Resolution Number: A043
Subject: The Constitution - Merger of the Partners in Mission and Eco-Justice Committees
Moved by: Bishop Sue Moxley from the Diocese of Nova Scotia & Prince Edward Island
Seconded By: Captain Rob Marsh from the Diocese of Fredericton
Note: The mover and the seconder must be members of the General Synod and be present in the House when the resolution is before the synod for debate.
BE IT RESOLVED:
That section 39 of the Constitution of the General Synod be amended as follows:
- by amending subclause (a)(ii) to read “Partners in Mission and Ecojustice Committee”;
- by deleting subclause (a)(iii) and renumbering subclauses (a)(iv), (v) and (vi) to be subclauses (a)(iv), (v), and (vi);
- by deleting the words “and the Eco-Justice Committee” and the word “each” from clause (b);
- by amending clause ( c) to read as follows:
- The Partners in Mission and Ecojustice Committee shall consist of twenty-one members:
- 12 members shall be elected by the General Synod
- at least 8 of the 12 members elected by the General Synod shall be members of the General Synod and one of those shall be a member of the Council of the General Synod
- 6 members shall be appointed by the Primate
- of the 18 members elected by the General Synod and appointed by the primate at least 2 shall be Indigenous persons and at least 2 shall be youths or young adults
- 1 member shall be appointed by an overseas partner church designated by the Committee
- 1 member shall be appointed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
- 1 member shall be appointed by an ecumenical partner church designated by the Committee.
- 12 members shall be elected by the General Synod
- The Partners in Mission and Ecojustice Committee shall consist of twenty-one members:
EXPLANATORY NOTE/BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The core mandate of the Partners in Mission Committee has been to support the mission priorities of partner churches in other parts of the world. Many of our partners have identified the impacts of global justice issues as being central to their mission work. The core mandate of the Ecojustice Committee has been to assist the Anglican Church of Canada in its mission to transform the unjust structures of society and guard the integrity of creation. There has been a growing understanding that both committees address issues that are global in scope and yet have consequences that are experienced locally, and both committees are concerned to work in respectful partnerships and to seek to build right relationships. Both committees understand their work to be about encouraging and enabling people to participate in God’s mission to transform themselves and the world. Both committees strongly affirm that the General Synod’s work of mission and ecojustice needs to continue, and that it is best done in a partnership model.
Both committees agreed on the importance of retaining the terms “mission” and “ecojustice” to clearly identify the work being carried forward. They also wished to retain the term “partners” because of its wide use throughout the Anglican world to signal long-established and well-defined practices of relationship.
The proposed merger is a response to current missiological thinking, and to the increasing convergence of the work of both committees. It also anticipates the direction of General Synod toward simplified structures, and the need to exercise responsible stewardship of the church’s resources.
Source: Eco-Justice and Partners in Mission Committees
(name of committee, diocese, etc.)
Submitted by: The General Secretary
A) Does this motion contain within it any financial implications?
Yes ______ No ______
B) If yes, has the General Synod Expenditures Committee considered the implications?
Yes ______ No ______