Feed on
Posts
Comments

Synod 2012 Day One

Nov 14th, 2012 by

I arrived at the opening eucharist a little late, after the clergy and bishops had processed in. The following are the notes I took from Bishop Bob Duncan’s sermon. Please remember these are just my notes – it’s not word for word what he said, and there are probably errors in them. Bishop Bob told a couple of funny stories at the beginning about us not taking the fact that he gave Bishop Charlie a hug, or had breakfast with Bishop Ron (and I can’t remember the example he used for Bishop Trevor) to indicate anything at all about his opinion about the election – and told us that sometimes under stress people will connect the dots in funny ways, and please don’t connect the dots in any way other than scripture.

With that, here are my notes on Bishop Bob’s sermon.

You have gathered in Synod because you actually like one another and enjoy being together, that’s one reason. Another reason is that you have business to do.

The third reason is to elect a successor for Bishop Don. The lessons are the lessons for the election of the bishop, from Matthew 10 and Acts 1.

Matthew 10:16-22:

16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Sheep in the midst of wolves. Now there’s a piece of good news! Beware of men who will deliver you up and flog you ….etc Matthew 10 is an address to the 12 he has just chosen. In addition there will be lots of family problems. Father will be set against child etc. (verses 20 and following) I am not going to focus on this because I don’t want the nominees to disappear before this afternoon! However – opposition in the world is the way it is supposed to be in the church. John Stott once said to me ‘if we compromise less we would suffer more’. For the aposotolic office, the office of bishop and by extention the elders and leaders of the church and all who desire to follow the Lord Jesus it is the Sprit who is supposed to speak, not us. This is at the heart of the gospel message read for this day and appointed for this occaison.

Acts 1:15-26

15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,

“‘May his camp become desolate,
and let there be no one to dwell in it’;

and

“‘Let another take his office.’

21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

There are a series of lessons we can learn here.. v15, 21, 22. Peter who has been chosen to be the moderator of the apostolic group, asks “What are we going to do about Judas?” An apostle must be able in his circumstances to give leadership to those whom he serves and those whom he leads. Peter in giving his leadership is in the word. (in v16-20 Peter speaks about why Judas’ betrayal happened according to scripture and why they have to do something and let his place be taken by another. Peter speaks about David giving us teaching in the scriptures psalms 69 and 109. Peter so lives under the word that he is able to draw out from the word what he believes the Spirit is saying to the church. It is not only a matter of giving leadership but giving leadership in light of the word of God. In v.20 and 21 we find Peter’s guidance in the situarion which has been regarded as advice to the church throughout all the ages. They must choose someone who has been present to the whole story from the baptism of John to the day he was taken from us. Someone who knows the whole story, someone who has been there. Someone who knows Jesus personally. That is what Peter says is necessary for this apostolic leadership. He also says, and this is very important, that the person chosen is someone who was with us through these days, not somebody unknown to us or who wasn’t part of the unfolding of the good news but somebody who was with us in the time that Jesus was going in and out among us. What is interesting in terms of the light of the church this passage tells us that there were many there who Jesus didn’t choose at first, but someone new is chosen who wasn’t recoghnized as a leader before but is brought into leadership. This is someone who has seen the risen Jesus, not only that he knows the stories and has been among us but has been a witness to the resurreciton of the Lord. He has seen Jesus break in and change everything, bring the rule of sin and oprression of death to an end. A witness to the resurrection someone who will witness, be in the tradition and be in the council of the church. In v 23 to 26 we are told that they had some sort of nominating process and 2 names were put forward by the group – they, not Peter alone. We know far more about Joseph Justus than about Matthias. But anyway they put forward these two and their system of choosing – well, we don’t do what the copts do, do we, three names in the chalice and one name picked. But as you prepare to cast each of you your own lot the purpose of the story is to tell us that their trust was completely in the Lord and as you cast your lot the expectation is that you do it under the Lord, not what do I want but what is the Spirit saying. That is the puprpose of this drawing of lots, complete trust in the Lord that the Lord will choose. As we use this privelege of putting our own lot we need to do it in a submitted way trusting in the Lord. It is right that the office be filled in council, that’s how they do it in Acts, and the final thing to observe is what God does with whoever is chosen is up to God. They needed to fill Judas’ office and the process chose Matthias. We hear absolutely nothing more than Matthias in the rest of sacred writ. His purpose is to be chosen and God uses him how God chooses. It is clear that there are many who went among them whose names we do not know. It is unimportant to the rest of the story. Matthias is unimportant to the rest of the story. We can assume that he was faithful, otherwise we might have heard more about him! We don’t know how he was faithful and we don’t know how the one elceted from among you today will be faithful we only trust that he will be. Synod will make a choice and this choice may have a name that is known or not, but we trust that what is important here is that the Holy Spirit will chose through you one who is faithful, under the word, who knows Jesus, is with the other apostles, who is a witness to the resurrection, one who will be God’s choice just as Matthias was. Remember, Matthias was God’s choice and so will the choice you make this day be. Trust that, and trust that he will be one who will fight the good figtht with all his might.

Brothers and Sisters, as you have supported Don support your new coadjutor, stand with him, trust that he is God’s choice. “So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” Amen.

After the opening eucharist we had lunch, and then I went upstairs to a prayer room where a group of us prayed for the bishop nominees wives, and chatted, and waited. About midway through the voting process Bishop Bob walked through the room, and we all jumpped to the (wrong) conclusion that he had an announcement to make, *sigh*. After another (seemingly very long)while we went downstairs to find that our new co-adjutor bisho is Charlie Masters! I missed the beginning of the speech he gave, but I did hear him say that his dad was not always the most complimentary about bishops, and used to call the office he had just been elected to ‘co-agitator’ bishop. He then turned to Bishop Don and said “It will be an honour to co-agitate with you”.

Here is a link to the photos I took today. The quality isn’t great, but it will give you an idea of what it was like to be there. The door is the locked door behind which the people who actually got to vote were gathered, and the harried looking fellow with the yellow nametag is David Pennyleigon, who deserves a huge thanks, because he did the lions share of the work of co-ordinating synod.

