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Dear members of Synod:
This newsletter contains Breakout session details, Call for Nominations, Registration links, Deadlines and other essential updates.
We hope you find the newsletters helpful. Keep an eye out for the next issue which will include links to our new synod app and the Convening Circular.
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Registration closes today!!
* Extended for Youth members until November 1 (if no hotel accommodation is required), October 1 (if hotel accommodation is required)
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The Rt. Rev. Andrew Asbil, Bishop of Toronto, has called all Synod members in the Diocese of Toronto to assemble for the 163rd Regular Session of Synod.
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Register here!
Deadline: September 19, 2025
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November 7- 8, 2025
Sheraton Parkway, Toronto North Hotel, Richmond Hill
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Register here!
Deadline: September 15, 2025
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Important Information - Smart device
For voting purposes, a smart device - mobile phone, an ipad or tablet, or a laptop is needed. If you don't have a smart device, let Ajith Philip know, and we will arrange for a loaner device. The last date to inform of any such requirement is October 10, 2025.
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Synod 2025 Breakout Sessions - Living the Calls : Register Now *
(*You must register for Synod and Breakout sessions separately. This will help us in arranging the sessions more effectively.)
This year, parishes across the diocese have been encouraged to engage with the 20 Calls coming out of Cast the Net, the strategic vision adopted unanimously by the members of Diocesan Synod in November 2023. Parishes are invited to embrace one or more of the calls this year, and can choose calls they are already involved in or take up new ones – whatever best suits their capacity, context and vision.
To help encourage one another, our breakout sessions at Synod 2025 will provide opportunities for open conversation, an exchange of ideas, and mutual sharing as we explore the various ways parishes are leaning into the calls. These breakout sessions are meant to be collaborative in nature, as opposed to presentation-based.
The 20 Calls have been grouped into ten breakout rooms by the Netminders, a group of clergy, laity and diocesan staff formed to tend to Cast the Net. We encourage clergy and Synod delegates to have a conversation about which rooms to register for based on the calls that you are engaging with, or hope to engage with in the future.
| | | ROOM | CALLS | DESCRIPTION | |
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| 1. Enter into a Season of Spiritual Renewal to deepen personal and collective discipleship.
3. Share and use resources to enliven worship, faith formation, spiritual practice, and evangelism. | God is inviting us to renew our spiritual lives and share our faith with others. Dialogue about ways congregations are leaning into renewal and the role that worship, faith formation, spiritual practices and evangelism play in this. | |
2 | 2.Reinvigorate and recommit to children’s, youth, family & intergenerational ministries.
| Leaning into practices that celebrate and encourage meaningful participation and engagement with children, youth, and families enhances the life of the congregation. Share and explore creative modes of ministry to help reinvigorate the intergenerational nature of the church. | |
3 | 4. Recognize and act on opportunities to participate in God’s healing work in the world.
5. Make explicit connections between following Jesus and working for justice and peace.
13. Enable and celebrate the work of ministries focused on service to the world. | The Holy Spirit, active in the world, is calling us to participate in God’s care for all people, seeking justice and peace and celebrating ministries that are outward focused. Consider what encouraging faith in action looks like in various contexts and how to support these calls as people learning to follow Jesus. | |
4 | 6. Strengthen Indigenous ministry; engage non-Indigenous Anglicans in reconciliation work. | Working to strengthen Indigenous Ministry in the Diocese and continuing to call non-Indigenous Anglicans to deeply engage in reconciliation work is essential for the life of the church across Turtle Island. Let us listen to one another and consider how we can walk the Good Road of Creator Sets Free (Jesus). | |
5 | 7. Take, sustain and communicate actions that promote diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism.
10. Better reflect the diversity of our communities in both congregations and clergy.
| We live in a beautifully diverse Diocese and are called to embrace this diversity and faithfully live out equity, inclusion and anti-racism in our churches and neighbourhoods. What might it look like to be more intentional in our actions as people of faith to ensure all have a seat at the table? | |
6 | 8. Intensify advocacy and action in response to the climate crisis. | We live and move and have our being in this world that God created and loves, and yet we find ourselves in a time of acute climate crisis. How might we not only care for creation, but actively respond to this crisis and advocate for all of creation? | |
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9. Actively embrace collaboration among congregations and innovation in new forms of ministry.
15. Introduce and use new ways to measure and nurture congregational health and effectiveness.
16. Cultivate an understanding of the diocese as a dynamic net of shared relationships. | We are all one church, one body in Christ. Working across parish boundaries and exploring new forms of ministry in collaboration with one another makes us more diverse and nimble in our hope of sharing God’s love with one another and those around us. Let’s talk about how our shared relationships help us to grow, explore examples of what collaboration looks like, and consider how best to define success and nurture these efforts. | |
8 | 11. Understand the changing needs of lay leaders in congregations and support them in their work.
12. Continue and enhance support for all ordained people.
14. Rethink clergy discernment, formation, and deployment for the church of the future. | Leadership in ministry is shared among both lay and ordained leaders. Supporting the specific needs of leadership is essential to encourage health and vitality in our congregations. How do we facilitate deep partnerships in leadership, and what might need to look different as we raise and deploy new leaders moving forward? | |
9 | 17. Continue assessing recent diocesan leadership changes and adjust as necessary.
