Saskatchewan The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • November 2016 www.facebook.com/thesaskatchewananglican
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Diocese of Saskatoon's 72nd Synod
Diocese achieves much during last three years By Peter R. Coolen SASKATOON — The Diocese of Saskatoon’s 72nd Synod was held at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Saskatoon from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2. The business sessions of synod and daily Morning and Evening Prayer were held in the cathedral parish hall. The synod began with registration and an opening service in the cathedral. The Right Rev. David Irving, Bishop of Saskatoon, presided at the Eucharist and presented his Bishop’s Charge to the members of synod. Bishop Irving, in his Charge, reviewed the accomplishments made by the diocese over the past three years in term of outreach, growth, new staff, reorganization and new programming. In particular, he highlighted efforts made to meet the spiritual needs of the large aboriginal population of Saskatoon and on reserves in the Battlefords area, plus the seniors in Saskatoon, as well as the progress in developing lay ministry and locally raised clergy to support rural ministry. He noted these efforts will increase and the new rural ministry model beginning in the Eastern Deanery, as well as discussions on sharing some aspects of ministry and administration with the Diocese of Saskatchewan, will help to further service rural needs and support the efforts of both clergy and parishes. During the synod the diocese recognized several people retiring or retired for their long and dedicated service to the diocese: Archdeacon Michael Stonhouse, retiring archdeacon of the Western Deanery, rector of Lloydminster Parish
and the retired executive archdeacon of the diocese, and the Venerable Henry M. Comerford, were both collated as Archdeacons Emeritus while Canon Dr. Beth R.E. Bilson Q.C., who is retiring after serving as diocesan chancellor for 17 years, was collated as a Canon Emeritus. A portion of the daily business sessions of synod was taken up with education presentations: the Rev. Dr. Iain Luke, the new principal of the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad, gave a presentation on “Building Up Rural Congregation,” while the Rev. Shawn Sanford Beck spoke on the lay ministry and the locally raised clergy programs, while the results of the audit of the 2015 fiscal year were presented. Presentations were made on other diocesan programs including Mary Ann Assailly on TRC, Klaus Gruber on the diocesan refugees support and re-settlement programs, and the four delegates to this year’s General Synod meeting (Chris Wood, the Venerable Ken Watts, the Rev. Alex Parsons and Meghan Lofgren) They gave reports on their impressions, frustrations and positive experiences from attending General Synod. They also discussed their physical and spiritual exhaustion from being involved in the, sometimes heated, debates concerning the Marriage Canon and the confusion due to the voting process. Small groups at synod discussed ideas for and problems perceived with the potentials for resource sharing between the dioceses of Saskatoon and Saskatchewan, and the Marriage Canon. The latter discussion, which was very effectively lead by Marie-Louise
CLOTHING JESUS
St. Martin of Tours, bishop of Tours, France, is best known for the account of using his military sword to cut his cloak in two, to give half to a beggar clad only in rags in the depth of winter. That night, Martin dreamed of Jesus wearing the half-cloak he had given away. Martin's memorial in the Anglican church is Nov. 11. “Lord God of hosts, who clothed your servant Martin the soldier with the spirit of sacrifice, and set him as a bishop in your Church to be a defender of the catholic faith: Give us grace to follow in his holy steps, that at the last we may be found clothed with righteousness in the dwellings of peace; guide the nations of the world into the way of justice and truth, and establish among them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.” Photo courtesy Alfred Rethel/Wikimedia
Ternier-Gommers, was a much more civil exchange of ideas than that which had been reported from General Synod. The comments and ideas from both table discussions will be used as resources by the synod office and parishes. Following the evening meal on Saturday, the Rev. Canon Richard LeSueur gave a presentation on the Diocese of Jerusalem. On Sunday morning, the business of synod wrapped
up, the result of balloting and elections was announced, while appreciation and acknowledgements were made to those involved in the planning and running of synod. The closing Eucharist service for synod began after the closing of the final session of synod; for the service, the Bishop of Saskatoon, the Right Rev. David Irving, presided and the Rev. Canon Richard LeSueur preached, in a service dedicated to
St. Francis of Assisi, to a nearly full cathedral. Four deacons (the Reverends Janice Trost, Barbara Forsyth, Trevor Malyon and Mattaeo Carboni) were ordained to the priesthood during the joyous service and celebration.