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Handle with prayer!
News – ANiC and AEN
Bishop Ron offers his sage counsel to parish leadership
Eighty articles with sage advice for parish clergy and lay leaders are now posted to ANiC’s website . In these very practical nuggets of wisdom, Bishop Ron covers the gamut of issues that arise in a parish from time management to money management, from clergy support to parish conflict.
Welcoming clergy to ANiC
Our moderator, Bishop Donald Harvey, provided an ANiC licence to the Rev John McIllmurray of Toronto this week. Prior to retiring, the Rev McIllmurray and his wife Ann served in what is now the ANiC parish of St Aidan’s (Windsor, ON). The Rev Ronald Wheelock also received an ANiC licence and will serve as a permanent deacon at Holy Trinity (Marlborough, MA).
Parish news
St Matthew’s (Abbotsford) – The Rev David McElrea has been appointed Assistant Priest with a special focus on youth ministry.
The Bishop or the King honoured
The Venerable Ron Corcoran’s book, “The Bishop or the King” received Awards of Merit in two categories at the recent Word Guild Canadian Christian Writing Awards. This popular book chronicles the decision made by parishioners and clergy of the Anglican Church of Canada’s St Matthias (Victoria, BC) to realign with the Anglican Network in Canada and change their name to Christ the King. It will be republished shortly with a new study guide. The book and study guide can be ordered online and is available at cost (plus shipping). Congratulations, Ron!
ARDFC Kenya malaria project – see the people we’re helping
Several photos have been posted to the Anglican Relief and Development Fund Canada (ARDFC) website showing some of the people our project will help. We are raising $50,000 to fund the purchase of mosquito nets and provide malaria prevention education in the Diocese of Maseno in Kenya. Mosquito-borne malaria is a scourge in much of Africa, causing wide-spread illness and hundreds of thousands of deaths each year.
Calendar of upcoming events – for your interest and prayer support
July 23 – Holy Trinity (Marlborough, MA) – Ordination to priesthood of the Rev Michael Bickford
Sept 13-16 – BC Court of Appeal hearing in Vancouver
Sept 17-19 – St Luke’s, Spiritual renewal seminar with Bishop Malcolm & Ven Paul Crossland
Sept 18 – St George's Ottawa, Day of Prayer in preparation for the ANiC synod
Sept 24-25 – St Timothy’s (Montreal), Pursuing Intimacy with God led by the Rev Garth Hunt
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 in formation
VirtueOnline tells us that the Diocese of Cascadia – a forming diocese in the US northwest – held its first synod in late June and elected the Rev Kevin Bond Allen as bishop-elect. The forming diocese is expected to meet ACNA requirements for acceptance as a diocese – in terms of average Sunday attendance and number of congregations – by June 2011.
ACNA budget detail released
Our province has released details of its 2010-2011 budget. The $1.362 million (US) budget includes provision of over $250,000 for the Anglican1000 church planting program. The ACNA office in Ambridge, Pennsylvania is staffed by four full-time and six part-time employees.
The continuing saga of God’s provision
The Rev Matt Kennedy has written a fourth installment in his fascinating recounting of events following his congregation losing their church building in Birmingham, NY – which the diocese subsequently sold at far below market rates to a Muslim organization.
ACNA and the Filioque
StandFirm blogger the Rev Matt Kennedy has raised a concern about the Anglican Church in North America’s willingness to drop what is known as the “Filioque” clause from the Nicene Creed when worshipping with members of the Orthodox Church. The Canadian Book of Alternative Services also omits the Filioque, while not repudiating the doctrine.
The Filioque clause, which is also contained in Article Five of the Thirty-Nine Articles, has historically been a source of contention between the Anglican and Orthodox Churches. Article Five states “The Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one substance, majesty, and glory with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God.” So while the Anglican Church affirms that the Holy Spirit proceeds “from the Father and the Son”, the Orthodox Church affirms that the Holy Spirit proceeds “from the Father”.
The point of the blog is that this decision should have been better communicated and explained. Matt says, “The reason I’ve decided to write up and publish this exchange is that I think it is important for the bishops and leaders of the ACNA to understand that serious people are taking a serious look at Anglicanism. We’ve got to be much better about establishing a theological rationale for the decisions we make and we’ve got to communicate that rationale clearly.”
