From here:
In response to a call for clarification of the status of entities who self identify as being Anglican, it was noted that the Archbishop of Canterbury has stated in writing that his office and the Anglican Communion Office recognize one ecclesial body in Canada as a constitutive member of the Communion, The Anglican Church of Canada. We affirm this statement. We cherish our Communion with the See of Canterbury and remain committed to the life and witness of the Anglican Communion in the service of the Gospel.
“the status of entities who self identify as being Anglican” appears to be a shot at ANiC; in actual fact, ANiC and the ACNA are recognised as Anglican by a majority of the Anglican Communion.
The House, responding to a question from the National Cursillo Secretariat, discussed the relationship with the Anglican Network in Canada, particularly as it related to leadership in Cursillo. It was noted that diocesan bishops have the authority to decide who may serve on Cursillo leadership teams. The House, with regret, is of the opinion that clergy and laity who are members of the Anglican Network in Canada (ANIC) should not be given permission to exercise a leadership role in the Cursillo Movement of the Anglican Church of Canada.
The House reviewed motions passed by General Synod 2007 concerning same sex blessings. Canon Isaac Kawuki-Mukasa of the Faith Worship and Ministry staff spoke to us about a request to develop a process to engage dioceses and parishes of the Anglican Church of Canada in a study of the Christian perspective of human sexuality through the lens of Scripture, reason, tradition and current scientific understanding. In his presentation Canon Mukasa also informed us of an initiative to link some Canadian dioceses with some African dioceses for discussions and exchange of views around matters of human sexuality.
“a study of the Christian perspective of human sexuality through the lens of Scripture, reason, tradition and current scientific understanding”
But Article VI of our 39 Articles of Faith specifically states:
“Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those canonical Books of the Old and New Testament, of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church.”
The Article goes on to list
“Of the Names and Number of the Canonical Books”
The statement from the House of Bishops is nothing more than political rhetoric designed to mislead. Being an Anglican means first of all that you are a Christian and the Anglican Church of Canada is quickly losing that claim due to the failure on the part of the Primate and other claimed orthodox bishops to call the apostates to account for their avowed declarations denying and/or denouncing the authority of Scripture. The issue of human sexuality is only the tip of the iceberg but is being used by the House of Bishops as it fits in with the current political agenda of the so-called gay activists and those who want to interpret the Scripture as relative to our current society. Rather than leading sinners to the Cross, the ACoC seems quite content to make sinners happy to wallow in their condition. Each and every one of us has a tendency to sin – and indeed do sin – in one area or another depending on our personality, upbringing and environment. That does not mean that the Church can “bless” any sin and any suggestion that this can be done is nothing more than “spitting in God’s face”.
The cancer within the Anglican Church of Canada continues to spread with the apparent approval of those who are supposed to be “Chief Shepherds” but are proving to be at best indifferent and at worst “wolves in sheep’s clothing”. All clergy have made specific vows of allegiance and the members of the House of Bishops seem to have concluded they are superior to God and that His word is subject to their approval.
Whenever I have needed to know someone’s suitability for some kind of Christian ministry, or even where a person stood in their faith, I have developed a very simple, yet straightforward question. I ask them, in these exact words, “Would you say you have been born again?” It’s a very simple question and the right answer is only one word, “Yes.” Any fudging, qualifying or attempt at some kind of detailed thesis immediately raises a red flag.
On more than one occasion I have had people answer something like, “Oh, I don’t really believe in all that born-again stuff.” Invariably, no matter how devout or devoted the person might have seemed, my fears have been later borne out. I wonder how some of the leaders in the ACoC would answer the question.
John,
I used the reverse test to find a church. When I became a Christian I went to the rector of St. Hilda’s and told him I’d been born again. If he laughed, I planned on not attending.
“The House, with regret, is of the opinion that clergy and laity who are members of the Anglican Network in Canada (ANIC) should not be given permission to exercise a leadership role in the Cursillo Movement of the Anglican Church of Canada.”
As a member of the Ottawa Anglican Cursillo Movement (OACM) (and a member of ANIC), I can attest to the fact that the Cursillo Movement in Canada (a lay and not a clerically led movement) has been a powerful and effective instrument for developing strong Christian leaders in Canada. It is also a fact that in the Diocese of Ottawa, Cursillo weekends have never been limited to Anglicans but have, from time to time, included particpants from other Christian denominations. In recent years, the OACM has worked extremely hard to rise above the current “troubles” in the church and not let them impede it’s ministry in anyway. It now appears that the House of Bishops of the ACoC intends to meddle in the workings of the Movement with the result that the Movement will be hard pressed to maintain it’s quasi neutrality. Unfortunately such meddling will eventually force members of the Cursillo community to choose a side.
