July 3, 2007 Hiltz chosen as new primate

In an inner-city church reflecting the diversity of the Anglican Communion, Frederick James Hiltz was installed on June 25 as the 13th primate of the Anglican Church of Canada and national archbishop.

---

July 3, 2007 Purification

Native elder Linda Blomme leads a smudging ceremony on the banks of Winnipeg’s Red River. Used to purify people and places before a sacred ceremony, the smudge was performed near St. John’s Cathedral prior to the opening worship...

---

July 3, 2007 Same-sex questions still vex Synod

In decisions that will lead to varied interpretations over the next three years, General Synod 2007 agreed that blessing rites for gay couples are “not in conflict” with core church doctrine, but refused to affirm the authority of dioceses to offer them.

---

July 3, 2007 Bishops discuss fallout from same-sex votes at General Synod

Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada met June 26 – the morning after General Synod ended – to discuss the ramifications of their slim vote against allowing dioceses to offer church blessing rites to gay couples.

---

July 3, 2007 Anglican Journal delivers ... daily

For the first time, the Anglican Journal, the monthly national newspaper of the Anglican Church of Canada, produced a daily newspaper for the entirety of the meeting of General Synod.

---

July 3, 2007 Council of the North funding affirmed

Following a lively presentation by the Council of the North, General Synod voted unanimously to affirm that support grants to the church in Canada’s North will continue at no less than the current level for the next five years.

---

July 3, 2007 Synod examines church’s governance

Members of General Synod took a step toward changes in the governance and structure of the Anglican Church of Canada by approving a motion allowing the primate, after consultation with the house of bishops, to begin discussion with the provinces and dioceses about the “possible reform” of the church’s provincial and diocesan organization and structures.

---

July 3, 2007 The art of the matter

Sacred Expressions was the title for a collection of 50 artworks, including Welcoming, Widening World (above) by Garth C. Panting, that expressed the General Synod theme, Draw the Circle Wide, Draw It Wider Still! Images of the artworks were projected on the meeting’s large screen during worship.

---

July 3, 2007 ACC membership change resisted

General Synod members voted to send a message to the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) that adding all Anglican primates (national bishops) to the membership of the ACC, one of the four instruments of unity of the Anglican Communion, would be an unwelcome change.

---

July 3, 2007 Synod defeats Windsor’s moratorium on blessing

One of the first skirmishes on same-sex issues took place early in General Synod as members defeated a motion that would have called on dioceses to comply with a moratorium on blessing ceremonies for gay couples.

---