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Handle with prayer!
Season of Lent
Just as Advent is a time of spiritual preparation for Christmas, so the 40 days of Lent provides an opportunity to prepare our hearts and lives for Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Traditionally people have chosen to sacrifice a luxury or incorporate a discipline during Lent – such as foregoing television of spending more time in prayer and Bible study. How are you disciplining your heart and mind to more perfectly follow Christ during Lent?
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Hebrew 12:11 (ESV)
News – ANiC and AEN
St Matthias (Victoria) to hold Special Vestry to consider ANiC membership
The congregation of St Matthias (Victoria) – one of the largest parishes in the Diocese of BC – is trying to conclude its discernment process with a special vestry meeting to be held at a neutral location, March 8. The clergy of the parish – the Rev Canon Ron Corcoran, the Rev Rodney May and the Rev Glenn Sim and the Rev Dr Michael Pountney – submitted letters of resignation effective March 8. However, the bishop’s commissary, the Venerable Bruce Bryant-Scott, decided to terminate their employment effective February 26. (The Rev Dr Michael Pountney, a retired Principal of Wycliffe College in Toronto, had his permission to officiate withdrawn by the commissary.) The commissary also purported to remove the church wardens, cancel the special vestry meeting, and appoint a new priest-in-charge, the Rev Dr Robert Arril.
The bishop’s commissary has posted the diocese’s version of events which, at points, attacks the personal integrity and motives of St. Matthias’ leadership and ANiC. ANiC and St Matthias’ leaders are extremely disappointed with the lack of graciousness exhibited, particularly in light of the recent Primates call to seek mediation. There are also a number of misrepresentations in the diocese’s letter, including misrepresentations of the sermon given by the Rev Canon Corcoran on Sunday February 22. You can read the full text of this sermon and compare it to how it is portrayed in the commissary’s account.
ANiC is preparing a response to set the record straight which will be available later this week.
While Archbishop Fred Hiltz of the Anglican Church of Canada has declared he welcomes the Primates’ proposed “professionally mediated conversation” to address issues in North America, so far, no dioceses have shown any willingness to pursue that option. Instead, their primary strategy has been to force congregations out of their church buildings as quickly as possible.
Please pray for the people and leaders of St Matthias as they conclude their discernment process.
Diocese of BC offers its (ironic) version of the chronicle of St Mary’s Open Gate
In the Diocese of BC’s February newsletter (page 3), the Ven Bruce Bryant-Scott lays out the diocese’s version of events surrounding the vote, one year ago, by the people of St Mary’s (Metchosin) – who later changed the congregation’s name to St Mary’s Open Gate – to realign under the Anglican Network in Canada. It characterizes the leadership at St Mary’s as “…a radical group affiliated with the Anglican Network…” and it implies that they acted without provocation and even that their action was hypocritical.
Ironically and sadly, the editorial immediately adjacent to the above article challenges the diocese to have “the audacity of hope” and pursue social justice. Some choice excerpts:
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Of all the leaders in the world today, there seems to be a void of servitude, humility, and sadly, even compassion. |
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We ask ourselves collectively as a church “Where are the young people?” “Who will be the last to turn the lights out in 20 years?” |
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Somewhere along the way, we, the people of faith have lost our influence on the world around us. |
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We have an ENORMOUS amount of resources, buildings and otherwise. Isn’t it time to think outside the box?!?! Isn’t it time to give others hope by asking how we can serve? |
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One nice thing a day. Imagine if we actually did unto others, as we would have them do unto us ... the golden rule could be called the social justice rule. |
New ANiC priests
The Rev Daniel Endresen was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Don Harvey on Sunday February 22 in Montreal. The Rev Endresen ministers at St Timothy’s Anglican Bible Church, which meets at Emmanuel Christian School in Dollard-des-Ormeaux (West Island, Montreal). Despite inclement weather, over 200 people attended the ordination and a good number of clergy participated.