US litigation news
Tennessee – St Andrew’s is appealing a lower court ruling that the Episcopal Church diocese owns the property, despite the parish purchasing title to its property from the diocese in 1966.
Fort Worth – George Conger, writing in the Church of England Newspaper, offers an excellent overview of the recent decision in the complex Diocese of Fort Worth proceedings.
Georgia – An ACNA church, Christ Church Savannah, suffered another legal blow when the Georgia Court of Appeals affirmed an earlier decision that awarded the parish property to the Episcopal Church diocese. The congregation has until July 18 to decide if it will appeal further.
California – The Episcopal Church is suing another parish in the ACNA’s Diocese of San Joaquin – this time St Paul’s (Visalia, CA). The Central Valley Business Times reports that “Similar cases are currently pending against the former members of St. Francis, Turlock St. Michael’s, Ridgecrest, St. John’s, Porterville, St. James, Sonora, Holy Redeemer, Delano, and St. Columba, Fresno.”
Virginia – ACNA congregations in Virginia involved in litigation with the Episcopal Church have appealed part of a Virginia Supreme Court decision. The Richmond Times-Dispatch quotes ACNA’s Rev Jim Oakes saying, “We are not challenging the court’s legal interpretation of the relevant statute, but we are pointing out that the court overlooked critical evidence showing that, even under that interpretation, the congregations have satisfied the statute.” Lawyer A S Haley provides an analysis, saying that, “Although well over 90% of such applications are routinely denied” this application is strong.
News shorts – Canada
Bishop of Montreal approves same-sex liturgy
The Anglican Essentials Canada blog notes that Bishop Barry Clarke “…is pressing ahead with a liturgy to bless same-sex unions…” The Montreal Anglican (page 1) confirms that Bishop Clarke “has approved a Liturgy for the blessing of previously solemnized civil marriages, tacitly including ones between same-sex couples.”
Resources developed by ACoC for sexuality next round of discussions
At the direction of general synod, the Anglican Church of Canada has prepared a “new discussion guide on human sexuality” that “may help dioceses and parishes continue the robust, intentional dialogue modeled at General Synod 2010.”
Other Canadian news
Church of England Newspaper – July 2 2010 – No decision on gay blessings from Canadian synod
Anglican Journal – July 1 2010 – Addicted to porn: Understanding this destructive behaviour
Anglican Journal – July 1 2010 – By the numbers [statistics of child pornography]
News shorts – United States
Charles Colson issues urgent warning to Americans
Sensing a policy shift designed to limit religious freedom, Chuck Colson notes that the phrase “freedom of worship” is subtly replacing the phrase “freedom of religion” in the rhetoric coming from the Obama administration. He believes the rhetorical shift may signal intent to limit religious practice to places of worship and homes, removing any religious presence from the public square.
Presbyterians vote to allow non-celibate homosexuals to serve as clergy
The Associated Press reports that the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the US has approved allowing non-celibate homosexual clergy in “committed relationships” to serve as clergy. However, the change must now be approved by the church’s 173 presbyteries. A similar decision failed two years ago when a majority of presbyteries defeated it. The general assembly also elected not to redefine marriage as between “two people” rather than between “a man and a woman”. Both votes were extremely close.
Other US news
Church of England – June 25 2010 – US church anger over Southwark snub of presiding bishop
KansasCity.com – June 30 2010 – Episcopal Church suffers setback in Fort Worth lawsuit
Rome News Tribute (Georgia) – July 6 2010 – New church shares worship space at South Broad United Methodist Church
VirtueOnline – July 4 2010 – The Episcopal Church Rainbow Tour comes to Australia
Anglican Communion Institute – June 29 2010 – Owning one’s own actions with grace: Presiding Bishop Schori and the Archbishop of Canterbury
News shorts – International
Church of England general synod
Draft legislation providing for women bishops in the Church of England passed at the Church’s general synod. The legislation had been roundly denounced by those who sought appropriate accommodation for clergy – and congregations – who cannot accept the episcopal ministry of a woman. Many orthodox evangelicals and Anglo-Catholics had worked to include in the legislation provision for transferred jurisdiction to alternative, male bishops to provide ordination, appointment and licensing.
