Special Synod take a team to organize!

Organizing a synod session takes a large team. Both staff and volunteers are working to ensure that the 140th session of Synod, a special session on April 18 to discuss the future of Christ Church Cathedral, is well-planned and well-executed.

Meetings began in January, after a late-November decision of Diocesan Council to go ahead with the gathering, to be held at the Cathedral. Several sub-committees are busy making their plans. They include worship (Dean Geoffrey Hall), resolutions (Chancellor David Bell), arrangements (Susan Dickie), agenda (Cheryl Jacobs and Archbishop David Edwards), technical support (Peter Jacobs and David Wilson) and communications (Gisele McKnight).

The planning team has been meeting monthly to discuss ideas and challenges. As questions arise, they are discussed and resolved. Some of these include: Where do we put the screens? How many microphones? What’s for lunch? How many people should we expect? Some decisions have been made that will make this special synod different, such as there will be no printed circular, and Communion will be distributed from the high altar in the style of Bishop Medley.

In the theme of keeping things simple, worship will be from the prayer and hymn books in the pew holders, featuring accompaniment by music director Thomas Gonder, a service of holy eucharist, noonday prayers and possibly evening prayer, depending on the time the session ends. Much of the day's direction will come from discussions at the Greater Chapter meetings held in March.

What synod delegates can expect is a day devoted to one topic only — the business of how the Cathedral building will continue in the next few decades. “I urge all synod delegates to attend the April 18 special session,” said executive officer Cheryl Jacobs. “Given the new costing estimates, in particular, the path forward is not predetermined. It is important we hear from all the parts of our diocese as we together seek God’s will regarding this much-loved place of worship, which belongs to us all.”

Derwin Gowan photos.