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  ANiC Newsletter: July 20, 2007
... pdf version
    

Network reorganizes
As part of a reorganization, the
Rev Canon Charlie Masters has accepted the position of National Director of Anglican Network in Canada effective July 15. Previously, Charlie served as National Director of Anglican Essentials Canada. In addition, Bishop Donald Harvey assumes chairmanship of the Board of Network.

The Network Board, which has a one year term, is comprised of:
The Rt. Rev. Donald Harvey - Chair and Moderator,
Mrs. Cheryl Chang
Ms. Joyce Lee
Mr. Claus Lenk
The Rev. Dr. J I Packer
The Rev. David Short
The Rev. George Sinclair
The Rev. Dr. Trevor Walters


What could be more core doctrine than marriage?
Commenting on the Canadian General Synod’s assertion that blessing same-sex relationships is NOT a matter of core doctrine,
Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali of Rochester and chair of the Church of England’s House of Bishops Theological Group made the following statement to those gathered at Wycliffe Hall on July 4th: “First, the Book of Genesis affirms that humanity is made in God’s image, male and female together, and is given a common mission which they fulfill in distinctive ways. As Karl Barth said, this makes marriage and the family the most visible sign of that image. Secondly this is clarified further in the teaching of Jesus. Mark 10 1-9 (“The two will become one flesh”) is set as the gospel for the wedding service… Thirdly, Ephesians 5:32 (“This is a profound mystery, but I am talking about Christ and the church”) is the only place where the word ‘sacrament’ which is the translation of the Greek word ‘mysterion’, is used in the New Testament. It affirms that marriage is a sacrament of Christ and the church. Fundamentally this is to do with the Church’s relationship to her redeemer. What could be more core doctrine than that?” www.anglican-mainstream.net


Network view of the post-General Synod world confirmed
The Rev. Canon Eric Beresford, Atlantic School of Theology president, comments on General Synod’s decisions in a Globe & Mail web-exclusive titled: “Anglicans: a church in confusion.” His premise is that, by saying the blessing of same-sex unions is a 'matter indifferent,' the General Synod appears to have approved the rite, despite efforts by the bishops to stop it. www.theglobeandmail.com


The blog goes on
Peter is continuing the Essentials blog which was started to cover General Synod. Included in recent postings are a motion-by-motion summary of the decisions of General Synod (posted July 2), and a personal reflection on General Synod (July 8).
See: www.anglicanessentials.ca/wordpress


Membership grows
Membership has been growing since General Synod and we welcome all new members. Among those who have just joined the Network are
Bishop Malcolm and Mary Lou Harding.

Do you know someone who is not a member but shares our heart and our convictions? Please encourage him/her to join at this critical time to take a stand, encourage existing and potential Network members, demonstrate unity of the Spirit, and show the ACC and the Anglican Communion there are biblically faithful Communion committed Anglicans in Canada. As our membership grows, the Network’s standing in Canada and within the Communion will be enhanced. You can find information and application forms on our website.

And to our long-time members, thank you for standing with us during these challenging days. We believe God will do something remarkable in and through His faithful people in the Anglican Church.


Calling all youth ministers
Strategic youth ministry training will be offered August 28-31 in Vancouver. The 3 1/2 day youth leadership conference features speakers, the Rev.
David Short, Ken Moser and Steve Jeffery, and will provide Bible teaching and strategies for creating a strong discipleship-based youth group. For more information and to register see: www.kickstartme.org


Same sex blessing continues in Anglican Church of Canada
With General Synod only just behind us, reports are growing of priests publicly offering same sex blessings. An Anglican Journal article begins… “The dust has barely settled and already, different interpretations of the decisions General Synod made last month about human sexuality have led one parish to publicly offer blessings to same-gender unions, and another to say that it would not deny a parishioner’s request for a same-sex marriage.” See: www.anglicanjournal.com; www.canada.com


Primate of Uganda examines the crisis in the Communion
In First Things: The Journal of Religion, Culture and Public Life, Archbishop Orombi pens a compelling and penetrating analysis of the crisis in the Communion. He says in part: "We in the Church of Uganda are convinced that Scripture must be reasserted as the central authority in our communion. The basis of our commitment to Anglicanism is that it provides a wider forum for holding each other accountable to Scripture, which is the seed of faith and the foundation of the Church in Uganda."

Explaining the Church of Uganda’s decision not to send bishops to Lambeth 2008, he says, “It is important that this decision not be misunderstood as withdrawing from the instruments of communion. On the contrary, our decision reflects the critical importance of the Lambeth Conference: Its value as an instrument of communion is greatly diminished when the persistent violators of its resolutions are invited… An instrument of communion must also be an instrument of discipline in order to effectively facilitate meaningful communion among its autonomous provinces.”

See his full article at: www.firstthings.com


Church of England General Synod endorses Covenant process
At their General Synod, concluded July 10, the Church of England voted overwhelmingly to “engage positively” in the Covenant process. Church leaders hope a covenant will serve to unite the vast majority of Anglicans in the 38 provinces of the Communion within an agreed upon and defined doctrinal boundaries of the faith.
See: www.anglicancommunion.org
See also a good discussion of the Covenant: www.wycliffehall.org


Muslim-Episcopal priest suspended
A Seattle priest who recently announced that she is also a practicing Muslim has been suspended for a year. See: www.iht.com


Oxford Anglican Consultation
Bishop Don, the Rev
George Sinclair and the Rev Dr Trevor Walters from the Network, and the Rev. Jennifer Wickham from the Federation, recently returned from an intensive four-day consultation at Wycliffe College in Oxford, England where they participated with over 100 other global Anglican leaders in discussing the Covenant process as well as mission in the Northern Hemisphere. See www.wycliffehall.org.uk


Worth reading
Ruth Gledhill, The Times’ religion correspondent, interviews Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola and writes an informative piece: www.timesonline.co.uk. Excerpts from her interview are here: www.timescolumns.typepad.com


Summer reading
Make sure you have some good books to read this summer. The nominally priced Ginger Group booklets, edited by world-renowned Anglican theologian
Dr J.I. Packer are available via an order form on the Network website

If you need a primer on the Anglican Essentials movement in Canada you should order Anglican Essentials, edited by George Egerton, from the Anglican Book Centre (online). See: www.anglicanbookcentre.com


Your support is deeply appreciated
Please consider including the Network among your favorite charities. Your regular help allows us to provide the administrative, communication and spiritual support that keeps this ministry alive. We also need your help to eliminate the deficit from the Essentials initiative at General Synod.
There are two ways you can make a donation to the Network:
1. You can donate online through the Canada Helps secure donations website for Anglican Essentials Canada (See: www.canadahelps.org – or use the link on the bottom of the Network home page. As you complete the donations page, please note in the instructions box that you are designating your gift for the Network. You will be given the option of opening a Canada Helps account to simplify future donations. Canada Helps will deduct your donation amount from your credit card and you will receive a tax receipt directly from them.
2. You can send a cheque to the Network at Box 189, Milton, ON, L9T 4N9. Please make your cheque payable to Anglican Essentials Canada and note “For the Network” in the memo portion of the cheque. We will send you a charitable donations receipt for income tax purposes at the end of the year.


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