A Pastoral Letter to Parish Councils and the Diocese
Dear friends in Christ,
As parish councils and advisory boards begin their work in communities across the Diocese, I write with gratitude and encouragement.
Those who have stepped forward to serve have done so at a time when many of our congregations are navigating change, uncertainty, and new possibilities. In such a season, how we work together matters as much as the decisions we make. Leadership in the Church is not only administrative—it is spiritual. And that spiritual work is shaped by our calling to be “rooted and grounded in Christ”.
This calling is more than a theme. It is a way of life that shapes how we relate to one another, how we speak and listen, and how we discern the work God has entrusted to us.
Healthy councils are not those that avoid disagreement, but those that learn to engage difference with patience, humility, and care. When we are rooted in Christ, we are also rooted in love. This means speaking truthfully but gently, listening deeply, seeking understanding before judgment, and trusting that the Holy Spirit can speak through each of us—even when we do not agree.
For this reason, I encourage parish councils to be intentional about how you will be together in the year ahead. Some may choose to use the draft Parish Council Covenant as a starting point. Others may shape a commitment that reflects their own context and relationships. What matters most is not the form, but the spirit: that you ground your shared work in Christ, and in love for one another.
This commitment is not only for parish leadership. It is a calling for the whole Diocese. At the diocesan level, we too will be making this same commitment within our Executive Committee—so that the spirit of prayerful, respectful, and Christ-centred leadership shapes our common life together.
The way we speak to one another, the way we listen, and the way we hold difference is itself a witness to the Gospel we proclaim. To be rooted and grounded in Christ means that our common life reflects His love—especially when it is tested.
This is not always easy work. But it is holy work.
As we begin this new season of ministry together, I invite you—wherever you serve in the life of the Church—to be rooted more deeply in Christ, grounded more firmly in love, and attentive to the ways the Holy Spirit is moving among us.
Please know that you do not undertake this work alone. You do so with my prayers, and with the prayers of the whole Diocese.
Yours in Christ, +Anne Archbishop of Algoma
Supporting Resource
A draft Parish/Advisory Council Covenant is available here: https://dev.dioceseofalgoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Parish-Council-Covenant-2026.pdf