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Handle with prayer!
News – ANiC and AEN
Art featured at synod
St Hilda's is blessed with a large number of artistic parishioners who use their art to support the ministry of their parish. Now, this artistic community is leading a project which will incorporate art into ANiC’s November synod – creating art that will support the synod theme, “His power in our weakness”. A major part of this project involves banners representing each ANiC parish – and they are asking each parish to get involved. A letter went to all ANiC parishes several weeks ago asking that an artistically inclined volunteer from the parish be appointed to work with the St Hilda’s team to create a banner representing that parish. We are still waiting to hear back from a number of parishes. Please ensure your parish is represented at synod with a banner by participating in this fun and easy project.
Installation services planned
Following the consecration of ANiC’s three bishops-elect on November 13 in St Catharines Ontario, they will be installed at the following services:
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Bishop Charlie Masters – at St George's, Burlington on Sunday, November 15 at 4pm |
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Bishop Stephen Leung – at Good Shepherd, Vancouver on Saturday, November 21 at 2pm |
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Bishop Trevor Walters is – at St. Matthew's, Abbotsford on Sunday, November 22 at 3pm |
Prayer conference at Christ’s Church (Oceanside)
The Rev Garth Hunt, ANiC’s prayer ministry coordinator, will be holding meetings at Christ’s Church (Oceanside) on Vancouver Island the weekend of October 30 – November 1. For information on this conference, entitled “Pursuing Intimacy with God”, please contact Christ’s Church by email or by calling (250) 248-6538. If you’re interested in inviting Garth to hold a prayer seminar in your parish, please email him.
Fundraiser at St Hilda’s (Oakville)
St Hilda’s talented artistic community is holding a Christmas fundraising event, “Artists for Africa”, on November 28. Money from the sale of art will go to World Vision. If you’re in the area and need a special Christmas gift for that “hard to buy for” person, join the fun at St Hilda’s on November 28. You can see photos from past “Artists for Africa” events on St Hilda’s website as well as here.
St Chad’s is on the move
With the sale of the Seventh Day Adventist Church where they currently worship, St Chad’s is moving. As of October 26, the people of St Chad’s will worship at a Presbyterian Church facility. The congregation is pleased with the new location and the Rev Barbara Richardson anticipates that the new evening service time will open up new ministry opportunities. On October 25, Bishop Don will preside at St Chad’s last service in their current location and help the congregation transfer to their new location. Please remember the people of St Chad’s during this time.
New location: 155 Wychwood Ave, Toronto M6C 2T1
Wychwood-Davenport Presbyterian Church
New phone #: 416-889-8248
New service times: Sunday 6:30pm; Tuesday 10am
Project update: Stoney Creek project now named St Paul Anglican Bible Church
ANiC’s Stoney Creek (Ontario) project has received Bishop Don’s approval for their new name: St Paul Anglican Bible Church. The congregation also just moved to a new meeting facility at John Knox Christian School. The small congregation, in an effort to get to know their neighbours, held a free garage “sale” on Saturday (October 10). (St Hilda’s (Oakville) pioneered garage sale give-aways – and has been holding them annually. See St Hilda’s photos here.) Please remember to pray for ANiC projects as they seek to reach their communities for Christ.
Our condolences
The mothers-in-law of three ANiC clergy members passed away recently. Canon David and Bronwyn Short and family (St John’s Shaughnessy, Vancouver) are grieving the passing of Bronwyn’s mother Margaret in Australia. The Rev Ron and Deirdre Corcoran and family (Christ and King, Victoria) suffered the loss of Deirdre’s mother Rose. And the Rev Greg and Jen McVeigh and family (St George’s, Lowville) are mourning the loss of Jen’s mother Peggy. Please uphold these families in prayer.
