General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada

The General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada is the church’s national governing and legislative body and its principal institutional representative within the worldwide Anglican Communion. It provides the national framework through which the Anglican Church of Canada articulates doctrine, worship, discipline, policy and canon law, while preserving the substantial autonomy of the church’s dioceses. Its first session was held in Toronto in 1893, with its constitutional arrangements designed to ensure that national authority did not eliminate local diocesan independence. The body normally meets every three years, unless a special session is called by the Primate or the Council of General Synod. Sessions generally last from approximately one week to nine days and bring together representatives of the church’s three orders: bishops, clergy and laity. All bishops and archbishops of the Anglican Church of Canada participate as members, while clergy and lay delegates are elected from the church’s dioceses, the Canadian Forces and religious orders. The General Synod does not operate through separate permanent houses in the same manner as some other Anglican churches, although certain resolutions can be voted on by order and may require approval from bishops, clergy and laity independently. Its responsibilities include passing resolutions, establishing national policy, amending or enacting canons, exchanging information among dioceses, addressing questions of doctrine and pastoral practice, and overseeing national ministries and relationships. The church’s numbered canons cover matters ranging from the church’s name and internal administration to marriage and judicial discipline. Between triennial sessions, the Council of General Synod administers the affairs of the Anglican Church of Canada and carries forward decisions made by the full body. The General Synod’s work is supported by standing committees dealing with faith, worship and ministry; international and ecumenical partnerships; social and environmental justice; pensions; financial management and development; and communications and information resources. These structures connect national governance with practical programs, publications, financial administration and relationships with other churches. The General Synod is also associated with national communications such as the Anglican Journal and with major worship and governance initiatives, including the approval of Common Praise and the Waterloo Declaration establishing full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. In recent decades, the General Synod has been a significant forum for debates about same-sex relationships and marriage in the church. It affirmed the integrity and sanctity of committed adult same-sex relationships in 2004, considered the St. Michael Report and related pastoral resolutions in 2007, and debated amendments to the Marriage Canon in 2016 and 2019. The 2019 second-reading amendment did not secure the required support in the Order of Bishops. Other recent governance questions have included the proposed extension of a Primate’s term beyond the mandatory retirement age, which was rejected in 2023. The institution remains active as the national decision-making body of the Anglican Church of Canada, with its authority exercised through representative synods, the Council of General Synod and the officers of General Synod.

The General Synod was established as the national governing body of the Anglican Church of Canada, with its first session held in Toronto in 1893. Its constitutional design sought to coordinate the Canadian Anglican church without abolishing the independence of its dioceses. This balance between national authority and local autonomy has remained central to the institution’s identity. The synod is composed of three orders: bishops, clergy and laity. Bishops and archbishops of the Anglican Church of Canada are members by virtue of their office, while clergy and lay representatives are elected by dioceses and by designated constituencies including the Canadian Forces and religious orders. The body normally gathers every three years at locations across Canada. Its meetings are legislative and deliberative: representatives exchange reports, debate resolutions, formulate church-wide policy, and adopt or revise canon law. The General Synod’s scope includes doctrine, discipline and worship, as well as national administration and relationships with other churches. Its canons address institutional matters, marriage, judicial proceedings and other elements of church order. Although the synod is not divided into separate houses in the same way as the Episcopal Church in the United States, its rules can require voting by order. In such cases, a resolution must receive the necessary approval from bishops, clergy and laity. Between full synod sessions, the Council of General Synod acts as the principal administrative body. It includes senior officers and representatives of the three orders from the church’s ecclesiastical provinces. General Synod elects the Primate, Prolocutor and Deputy Prolocutor, while the Council of General Synod appoints or elects other officers, including the General Secretary, Treasurer, Chancellor and, where applicable, Vice-Chancellor and officers-at-large. The institution’s standing committees cover liturgical and ministry matters, overseas and ecumenical partnerships, social and environmental justice, pensions, financial management, development, communications and information resources. Through these committees and related national programs, General Synod links governance with worship resources, social action, financial administration, publications and cooperation with Anglican and other Christian bodies. Several important developments illustrate the body’s national role. In 1995 it approved a new hymnal, later published as Common Praise in 1998. In 2001 it approved full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada through the Waterloo Declaration. During the 2004, 2007, 2016 and 2019 synods, it considered questions concerning same-sex relationships, pastoral care, blessing and marriage. These debates required interaction among the three orders and demonstrated the constitutional significance of the voting rules. The 2019 second reading of a proposed amendment to Canon XXI failed to obtain the required support in the Order of Bishops. Leadership has also changed through the institution’s electoral process. Andrew Hutchison became Primate in 2004, followed by Fred Hiltz in 2007 and Linda Nicholls in 2019; Nicholls was the first woman elected to the office. In 2023, General Synod rejected proposed changes concerning the Primate’s retirement-age term limits. Shane Parker was elected as the fifteenth Primate in 2025. The General Synod continues to serve as the Anglican Church of Canada’s national legislative, representative and coordinating body.