The defeat on Saturday, although by the slimmest of margins, of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York’s proposed amendment to the legislation that would have created alternative episcopal coverage for those who could not accept the oversight of a woman bishop was widely seen as a humiliation for the Archbishops. Their amendment was passed by the houses of bishops and laity, but failed because the clergy voted against by 90 to 85, with five abstentions. In total, a majority actually voted for the Archbishops’ amendment – 216 for, 191 against.
The draft legislation will now go to the dioceses for debate. If a majority of diocesan synods approve the draft legislation, it will go back to general synod possibly in 2012, at which time it will require a two-thirds majority in all three of the houses of bishops, clergy and laity. If it succeeds, the legislation goes to parliament for approval.
Forward in Faith, while declaring the legislation to permit the ordination of women was totally unacceptable, urged its members not to act precipitously, saying there was lots of time for careful consideration.
Prior to the synod, Canon Dr Chris Sugden of Anglican Mainstream, writing in the Church of England Newspaper suggested solutions, saying that women bishops could be allowed while still providing for those who object without creating two classes of bishops. However this would require the tradition of mono-episcopacy to be changed – something synod was unwilling to do. Canon Sugden notes that the result is “an innovation (women bishops) is resulting in objectors being excluded because of appeal to a tradition (mono- episcopacy)”. He argues that earlier traditions of episcopacy were less rigid and more creative.
Reform, a UK organization “committed to reforming the Church of England from within according to the Holy Scripture” has prepared some papers and resources on women’s ministry, including:
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A five-page Q&A |
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A list of resources on women’s ministry |
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A short booklet, “Why are there objections to women being bishops in the Church of England?” |
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A joint statement by representatives from Reform and Awesome (Anglican Women Evangelicals: Supporting our Ordained Ministry), an organization representing Ordained Anglican women, following a meeting to discuss their understanding of what the Bible says about men, women and headship. |
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A booklet by synod member Lorna Ashworth, “Beyond equal rights: Women and men in the Church”, which can be ordered directly from the Reform office. |
Fulcrum, a group which describes itself as dedicated to “renewing the Evangelical centre", issued a news release and commentary prior to general synod opposing the Archbishop’s amendments and supporting the original legislation proposed by the Revision Committee. StandFirm provides an analysis of Fulcrum’s position and notes that one member of Fulcrum’s leadership, Dr Andrew Goddard, offers a dissenting view that is much more sympathetic to Anglo-Catholic and “traditional” evangelical views.
In discussing objections to women bishops, the Ugley Vicar says, “At the risk of over-simplifying, the Anglo-Catholic takes the view that a woman could not be a priest or a bishop, whereas the conservative Evangelical holds more broadly that a woman should not be a priest or a bishop.” Underlying this, he continues, is a different view of ordination: Anglo-Catholics generally hold that ordination confers a change of condition (or character), while evangelical Anglicans would see ordination as conveying an authority to exercise a public ministry. The outworking of this difference could be different strategic responses by the two groups.
The LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender) lobby in Britain has responded to this decision by synod very positively. Colin Coward of Changing Attitudes suggests that this is a sign of maturity and a stepping stone to the day when the LGBT agenda will be fully accepted in the church with same-sex blessings and the ordination of those opening living in same-sex partnerships.
Selected media coverage of the CoE general synod and the issue of women bishops:
Guardian – July 10 2010 – Church...faces crisis as Synod rejects concession on women bishops
Telegraph – July 12 2010 – Hundreds of traditionalist clergy poised to leave Church of England
Telegraph – July 12 2010 – …Canterbury urges General Synod not to stall women bishops plan
Telegraph – July 12 2010 – A divided church faces its darkest hour
New York Times – July 10 2010 – Anglican group hits impasse on women
Guardian – July 12 2010 – …traditionalists left to consider options after vote on women bishops
Daily Mail – July 12 2010 – Humiliation for Archbishop as Church rejects his…compromise…
Times – July 11 2010 – Embattled Archbishop urges synod to behave like children of Christ
Guardian – July 12 2010 – Anglican traditionalists left to consider options after vote…
CNN – July 11 2010 – women bishops vote threatens to split Church of England
SPREAD – July 2 2010 – A dangerous structure: Can General Synod stave off collapse?
