forwarding function. No fee may be charged for distribution of this text, nor can this text be bundled with other information or programs without the written permission of the Anglican Church of Canada.