Christ Church Jerusalem’s 200th anniversary tour comes to Vancouver & Victoria
Representatives from Christ Church Jerusalem, the Rev Jess Cantelon (ANiC) and Kelvin Crombie, will be in BC in November, telling the fascinating history of their work in Jerusalem – a history that involved Wilberforce, Shaftsbury, Spurgeon and the Wesleys. Kelvin, who is very knowledgeable on the subject, will also discuss the role Protestants have played in the Holy Land in recent times and how God is moving today in the Holy Land to accomplish His purposes. It is an amazing and faith-building story of faith and courage. Don’t miss it!
Victoria:
November 7, 9:30am to 1pm – Church of Our Lord (REC), 626 Blanshard Street
November 8, 8:30am to 10:15am – The Open Gate (ANiC), 1289 Parkdale Drive (Lighthouse Christian Academy)
Vancouver:
November 9, 7:30pm, St John’s Shaughnessy (ANiC), 1490 Nanton Ave, Vancouver
November 10, 7:30pm, St Simon’s (at a home in N Vancouver), 2630 Walpole Cres
Your support is deeply appreciated
Please consider including ANiC among your favorite charities. Your regular help allows us to keep this ministry moving forward. You will receive a charitable donation receipt for income tax purposes at the end of the year. There are two ways you can make a donation to ANiC:
1. You can donate online. See our website for full information.
2. You can send a cheque to ANiC at Box 1013, Burlington, Ontario, L7R 4L8.
Please make your cheque payable to Anglican Network in Canada.
Calendar of upcoming events – for your interest and prayer support
Oct 14 – Victoria, BC – Evangelical Fellowship of Canada Christian Leaders Connection event
Oct 16 – Langley, BC – Evangelical Fellowship of Canada Christian Leaders Connection event
Oct 17 – St Luke’s (Pembroke) open house to celebrate and dedicate new building
Oct 30-Nov 1 – Christ’s Church (Oceanside) hosts prayer seminar
Nov 7 – Christ Church Jerusalem speakers – Church of Our Lord 626 Blanshard St, Victoria
Nov 8 – Christ Church Jerusalem speakers – Open Gate Church, 1289 Parkdale Dr, Victoria
Nov 8 – International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
Nov 9 – Christ Church Jerusalem speakers – St John’s Shaughnessy, 1490 Nanton, Vancouver
Nov 10 – Christ Church Jerusalem speakers – St Simon’s, 2630 Walpole Cres, N Vancouver
Nov 10 – Halifax, NS - Evangelical Fellowship of Canada Christian Leaders Connection event
Nov 11-13 – ANiC synod and conference, St Catharines, ON
Nov 12 – Moncton, NB - Evangelical Fellowship of Canada Christian Leaders Connection event
Nov 13 – Consecration of three ANiC bishops, St Catharines, ON
Nov 15 – Installation of newly consecrated Bishop Charlie Masters at St George’s Lowville
Nov 15 – St Hilda’s (Oakville, ON) celebrates 50th anniversary
Nov 21 – Installation of newly consecrated Bishop Stephen Leung at Good Shepherd, Vancouver
Nov 22 – Installation of newly consecrated Bishop Trevor Walters at St Matthew’s Abbotsford
Nov 28 – St Hilda’s Artists for Africa art sale fundraiser for World Vision
Mar 16 -18 – Annual ANiC clergy retreat at Cedar Springs (near Abbotsford, BC)
News shorts – Anglican Church in North America (ACNA)
Diocese of Pittsburgh (ACNA) loses court decision
In his pastoral letter responding to a court decision issued October 6, Archbishop Duncan said, “We will take a time for further counsel and prayer, seeking God's guidance on whether to file an appeal. After that, we will, of course, fully comply with the court's order to facilitate an orderly transfer of DIOCESAN assets to the Episcopal Church Diocese. We have mostly lived without benefit of these assets since January. We have demonstrated that we can live without them. It will be sad not to have the resources left by previous generations to draw on, but God will be faithful... The gospel for this Sunday is Mark 10:17-31, the rich young man. In the passage Jesus promises that those who are willing to leave everything to follow him "will receive back a hundredfold." Jesus is speaking to us and to our situation. Now is the moment we are called to trust Him at His word.”
