Special Online Synod

Dear members of ANiC,

As announced during Synod 2022 in Ottawa, our ANiC Canons Committee has proposed amendments to our Canons which we need to address before our next regularly scheduled Synod.

Therefore, we are holding a special online Synod via Zoom on Thursday, January 5, 2023 with the express purpose of addressing these amendments. The meeting is set to begin at 11am Pacific Time (12pm MT | 1pm CT | 2pm ET | 3pm AT | 3:30pm NT).

Gathering on Zoom

The special synod will be held using the Zoom video meeting service and will be very similar to our previous online synods in 2020 and 2021.

Each voting member of Synod will need the following:

  • Individual Device - Each member will need to connect individually to the Zoom meeting using a computer, tablet or smartphone.

  • Sufficient Internet Connection - Please ensure you have a good internet connection with sufficient speeds for Zoom. If you’re able to watch video or use Zoom normally then you should be good.

  • Join Meeting Link - your personal link into the meeting will be in your Registration Confirmation Email. After your registration has been a approved (this may take up to a few days) you will receive a confirmation email and in it our Join Meeting Link. This link is just for you and can’t be shared.

Voting members who do not have these capabilities should contact their parish leadership for guidance.
For more delegate instructions regarding the meeting itself see below.

Registration

All voting members of Synod who are able to attend need to register as soon as possible for this special meeting. Voting members can register below.

  • Voting members must register individually so they can join the meeting and vote on motions.
    *Unsure if you’re a voting member of Synod? Contact our registrar to confirm.

 

Proposed Amendments and Motions

Our Canons Committee has proposed several amendments to our Canons in regards to establishing an ecclesiastical court. These amendments were presented and discussed at Synod 2022 in Ottawa and subsequently minor adjustments and simplifications have been made. You can read the proposed amendments and an explanatory document here:

Agenda

You can see our basic draft agenda here:

 
 

In the Meeting - Instructions for Delegates

Here are some instructions for using Zoom features in our synod meeting. Much of it will be very similar to what we’ve done at our online synods in 2020 and 2021.


Zoom

If you haven’t used Zoom before you can download the application here for your computer or device. If you haven’t used or updated Zoom in a while we recommend you open it asap and ensure your application is updated to the latest version.

Logging In

Join Meeting link in your confirmation email.

To login to the synod use the “Join Meeting” link in the confirmation email you received after your registration was approved. The subject should read “Synod January 2023 Confirmation”. (You should also receive this email again on Thursday morning).

  • Remember that your join meeting link is unique to your registration and only you can use it to enter the meeting.

  • If you have not received your confirmation email or have other technical questions please email our Communications Director, Scott Hunt.


Connection Issues

We recommend you ensure your internet connection is strong before entering the meeting. If you find your connection or device is struggling to keep up and voices or video are stuttering or cutting out, you can try a few different things:

  1. Check and make sure you have strong a WIFI signal.

  2. Try turning off your video, which will put less demand on your connection and device.

  3. Try leaving the meeting and coming back in.

  4. Try restarting your computer or device and then reentering the meeting.

Voting

When it comes time to vote on a motion a poll will appear and you will be able to vote in favour or opposed. After selecting your vote click Submit to finalize your vote.

Notes:

  • Voting by House: When voting on the proposed motions to amend the Canons we will vote by class (or house), meaning lay delegates, clergy delegates, and bishops will vote separately. When a poll is launched it will state which delegates are to vote in that particular poll. Please ensure you vote in the appropriate poll which corresponds with your type of delegate. 

  • Voting Difficulties: We expect most delegates to have no problem registering their vote. However if a technical problem arises and you are unable to vote in your poll you can send your vote via the Chat feature to our Communications Director, Scott Hunt, and he will include your vote in the vote totals. 

 
 


Discussion

If you would like to speak to a motion during the allotted discussion time use the Raise Hand button to raise your hand.

  1. Please ensure your video is enabled if you are going to speak to the meeting.

  2. The chair will call on names for discussion in the order in which hands are raised.

  3. When your name is called you will be asked to unmute your microphone and then you can begin.

  4. When you have finished speaking please mute yourself.

Proposed Amendments Questions

If you have questions about the proposed motions to amend the Canons you can email the chair of our Canons Committee, Victoria Huyer here.