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  ANiC Newsletter: 11 November, 2008 ... pdf version
    

Handle with prayer!

News shorts – ANiC and AEN

Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) synod, Nov 13-15, Burlington
Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) synod, Nov 13-15, Burlington
Please remember to pray for the synod, for delegates traveling and for those leading synod, especially Bishop Donald Harvey and the Venerable Charlie Masters. A helpful prayer guide is available on our website. We want this synod to be God-honouring and Kingdom-building!


Welcome to a new ANiC church plant in Pembroke, ON
A group of about 70 has come together in Pembroke to form a new ANiC church plant under newly licenced ANiC rector, the Rev Tim Parent. The group’s first Sunday service is Nov 16, meeting at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, 157 Drive-in Road at 10am. Rev Parent had resigned from his Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC) church, Holy Trinity, on Sunday, November 9, as well as from his position as archdeacon in the ACoC Diocese of Ottawa. Pray that this new church plant would be attuned to God’s voice as He guides them. Also specifically pray for someone to lead their worship music.


St George’s “sign of the times”

 St George’s has a new sign hanging outside their building in downtown Ottawa – and are willing to help other interested ANiC parishes acquire similar signs at cost. The artwork is double-sided on an aluminum sheet and, for the size St George’s obtained, costs approximately $150 plus delivery fees.

Parish delegates to synod will be able to see a sample sign while in Burlington.

 
Good Samaritan unveils new website
Check out Good Samaritan (St John’s, NL) new website, www.goodsamchurch.ca. In addition, the Good Samaritan congregation is deeply grateful for God’s provision of a new place to worship. They will now gather on Sundays at 10:30am in the Theatre at the Francophone Association Building, 65 Ridge Road, St John’s


Federation statement on ACoC / ANiC relations
Anglican Essentials Federation has issued a statement saying its members are “disturbed by recent pronouncements and actions from those within our church concerning relations with those who have left the ACoC and are now aligned with the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC)”. In particular, the statement points to the Bishop of Brandon’s recent comments declaring that Bishop Don Harvey and Bishop Malcolm Harding (of ANiC) are no longer bishops. The statement acknowledges that, “These Godly men continue to exercise ministry as Anglican bishops under the auspices of the Province of the Southern Cone and ought to be recognized as such.”


News shorts – Canada

Bishops of Niagara, Montreal and Ottawa proceed with blessing rites
The Anglican journal reports that Bishop Bird (Niagara) is following Bishop Chapman (Ottawa) and Bishop Clark (Montreal) in announcing his intention to proceed with developing a rite for the blessing of same sex couples who have been civilly married. Diocese of Niagara Archdeacon Michael Patterson told the Hamilton Spectator that the blessings likely will begin in a “matter of months”. Earlier, Bishop Bird slammed the House of Bishop statement and meeting, expressing his “profound disappointment with the statement and the deliberations that took place.” A Globe and Mail article reveals that the House of Bishops “carefully crafted” statement required 20 drafts before all, or almost all, of the prelates signed on.” The Niagara diocese website reports that “After he [Bishop Bird] issued the statement after the house of bishop's the primate called Bishop Michael and offered his profound support.”


Anglican Journal – Nov 6 08 – Diocese of Niagara bishop calls for rite for same-sex blessing
Reuters – Nov 3 08 – Canada Anglican to proceed with gay blessing rites
Polemic and Paradox – Nov 2 08 – The Anglican Schism and Heresy
CBC News – Nov 3 08 – Stick with true Anglican beliefs, breakaway bishop tells St John’s flock
Religious Intelligence – Nov 7 08 – Montreal to press ahead with same-sex blessing services


Archbishop Hiltz proposes “local options”
With Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC) dioceses moving to develop rites for the blessing of same sex marriages, despite the call of the wider Anglican Communion for a moratorium and agreement by the majority of the House of Bishops to uphold such a moratorium until General Synod 2010, Archbishop Fred Hiltz is telling the media that “local options” may be the answer and the church needs to focus on “the bigger issue of how do we live together with our differences, but do it with grace, not by condemning each other.”


Diocese files counterclaim in second court case
The Diocese of New Westminster website states that it has filed a statement of counterclaim in a second suit brought against it, this one by ANiC’s Church of the Good Shepherd. In their counterclaim, the diocese claims that a $2.2 million legacy left by parishioner Daphne Chun for the purpose of purchasing a new church building for Good Shepherd belongs to the diocese. Good Shepherd acted in unity with the other 3 ANiC parishes in the Vancouver area in commencing litigation to determine the rightful owners of the church properties, but required a separate action because the bequest was unique to their situation.


Anglican Communion Institute conference
The Anglican Communion Institute is planning a conference in Toronto.

