RESOLUTION CARRIED

Subject: Final Report of the Primate’s Commission on Theological Education and Formation for Presbyteral Ministry  and Recommendations

Moved By: The Rev. Canon Todd Townshend, Diocese of Huron

Seconded By: The Rt. Rev.  John Chapman, Diocese of Ottawa

Be it resolved that this General Synod

1.  receive the Final Report of the Primate’s Commission on Theological Education and Formation for Presbyteral Ministry and adopt  Competencies for Theological Education for Ordination to the Priesthood in the Anglican Church of Canada and commend this document to the dioceses for implementation;

2.  a.  request the Primate in consultation with the Council of General Synod to develop pathways to support implementation by dioceses of the Competencies and report on such implementation on a regular basis to the Council of General Synod.

b.  direct the Council of General Synod to build on the work of this Commission to fulfill its responsibilities for theological education by:

• coordinating a national register of recommended resource persons for ministry formation to assist in the achievement of the Competencies;
• identifying and/or developing other resources to assist in the implementation of  these competencies across the church, as appropriate, e.g. teachers, mentors, programmatic materials and centres of excellence in teaching and ministerial formation;
• strengthening stewardship, including increased financial capacity to support ministerial development, and more effective approaches to the distribution of these resources.

3.  Direct the Council of General Synod to undertake the emergent work recommended during this consultation process, as follows:

a.  develop mechanisms to ensure that the Competencies continue to reflect the current needs of the Church;

b.  develop ways to support the faith formation of the whole people of God, with a view to formation in community for discipleship and mission;

c.  develop guidelines for competencies for the diaconate;

d.  develop guidelines for competencies for the episcopate;

e.  consider the development of a national roster of ordained ministry personnel;

f.  continue to work in concert with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada in all of these recommended initiatives, and to work more broadly ecumenically where appropriate.

4. request that the House of Bishops

a. create regular opportunities to reflect together upon the meaning and significance of the Competencies and upon their implementation;

b. develop ways of strengthening the mutual accountability of bishops in the exercise of their responsibilities regarding ordination within the mandates of the General Synod.

Source : Faith, Worship, and Ministry Committee

Submitted By: Faith, Worship, and Ministry Committee

Does this motion contain within it any financial implications?      Yes     No x
Contained within the operational budget of Faith, Worship, and Ministry

If yes, has the General Synod Expenditures Committee considered the implications?   Yes    No

EXPLANATORY NOTE/BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Recognizing the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada Declaration of Principles, item 6, “subject to the provisions of section 7 the General Synod shall have authority and jurisdiction in all matters affecting in any way the general interest and well-being of the whole Church and in particular: . . . (l) the basic standards of theological education, and the qualifications and training of candidates for the ministry of the Church . . . ”, the Commission recommends the above actions to the General Synod of 2013.

See full text of the Final Report of the Primate’s Commission on Theological Education and Formation for Presbyteral Ministry, contained within the Report of the Faith, Worship, and Ministry Committee

PROCEDURE FOR ADOPTION (G)

In the normal course, an ordinary motion must be passed by a majority of the Order of Bishops, and by a majority of the Orders of Clergy and Laity 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 require a vote to be taken by dioceses.  A motion passes if a majority of dioceses (or a tie) vote in favour.

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