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Bulletin Board

Bulletin Board April 17

Bulletin Board is the Diocese’s bi-weekly e-bulletin for clergy and lay leaders. To subscribe to Bulletin Board, sign up online.

Diocesan Business

Health care benefits switch to pay-direct drug card
The Diocese offers extended healthcare benefits to active clergy, retired clergy and Diocesan Centre employees. Beginning May 1, active members of the plan will start using a pay-direct health card. You will receive the card directly from Manulife. The change will be implemented at a future date for retirees.

The pay-direct drug card pays for drug prescriptions and other services at the point of sale (pharmacy) when prescriptions are filled. The cost of the prescription is agreed between the insurance provider and the pharmacy. There will be a mandatory $5 deductible on every prescription, which will allow for lower premiums for both parishes and the members. Members will no longer need to pay for the entire prescription at the time of purchase and then wait to be reimbursed by Manulife. Instead, members will pay a deductible and the difference between what the pharmacy and the insurer have agreed upon.

There are strategies to assist with the added cost of the $5 deductible. See the Manulife bulletin. If you do not receive a card from Manulife by April 30 or if you need more information, contact Manulife at 1-800-268-6195.

Provincial government implementing new lease template
Starting April 30, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is implementing a standard lease template for all new leases. Landlords of most private residential units – from individual landlords to property management companies – must use the standard lease template for all new leases. Landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities remain the same under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006. For full details, including a copy of the template, see the Ministry’s website.

Benefits claims platform changing May 1
The benefits plan of the Anglican Church of Canada will be moving to a new claims and administration platform at Manulife, effective May 1. The change will help to improve member service, improve the efficiency and accuracy of claims payments, and use technology that will allow the platform to grow and evolve. Information on this change was mailed on April 13 to employees who currently participate in the benefits plan.

Under the new platform, the Pension Office must maintain and update all records of member addresses, dependents and coordination of benefits information. Manulife must be informed whenever there is a change, so updates should be submitted promptly to avoid the risk of claims being denied. Any questions can be directed to the Pension Office at inquiry@anglicanpension.ca, 416-960-2484 or 1-800-265-1070.

Diocesan Events

Registration open for girls’ choir school
The Diocesan Choir School for Girls will be held this year from Aug. 6-19 at Trafalgar Castle School in Whitby. This residential program provides girls age 8-18 with choral training, Christian fellowship, sports, crafts and other activities. No auditions are held; anyone willing to sing is welcome. The cost is $1,000 per person. To learn more or register, visit the Choir School website.

Lay pastoral visitors invited to networking event
Those involved in lay pastoral visiting are invited to meet, share stories and creatively design future opportunities to network, learn and develop skills at a networking event on May 11-12 at St. John’s Convent, 233 Cummer Ave., Toronto. The keynote speaker will be the Rev. Lorraine Runza. The cost is $50 for day participants or $75 for overnight participants. For more details, see the event page or contact the Rev. Canon Douglas Graydon at dgraydon@toronto.anglican.ca.

ACW general meeting focuses on women’s safety
The diocesan Anglican Church Women will hold its 2018 annual general meeting and lunch on May 12 at Christ the King, 475 Rathburn Rd., Toronto. This year’s theme is “Embracing Safety for All Women,” with guest speaker Barbara Gosse, CEO of the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking. The cost is $30 per person. Tickets can be mailed for paid orders received before May 2 (provide a self-addressed stamped envelope) or picked up at the door. For more information, contact 416-363-0018 or acw@toronto.anglican.ca.

Area celebrates new youth ministry coordinator
York-Credit Valley will celebrate the appointment of Alexandra McIntosh as its new Youth Ministry Coordinator with a service of commissioning on April 20 at 7 p.m. at St. George on-the-Hill, 4600 Dundas St. W., Toronto. Area clergy and laity, particularly youth ministers and leaders, are invited to attend.

Speaker series considers homelessness
“No Room at the Inn: Homelessness and Hope in Northumberland County” is a three-part speaker series sponsored by the Durham-Northumberland Deanery. It will be held on May 2, May 9 and May 16 at 7 p.m. at St. Mark, Port Hope, 51 King St.. Speakers will include the Rev. Michael Shapcott, deacon and housing activist, on May 2; David Sheffield, community director of the Greenwood Coalition on May 9; and Kristina Nairn, co-chair of Northumberland Affordable Housing, on May 16.

External Events

National conference considers response to disaster
This year’s National Anglican and Lutheran Worship Conference will focus on helping people of faith respond liturgically, theologically and ritually to natural disaster and disasters of human making. The keynote speaker is the Rev. Dr. Lizette Larson-Miller. It will take place July 16-19 in Victoria, B.C. The cost is $375 until April 30 or $450 after April 30, not including accommodations. Registration closes June 15. To learn more, visit the conference website.

Marathon to close streets
The annual GoodLife Fitness Toronto Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, May 6 and will result in street closures. Marathon and 10K races begin at 7:30 a.m. and the half marathon begins at 8:30 a.m. Police will be at major intersections to direct traffic, but drivers should expect some delays. For a full list of road closures and times, visit the event website.

