There were four young adults registered as observers at Synod, but there were also a number of young Anglicans who attended Synod as representatives from their parishes.
Youth animator Donna Rourke asked them to share some of their thoughts and impressions.
“It was really wonderful to get to go to Synod as an observer for the first time,” said Evan Desilets. “I really learned a lot! What stuck out the most to me was Dean Richard Sewell’s opening and closing statements. It really brought the reality of what is happening in Israel and Palestine a lot closer to home. His statements about how we display our faith here, as opposed to people in Israel was really food for thought.”
He added, “I loved hearing about the plans for contextual ministry, I’m excited to see how it gets implemented across the diocese over the next year.”
Both he and Madeleine Gomery, who attended as a delegate from Christ Church Cathedral, said that the Rev. Canon PJ Hobbs’ presentation about the difficult challenges the Anglican Community Ministries are facing right now inspired them to get involved and volunteer.
Gomery attended Synod last year and said she noticed a more subdued energy in the room this year – “very reasonably – because of the heart-wrenching recent events in Gaza and Israel. “I was very moved by Dean Richard Sewell’s reflections and impressed with the balance he managed to strike in speaking about a contentious recent event,” she said.
Cailleen Dolan, who was representing St. John’s Kanata North, was also mulling these difficult issues over. “It is easy to get so caught up in the bad news that we don’t know where to begin to help,” she said. “Fortunately, especially among the other young adult attendees I got to meet, I sensed a deep desire to make a change.”
Gomery and Desilets both said they enjoyed the fellowship with everyone at Synod too. I really enjoyed being able to connect with “young” (i.e., 18-30s) Anglicans from across the Diocese, said Desilets.
“As always, it was lovely to interact with people from all over our diocese over the three days of Synod—some whom I recognized, some of whom I was meeting for the first time. I am so grateful for the friendliness, collaboration, and knowledgeability of my fellow Anglicans.” – Staff
Christ Church, Bells Corners — Deanery of West Ottawa