1. Urge the Primate and the next Officers and Council of the General Synod to begin actively pursuing the pathways outlined in Creating Pathways for the Transformational Change of the General Synod;
2. Ask that the Primate and the next Officers and Council of the General Synod report to the Members of General Synod no less than annually on steps taken in respect of the pathways outlined Creating Pathways for the Transformational Change of the General Synod with a cumulative report to be delivered to General Synod 2028.

The Primate’s Commission (‘Commission’), having consulted with Anglicans from coast to coast to coast, have developed 6 pathways that the Commission trusts have the potential to strengthen the ministry of inviting and deepening life in Christ through the Anglican Church of Canada’s General Synod and make a positive impact on Ecclesiastical Provinces, Dioceses and Territories, Parishes and Congregations.

The Commission looks specifically at the work of ‘General Synod’ that is defined for the purpose of this report as:  The national organizational entity, instituted by dioceses, that has continued to evolve since inception 1893 to take on specific responsibilities to hold Anglicans across the country in relationship with one another and with Anglicans across the Communion.

Commissioned by the Most Rev. Linda Nicholls near the end of her term as Primate, the Commission, “Reimagining the Church: Proclaiming the Gospel in the 21st Century”,  was mandated to think creatively and reimagine what changes need to be made so that the gospel could continue to be at the centre our church’s life. Restricted to a two-year time frame that began in July 2023 the Primate’s Commission understood its tasks:

• to ask the question of what is needed now at the national level – in the 21^st Century – to effectively proclaim the gospel in sustainable and life-giving ways?
• to chart a path for transformation of General Synod structures and resources to assist churches and communities of the Anglican Church of Canada to proclaim the Gospel, and
• to honour the ongoing journey with the Sacred Circle as described in The Covenant and Our Way of Life.

The report seeks to communicate a sense of prophetic imagination, urgency, a refusal to ignore difficult conversations, and an invitation to embrace provocative risk-taking ideas. It is not limited by the ‘way things have always been done’ but rather embraces our current context and the hope-filled mission to walk on the road with Jesus alongside us as the Gospel is proclaimed.

A full copy of the report is found in the General Synod Convening Circular (report 018).

In the normal course, an ordinary motion must be passed by a majority of the members of General Synod present and voting together.

Six members of General Synod may, prior to the question being put, require a vote by Orders, with a majority of each Order being necessary to pass.

If a question passes on a Vote by Orders, any six members (two from each of three different dioceses) may immediately before the next item of business require a vote to be taken by dioceses. A motion passes if a majority (or a tie) of dioceses vote in favour.

Source: Sections 4 and 5 of the Declaration of Principles and sections 18, 19 and 20 of the Rules of Order and Procedure.