6:30 a.m.
Good morning from Halifax! This is a quick note before synod starts for the day. A new motion has been tabled, C004: Decision to adopt Anglican Covenant:
- Affirm the commitment of the Anglican Church of Canada to full participation in the life and mission of the Anglican Communion; and
- Will consider a formal decision to adopt the proposed Anglican Covenant after the Church of England has formally adopted it.
This is something of a surprise since up until now, the talk has been of 3 years of study and bring the results back to the 2013 Synod. The question is, when will the Church of England adopt it? And now – off to breakfast.
8:30 a.m.
The foghorn is sounding. Morning prayer and Bible study.
Introduction of nominees for Deputy Prolocutor
Rev Lynne Corfield, dio. of Niagara. Votes – 75
Ven. Peter John Hobbs, dio. of Ottawa. Votes – 29
Ven. Harry Huskins, dio. of Algoma. (current deputy prolocutor) Votes -79
Dean Ian Luke, dio of Athabasca Votes – 35
Canon Alan Perry, dio. of Montreal Votes – 33
Canon John Alfred Steele, dio. of BC. Votes – 24
Second ballot taking place: Lynne, Harry, Ian.
3rd ballot – Lynne, Harry.
Roots Among the Rocks
Dean Peter Wall introduces the group.
Very talented young people. The theme seems to be God made me and I am not a mistake; you can imagine the drift. Standing ovation.
The Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts-‐Schori Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church
Applause as KJS comes to the podium.
Abp. Hiltz intro: TEC is a “huge” church. ACoC values its relationship with TEC – gone through tough times together. TEC gave $100k to the ACoC to help with the Residential School costs.
KJS speaking. Brings greetings from TEC which is in 16 nations.
It’s all about “mission” – healing all creation, living in justice dignity and peace. Baptismal covenant calls us to mission. Mission is about building a just society. Baptism is commissioning for service – we all have ministries. ACoC and TEC share common roots and history.
KJS going over some North American Church history.
There has been a lot of consensual border crossing between TEC and ACoC (laughter and applause).
Mission today have many aspects reflecting the 5 marks of mission. Long list of TEC mission activity, many of which are shaped by the Millennium Development goals. Growth only seen in 4 US dioceses, but in many oversees.
Moving beyond buildings (ahem).
Speak truth to power through advocacy groups to governments. Energy, oil spill, Athabasca oil sands, sexuality, global warming , poverty, injustice, war.
TEC deeply grateful for ACoC – wants to increase mission partnership.
No mention of “Wovok.” No mention of Jesus, either.
Standing ovation.
Sexuality Discernment #3 Feedback
Will make a separate post on this.
Press Conference with Rev. Katharine Jefferts-‐Schori
Separate post on this, too, probably sometime this evening, since I have to transcribe it.
Afternoon, worship service at St. Paul’s Church
KJS is speaking? That should be interesting.
Any delegate that is true to the Gospel will definitely absent themselves from anything this apostate leader might say. What further proof do we need to show that apostasy reigns within the ACoC? The answer – NONE.
“Any delegate that is true to the Gospel will definitely absent themselves from anything this apostate leader might say”
It seems to me that an orthodox take on the Gospels show that Jesus spent virtually his whole time in Earthly ministry with apostates and sinners.
As an ANiC member I highly respect those that remain committed to orthodoxy within the ACoC and are prepared to go to Synods like this and present the case for Christian orthodoxy.
With the prospect of sitting on the bench for the rest of the season, this might appear a promising development. Big HOWEVER, it won’t be an independent ACoC decision. Sometimes +Fred acts like this was a farm team and someone else makes the big decisions.
And I doubt Kate got there without some Oild Sands or BP Gas in the tank. Ask Matt Kennedy about Justice.
#3
This is true, as far as it goes, but I don’t think it is a relevant comaparison. Here, we have Christian leaders who don’t preach the faith once delivered to the saints. Jesus didn’t put people who didn’t believe him in positions of leadership, and Paul had lots to say about how we are to relate (or not) to false teachers.
If we are an independent province of the Anglican Communion, why wait til the C of E has done something? Why not wait til the Province of Nigeria or Australia or TEC does something? Did we wait for the C of E before we ordained women as priests? And heaven forbid that we should wait for the C of E before we ordain practicing homosexuals, and call their relationships blessed.
What is the purpose of this motion, which comes out of the Diocese of New Westminster?
Perhaps they know just how deeply divided the C of E is…
And while people are thinking up new motions to bring to the synod floor, how about a motion to revive heresy trials like they did in the C of E in the late 1990′s? Perhaps we’ve been too nice with these wolves in shepherd’s clothing…
ahh… but then what is the point? The bench will be stacked against our case. Perhaps it is the principle of the thing. If I were still in the ACoC that is what I’d be pushing for. I wanted to do it when I was in the ACoC, but couldn’t get enough support to push for bringing charges of heresy up. It is kind of hard to do when the shepherd one has in mind is one’s bishop.
What is “Wovok”?
Joy – click on “should be interesting” in comment #1, and you’ll see.
There’s a problem: heresy is not an ecclesiastical offence in Canada. Preaching or teaching against the doctrine of the Anglican Church of Canada is. In practice, that means whatever the current leadership wants it to mean.
There’s also a time limitation: cases must be brought within a year of the alleged offence.