Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
—1 Peter 3:4-5
Some dates stick in our memories because they are associated with profound moments of joy or shock or change. Birthdays, weddings, deaths and tragedies are stamped in our hearts. The year 2020 will be remembered for the start of the COVID-19 pandemic as it turned lives and plans upside down around the globe.
Church House staff shifted to working from home and seamlessly kept our national ministries actively supporting the life of our Church in every area. Meetings, from the Council of General Synod to standing committees to the House of Bishops and many others, shifted to online gatherings. We also discovered the drawbacks of Zoom fatigue and the gaps where in-person relationships are still needed.
The Strategic Planning Working Group shifted gears from a traditional process to listening deeply across the Church to what was happening and to discerning what new directions might be emerging. Dismantling racism, already a focus for CoGS, rose to increasing prominence in the face of public events and deaths. Faith, Worship and Ministry began a project to reflect on our eucharistic life in the face of worship transformation online. Indigenous Ministries quickly shifted to online training for lay pastoral caregivers in light of community lockdowns. Everyone adapted their work to meet the challenges.
We have shown that we are more creative, more flexible and more resilient than we could have imagined at every level of the Church. Our staff are a team of skilled leaders committed to the work of our Church. Although we cannot yet see very far into the future we remain confident that the faithfulness and resilience already demonstrated will carry us into wherever God is calling us.
The Most Rev. Linda Nicholls
Primate
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