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Handle with prayer!
News – ANiC and AEN
Helping relief
efforts in Haiti
If you would like to help the relief efforts in Haiti and don’t
need an income-tax deductible receipt, you can give to the (US-based) Anglican Relief and Development Fund (ARDF)
or one of many Canadian Christian
organizations working in Haiti. (For a list, see the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada
(EFC) website. ANiC is a member of EFC.) ARDF-Canada expects
to receive charitable status from the federal government in several weeks and
will be able to issue income tax-deductible receipts but because of the urgency
of the crisis, we suggest you channel your giving through one of the other
organizations with established work in Haiti.
ARDF (US) is working in partnership with World Relief, the
humanitarian arm of the National Association of Evangelicals and a large
well-established relief agency. World Relief has had a long presence in Haiti,
empowering the local church with health, economic and social development, and
has skilled, trained staff on the ground working to respond to disaster. They
are providing urgent medical care to hundreds of injured people in
Port-au-Prince and have also set up feeding centers in partnership with local
churches – providing hot meals for hundreds of hungry earthquake
survivors.
For background reading on Haiti, a column in the New
York Times provides an interesting analysis. The author says, “This
is not a natural disaster story. This is a poverty story. It’s a story about poorly constructed
buildings, bad infrastructure and terrible public services.” An article in the Times also
discusses the culture of fatalism – derived from the prevalence of voodoo
in this country where 80 percent claim to be Catholic – and how this will
be an impediment to recovery.
Please pray for the people of Haiti, for Christians working to
meet their urgent needs, and for the safety of those helping the victims of the
earthquake.
Clergy retreat
registration now open
Clergy can register online for
ANiC’s annual clergy retreat. For more information see our website.
Date: March 16-18
Location: Cedar
Springs Conference Center, Sumas, Washington (just minutes south of the
border near Abbotsford,
BC)
Speaker: The Rev
Canon David Roseberry, rector Christ Church Plano (Texas), who is
spearheading ACNA’s church
planting thrust – accompanied by his wife Fran
Church planting
summit, February 22-23, Plano, TX
The Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) is committed to
launching 1000 new churches by June 2014. (See 1000
churches Proclamation) To move us in that direction, a church planting summit is planned for
February 22-23 in Plano Texas. Bishop Don Harvey wrote in his
Epiphany message that
he would like to see many potential ANiC church planters at this conference.
Please contact the Rev Ray David Glenn for
information or to indicate your interest. Please pray for God to birth new
congregations across Canada and the US and to equip them with His chosen
leaders.
Vancouver area
congregations continue to discuss and seek God’s leading
Meetings and discussions continue at all four ANiC Vancouver-area
churches involved in the dispute with the Anglican Church of Canada’s Diocese
of New Westminster. Although an appeal to the November 25 court decision has
been filed, this simply keeps all options open for the parishes
which were facing a 30 day time limit for filing an appeal. Please pray
that a decision on whether to proceed with the appeal will be reached soon.
Meanwhile, the Diocese of New Westminster is appealing as
well, asking for a review of the part of Judge Stephen Kelleher’s decision
which awarded to the ANiC parish a $2.2 million bequest left by a Church of the
Good Shepherd parishioner for the building fund of that congregation. “This is
not a surprise”, said Cheryl Chang, Chancellor for ANiC. “We are grateful to
God for the unity of the four congregations in making the decision to file the
appeal together. We are particularly grateful for our brothers and sisters at
the Church of the Good Shepherd who knew this was a risk and yet stand united
with us.”
In related news, the Diocese of New Westminster also announced it
is closing two more churches – St John the Divine in Burnaby and St
Richard in North Vancouver. A Canadian Christianity
report notes that “almost
three quarters of the parishes in the New Westminster diocese may be
unsustainable” as measured by the diocese’s strategic plan. The report
notes, “As a general rule, the
strategic plan asserted that to be sustainable, a parish requires a minimum of
100 active adult members and weekly attendance of 70… [and]
about 130 parishioners contributing regularly.”
Consecration
books
Work on the book commemorating the episcopal ordination of our
three new bishops is complete and the first order has gone to the publisher. If
you ordered a copy, your book(s) should be shipped by the end of the month. You
can see the complete book online here.
And you can still order a copy (for later delivery) on ANiC’s website order page.
