First Annual MDOW Synod

On the 4th-7th of December, being Advent, the Missionary Diocese of the West (ACC) held it’s First Annual Synod at the Priory of Stilfontein in the North West Province of South Africa. The Vicar General, the Very Reverend Damien Alan Truslow-Trudeau served as President. All clergy of the diocese were physically present along with several laity who spent 4 days in residence and other laity joined via Skype for the business session held on Saturday Dec 5th 2020, in a hybrid synod necessitated due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the extremely large size of the Diocese which covers more than 220,000 square miles.

In their first order of business, The Constitutions and Canons of the Missionary Diocese of the West were adopted by synod.

The Synod elected Ms. Marlene van Niekerk as Diocesan Treasurer and assented to her appointment by the Vicar General as Treasurer of the Diocesan Board of Trustees in accordance with South Africa laws.

Additionally, the Synod voted to appoint the firm of BKD Auditors as the official Certified Accountant in accordance with SA Regulations for Non-Profit Organizations.

The Synod elected Mrs. Bosiswe Plaatjie as Diocesan Secretary and assented to her appointment by the Vicar General as Secretary of the Diocesan Board of Trustees in accordance with South African laws.

In separate meetings of houses, Members of the First Standing Committee were elected for a period of two years and include:  The Reverends Ezekiel Kholoane and Lungile Makayi as well as lay members:  Mr. Morkorotlo Mosiuwa and Mr. Nombulelo Msizi. Dr. Thomas Nkosi and the Rev. Khaya Makhuleni will serve as additional voting members of the Standing Committee for one year in accord with Diocesan Constitutions for First Annual Synods.

The Synod unanimously voted that it would not be part of the Region of Southern Africa and would remain as a member diocese of the Original Province as it opposes the creation of a new African Province.

The Synod approved a budget of only $1500 (One-thousand five hundred dollars) on the condition that the Vicar General continue to raise all the funds for the operation of the Diocese himself due to no support from the SPMS General Fund and a newly created diocese that cannot support itself. A 10% assessment of income was approved for all missions for Diocese support.

The Synod also voted to affirm that the 1954 BCP South Africa, or it’s translations only, were authorised for use in the Diocese.

Notes of thanks were extended to the Vicar General, the Priory of Stilfontein, and Our Lady of Good Hope Church for their hospitality and accommodation and to the Episcopal Visitor for transportation assistance. Additionally, thanks were extended to the Reverend Nicholas le Roux for his service to the ACC upon his retirement from ministry in February 2020 as well as to Mrs. Jocelyn Kenyon-Hoare for her years of service to the ACC in the former Diocese of Southern Africa.

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