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Allegheny County Court decision awarded more than $15 million in endowments, bank accounts and other assets to the newly formed Episcopal Church (TEC) diocese comprised of those who chose not to realign with (then) Bishop Duncan and the majority of the diocese. The decision does not affect parish property or assets.
Legal commentator A S Haley finds the decision insupportable. He says, “Judge James has demonstrated that he is unequal to the task before him. He has issued a decision that entirely skips over the complex issues raised by 815's formation of a Potemkin diocese out of the parishes which did not agree with the vote of the Diocese to withdraw, and which were allowed to retain their property. He concludes, without any reasoning at all, that the Potemkin diocese is entitled to all of the property and assets of the one true diocese.”
US legal decisions
An October 5 news release from St James Anglican Church (Newport Beach, California) says, “The Supreme Court of the United States today denied a petition by St. James Church, Newport Beach, CA to hear its church property rights battle with the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and the national Episcopal Church (TEC). However, the property rights case is far from over and the case continues in the Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana, CA.” A S Haley, US legal commentator, has this to say about the Episcopal Church’s “spin” in reporting on the decision: “The petition was just one of some 1600 which the Court refused to hear, yet to read the statements and articles coming out of the Episcopal Church (USA), one would be justified in thinking that the Court had issued a major decision which puts an end to the whole St. James litigation.”
TEC diocese offers to release ACNA clergy
In an interesting move, the diocese formed by the Episcopal Church (TEC) when the Diocese of Pittsburgh voted to realign has offered to release former TEC clergy in the Diocese of Pittsburgh which is now part of the Anglican Church in North America. Unfortunately, the offer requires the clergy to seek the release under a canon which is entitled “Renunciation of Ordained Ministry” and has the effect of removing clergy from ministerial office and depriving them of “the right to exercise the gifts and spiritual authority as a Minister of God's Word and Sacraments conferred in Ordination.” The Chancellor for the Diocese of Pittsburgh (ACNA) has cautioned clergy against proceeding with this proposal. A S Haley agrees, saying “I would just second Chancellor Devlin's advice, and point out as well that the Canons of the Episcopal Church (USA) have a ready means of effecting a transfer of clergy to other jurisdictions through the issuance of letters dismissory.”
In the news - ACNA
VirtueOnline – Oct 12 2009 – The mind and mission of Anglican Archbishop Robert Duncan
News shorts – Canada
In the news – Canada
Religious Intelligence – Oct 6 2009 – Archbishops elected to serve Canadian Anglican Church
Victoria News – Oct 7 2009 – Anglican diocese in ‘crisis’
Anglican Journal – Oct 9 2009 – Camp Columbia operations suspended
AEC blog – Oct 12 2009 – CBC Radio interview with Bishop James Cowan
News shorts – United States
US foundation funds homosexual lobby
StandFirm in Faith has posted an article that begins to trace financing of the homosexual lobby’s aggressive activities in the US and internationally. The Arcus Foundation – founded by billionaire Jon Stryker, an heir of the Stryker medical manufacturing fortune – was established specifically to fund the homosexual agenda. Through its “Religion and Values program”, it "seeks to change LGBT exclusionary denominational policies; build an LGBT inclusive faith-based social justice movement; and refute beliefs that portray gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people as sinful and immoral."
Bishop Gene Robinson has spoken at a lunch sponsored by the Arcus Foundation and the StandFirm article implies that his travel expenses appear to be covered by organizations funded by Arcus. Most notable, is that Integrity, Lutherans Concerned (the counterpart of Integrity in the Lutheran church) and other TEC organizations have received substantial grants from Arcus. This is a clearly secular organization driving the agenda of the church. The report says that “…the Arcus Foundation… has quietly become one of the more influential LGBT rights lobbying groups in the country, and in 2008 alone was responsible for distributing over $10 million in funding to regional, national, and international gay causes (some estimates calculate that since 2000, the Arcus has donated over $80 million to LGBT causes).” Of the $10 million in grants, over $2.1 million was donated for Arcus’ “Religion and Values” program.