The Rev Greg McVeigh was also welcomed into ANiC this week and given an ANiC licence by Bishop Don after he relinquishing his Anglican Church of Canada licence.
The Rev Rhonda Nychka will be ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Don on Sunday, March 1 at 3pm at Toronto’s Yonge Street Mission Chapel, 270 Gerrard Street East. If you are in the Toronto area on Sunday, you are invited to participate in the service. Please pray for the ordination service, for Rhonda’s ministry at Yonge Street Mission where she serves as associate pastor, for those living in poverty to whom the Mission ministers daily and for Rhonda’s son Adam.
St Chad’s special service
On Sunday March 1, ANiC members – and newly appointed missionaries to Africa – Norm and Audrey Henderson will be at St Chad's (Toronto), speaking at both the 11am service and again at a 4:30pm gathering for the wider Anglican Network community in Toronto. Norm and Audrey are members of St George's Ottawa and have been accepted as career missionaries with Missionary Aviation Fellowship. St Chad's invites you to hear Norm and Audrey at either the morning service or afternoon gathering. St Chad's is located in Toronto at the corner of Innes and Caledonia, north of St Clair. For more information phone 416-653-2338 or visit www.stchads.ca.
Dr Packer honoured
Wycliffe Hall, Oxford (England) has awarded Dr James I Packer with the Wycliffe Lifetime Achievement Award “for his noted works in theology”. He received the award at the Wycliffe Hall Winter Conference in Orlando, Florida February 13th. The Wycliffe news release states: “Dr. Packer is considered one of the most influential leaders of the evangelical movement in Christianity in the 20th century and authored the best seller Knowing God. ANiC is honoured to have Dr Packer serve as our Theologian Emeritus.
News shorts – Anglican Church in North America (ACNA)
ACNA larger than 12 Provinces in Communion
Religious Intelligence reports that ACNA is larger than at least 12 of the 38 existing provinces in the Communion, including Bangladesh, Brazil, Hong Kong, Indian Ocean, Japan, Jerusalem & Middle East, Korea, Mexico, Myanmar, Scotland, Southern Cone, and Wales.
News – Canada
Lutheran clergy form Confessional Ministerium
A new organization has been formed for Canadian orthodox Lutheran clergy called the Confessional Ministerium. Their confessional statement includes the following:
“We the members of the Confessional Ministerium have entered into this fellowship for mutual encouragement and accountability, as we work to fulfill the vows we made at our ordination… While we hope and pray the ELCIC will not choose to depart from the traditional faith and practice of the Church we believe it necessary, as leaders of congregations, to prepare for that possibility and prayerfully discern in which direction we must go in order that we might preserve our unity with the one holy catholic and apostolic Church.”
New Anglican online resource
An Anglican Wiki is being launched, with a request for help from scholars, laymen and priests.
Call to action for “traditional” Anglican Church of Canada members
Also, the newly formed Canadian Anglican Foundation is calling Biblically-faithful Anglicans in the Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC) to seize the opportunity to participate in the ACoC’s Vision 2019. This initiative is billed as a church-wide survey, a virtual listening tour where “…every Canadian Anglican’s voice will be heard, and, we promise, listened to and appreciated. You – Canadian Anglicans – are invited to discern, dream, and decide where you think God calls your church to be in 2019. What road must we travel to get there?"
Questionable liturgies
The AEC bloggers, David and Peter, draw our attention to a liturgy used in the Diocese of Niagara which borders on worship of creation rather than the creator.
The Anglican Samizdat also points out an Anglican Church of Canada Lenten reflection that portrays Jesus as a racist – and therefore a sinner – who changed his views after being challenged by the Canaanite woman in Matthew 14. Says the Anglican Samizdat: “This is an officially sanctioned document from the ACoC; it denies both Jesus’ divinity and the fact that he is sinless.”