Anglican Mainstream – July 9 2010 – Other voices in the women bishops’ debate…
The Independent – July 12 2010 – ‘Desperately difficult’ to keep Church together …
Church Times – July 9 2010 – Women-bishops amendments before Synod run to 37 pages
Scandal surrounds appointment of a new Church of England bishop
It appears that Dr Jeffery John, Dean of St Albans, has once again been rejected for the position of bishop. The Telegraph speculates that, “…a secret meeting of senior Church figures has decided to overlook Dr John amid fears that his consecration would have provoked a split in the Church.” When word leaked out that Dr John was on the short list of candidates for the role of Bishop of Southwark – a theologically liberal London diocese – orthodox Church of England (CoE) clergy protested and warned of possible departures of parishes and clergy from the CoE. The concern is that Dr John is in a civil same-sex partnership which he says is celibate. Seven years ago, Dr John was appointed Bishop of Reading but was pressured to step down when some of his statements were found to be inaccurate.
CoE clergyman the Rev John Richardson writing on his blog, the Ugley Vicar, suggests that the best outcome from this tempest would be an examination of the process whereby bishops are appointed in the Church of England: a nominations commission confidentially provides names to the Prime Minister. He says, “As is often the case in the Church of England, it is also a process which maintains the appearance of quiet dignity whilst concealing the political shenanigans which are inevitably involved. Despite the election of some members of the Commission, disproportionate influence is repeatedly wielded by the same individuals, and whilst confidentiality is meant to avoid just the sort of brouhaha we have seen in the past few days, it means the final choice is somewhat foisted on dioceses, rather than being given their due consideration in advance.”
The Guardian explains the process whereby bishops are selected in the Church of England by a committee comprised of two archbishops, six members of general synod and six elected diocesan representatives. The selected candidate and an alternate are forwarded to the Prime Minister. Finally the Queen formally appoints the bishop. The entire process is supposed to be highly confidential.
Anglican Covenant update
An Anglican Communion news release announces that Mexico is the first province in the Communion to adopt the Anglican Communion Covenant. Meanwhile the Episcopal Church’s Diocese of Albany joined the dioceses of Central Florida, Dallas, South Carolina and Western Louisiana in endorsing the Covenant.
A crisis of confidence in Communion governance
The Anglican Communion news service has announced two new members of the Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion – both of questionable legitimacy according to the Anglican Communion Institute, an orthodox think tank that has pinned its hopes on the Covenant. The official news release also announced that the forthcoming meeting of the Standing Committee will consider the resignations of Archbishops Justice Akrofi (West Africa) and Henry Orombi (Uganda). Although Archbishop Orombi’s resignation was not announced previously, StandFirm has confirmed that he resigned officially in May. Archbishop Orombi has refused to attend Communion meetings which include official representatives of the Episcopal Church (TEC), due to TEC’s blatant contravention of Christian teaching and Communion consensus. As a result, he has not attended recent meetings of the Standing Committee. VirtueOnline lists the remaining members of the now mostly liberal committee.
The Anglican Communion Institute paper chronicles the mess the Communion, and specifically the Anglican Consultative Council, are in. The Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion is drawn from selected members of the Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates’ Standing Committee. ACI says, to restore legitimacy, the Instruments of Communion must:
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restore transparency in the governing bodies’ affairs |
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follow their own rules and begin acting even-handedly |
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apply the moratoria consistently across the Communion governing bodies to disqualify TEC members from participation in these bodies |
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address pervasive structural problems within the governing bodies of the Communion – exemplified in the unrepresentative nature of the Standing Committee |
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examine the legitimacy of the Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion |
This ACI paper makes some particularly interesting points:
“Several western and European churches, including TEC, Canada and Australia are guaranteed three members, while large African churches such as Kenya, Sudan, West Africa and Burundi get only one or two. Indeed, TEC (with weekly attendance of approximately 750,000), Canada (with 325,000) and Australia (fewer than 180,000) probably do not equal the size of the church in Kenya even when combined, yet each of these western churches has three ACC members while Kenya has only two. Wales, with 50,000 weekly churchgoers, has the same ACC representation as Kenya and Sudan (with millions of members each), and twice as many as Burundi and West Africa, which dwarf Wales in size.
