Welcome to the Resolutions archive page for the 122nd Synod of the Diocese of New Westminster. Except for the two Resolutions referred to Diocesan Council, Bishop John Stephens gave his assent to all the Motions that were CARRIED.
Standing Committee on Constitution & Canons
Resolution regarding Canonical paramountcy provision
Rationale for this Motion
Some confusion has arisen regarding the effect of certain Parish bylaws which either have always been inconsistent with the Canons of the Diocese, or have become inconsistent as a result of the revisions to the Canons made by Synod in 2019.
The governing documents of and applicable to the Diocese have a hierarchical relationship in many ways. Our governing statute, The Anglican Synod of the Diocese of New Westminster Incorporation Act, 1893 (as amended) provides for the creation of a Diocesan Constitution, Canons and Rules of Order. Those subsidiary documents cannot overrule the statute and any inconsistent provisions would be ultra vires.
Similarly, the Constitution and Canons apply to all Parishes in the Diocese. While Parishes may make bylaws, rules and regulations for the management of their own affairs (subject to the approval of Diocesan Council and the Bishop), such bylaws, rules and regulations cannot overrule the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese, and any inconsistent provisions would also be ultra vires.
The Standing Committee on Constitution & Canons is therefore proposing the following amendment to the Canons to clarify the position and avoid confusion:
MOVED: Mr. Kevin Smith
SECONDED: Mr. Donald Paul, ODNW
(on behalf of the Standing Committee on Constitution & Canons)
Resolved that:
1.24 For the avoidance of doubt,
(a) nothing in these Canons may contravene any provision of The Anglican Synod of the Diocese of New Westminster Incorporation Act, 1893 (as amended) (the “Act”) or the Constitution of the Synod of the Diocese of New Westminster (the “Constitution”), and no Parish bylaw, rule, or regulation may contravene any provision of the Act, the Constitution or these Canons; and
(b) in the event and to the extent of such contravention or inconsistency, the provision is of no force and effect.
NOTE: In order to be carried, this Resolution requires a two-thirds majority of the members of Synod present.
This Resolution was Carried, May 12, 2023
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The Standing Committee on Constitution & Canons
Resolution regarding revision of Canon 2.16
Rationale for this Motion
Canon 2.16 currently reads as follows: “2.16 Each nominee must be nominated by at least four members of Synod, at least two of whom shall be ordained members and at least two of whom shall be lay members. The names of the nominators shall be made public, and no nominator may nominate more than one candidate. The Nominee must give their consent to their nomination to the Chair of the Episcopal Election Committee.”
In the Vice Chancellor’s review of the last Episcopal Election, presented to Diocesan Council in May 2021, the following recommendation was made:
That Canon 2.16 be revised as follows:
2.16 Each nominee must be nominated by four members of Synod, two of whom shall be ordained members and two of whom shall be lay members. The names of the nominators shall be made public, and no nominator may nominate more than one candidate. A nominee must give their written consent to their nomination to the Chair of the Episcopal Election Committee, which is signed by their nominators.
This motion is brought forward at the request of and on behalf of the Standing Committee on Constitution & Canons
MOVED: Ms. Sharon Grove
SECONDED: The Ven. Richard Leggett
(on behalf of the Standing Committee on Constitution & Canons)
Resolved that:
Canon 2.16 be revised as follows:
1) In the first sentence, the phrase ‘at least’ be removed in all three instances, and
2) In the final sentence, ‘The nominee’ be revised to ‘A nominee’;
so that Canon 2.16 shall now read: “2.16 Each nominee must be nominated by four members of Synod, two of whom shall be ordained members and two of whom shall be lay members. The names of the nominators shall be made public, and no nominator may nominate more than one candidate. A nominee must give their written consent to their nomination to the Chair of the Episcopal Election Committee, which is signed by their nominators.” Moved by the Standing Committee on Constitution and Canons
NOTE: In order to be carried, this Resolution requires a two-thirds majority of the members of Synod present.
This resolution was Carried, May 12, 2023
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THAT,
Synod approves that the Ministry of Food Security throughout Diocese be funded through care + share from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025 with the following proviso:
That the Standing Committee for Mission and Ministry Development in collaboration with the Bishop, The Dean, Archdeacons, Regional Deans and the Synod Office's leadership team create a model to determine the distribution of donations by December 31, 2023.
Moved by: The Reverend Andrew Halladay
Seconded by: The Reverend Miranda Sutherland
This Motion was CARRIED, May 13
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MOVED: The Registrar
SECONDED: The Legal Assessor
THAT the minutes of the 121st Session of Synod be approved with the following amendments:
(a) That the RESOLUTIONS APPENDIX to the Minutes of the 121st Synod of the Diocese of New Westminster be added to the end of the minutes; and
(b) The following text box be added after the heading “22 Resolutions” and before “RESOLUTION 1:”:
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The full text of resolutions 1 to 6 is set out in the RESOLUTIONS APPENDIX to these minutes. The discussion in respect of those resolutions is set out below.
