Joint Assembly 2013

Have we ever really stopped to think about how much water has shaped the course of history? How much the use of water shapes our daily routines? How access to clean water is a given in some places in the world and such a crisis in others?

The resolution on peace and justice in Palestine and Israel,passed by the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada at itsOttawa meeting earlier this month, has met with mixed reactions fromPalestinian and Israeli organizations.

In response to the suicide crisis affecting some native communities in western Canada and in the Arctic, the Anglican Church of Canada's indigenous ministries department has appointed a new suicide prevention co-ordinator for that region.

Archbishop Fred Hiltz described the recently concluded Joint Assembly as a "spirit-filled, spirit-led" gathering that can only strengthen the full communion relationship of the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC).

For some Canadian Anglicans, General Synod's decision on July 6 tobring to its next meeting in 2016 a resolution changing the church'slaw to allow same-sex marriage will bring new life; but others argue itwill only serve to precipitate its decline.

On the final morning of Joint Assembly, eminent theologian Dr.Christopher Duraisingh, who was the keynote speaker, told the Anglicansand Lutherans that he had sometimes turned the words fromthe assembly's theme, "Together for the Love of the World," around inhis mind to be "Together in Love for the World."

They've been training for weeks. Some are local, others from out of town. They are Lutherans and Anglicans, clergy and laity, young and old. They are the roughly 100 volunteers who help run the complex machine that is Joint Assembly.

With Archdeacon Sid Black at the helm, the presentation by the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples kicked off with a couple of rousing Gospel-style tunes sung and played by Bishop Mark MacDonald, NIGP ("national indigenous guitar player").

Bishop Phillip Poole, chairman of the Anglican Church of Canada's pension committee, introduced resolutions on the church's pension and continuing education plans. The five resolutions, recommended by the trustees, were previously presented to the pension committee and the Council of General Synod.

The July 6 session of General Synod 2013 ended with an expression of thanks by Archbishop Colin Johnson of Toronto to the diocese of Ottawa for hosting General Synod 2013. He also invited members to attend General Synod in Toronto in three years' time.

General Synod on July 6 approved a resolution that will bring the issueof same-sex marriage to a vote at the meeting of the Anglican Church ofCanada's governing body in 2016.

Bishop Lydia Mamakwa wiped away tears of joy, while Archbishop DavidAshdown and Archbishop Fred Hiltz swayed as a hymn was sung, minutesafter General Synod on July 6 gave its unanimous concurrence to thecreation of an indigenous diocese in northern Ontario.

The faith, worship and ministry committee gave General Synod members an overview of its work in the past triennium, and three resolutions relating to its work were passed.

Hundreds of Anglicans and Lutherans in Ottawa for Joint Assembly converged on Parliament Hill on Saturday morning for a prayer event intended to draw attention to the issue of access to clean water, particularly in aboriginal communities.

Archdeacon Michael Thompson, the national church's general secretary,underscored the importance of the work that's before the Council ofGeneral Synod (CoGS) at the initial meeting of its newly elected memberson July 6.