Forum examines provincial stances on income security
Voting to End Poverty – a Public Interfaith Forum will be held on April 25 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Eglinton St. George’s United Church, 35 Lytton Blvd., Toronto. Dr. Gary Bloch, one of the authors of the “Income Security: A Roadmap for Change” report, will speak, with provincial party representatives invited to respond. Register online.

Conference explores peacemaking
Voices for Peace will explore the foundations of peacemaking as well as personal experiences from the front lines of social justice. It will take place on April 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Cardinal Flahiff Basilian Centre, 95 St. Joseph St., Suite 214, Toronto. Tickets are $25 ($15 for students), which includes lunch and refreshments. Visit the conference website to learn more.

Forum focuses on affordable housing
The Right to Housing Forum, a discussion with Ontario’s affordable housing advocates, will be held April 30 from 12-3 p.m. at Metro Hall, 55 John St., Toronto. This free event will feature Leilani Farha, the UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing, as well as speakers from many other organizations. Learn more and register at www.acto.ca.

Conference explores the Eucharist
Liturgy Canada is hosting “Real Presence: Sharing the Meal” on April 28 at 9 a.m. at St. John the Baptist, Dixie, 719 Dundas St. E., Mississauga. The Rev. Dr. Lizette Larson-Miller, professor of theology at Huron College, will be the keynote presenter. The cost is $35 per person, $125 for a parish team of up to five people ($25 for each additional member) or $25 for students. Learn more on the Liturgy Canada website.

Resources

Moosonee parish seeking chairs
A parish in the Diocese of Moosonee is seeking four chairs with a book pocket on the side. If anyone has spare chairs to donate, transportation can be arranged. Contact the Ven. Deborah Lonergan-Freake, diocesan administrator, at administrator@moosoneeanglican.ca or 705-221-0584.

Godly Play workshop offers training
A workshop offering Godly Play core training will be held May 31 to June 2 at St. George on-the-Hill, 4600 Dundas St. W., Toronto. Godly Play teaches children the art of using Christian language to help them become more aware of the mystery of God’s presence in their lives. The registration fee is $325, which includes meals and refreshments. A Godly Play Canada certificate of accreditation will be awarded upon completion. Register online by May 25.

Resources prepared for Earth Sunday
Resources for Earth Sunday, April 22, have been prepared by the diocesan Creation Matters subcommittee and approved by the Bishop’s Office for use by parishes. They include a bulletin insert, reflections on the lectionary, prayers and hymns. They are available for download from the Environmental Resources page.

Applicants sought for music bursary
The Douglas C. Cowling Bursary in Liturgical Music encourages creative musical/liturgical experimentation with the aim of fostering full liturgical participation by all age groups of the people of God. It will be awarded annually in the anticipated amount of $5,000 to part-time musicians working within a parish in the Diocese to further the musician’s own liturgical training or to provide creative liturgical enrichment in the musician’s ecclesial setting. Apply with a full proposal outlining how you intend to use the bursary consistent with its purposes to cowlingbursary@gmail.com by June 29. Donations to the bursary fund are being accepted through the Anglican Diocese of Toronto Foundation.

Job Postings

Parish seeks youth and children’s minister
All Saints, Whitby is seeking a part-time youth and children’s minister who will help inspire and encourage its children and young people in their lives of faith. The position is 20 hours per week and will work closely with the assistant curate, with leadership from the incumbent. For more details, see the job posting. Interested candidates should contact the Rev. Molly Finlay at finlaymallsaintswhitby@bellnet.ca or 905-668-5101, ext. 24.

Sexton wanted
St. Cuthbert, Leaside is seeking a full-time sexton (caretaker) starting June 25. The position will be 40 hours per week, with a salary range of $34,000-$36,000 per year. For more details, see the job post. Submit a cover letter and resume before May 4 to stcuthberts@bellnet.ca or St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church, 1399 Bayview Ave., Toronto, ON, M4G 3A6.

Parish seeking administrator
St. Philip, Etobicoke is looking for someone with outstanding personal and administrative skills to fill the position of half-time parish administrator. For details, see the job posting. Submit a letter of application and a resume by April 27 to admin@stphilips.net with “Parish Administrator Post” in the subject line, or by mail to St. Philip’s Church, 31 St. Phillips Rd., Etobicoke, ON M9P 2N7.

Canadian Council of Churches seeks volunteer treasurer
The Canadian Council of Churches is seeking a treasurer for a three-year term beginning in May. The current treasurer commits two half days a month, or up to six days a month in extraordinary circumstances. There are also several meetings per year. For more details, see the position description. Contact admin@councilofchurches.ca or 416-972-9494 as soon as possible.

Staff Changes

Patricia McIlhone, the Diocesan Centre receptionist, is retiring. Her last day will be May 31.

Elena Nemenova, senior accountant in the Finance department, is retiring. Her last day will be Aug. 31.