No ANIC members on future Cursillo teams – Oh, such an inclusive concept.
Ultreya
WT
This is off topic, but I would be interested to hear responses. Does anyone here use the Common Praise (CP) hymnbook?
I was attending St Catherines here in Edson (I usually go to the Baptist church) and the closing hymn was, “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee,” (#425) and was rather blindsided by verse 3. Instead of , “Thou our Father, Christ our brother…” CP says, “Thou our Father and our Mother…(with a capital ‘M’ no less).
I never did like this hymnbook, but this just confirms my opinion that it makes great material for a landfill.
The subject of involvement in Cursillo came up in the Diocese of BC as well. We were advised:
As may be true elsewhere, there are Baptists and other Christians on Cursillo teams in this diocese
I guess I will file this with all the other statements and heresy and lawsuits that have brought shame and dishonor upon the Anglican Church of Canada. Shame on you HOB.
Yea, we have the new Common Praise in one of my parishes. There are very few hymns that have not been given alternates to be politically correct. It’s liberal. At times it’s heretical.
John K – really? ewwwwwwww.
I just looked up the Canaidan Anglican Cursillo Secretariat website where I read, “CACS operates under a letter of agreement with the Roman Catholic Cursillo Movement in the United States, and is charged in that agreement with maintaining the “authenticity” of the Anglican Cursillo movement in Canada. In other words, we do our best to assist Diocesan movements to remain true to the founders’ vision of what Cursillo is intended to do and how it is intended to function.”
Since the RC Church is opposed (as a body) to the same-sex issue, if the ACoC goes ahead, does the CACS have to fold? After all, won’t the RCs withdraw the permission?
“The Anglican Church welcomes you! Draw the Circle Wide! One Big Tent over all! Diversity and inclusivity! Well, except for folks that we don’t like: they can go to hell!”
I decided about two years ago, when asked whether I would lead a cursillo weekend, to decline because I would have to operate under the authority of the bishop and the ACC. Who in ANiC would want to revert to that authority? There have not only been non-ACC Cursillo team members since the beginning (UCC, Baptist, Presbyterian, Reformed and others, and the RCs started the Anglican movement here), but there have been non Anglican/RC cursillo movements. One of my concerns with Cursillo has been that it, like the ACC, has been diminishing in membership and commitment, partly at least due to the lack of support from clergy. Perhaps ANiC could see its way to sponsoring its own cursillo at some time in the future as an effective means of evangelising and renwewing Christian leaders.
#11 I would think they would – but the decision making wheels of the RC church move very very slowly.
RE John K: We decided in my parish not to use the new hymn book which came out in 1998. There are very good reviews of some of the questionable materials in this Book of Common Praise and the theology behind them: http://www.prayerbook.ca/library/responses/common_praise/
If you are looking for evidence of the ACoC being theologically off the rails, the CP is a gold mine.
Sam (#14)
We were at St Paul’s Edmonton when CP came out. Not only did the rector (Tom Maxwell) refuse to use it, he asked for people to chip in to buy up a brand new lot of the old blue book (Book of Common Praise). That book is still in the pews, although most of their music is now more contemporary and uses power point with a projector. I have spoken to several members and clergy in St Catherines here in Edson about CP, and most agree with me, but for some reason they just keep on using it.
#5, #10, #12, and #13
We’ve had members of the Anglican Catholic Church of Canada on teams, I think. That situation is no different. “Cursillo Leadership teams” to me means Secretariat … and a detailed examination of the current Ottawa Secretariat would reveal one Baptist and one United Church. Previous members have included Presbyterians, as well.
Also, there are plenty of “Three Day Renewal Movements” outside of the licensed Cursillo. http://cursillos.ca/en/liens.htm lists 81 movements, 23 as non-denominational. Tres Dias appears to be pretty inclusive – get a bunch of people together and inform them you want in, according to their website.
OH NO! Am I correct in interpreting the latest Gob from the Hob to mean that I am sort of, kinda, perhaps, maybe, etc. etc. EX-COMMUNICATED!!!? Is my baptism some 60 years ago made possible and executed by God fearing Christ Centered and Church loving Anglicans Suddenly NULL & VOID?
Am I to believe that these Princes of my church have the power to SLICE THROUGH the grafting of my body to the Body of Christ. Can they actually WIPE AWAY the mark placed on my forehead at that first and wonderful encounter with my God, Father Son and Holy Spirit? CAN THEY? hi hi hi… just kidding I know they can’t. But I pray seriously that they realize that before they come before Jesus to answer what they mean by “Self identifying Anglicans”.