Subject: Communications and Information Resources – Terms of Reference

Moved By: Judy Darling from the Diocese of Ottawa

Seconded By: Tanya Moxley from the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island

Note: The mover and the seconder must be members of the General Synod and be present in the House when the resolution is before the synod for debate.

BE IT RESOLVED:

That the Information Resources Committee Terms of Reference, Appendix B article 4 of the Handbook of the General Synod, be deleted and replaced with;

4. Communications and Information Resources Committee
1. Duties and Responsibilities
a) Develop and oversee a communications policy for General Synod
b) Interpret and carry forward the intentions of General Synod with regard to information and communications.
c) Discern and be responsive to the information and communications needs of Canadian Anglicans.
d) Provide policy guidelines for coordinating the following areas of work:

i. Corporate communications
ii. Information services (including Library, Archives, data Management, Web Site and Resource Distribution)
iii. Merchandizing and distribution (Anglican Book Centre retail and trade sales)
iv. Resource production (including Anglican Video, ABC Publishing, MinistryMatters)

e) Maintain liaison with the Anglican Journal Board
f) Facilitate communications between General Synod and dioceses and among dioceses
g) Exercise those functions common to all committees, namely:

i. develop annual budget proposals
ii. coordinate work with other committees and groups through the Mission Coordination Group
iii. report regularly to the Council of General Synod
iv. encourage theological reflection on stewardship and on the committee’s mandate
v. within the committee’s mandate, do functional strategic planning and visioning
vi. maintain liaison with the House of Bishops
vii. when deemed appropriate, invite partners (international, ecumenical or internal) to join the committee
vii.i at least once in each triennium, review policies governing the various areas of work of the Communications and Information Resources Department.

2. Organization
a) The Communications and Information Resources Committee will oversee the work of corporate communications, information services, merchandizing and distribution and resource production for the General Synod.
b) The Communications and Information Resources Committee will maintain liaison with the Anglican Journal Board through its common members. At the appropriate time in the triennium, the Communications and Information Resources Committee may nominate possible names to the Council of General Synod for membership on the Anglican Journal Board.
c) The ways of working will be established by the Communications and Information Resources Committee to address its duties and responsibilities and may from time to time include the establishment of sub-committees which will be created according to the procedures outlined in Procedures for Sub-units of Standing Committees in the Handbook of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada.

Explanatory Note/Background Information

Over the last triennium the Information Resources Committee was asked to oversee the incorporation of the Anglican Journal, the potential incorporation of the Anglican Book Centre and the possible sale of the Archives due, in large part, to the ramifications of the residential schools litigation. In the end, only the incorporation of the Anglican Journal was necessary; nevertheless that one significant change requires a restructuring of the Information Resources Committee and how it works. Given that the Anglican Journal is now separately incorporated with its own Board, new terms of reference are needed. Because of the continual organizational change experienced in the last triennium the Committee seeks the flexibility to structure its work as changing circumstances require.