“The ACC is the body that elects the majority of members to the Standing Committee, in part through a method of cumulative voting (single transferrable votes) that permits the concentration of voting power to benefit a small number of candidates. These ACC procedures are reinforced by the practice of the Primates to elect their five members by a regional voting scheme that allocates three of the five seats to regions having only 20% of the Communion’s active membership and limits the largest region, Africa, with over half the Communion’s active members, to one seat.
“The cumulative effect of these provisions is demonstrated by the list of the thirteen members scheduled to attend the next meeting of the Standing Committee. Three are from the UK, two from the US, and two more from Australia and New Zealand. The other six members, fewer than half of the total, are spread among the churches of the Global South, which comprises approximately eighty percent of the Communion.
“Archbishop Orombi has stated: “There is, however, no Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion. The Standing Committee has never been approved in its present form by the Primates Meeting or the Lambeth Conference.” It is in fact questionable whether the ACC’s Standing Committee’s role as “Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion,” with the greater responsibilities that title implies, has been approved even by the ACC, which did not use that name for its Standing Committee when it amended its constitution in Jamaica.”
The ACI paper concludes: “Given the structural and practical problems besetting the ACC’s Standing Committee, a provisional advisory committee enjoying the confidence of the Communion must be established to assume initial responsibility for Covenant matters. If the Standing Committee itself refuses to designate such a committee, the member churches should do so themselves. The opportunity to restore the Communion through the Covenant is a last chance that cannot be wasted.”
Episcopal Church communicator critiques the Church of England
In a venomous piece dripping with sarcasm, the Episcopal Church’s Jim Naughton complained of Archbishop Rowan Williams’ “ecclesiastical innovations” in proposing alternative ecclesiastical coverage for those in the Church of England (CoE) who oppose women bishops. He then takes a swipe at the entire CoE, implying it is hypocritical in tolerating sexism and quietly allowing gay bishops and priests while sanctioning other provinces who do the same – but overtly. He goes on to say the Anglican Covenant would promote “homophobia to near creedal status” and Dr Williams is aligning himself with “high profile African church leaders” and the “reactionary American culture warriors who finance their activities”. He then accuses Dr Williams of sacrificing his principles “in order to create a church within a church for people who don't think women should be priests, and a means by which the most regressive leaders in the Anglican Communion can punish their counterparts for repenting of historic sins.”
News in brief from around the world and the Communion
Pakistan – A report from Pakistan recounts how Muslims are using the country’s infamous blasphemy laws, which decrees imprisonment or even death for those convicted of blaspheming the Prophet Mohammed, to falsely accuse Christians and wrest property away from them. Christians in Pakistan are saying “the blasphemy laws must be repealed at once as they are widely used to take vengeance in personal or land disputes.” In another incident a Christian family – a mother and four children – were murdered after the father left for work simply because of their faith. Again the trumped-up charge was blasphemy against Mohammed. As is often the case, local authorities refuse to even register a complaint, not wishing to anger the powerful Muslim leaders.
India – Numerous reports from a number of provinces in India tell of persecution, beating and jailing of Christians and especially pastors. Often they are accused of forcefully converting people to Christianity or creating “communal disharmony”. There are also reports of vehicles and church buildings being destroyed. While the attackers are primarily Hindu extremists, there are also reports of Muslims attacking Christians.
Indonesia – Quoting an Indonesian news agency, Compass Direct News reports that, “Muslim organizations in Bekasi, West Java… declared their intention to establish paramilitary units in local mosques and a mission center to oppose ongoing attempts to convert people to Christianity.”
Nigeria – Archbishop Ben Kwashi of Jos Diocese is calling on the British government to link developmental aid to justice in Nigeria. He made the appeal in frustration at the total lack of help or justice “in the face of increasingly savage massacres” in the Jos area. Writing in the Church Times, Dr Jenny Taylor, provides an in-depth account of the violence, attributing it to politics, tribalism, religion, social dysfunction, ineffective government and a complete lack of justice. She concludes with a warning, “Post-colonial inertia and religious illiteracy are blinding people in the West to forces that may have more far-reaching consequences than they imagine.”
Uganda – Bishop-elect Bernard Bagaba has been cleared to be consecrated after the House of Bishops of the Church of Uganda investigated and dismissed claims of immorality following DNA paternity testing.
British and North American activists had to backtrack when it was discovered that their claim that a Ugandan homosexual activist had been brutally murdered was found to be false.
Other international news
Guardian – July 4 2010 – Should women ever be bishops?