Here is a link to a recording I made of all 300 or so of us singing during the eucharist.

Tomorrow will be a long busy day, so I don’t expect to get a post up until Friday morning, although if I find time and space to do so I will try to upload posts during the day.

Posted in ANiC Synod 2012 | No Comments »

Breaking – New ANiC Moderator announced.

Nov 14th, 2012 by

This just in – Rt Rev Charlie Masters has been announced as the new ANiC Moderator (coadjutor), taking over from Rt Rev Don Harvey in 2014. More when I get it….

UPDATE from ANiC email:

The Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) synod has elected the Rt Rev Charles Masters as Co-adjutor Diocesan Bishop to succeed our Diocesan Bishop and Moderator the Rt Rev Donald Harvey when he retires in 2014.
The election took place at St Peter and St Paul Anglican Church in Ottawa on November 14 with the Primate of the Anglican Church in North America, the Most Rev Robert Duncan, presiding.
The House of Bishops of the Anglican Church in North America, of which ANiC is a diocese, must approve the election.

Posted in Anglican Network in Canada | No Comments »

Diocese of Niagara to disestablish St. Hilda’s and Good Shepherd

Nov 12th, 2012 by

Our intrepid Anglican Samizdat reports that the Diocese of Niagara has proceeded to disestablish St. Hilda’s and Good Shepherd. From here:

to proceed formally to disestablish St. Hilda’s Anglican Church in Oakville and Church of the Good Shepherd in St. Catharines.

approved in principle the sale of St. Hilda’s Rectory at a price not lower than $600,000 and authorized the Secretary of Synod to conduct an electronic poll

This does not come as a great surprise and only shows what this is all about. Not about ministry, or mission, or supporting “growing” congregations. But about the money to prop up budgets another year or two.

As an aside, it’s funny how parishes hold church property in trust for the diocese, when only a few years ago the diocese held church properties in trust for the parishes. If hypocrisy was not in the order of the day, I guess the real churches of St. Hilda’s and Good Shepherd could claim that trust money back from the Diocese of Niagara. I’m sure that would work. Ahem.

Posted in Anglican Church of Canada | 1 Comment »

Bishop of Durham to be Archbishop of Canterbury

Nov 7th, 2012 by

From the Daily Telegraph

Sources have confirmed that the Eton-educated bishop will be announced as successor to Dr Rowan Williams as early as Friday, after the Crown Nominations Commission put his name forward to Downing Street.

It marks a meteoric rise for the former oil executive who has been a bishop for only a year, but insiders described Welby as “the outstanding candidate”.

Last night a spokesman refused to confirm his appointment. But it came a few hours after he pulled out at short notice from a planned appearance on the BBC Radio 4 discussion programme Any Questions due to take place in County Durham on Friday.

He also cut short a retreat with diocesan staff and returned to the capital where it is understood his wife is travelling down to join him tomorrow.

Earlier this week bookmakers stopped taking money on Bishop Welby after a flurry of bets on him being chosen.

Sources in Canterbury earlier attempted to play down the expectation, with one even suggesting that they had been “surprised” that it was not him.

Although one of the front-runners since the beginning of the process there had been doubts over whether Bishop Welby had been a bishop for long enough. He took over at Durham just a year ago having previously been Dean of Liverpool.

There were also questions over whether an Eton-educated Archbishop would be well received in some quarters.

It is thought that the questions played a part in delaying the final decision although it is also thought his family were reluctant to be drawn into the limelight.

Dr John Sentamu The Archbishop of York, was the early favourite for the post and and the Bishops of Coventry, Norwich and Liverpool were also widely tipped.

But the choice of the 56-year-old to lead the world’s 77 million Anglicans marks a decisive break with the past for the Church.

While his predecessors have drawn on long and distinguished careers as academics or clerics, his experience is of the world of mammon as much as God.

A former oil executive he gave up a highly paid career after feeling a “call” to the priesthood in the late 1980s.

“Something in me just said ‘this is what you should be doing’,” he recently explained.

He was able to draw on years of experience in oil exploration in troubled areas of west Africa, when his ministry led him to work in conflict resolution in the violent Niger Delta, where he narrowly avoided being shot dead.

At a time when the Church is grappling with the aftermath of the banking crisis, he combines – almost uniquely – an understanding of the working of the City with that of life in the inner city, gleaned as a parish priest and Dean of Liverpool.

He has used his seat in the Lords as a platform to challenge the “sins” of the multi-billion pound banks as much as the small-scale pay-day “loan sharks” he has seen at work on the North East – condemning the practice in the language of the Old Testament as “usury”.

Although Educated at Eton and Cambridge and even a member of a Pall Mall club, he is seen as far from an establishment figure.

Theologically, he is unashamedly part of the evangelical tradition, upholding a more traditional and conservative interpretation of the Bible than some in the Church of England.

But he is also a strong advocate of more modern styles of worship.

Dr Williams is also due back in London tomorrow after almost two weeks abroad, visiting Papua New Guinea before attending a meeting of world Anglican leaders in New Zealand.

Speaking in Auckland yesterday, at what aides said would be his final press conference, he was asked for advice for his successor.

Quoting the theologian Karl Barth, he said that the new Archbishop should preach “with a Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other”.

He said that it was vital that whoever is named must be able to make his message relevant to modern life and “like” reading newspapers.

“You have to be cross-referencing all the time and saying, ‘How does the vision of humanity and community in the Bible map onto these issues of poverty, privation, violence and conflict?’

“And you have to use what you read in the newspaper to prompt and direct the questions that you put to the Bible: ‘Where is this going to help me?’

“So I think somebody who likes reading the Bible and likes reading newspapers would be a good start.”

Posted in Anglican Communion | 3 Comments »

Orthodox Anglican Primates call for “one of their own” to lead Anglican Communion

Nov 6th, 2012 by

Read it all at VOL:

Fed up with what they see as a continual undermining of “the faith once for all delivered to the saints”, Anglican leaders from Nigeria and Kenya meeting at the ACC-15 blasted the words and actions of leaders here. They also said it was time for the Primates of the Anglican Communion to elect one of their own who will call their meetings with an enhanced responsibility to guard the Faith and Order of the Anglican Communion.

