 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
Proceed with prayer
As you read through the newsletters, please read prayerfully. Each item can be
turned heavenward as you pray for God’s Kingdom to come and His will to be done.
April 25-26 “Compelled by Christ’s Love” registration opens
Finally! You’ll find detailed conference information and registration forms now
posted to our website. Thank you for your patience! It is especially important to book
your hotel room as quickly as possible, as there is only one hotel in the immediate
vicinity of the conference facility and the special rate we’ve negotiated is only
available until March 24th.
We are thrilled and honoured that Archbishop Greg plans to participate in the
conference with us. He has graciously and willingly provided ANiC parishes with an
ecclesiastical home. We want to express our gratitude to him, to the Province of the
Southern Cone and, most importantly, to God. We look forward to a great time of
celebration, Bible teaching and commissioning for ministry.
On our website, you will find a conference bulletin insert and a 81/2 x11 inch poster.
More clergy granted “Southern Cone” licences
Bishop Don has issued licences under the jurisdiction of the Anglican Province of the
Southern Cone to more clergy members. This brings to 13 the number of priests
licenced. The latest are:
• the Rev Andrew Hewlett
• the Venerable Sharon Hayton
• the Rev Brian Kirby
• the Rev David Fuller
• the Rev George Sinclair
Parish developments
British Columbia (Vancouver Island) – St Mary’s Metchosin
The diocese and clergy of St Mary’s Metchosin – Sharon Hayton and Andrew
Hewlett – came to an amicable agreement on severance of employment with the
Anglican Church of Canada under Canon XIX. In a joint statement released March 4,
the diocese and clergy said they will meet with Archbishop Terry Buckle (British
Columbia and Yukon) to “seek an alternative to litigation respecting the property and
assets. In the interim, the people of St Mary’s will have continued use of the church
building.
Brandon – Read Steve’s description of the birth pains of the Brandon church plant.
March 16 (Palm Sunday) will be the first time the Brandon ANiC church worships
together on a Sunday. Please remember them in prayer.
Toronto – St Chad’s
St Chad’s Sunday services have been held at 2pm in Patterson Presbyterian
Church, 109 Harvie Ave. After much prayer, the St Chad’s leadership has secured a
new interim home at Toronto Heritage Adventist Church, 24 Innes Avenue. In this
new location, they will be able to hold 11am Sunday morning services again. Easter
Sunday (March 23) will be St Chad’s first worship service in this new facility. They
will also have office facilities and full use of the building on Tuesdays and Sundays.
Praise God for this good arrangement and for the affordable terms granted to St
Chad’s.
The Anglican Network in Canada and St Chad’s issued a statement responding to
stories posted on the diocese’s website.
Niagara – St Hilda’s, St George’s (Lowville) & Church of the Good Shepherd
You can read the judge’s comments from his February 29th decision in the case of
the Diocese of Niagara vs the Wardens and Parishes. Despite the court decision,
there has been more activity in Niagara.
| • |
The janitor for the ANiC parish of Church of the Good Shepherd received a
dismissal notice from the Diocese in which it was claimed she had resigned. |
| • |
In the Niagara region, prior to last Sunday, radio and TV stations announced that
the (ANiC) parishes of Church of the Good Shepherd (St Catharines) and St
George’s Lowville would not hold Sunday services due to the weather. This was
not true. Although the diocesan service that was to have been held at the old
Lowville Schoolhouse was cancelled, neither St George's Lowville nor Good
Shepherd had cancelled their services. The announcement was, to say the least,
confusing. |
| • |
Meanwhile last Sunday’s diocesan service for “alienated” St Hilda’s parishioners
saw a disappointing turn-out. Seems the diocesan-appointed administrator came
but there was no audience. |
The next court date for St George’s Lowville and St Hilda’s is March 20th. Prior to
that, on March 17-19, various ANiC representatives will be cross-examined on their
affidavits. Please pray for a judge who will see clearly and understand the issues; for
clarity of thought and presentation for our legal representatives; that God would be
honoured in all we do; and that the outcome would be to His glory and the building of
His Kingdom.
Ottawa – The Rev George Sinclair, despite relinquishing his licence for ministry in
the Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC), has been issued a Notice of Presumption of
Abandonment of the Exercise of the Ministry according to ACoC Canon XIX by the
Bishop of Ottawa. He joins good company with Dr J I Packer and the rest of the
Vancouver-area ANiC clergy who received the same notice earlier from the Diocese
of New Westminster. (See below for an explanation of this charge.)
