April 2023 Synod Staff Meeting

The staff of the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster have a scheduled meeting once a month, 10 times a year (no July or August) almost always on the first Wednesday morning of the month. The April 2023 meeting took place on April 5 which was the Wednesday of Holy Week. A busy time for Bishop John and a busy time for all.

At this meeting, the recently appointed Minister for Climate Response (who is also the recently appointed and installed Vicar of the Parish of St. Bart's, Gibsons), the Reverend Joyce Parry-Moore was present for the first staff meeting of her tenure, and as good fortune would have it, Mother Joyce celebrates a late April birthday. The Synod staff tradition is that all the staff birthdays taking place in that month are celebrated with a fine rendition of "Happy Birthday to You" and a cake to share. Prior to Mother Joyce's appointment the staff had not had an April birthday for quite some time.

Missioner for Indigenous Justice, Kerry Baisley, ODNW was the chair. Each Synod staff member is given an opportunity to be "chair" over the course of an 18 month schedule.

Highlights included: some discussion about the upcoming May 12 and 13 Diocesan Synod meeting, (the 122nd!), Bishop John's report on his activities since the last staff meeting in early March, which included a report on his Study Leave trip to Northern Ireland; Director of Mission and Ministry Development, the Reverend Tellison Glover's positive report on the work of both of the diocesan standing committees, Mission and Ministry and Property and Finance and how the two committees will begin combining their reporting to streamline communications, and he also spoke about the progress of the Property Development Committee.

IMAGES

• Mother Joyce cuts the cake
• April Staff Meeting Chair, Kerry Baisley
• Anglican Archivist, Marche Riley; Special Projects Coordinator for Diocesan Mission and Ministry, the Reverend Alecia Greenfield; Kerry Baisley
• Bishop John offers his monthly report to staff
• Mother Joyce takes a moment to read the birthday wishes from staff in her card
• The Reverend Tellison Glover.