Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) Newsletter

October 25, 2007

 

 

More on Network’s pivotal November 22-23 summit

The agenda for “Building on the Solid Rock” is almost finalized and we hope to send it to you next week.  Those who are not members of Network, but who share our commitment to the principles of the Anglican Essentials Montreal Declaration, are most welcome.

This meeting is much more than “just another conference”. The two days will be an action-oriented summit at which Network leadership will present specific plans for the immediate future for many orthodox Anglicans in Canada.  We will be briefed on what to expect during the next six months as parishes and individuals consider the options for their future in Canadian and global Anglicanism. It is our intention to equip delegates with the information necessary to make wise and Godly decisions in the days ahead.

 

For those registered or planning to register, here are some tips:

·   If you haven’t booked your hotel, the conference rates negotiated at some hotels are expiring.

·   The optional Friday evening fellowship dinner will start about 7pm and end about 8:30pm.

·   If you wish to be transported to or from the airport, please provide your flight arrangements as soon as possible – if you have not done so already.  Send to transport@anglicannetwork.ca and copy conference@anglicannetwork.ca. We will try to accommodate as many people as possible, but cannot guarantee transportation.  A schedule of bus transportation will drawn up (based on requests received) and will be made available be November 15.

·   We need your payment before we can confirm your registration – i.e. cheque in hand or payment completed through PayPal (using your credit card)

·   PayPal may be new to some of you.  If you are paying by credit card using PayPal, you need to note and follow the instructions closely.

·   Please note: Partial conference registration is not an option because we feel it is very important for people to attend ALL sessions. 

 

Ottawa & Montreal votes demonstrate result of General Synod

By a vote of 177 to 97, delegates to the Ottawa diocesan synod approved the blessing of same-sex marriages. The motion stated: "Be it resolved that this synod requests that the bishop grant permission for clergy, whose conscience permits, to bless duly solemnized and registered civil marriages between same-sex couples, where at least one party is baptized; and that he authorizes an appropriate rite and guidelines for its use in supportive parishes." 

See our news release: www.anglicannetwork.ca/nr_101307.htm;

A Toronto Star article: www.thestar.com/article/266657; And the Anglican Journal story:  www.anglicanjournal.com/100/article/ottawa-votes-yes-to-same-sex-blessings/

 

Less than a week later, the Diocese of Montreal’s synod passed virtually the same motion.  See our release: www.anglicannetwork.ca/nr_102007.htm  And the Anglican Journal story: www.anglicanjournal.com/100/article/montreal-diocese-becomes-second-to-urge-same-sex-blessings/

 

One day after the vote in Montreal, the Episcopal Diocese of California approved use of rites for the blessing of same gender couples by an overwhelming margin.  See: www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/10-20-2007/0004686215&EDATE

 

Archbishop Fred Hiltz is quoted in the Anglican Journal saying, "I believe due process was followed with respect to the handling of this resolution. The outcome of the resolution is a reflection of the mind of the church local in this matter,"   See: www.anglicanjournal.com/100/article/embrace-differences-regardless-of-outcome-of-vote-says-ottawa-bishop/

 

A front page story in the National Post quotes the Rev Alan Perry, said to be an expert on canon law, who (to paraphrase) says that General Synod left a legal vacuum that the dioceses are now filling.  He draws an unfortunate and trivializing analogy between the current debate over God’s design for sexuality and marriage and a dispute over the use of candles in the 19th century.

www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=412dca2e-d5f4-4a2d-a4ef-3b8f5e7c928d

 

And a news release today from the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) reports that when Archbishop Hiltz met with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, at Lambeth Palace last week, Dr Williams described the ACC’s approach to handling the issue of human sexuality as “coherent”. The news release quotes Archbishop Hiltz as saying, "It's always nice to hear someone like the Archbishop of Canterbury or from the Anglican Communion Office say you're handling this coherently, cautiously, judiciously, and you've got some things I would hold up as a model for others to consider as they grapple with the issue." See:  www.anglican.ca/news/news.php?newsItem=2007-10-25_as.news

 

Common Cause Partner profile: the Anglican Coalition in Canada (ACiC) and the Anglican Mission in the Americas (AMiA)

Founded in 2000, AMiA is a missionary outreach of the Province of the Episcopal Church of Rwanda under the oversight of Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini.  AMiA is lead by Bishop Chuck Murphy, a missionary bishop of the Province of Rwanda and chairman of the AMiA Council of Bishops. AMiA is currently comprised of 116 churches with over 30 emerging works in process.

 

The Anglican Coalition in Canada affiliated with AMiA in 2004.  Lead by the Rev Barclay Mayo, ACiC currently numbers 11 churches – the majority in BC.  See: www.theamia.org/; ww.acicanada.ca/