The Niagara Synod: Who are we?

Preamble:

The word Synod has a number of related meanings. Synod is a legal entity. The Synod of the Diocese of Niagara, is established by act of the Ontario Legislature. The offices of this Synod of Niagara are located at Cathedral Place, 252 James St N, Hamilton. The office of the Bishop, the Program Department and the Financial Department all are situated at this location. These departments all have a number of responsibilities overseen by management and staff support people, as well as sub-committees.

Most importantly our Synod is a pastoral office. Whether we refer to the Bishop, the Diocesan Synod, the Synod Council, the General (National) Synod, Synod staff - all of it is intended to facilitate the proclamation of the Good News of Christ in our society. Below are some descriptions of the the different aspects and uses of the word "Synod".

Bishop:

Clearly in our tradition, the Bishop is called to preside over the Anglican community called the Diocese. The Bishop’s role is prophet, leader, reconciler, pastor, administrator – and above all, to be a living and walking example of Christ and his teachings "alive" today. The Bishop is assisted and guided by the Diocesan assembly called Synod.

Diocesan Synod:

Diocesan Synod is composed of the Rectors of our parishes along with elected lay representatives from every parish in the diocese. The synod (somewhere around 400 delegates) meets annually, presided over by our Bishop. The work of the synod is to pray and deliberate, giving direction to the diocese and to our Bishop. They review the work, ministry and financial records of the church. The synod sets new budgets and democratically passes new legislation and initiatives and directions related to the ministry of the Church through the parishes. The Synod and its deliberations are based on the Anglican view that God’s Spirit is at work in the people who constitute the Anglican Church Community. We pray, listen and speak, confident that God’s work will be done in our Church.

Occasionally special assemblies of the Synod may be called to discuss a single important issue facing the diocese or for the election of a new bishop. A recent example of this was when Bishop Spence called together Synod to discuss our responsibility in the Residential School Settlement in Canada.

Synod Council:

The work of the Church goes on between the large gatherings of our synod. Many decisions have to be made throughout the year. Synod Council consisting of clergy and lay members from the six regions of our diocese constitute Synod Council. They meet with the Bishop monthly, to prayerfully discuss the ministry (present and future) of our diocese.

General Synod:

The Canadian Anglican Church is composed of some 30 dioceses. Every four years delegates are elected from each diocese to gather at the General Synod. Here the matters which affect the Canadian Church and our society at large are discussed. Inevitably, the experience of this Synod is the feeling that God’s Spirit works among the people. Reconciliation, healing, consensus, growth and new life are the words most often used by the delegate to explain the experience of gathering at this national assembly of Anglicans. The General Synod is presided over by the Primate Archbishop of Canada. Currently our primate is Archbishop Michael Peers.