Invitation to
pray at Crossroads Centre
ANiC members and friends are invited to join a prayer group which meets from 10am until noon each Wednesday at the Crossroads Centre in Burlington
(where ANiC’s office is located). Email Jude for information or call 1-866-352-2642
extension 4015. If you’re not able to join the group in Burlington, please
consider joining them in spirit by setting aside time to pray for ANiC, our
Province and our Communion. Thank you for your faithful intercession on behalf
of the ANiC.
Dr Packer’s
catechesis “crusade”
Speaking in Dallas, ANiC’s
theologian emeritus, Canon Dr J I Packer is reported by the Living Church to
have said that catechesis is “Packer’s
last crusade in this world.” Dr Packer said, “We are drifting back into
paganism… Ongoing learning is part of the calling of the Church. It has to be
taught in all churches at all times.” Teaching doctrines of the faith needn’t
follow the question and answer format established centuries ago and enshrined
in the Book of Common Prayer, he said. A format similar to that used for Alpha
courses would be preferable, he suggested.
AMiA Archbishop
visits Newfoundland
Archbishop Yong
Ping Chung and his wife Julia will be the guests of Bishop Don and Trudy in
their home in St John’s from Jan 21-25 during which time the Archbishop has a
number of public engagements. These engagements include:
| • |
An open forum and Q&A time with
Bishop Don to discuss the future of the Communion. |
| • |
Preaching at the combined services of the
two ANiC congregations on Sunday,
January 24. |
Archbishop Yong Ping Chung lived in St John’s for five years and
took his ordination training there, so is well known. He is the former Primate
of the Province of South East Asia and is now associated with the Anglican
Mission in the Americas (AMiA).
On January 25, Bishop Don and Trudy
will accompany the Archbishop and Julia to the AMiA Winter Conference in
Greensboro, North Carolina.
Parish and project news
Toronto Centre ANiC Project – On
December 13th,
the people of the Toronto Centre project spent the day at the Yonge Street
Mission in downtown Toronto preparing for and helping serve Christmas dinner to
the mission’s clientele. Bishop Don also joined the group as they ministered to
the Yonge Street community. You can see photos here.
Toronto Centre Project meets every 2nd Wednesday at 7:30pm; the next meeting is
January 27. See their webpage and flyer for
details.
Eternal Hope Christian
Fellowship, (Carleton Place, ON) – The
longest active ANiC project – which is entering its third year of holding
regular Sunday worship – recently held a special vestry for planning and
visioning church growth. The members are committed to building their music
ministry, study groups, and outreach to the unchurched through community
involvement, as well as raising their visibility in the Lanark County area.
Their goal is to double membership this year from the current 18 members. They
have just completed an Alpha course, and have started a second midweek
Bible study group with a third anticipated. They would appreciate your prayer
support.
Calendar of
upcoming events – for your interest and prayer support
Feb 26 – 28
– St George’s (Burlington) – Spiritual renewal conference with
Bishop Malcolm
Mar 16 -18 – 5th Annual ANiC clergy
retreat at Cedar Springs (near Abbotsford, BC)
Mar 18 – Ministry
leadership seminar at Heritage Seminary, Cambridge ON
Apr 7-9 – reFocus Canada,
a preaching and theology conference, in Burnaby, BC
News shorts –
Anglican Church in North America (ACNA)
Vancouver
renewal mission
St Simon’s Anglican Church (ACiC) is holding its annual Renewal
Mission on March 5-7 at Harvest City Church, 7416 Victoria Dr, Vancouver, BC.
Speakers include Pastor David Carson, Dr David Demian, De George
Johnson and the Rev William Beasley. For more information see the online brochure.
Register by emailing the Rev Ed Hird or
calling 604 929-5350
ACNA bishop to
offer opening invocation at US national pro-life march
On January 22,
200,000 pro-lifers are expected to gather in Washington, DC for the annual March for Life at
which Bishop Martyn Minns, of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America
(CANA) a diocese in the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), will offer the
opening invocation.
News shorts –
Canada
News from the Anglican Church of Canada
Bishops ask general synod to consider
Covenant – The Anglican Journal
reports that the Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC) House of Bishops
is recommending the meeting of general synod in June consider the final draft
of the Anglican Communion Covenant. They do not, however, push for adoption of
the Covenant.
