Subject: The Anglican Church of Canada, the Land, and the People of the Land
Moved By: The Rev. Canon Norm Wesley
Seconded By: Canon Donna Bomberry
Be it resolved that this General Synod:
Encourage its members and organizations to live a life that declares, embodies, and promotes the following:
1) All creatures have a responsibility and a duty to live in respect the dignity and life of all other creatures and that the interdependent and living relationship between all things is to be reverenced by human beings through a moral, sustainable, and respectful way of life.
2) The People of the Land, the Indigenous Peoples of our Land and Nation, stand in a unique place of witness to the living relationship between life and Land. Indigenous Peoples, in their teaching, way of life, and vulnerability to climate disruption and other consequences of a global society enmeshed in the culture of money and consumption, are a special model and concern for the Church and its work.
3) The living relationship of Indigenous Peoples to the Land is honoured and protected in, among other things, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In particular, the principle of free, prior, and informed consent is a minimum commitment of societies and nations to the well-being of the People of the Land and the importance and right of their way of life in global society. The Anglican Church supports and upholds UNDRIP and, in particular, the principle of free, prior, and informed consent in its own dealing with Indigenous Peoples and in its public witness and advocacy.
4) The Anglican Church of Canada will seek to stand in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples, such as the Gwich’in, who are threatened by actual and/or threatened violations of their relationship to the Land. The Church will do this by, among other ways, their public witness and advocacy and by the adoption of a way of life, individually and together, that honours and respects the interdependent and living relationship of all of the elements and Creatures of creation.
Source: Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples
Submitted By: Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples
Does this motion contain within it any financial implications? Yes No
If yes, has the General Synod Expenditures Committee considered the implications? Yes No
EXPLANATORY NOTE/BACKGROUND
God has placed us in an interdependent and living relationship with all Creation and, in the resurrection of Jesus, has shown that his will for Creation is life and new Creation for all things.
PROCEDURE FOR ADOPTION (G)
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.
