Marriage canon, Indigenous church, Journal’s future expected to be discussed at CoGS

Council of General Synod (CoGS), the executive body of General Synod, will meet November 23-25 in Mississauga, Ont.

Among the topics expected to be discussed and considered are:

• the proposed changes to the marriage canon that would allow same-sex marriage
• the future of an Indigenous Anglican church and
• recommendations for the future of the Anglican Journal.

Other agenda items typically include a report from the primate and an overview of the budget for the upcoming year.

Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, suggested after the House of Bishops meeting in late October that a conversation concerning “amendment to the amendment” of the marriage canon held at that meeting may continue at CoGS. This would include adding wording to the resolution that would include protections for those holding a traditional view of marriage, should the resolution pass at General Synod.

He also said that it would be likely the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples (ACIP), which guides Indigenous ministry in the church, would report to CoGS with some details of potential proposals to be brought before General Synod in July, which may include legislative changes to develop an Indigenous Anglican church within the Anglican Church of Canada.

The Anglican Journal and Communications and Information Resources Joint Working Group, which was formed in 2016, is expected to bring their final report with recommendations to CoGS, with a possible report to General Synod in 2019.

The membership of CoGS is made up of the primate, bishops, chancellor, prolocutor and deputy prolocutor of the Anglican Church of Canada as well as elected clergy and lay members of General Synod, one youth member from each ecclesiastical province elected by General Synod, one member nominated by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) and two members nominated by ACIP. The general secretary of the General Synod is an ex officio member, without voting privileges.

CoGS meets twice annually. It next meeting will take place March 14-17, 2019.

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