The following parishes, absent since 2002, were welcomed back to Synod: St. Simon’s Deep Cove, St. Andrew’s Pender Harbour, and Holy Cross, Vancouver.
Deacon presented North American award
| Archdeacon John Struthers presents Tess Meadows with the Stephen Award from the North American Association for the Diaconate for her work in Belize and elsewhere. (Julie H. Ferguson photo) |
The Rev. Tess Meadows of St. John’s, North Vancouver, was awarded the Stephen Award from the North American Association for the Diaconate by Archdeacon John Struthers. She then spoke briefly about her work in Belize, where she has spent the last two years..
Financial Statements and 2006 Budget
Jim Stewart began with thanks to Mike Wellwood, who has left the position of business administrator with the Diocese for VST, for all the work he did, especially with individual parishes. Synod accepted the audited statements for 2005 and the budget for 2006 (essentially the same as that presented in the financial synod in Nov 2005).
Stewardship Development Committee
| The Rev. Kevin Dixon of St. Mary's Kerrisdale and Matthew Stephens of St. Philip's Dunbar, Vancouver, both spoke of their commitment to stewardship at Synod. (Paul Borthistle photo) |
The committee gave a presentation of personal witness from the Rev. Kevin Dixon, chair of the Stewardship Development Committee, and Matthew Stephens of St. Philip’s Dunbar. They then led Synod through an exercise to provide a framework for parishes to elicit and understand the values, interests, and talents of their members. The exercise is available on-line at www. vancouver.anglican.ca or through the office at 604.684.6306x227 (Paige Dampier, Parish Ministry Facilitator).
Resolutions involving youth
Diocesan Synod expanded the age of its youth delegates in a canonical (bylaw) amendment that had its second required reading after having been first passed in 2005. In future Synods youth delegates can be from age 15 up to and including 24 years. Previously they had to be 16 to 20. An amendment urged parishes to make efforts to find youth under 21. Each parish, regardless of size, is entitled to a youth delegate.
The Synod also asked the diocesan leadership, including the Administration and Finance Committee, to see if the diocese next year might be able to create and fund a coordinator of diocesan youth ministries. The resolution came from several of the Synod’s youth delegates, who in addition to attending Synod held a sleep-over Friday night at Capilano College.
Privatization of water opposed
At the urging of the Peace and Justice Committee, Synod declared that fresh water was “a shared legacy, a public trust and a collective responsibility,” and stated opposition to water supply privatization or inclusion under the North American Free Trade Agreement.