Following decades of tension between the Anglican Church’s national leadership and the editorial staff of the Anglican Journal over how much “journalistic independence” should be permitted in the church newspaper, the Council of General Synod has made a decision. The 151-year-old paper will no longer publish journalism, but will ensure that writing in the Journal “unequivocally supports the mission of the church.”

At a June 12 meeting of the Council of the General Synod (CoGS), the Anglican Church’s executive body that carries out the work of the General Synod between meetings, the group of about 30 people voted unanimously to make the Anglican Journal “the voice of the Anglican Church of Canada and part of its larger communications strategy rather than a separate journalistic enterprise.” 

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According to the Anglican Church’s official meeting highlights, the intent is “to ensure that the Journal, like all tools that Anglicans are paying for, unequivocally supports the mission of the church and is accountable to CoGs, General Synod and leadership at Church House.”

The meeting summary also notes that in his presentation, Jamie Tomlinson, a member of the committee developing a new mandate and strategy for the national church’s communications, said that the Journal’s new role would “ensure strategic alignment, effective risk management and responsible stewardship.” 

The changes to the Anglican Church’s communications is part of a broader plan to reshape the denomination’s structure and operations in the face of declining membership and funding. 

The Anglican Journal itself has yet to report on the change, and the Anglican Church did not respond to requests for comment by Broadview’s deadline. 

Current Journal editor Tali Folkins has been on a leave of absence since late 2025, and was not present........

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