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This Motion was CARRIED May 13
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The original six offerings for consideration in the Homelessness and Housing Affordability Task Force Report were deeply engaging but, in some cases, too broad or too specific. Therefore, the six points, all of which deeply engaged Members of Synod were broken out into 6 Resolutions in order that they be examined individually and a seventh was added in the early afternoon of Day Two.
RESOLUTION 6- 1
MOVED: The Rev. Alex Wilson
SECONDED: The Rev. Simbarashe Basvi
Synod declares that responding to the crises of Homelessness and Housing Affordability is a Diocesan Ministry Priority.
RESOLUTION 6-2
MOVED: The Rev. Alex Wilson
SECONDED: The Rev. Simbarashe Basvi
Synod receives and affirms in principle the Recommendations of the Report of the Task Force on Homelessness and Housing Affordability at the Diocesan, Regional, and Parish/Personal levels.
RESOLUTION 6-3
MOVED: The Rev. Alex Wilson
SECONDED: The Rev. Simbarashe Basvi
Synod directs Diocesan Council to consider establishing a grant fund, subject to available funds, which can be accessed by parishes and worshipping communities to support crisis relief ministries that respond to immediate suffering and needs of the homeless and precariously housed through direct service as outline in Recommendations 1&2 (up to $5,000 per parish).
RESOLUTION 6-4
MOVED: The Rev. Alex Wilson
SECONDED: The Rev. Simbarashe Basvi
Synod approves and directs Diocesan Council to consider, subject to available funds and a review of the role description, to hire a Housing Animator as a staff term person to assist parishes, Archdeacon, and Regional Deans to implement the recommendations of the Task Force; namely:
a) Develop and maintain regional maps of Homelessness and Affordable Housing service and programs offered through churches, non-profits, Indigenous groups, and government agencies to facilitate communication, collaboration and effective service delivery.
b) Develop opportunities for partnerships in the community to deliver homeless and affordable housing services.
c) Identify, develop and recruit regional representatives to support the work and delivery of services to those affected.
d) Build effective teams, communication, and relationships to effect change in heart, mind, and policy, related to housing affordability and homelessness, across every political, professional, community, and personal level of our diocese.
e) Facilitate exchange of information among parish Outreach leaders
f) Support parishes by arranging the provision of training and skill building in community advocacy.
g) Work with regional teams to respond, deploy, and advocate for homelessness and housing affordability.
h) Develop and maintain awareness and understanding of regional and local opportunities for advocacy on affordable housing issues and keeping Regional Deaneries abreast of such opportunities.
i) Arrange for the sharing of stories and experiences through Topic and other media.
j) Review applications for Diocesan “crisis relief” grants (up to $5,000) and monitor report-outs in annual vestry reports.
RESOLUTION 6-5
MOVED: The Rev. Alex Wilson
SECONDED: The Rev. Simbarashe Basvi
Synod asks the Bishop to develop, through the standing committees of the diocese and in consultation with parishes and representatives of Indigenous communities, a Diocesan Housing Vision that articulates a theological perspective on land and outlines a governance framework for development projects, including the specification of principles and policies regarding using church assets and properties to create an Affordable Housing Fund and decommodify housing.
RESOLUTION 6-6
MOVED: The Rev. Alex Wilson
SECONDED: The Rev. Simbarashe Basvi
Synod directs the Diocese to establish an Affordable Housing Implementation Committee to help bring these resolutions and recommendations to fruition.
MOVED: Irene Pang
SECONDED: The Rev. Jeffrey Preiss.
Synod directs Diocesan Council to establish a Land Use Committee. The Land Use Committee shall comprise a variety of lay and ordained members, including:
The Land Use Committee shall be tasked with:
Due to time constraints, two resolutions were not able to be fully debated prior to the conclusion of Synod. The final resolution recommended in the original report by the Housing and Homelessness Task Force, which proposed establishing an Affordable Housing Implementation Committee, was the subject of a significant proposed amendment. Because that amendment had canonical / constitutional implications, the rules of order of the Diocese required that it be referred to the Constitution & Canons Committee for further consideration. The resolution, and subject to that Committee’s recommendations, the amendment, will ultimately be considered by Diocesan Council, together with another resolution submitted later on Day 2 which follows:
RESOLUTION 6-7
Moved by: The Rev. Matthew Johnson
Seconded by: Rev. Alex Wilson
Resolved:
That Synod requests that the Bishop, together with a delegation from the Diocese, including an Indigenous Elder from this Diocese, request a meeting with the Premier of BC, David Eby, and the Housing Minister, Ravi Kahlon, seeking:
(a) to express the Diocese’s profound concern about homelessness, and housing for the vulnerable, in particular:
i. those with significant mental illness;
ii. those seeking residential addiction treatment programs, and transitional housing;
iii. Indigenous persons in urban settings; including at-risk Indigenous youth, women, and those with profiles similar to murdered and missing Indigenous women;
iv. street-involved persons with complex needs (e.g., mental illness and addiction); and
v. other at-risk populations; and
(b) to urge commitment and follow-through in the timely expansion of significant housing stock and related supports for these vulnerable populations.
This Resolution was referred to DIOCESAN COUNCIL