 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
[originally published at www.anglicanfederation.com]
Rev. Murray Henderson, Vice Chair of the Federation Council
On the weekend of July 16-18, Doug Grisim and I visited the lovely city of Halifax. Our purpose was to make preparations for the role of the Federation at the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada to be held in Halifax in June 2010. Our deep thanks to the Ashtons, the Andrews, and the Bureaus for arranging for our visit and providing such warm Maritime hospitality.
I don’t need to tell you how critical it is that the Federation make its presence and witness felt at General Synod. As the debacle of TEC has just shown, the issues before us as an Anglican Communion are ‘life-threatening’.
For the past four or five years, Essentials and now the Federation has been an active presence at General Synod. We have provided a venue where Synod Delegates can gather, and where refreshments and fellowship have been massively available through local volunteers. Doug was Local Arrangements Chair at GS in Winnipeg in 2007 and did a great job.
Our purpose in Halifax was two-fold. First, we needed to book space at the lovely campus of St. Mary’s University, where Synod is to be held. We still need confirmation, but are pretty sure we have booked a fine space right next to the Synod exhibits.
Second, we met with about 30 members of the local Essentials Chapter, filling them in on our role at the coming Synod in their city. We were very pleased that a good number of the great folk we met volunteered to help out at the Synod in a wide variety of ways – as drivers, hosts and hostesses welcoming people, and on the Motions and Strategy Committee (which I chair).
This Committee helps biblically-oriented Delegates to come up with “talking points” on various motions, and to plan strategy for how they will respond to the many crucial motions brought to Synod. At the Winnipeg Synod, for a small example, we decided it would be strategic to call for a vote by Orders on a crucial “local-option” vote. It was the right move! The House of Bishops came through with the right decision!
Also, at the Chapter Meeting, I gave a talk on why it makes biblical and theological sense to remain in an erring church, to bear witness for the Gospel, and to shepherd many lost souls in the Anglican Church of Canada, who will be without biblical witness unless people of biblical conviction ‘stay put’ and ‘stand firm’. I believe the Federation needs to make a strong case across the country for why it is a godly and evangelical response to stay in the ACC. ‘HOPE FOR AN ERRING CHURCH’, a summary of some of the points I made at the Halifax Chapter, can be found under the News and Events section of the Federation website.
Please start to pray for the Federation initiative at General Synod 2010. Volunteer if you are able. Email Lorraine Bryan at lbryan@anglicanfederation.ca if you are able to help. Also, if prayerfully you could make a financial gift to the Lord’s work, it would be welcome. The costs involved are high, yet thanks to your commitment and generosity, we have always been able to pay our way.
Finally, let us trust our sovereign God. He will provide for his church and for his faithful people in this time of storm.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Murray Henderson
Parish of Christ Church St. James
... back to "Newsletters" main page |
|
|
 |