“We believe this can be done without sacrificing the primacy of honor we bestow upon the historic See of Canterbury, or diminishing the civic and ecclesiastical role Canterbury plays in the life of the Church of England,” they avowed.

The Global South is flexing its theological and ecclesiastical muscle believing that the next leader of the Anglican Communion should not be left to English politicians and Anglican leaders with a liberal theological bent. They also believe that Western Anglicanism has drifted away from the faith and that these leaders do not speak for the vast number of Anglicans in the communion who are evangelical in faith and life.

The six leaders from Nigeria and Kenya here in Auckland said that as representatives to the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC-15), they represent some 31 million active and worshipping Anglicans within our Anglican Communion.

[…..]

“We are grieved that the Anglican Consultative Council continues to tolerate, and even honor, The Episcopal Church USA, the Anglican Church of Canada and other provinces who continue to produce revisionist forms of the Christian faith that are unrecognizable to the majority of Anglicans worldwide, contrary to a plain reading of God’s Word and in violation of Anglican Faith and Order. For this reason, we believe it is time for the Primates themselves to elect one of their own who will call their meetings with an enhanced responsibility to guard the Faith and Order of the Anglican Communion.”

Tags:

Posted in Anglican Crisis | 2 Comments »

Synod

Nov 3rd, 2012 by

Hi folks – I will be reporting on Synod, but I won’t be live blogging. I’ll post a summary at the end of each day.

Posted in ANiC Synod 2012 | 2 Comments »

A Report from the Anglican Consultative Council in New Zealand

Nov 3rd, 2012 by

From this report, it seems clear that the chief purpose of the Anglican Consultative Council meeting taking place in New Zealand is, at all costs, to steer clear of any discussion that might have some bearing on the plight of the Anglican Communion.

Even worse, the idea that God wishes to convey objective truth to us in the Bible is being replaced by a mushy relativism where no interpretation of what is written is any better than any other.

From Canon Phil Ashey in Auckland, AAC

Dear friends,

I am in Auckland, NZ, at the 15th meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC15). The agenda moved into high gear today with presentations on “The Bible in the Life of the Church” (BILC), the Network for Interfaith Concerns (NIFCON) Report “Promised Land?”, an Anglican Communion resource for addressing Israeli-Palestinian relations, and the Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Unity, Faith and Order (IASCUFO) report on The Instruments of Unity.

I believe that the discussion on BILC revealed an important major conclusion that tips the hand of the ACC’s leadership: that the process of how Anglicans interpret scripture is as important as the substance of scripture. Two conclusions will follow from this premise: (1) Context reigns supreme in how people interpret, and in the diversity of interpretations that flow from diversity of contexts NO interpretation is better than another (a point made by the preselected TEC leader of one of the small groups), and (2) There are no “limits” on faithful interpretation (point made by the preselected Church of England rep from another reflection group).

In this discussion, initial enthusiasm for the affirmation of Bible study gave way to sharp differences over the language in the proposed resolution, and then to frustration that there was not enough time to consider the resolution. Finally, the resolution commending BILC for study and use in all Anglican seminaries, parishes and dioceses was sent back to the resolutions committee. I expect they will return to it tomorrow or Monday.

The NIFCON Report on Israeli-Palestinian relations may have brought the revisionist leadership to the brink of futility. Some revisionists felt the language of the report in each of the three sections stating “What all Anglicans can and should believe about XXX” was too magisterial and simply unanglican. Other revisionists felt the report was too pro-Israel. Others felt we had to do something and not wait another three years. Archbishop Williams intervened and confused everybody. Finally, under intensive questioning, Anglican Communion Office (ACO) staff revealed that the report had already been publicly released yesterday in Ireland – so, in effect, the whole conversation was a waste of time.

The process of AAC15 is being intensively stage managed and choreographed by ACO staff. There have been few opportunities for delegates to actually address the body. Plenary sessions moved immediately into regional or reflection groups. In the reflection groups, each group responded to a different question that was designed by the ACC leadership for them to answer. During the Bible in the Life of the Church report-back from reflection groups, an ACO staff member carefully called upon what appeared to be preselected delegates from mostly Global North provinces. Resolutions were presented by PowerPoint on a screen for a vote, and not distributed in advance. There is simmering frustration among many deputies at the near Orwellian manner in which Kenneth Kearon and the ACO seem to be managing this meeting. The bottom line is that the real issues of the Anglican Communion are being completely dodged, especially the failure of the Instruments of Communion to address violations by The Episcopal Church (USA) and the Anglican Church of Canada.

And so the report on the Instruments of Communion was similar – a 10 minute plenary of nothing more than historical background and explanation of the group’s work, moving immediately into reflection groups and evening prayer.

In terms of what schemes seem to be emerging, I would respectfully suggest the following as a “pincer” movement that ACC/ACO is going to place upon confessing Anglicans:

1. Through Continuing Indaba dialogue and stories, bolstered by the work of the BILC resources, Biblical interpretation of human sexuality and its limits will be rendered value-neutral with no limits on Biblical interpretation within the Communion. Lambeth 1.10 will be declared in effect non-binding;

2. Then, through the new Code of Conduct and the Safe Church resolution, any objection to sexual expressions that are not Biblical will be deemed “harassment,” chilling any speech and bringing consequences to those who, in Anglican communion meetings, dare to raise the subject.

I pray I am mistaken, but that is my best look into the future.

Yours in Christ,

Phil+

The Rev. Canon Phil Ashey
Chief Operating and Development Officer, American Anglican Council

Tags:

Posted in Anglican Communion | No Comments »

Same-sex blessings available in Rupert’s Land

Nov 2nd, 2012 by

From the Anglican Journal:

The blessing of civil marriages between same-gender couples can now take place in diocese of Rupert’s Land parishes that wish to offer them.

