The Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul
June 29th 2022
Delegates from the Diocese of Moosonee gathered on June 14th at 15th, 2022 in Cochrane, Ontario for an historic Assembly. This gathering brought the Season of Holy Discernment to a close following two years of diocesan consultations under the guidance and leadership of the Assisting Bishop of Moosonee Fred Hiltz. We are most grateful for Archbishop Fred’s wise and discerning leadership, as well as the energy and skill he brought to this time.
The Diocesan Discernment Working Group brought forward ten recommendations to The Assembly which will enhance the mission and ministry of our diocese in the future. As each of these recommendations was presented to the Assembly there was opportunity for table group discussions and questions.
Each of the recommendations was endorsed by consensus by the Assembly and officially approved by the Diocese of Moosonee’s Executive Council at its meeting on June 28th, 2022.
Because the Diocese of Moosonee is a Mission Area of the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario we wish to keep the Province informed about each of the recommendations, and to ask for your prayers as we shift from discernment work into a time of implementation. The first three recommendations have to do with the Diocese as a Mission Area, its Governance, and the shape of Episcopal Leadership in the future.
One recommendation has to do with the creation of a Canon for a Diocesan Council of Indigenous People, and one for our ongoing commitment to the Calls to Action of the TRC. The final five recommendations have to do with the establishment of various diocesan committees.
The Ten Recommendations are as follows:
1. Mission Area:
The Assembly recommends that for a further three-year period, with a review near the end of that period, The Diocese of Moosonee remain a Mission Area of The Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario, in accord with provisions set out in Canon 3, namely that the Metropolitan serve as the Diocesan Bishop with authority to appoint one or more Administrators for the diocese.
2. Composition of Synod:
This Assembly recommends that Canon 2, “Of the Composition of Synod”, be revised to make the composition of Synod to include clerical and lay delegates from every parish in the diocese; and that Canon 8, “The Executive Council”, Part I (1) be revised to make the Executive Council a body elected by Synod.
3. Episcopal Ministry:
The Assembly recommends the election of a Suffragan Bishop. Given our financial picture we envision this person giving 50% of their time to episcopal ministry and 50% to a parish ministry.
It is further recommended that:
- the Suffragan Bishop be an Indigenous person resident in James Baie Deanery.
- that the election by Synod be made from a list of nominees provided by the Diocesan Council of Indigenous Peoples (Diocesan Council of Indigenous People)
- that DCIP assist in defining the model of oversight to be employed by the Suffragan Bishop.
4. The Diocesan Council of Indigenous People (DCIP): That this Assembly recommends the creation of a Canon for the Diocesan Council of Indigenous Peoples, setting forth its mandate, membership and frequency of meeting, its representation on Executive Council and its place in Synod. This canon should be drafted in consultation with Indigenous Leaders throughout the diocese.
5. Truth & Reconciliation Committee Recommendation
That this Assembly recommends the re-vitalizing of the work of our Truth and Reconciliation Committee through wider membership with strong diocesan support for its work.
6. Creation Care Committee
That this Assembly recommends the establishing of a Creation Care Committee.
7. Intentional Discipleship and Formation for Ministry: That this Assembly recommends the establishing of Standing Committee for Intentional Discipleship and Formation for Ministry for lay and ordained persons in Moosonee,
And to insure that Diocesan Council of Indigenous People (DCIP ) be in this committee.
8. Postulancy Committee:
That this Assembly recommends the establishment of a Postulancy Committee for Vocations to ordained ministry and that Diocesan Council of Indigenous People (DCIP ) be included in this committee.
9. Stewardship Committee:
That this Assembly recommends the establishing of a Stewardship Committee mandated to provide diocesan wide opportunities for education in the biblical principles and practise of the stewardship of our time, talents, and treasure in the service of God’s Mission in the world.
10. Communications Committee
That this Assembly recommends the establishment of a Communications Committee, charged with the oversight of our Diocesan Website, Facebook Page, The Northland, and other official printed forms of communication, and various forms of digital communication throughout the diocese.
We are grateful to everyone in the Diocese of Moosonee for their eager participation in all of the in person and online gatherings which took place during the Season of Holy Discernment, all of which enabled us to bring forth these recommendations.
We are thankful for the many volunteers who made preparations for our Assembly following a challenging Covid time, and to all the participants who travelled long distances to be together.
We are grateful to the guiding, hovering Holy Spirit during all of our deliberations.
May God’s sustaining presence be with us now as we implement these recommendations.
In Christ’s faith, hope and love,
+Anne