Theme:
Anglicanism – A gift in Christ
Speakers: The Rt Rev’d NT Wright, the Rev Dr Jo Bailey Wells, Dr Edith Humphrey, the Rt Rev Josiah Idowu-Fearon and the Rev Dr George Sumner
Dates: 25-27 November 2008
Location: St Paul’s Anglican Church, Bloor Street, Toronto


In the Canadian media
CBC News – Nov 01 08 – Breakaway Anglicans come together
Toronto Star – Nov 10 08 – Anglicans can take a poke
National Post – Nov 11 08 – Breakaway Anglicans to form own body
Anglican Journal – Nov 11 08 – Deposed Pittsburgh bishop elected to lead… realigned diocese


News shorts – USA and North America

Bishop Duncan reelected Bishop of Pittsburgh
Following a special diocesan convention called specifically for the purposed of reelecting Bishop Bob Duncan, the diocese issued a news release that reads:
“Bishop Robert Duncan is once again the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh. Clergy and lay deputies to a special convention of the diocese on November 7 voted to invite Bishop Duncan back into leadership of the diocese 50 days after the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church voted to remove ("depose") him.”  The diocese voted to realign under the jurisdiction of the Southern Cone in early October, following the Episcopal Church (TEC) House of Bishop’s voting to depose Bishop Duncan in a process that contravened TEC’s own canons.

Like many Anglican leaders worldwide, the
Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA) issued a letter on Nov 1 declaring that African Primates and Provinces did not recognize the Episcopal Church’s deposition of Bishop Duncan. The letter to Bishop Duncan, signed by Archbishop Ian Ernest, chairman of CAPA, said they “continue to recognize you as a bishop in good standing in the Anglican Communion…We are sad because you are obviously viewed as a threat to the survival of a dominant order, and the actions are more appropriate to totalitarian governments than to an Episcopal leadership professing our Lord Jesus Christ.”


Diocese of Quincy votes to realign with the Southern Cone
The Episcopal Diocese of Quincy voted overwhelmingly to realign with the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone. The resolution passed stated that the Episcopal Church leadership had “failed to uphold the teaching and authority of Holy Scripture, have challenged or belittled core doctrines of the Christian faith, have refused to conform to the agreed teaching and discipline of the Anglican Communion, and have rejected the godly counsel of the leaders of our Communion”.


Bishop of Fort Worth outlines points of contention
Bishop Jack Iker, writing to his diocese just days prior to their convention and historic vote on realigning with the Southern Cone, outlines point by point the theological and practical differences dividing the Diocese of Fort Worth from the Episcopal Church (TEC). Many of these apply north of the border as well:

Our Diocese believes in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. TEC believes there are many ways to salvation and that all religions lead to God.
Our Diocese believes in the authority of Holy Scripture in all matters of faith and morals. TEC believes the Bible needs to be revised and adapted to meet the changing culture and that it may mean different things in different social contexts.
Our Diocese believes that the essentials of the Christian Faith have been revealed once and for all in the teachings of Jesus Christ and are not subject to change. TEC believes in a revisionist approach that says only the votes of successive General Conventions can determine doctrinal and faith issues for Episcopalians as times change.
Our Diocese believes that all ordained clergy are under the obligation to model in their own lives the received teaching of the Church that all its members are to abstain from sexual relations outside Holy Matrimony. TEC believes that active homosexuals and bisexuals should be ordained to the sacred ministry of bishops, priests and deacons.
Our Diocese believes that marriage is the exclusive physical and spiritual union of one man and one woman for life. TEC believes same sex relationships are good and holy and should be blessed and celebrated.
Our Diocese believes in the sacredness of human life from conception. TEC affirms abortion on demand.
Our Diocese believes that heretical teaching by the church causes separation and division, that unity and truth must go together. TEC believes we should tolerate heresies and false teaching for the sake of remaining together.


New resource chronicles crisis in Episcopal Church
The American Anglican Council has published a new edition of “Equipping the Saints”, an educational tool for US Anglicans. This new edition focuses on the past two years, but in his introduction to the document, AAC president, Bishop David Anderson says, “This crisis has been brewing for more than 40 years, and it is all about the difference between Christian tenets of belief outlined in Scripture and expressed in Anglican faith versus a false gospel that embraces universalism and denies the unique and essential nature of Jesus Christ. The two worldviews are mutually exclusive, contradictory and irreconcilable.” AAC has members who have left TEC as well as those who remain within TEC.


In the US media and on the blogs
Jacksonville, Florida Times-Union – Nov 02 08 – Back to doing God’s Work
St Petersburg Times – Nov 3 08 – Presiding Episcopal bishop speaks of joy, diverse opinions
USA Today – Nov 3 08 – Canada’s Anglican bishops delay action on gay issues
North County Times – Nov 3 08 – Fallbrook: church battle leaves congregation in limbo
Religious Intelligence – Nov 5 08 – Barack in, gay marriage out
Associated Press – Nov 8 08 – 3rd Episcopal diocese splits from national church
Chicago Sun-Times – Nov 9 08 – Downstate diocese leaves Episcopal Church
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Nov 9 08 – Episcopal bishop Duncan stressing ministry
Christianity Today blog – Nov 10 08 – The (Episcopal) snowball effect
Fort Worth Star-Telegram – Nov 10 08 – Fort Worth Diocese will vote on breaking away…


News shorts – International

Primates meeting announced
The Living Church reports that the primates of the Anglican Communion will meet January 31 through February 6, in Egypt. Although the draft Anglican Covenant is a primary agenda item, many expect the proposed new North American province to be a topic of discussion, as well. It will have been almost two years since they last met in Tanzania.