In the news – US
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – October 6 2009 – Clergy who left Episcopal Church won’t be defrocked
Los Angles Times – Oct 10 2009 – Conservative Episcopalians prepare for their exodus
Post and Courier – Oct 9 2009 – Bishop Lawrence clarifies position of Episcopal diocese
Portland Press Herald – Oct 12 2009 – Episcopal Church is clear: Marriage is between a man and a woman
Washington Times – Oct 11 2009 – Lutherans leave over vote on gays
Glendale NewsPress – Oct 13 2009 – Diocese moves into St Luke’s
News shorts – International
Church of England considers allowing female bishops – but with less power
The Times reports that, after considering almost 300 submissions, the Synod Revision Committee looking at the potential role of women bishops in the Church of England has decided on a plan to provide a new type of bishop to minister to parishes which have theological objections to their female diocesan bishop. However, this new plan will have to pass a number of hurdles and is likely to face strong opposition.
Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (FCA) meeting in Portugal postponed
The FCA consultation on the Algarve has been postponed to another time and place. More details to follow. The consultation had been scheduled for November 17-19.
Communion office issues statement calling earth our mother
The Anglican Communion Environment Network has issued a statement to Anglicans worldwide (via the Anglican Communion News Service) on the moral consequences of climate change. It says in part, “Our faith and our ancestors have always taught us that the earth is our mother and deserves respect; we know that this respect has not been given. We know that like a mother the earth will continue to give its all to us. However, we also know that we are now demanding more than it is able to provide. Science confirms what we already know, our human footprint is changing the face of the earth and because we come from the earth, it is changing us too.”
The London Telegraph questions why the Church of England is obsessed with environmentalism rather than with God. Reporter Martin Beckford says, “….if you look at the website that lists all the press releases put out by Church House during 2009, the words climate (nine times) and environment (eight) crop up more times than God (six), Bible (four) or Jesus (two)… The…reason why I think our clergy might be so keen to preach on green themes is that it allows them to indulge in some old-fashioned condemnation of sinners, in a form that is acceptable to contemporary tastes. While scarcely any priests would dare denounce sex out of wedlock these days, they can whip up all manner of apocalyptic fervour about environmental promiscuity without anyone taking personal offence. If the C of E did stop going on about its climate change initiatives, however, it really would be the end of the world – for what else would it talk about?”
The Archbishop of Canterbury was recently the keynote speaker at an environmental gathering.
London conference on “sexual minefields”
Anglican Mainstream is holding a conference in London for pastors and church leaders on “Pastoral responses to the sexual minefields of today” on 21 January 2010. For information and details, contact Lisa Nolland or call 0117- 924-4896. Topics will include:
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The sexual liberation front and the secular human rights agenda - their challenges to the ministry of local churches |
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Biblical resources for Christian marriage, morality and sexuality in response to these challenges |
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Love is all you need - Really? Generous love and transforming love |
Philippines devastated by two weeks of storms
Successive storms have caused wide-spread flooding and landslides in the Philippines killing over 700 people.
International news
Christian Today India – Oct 8 2009 – Who controls your life?
Religious Intelligence – Oct 8 2009 – Uganda’s future depends on addressing unrest, says Archbishop
Church Times – Oct 9 2009 – Covenant would not be Anglican, says Selby
Soul food
Resources
A commentary on the Jerusalem Declaration called Being faithful: The shape of historic Anglicanism today, has been published and is available for purchase. It is described as “… a time-honoured response of the Church to the challenges to its life. More importantly, it is an expression of, and a humble witness to, our orthodoxy and identity as Anglicans, living under the full and complete authority of the Bible. We are not attempting to fix Anglican identity but to reaffirm it, as being anchored in the apostolic faith, and as belonging to a Christian church which is centred on the gospel and bounded by Scripture.”
