A Report on the the Anglican Church Provincial Synod
held in Lloydminster - in 2003

METROPOLITAN ELECTED

The Bishop of Athabasca, the Right Reverend John Clarke was elected Metropolitan at the Provincial Synod of Rupert's Land meeting on Thursday, May 29th.  Bishop Clarke was installed as the fifteenth Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert's Land on June 1st at St. John's Anglican Church, Lloydminster, Saskatchewan.

PROVINCIAL SYNOD REPORT by The Rev. Andrew Horne

The 44th Session of the Synod of the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert's Land was held last week, May 29th - June 1st in Lloydminster, a city straddling the Alberta / Saskatchewan border.  Most of the Synod work was conducted at Lakeland's College, on the Alberta side of the city, while worship was held at St. John's Minster church, just inside Saskatchewan.

The Synod began with a service at St. John's Minster, followed by the election of a new Metropolitan Bishop. The Most Rev. Thomas Morgan is retiring as Metropolitan of our Province, and after seven ballots he was succeeded by the Rt. Rev. John Clarke of the Diocese of Athabasca.

The Friday and Saturday sittings of the Synod began with prayers led by the Rev. David Turvey of Lloydminster, followed by a Bible study led by the Rt. Rev. Tony Burton, Bishop of Saskatchewan.  Friday morning was dedicated largely to a panel discussion of the residential schools issue, titled "After the Settlement - healing and reconciliation." Friday afternoon was dedicated to discussing the controversy over the proposed blessing of same-sex unions.  The National Synod has asked each Provincial Synod for advice on how the issue of same-sex unions might be most profitably discussed.  Members of each diocese discussed this issue among themselves, and then presented its views to the entire Synod. On Saturday the Rt. Rev. Raymond Schultz, National Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, spoke eloquently to Synod about our Anglican-Lutheran Communion, and the many issues facing both our churches.  During the afternoon, Synod discussed possible revision of the National Synod document "A Call to Human Dignity: A Statement of Principles for the Anglican Church of Canada on Dignity, Inclusion and Fair Treatment."  Synod also considered possible changes to the status of Ecclesiastical Matrimonial Commissions within individual dioceses.

Beyond these legislative duties, the delegates enjoy a variety of workshops, featuring: Biblical Cartooning, Prayer and Healing, Music, Youth, and Liturgical Worship. And of course, delegates spent many valuable and pleasant hours visiting with friends, old and new. Provincial Synod concluded on Sunday with a lovely service at St. John's, led by our new Metropolitan John Clarke.