Report of General Synod 2023

Report of General Synod 2023 delivered to Parish Council. August 22, 2023 by Susan Little

The Highlight of General Synod

The major highlight of Assembly 2023: “Let there be greening!” happened on the last night of business when the Anglican Council of Indigenous People (ACIP) presented a series of visual updates of their work across the country.

At its conclusion, the National Indigenous Bishop, Chris Harper, led us in a reflection based on the gospel of Mark. He explained the importance of community which is the common humanity that binds us all together. In his usual gentle and encouraging way, he got us to do what he said Indigenous folk do when celebrating together. He asked us all to move to the sides of our large meeting area (a gym) and then to hold hands. Next he formed a small group and asked it to begin circling the altar in the middle of the gym while the outside circle moved around the gym’s perimeter, both circles moving to the rhythm of a recorded drum. As we moved, one overlapping group of the circle emerged and broke open into its own space, circling and following the rest of the larger circle. Slowly and rhythmically, many circles emerged and moved into their own space, creating circles within the greater circle until all were connected. There it was: the whole body of General Synod joining hands and dancing together, forming circles within circles. What fun we had! How triumphant we felt when the music ended and we had created a magnificent tightly-knit circle: God’s people, unified together and having fun. A true community!

Read more of the report in the attached document below