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A127 
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
GENERAL SYNOD 2023
RESOLUTION
Resolution Number: A127
Carried 
Subject: Ecumenical Relations – Anglican-Mennonite Dialogue in Canada
Moved By: The Most Rev. Lynne McNaughton
Seconded By: Finn Keesmaat-Walsh
Be it resolved that this General Synod:

 Direct the Faith, Worship and Ministry Committee to work with Mennonite Church Canada to establish a working group to conduct further bilateral dialogue between the Anglican Church of Canada and Mennonite Church Canada at the national level,

  1. Including one member appointed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and members appointed by the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples
  2. focusing on questions of ministry and orders as they pertain to the potential for local ecumenical shared ministry at congregational levels, using the methodology of Receptive Ecumenism, and
  3. reporting on learnings and presenting recommendations to the next meeting of the General Synod.

Source: Faith, Worship, and Ministry Coordinating Committee

Submitted By: Faith, Worship, and Ministry Coordinating Committee

Does this motion contain within it any financial implications? 
No

If yes, has the General Synod Expenditures Committee considered the implications? 

Yes     No

EXPLANATORY NOTE/BACKGROUND

In 2017 the Anglican-Mennonite Dialogue in Canada undertook a 5-year initial phase of ecumenical dialogue using the model of receptive ecumenism. This dialogue has proven very beneficial for strengthening connections and communication between the two churches and has revealed many ways that we can walk together more closely as ecumenical partners. One area where this potential seems particularly evident is cooperation and sharing in local ministry settings. Having invested in the hard work of laying the foundations of a new ecumenical relationship, we do not want to lose the momentum now.

While the ACC and Mennonite Church Canada already engage in ecumenical action through coalitions like Kairos and ecumenical forums such as the Canadian Council of churches, a regular a bilateral (i.e., church-to-church) opportunity for engagement between the two churches has considerable value. This resolution allows that to continue along two related tracks: 1) Greater practical cooperation in national initiatives of justice and peace on matters of shared commitment, and 2) Theological dialogue for the purposes of minimizing barriers to greater local cooperation and sharing in witness and ministry.

PROCEDURE FOR ADOPTION

 (G)

In the normal course, an ordinary motion must be passed by a majority of the members of General Synod present and voting together.

Six members of General Synod may, prior to the question being put, require a vote by Orders, with a majority of each Order being necessary to pass. 

If a question passes on a Vote by Orders, any six members (two from each of three different dioceses) may immediately before the next item of business require a vote to be taken by dioceses.  A motion passes if a majority (or a tie) of dioceses vote in favour.  

Source: Sections 4 and 5 of the Declaration of Principles and sections 18, 19 and 20 of the Rules of Order and Procedure.

  • on the no-debate list
Resolution download and history

Matthew 10:40-42

Rewards

40 “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous, 42 and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”

John 15:12-17

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing, but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

John 21:15-19

Jesus and Peter

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” 19 (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Luke 11:33-36

The Light of the Body

33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a bushel basket; rather, one puts it on the lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but if it is unhealthy, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore consider whether the light in you is not darkness. 36 But if your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays.”

Matthew 8:1-4

Jesus Cleanses a Man

8 When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him, and there was a man with a skin disease who came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing. Be made clean!” Immediately his skin disease was cleansed. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”