Approximately a third of the Anglican Church of Canada’s 30 dioceses now have moved forward with same-sex blessings, an issue that has deeply divided Anglicans in Canada and worldwide.

The 2010 meeting of General Synod, the church’s governing body, did not approve the so-called local option allowing dioceses to grant same-sex blessings. But it recognized that the local option has been exercised by some dioceses and may be used in the future without the approval of the national church.

Bishop Donald Phillips of the diocese of Rupert’s Land initially withheld his consent when the synod passed a resolution allowing same-sex blessings on October 20. But after a 12-day period that included consultations with both the national and provincial houses of bishops, Phillips consented.  “I am now settled that it is pastorally appropriate to proceed with concurring with this resolution,” he said in a memorandum.

Phillips explained that his initial decision not to endorse the resolution is not an uncommon practice. He noted how in the diocese of New Westminster, which first initiated same-sex blessings in the Anglican Church of Canada, Bishop Michael Ingham withheld his consent twice, at the 1998 and 2000 synods, even though the resolutions were passed with a majority. Ingham gave his consent in 2002.

Parishes will need to pass a formal resolution expressing their desire to have such blessings before they can be offered. To be eligible to receive the blessing, same-sex couples must have their marriage “duly solemnized and civilly registered,” said Phillips. The requirements and form the blessing take would require his authorization, he added, pointing out that only clergy “whose conscience permits” will be expected to offer same-sex blessings. The blessing is “a pastoral act, not a wedding rite,” he said.

Other Canadian Anglican dioceses that have approved same-sex blessings include: British Columbia, New Westminster, Edmonton, Niagara, Huron, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, and Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior (APCI) also passed a motion asking its bishop to allow clergy “whose conscience permits” to bless same-sex unions.

Tags: ,

Posted in Anglican Church of Canada | 18 Comments »

Diocese of B.C. fends off financial threat amid tumult

Nov 2nd, 2012 by

From here:

A year ago, the Anglican Diocese of B.C. made the traumatic and dramatic decision to sell nine Vancouver Island church properties or see its $1.2-million debt escalate further.

The move has turned out to be a blessing, despite the turmoil it caused for members whose families had attended the historic congregations for generations.

Five of the nine church properties have sold, the accumulated debt of the diocese is gone, and its financial future and mission potential have been “helped tremendously” for the next several years, said Chris Pease, the diocese’s asset manager.

Listed at $175,000 to $1.4 million, sale prices came “very close” to asking prices, he said.

In combination with cuts to expenditures, the diocese has paid off its accumulated debt, and will use some of the proceeds “to finance the annual operating deficit until revenues and expenses are back in balance,” Pease said in an email.

Leases and future sales of the unsold properties will support ministry initiatives and upgrade and maintain buildings within the diocese.

“I know it was very hard for parishioners,” but necessary to stave off “many more disheartening situations,” he said.

“One has to do something to make sure that the church survives and gets stronger for the future, even if it means making hard decisions now,” he said. “And I think that’s what the Anglican Church did.”

 

Tags:

Posted in Anglican Church of Canada | No Comments »

Statement from the Rupert’s Land House of Bishops

Nov 1st, 2012 by

Update: The plot thickens. The statement has vanished from the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert’s Land’s website. It is still accessible in Google cache here, though.

If anyone from the area knows why the statement was removed, please leave a comment.

From the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert’s Land‘s website:

On September 30, 2012, the Bishop of Saskatoon ordained as deacon an individual  who is civilly married to a  person of the same sex.

In early September the bishop as a courtesy informed some of the members of  Provincial House of Bishops of his intention to do so,   The House at its meeting  September 28 discussed this situation and issued the following statement:

The House of Bishops of  the Province of Rupert’s Land disassociates itself from the decision of the Bishop of Saskatoon to ordain a candidate living in a civilly recognized “same sex marriage”  This decision was made without our consent or consultation and will cause division and confusion within our Province.

We hold the Bishop, Clergy, and People of  the Diocese of Saskatoon in our prayers and are committed to maintain the highest degree of communion possible.

Of those bishops present, seven voted in favour of the statement, two voted against and as is our custom, the Metropolitan refrained from voting.

When reading this statement it is important to note that the House of Bishops has neither judicial nor legislative authority.  It is a venue in which bishops meet for mutual support in their roles as overseers in the church.  Clergy ordination as such comes under the authority of the diocesan bishop.

Tags:

Posted in Anglican Church of Canada | 8 Comments »

Diocese of Huron – What are you thinking?

Oct 16th, 2012 by

From the ANiC Newsletter:

“In a decision released on September 26, Justice H A Rady of the Superior Court of Ontario denied the Diocese of Huron’s bid to exact legal costs from the leadership and parish of ANiC’s St Aidan’s (Windsor, ON). He says: “…I have come to the conclusion that it would be fair and just that the parties bear their own costs.” The Diocese of Huron had been seeking $445,486.37 from the people of St Aidan’s and has now appealed this decision. Your prayer support is appreciated. ”

Wow. A tad vindictive, I think.

Posted in Court Cases | 16 Comments »

Diocese of Edmonton: synod approves same sex union blessings

Oct 15th, 2012 by

From here:

EDMONTON – Neil Gordon understands the comfort some people feel in having their civil union blessed by a church.

An Anglican priest who was married by a justice of the peace 25 years ago, Gordon was thrilled to have Kent Clarke, the Archbishop of Edmonton, say a simple prayer for him and his Jewish wife at their wedding dinner.

“I can’t tell you how much it meant to me,” Gordon, the rector of All Saints’ Cathedral and dean of Edmonton, said. “It told me the church was pulling for us. It was a wonderful gift.”

On Saturday, Gordon introduced a resolution at the annual synod of the diocese of Edmonton requesting that clergy members be allowed to ask the bishop for permission to similarly bless the unions of same-sex couples.

After four hours of emotionally charged debate in the crowded hall at St. Matthias Church, more than 200 delegates passed the motion by a healthy majority. With it, Edmonton became the seventh diocese among 30 in the country to take the step, which some Anglicans find controversial and others a long time in coming.