Church Times – July 2 2010 – Leader: Have the Mexican’s started a wave?
Church of England Newspaper – July 2 2010 – Police cancel Zimbabwe pilgrimage
Guardian – July 8 2010 – Jeffrey John and global Anglican schism: a potted history
Anglican Journal – July 7 2010 – After referendum, Sudan church leaders want protection
Zimbabwe Daily News – June 30 2010 – Zimbabwe: Police drive Anglican pilgrims away from Bernard Mizeki shrine
Soul food
God’s created order marred by sin
Marriage and family – The recently concluded meeting of Southern Baptists – a 16-million member denomination – approved resolutions recommitting to building Christian healthy families and marriages and deploring the high rate of divorce in the denomination. A resolution stated that divorce among church members was not due to “theological conviction about scriptural teaching on divorce, but rather through cultural accommodation” and that it resulted in “spiritual wreckage” and harmed the Church’s “global witness”. It urges members “to proclaim the Word of God on the permanence of marriage”, to teach that marriage is a life-long “covenant before God” and is not simply about romance. Another resolution urged the rekindling of the important discipline of regular family worship in the home. A resolution on homosexuality made it clear that “Homosexual persons are not our enemies but our neighbors whom we love and wish to see find the same forgiveness and freedom we have found in Christ.”
Pornography – Dr Mary Anne Layden, co-director of the Sexual Trauma and Psychopathology Program at the Center for Cognitive Therapy at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, suggests that the carnage created by the multi-billion dollar pornography industry can be stopped and reversed in the same way the tobacco industry has been fought. She says step one is well under way: independent scientific research. Step two is to gain high-profile media coverage of the research results. Step three is to begin litigation.
Just for laughs
Copyright Gospel Communications International, Inc - www.reverendfun.com
Resources
Protecting children online – Steve Kryger of Communicate Jesus has compiled suggestions and resources for parents who are concerned about protecting their children while they are online.
Worth reading
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Faith Today’s July/August 2007 cover story is posted on the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada’s website and well worth reading. It discusses the true meaning of rest and Sabbath and challenges to seek this sort of spiritual refreshment this summer.
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Rebecca Walberg, writing in the National Post, offers a summary of the Jewish view of free will in the face of proclivities and addictions. She says, “…predisposition is not predestination, and the challenge set before us daily is to master our strengths and our weaknesses and to live moral lives. To concede that people who are predisposed… are controlled by their impulses is, in the Jewish world view, tantamount to stripping them of their humanity.”
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Writing in the Guardian, Jack Valero, defends celibate love as well as the reputation of Cardinal John Henry Newman. He laments the loss of deep, non-sexual friendships, saying, “Men and women often have intense friendships with members of their own sex, friendships that have no sexual component; yet we are losing the vocabulary to speak about them, or we are embarrassed to do so. A "friend" is one you add to a social networking profile on the web; or it is a euphemism for a sexual partner outside marriage. Can a man nowadays own up with pride to having a dear and close friend, another man to whom he is devoted? Can he, without it being suspected as repressed homosexuality? I fear the answer to both may be "no". And it is hard to know which is the sadder.” |
Please pray...
For ANiC projects, church plants and parishes, and for their proclamation of Good News to those in their communities who desperately need new life in Christ.
For our bishops and clergy and their families – especially clergy wives battling illness.
For the Rev Paul and Joanne Charbonneau (St Hilda’s, Oakville, ON) who are grieving the tragic death of Joanne’s nephew as well as the recent death of her mother.
For funding of the Anglican Relief & Development Fund Canada’s Kenya Malaria Prevention Project. Donations are urgently needed to begin this life-saving and life-changing project.
For adequate funding of the legal cases and disputes involving ANiC congregations:
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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. |
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For the Ottawa congregations which are newly embroiled in legal action. |
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For St Aidan’s in Windsor, as litigation is about to move forward, increasing expenses. |
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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. |
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For the leaders and parishioners of the dioceses pursuing eviction of and legal damages against ANiC congregations and wardens.. |
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That we would seek to glorify God by our conduct in all court proceedings. |
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 in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan who are persecuted and oppressed.
That our nation would return to God and His moral principles.
And now a word from our sponsor
Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:
“‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;
in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
Matthew 15:1-20 ESV
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