From the Diocese of Brandon’s web site:
“God writes in two books. One is the Bible; the other is daily events.
In both, God’s hand is richly in evidence. In neither, normally, is God unequivocally clear.”
This is a thoroughly odd statement for a Christian church to have as its web page heading. Following the heading, the diocesan website regales the reader with tales from “daily events”, many of which bear only a tenuous relationship to the Christian faith or seek to undermine it; for example:
Lockerbie: Megrahi was framed – New Statesman
Alpha can’t heal my scepticism – Observer
Faith healing is unequivocal quackery. So why does Alpha promote it so very hard?A Fine but No Lash for Sudan Woman Who Wore Pants – NY Times
I’m not convinced that God’s hand is richly in evidence in the above, although doubtless he is at work. Presumably, to guide them on their way, the clergy of the Diocese of Brandon are diligently mining the daily news searching for this less than clear evidence of God’s hand.
Turning to the Bible, Brandon’s Anglican hierarchy somehow has managed to miss what seems to most to be God’s extremely clear revelation of himself. I assume that they have actually read it, of course.
Perhaps the truth is, as Mark Twain said,
“It ain’t those parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.”
All of this might help to explain the current pickle in which the ACoC finds itself.
For years some of us in the Brandon Diocese have been writing to the editor of this web news site, asking for clarification, asking for other points of view to be expressed, as well as making critical comments on several controversial subjects. Some of us (myself included) have been threatened with lawsuits for making some of these critical remarks. With no positive results or even polite responsive communication on the diocese part we have resorted to “turn the other cheek” and trust that God will deal as he sees fit.
It is truly a sad situation that many faithful Anglicans in this diocese are tainted with this brush.
Well, ANiC does have a parish in Brandon. Why stick around in a church that threatens to sue you for expressing an unpopular opinion?
For Ann #1
Our prayers are with you. However, the fact is that as long as you have so-called bishops and other clergy who will not stand up for the Gospel but will simply sit back and allow the rapid descent into apostasy things will not change. What is needed is an effective and quick method to deal with apostates – particularly in the House of Bishops – but that will not happen until they are convicted by the Holy Spirit and come to realize God is not subject to their approval.
Frank #3 – Well, if enough people leave . . . if the money doesn’t come in . . . Perhaps the bishops might hear . . .
But that is on the worldly level.
I once had a very brief conversation with Archbishop George Carey when he was in Hamilton, ON – about bishops who seemed to be walking the wrong route. His response was (along the lines of) “Well, God is committed to His Church. But if one part of His church chooses to go the wrong way, then God will withdraw His hand from that part of the church”.
Actually I have left – and am a member of the ANIC parish in Brandon and am thankful that I have that opportunity as many do not.
Of course, another appropriate Mark Twain quote for the Diocese of Niagara (and others’ like it):
“All you need is ignorance and confidence and the success is sure.”
#4 As I recall Head Office coughed up $135,000 to prop up Jim’s failing bank accounts. The Cathedral, according to the weekly bulletin, is at the $18,000 mark in red ink.
The web page is more or less the work of The Rev Mike Skliros, retired C of E priest who is an Associate at the Cathedral. This will explain the gobs of UK news. I think Mike is a bit homesick. His wife is the photographer and producer of the infamous Naked Calendar. Since it is more or less a one man show, a pro-bono effort in Mike’s words the pages are often out of date since no one else wants to step up and help. I offered but was turned down.
Bob Betteson from Dauphin now puts out the typo riddled news letter. He saw two ANiC parishes start in his back yard.
When I first started going to the Cathedral in the early 80′s it was a packed house. I recall reading in the last annual report ASA was in the 100-125 bracket, down 25% from the year before. There is a lot of finger pointing as who’s to blame and the Dean has less than 2 years to go before retirement. The fact he signed off on GLBT issues has not helped the remaining time he has.
Ann [#1],
Some of us (myself included) have been threatened with lawsuits for making some of these critical remarks.
I had a similar experience the the Diocese of Niagara; it was sabre-rattling in my case, but I found the experience quite invigorating.
Oh BTW, waaaay down at the bottom is this:
Steve; The only thing that an has learned from history, is that man does not learn from history. – in short nothing is “over”
have a great day.