More and deeper layoffs expected – The Anglican Journal
reports that deeper budget cuts are coming in the ACoC
which will translate into further staff layoffs.
Primates Theological Commission holds
last meeting – The Commission, comprised
of 12 theologians, will be on hiatus after 15 years of work following its final
meeting January 20-23. A news release indicates
Archbishop Fred Hiltz is considering other models for approaching theological
work. This Commission became deeply involved in the same-sex question but wasn’t
able to achieve consensus. The final meeting will focus on responses to its Galilee Report which summarized the Commissions thinking on the same-sex
issue.
Christian leaders
Connection events
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada – of which ANiC is a member –
will be holding an excellent one-day seminar in
more communities across Canada. These seminars address the theme "Being Evangelical in a Complex World: Stats,
Facts and Trends". New dates and locations are:
January 19 - Edmonton,
AB
January 21 - Calgary,
AB
January 25 - Toronto,
ON
February 16 - Belleville,
ON
March 25 - Winnipeg (Otterburne),
MB
March 26/27 - Caronport (Briercrest),
SK
April 13 - Ottawa,
ON
News shorts – United States
Mere
Anglicanism conference, January 21-23
This year’s Mere Anglicanism
conference in Charleston, South Carolina, is focusing on “Human
identity, gender and sexuality: Speculation or revelation”. South Carolina
Bishop Mark Lawrence says, “Some of the major scholars, spokespersons, and
authorities on these matters in Anglicanism today will be presenting lectures…”
The conference theme was chosen in response to Bishop Lawrence’s challenge
following the Episcopal Church’s recent general convention, when he said:
Why are we losing this whole issue of
human sexuality – both as a culture and as a church? We are approaching
this whole issue as if it is in a vacuum, rather than in the whole context of
human sexuality. And I think that until we, as a Church, begin to deal with our
own compromises we will always come across as somewhat hypocritical…
When we recognize that the divorce
level among evangelicals and godly Christians is almost at the same level as
the rest of the world; when we recognize the pervasiveness within the church of
those who tinker with this or that in terms of sexual compromise – the
things they allow themselves to engage with, in terms of computers or
television – we are in need of a profound repentance. We must recognize
that we cannot keep putting forward this standard for gay and lesbian people
yet allow ourselves to live in such profound compromise ourselves. There’s a
spiritual thing at work here of which I don’t think we’ve plumbed the depths,
and it’s time we paused and looked at that.
We don’t do much thinking about the
purpose for which God made us as sexual beings, and then begin to answer that
question philosophically and biblically. Sometimes we take a few verses out of
the Bible and put those forward and forget that from the Book of Genesis
forward it says that God has made us male and female in God’s own image, a man
shall leave his father and mother and be joined with his wife and the two
become one, all the way to the Book of Revelation when the whole thing
concludes with the “marriage” of Christ and His Church! We’re not just talking
about seven passages of the Bible, we’re talking about the profound thrust of
all of human history which began with Adam and Eve,
male and female, and concludes with Jesus and the Bride – the Marriage
Supper of the Lamb. These are profound things we are dealing with and we need
to put this whole controversy within that context.
Conference speakers are to include: Dr Paul McHugh (psychiatrist),
Bishop Michael Nazir Ali, Dr Robert Gagnon (New Testament professor and expert
on homosexual issues), Dr Edith Humphrey (theologian), Archbishop Robert
Duncan, Mike McManus (columnist and founder of “Marriage Savers”) and the Rev
Mario Bergner (founder of Redeemed Ministries).
US church in
the news
Religious Intelligence – Jan 13 2010 – LA rebuffs
Anglican conservatives Christianity Today – Jan 14 2010 – Land and Building
Wars
News shorts –
International
Anglican
Covenant
The Rev Charles Raven endorses Archbishop
Moses Tay’s adamant opposition to the Covenant. In a recent article, the former
Primate of Singapore has said, ”It
cannot be of God because if you try to keep the light and darkness together,
righteous and immoral together to say we are a church, it’s disparaging the
meaning of covenant.” The Rev Raven says the problem with the Covenant
is that it is “self authenticating”. “Its
doctrinal content is so generalised and non-binding and the disciplinary
element so dependent upon consensus that what is to be held as genuinely
Anglican has no meaningful confessional reference… Moses Tay is clearly not
interested in debating the pros and cons of short term ecclesio-political tactics. He is asking the deeper question of the nature and
necessity of spiritual discernment. While it is true that the final version of
the Covenant has been commended as a means of discerning the nature and
seriousness of disagreements… the fact remains that the overriding aim of the
Covenant is not faithfulness, but institutional unity.”
