Corporate body

Anglican Church of Canada. Diocese of New Westminster. Diocesan Board of Missions

1915-1972

As a result of a motion at the 32nd Session of Synod, held June 9-10, 1915, the Executive Committee appointed a standing committee, the Board of Missions, electing the board's first members at the same Synod. The Synod adopted a Canon for the Board, known as Canon XVI. The duties of the Board of Missions were as follows: to create and encourage interest in missions and missionary work and to secure funds for them; to prepare estimates for the apportionment needs for the diocese, including requirements for M.S.C.C.; to prepare estimates of grants in aid of stipends; and to regularly inform the Executive Committee about its policies and their implementation. The members of the Board of Missions were: the Diocesan Treasurer, the clerical and lay secretaries of Synod, the Rural Deans of the Diocese, one member of each order appointed annually by the Bishop, and two members of each order elected annually by Synod. During a meeting of the Board, held in October 1958, it was suggested that Canon XVI was inadequate; it was replaced by Canon XVII (Constitution, Canons, Rules of Order and Act of Incorporation, 1961). The duties of the Board were expanded to include acting in a liaison capacity between the Diocese and the M.S.C.C., establishing parochial missionary committees, promoting and fostering vocations in the Church with particular reference to Mission Fields; and submitting grant requests to the Budget Committee of the Diocese to cover the expenditures of the Board. The last Synod report of the Board of Missions, described as "a non-report of a non-board", was given at the 64th session of Synod, held June 6-8, 1968. The report noted that, consequent to the implementation of Netten Report recommendations, the Programme and Strategy Committees will become responsible for part of the Board's activities.