Archbishop Fred Hiltz in Burundi
According to the Anglican Journal, Archbishop Hiltz of the Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC), recently visited Burundi (Africa). In addition to seeking support for the ACoC’s position on “cross-border interventions”, Archbishop Hiltz agreed with the Primate of Burundi, Bernard Ntahoturi, to pursue partnerships in peace-building and theological education. Burundi is among the world’s poorest nations and is rebuilding after a 12 year civil war.
Bishop of Toronto discusses proposal bless same-sex relations
In an interview on the proposal put forward by the bishops of the Diocese of Toronto, Bishop Colin Johnson says the proposal will be discussed at the diocesan synod in May but not voted upon because he sees it as a “pastoral matter” and simply an response to the House of Bishops’ 2007 statement on sexuality which called for “the most generous pastoral response possible within the current teaching of the church”.
In the Canadian media and blogs
Diocese of New Westminster – Feb 25 09 – Retired bishop leaves Anglican Church of Canada
News shorts – United States
Diocese of Northern Michigan elects Buddhist bishop
Kevin Thew Forrester is the newly elected bishop of the Episcopal Church’s (TEC) Diocese of Northern Michigan. He was the only nominee for the position – and a member of the selection committee. A diocesan leader, Fredrica Harris Thompsett, Episcopal Church theologian and a former professor at Episcopal Divinity School, is reported to have dismissed concerns that Bishop-elect Forrester is a practicing Buddhist, saying “Buddhism is a set of practices similar to Christian practices that became the property of monastics in the Middle Ages. They are practices about meditation and awareness and compassionate living. They can be practiced without detriment to doctrine, and they are being restored today in all sorts of Christians. There are a number of bishops in the current House who engage in and have experience of Buddhist practices of mediation. This is not new.”
The Institute on Religion and Democracy president, James Tonkowich responds:
Buddhism is not merely a series of practices, saying so devalues it. Buddhism is an entire worldview. These interfaith innovations go far beyond witnessing and respecting other faith traditions. They seek to blend Christianity with other belief systems in a way that ultimately compromises the message of the Gospel. While church leaders may respect other faiths, their vow of Christian ordination has always meant an exclusive commitment to Jesus Christ and the Christian faith.
George Conger reports that the bishop-elect had received Buddhist “lay ordination” and claims to be “walking the path of Christianity and Zen Buddhism together”. The bishop-elect wrote in a past diocesan newsletter: “Sin has little, if anything, to do with being bad. It has everything to do, as far as I can tell, with being blind to our own goodness.”
Archbishop of Canterbury to attend TEC General Convention
The Living Church reports that: “The Most Rev Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, will attend General Convention for the first time when it meets July 8-17 in Anaheim, Calif. Archbishop Williams, who is scheduled to attend the first two days of convention, will participate in Bible study and deliver a keynote address at a global economic forum in the evening on July 8.”
The Episcopal Church (TEC) moves to create rival diocese in Fort Worth
TEC has formed a new, rival diocese based on five congregations and other individuals who chose not to realign last fall under the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone with the majority of the Diocese of Fort Worth. The Bishop of Kentucky will serve as the provisional bishop for the newly created diocese.
In the US media
North County Times – Feb 20 09 – Anglicans: Dispute bigger than our buildings
VirtueOnline – Feb 26 09 – Orthodox North American Church swamps smaller…Anglican Provinces
News shorts – International
Church of England statistics released
The Church of England (CoE) has released 2007 attendance numbers: 1.16 million attend CoE parishes in a typical week, 978,000 on a typical Sunday – a 1 per cent drop since 2002. However, there has been a sharper decline in attendance of children under 16 years old.
