The 42nd General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada is only a bit more than two weeks away. Most Canadian Anglicans don’t get to go to General Synod, but we can still be active and participate. How? It may seem obvious, but we can keep the delegates and those who are attending in our prayers. There are some big decisions to be made, and there is sure to be conflict. No matter what happens, some people will leave General Synod feeling discouraged. As our soon-to-retire Primate, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, said when he visited St. John’s for Queen’s College Convocation, “There is nothing evil about conflict—it’s how we deal with it.” We must not question the sincerity which people bring with their convictions just because they are different from our own. We need to listen to everybody. We need to pray for everybody. We are all in this together.
Our our Book of Common Prayer says it best:
Most gracious God, we humbly beseech thee for thy holy Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth; in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it Is in error, direct it; where any thing is amiss, reform it; where it is right, strengthen and confirm it; where it is in want, furnish it; where it is divided and rent asunder, make it whole again; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
If you want more information about General Synod, there is a website for that:
https://gs2019.anglican.ca
I highly recommend a look through the resolutions, a look at the biographies for the candidates for the next Primate, and in particular a look at the lections and liturgical suggestions for Sunday July 14th (found here: https://gs2019.anglican.ca/suggestions/)
Finally, here are a few prayers for General Synod that you may find helpful.
God of our ancestors, God of our future,
who was and is and is to come,
you have named us in baptism,
and called us into friendship with you and one another. In this General Synod,
give all participants grace to listen well,
to speak with respect,
to deliberate with wisdom,
and to honour this gathering of your beloved Church;
through Jesus Christ, before whose name we bow in adoration and praise, now and for ever. Amen.
Almighty God, giver of all good gifts, look on your Church with grace, and guide the minds of those who shall choose a Primate for our beloved Church, that we may receive a faithful servant who will care for your people and support us in our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Guide, we beseech thee, Almighty God, by the light of thy Holy Spirit, the counsels of the Bishops, Clergy, and Laity at this time assembled in General Synod; that thy Church may dwell in peace, and fulfil all the mind of him who loved it and gave himself for it, thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