What does it mean?
The Notice of Abandonment of the Exercise of the Ministry, under ACoC
General Synod Canon XIX, could be interpreted to say that the priest has
abandoned the exercise of ordained ministry and so no longer has the right to
exercise spiritual authority as a minister of the Word and Sacrament as conferred in
ordination. This interpretation is equivalent to removing the person from the order of
clergy so that he/she becomes a "lay" person again; the "priesthood" is taken away
from him/her. The Notice does not specify that this only has effect with respect to
ministry within the Anglican Church of Canada, and therefore, it could be seen as an
attempt to take away the "priesthood" from the person worldwide. As a result, this is
a very serious attack on the person who receives the charge. It can mean that he or
she cannot be an Anglican priest anymore. Therefore, the concerned clergy are
taking this charge very seriously and will provide a full response in due course.
Media coverage of Anglican Network in Canada
Toronto Star – March 4 08 – St Chad’s padlocked by diocese
Toronto Star – March 8 08 – Diocese holds services
Victoria Times Colonist – March 6 08 – regarding St Mary’s (Metchosin)
Edmonton Journal – March 7 08 – Same-sex dispute hovers over vote
100 Huntley Street – select the March 6 08 program (or an edited version here)
Toronto Sun – March 10 08 – What’s a middle of the road Anglican to do?
The Tyee – March 3 08 – An uncharitable piece by commentator Rafe Mair
What’s on the blogs?
In a Toronto Star article, the Rev Alan Perry, a church canon law expert, is quoted
appealing to the writings of early church father St. Ignatius of Antioch in which he
teaches loyalty to the local bishop. Since the story appeared, bloggers have been
busy showing the absurdity of the Anglican Church of Canada using this 1900 year
old argument against churches breaking ranks with the ACoC today when the
Anglican Church itself broke ranks with the Roman Catholic Church less than 500
years ago.
CanadianChristianity.com juxtaposes three different writer’s views for an interesting
study on the current crisis within the Anglican Church.
Sydneyanglicans.net discusses the crisis in North America and announces an
information meeting
On Fulcrum, Dr Andrew Goddard discusses the Diocese of New Westminster’s
treatment of ANiC clergy, including Dr Packer.
Other blogs also continue to express outrage over the Diocese of New
Westminster’s threat to suspend Dr J I Packer from ministry.
A letter in the Church of England newspaper says Bishop Michael Ingham’s threat to
suspend Dr Packer should be a warning to orthodox Anglicans to get their heads out
of the sand.
LambethConference.net/Canada has this chilling report by a lay delegate to the
Diocese of Niagara synod last fall.
Have you been bitten by the blogging bug? Here are some Canadian blogs you can
check out:
www.anglicanessentials.ca/wordpress – Peter, Kate & Scott follow Anglican news
www.lambethconference.net/canada – Michael Daley’s blog on Canadian
Anglicanism
http://prairiewords.wordpress.com – Steve Lanaghan, ANiC Brandon member
http://theagetocome.wordpress.com – Peter Lillington’s blog
http://generalities.bleat.ca – Gene Packwood’s blog
Wycliffe College’s Refresh conference
Date: May 13-16
Speakers: Marva Dawn and Graham Kendrick (Both are excellent!)
More info: www.wycliffecollege.ca
News shorts - Canada
The Diocese of Edmonton has elected a new bishop. The Very Rev Dr Jane
Alexander, rector of All Saints Cathedral and Dean of Edmonton was elected March
8. Read the Edmonton Journal report.
The Bishop of Ottawa has appointed a priest who is in a marriage relationship with a
same-sex partner as incumbent in a parish.
Lutherans experiencing same crisis
A Lutheran friend draws our attention to the same crisis in the Lutheran Church
(ELCIC) where a couple parishes have voted to leave the denomination over the
same issues facing orthodox Canadian Anglicans. These churches are joining the
Canadian Association of Lutheran Congregations – incorporated in 1994 and now
counting six churches among its number. Solid Ground is the ELCIC equivalent of
Anglican Essentials Canada.
News shorts – USA and North America
The Bishop of New Hampshire, Gene Robinson, has been informed he will not be
invited to Lambeth despite the efforts of a committee from the Episcopal Church
(TEC) House of Bishops. Read his response here and an analysis of this response.
