In other news…

The national church is asking individual Anglicans across Canada to share, in a two-minute video, where they have seen God working in their lives and how they are living the Marks of Mission.The videos will be compiled on a “Mission Moments” website that is was launched in December by a team that is promoting the Marks of Mission and the church’s strategic plan, Vision 2019. The five Marks of Mission, which are being promoted by the Anglican Communion worldwide, are: to proclaim the good news of the kingdom; to teach, baptize and nurture new believers; to respond to human need by loving service; to seek to transform unjust structures of society; and to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth. “What we’re trying to demonstrate is that God’s mission is among us,” the Rev. Jesse Dymond, General Synod online community coordinator, told the Council of General Synod at its fall meeting.

For more information, go to www.anglican.ca/marks.

CoGS also:
? Received assurances that the church’s pension plan is in a “fairly comfortable” position despite the global financial crisis. Still, board members are “keeping a close eye” on the “challenging” economic situation, said committee member Bob Boeckner, of the diocese of Toronto.
? Received a report from the Faith, Worship and Ministry Committee about its work on the solemnization of marriage. The report concludes that consultations with experts “have not suggested a deep willingness to embrace the theological and pastoral implications of denying the validity of civil marriage.” The 2010 General Synod had asked the committee to examine the canonical, theological and liturgical implications that could arise if the Anglican Church of Canada moved from solemnizing marriages to a European model of blessing civil unions.
? Approved the new terms of reference and membership for the Anglican Journal Committee. The committee replaces the Anglican Journal Board, which was dissolved following the de-incorporation of the Anglican Journal. Vianney (Sam) Carriere, director of Communications and Information Resources, said the Journal would be transferred from the corporation to General Synod effective Jan. 1, 2012.
? Approved a memorandum of understanding between the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) and General Synod. It states that General Synod relationships staff and PWRDF staff “will seek to act collaboratively or together in all matters except those in which we must act separately for financial, contractual or legal reasons.” The memorandum does not disincorporate PWRDF or integrate General Synod’s relationships work into PWRDF.