It is not a move toward allowing Anglican priests to marry same-sex couples, Gordon cautioned.“All it is, is an affirmation, saying to people, ‘The church wishes you well,’” Gordon said. “It is no more complicated than that.”

Earlier, the delegates, who were made up of clergy members and parishioners from throughout the diocese, passed a resolution to establish a working group to study the issue from a theological standpoint.

Gordon said the group will likely meet for the fist time to study scripture and discuss the issue in early November.

“My sense is that we need to spend a few months studying and talking and getting to understand each other better,” Gordon said. “There were some people that didn’t understand why I was bringing the motion, and there were others that weren’t happy about it.

“I think we need to understand where each of us is coming from and we need to build up a sense of commonality.”

The debate leading up the vote to bless the unions brought some delegates to the verge of tears.

“We do not all see the resolution as being a faithful interpretation of scripture,” one member of the clergy said.

In the end, the final result pleased Gordon, who has a number of same-gender couples in his flock.

“They are happy being civilly married,” he said. “All they want is a blessing. It is a very small thing, but it means a lot.”

Posted in Anglican Church of Canada | 7 Comments »

Anglicans refuse to allow services in former church in Irondale, Ont.

Oct 12th, 2012 by

From here:

The Anglican Diocese of Toronto has forbidden its ministers and even laypersons from conducting services in a quaint non-denominational church in the historic hamlet of Irondale in the Haliburton Highlands.

The building used to belong to the diocese. After a two-year legal challenge, the Bark Lake Aboriginal Tribe this past summer purchased the church from the Anglican diocese for $70,000. The frame church, built by pioneer Charles Pusey in 1887, was sold to the diocese in 1901 for $50.

When the building reopened a month ago as the Irondale Community Church, the first service was Anglican, the second Lutheran. But when retired Anglican minister Arnold Hancock wanted to conduct the Thanksgiving Day weekend service, Archbishop Colin Johnson of the Anglican Diocese of Toronto sent out a cease-and-desist order far and wide.

The folks in Irondale, about 100 kilometres north of Peterborough, are now preparing for a fight. Even devout Anglicans are accusing the church of being unchristian.

“This has set everybody back,” George Simmons, whose family’s involvement in the church goes back generations, told the Toronto Star.

“I think the majority of Anglicans would be disgraced that they wouldn’t allow an Anglican minister (to conduct a service) for people who have attended that church for 50 years,” he said.

“He covered the whole area here. He notified every Anglican layperson and minister that they weren’t allowed to lead a service in the church,” Simmons added.

Johnson could not be reached directly by the Toronto Star but the Diocese of Toronto issued a statement.

“Due to dwindling numbers, the former Anglican church of St. John’s, Irondale, was closed and deconsecrated in 2010 and sold to private citizens for community use in 2012,” stated Stuart Mann, its director of communications. “The purchasers continue to hold services in the church, which is entirely appropriate. However, Anglican clergy are not permitted to conduct services at St. John’s as it is no longer under Anglican authority. Anglican clergy are only permitted to function in Anglican ministries.”

When asked how it could possibly hurt to have an Anglican minister conduct a service on occasion, the Star was met with stony silence.

“They have really come down hard on us. It’s vengeance at its height,” Simmons said.

Read more here.

Posted in Anglican Church of Canada | 11 Comments »

Diocese of Edmonton to vote on same-sex blessings at October Synod

Oct 9th, 2012 by

From here, where there is also a report on “human sexuality” that informs us that it is all about far more than just what is done with our genitalia. Who knew? Read it for yourself, but it seems clear to me that the tenor of the report is to push for passage of the resolution while hoping that conservatives don’t leave because of it. After all, they probably contribute most of the money.

Resolution – G-3 – Blessing Same-Gender Committed Unions

Moved by: Very Rev. Neil Gordon

Seconded by: Ven. Chris Pappas

Be it resolved:

That Synod request the Bishop to grant permission to any clergy who may wish to offer prayers of blessing for covenanted same-gender relationships.

h/t: A Reasonable Faith

Tags: ,

Posted in Anglican Church of Canada | 8 Comments »

ANiC News Release: Historic Victoria congregation unites with sister congregation

Oct 4th, 2012 by

Received via email:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  3 October 2012

Victoria, BC – Sunday, October 7 marks the official celebration and launch of a new 350-member Anglican congregation with roots deep in BC’s history.  While this congregation is new, its two founding churches have been around for awhile – one dating back to 1874.

After a year of discussion, prayer and a growing partnership, the people of Christ the King Anglican Church and Church of Our Lord joined together believing that united their ministries would be strengthened and extended.  The two founding congregations, while in separate dioceses, were both members of the Anglican Church in North America which was formed three years ago to unite Biblically faithful Anglicans from divergent backgrounds throughout Canada and the USA.  This uniting of local congregations in Victoria reflects a maturing trend in the ACNA to reorganize structurally for the strengthening of local ministry.

With the blessing of Bishop Charles Dorrington of the Reformed Episcopal Church, the united congregation chose to be under the Anglican Network in Canada while retaining the historic Church of Our Lord name.  The clergy transferred into the Anglican Network in Canada earlier this summer. Church or Our Lord’s rector of 15 years, the Reverend Dr Rod Ellis will serve as co-rector together with the Venerable Ron Corcoran, who has been Christ the King’s rector since its inception, assisted by the Reverend Peter Umland and numerous support staff.

As a strengthened, united congregation, Church of Our Lord is already growing and revitalizing its ministries to better serve the community.  While existing ministries continue, new ministries have launched.  Already, a ministry known as Living Edge has begun in the Quadra Village area at the CDI College where Christ the King once met.  Living Edge is a forming church congregation, comprised of about 50 parishioners from the old Christ the King Anglican Church and other community members, which is seeking to meet a real need for disenfranchised members of the Quadra community.  Three times per week the Living Edge volunteers provide bags of groceries to 350-500 community members who are in need.  Sunday worship services are held at 4:30pm followed by supper.

