St Mark's Anglican Church, District Six

Tomorrow is Today for the Diocese of Cape Town
Bob Commin
On Freedom Day, as the South African public celebrated 11 years of democracy, the Synod of the Diocese of Cape Town was busy giving freedom to the region of Saldahna Bay. In so doing all three regions that constitute the Diocese of Cape Town have been freed to become autonomous diocese within the Church of the Province of Southern Africa. The decision to divide was taken unanimously, and with great enthusiasm for the future mission and ministry of our church. The Diocese of False Bay will be inaugurated on the 27 November 2005, later to be followed by the Diocese of Saldahna Bay, and the new Diocese of Cape Town. Synod requested the Archbishop to determine time frames and set up the necessary select committees in the Diocese, and where necessary to address outstanding issues and give effect to the implementation of separation of the Diocese of Cape Town. The mood of Synod was one of enthusiasm, expectation and the acceptance that God had brought us all through a long process to this inevitable decision. The Revd Frankie Leonard the Proposer of the motion captured the mood of Synod when he told the story of how his daughter expressed her delight when she waited in expectation of a family event. "When will it be?" she would ask. "Tomorrow", they would answer. When the day came, she awoke early, went to her father and said: " Daddy, is today, tomorrow?" Laity and clergy alike gave voice to this new kairos, new awareness, a new tomorrow that will re-energise the life and work of our church. Hardly had Synod begun when The Revd Raphael Hess, Administrator of the Saldahna Bay Region presented the Archbishop with a cheque for R100, 000 in repayment of their Diocesan Trust Board loan. The message from the Diocesan Finance Board was that each region would be financially viable, and amongst the wealthiest Dioceses in the Province. And in the first quarter of 2005 there were significant financial surpluses for each of the Regions, a state that augured well for the coming year. To concerns of clergy about poverty and unemployment came the strong voice of lay men and women, who said: "We are ready for the challenge", "God will provide", and "we must move forward in love, there are no guarantees in life!" One woman said that a baby on the back for too long develops bad habits - she must be put on the ground and allowed to walk. Others spoke of the new vibrancy independence would give our Dioceses in terms of manageable groups, effective episcopacy, and self-realization. Bishop Garth Council summed up much of the debate when he said: "the genesis of all this is effective episcopacy, vision, direction, mission and the ministry of the church". And in one of the closing speeches The Revd Michael Philips from Malmsbury drew upon the words of Moses and the late Albert Luthuli when he proclaimed: "Let my People Go!" Thanks must go to Rev John Goliath and the people of St Nicholas Matroosfontein for graciously hosting this historic Synod, perhaps the shortest ever, but life changing for all of us!

On Freedom Day, as the South African public celebrated 11 years of democracy, the Synod of the Diocese of Cape Town was busy giving freedom to the region of Saldahna Bay. In so doing all three regions that constitute the Diocese of Cape Town have been freed to become autonomous diocese within the Church of the Province of Southern Africa. The decision to divide was taken unanimously, and with great enthusiasm for the future mission and ministry of our church.

The Diocese of False Bay will be inaugurated on the 27 November 2005, later to be followed by the Diocese of Saldahna Bay, and the new Diocese of Cape Town.

Synod requested the Archbishop to determine time frames and set up the necessary select committees in the Diocese, and where necessary to address outstanding issues and give effect to the implementation of separation of the Diocese of Cape Town.

The mood of Synod was one of enthusiasm, expectation and the acceptance that God had brought us all through a long process to this inevitable decision. The Revd Frankie Leonard the Proposer of the motion captured the mood of Synod when he told the story of how his daughter expressed her delight when she waited in expectation of a family event. "When will it be?" she would ask. "Tomorrow", they would answer. When the day came, she awoke early, went to her father and said: " Daddy, is today, tomorrow?" Laity and clergy alike gave voice to this new kairos, new awareness, a new tomorrow that will re-energise the life and work of our church.

Hardly had Synod begun when The Revd Raphael Hess, Administrator of the Saldahna Bay Region presented the Archbishop with a cheque for R100, 000 in repayment of their Diocesan Trust Board loan. The message from the Diocesan Finance Board was that each region would be financially viable, and amongst the wealthiest Dioceses in the Province. And in the first quarter of 2005 there were significant financial surpluses for each of the Regions, a state that augured well for the coming year.

To concerns of clergy about poverty and unemployment came the strong voice of lay men and women, who said: "We are ready for the challenge", "God will provide", and "we must move forward in love, there are no guarantees in life!"

One woman said that a baby on the back for too long develops bad habits - she must be put on the ground and allowed to walk. Others spoke of the new vibrancy independence would give our Dioceses in terms of manageable groups, effective episcopacy, and self-realization. Bishop Garth Council summed up much of the debate when he said: "the genesis of all this is effective episcopacy, vision, direction, mission and the ministry of the church".

And in one of the closing speeches The Revd Michael Philips from Malmsbury drew upon the words of Moses and the late Albert Luthuli when he proclaimed: "Let my People Go!" Thanks must go to Rev John Goliath and the people of St Nicholas Matroosfontein for graciously hosting this historic Synod, perhaps the shortest ever, but life changing for all of us!