DIOCESE OF QU'APPELLE
The 73rd Synod of the Diocese of Qu'Appelle
Reports
DIOCESAN COUNCIL AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF DIOCESAN COUNCIL
Diocesan Council is the legislative body that carries on the business of the diocese between meetings
of Synod. Diocesan Council has all the powers of Synod with the exception of electing a bishop or
amending the Constitution or Canons. Minutes of Diocesan Council meetings are available to every parish.
The Council is made up of 8 clergy and 12 lay persons elected by Synod, 4 lay members appointed
by the Bishop together with the following ex officio members: the Bishop, the Dean,
the 3 regional Archdeacons, the Chancellor and the Registrar. The Executive Officer,
and the Director of Administration are non-voting members.
Diocesan Council meets 3 times a year, except when it is replaced by a meeting Synod. Since the
last regular Synod in March 1999, Council has met 7 times.
In many ways the work of the Council is to provide a body, representative of the whole diocese,
that can give direction for others to act. The annual budgets prepared by the Finance Committee,
including minimum stipends, travel allowances, and Fair Shares are all scrutinized, possibly amended,
and accepted by Council. The decision to enter into diocesan wide programs such as Living the Covenant,
are dealt with by council. Reports from Standing Committees and other diocesan working groups are received.
Diocesan Council elects an Executive Committee consisting of the Bishop, the Dean, the Chancellor,
4 lay members, and two clerical members of Diocesan Council together with the Executive Officer and
the Director of Administration who are non-voting members. The Executive Committee has all the powers
of Council except the amending of Regulations. It normally meets to deal with items that cannot wait
until a regular Council meeting, such as the purchase or sale of property, loan applications, or
personnel issues.
Some of the highlights of the work of Diocesan Council and the Executive Committee since the
October 2003 Synod are:
appointed the membership of Doctrine and Worship, Finance, Inter/Church Inter/Faith Relations,
and Legislation committees
elected the Executive Committee
empowered the Venture in Mission Case Committee to approve disbursal of funds to continue the
position of Ministry Development Coordinator until the fall of 2004 and the Healing and Reconciliation
Ministry through 2005
appointed Tanya Condo as Financial Stewardship Officer and approved the disbursal of VIM funds to
finance this position
authorized the sale of numerous rectories and church buildings
requested that the Bishop appoint a Future Directions Task Force
requested this Task Force to look at options for the pending move of the Diocesan Synod Office
disestablished the Parish of Pipestone and established the Parish of Grenfell
granted sabbatical leaves to The Rev Catherine Harper and The Very Rev James Merrett
established the Search Committee for a new bishop
authorized the continuation of our contractual ministry with St. Luke, Gordon
authorized the Diocesan Administrator and the Chancellor to do all things necessary to give
effect to the Settlement Agreement in Principle entered into on November, 2005
heard a presentation from the Cathedral regarding the possible amalgamation of the Synod Office
and the cathedral office
held a 'Committee of the Whole' session to discuss possible options for a Synod Office move
requested the Bishop to appoint a group to present a proposal to Diocesan Council regarding
the possible amalgamation of the Synod Office and the cathedral office.
