Despite the obvious preoccupation with issues of human sexuality over the last three days of General Synod 2007, a significant amount of other business was conducted. Major decisions included the following:
1. By passing Resolution A190, Synod refused to endorse changes in the membership of the Anglican Consultative Council [ACC] proposed by that body in Resolution 4 of its June 19-28, 2005 meeting in Nottingham which would render all Primates and Moderators of the churches of the Anglican Communion additional ex officio members of the Council. In order to become effective, the ACC motion required the support of "two thirds of the Provinces of the Anglican Communion giving their approval of such a change by resolution of the appropriate constitutional body."
2. By referring Resolutions A021 and A022 to the Council of General Synod for further consideration, Synod declined to give first reading to motions authorizing changes in its "Declaration of Principles."
3. By passing Resolution A188, Synod gave approval for the Primate "to initiate discussion with the provinces and dioceses of the Anglican Church of Canada regarding" not only "the possible reform of the provincial organization of the Anglican Church of Canada," but also of its "diocesan organization."
4. By approving an amended version of Resolution A226, Synod directed "the Faith Worship and Ministry Committee to prepare principles and an agenda for [revision of our contemporary language worship texts and the creation of fresh liturgical expressions]." A key amendment moved by Prolocutor-elect Stephen Andrews effectively protected the church from any prospect of Prayer Book revision by replacing the original words "common worship texts revision" with those above in parentheses.
5. By passing Resolutions A210, A212 and A213, Synod endorsed support of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, as well as a series of solidarity measures with Middle Eastern Christians and a range of supportive responses to the UN's Millennium Development goals.
6. By passage of Resolutions A263 and A264, Synod approved recommended changes to the church's Long Term Disability Plan.
7. By giving second reading to Resolution A020 and passing Resolution A040, Synod endorsed amendments to its "Declaration of Principles" and to its Constitution enabling active clergy of any denomination in full communion with the Anglican Church of Canada, who have been licensed to minister in a particular diocese, to be elected to Synod and its various offices.
8. By approving Resolution A240, Synod asked the Council of General Synod to convene a task force "to conduct a detailed study of the role, duties, and functions of the Primate" and "to recommend changes, if any," to the relevant Canon ahead of General Synod 2010.
General Synod 2007 closed June 25 with a memorable Installation Service for its 13th Primate, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, at St. Matthew's Church, Winnipeg, at which Archbishop John Sentamu of York was the preacher.
(Editor's note: This posting completes news coverage of General Synod 2007. "New Vision" will continue to feature periodic updates and analysis on Synod's aftermath here and/or at http://www.churchinfoweb.com/newvision).