18. Adopt an integrated, theologically-formed approach to property management.
18 Adopt an integrated, theologically-formed approach to property management. (Missed in the prior newsletter).
19. Ensure follow-through on the Cast the Net report, including implementation method and metrics.
20. Invest in the vision with existing and new resources, using sound Christian stewardship principles. | It is important that the systems, structures and resources of the Diocese support its vision. Explore areas of growth that aim to support the diocese as a whole, and talk about the ways that they are impacting the Archdeaconries, Deaneries and Parishes. | | 10 | Digital Ministry and Technology, (extrapolated from Calls 2 & 3)
| Live streaming, social media and hybrid ministry have become vital components of ministry for many of our congregations. As we engage more fully in these new forms of ministry, there is much to learn from one another. Let’s talk about all things digital & technology and see where God is at work in this emerging landscape. | | | | Item | Deadline | | Notice of Motion for inclusion in the Convening Circular | September 3, 2025
(Deadline has passed)
| | Synod Registration | September 15, 2025 (Deadline Today) | | Nominations for Provincial Synod and Synod Council | October 9, 2025 (Deadline extended) | | Pre - Synod Registration | September 19, 2025 | | Hotel Accommodation (For eligible members and those booking their own rooms under our block price) | October 1, 2025 | | Synod fees to be paid | October 1, 2025 | | Notice of Motion and Reports for inclusion in the Supplementary Convening Circular | October 9, 2025 | | Order a smart device (mobile phone, ipad or laptop, with internet access) for voting at Synod – ONLY if you do not have one. | October 10, 2025 | | | |
All participants are requested to adhere strictly to these timelines. Your cooperation is essential for the successful execution of the event.
For further information or clarification, please contact Ajith Philip.
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ACCOMMODATION AT SYNOD
Accommodation will be provided to all Lay Members and the Main Priest from each congregation within the deaneries of Durham & Northumberland, Holland, Huronia, Nottawasaga, Oshawa, Peterborough, Tecumseth and Victoria & Haliburton at no extra charge. Ex-Officio members, Bishop’s Appointees and Youth and Young Adult Members from the same deaneries will also receive accommodation at no extra charge.
Your eligibility is indicated in the Registration Report document posted on the 2025 Regular Synod page of the Diocesan website. Eligibility is noted under the heading ‘Accommodation’ as either ‘ELIGIBLE’ or ‘NOT ELIGIBLE’. If you believe an error was made, please contact Ajith Philip.
If you are eligible for accommodation, you will be able to reserve a room when you register for Synod.
If you are ELIGIBLE for accommodation on Friday evening and wish to also make a reservation for Thursday at your own expense, or if you are NOT ELIGIBLE and would like to reserve a room for Thursday or Friday at your own expense, you can book online.
Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel & Suites Reserve a room *
$189.00, plus $10.00 Destination Fee, plus taxes per night.
*The reservation page is active now.
Reservations made after the cut-off date of October 1, 2025 will be subject to availability, and may not be eligible for the negotiated rate. Current rates are $250.00 per night but may change depending on November availability.
Any incidental charges must be paid prior to your departure. Accordingly, a valid credit card with an authorization of $150 (Previously noted as $100 in Synod newsletter # 4, which is updated.). Any cancellations received within 48 hours of arrival or a “no show” result in additional charges that will be invoiced back to your parish.
A valid credit card will be required in order to make a room reservation.
Check-in time is after 3:00 p.m. and check-out time is no later than 11:00 a.m.
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CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
The Nominating Committee of the Diocese of Toronto is calling for nominations in preparation for our upcoming 163rd Regular Session of Synod. All voting members of Diocesan Synod are entitled to make nominations of any voting members of Synod. Elections will take place at the 163rd Regular Session of Synod on November 7-8, 2025.
The Nominating Committee is requesting that nominations be submitted by October 9, 2025 at 12:00 noon to the Secretary of Synod. Nominations must be submitted using the Nomination Forms.
Elections will be held for the following:
· Provincial Synod
· Synod Council
Provincial Synod
The next Session of the Provincial Synod will take place in Kingston , Ontario, hosted by the Diocese of Ontario in Fall 2027 (exact dates not confirmed). The Provincial Synod meets every three years and the term of office is for three years.
Nominees to Provincial Synod will be required to remain a member of the Synod of the Diocese of Toronto for the duration of their term, they must be willing and able to attend ALL meetings of the Provincial Synod, and must be willing to serve on a sub-committee or working group should they be asked or elected to do so. Expenses incurred are covered according to the diocesan policy.
The Diocese of Toronto will be electing four lay members and four clerical members to attend the Provincial Synod alongside our Bishops, Chancellor and Youth Member. Learn more.
See Nomination Form for Provincial Synod.
Synod Council
Synod Council generally exercises the executive powers of the Synod between sessions except those of a legislative nature. This 25-member governance body meets monthly to carry on the work of Synod. Elected members hold office from the conclusion of the meeting of Synod in which they were elected until the conclusion of the next Regular Session of Synod, usually a 3-year term. It is expected that those who are elected to Synod Council will attend the majority of meetings. Synod Council will be electing five clerical members and five lay members of Synod. Learn more.
See Nomination Form for Synod Council.
| | Do you have a question about Synod? If so, send it to us and we will do our best to answer it in our next newsletter. | | | |
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Distribution List: You are receiving this email because you are a (voting or non-voting) Synod Member, Substitute Lay Synod Member, Parish, Churchwarden, Treasurer, or diocesan staff member in the Anglican Diocese of Toronto.
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