Issues related to God’s design for His creation
Abortion – Dr Albert Mohler succinctly exposes the hidden agenda “…at the very heart of the push for abortion on demand throughout much of the 20th century”. He says, “…one of the dirty secrets of the abortion rights movement is that its earliest momentum was driven by a concern that was deeply racial. Leaders such as Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood, argued quite openly that abortion and other means of birth control were necessary in order to limit the number of undesirable children… born to certain ethnically and racially defined families. Sanger, along with so many other ‘progressive’ figures of the day, promoted the agenda of the eugenics movement – more children from the ‘fit’ and less from the ‘unfit.’”
Prostitution – The Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, is actively opposing prostitution in Britain, both in the House and Lords and in the media. In his Times opinion piece he says, “…it is important that everyone… unites to ensure the bill is passed so we can send a strong message that funding sex slavery, and the systematic abuse of women, is not acceptable in this country… What seems to have been absent from the proceedings to date is an acknowledgment about how damaging prostitution can be… What are we doing about the civil liberties of young women? What about the civil liberties of those who have been illegally trafficked into the country to meet the sexual needs of others? What about the civil liberties of those mercilessly hooked on drugs? What about those who are being physically, mentally and emotionally abused by pimps and clients on a daily basis? …If we look at London…the mortality rate for prostitutes is 12 times the national average… The average age in Europe for entry into prostitution is 14, with as many as 75% entering before their 18th birthday — and once they are on the street, a staggering 95% of women in prostitution become hooked on class A drugs… Prostitution is an inherently abusive and exploitative system, and those helping to fund it should be forced to acknowledge that their actions often damage those trapped in this industry. Encouraging prostitution is not a victimless crime.”
Both Susan Martinuk, writing in the Calgary Herald, and the new Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) blog dedicated to public policy issues, have pieces opposing the push to legalize prostitution in Canada. Martinuk cites the disastrous experiments with legalization in the Netherlands and Australia where legalization encouraged more human trafficking, organized crime and drug abuse. “Evidence from countries that have already taken this step make it abundantly clear that legalizing prostitution won’t enhance anyone’s liberty and security—it will only enhance sexual exploitation and human trafficking.”
The EFC blog offers Sweden as a more appropriate model. “The Swedish government took the view that prostitution is a form of violence against and exploitation of women. They changed Swedish laws to criminalize not the women trapped in the sex trade but the men who buy and pimp them. Sweden now has one of the lowest prostitution rates in the world… It is a time to encourage Parliamentarians to take decisive action to strike at the root causes that place vulnerable women in the hands of violent men.”
Marriage – Stating that “A large body of research suggests that the status of our marriages influences our well-being at least as much as the status of our finances,” The Institute for American Values and the National Center on African American Marriages and Parenting have published a report based on five “Leading Marriage Indicators—fundamental, well-chosen measurements that accurately reveal the direction and overall health of marriage as a U.S. social institution.” The indictors are:
1. Percentage of adults married
2. Percentage of married persons “very happy” with their marriage
3. Percentage of first marriages intact
4. Percentage of births to married parents
5. Percentage of children living with own married parents
The compiled results of these indicators show a decline in the health of marriage in the US from 76.2 in 1970 to 60.3 in 2008. The decline among African Americans is even more precipitous – from 64 in 1970 to 39.6 in 2008. Helpfully, the report provides “101 ideas” for improving the health of marriages in North America.
Family values on campus – Worldmag.com reports that “Students at Princeton University have formed an organization called The Anscombe Society, which, according to the mission statement on its website, is “dedicated to affirming the importance of the family, marriage, and a proper understanding for the role of sex and sexuality.”” Actually, the Anscombe Society was formed in 2005 and out of it has grown a network of similar university-based societies all dedicated to meeting “the needs of college students around the country who want to challenge and change the discourse on their campuses surrounding matters of marriage, family, sex, and sexuality.” The Love and Fidelity Network provides much needed support for students with a pro-family values worldview and “strives to help college student leaders start university groups like the Anscombe Society, providing them with the education, resources, and training they need to effectively articulate their values and commitments to their campus communities.”