TEC House of Bishops has voted to “depose” Bishop John David Schofield (San
Joaquin) and Bishop Bill Cox (retired from TEC). Bishop Schofield responded with
his own news release. Just one problem: the vote by the House of Bishops violated
the TEC’s own canons. See also StandFirminFaith.com. Now, the HoB are
preparing to try several more orthodox bishops, including retired Bishop Edward
MacBurney (Quincy), for the canonical “crime” of ministering to a Southern Cone
Anglican parish in the "territory" of the TEC Diocese of San Diego.
The Anglican Communion Network news release states:
…both bishops [Cox and Schofield] had come under the care of another province
of the Anglican Communion, rendering the action of the House of Bishops a
symbolic, but essentially meaningless, gesture. "This is a bit like saying 'you can't
quit, you're fired!'" said the Rev. Canon Daryl Fenton, Chief Operating Officer for
the Network. "It will have no practical effect on the ministry of these two godly
leaders, but instead makes crystal clear the scorched earth policy that the current
leadership of The Episcopal Church intends to prosecute against those who can
not in good conscience follow them out of the Christian mainstream. There is no
question that both Bishop Cox and Bishop Schofield remain bishops in the
Anglican Communion and will continue in ministry.”
There is also evidence that the TEC Presiding Bishop plans to speed up deposition
of Bishop Bob Duncan of the Diocese of Pittsburg – possibly moving the matter up
to a hastily called May House of Bishops meeting. (Read more on this.) The
Pittsburgh steering committee for realignment away from the TEC wrote this letter to
parishioners. The vitriol of the TEC leadership is astounding. Please uphold in
prayer our orthodox brothers and sisters in the US – and particularly the leadership
who are under intense attack.
Matthew 5:12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they
persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Common Cause Partnership news
An Anglican Men's Retreat is to be led by Archbishop Orombi (Province of Uganda)
May 16-19 in Newport Beach, California. The theme is “Courage”.
Common Cause partnerships are forming at the grassroots level as parishes join
together in ministry. You can read the full story of what is happening in the US. In
Canada, the recent Common Cause Pacific Coast Anglican Awakening: First
Steps in the Vancouver area saw several Common Cause Partners worshiping and
working together.
GAFCON leadership meeting
Those planning and leading the GAFCON event, scheduled for June 22-29, met this
past week – including Bishop Don. In addition to ensuring preparations are on track,
they affirmed the following goals for GAFCON:
| • |
Provide an opportunity for fellowship [allowing participants] to continue to
experience and proclaim the transforming love of Christ. |
| • |
Develop a renewed understanding of our identity as Anglican Christians within
our current context. |
| • |
Prepare for an Anglican future in which the Gospel is uncompromised and Christcentered
mission a top priority. |
Lambeth invitation list to be reviewed
A Church of England newspaper report says that the invitation list for Lambeth will
be reviewed. The Archbishop of Canterbury is said to be keen to find a way to “bring
back” Provinces where the bishops have announced they will not attend Lambeth
since some of their number were not invited. These include: the Southern Cone,
Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Nigeria – all of which have bishops serving churches
in the US and Canada
More advice on working with media
A journalist who reads our newsletters reminds us that a good journalist will report
both sides of the story. This doesn’t necessarily reflect bias – just fair reporting.
Easter trivia…
Patricia Burkett passed along this trivia… Easter 2008 will probably be the earliest
Easter you will ever experience. The next time Easter will be this early (March 23)
will be the year 2228 - 220 years from now. The last time it was this early was 1913.
The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years
from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. Easter is always the first
Sunday after the first full moon of spring!
Food For Thought
A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.
He/she who kneels before God can stand before anyone.
When praying, don’t give God instructions, just report for duty.
Additional prayer requests
Archbishop Greg Venables asks prayer for the situation in Bolivia – which is part of
the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone. His daughter and her family live in
Bolivia where violence is spreading.
Please pray for Christians in Iraq – and other Muslim countries – who are targeted
for attack because of their faith. A Roman Catholic bishop was recently kidnapped
and killed in Iraq.
The Anglican Network in Canada is featured this week (Holy Week) in the Common
Cause cycle of prayer – together with prayer requests we submitted.
And now a Word from our Sponsor…
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be
known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in
everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made
known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard
your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4: 4-8 (ESV)
... back to "Newsletters" main page
|
|
|
 |
