Here is the video the Diocese of Niagara is sending to Lambeth. I am trying to think of something nice to say about it.
Here goes: it’s very similar to when one of the NASA space craft was sent hurtling into outer space. It carried, among other things, the complete works of J. S. Bach – one of humanity’s crowning achievements – in the hope that the craft might encounter intelligent life. This video does represent the best that Niagara has to offer (faux Beatles, for instance) and I imagine there is a similar, if slender, hope of it encountering intelligent life at Lambeth.
Could anyone understand what the Diocese was trying to communicate regarding ‘evangelism’ on the video?
In order to clarify I checked out the Diocese of Niagara 2007 evangelism report here and learned that recent advertising campaigns yielded a) increased numbers at Christmas services and b) a better public image. So if ‘evangelism’ is just a religious word for ‘advertising’, this new snazzy video with ‘faux Beatles’ will be seen as yet another evangelistic success!
Irena,
First of all, congratulations for getting that far.
I believe that Evangelism in the Diocese of Niagara is mainly concerned with the reducing of gas emissions. And, as far as I am concerned, if the diocese emits less gas, I’m all for it. I’m not optimistic, though.
Forcing orthodix Christians and their priests from parishes and then having the audacity to seize or attempt to seize properties paid for by said congregations can hardly be described as an act of love. Such actions are obviously directed by the opposite.
#1 So if ‘evangelism’ is just a religious word for ‘advertising’, this new snazzy video with ‘faux Beatles’ will be seen as yet another evangelistic success!
Some might quite literally do that due to dwlingdling numbers. Of late, I think it’s more to make sure everyone knows that the doors are open to them, and that we actually do want them to come.
Interesting study in what gets capitalized and what gets colour text treatment. BTW it’s much easier to watch with the sound off. Otherwise meaningless.
Seems to me, when I look at the map of Ontario, that to call the location of the Diocese of Niagara “Central” Ontario is more of that Southern Ontario arrogance. I would think the Dioces of Algoma would more correctly occupy that position!
ML, further to your comment in #6, I would suggest that, simply by looking at a map, most people would conclude that central Canada is the region surrounding Winnipeg.
Yes, and the North begins at Barrie! while the 49th parallel is only a couple of minutes south of Cochrane… and Barrie is about nine hours south of the Winnipeg! (using Canspeak, eh?) So the largest part of Canada is well north of both the Niagara Diocese and Winnipeg! Guess only East/West is important. Apologies forthcoming to the Inuit!
There really needs to be an alternative version of this video, showing the orthodox perspective of what this diocese has become. I doubt it’d get much play at Lambeth though.