• 2025

  Shane Parker elected Primate

  [2]Anglican Church of Canada official websiteanglican.ca

  Shane Parker was elected the fifteenth Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada.

• 2023

  Primate term-extension proposal rejected

  [1]General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  General Synod defeated proposed changes concerning continuation of a Primate’s term beyond the mandatory retirement age.

• 2019

  Second reading defeated and first woman elected Primate

  [1]General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  The marriage-canon amendment failed at second reading, and Linda Nicholls became the first woman elected Primate.

• 2016

  First reading of marriage-canon amendment

  [1]General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  The first reading of a proposed amendment to Canon XXI on marriage was approved.

• 2007

  Fred Hiltz elected Primate

  [1]General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  Fred Hiltz was elected the thirteenth Primate, while the synod adopted resolutions concerning same-sex relationships and pastoral care.

• 2004

  Andrew Hutchison elected Primate

  [1]General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  Andrew Hutchison was elected the church’s twelfth Primate.

• 2001

  Waterloo Declaration approved

  [1]General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  General Synod approved full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

• 1998

  Common Praise published

  [1]General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  The approved national hymnal was published under the title Common Praise.

• 1995

  Approval of a new hymnal

  [1]General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  General Synod approved publication of a successor to the church’s 1971 hymnal.

• 1893

  First General Synod session

  [1]General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  The first session of the national General Synod was held in Toronto, establishing the central forum for Canadian Anglican governance.

The national representative, legislative and coordinating institution of the Anglican Church of Canada, balancing church-wide doctrine and policy with the constitutional independence of dioceses.

• Hymnal · 1998

  Common Praise

  Common Praise is a national Anglican hymnal approved by General Synod in 1995 and published in 1998. It replaced the church’s previous 1971 hymnal and serves congregational worship through a broad collection of traditional and modern Christian songs and service music.

• Church publication

  Anglican Journal

  The Anglican Journal is a national communications and publication service associated with the Anglican Church of Canada. Communications and Information Resources structures within General Synod support national church information, reporting and publications.

• Governance instrument

  Canons of the Anglican Church of Canada

  The canons are the church’s national legal and governance framework. They address institutional organization, doctrine-related matters, worship, marriage, discipline and judicial procedures, and are enacted or amended through the General Synod’s legislative process.

• 2023

  Reject Primate term-extension amendmentOther

  Background

  A proposal sought to allow a Primate’s term to continue beyond the mandatory retirement age of 70 when General Synod occurred within a year of that age being reached.

  Action taken

  General Synod defeated the amendment twice.

  Aftermath

  The existing retirement-age rule remained unchanged.

  Source

• 2019

  Reject second reading of Canon XXI amendmentGeneration change

  Background

  The proposed marriage-canon change required the constitutionally specified level of approval by the three orders.

  Action taken

  The second reading was defeated narrowly because the Order of Bishops did not reach the required two-thirds support.

  Aftermath

  The existing canon remained in force, while pastoral and theological discussion continued.

  Source

• 2016

  Pass first reading of Canon XXI amendmentGeneration change

  Background

  The church considered changing its marriage canon to include same-sex relationships recognized under Canadian civil law.

  Action taken

  General Synod passed the first reading of an amendment to Canon XXI after an initial disputed report of the vote.

  Aftermath

  The amendment proceeded to a required second reading in 2019.

  Source

• 2007

  Adopt pastoral and doctrinal resolutions on same-sex relationshipsStrategy

  Background

  General Synod considered the theological status of same-sex unions and the church’s pastoral responsibilities.

  Action taken

  The synod accepted the St. Michael Report’s conclusion that blessing same-sex unions was not a matter of core doctrine, rejected authorization of such blessings at that session, and called for pastoral care and further work on the Marriage Canon.

  Aftermath

  The issue remained before the church and led to later first- and second-reading debates on Canon XXI.

  Source

• 2001

  Approve full communion under the Waterloo DeclarationStrategy

  Background

  The Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada sought a formal basis for closer ecclesial cooperation.

  Action taken

  General Synod approved full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

  Aftermath

  The Waterloo Declaration became the framework for the churches’ full-communion relationship.

  Source

• 1995

  Approve a new national hymnalProduct launch

  Background

  The church needed a successor to its 1971 hymnal for national Anglican worship.

  Action taken

  General Synod approved publication of a new hymnal, later released as Common Praise.

  Aftermath

  Common Praise was published in 1998.

  Source

1. 1General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canadaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Anglican Church of Canada official websiteanglican.ca