 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
Network membership grows with addition of Ontario parishes
Three parishes in the Diocese of Niagara voted overwhelmingly to join the Network at special vestries in November. St Hilda's, St George's Lowville and Church of the Good Shepherd all gave their wardens the green light to sign the declaration of membership.
“All three parishes were a little nervous, I think, about the possible outcome of the special vestries since there had been some vocal opposition,” relates Anglican Essentials Canada national director and St George's rector Charlie Masters. “However, the votes were decisive with over 90 per cent in favour in each parish.” The joy and spiritual empowerment in these parishes since the votes has been humbling. We are so thankful to God.”
From its roots in the crisis in New Westminster, the Network has now grown to become a national organization. Parishes joining the Network remain full members of the Anglican Church of Canada.
Online membership application glitch
To our horror, we've discovered that our website-based membership application process has been malfunctioning. We've had reports of some people applying for membership online without our office ever receiving a record of their application. Until we get our online membership process working again, application forms can be printed from our website and submitted by fax or mail (using the directions on the form). Membership queries can be emailed to admin@anglicannetwork.ca.
If you, or anyone you know applied for membership online but have not received confirmation, please contact us right away at the above email address or by calling 1-866-351-2642. And please accept our deepest apologies.
John Guernsey to speak at Network clergy conference
Calling all clergy… Mark your calendars! This clergy conference promises to be a highlight of 2007 - a time of encouragement, ministry and growth. The location is ideal: just an hour's drive from Vancouver, but a world away from the pressures of your parish. Let the lush rural setting sooth your mind as the Word strengthens your spirit and the fellowship encourages your soul.
Dates:
February 27 (Tuesday), 3pm - March 1 (Thursday), 9pm
Location: Cedar Springs conference center in Sumas, Washington
(a free shuttle from the Abbotsford airport will be available)
Cost: $275 Cdn for single accommodation, $225 for shared, $175 for spouse
Theme: Prayer Life of a Pastor
Our guest speaker is Rev. John Guernsey, rector of All Saints, a 500-member church in Woodbridge, Virginia, as well as Dean of the Mid-Atlantic Convocation of the Anglican Communion Network in the United States.
A hint for laity… Looking for a gift for your vicar? This conference could be just the ticket!
Understanding the times
The Ginger Group booklets, known as the Anglican Agenda Series, are designed to expand Anglicans' understanding, awareness and spiritual maturity. They are authored by a number of eminent Anglican scholars and edited by the Rev. Dr. J.I. Packer. Three booklets are already in print - Taking Faith Seriously, Taking Love Seriously and Taking the Anglican Communion Seriously - and can be ordered by completing the attached form and submitting the order with your cheque. (Note that orders to the U.S. are subject to an additional shipping charge. Please call 1-866-351-2642 for information.) Watch for three new titles coming early in the New Year.
AEC National Director visits Vancouver Island
Rev. Charlie Masters, Anglican Essentials Canada (AEC) National Director, recently visited clergy and parishioners on Vancouver Island to encourage and share a Word from the Lord. Larger-than-expected crowds eagerly listened to and questioned Charlie on developments in the Communion, in our Church and in the Essentials movement.
Report on November 9th Toronto-area clergy conference
The Network's recent clergy conference, “Growing into godly servant leaders”, was a time of mutual encouragement and solid teaching by Bishop Donald Harvey, Rev. Trevor Walters, Rev. George Sinclair and Rev. David Short. More than 30 clergy enjoyed this spiritual oasis away from day-to-day parish pressures.
Primates meet with US dioceses seeking Alternative Primatial Oversight
Primates from the Global South Steering Committee recently met with bishops and representatives of eight Episcopal dioceses which have appealed to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Global South Primates for Alternative Primatial Oversight. In a statement following the meeting, these Primates expressed distress at the “painful and gravely disconcerting testimonies” they heard and reasserted their deepest solidarity with orthodox and faithful North American Anglicans. “We will do all in our power to bring about the desired outcome of the Windsor process so that the refined global Anglican Communion can be faithful to its vocation as part of the 'One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic' Church.” The Steering Committee will now make its report and recommendation to the Global South Primates and the Archbishop of Canterbury.
San Joaquin's diocesan convention votes to break with Episcopal Church
Clergy and lay representatives of the 48 parish, 10,000-member Diocese of San Joaquin in central California voted at their annual convention in favour of leaving the Episcopal Church by a margin of 176 to 28. If the measure passes again next year, it would allow for the creation of a new church that would remain part of the worldwide Anglican Church but not of the Episcopal Church. Individual US parishes have left the Episcopal Church in recent years, but Saturday's move by the Diocese of San Joaquin marks the first time since the Civil War that an entire diocese has voted to distance itself from the church.
At the San Joaquin diocese's convention, Bishop John-David Schofield said, "The Episcopal Church walks apart from the Anglican Communion, but accuses us of leaving the church…. At a diocesan level, the choice is between continuing membership in an unrepentant, apostate institution or following Holy Scripture." (Source: Reuters, Dec 2, 2006, by Jorene Barut-Phillips)
Archbishop Greg Venables encourages North American faithful
In a taped message to the Diocese of San Joaquin, Archbishop Greg Venables of the Southern Cone encouraged faithful Anglicans, noting that those who identify with Christ can expect to suffer for their stand. He also said that “although you might need to separate from an agenda which has left long ago the plan of God for the Christian church, at no time will you have to separate from the Anglican Communion.”
Listen to his brief message.
Steep decline reported in Episcopal Church membership
The Episcopal Church has experienced a net loss of nearly 115,000 members over the past three years, bringing membership to just over 2.2 million. Of active members, nearly 60 percent are over 50. (Source: The Christian Century, November 14, 2006, article by John Dart)
... back to "Newsletters" main page
|
|
|
 |