Another Anglican Network in Canada church plant known as The Table meets in Church of Our Lord’s building every other Sunday afternoon.  The Table is a youthful, innovative church plant which launched about two years ago and now has about 130 members, mostly students, young professionals and young families.  More information is available on The Table website: www.tablechurch.ca.

The October 7, Sunday commissioning and celebration service will begin at 10:30am at Church of Our Lord, 626 Blanshard St in downtown Victoria.   For more information see the Church website: www.churchofourlord.org or www.ctkac,.ca.

 

Posted in Anglican Network in Canada | No Comments »

Venerable Emmanuel & St. Chad’s to close

Oct 1st, 2012 by

From the Anglican Journal:

At its May-June meeting, the college council of the College of Emmanuel & St. Chad in Saskatoon made the decision to suspend college operations effective June 30, 2013. Working with other college stakeholders, the council will develop a plan for restructuring Emmanuel & St. Chad, which since 1967 has been the official accredited theological college for the ecclesiastical province of Rupert’s Land.

According to Terry Wiebe, college principal, the college sold its historic buildings to the University of Saskatchewan in 2006. It has since been renting space in the Lutheran seminary and using its chapel.

“This decision, which was not easy, was made only after carefully considering the current financial condition of the college, the ongoing decline in student enrolment, and the current and projected costs of operating the college,” said the Rt. Rev. James Njegovan, bishop of Brandon and college council president, in a statement.

The council concluded that it is in the best interests of the college, its students and the broader constituencies the college serves to embark on a process of review and restructuring. “It is our hope that over the next three-year period, we…will find new and more effective ways of using the resources of the college to educate students in a variety of academic areas that meet the changing needs of the church with regard to theological education,” Njegovan said.

“As to how realistic it is to expect the college to reopen, I can only say that there is some hope among the current members of the college council that this will be possible after a thorough review of assets available, a new mandate for the college and a realistic assessment of the interest shown by the wider constituency for doing so, Bishop Njegovan told the Anglican Journal.

The college’s library collection will move to the United Church of Canada’s St. Andrew’s College, which along with Emmanuel & St. Chad’s and the Lutheran Theological Seminary, is one of three partners in the Saskatoon Theological Union at the University of Saskatchewan.

The decision to suspend operations will not affect the capacity of the college’s parent organization, University of Emmanuel College, to grant degrees to students satisfactorily completing program requirements. Only two or three students are expected to have to complete their degrees elsewhere.

Emmanuel College was founded at Prince Albert in 1879. The Dominion Parliament incorporated the college as the University of Saskatchewan in 1883, but when the provincial government established its own university in Saskatoon in 1909, Emmanuel College moved to Saskatoon and, while retaining its university status, relinquished its charter title to the new university, taking as its new name the University of Emmanuel College.

St. Chad’s College was established in Regina in 1907, where it continued its work until 1964, the year it amalgamated with Emmanuel College. Together they formed the College of Emmanuel & St. Chad, continuing as an affiliate college of the University of Saskatchewan.

Tags: ,

Posted in Anglican Church of Canada | 1 Comment »

Anglican Church of Canada $900,000 in the red mid 2012

Sep 24th, 2012 by

From here:

MONTREAL-Despite efforts to balance its budget the national synod of the Anglican Church of Canada was running about $900,000 in the red at the end of the second quarter of 2012, the primate of the church, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, says.

He told representatives of eastern Canada dioceses Friday that the shortfall was due mainly to revenues lower than anticipated from dioceses. This was despite impressive efforts by some diocese to grapple with their own financial challenges and the decision of some diocese able to do so to voluntarily increase their contributions to the national church.

“The General Synod is struggling financially and if the truth be known we have been on this trajectory for a long time,” he told the synod of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada, made up of seven dioceses in Atlantic Canada and Quebec. After slipping into “a dangerous tendency of deficit budgeting” it had been seeking to balance its budget through austerities including a 25 per cent reduction in national staff in the last three years, while at the same time seeking to re-focus its activities on mission.

Archbishop Claude Miller of Fredericton seems to have cottoned on to the idea that the financial plight of the Anglican Church of Canada is a result of following false gods. I think he has missed the mark on which false gods and who is following them, though. In his view, they are governments, money, possessions, knowledge, industry, commerce, even entertainment and sports. But they are the false gods of the unsaved; there is no real surprise in that. While it’s hard to keep up with the ever broadening plethora of false gods that the church has taken into its bosom, it seems clear that an, admittedly, non-exhaustive list would include: utopianism, socialism, homosexuality, gender ambiguity, inclusion, temporality rather than transcendence, diversity, eco-religion, aboriginal superstition and general new-age mumbo-jumbo.

 ”We have put our faith in other gods for our security and salvation: governments, money, possessions, knowledge, industry, commerce, even entertainment and sports. Witness the Sabbath day and the parking lots of churches versus the parking lots of the shopping malls. Where our treasure is, we find our hearts.”

Fortunately, Primate Fred Hiltz has the situation under control and has issued a memo to calm nervous staff: apparently, the remedy for the church’s financial embarrassment is enshrined in “pruning” and “Vision 2019″.

I want to assure you that in my remarks I said nothing about cuts to programs or staff. I simply made reference to our obligation for careful attention to “pruning” that may need to be considered. In reality we find ourselves in a deficit position and the worry that comes with it at this time each year.

In my remarks I also said that by 2016 the structures of the General Synod will look “very different”. That friends is not breaking news! The need to do this work is enshrined in Vision 2019 (practice #1-Creating Structures that work now for God’s mission) General Synod Resolution A111, the resolution of the November 2011 meeting of CoGS and the focus of conversations at the Spring 2012 meeting of CoGS and those we will have at the upcoming meeting in November.

Posted in Anglican Church of Canada | 7 Comments »

The term “Anglican” is not a registered trademark

Sep 12th, 2012 by

The Anglican Network in Canada church, St. George’s, is planning on a new building in Burlington.

From the Burlington Post:

The city’s planning and building department recommended that a 0.6 hectare piece of employment land at 4691 Palladium Way be rezoned to allow the construction of a place of worship.

The Post has learned it will be an Anglican church.

