Bishop's Charge to Synod

Charge focuses on relationship through the eye to what it means to be Anglican

Posted November 8, 2014

The Bishop's charge to the second session of the 140th Synod of the Diocese of Niagara focused on the theme of relationship. In a stirring address, Bishop Michael Bird recounted his own faith story and drew upon the Great Commandments to illustrate what being Anglican means for him personally. "I feel blessed by many of our ways of being Anglican, including through theological reflection; careful, meaningful and creative worship; sacraments; our approaches to governance and authority, and, yes, even our structures," observed Bishop Bird. "What I particularly hold dear about my life in the Anglican Church, is the gift of relationship; the precious and life-giving relationship that I have with God and Jesus, the Christ, and the ways that that sacred encounter with the divine has been nourished and made real in the human relationships that I have been blessed with along the way."

Through his charge, the Bishop also reflected upon the recent funeral held for Corporal Cirillo at Christ's Church Cathedral in Hamilton. In doing so, he also paid tribute to Canon Rob Fead "for the incredible ministry he exercised in support of the Cirillo family and the regiment" and to the Cathedral Place staff which helped organize the funeral which was without precedent.

Several priorities for the coming year were also articulated by the Bishop, including celebrating the Diocese's 140th anniversary and renewing our partnerships with organizations in our communities and circles of ministry.

The full text of the charge is available here.