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Handle with prayer!
News shorts – ANiC and AEN
Latest priest welcomed into ANiC
ANiC would like to express a warm welcome to the Reverend John EC Briscall, of Penticton, BC. John is a retired priest from the Diocese of New Westminster where the average Sunday attendance more than doubled to 427 during his tenure as rector.
New Anglican province makes top ten list
The creation of a new North American province has been listed as one of the top news stories of 2008. The Religious Newswriters' Association ranks the proposal for the new North American province in the Anglican Communion, number six out of the top ten religious news stories from last year. US President-elect Barak Obama's religious affiliations ranked number one. The Religious Newswriters Association represents journalists who report on religion for non-religious publications.
Charlie Masters to speak at conference
The Venerable Charlie Masters will be one of the speakers at the “Contest for Truth” conference Jan 25 – 28 at Mill Woods Assembly, in Edmonton. The series addresses specific Christian challenges in confirming truth. You can find out more here.
ANiC synod videos
Videos of ANiC's inaugural synod are still available for viewing on the website. All the main presentations, speeches and teachings are there, including a heartfelt narrative from Bishop Don about a recent exchange with Archbishop Orombi (Uganda), moving testimonies from ANiC churches and reflections on the Anglican community from renowned theologian Canon Dr. J. I. Packer. Podcasts of the speeches from Synod and from our April conference are also available.
Court date reminders
St. Matthew’s (Abbotsford), St Matthias and St Luke’s (Vancouver), St John’s Shaughnessy (Vancouver) and Church of the Good Shepherd (Vancouver) – now have a trial date in British Columbia Supreme Court: May 25. Three weeks have been set aside to hear the case. See the news release and backgrounder for full details. This case will be the first opportunity for the courts to consider the trust issues and it will set a precedent for the other properties in similar disputes in other dioceses.
Legal fund
The legal team will need your ongoing prayers and financial support as they attempt to preserve these church buildings and assets for their ongoing biblically faithful Anglican ministry. Donations to the legal fund can be made online. Please specify “Legal Fund” under “Message/instructions” on the CanadaHelps donation page, or on your cheque.
News shorts – United States
American diocese breaks Communion moratorium
The American diocese of Colorado has ordained an openly gay and partnered priest. Religious Intelligence reports Mary Catherine Volland was ordained last weekend by Colorado Bishop Robert O'Neill, despite the Communion-wide moratorium prohibiting the ordination of homosexual clergy. Bishop O’Neill initially suspended such ordinations, but has since said he will review applications on a case-by-case basis.
Bishop Iker calls for due process
Bishop Jack Iker of Fort Worth is calling on the US Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church (TEC) to honour due process. Speaking in a letter through his attorney, the Rt. Rev. Jack Iker questions the legality of attempts by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori to remove him from ordained ministry. The Church of England News reports Bishop Iker charges that Ms Schori ”perverted the rule of law” when she unilaterally removed the Bishop's orders --- by way of a press release ---in a dispute over the national church's liberal direction. Bishop Iker urges the head of TEC to allow him the opportunity to respond to charges that he abandoned his priestly orders.
Related Stories: FORT WORTH: Presiding Bishop will convene special diocesan convention
Gene Robinson to lead prayers at US inauguration event
Bishop Gene Robinson has been invited to lead prayers at an inaugural event for US President-elect Barack Obama. According to Times Online, it is an apparent move to “placate liberal critics” who oppose Obama’s invitation to conservative pastor Rick Warren, who will deliver the invocation.
Related Story: Robinson plans ‘Not Especially Christian’ prayer for inaugural event and Andrew Carey’s Church of England Newspaper article, ‘Those two inaugural pray-ers’.
US court ruling is a “hollow victory”
Wicks Stephens, chancellor of the Anglican Communion Network, says a recent decision by the California Supreme Court regarding property ownership among churches that have left the Episcopal Church represents a hollow victory. Last week, the California Supreme Court ruled the church buildings and other property of three parishes that left the Episcopal Church (TEC) belong to the denomination. OneNewsNow quotes Stephens: “"They've won the property; they have not won the hearts of their people.” Stephen says that people are not going to return to TEC churches simply because of property issues, adding that the Episcopal Church may only have won empty buildings. Scores of churches and four dioceses have left TEC, since the ordination of openly gay bishop Gene Robinson.
See Related Story: US NEWS, Online: California Ruling in Episcopal Church Dispute Deals Setback to Breakaway Parishes
Pastor with a purpose
Meanwhile, Pastor Rick Warren, known for his “Purpose Driven...” books, has offered use of his Saddleback site to at least one of the California Churches affected by the California ruling. The Orange County News reports <http://www.ocregister.com/articles/church-james-court-2280061-episcopal-supreme?slideshow=1> that Warren has thrown a lifeline to St James Anglican Church, a 500-family congregation on the Balboa Peninsula, by making the Saddleback campus available to the church. Furthermore, Warren extends the invitation adding in a statement: “We stand in solidarity with (St James’ congregation) and with all orthodox, evangelical Anglicans. I offer the campus of Saddleback Church to any Anglican congregation who need a place to meet, or if you want to plant a new congregation in south Orange County."
News shorts – International
Jerusalem bishop’s prayers answered for Gaza hospital
A report by Anglican Bishop Suheil Dawani in Jerusalem on the situation in the Gaza Strip paints a picture of momentary hope with an urgent plea. The Anglican run hospital in Gaza has recently received truckloads of medicine and supplies. Injured and wounded patients have been filing into Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, since the most recent Israeli/Hamas conflict broke out. Anglican Communion News reports the hospital had been receiving limited aid through various agencies, but a convoy of trucks that arrived Thursday “represent a huge boost to the hospital’s ability to continue its urgent humanitarian mission.”
Primates meeting set for early February
The Primates of the Anglican Communion will meet for the next of their regular meetings at the Helnan Palestine Hotel Alexandria Egypt, February 1-5. The meeting will be chaired by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and hosted by the President Bishop of Jerusalem & the Middle East & Bishop in Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa, the Most Revd Dr Mouneer Hanna Anis. Primates' Meetings are held in private session. As is customary it is expected that a communiqué will be issued at the close of the meeting. Read more at Episcopal Life Online.
Just for fun
Elizabeth asked her Sunday School class to sketch a picture of their favourite Bible stories. She was puzzled by Bert's picture, which showed four people sitting in a plane, so she asked him which bible story it was meant to represent.' The flight to Egypt,' said Bert. 'I see ... and that must be Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus, 'Elizabeth said, 'But who's the fourth person?' Oh, that's Pontius - the Pilot.
Please pray...
For all bishops, pastors and deacons who faithfully preach Christ:
Father...Stretch out your mighty arm and protect them
Frustrate the plans of those who would injure them or discredit them
Arm them with your love
Surround them with your power
Give them strength when they are attacked
Give them peace when they are overwhelmed
For our dear friend, Barbara Pell, wife of Rev. Archie Pell; that she may find healing and comfort in our Lord.
For new ANiC congregations and budding church plants; that the Lord's wisdom be sought, and that they may find success and growth in His Name.
For those congregations still involved in court proceedings and disputes; may they be blessed with the courage, peace and wisdom of God; and for the judges and attorneys involved in those cases that in hearing and deciding upon them, their eyes and hearts be open to the Lord's will.
For the orthodox clergy and laity in the ACoC, particularly in dioceses that are departing from historic Christian teaching.
And now a word from our sponsor
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
– Isaiah 40: 28-31
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