October 21-23 | St. John’s, NL
Synod 2026 in St. John’s
Our annual Diocesan Synod is in St. John’s, Newfoundland this year! We will be hosted by the good people of Church of the Good Samaritan along with volunteers from our other congregations around Newfoundland. We are so grateful for their hospitality and care for us in so many ways as they welcome us to their church home and city.
Synod is both a joyous time to encourage and worship with one another, as well as a responsibility as a diocese to gather in unity and continue to help steward the resources and opportunities we have been given. On the Wednesday night (Oct 21) we will have our Opening Eucharist service and it is free and open to anyone. So please come! Whether you are a delegate or an observer or just coming to Opening Eucharist we would love to see you there.
OUR THEME
Church Planting & Revitalization
Our theme this year will be centered around our priority as a diocese of congregations to be working towards the planting of more churches. To be able to fully participate in that work we need our congregations to be healthy, vibrant and growing. So, we are partnering our focus on church planting with church revitalization, because healthy churches plant churches.
In the ACNA church planting leaders are commending the concept of “every church a mother”, meaning that the goal is for every church in our Province to be thinking, praying and working towards planting a daughter church.
We will have members of Church Plant Leadership Team presenting and Canon Mark Eldredge from the ACNA who specializes in the work of revitalizing churches. So, our theme should be deeply relevant to every congregation, regardless of your size or status.
Our mission as Christians is to be proclaiming the gospel and making disciples, and our mission as a diocese is to be building churches. So come and be encouraged and challenged in this wonderful work we have been given!
Registration
If you are a clergy delegate or an elected lay delegate please register as soon as possible. If you are not a delegate but would like to attend Synod, you can register as an observer.
Notes:
If you are registering multiple people, please register each person individually.
Registration closes on September 21st.
Refunds are available before September 21st, if necessary, minus the transaction fees.
Schedule
We will have a draft agenda soon and it will be updated as needed as we get closer to the event.
Days will usually begin at 9:30am and typically conclude around 4pm. Lunches will be provided.
Livestreaming
We are intending to livestream most of the morning services and Bible teaching, along with the Wednesday Opening Eucharist. You’ll be able to watch on our YouTube channel.
Venue
Anglican Church of the Good Samaritan
10 St Clare Ave,
St. John's, NL
A1C 6N4
Featured Speakers
The Rev. Canon Mark Eldredge
Canon Mark is president of the American Anglican Council, director of Anglican Revitalization Ministries, and a member of our provincial ACNA Executive Committee. As director of Revitalization Ministries, Mark works with congregations all across the ACNA to assess, enrich and revive their structures and culture towards greater health and missional effectiveness. He will be with us to talk on the subject of Church Revitalization and provide resources towards that goal.
Mark was born near Buffalo, NY but grew up in Palm Coast, FL. He received his Bachelor of Science from Florida State University and his Master of Divinity from Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, PA. After serving as an Associate Priest for three years at an Episcopal Church in Midland, TX, Mark moved to Jacksonville to be the Senior Pastor of Epiphany Episcopal Church. While leading that church through revitalization, he also moved the church into what has become the Anglican Church of North America. After 14 years in that church, Mark is now the Director of Church Revitalization for the American Anglican Council serving the Anglican Church in North America by helping local congregations better fulfill the Great Commission in our times. He also served a similar role as the Canon for Congregational Health for the Gulf Atlantic Diocese based in Jacksonville, FL for 8 years. Mark is married to his best friend, Ame, has three adult children and two grandchildren.
The Rev. Canon David Short
Canon David will be with us to provide our main Bible teaching during Synod. David is the retired, long-time rector of St. John’s Vancouver and our diocesan Canon for Preaching. David and his wife, Bronwyn, live in Vancouver, BC. Bronwyn will also be with us to speak to our clergy and spouses during Clergy Day on the Tuesday.
Accommodation & Transportation
Accommodation and transportation are the responsibilities of each attendee. You are welcome to stay wherever you like during synod. However, we do have a group rate with a hotel and many will be staying there.
Hotel Group Rate
We have a group rate with the Hilton Garden Inn. It is 650m from our synod venue and approximately a 9 minute walk on average.
Here are the ways you can book with them:
Our Group Rate code is: 90C
Phone: 709-383-1310
Web: Book Online
Transportation Options
There are many transportation services in St. John’s. If you’re coming from the airport there are a variety of options including taxi services, Uber and buses.