The site is located just west of Appleby Line, bordering Hwy. 407, in Alton.

Community development committee approved the recommendation.

It will go before council on Sept. 4.

Permission for the rezoning was granted at the September 4th meeting.

Notice that the Burlington Post reported that the new building will be for an Anglican Church. This does not sit well with the Diocese of Niagara, a self-proclaimed inclusive and affirming diocese. A number of its clergy lament that the word Anglican is not a registered trademark, so, much as they would like to, they don’t have exclusive – and I do apologise for my blatant and unfeeling use of the “e” word –  use of it in the Niagara region.

From here:

We want to clarify the new church is being proposed by the Anglican Network in Canada, a group that broke away from the Anglican Church of Canada in 2009 to protest our actions in favour of the full inclusion of homosexual persons and the affirmation of their committed relationships.

The six existing Anglican churches serving Burlington are all part of the Anglican Church of Canada. We are diverse, vibrant faith communities focused on welcoming all and making a positive difference in Burlington.

We know some of our parishioners were confused by the article.

The term “Anglican” is not a registered trademark and its usage is not restricted. Nonetheless, we hope future reporting of this story can make a distinction  between the two groups.

Stephen Hopkins, St. Christopher’s Anglican Church

Stuart Pike, St. Luke’s Anglican Church (Ontario Street)

Derek Anderson, St. Matthew’s Anglican Church

Bahman Kalantari, St. John’s Anglican Church

Jeff and Sue Ann Ward, St. Luke’s Anglican Church (Dundas Street/Bronte Road)

Jean Archbell, St. Elizabeth’s Anglican Church

Tags: ,

Posted in Anglican Network in Canada | 5 Comments »

Armchair Discovery a ‘Godsend’ for Struggling B.C. Church – Updated

Sep 11th, 2012 by

From here.

They’d been there, in a quiet spot along the back wall of Victoria’s St. Matthias Anglican Church, for decades — possibly since the parish opened the doors of its new home in the B.C. capital nearly 50 years ago.

But two elegantly designed wooden armchairs, their origin unknown to clergy or even the eldest members of the congregation, may prove to be the salvation of the financially-challenged church — nothing less than a “godsend,” according to St. Matthias’s rector, Rev. Robert Arril.

An antique-furniture buff’s fortuitous visit to the church two years ago for a Bible study session has led to the identification of the chairs as rare and valuable Qing dynasty treasures, expertly crafted in 17th-century China before making their way somehow — thanks to a long-forgotten donor evidently unaware of their significance — to the Vancouver Island parish.

Now, a church, which has struggled to survive since a damaging schism over same-sex marriage in 2009, is poised for a potential windfall when the chairs are auctioned next month in New York, where Sotheby’s expects the matching set to fetch as much as a quarter of a million dollars at a Sept. 11 sale of Chinese ceramics and works of art.

“It’s a remarkable discovery — such a fantastic turn of events,” Arril told Postmedia News. “It’s very significant for us as a struggling congregation, very meaningful. It will allow us to carry on the work we do.”

St. Matthias’s armchair miracle has unfolded in the wake extreme financial hardship that followed the 2009 exodus of its longtime clerical team and about 95 per cent of its former congregation. Upset over the Anglican Church of Canada’s formal embrace of same-sex marriage blessings, it followed a number of other B.C. parishes in joining a conservative offshoot called the Anglican Network in Canada.

But about 30 parishioners, the church building and all of its assets would remain part of the original Anglican diocese.

Arril arrived soon after and — with the church forced to rent its meeting rooms for extra income — recalled sitting in one of the armchairs at the back of the church as he led a Bible study group.

“I remember this one person looking very keenly at me,” Arril said with a chuckle, recalling his initial impression that the woman was simply enthralled by his teaching.

“Then I realized she wasn’t looking at me at all — she was looking at the chair.”

The woman, “an aficionado of Chinese antiquities,” wondered aloud if the armchairs were modern replicas of Qing dynasty originals, and offered to investigate further.

Soon after, Arril remembers, the woman — who has asked not to be identified — attended a church meeting at which St. Matthias’s treasurer revealed the severity of the small congregation’s financial troubles, announcing: “We are not sustainable with these numbers.”

That’s when the woman stood up and pointed to the “valuable assets” sitting in the back of the church — the two armchairs that she now suspected were not 20th-century knock-offs but authentic 17th-century pieces.

Her suspicions were soon confirmed by several Vancouver-area experts and a Sotheby’s curator of Chinese antiquities.

“All of these people came back, saying: ‘You have on your hands the real McCoy,” said Arril. “That was a show-stopping moment.

“We are all very grateful to the person whose sharp eyes were able to see something beyond our Bible study,” he added. “She’s made a real difference in this community.”

The rector noted that various financially-vulnerable programs sponsored by St. Matthias, including outreach services for single mothers, homeless people and low-income seniors, are now likely to remain viable because of the sale of the armchairs, which has been backed by the congregation as well as by B.C. Anglican diocesan officials.

“It’s a godsend,” said Arril, “a real boost that will allow us to continue growing as a faith community.”

The “huanghuali yokeback armchairs,” as they’re labelled in the Sotheby’s sale catalogue, are made of wood from a rosewood-family tree favoured by ancient furniture-makers for its durability and beautiful texture. The U.S. auction house described the B.C. chairs as “particularly fine,” well-preserved examples of “one of the core elements of the classical Chinese household.”

The two-chair set has an estimated value of between $180,000 and $250,000 US, according to Sotheby’s. A similar pair of 17th-century chairs from China sold earlier this year at a Christie’s auction in Hong Kong for $282,000.

Arril said an exhaustive search of St. Matthias’s archives turned up no references about where the chairs had come from or when exactly they had been given to the church. It’s believed that they may even have belonged to the parish before the present church building was dedicated in the mid-1960s.

He added that until the female parishioner’s recent identification of their special value, “these chairs were not regarded in any way as exceptional.”

And, as with many pews and other furnishings in churches across Canada — often an eccentric assortment of donated benches, chairs and stools — one of St. Matthias’s antiques “had a large piece of bubble gum stuck under one of the back struts,” admitted Arril.

