Historic Network ordinations
Bishop Don presided and Bishop Malcolm preached at the first Network ordinations under the jurisdiction of Archbishop Greg Venables and the Southern Cone. This joyful, historic service took place on Advent Sunday, December 2, before a good sized group gathered in the large Pentecostal Assemblies church in Abbotsford. God protected the many faithful supporters who braved a snow storm to drive to Abbotsford.

The Rev Dr Ken Deeks and the Rev Gary Stobbs, now ordained as deacons, will minister under the direction of the Rev Dr Archie Pell of the Church of the Resurrection in Hope – the first rector and parish to come under the jurisdiction of Bishop Don and Archbishop Venables. Although none of the clergy participating in the ordination were under the jurisdiction of the Anglican Church of Canada, several clergy from our Common Cause partners participated in a demonstration of mutual support and unity. See photos of the ordinations.


Network clergy retreat, February 26-28
Calling all clergy… Block off February 26-28, 2008 for a wonderful time of fellowship and renewal. Once again, the retreat will be held at beautiful Cedar Springs – about an hour’s drive from Vancouver. See the flyer.


We’ve moved (sort of…)
Network has a new post office box. Our new mailing address is: Anglican Network in Canada · Box 1013 · Burlington · ON · Canada · L7R 4L8.


Prayer
Thank you to all who prayed for the many clergy who have been summoned to appear before their bishops since the Network conference on November 22-23. We thank God for these faithful servants and praise Him for the protection he has provided to them. We now pray for a period of peace during which parishes can discuss the recent developments in the Anglican Communion and discern what God is calling them to do in the days ahead.


It’s D-I-V-O-R-C-E for the Anglicans
Mike Davenport, a member of Network parish St John’s Richmond wrote an excellent article that was published in the Vancouver Sun on December 3 and given the above headline. In part, the article said, “Vancouver's Bishop Michael Ingham has finally admitted that the Anglican Church is in crisis. Previously, as thriving parishes left one by one -- St. Simon's, Emmanuel, St. Martin's, Christ the Redeemer -- he tried to shrug off each departure as a sort of ‘extreme decline in attendance.’ Now, with many displaced Canadian parishes reassembling under two other Canadian bishops, Ingham is calling it a ‘schism’ – the religious equivalent of a divorce.”


Not Split – Rewoven
The Rev Harding, from Athabasca, has written a piece published in Anglican Mainstream that says, “National and international coverage referred to the “split” or “break up” of the Anglican Church of Canada. Personally, I think these terms convey a misleading tone. Perhaps “unravelling” and “reweaving” would be a better description of what is happening. The majestic and varied tapestry of Anglicanism has come unraveled because some have pushed the boundaries of those variations beyond permissible limits. What was unraveled is now being rewoven.”


Diocese of Montreal member reacts to recent synod
The Rev. Dr. Daniel Racine, a Montreal-based Network member, wrote his priests and fellow parishioners following the Montreal synod’s vote to bless same-sex unions, expressing the profound sense of grief and betrayal he and his wife, Archa, have experienced. Other members of that diocese (and other dioceses) have been active as well, talking to fellow parishioners and clergy and, most important of all, praying collectively and individually.


Worth viewing
Those who attended the national conference saw a video clip of the Rev Dr Kendall Harmon discussing the crisis in the church using the metaphor of an iceberg. If you haven’t seen this short, powerful clip yet, you can view it either on our blog or on our website home page (under “News Highlights”). Thanks to Scott, one of our two insightful and faithful bloggers, for bringing this clip to our attention.


Bishop discusses myths
In an article titled “Myths we live by in the Anglican Communion today”, Bishop Bill Atwood, General Secretary of Ekklesia, debunks some common myths.


San Joaquin votes to realign under the Province of the Southern Cone
The Diocese of San Joaquin's, meeting in convention this weekend, has voted, on second reading, to effect constitutional changes that will disassociate the diocese from TEC and align it with the Southern Cone. San Joaquin is the first TEC diocese to reestablish full communion with the Church of England throughout the world by accepting the Primatial authority of Archbishop Venables. The vote was 173 lay and clergy convention delegates in favor, with 22 against. While priests and parishes in the diocese are now under the jurisdiction of the Southern Cone, Bishop John-David Schofield has promised to release priests and parishes – with their properties – if they elect to be under the jurisdiction of TEC.

Similar canonical changes were approved on first reading by the Diocese of Pittsburgh's convention, November 2-3, and by the Diocese of Fort Worth on first reading, November 16.

As with other bishops whose dioceses have contemplated such actions, Presiding bishop Jefferts-Schori sent Bishop Schofield a letter containing several implied threats while claiming “I do not intend to threaten you”. In his reply, Bishop Schofield said, “It is The Episcopal Church that has isolated itself from the overwhelming majority of Christendom and more specifically from the Anglican Communion by denying Biblical truth and walking apart from the historic Faith and Order…. The Anglican Church of the Southern Cone has graciously offered the Diocese sanctuary on a temporary and emergency basis. This action is unprecedented but so, too, are the apostate actions of The Episcopal Church that make these protective measures necessary. The invitation of the Southern Cone … embodies the solution agreed upon by you and the rest of the Anglican leaders at Dar es Salaam to provide adequate, acceptable Alternative Primatial Oversight.”


Episcopal Church Interim Report Reveals Drop in Church Attendance
A report from the TEC House of Deputies shows the US denomination’s membership declined by three per cent in 2006. Almost half – 49 per cent – of TEC churches report average Sunday attendance of 70 or less.


CANA to consecrate new bishops
The Archbishop of Nigeria, The Most Rev. Peter Akinola, will consecrate four new missionary bishops for the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA) on December 9. One of the four is Bishop-elect David Anderson head of American Anglican Council. The consecrations will take place in northern Virginia – in the heart of where the legal battle is being waged between the Episcopal Church and CANA – , rather than in Nigeria as would normally be the custom. Bishop Donald Harvey and the Rev Canon Charlie Masters will represent the Network at these consecrations.


Common Cause Partner profile: Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA)
CANA is an Anglican missionary effort in the US sponsored by the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). About 1⁄4 of the members are of Nigerian origin. Bishop Martyn Minns provides leadership to CANA, under the Primatial authority of Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria. CANA has around 100 clergy and 60 congregations and is said to have a larger weekly attendance than about 50 TEC dioceses. Their website motto is to be “Christ-centered, mission driven, outwardly focused, and committed to evangelism, discipleship and church planting. We are proud to be Anglicans. Our passion is to reach and serve the least, the last, and the lost.”


Please stay in touch…
We value our members and want to stay in touch. Please feel free to contact us anytime.

Also, let us know if you plan to move or change your email address so we can update our records and ensure you continue to receive information about happenings in your Church and Communion.


... back to "Newsletters" main page