Meanwhile the Fourth Anglican
Global South to South Encounter is planned for 19-23 April in
Singapore. The aim of this summit of Global South Primates is stated to be: “to affirm the Anglican Covenant as the basis
in intensifying the ecclesial life between churches in the Communion, and
explore ways churches should stand firm side by side in one spirit and with one
mind for the faith of the Gospel of Lord Jesus Christ.” The last of
these meetings was held in Egypt in 2005.
News from around the Communion
Church of England – The revision committee charged with redrafting legislation
on women bishops missed its
deadline. As a result, February’s General Synod will not deal with
this matter.
The Telegraph reports that
a proposal that will be debated at the February synod is, “whether the Church should provide same-sex
couples [where one partner is a clergy person] with the same financial benefits
as are awarded to married couples… At present, the Church bars clergy from
being in active gay relationships, although it bowed to pressure to allow them
to enter civil partnerships on the condition that they are celibate… Around 200
priests are believed to have entered civil partnerships since they were
introduced in 2004 and the move to provide greater pension benefits for their
partners could cost the Church millions of pounds.”
Uganda – Religious
Intelligence reports that the government of Uganda has backed away
from controversial legislation that imposed harsher penalties for homosexual
acts. The Church of Uganda had come under intense international pressure
because of the proposed bill. However, church leaders indicated they opposed
the harshness of the penalties in the legislation and were working quietly
behind the scenes to influence the government. The bill may be redrafted.
Sudan -The Archbishop of
Canterbury has joined Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul (Sudan) in drawing attention to
the faltering peace process in the Sudan and the urgent need for international
community to intervene before the situation spirals back into civil war. Dr
Williams called on the international community to urgently mobilize to
guarantee free and fair elections. Episcopal Life Online reports that “Sudan's 20-year civil war, which claimed
more than 2 million lives and displaced about 7 million people, came to an end
in January 2005 when the CPA was signed by the two warring parties --the
Government of Sudan in the north and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement in
the south. Despite initial hopes for the success of the peace agreement,
southern Sudanese leaders have been frustrated by the northern government's
refusal to live into its major terms, including sharing oil revenues, drawing
fair borders and the building of infrastructure.”
Violent attacks on villages, churches and mission work have escalated
in south Sudan in the lead up to the April multi-party elections – the
first to be held in the country in two decades.
In London, Archbishop Deng Bul outlined the causes of
conflict in Sudan and the urgency for immediate international action. He is
also reported by the
New York Times to have pointed a finger of blame at China, a major
importer of Sudanese crude oil. Archbishop Deng Bul said, “China is looking only for minerals, they are
looking for economic benefit. That is all. That is damaging the country.”
He called for China to use its economic clout to encourage peace in the
country, saying it was to China’s advantage to have peace in the region.
Recife – The Diocese of Recife (in
Brazil but under the Southern Cone) is growing despite legal action brought by
the Province of Brazil. Bishop Robinson Cavalcanti writes, “The number of confirmed members and regular
communicants has more than doubled since its traumatic axing from the liberal
Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil (IEAB) five years ago. In
2005 the diocese had 1,488 communicants, today there
are 3,240. The number of baptized members is 2,010 and the total
membership of the community stands at 5,250 members. Over the past 5 years
Bishop Robinson Cavalcanti has confirmed 2,025 people (407 in 2009), 90% of
whom were newcomers to the Anglican church. In 2005,
32 clergy were excommunicated by the Brazilian Province, today, thanks to the
hard work of 6 diocesan training institutions the number of clergy in the
diocese stands at 60, in whose care are 46 congregations and social projects in
9 Brazilian States.”
International news
Washington Post – Jan 15 2010 – Pope defends
invitation to Anglicans to convert Catholic News – Jan 15 2010
– Morality offers
solutions without impeding progress, says pope
Soul food
Just for fun
(Copyright Gospel
Communications International, Inc www.reverendfun.com)
Manhattan
Declaration goes viral
The Manhattan
Declaration – an affirmation of fundamental truths about
justice and common good and a call to defend the Truth, the sanctity of human
life, the dignity of traditional marriage, and freedom of conscience and
religion – is closing in on 400,000 signatures, but is aiming for 1
million. You can sign online or download sheets to collect signatures. If you’ve
signed the declaration, consider encouraging others to do the same; if you
haven’t check it out. It is now also on Twitter and Facebook.