It was, he noted, “very old and very hard,” but was removed ahead of the upcoming sale.

Update: the chairs sold for $630,000. See here.

Posted in Anglican Church in North America, Anglican Church of Canada | 3 Comments »

Anglican Sojourners Fellowship Website‏ launched

Sep 8th, 2012 by

You can find it here.

Here is a newsletter about it that I received via email:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ,

This is the fourth general newsletter to those who have expressed an interest in the Anglican Sojourner Fellowship (ASF). It has been a very long time coming, but we finally have a web site up and running.

In the last e-pistle, I focused on three main issues which seemed to pose the greatest challenges in establishing an Anglican Sojourners’ Fellowship:

1.   The first was a growing awareness that the issue of isolation and  disillusionment is much broader and deeper than just the struggle of “Anglican Orphans” to find a nearby Christian community that is faithful to the Gospel.

2.   The second challenge was to harness the virtual world of the Internet as a way of reaching and supporting isolated Christians as a tool without being consumed by the culture of the Internet.

3.   The final challenge was to design an Internet presence that would foster “real” Christian community in the virtual world.

To address these issues, I affirmed my belief that prayer was and must continue to be the essential foundation.

Nearly six months later, I have to report to you that the journey has been much more complex, intimidating and, yes, rewarding, than I could have imagined – and it has only just begun. The result, finally, is a website intended to serve as the home base for the Sojourner community. It is very much a work in progress and will remain so as a measure  of the vitality of the Fellowship.

This news may lead you to one of three responses:

  • “Please explain more so that I can understand the website.”
  • “Just give me the website address and let me check it out for myself.”
  • “I am not interested in the ASF initiative , please just take me off your mailing list”

If your reaction falls into the first category, then read on below for an introduction on how we are attempting to address the three challenges before trying out the website itself.

If you just want to jump in and see for yourself without further introduction, the address of the new website is: http://www.anglicansojourners.ca/

If your reaction is the third one, then please just send an email to  sojourners@anglicannetwork.ca    with a request to delete your name from the ASF mailing list.

The Three Challenges:

1. Loss of Belonging

A profound sense of the loss of belonging is the experience of many Christians.  Just to say that this is a characteristic of modern life in the  so called “Western” world is isn’t very helpful. Alienation reflects many things, not just the prevailing  attitudes of the society in which we live, but the events of our lives, the impact of our individual lifestyles, and the changing values of the institutional churches to which we belong.

Changing commitments to work and to family, patterns of travel and the pressure of a self-focused, marketing driven culture all affect how we view church and how we belong. It is not that we seek to abandon the ideal of a local fellowship of faith, but changes often set us adrift.

An online fellowship cannot replace a physical church, but it can be a part of the experience of church community just as the letters of Paul and the other apostles became a part of the identity and the experience of the little church fellowships that sprung up around the Mediterranean Sea. That is the goal we have set for ourselves. As you look at our website, we would appreciate your help and your advice on how to help foster this kind of Christian belonging.

2. Technology is a Tool not a God

In the last E-pistle, I made the following statement as part of an article titled “An Afterword: McLuhan Turned Upside Down”:

The problem with most virtual church initiatives seems to be that they start from the Internet and look at how to adapt the Church and the Gospel to the technological requirements of that environment. This approach conforms to Marshall McLuhan’s famous comment that “The medium is the message”. Of course, as every missionary and bible translator knows, the medium does have an impact on how the Gospel is communicated, but our Lord Jesus Christ makes the profound claim to be the incarnation of the Word of God. If we truly believe that he himself is the message, then we must treat the medium – the technology – as his servant.

Please let us know whether you feel the ASF website reflects this approach and how we might improve upon it.

3. Building a “Real” Virtual Community

As we have discovered, this is not a simple task. In the beginning, I was struggling to define the role and develop a plan for the Fellowship. In this I have had the steadfast  support and encouragement from the two ANiC Council members, Bishop Charlie Masters and Claus Lenk who sit with me on the ASF Executive Committee. The ANiC webmaster, Daniel Hartwig and his colleague at Citrus Design, have also been extremely helpful with design and technical contributions. Many others have prayed and encouraged me, but it has really been with the formation of a small Interim Steering Committee (ISC) that the Fellowship and its website have taken on form. The other three members of the ISC include: Jeri-Lynn Woods of Castlegar, B.C.;  D’Arcy Luxton of Elora, Ontario; and  Archdeacon Paul Crossland of Brandon, Manitoba. Paul is also the ANiC Archdeacon for Central Canada. Bio sketches for each of us are included on the website, but the one comment I want to make here is just how rewarding I have found the experience of forming a fellowship to pray and work together with individuals that I have never met using email, website postings and video Skype. The technology is imperfect, but the experience of fellowship is wonderful!

Over the past several months, we have been preoccupied with trying to establish the framework for an on-line community. Our aim has not been to build a site that will be popular with web surfers – much less “go viral”. Rather our intention has been to make a place where fellowship and community can grow: which means creating a site where people feel comfortable participating. Among other things, this has required establishing rules for membership, for the posting of comments, and for protecting personal privacy. You will see the results of this work on the website itself.

As it stands now, the website includes:  information about the Anglican Sojourner Fellowship and its goals; information on joining the Fellowship (and making connections with other Sojourners); a section on prayer; a series of forums (many of which can  be read by visitors, although only members can post on forums); and a section of News and Resources, which we hope will develop into a very useful “tool set” for ASF members and visitors.

What we have developed is a prototype. Most of the content is very preliminary and incomplete. What we need now is input from others to improve and keep expanding what is on offer.

In all of this our objective is exactly the same as the goal of the early Christian Church, of which it was said: “see how they love one another.” Our ability to love for one another in a virtual community will be a reflection of the love of our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ for everyone who visits the website.

In Jesus Christ,

Mark

Mark Larratt-Smith

Anglican Sojourner Fellowship Convenor

Tags:

Posted in Anglican Network in Canada | No Comments »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »