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  ANiC Newsletter: 18 May, 2010 ... pdf version
    

Handle with prayer!

News – ANiC and AEN   

ANiC church featured in Church of England Newspaper
The Church of England Newspaper featured ANiC’s Church of the Epiphany (Hamilton, ON) in a story on the growth enjoyed by the Anglican Church in North America in the first 10 months of its existence. The article, entitled “ACNA reports 15% growth in number of congregations in its first year”, begins,
“Predictions of the death of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) appear to have been premature, as the leaders of the third Anglican province-in-waiting in North America report that in its first year of operations it has added 106 congregations.” The Church of the Epiphany is one of two recently formed ACNA churches featured. The article concludes:

“The Church of the Epiphany in Hamilton, Ontario, led by the [Rev] Victoria Hedelius, opened its doors on January 31 and was formed by separatists from the Diocese of Niagara’s Church of the Holy Trinity. “We left everything behind, and we started fresh,” Mrs Hedelius said.

“Meeting in the chapel of St John’s United Church, the new congregation has weathered well its exit from the Anglican Church of Canada. “We stepped out naked, and he has clothed us… All you have to do is take the first step, and he guides you on to the next,” she explained.

“Mrs Hedelius said that being “part of this movement of God’s Spirit in our church is exciting. It’s humbling, it’s such a blessing.””



ANiC parish and project news
Good Shepherd Richmond – Bishops Don and Stephen launched this church plant on May 16 with over 240 people in attendance for the dedication service, including clergy and members from other ANiC Vancouver and Richmond congregations. The choir from Good Shepherd Vancouver led beautifully in the choral worship then the parishioners from the new church plant provided a scrumptious reception which Bishop Don says “did justice to their profession in the culinary industry”. A brief history of this ANiC church plant is posted to our website. It explains how this new Chinese congregation started in June 2009 as a late night monthly restaurant workers fellowship.

St George’s (Burlington, ON) held a special day of prayer on May 11 for Rhonda, wife of rector the Rev Ray David Glenn, as well as for others struggling with serious health concerns. You can read regularly updated reports chronicling Rhonda’s journey on St George’ new website.

St John’s Sudanese (Surrey, BC) – Bishop Stephen Leung officiated at the first baptism and confirmation service held at St John’s Sudanese Church on May 2. See the photos on our website.

St Andrew’s (Delta, BC) has a new website!

St Luke’s (Pembroke, ON) also has a new website!

St Matthias & St Luke’s (Vancouver, BC) parishioners are joining the Rev Simon Chin on a 10-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land leaving June 12. They will be led by Shoresh Tours, the engaging, knowledgeable, discipleship-based tour ministry of Christ Church Jerusalem.

Church of the Resurrection (Hope, BC) – Photos of the May 16 ordination to the diaconate of the Rev Doug Beattie are now on the ANiC website.


Anglican Agenda series featured by American Anglican Council
The Anglican Agenda series, authored by the Ginger Group and edited by Canon Dr J I Packer, is well known among Canadian orthodox Anglicans, but now it is finding an international audience. The American Anglican Council, which has played – and continues to play – a pivotal role in supporting Biblically faithful North American Anglicans, is now featuring the series of topical books on their website and in their latest newsletter. There are currently 18 small books in the series with an additional three books planned for publication at the end of the year. They can be ordered online for $3 per book or $40 for the entire set (plus shipping). This series of small books would be ideal for a 4-5 month group Bible Study or adult Sunday School class.


ANiC members going to Angola to support work of award-winning doctor
Dr Stephen Foster, a Canadian missionary doctor who has worked in Angola for most of his career, has been honoured by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada with its prestigious humanitarian award. In a feature on Dr Foster, the Hamilton Spectator says,
“By necessity, he performs more than 100 different procedures and adds to his repertoire all the time…at 60 years old, Foster is often a student himself, regularly relying on the Internet and North American colleagues to walk him through procedures he's never done before.” ANiC members Norm and Audrey Henderson are currently studying Portuguese in preparation for serving at Dr Foster’s hospital in Angola where Norm will provide information technology and communication support and Audrey will contribute her nursing skills. Dr Foster told the Spectator, "I couldn't be here if we didn't have an Internet and have a phone."


New book tells the story of Bishop Ferris' son and his crusade to eradicate polio
Ramesh Ferris has just co-authored a book, Better Than A Cure, One Man's Journey to Free the World of Polio, which tells his life story and his challenging cross-Canada journey to benefit polio eradication, rehabilitation and education.


Calendar of upcoming events – for your interest and prayer support
May 22 – June 2 – Good Shepherd Vancouver & Chinese Mission pilgrimage to Israel and Egypt
May 23 – St Stephen the Martyr (St John’s, NL) – Ordination of Marilyn Flower to the diaconate
May 23 – Archbishops Kolini and Yong Ping Chung are speaking in the Vancouver area.
May 27 – St John’s Richmond (Richmond, BC) – Ordination of David McElrea to the diaconate
June 3-11 – Anglican Church of Canada General Synod, Halifax, NS
June 7-11 – ACNA House of Bishops, Provincial Executive and Council meet in Amesbury, MA
June 12-22 – St Matthias & St Luke pilgrimage to the Holy Land
June 14-18 – St Luke’s (Pembroke, ON) – "Wholeness through Christ" inner healing week
June 20 – St John’s Vancouver confirmation service – Venue to be announced
Sept 13-16 – BC Court of Appeal hearing in Vancouver
Sept 17-19 – St Luke’s – Spiritual renewal with Bishop Malcolm & Archdeacon Paul Crossland
Sept 18 – St George's Ottawa, Day of Prayer in preparation for the ANiC synod
Nov 3 – Clergy day, Ottawa, ON
Nov 4-6 – ANiC synod with Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, Ottawa, ON


News shorts – Anglican Church in North America (ACNA)


New ACNA diocese formed
Bishop David Anderson reports that a new ACNA diocese – the Anglican Diocese of the South – is forming and has elected the Rev Dr Foley Beach to be its first bishop. Dr Beach’s election must be approved by the ACNA College of Bishops at their June meeting in Amesbury, MA before he can be consecrated. At the same time, the ACNA Provincial Council will vote on accepting this diocese, as well as the Anglican Diocese of the Great Lakes, as full member dioceses in ACNA. The Diocese of the South has churches in Tennessee, North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.


ACNA bishop opposes policy change in US military
ACNA bishop the Rt Rev David Bena is quoted in a Church of England Newspaper article arguing in favour of keeping the US military’s current “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding homosexuality. President Barack Obama has called for an end to the ban on homosexuals serving in the military. Bishop Bena was one of 42 retired senior military chaplains to write an open letter to the President opposing this change, saying it would muzzle chaplains, “curtail religious freedom” and drive away members and recruits with orthodox beliefs.


ACNA bishop to preach in Church of England parish
Demonstrating the growing recognition within the Church of England of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), an ACNA bishop, the Right Rev Martyn Minns, will preach on May 23 at St Mark’s Battersea Rise (London, England).


News shorts – Canada

Diocese of the Yukon elects new bishop
With Bishop Terry Buckle retiring, the Diocese of the Yukon synod elected last Saturday the suffragan bishop for the Western Arctic (in the Diocese of the Arctic), the Right Rev Larry Robertson, to be its new bishop. Bishop Buckle, who has served as Yukon bishop for 15 years, is stepping down in September. Bishop Robertson has ministered in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut for almost 35 years. The CBC reports that
“The Yukon diocese recently began a rebuilding process, with discussions underway about merging with the Arctic diocese's Mackenzie District in the Northwest Territories. Robertson said those talks will continue.”


Diocese of New Westminster synod resolution calls for the end of litigation
A motion presented to – and soundly defeated by – the Diocese of New Westminster synod this past weekend, read:
Motion #1
Whereas we being a Christian Community are obligated to prevent the very public and acrimonious legal dispute between the Diocese of New Westminster and the Churches in dispute from further embarrassing and diminishing the whole Christian Community; and because such disputes are:
- Contrary to Scripture.
- Detrimental to Christ’s Salvation Gospel to the world.
- Confuses and saddens our Brothers and Sisters in both the world wide Anglican Church and other Denominations.
- Trivializes our voice in the World.
- Are both irrelevant and counter-productive in a time of actual and planned Church closures in this Diocese.
- Are a total waste of scarce Time, Talent and Treasure, better used in other activities.
Therefore it is moved that the 2010 Diocesan Synod respectfully direct the Bishop to, faithfully and earnestly negotiate a just and timely solution that will allow the Churches in dispute to indefinitely continue Ministry and Worship in their existing Facilities'.
Moved by: George Goater
Seconded by: Lyn Stringer


The diocesan website states:
“Numerous Members of Synod spoke to this resolution with the majority speaking against the motion. Two youth members of Synod responded to the motion by suggesting that the motion may open doors to understanding in the future and suggested shifting our perceived focus on buildings to respect for, and acceptance of, the priests who lead the ANiC congregations as they haven't left the "church" but have chosen a different path. The motion was defeated by a substantial majority.

The AEC blog has a discussion on the motion.


Who’s riding the hobby horse?
The Diocese of New Westminster’s May newsletter reports that discussions between bishops of five African and five Canadian dioceses took place in England in February. The article suggests that there are
“…those in Africa who believe that the constant references to issues of human sexuality are the hobby horse of a handful of bishops.  Ingham claimed that the views of African leaders do not represent the views of the African people and that, due to poverty and ignorance in places like Tanzania, “they have no idea what the Anglican Communion is.”


Anglican Journal letters to the editor
Two letters to the editor in the May edition of the Anglican Journal, published by the Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC) are interesting. Jim Seagram points out that the ACoC Vision 2019 report ignores the fact that the actions of several ACoC dioceses
“...are violating General Synod 2007, the Anglican Communion and our ecumenical partners!” Lavinia Greenwood comments on the Diocese of BC’s Bishop James Cowan inconsistency in, on the one hand “…complain[ing] of breaches of trust within this diocese by churches splitting up over theological issues”, but at the same time disestablishing churches build on land and with gifts given specifically for that church. Citing the diocese’s handbook for parish treasurer regarding the handling of designated gifts, she concludes, “Surely disestablishing [a]church and taking its land and endowments to support other parishes or pay diocesan debts is as gross a breach of trust. Such a scheme stands condemned by the diocese’s own rules.”


Canadian news
Research-live.com – 13 May 2010 – Anglican Church of Canada conducts major online qual study


News shorts – United States

Walking further and further away from the Communion
The consecration this past weekend of the Episcopal Church’s (TEC) second partnered homosexual bishop, Mary Glasspool, was met with only murmurs of protest. Most Provinces in the Communion seem to now treat TEC as “out-of-communion”. Whereas Bishop Gene Robinson 2003 consecration roused significant protest from around the Communion, Saturday’s event was relatively uneventful. Get Religion reports that there were only 3000 in attendance, although at least 6700 were expected in a venue that could seat 13,500. The LA Times reports that no one spoke when, in the course of the ceremony, those attending are asked if anyone had objections. The Baltimore Sun has a feature on the now consecrated Bishop Mary Glasspool in which she comments on how talk of schism is odd since the Communion is “a loosely knit federation of churches” and that the division “has to do not with issues of sexuality but of power and authority.”

Anglican Mainstream reports that a prayer vigil was held in the Diocese of Southwark (UK) – Bishop Tom Butler’s diocese – to
“…mourn the passing of the Anglican Communion as it has been… celebrate the emergence of a renewed communion, led by the large majority of Anglicans in the Global South, and intercede over the response to ECUSA’s action, by Archbishop Rowan Williams and other Church of England Bishops.” The members from the Diocese of Southwark ask us to pray with them for God’s choice for discernment in replacing retiring Bishop Butler.

An Anglican Journal article includes reactions from two Canadian bishops:
“…the bishop of the diocese of New Westminster, Michael Ingham, said the election of Bishop-elect Glasspool signifies that “the mainstream American Anglicans are simply tired of fighting over sexuality issues… there’s a general consensus that people have firm and differing convictions on this and it…should not be a matter of conflict but mutual respect… The people who want to fight over this, who want to make an issue out of this have already left and are trying to form a parallel church….” The bishop of the diocese of Caledonia, William Anderson, said he was “not surprised” by the consent given to Bishop-elect Glasspool but also called it "regrettable…because so many Anglicans around the world trusted the restraint asked for at the Lambeth Conference, which would have enabled the Covenant process to proceed.” He added: “I can only hope that the Archbishop of Canterbury will finally accept that bishops and national churches who choose to willfully ignore the teaching of the Anglican Communion and Holy Scripture, ought to suffer the natural consequence of choosing to go their own way – which is to say, that they ought to be considered to have left the Anglican Communion.””

Bishop Robinson Cavalcanti of the Diocese of Recife, once a member of the Church of Brazil and now under the Southern Cone, wrote, “In view of the lamentable unrepentant stance of the Episcopal Church (TEC), its refusal to recognize the appeals of the Instruments of the Communion and its disregard for the Anglican Communion as a collective body… The Diocese of Recife reaffirms its most vehement condemnation of the said consecration and aligns itself with orthodox Anglican currents by demanding an urgent meeting of the Primates, the non-presence of TEC representatives in official organs of the Anglican Communion, support for the minority faithful to the Word of God who continue within TEC, and the recognition of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) as a legitimate Anglican Province. Realignment continues in the Anglican Communion and we continue in obedience to the missionary mandate given us by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, affirming sound doctrine and sound ethics, the legacy of the apostolic tradition.”

Bishop John Harrower (Tasmania, Australia) wrote, “This is not just another cut in Anglicanism’s ‘death by a thousand cuts’ but… a mortal wound. A sad day for worldwide Anglicans who worked for a solution to this crisis via the authority of the Scriptures, the Lambeth Conference of Bishops, the role of the Archbishop of Canterbury and ’the listening process’.

The executive of
Anglican Mainstream in the UK wrote, “…this shows that TEC has now explicitly decided to walk apart from most of the rest of the Communion. Since that decision by TEC has to be respected, it should result in three consequences. First, TEC withdrawing, or being excluded from the Anglican Communion's representative bodies. Second, a way must be found to enable those orthodox Anglicans who remain within TEC to continue in fellowship with the Churches of the worldwide Communion. Third, the Anglican Church of North America (ACNA) should now be recognized an authentic Anglican Church within the Communion.”

Even before the May 15 consecration of Mary Glasspool, came news of a possible third such bishop. An article in the Salt Lake Tribune reports that one of the four candidates for bishop of Utah is a partnered homosexual.


Bishop reinstated in TEC after returning from Roman Catholic Church
Bishop Daniel Herzog has been reinstated to his post in the Episcopal Church (TEC) after resigning in 2007 and moving to the Roman Catholic Church. The Church of England Newspaper reports that legal scholars are concerned this reinstatement by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori does not conform to the canons. According to canon lawyer Allen Haley, “…the Episcopal Church (USA) is now a Church with one sole gatekeeper (Bishop Schori), who decides which bishops shall leave, which shall stay, and which shall be allowed to return.”


TEC priest leads earth worship seminar
The Institute on Religion and Democracy reports that Episcopal priest the Rev Matthew Fox, speaking at a Rockville, Maryland environmental workshop,
“Earth spirituality and the mystical tradition”, advocated rituals to change one’s consciousness and develop “creation spirituality” – which begins, he has said, with “the concept of original blessing instead of original sin”. The Rev Fox was a long-time Roman Catholic priest who was defrocked in 1993 before finding a home in the Episcopal Church (TEC) Diocese of California. He advocates goddess worship, says “matter is frozen light”, and believes plants and animals have souls. He has authored numerous books and is well known in the New Age Movement.


TEC collecting inventory of “incursions”
ACNA Bishop David Anderson reports in the American Anglican Council newsletter that the Canon to the Presiding Bishop is asking dioceses to help create a list of all “…uninvited interventions/ incursions in your Diocese” – both current and past – saying, “
The history of this behavior is important to note, even if groups have already left to form another kind of "Anglican" church and/or retaining property.”


News shorts – International

Debate approaches for consecrating of women bishops in England
In preparation for the pivotal debate on the consecration of women as bishops at the Church of England (CoE) General Synod in July, the Revision Committee concerning women and the episcopate published its report. The Church of England website reports that the proposed legislation must be passed by a majority of diocesan synods before it comes back to General Synod for final approval. Since final approval will require the support of a 2/3 majority in each of the houses of General Synod – clergy, bishops and laity – the earliest it could be approved is 2012. Then, parliamentary approval and Royal Assent is required. So, it is expected that women could not be ordained as bishops before 2014.

The CoE website states that,
“the draft legislation continues to provide special arrangements for those with conscientious difficulties by way of delegation from the diocesan bishop under a statutory Code of Practice.” However, many feel that this provision is inadequate, pushing those with conscientious objections to the ordination of women out of the Church of England. The UK Telegraph reports Fr David Houlding, a traditionalist member of the Synod, saying: "I believe it's been designed to wipe out a sizeable proportion of the church who have been committed to the Church for centuries and who will now struggle to remain."

A statement written by three members of the Catholic Group serving on the Revision Committee said they were “deeply disappointed” by the outcome of the committee’s work, and that
“fundamentally, the draft legislation would render it virtually impossible for anyone to live the Christian life within the Church of England, who had conscientious objections about the ordination of women.” They concluded that, should the legislation be passed, “a narrower and more exclusive church would be the result.”

A letter to the bishops signed by 100 active Church of England clergy states,
“… the consecration of women bishops would be a mistake and would raise for us great difficulties of conscience and practice, as well as being wrong for our Church as a whole.” The letter affirms the equality of men and women but addresses concerns and scriptural arguments for gender role and the priesthood, and the potential for fracture in the Church of England over the issue.


Uncertain future for the Anglican Covenant
The tepid response to the Anglican Covenant – a document intended to assist in the reformation of the Anglican Communion – suggests that the current draft may require further amendment. Expressing a common sentiment among Global South leaders, the Primate of Jerusalem and the Middle East, Presiding Bishop Mouneer Anis, told the Christian Post,
“There are some weak areas in the Covenant but we as a Global South again we can strengthen this by writing another amendment to the Covenant, an addition to the Covenant which we promise among each other that we would keep it”,.

In the same Christian Post article, Southern Cone Primate Greg Venables indicated he was less optimistic:
“First of all although the Covenant is a wonderful effort it looks as if it’s not going to succeed because it doesn’t really get to grips with what the problem is. There are two versions of Christianity: the original version and the new version which isn’t true Christianity. It does not address [the problem] and we are not going to resolve it. Really the Covenant seems to be a way of holding together a marriage which is no longer a marriage.

Also even if we sign the Covenant and believe that there is enough there to work through the problems, the Anglican Church does not have a structure to implement how it would be worked out. We haven’t got a leadership, we haven’t got anybody who can say right now that we’ve done this, this is what’s going to happen.

And the worst thing about it is that now it looks as if there is going to be a standing committee which could fulfill that role but the standing committee is representative of the problem rather than the solution so it doesn’t look very hopeful.”



Controversy in the Anglican Consultative Council
The Church of England Newspaper reports that there is a dispute regarding an American delegate to the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC). Dr Ian Douglas, who was elected as a clergy delegate, is no longer eligible, according to the ACC bylaws, since his consecration to the episcopate on April 17. The report states that,
“…moderates within the Global South leadership tell The Church of England Newspaper the continued malleability of the rules of the Anglican game in favour of the US may well prove too much…. In their April 23 communiqué, Anglican leaders attending the Fourth Global South to South Encounter in Singapore chastised the London staff of the ACC and urged Dr. Williams to reform the communion’s failed structures. “There is a need to review the entire Anglican Communion structure,” they said, “especially the Instruments of Communion and the Anglican Communion office.” Allowing the American church to keep its seat on the Standing Committee, in what they see as a violation of the ACC’s rules, will likely further alienate the churches of the developing world from London, and harden opinions that the Communion’s structures are corrupt, Global South leaders tell CEN. Last year, in a highly controversial decision that alienated some Global South Churches, the General Secretary of the ACC barred Ugandan delegate Dr Phil Ashey from participating in a key ACC meeting.

The Anglican Communion Institute explains the intricacies of the Anglican Communion Council bylaws and why Bishop Douglas is no longer eligible to sit on the ACC. The paper also explains how the stated reasons for excluding the Ugandan delegate at the last meeting of the ACC equally apply to Bishop Douglas now.


News in brief from around the world and the Communion
New Zealand – The newly elected Archbishop of Polynesia, Dr Winston Halapua, automatically becomes a Co-presiding Bishop of the Province of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia since that Church recently opted for a model of shared leadership among its three senior bishops.

Britain – Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali’s two sons were victims of a racially motivated assault recently near their home in England. The UK’s Daily Mail reports they suffered cuts and bruises after being chased from a restaurant by twenty gang members who called them “gay” and “pakis”. Bishop Nazir-Ali, the former Bishop of Rochester and the UK’s first Asian-born bishop, is now focusing on supporting Christians in Muslim countries.

Britain – Bishop Nazir-Ali’s recent column in the Guardian advises the newly elected coalition government in England to not neglect “…the spiritual and moral agenda “. He says, “What lies behind the financial crisis is massive moral failure… The experiment in selfishness has not succeeded. It is time to see how a biblical view of stewardship can help us… The political crisis, similarly, revealed weaknesses in the formation of character. We need a programme for moral and spiritual renewal so that homes and schools can, once again, be places where character can be formed… [T]he government… must be clear in affirming human dignity… for the poor abroad but also for the weakest and most vulnerable at home… There is much concern, across the political spectrum, about a steady erosion of liberty … We look to the new government to uphold the basic freedoms of belief, of manifesting one's belief and of expression.”

Britain – Reporting on a Church of England study, the Times reveals that 14 of the Church of England’s 44 dioceses are running deficits, pension costs are rising, and staffing levels are too high – even though each clergyperson covers1.7 parishes, on average. Clergy maybe asked to make cuts “that could drastically reduce pastoral care and worship”.

Archbishop of Canterbury – The Diocese of New Westminster newsletter reports (on page 2) that the Archbishop of Canterbury received protective services from Hamas members who escorted him from the Anglican hospital chapel in Gaza during his visit to Palestine and Israel in February. The governments of Canada, the European Union, Israel, Japan, and the United States all consider Hamas a terrorist group.

Nigeria – The Telegraph reports that, with the death of Nigeria’s Muslim president, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian, became the country’s new leader. Since Nigeria was governed by a Christian president from 1999 to 2007, Muslim politicians feel that a president from their faith should continue to rule until 2015. This dynamic could further inflame existing tensions between the Nigeria’s Christians and Muslim. Please continue to pray for the safety of Christians, especially in the Jos area where so many have been killed recently.

PakistanCompass Direct News reports that Pakistani Christians, who are often very poor and have no political power, are frequently persecuted. It reports young Christian girls abducted and forced to marry Muslim men, employees forced to sell kidneys to repay usurious debts, Christians raped, beaten and murdered for refusing to convert to Islam, and many convicted and imprisoned on trumped up charges. Please pray for these who suffer for their stand.

Zimbabwe – The Church of England Newspaper reports intensifying police harassment of parishioners and priests loyal to the bishop of the Diocese of Harare. The police seem to be taking orders from break-away bishop Dr Nolbert Kunonga, a supporter of dictator Robert Mugabe. The Zimbabwe Supreme Court recently ruled, on a technicality, that Dr Kunonga, who had been deposed by the Province of Central Africa, was the legitimate Bishop of Harare. The province of Central Africa is expected to appeal.

Kenya – Archbishop Eliud Wabukala and the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Kenya, have publicly opposed the country’s proposed constitution and are encouraging church members to vote against it. The objections to the draft constitution are its “permissive stance on abortion” and its incorporation of Sharia law into the justice system.


International media coverage
New York Times - May 2 2010 – Bombs hit school buses in north Iraq


Soul food

God’s created order marred by sin
Abortion
LifeSiteNews reports that a new study that
“followed the money” on the abortion industry has found that “…sinister motives of commerce and profit are dedicated to keeping the billion dollar abortion industry alive and growing… [M]arket forces are now deeply intertwined with the abortion industry that supplies them with fetal parts, tissues and cells. Pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies often use aborted fetal material in their products.” The world’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, has dramatically increased its share of the billion-dollar abortion industry and is working with pharmaceutical companies to develop new contraceptives. The study’s co-author, Vicki Evans, a certified financial accountant, found that “Attracting teenagers to contraceptive use is a component of the abortion industry’s business plan, as is offering abortion as a remedy for failed birth control.” The complete study can be found here.

A reported 12,500 people – many of whom were teens and young adults – gathered on Parliament Hill in the annual March for Life on May 13. A number of cities across Canada also held
Marches for Life that day.


The marginalization of Christianity
In a National Post article, Father Raymond De Souza tells how the Vatican’s foreign minister, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, in talking with Canadian diplomats, compared western society’s views of Christianity to smoking. Father de Souza recounts,
“Just like smoking, religion is thought by many to be something legal but dangerous, to be reserved to private life and increasingly restricted in public life. The insistence that smokers not contaminate non-smokers with secondhand smoke is analogous to the demand by atheists and agnostics to be free from any exposure to religion in our common life together…. Just as it is now illegal in some jurisdictions to smoke, for example, while driving children in your own car, there are mainstream voices who seek practical restrictions on the religious instruction parents may give their own children.”


What if your church website was someone’s only exposure to Christianity?
The Rev John Samson at Reformation Theology says that, while many church websites are informative, technically advanced and aesthetically pleasing, they don’t present the Gospel, or don’t present it well. He asks, “If someone only had access to the material found on my website - if that was the only access to Christianity they ever had - would they have enough information to know what the Gospel is, and how to embrace Christ as Savior and Lord?” He suggests a good example is the gospel presentation from Matthias Media entitled Two Ways to Live. The Rev Samson’s church website now links to this presentation.

Just for fun
A couple was arranging for their wedding, and asked the bakery to inscribe the wedding cake with "1 John 4:18" – a verse that reads, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear."

No one noticed until too late that the beautifully inscribed cake was missing a critical bit of the reference. It mistakenly read, "John 4:18" – a verse that says, "For you have had five husbands, and the man you have now is not your husband."

www.mikeysFunnies.com


Please pray...
For
Rhonda Glenn, husband the Rev Ray David Glenn (St George’s Burlington) and young son Matthew. Rhonda is undergoing chemotherapy and radiation for a brain tumour. Pray also for others in ANiC experiencing health problems.

For those who will be ordained to the diaconate:
Marilyn Flower to be ordained in St John’s NL on May 23
David McElrea to be ordained on May 27 at St John’s Richmond (Richmond, BC)

For funding of the
Anglican Relief & Development Fund Canada’s Kenya Malaria Prevention Project. Funds are urgently needed to begin this life-saving and life-changing project.

For
ANiC projects, church plants and parishes, especially as they seek to proclaim the Good News to those in their communities who desperately need new life in Christ.

For our
bishops and clergy and their families.

For adequate
funding of the legal cases and disputes involving ANiC congregations:
For the Vancouver-area parishes appealing the earlier court decision, and for their legal counsel Geoff Cowper & Stanley Martin as they prepare for the appeal to be heard Sept 13-16.
For all the congregations involved in court proceedings and disputes. Pray for a continued focus on, and blessing upon, their ministry in the midst of this turmoil. Pray for peace for the wardens and trustees who are on the front lines and bear the burden of risk and responsibility.
For the leaders and parishioners of the dioceses pursuing eviction of and legal damages against ANiC congregations and wardens.
That God will be glorified by our conduct in all court proceedings.

For the work of the
Anglican Communion Alliance (ACA) at the ACoC’s General Synod in June and for the pre-synod ACA-sponsored cross-Canada speaking tour of Canon George Kovoor.

For those in positions of leadership and influence in the
Anglican Communion, that they would seek to honour and obey God above all else.

For
Christians facing violence and persecution in Nigeria, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran and other Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu countries.

For the
Rev Jess & Erica Cantelon, commissioned by ANiC to minister in Israel where Jess serves as curate of Christ Church Jerusalem and as chaplain of the Anglican International School.

That
our nation would return to God and His moral principles.


And now a word from our sponsor
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 1:27-2:11


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