They’ve produced a brief study guide and
provide an excellent list of resources.
The cost of
family fragmentation
Several family advocacy groups have combined to research and produce a report on the
economic cost of the breakdown in families in the US called, The Taxpayer Costs of Divorce and Unwed
Childbearing. The report, written by an economist, states “But marriage is more than a moral or social
institution; it is also an economic one, a generator of social and human
capital, especially when it comes to children.”
By measuring the causal link between family fragmentation and
poverty, the report estimates “… that family fragmentation costs U.S. taxpayers at least $112 billion each and every year,
or more than $1 trillion each decade… These costs arise from increased taxpayer
expenditures for antipoverty, criminal justice, and education programs, and
through lower levels of taxes paid by individuals who, as adults, earn less
because of reduced opportunities as a result of having been more likely to grow
up in poverty… Even programs that result in very small decreases in divorce and
unwed childbearing could yield big savings for taxpayers.”
Encouraging
missionaries
The Gospel Coalition
offers 10 ways we can encourage our missionaries:
1. Pray for them and let them know that you
are praying
2. Send “real” mail and care packages
3. Pray for the people the missionary serves
4. Recruit others to pray and support the
missionary’s work
5. Visit them intent on serving them and
their ministry
6. Communicate with them regularly, keeping
them up-to-date on family news
7. Ask questions about their work
8. Continue to minister to them and provide
pastoral care
9. Provide financial support
10.
Encourage them when they are on home
assignment
Worth reading
The AEC blog is asking people to contribute a list of the books that formed
them and that they’d recommend to others. See what others are saying and add
your list.
Dr Albert Mohler, in “Air conditioning
hell: How liberalism happens”, writes that “Theological liberals are
absolutely certain that Christianity must be saved…from itself” and ”the
doctrine of hell serves very well as a test case for the slide into theological
liberalism.”
Please pray...
For the people of Haiti and for all those seeking
to help them. May God grant strength and wisdom.
For
our ANiC projects, church plants and parishes. May we share the Good News
with those around us who need to meet our Lord & Saviour.
For our bishops and
rectors – especially for Bishop
Don in his new role as Dean of ACNA as well as for the meeting of our
bishops and leaders on January 12-14.
For Bishop Malcolm and the spiritual renewal mission at St George’s in
Burlington, Feb 26-28.
For the legal
cases
| • |
For the four Vancouver area ANiC parishes and their lawyers who are
considering proceeding with an appeal of the November 25 court decision. May
God grant clarity and unity. |
| • |
For the Windsor case (involving St Aidan’s) which is being dealt with in
London, Ontario. |
| • |
For all the congregations involved in court
proceedings and disputes. Pray for peace for the wardens and trustees who are on the front lines and bear the
burden of risk and responsibility. Pray for a continued focus on, and blessing
upon, their ministry in the midst of this turmoil. |
| • |
For sufficient
contributions to the Legal Defence Fund so that legal costs can be covered and the churchwardens and trustees
are not at personal financial risk. The Ontario parishes, in particular,
need greater financial support at this time. |
| • |
For the leaders and parishioners of the dioceses pursuing eviction of and
damages against ANiC congregations and wardens in court. |
| • |
That God will be glorified in all court proceedings. |
Praise God for the interim negotiated agreement with the Diocese
of Niagara providing stability for St
George’s, St Hilda’s and Good Shepherd.
For the
granting of charitable status to the Anglican
Relief and Development Fund – Canada.
For our fellow Anglicans and other Christians facing violent persecution in Zimbabwe, Somalia,
Nigeria, Sudan and other Muslim lands as well as in Communist countries,
especially North Korea.
And now a word
from our sponsor
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me
forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel
in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be
exalted over me?
Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep
the sleep of death,
lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice
because I am shaken. But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall
rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt
bountifully with me.
Psalm 13
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