Euthanasia – The National Post reports that a recent survey found that three-quarters of Quebec’s medical specialists would support the legalization of euthanasia in Canada. Bill C-384, which would make euthanasia legal in Canada, is currently being debated in parliament. The Post says, “Although the bill will likely not pass, opponents believe that Canadians are becoming more accepting of the idea of physicians taking a life, which will open the door for legalized euthanasia.” The article quotes Dr Jose Pereira, a medical director of palliative care in Ottawa saying, “There are studies to show that the less you know about palliative care and the less experienced and the less training you have the more likely you are to support assisted suicide. The overwhelming number of doctors in practice have not had sufficient training to provide some good basic palliative care."
Worth reading
Writing in Christian Today India, the Rev Dr Richard Howell explains the same-sex debate in North American Anglicanism from a Biblical perspective.
Just for fun
Driving home one Sunday after church a mother commented, "The choir was awful this morning."
The father agreed and added, "The sermon was too long."
The seven-year-old in the back seat responded, "But you've got to admit it was a pretty good show for a dollar."
www.mikeysFunnies.com
Another Sunday as the preacher and his wife were driving home, she asked him how he thought the church service went.
The minister shrugged, "The worship was excellent, and I think the prayer and communion times went quite well, but I just don't think the sermon ever got off the ground."
The wife hesitated and then quietly said, "Well, it sure did taxi long enough!"
www.mikeysFunnies.com
Please pray...
For those planning and preparing for ANiC’s November 11-13 synod and consecration of our three new bishops.
For the three bishops-elect as they prepare their hearts for their new ministries.
For our clergy families who recently suffered the loss of a family member.
For the many ANiC projects, church plants and parishes across the country – especially for St Chad’s as they move to new facilities yet again.
For wisdom as ANiC seeks to find more effective ways of ministering to and encouraging “Orphaned Anglicans” who have no orthodox Anglican church in their community.
That we would share the Good News with those around us who need to meet our Lord & Saviour.
For the legal cases
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For Mr Justice Stephen Kelleher as he reviews all the written material and considers his decision in the Vancouver court case. May God grant insight and discernment. |
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For the Windsor case (involving St Aidan’s) which is being dealt with in London. |
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For the remaining issues being negotiated following the arbitration hearing involving St George’s, St Hilda’s and Good Shepherd in Southern Ontario. |
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For the congregations involved in court proceedings and disputes. Pray for peace, particularly for the wardens and trustees who are on the front lines and bear the burden of responsibility. Pray for a continued focus on, and blessing upon, their ministry in the midst of this turmoil. |
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For sufficient contributions to the Legal Defence Fund so that legal costs can be covered and the churchwardens and trustees are not at personal financial risk. The legal expenses in Ontario are expected to increase substantially as they begin to prepare for trials and the Ontario parishes need much more support. |
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For the leaders and parishioners of the dioceses pursuing eviction of and damages against ANiC congregations and wardens in court. |
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For repentance and healing, and that those being persecuted will be able to forgive so there can be hope for future reconciliation. |
For the Anglican Relief and Development Fund (Canada) and those in government who are considering the application.
For the Anglican Church in North America, Archbishop Bob Duncan and the other dioceses.
For the voice of Biblically faithful Anglicans to be heard and heeded by the Anglican Church of Canada leadership.
For those devastated by natural disasters in the Philippines and elsewhere in South-east Asia, Oceania, India and East Africa.
For our national, provincial and civic leaders as well as for our nation. May God be pleased to grant repentance and cause a revival to sweep our land.
And now a word from our sponsor
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us.
God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!
Psalm 67 ESV
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