Synod asks if Church

is over-governed

(Staff) General Synod voted to begin discussions on a possible restructuring of the Anglican Church of Canada. There are fears that it is currently top-heavy and over-governed. Changes could include:

1. The elimination of the four provinces and transfer of their powers to General Synod;

2. Maintaining the present structure but transferring some of the powers to General Synod;

3. Reorganizing the dioceses into groupings with greater common

goals, concerns, needs and interests.

Other points to explore:

1. Adjusting diocesan boundaries to reflect modern transportation patterns and population shifts.

2. Reducing the number of dioceses (currently there are 30);

3. Implementing any other changes that might improve the effectiveness, efficiency or economy of the operation of dioceses.

In 1971 there were 1,109,000 Anglicans on parish rolls but by 2001, the numbers had dropped to 641,845--a decrease of 42 percent. Yet there are now more active bishops (40) than in 1971, and there are more members of General Synod (300) than 35 years ago even though the number of Anglicans has dropped dramatically and givings are also down.

Council of General Synod said there might be significant advantages in reducing the number of dioceses in several parts of the country by amalgamation to seek efficiencies in ministry and lower administrative costs.

However, there are some concerns that reducing the number of bishops in more remote dioceses that have large land masses would be counterproductive. A bishop who would now take a day and a half to travel across his diocese would need three or four days to cross it, thus making personal visitation even more difficult and increasing travel costs.

The rural dioceses, which tend to be theologically conservative, fear that they would be most heavily penalized and would lose considerable voting clout in Synod. They argued that it is more expensive to centralize ministry and that such ministry would not be sensitive to the grassroots it should serve.

See also:

• Meet the new guys in charge

• Same-sex blessings defeated; 'not credal doctrine' passed

• Synod: No to Primates

• No BCP revision for now

• Council of the North free to fundraise

• Group silenced at Synod - speaks out in letters