In international news
Religious Intelligence – Feb 26 09 – 11 dead in Nigeria violence
The Times – Feb 25 09 – Mugabe has ruined Africa’s beacon of hope
Church Times – Feb 20 09 – Anglican Covenant: Wide-ranging opinions on the St Andrew’s Draft
Soul food
Worth reading
For those with an interest in psychology, the Rev Ed Hird (ACiC minister in North Vancouver) has written a paper on the relationship between psychoanalyst Carl Jung’s teaching and the crisis in Anglican – and other Christian – churches. The Rev Hird shows that Jung’s teaching was rooted in his fascination with the occult, mysticism and Hinduism and the fruit of his teaching has been the promotion of unbridled sexual expression, a blurring of genders, relativism and pantheism.
The theologian in our midst will want to look at the thoroughly researched theological resource paper prepared for the Church of England’s recent synod. It explores the unique significance of Jesus Christ in Scripture, in the Creeds, in the Reformation formularies, and in contemporary Anglican theological reflection.
Rather than getting upset about ads with atheistic sentiments on buses, we should welcome them, says Guelph Mercury newspaper editor, Royal Hamel. After all they get people thinking about God and provide an opportunity for discussion. He also makes a number of other points worth considering. The Halifax Herald offers a great but devastating editorial cartoon. (h/t Scott Gilbreath)
Canadian commentator Ian Hunter writes in the Catholic Insight about how liberalism has devastated the established Anglican Churches in North America. He says, “…This should serve as a warning to Catholics; liberalism in any church ends up with wind whistling through empty ruins… The more they proclaim the effete gospel of liberalism, the faster their congregants bolt for the exits, but at least in their own minds they are not considered judgmental fuddy-duddies.”
Out of the mouths of babes
A short pro-life video by an articulate 12-year old Toronto girl is causing quite a stir. LifeSiteNews gives the heartwarming background to how the video came to be created. The youngster insisted on speaking on the topic in a school speech competition, despite opposition by school officials and threats of disqualification from the competition. A follow-up story indicates the 7th grader’s video on YouTube may be changing hearts and minds – and saving babies.
Just for laughs
The woodpecker might have to go!
Please pray...
For the people and leaders of St Matthias as they conclude their discernment process.
For wisdom as ANiC seeks to find more effective ways of ministering to and encouraging “Orphaned Anglicans” who have no orthodox Anglican church in their community.
For Bishop Don, Bishop Malcolm and Bishop Ron. Pray for clear guidance and boldness to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading.
For Barbara Pell and other ANiC members and leaders who are experiencing health problems.
For Mrs Jude Carriere, ANiC’s office administrator, who is bedridden with a painful back injury. The Burlington office – and all of ANiC – desperate miss Jude.
For the Rev Rhonda Nyscha, her ordination to the priesthood March 1, her son Adam and the ministry of Yonge Street Mission to those living in poverty.
For new ANiC congregations and fledgling church plants. May they seek and know the Lord's wisdom and experience His blessing on their congregations.
For congregations and clergy discerning God’s will regarding when they should join ANiC.
For congregations involved in court proceedings and disputes. Pray for wisdom, courage and peace for the congregations. Pray particularly for the judge and lawyers involved.
Pray for the leadership of the dioceses pursuing ANiC parishes in court.
Pray that the Author of Truth, Love and Justice would bless them with a deeper insight into the riches found in Christ Jesus our Lord.
For the needed money to support the legal defence of ANiC congregations. Pray for upcoming court hearings – especially the March 11th hearing involving ANiC parishes in southern Ontario – that could dramatically affect legal costs.
For our national, provincial and civic leaders as well as for our nation. May God be pleased to grant repentance and cause a revival to sweep our land.
And now a word from our sponsor
But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why [Paul] was being accused by the Jews, [the Roman military leader] unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them. And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God's high priest?” And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”
Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks.
The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”
Acts 22:30 – 23: 11
Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me;
my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly.
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?
All day long they injure my cause; all their thoughts are against me for evil.
They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps, as they have waited for my life.
For their crime will they escape? In wrath cast down the peoples, O God!
You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?
Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me.
In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?
I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you. For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.
Psalm 56
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