Diocese of Recife responds to attacks
In many ways, the Diocese of Recife in the country of Brazil was a pioneer – the first to seek and receive protection from Archbishop Greg Venables following the unjust deposition of its orthodox bishop by the revisionist Province of Brazil. Now, facing fresh legal attacks and an ongoing campaign of misinformation, the Standing Committee of the 5000-member Diocese of Recife prepared a statement appealing for assistance which says in conclusion:

“We are now experiencing serious difficulties, given that the Brazilian Province, following the example of their allies in the USA and Canada… have filed a suit against the Diocese of Recife… seeking to annul our juridical identity intent on the seizure of certain key properties… in which for so long we have carried out the tasks of evangelism, thus posing a direct threat to our mission and social outreach, causing consternation among our people and bringing us strife and high legal costs. We appeal, therefore, to our brothers and sisters around the globe, to our orthodox friends, for spiritual, moral and financial aid to fight this new battle, a new chapter in our suffering, in order that we might not fail in our responsibility trusted to us by the Lord of the Church in His Mystical Body.”


Rationale for recognizing a new orthodox North American province
Writing on the Global South Anglican website, Maurice Sinclair, former Archbishop of the Southern Cone, argues for the recognition of the new province by the instruments of communion, saying that not to do so risks further fragmentation of the Anglicanism and greater marginalization of the instruments of communion.


Archbishop Nazir-Ali raises Iran’s death penalty for apostasy
The Bishop of Rochester, Michael Nazir-Ali, has urged diplomatic action by the British Government to protest the new law in Iran that specifies the death penalty for those that recant the Muslim faith.


Sri Lankan bishop pleads for end to war ravaging country
Following an annual diocesan council which discussed ways of promoting peace in the country, Bishop Duleep de Chickera (Colombo) issued a statement calling for wider ecumenical intervention. More than 80,000 people are reported to have been killed since 1983 in the conflict between the state and the Tamil Tigers. An estimated 600,000 others have been displaced.


In the international media
Fulcrum – Oct 08 – Life After Lambeth, by Andrew Goddard
VirtueOnline – Nov 3 08 – Life after Lambeth: The Naïveté of Andrew Goddard
Religious Intelligence – Nov 2 08 – Canadian parish defends vote to secede
The Argus – Nov 8 08 – Anglican bishop claims credit crunch is God’s punishment
The Standard – Nov 9 08 – Archbishop Nzimbi: From grass to grace
The Telegraph – Nov 8 08 – Woops! There goes another Anglican diocese…
Episcopal Life Online – Nov 10 08 – …Canterbury praises Zimbabwean Anglican bishop


Soul food

Worth reading
A MUST read… David Jenkins tells the story of a teen murderer who came to faith in Christ and whose life was transformed through the faithful ministry of St Hilda’s parishioners at a juvenile detention facility.

Susan Martinuk devoted her last weekly newspaper column to exposing the government of BC’s capitulation to moral revisionists, inviting gay activists to rewrite the education curriculum.

Worth viewing –
Peter Ould proposes a theological framework for ministering in areas of “sexual brokenness”.


Food for thought
A ship in harbour is safe; but that is not what ships are built for.  


Just for fun
A minister announced to the congregation one Sunday morning, “I have good news and bad news… The good news is that we have enough money to pay for our new building program. The bad news is that it’s still out there in your pockets.


Prayer and praise
Praise God for the doctor’s report Bishop Don’s wife,
Trudy, received. The break (in a bone just below the shoulder) is clean and should heal without surgery. Pray for Trudy as she recuperates.

The
Rev Howard Hynes (St Stephen the Martyr in St John’s NL) asks for continued prayer for his wife, Ceri as she convalesces at home. The surgeon is pleased with her progress. “We appreciate the prayers of our brothers and sisters across the country,” says Howard.

Praise God for the
new church plant in Pembroke. In particular, they ask prayer for someone to lead the music/worship ministry in the new church.

Pray for
ANiC’s synod, November 13-15 and for the Clergy Day, November 12. Pray that the synod will be God-honouring.

Pray for God’s leading in the formation of a new
orthodox Anglican Province in North America.

Pray for the
Diocese of Fort Worth meeting in convention this coming weekend to consider a motion to realign with the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone.


And now a word from our sponsor
…Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing…  As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love…

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you… You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you…

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours…
“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.


John 15 ESV (selections)


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