Since 1875 anglicanjournal.com @anglicanjournal vol. 147 no. 6 june 2021 Indigenous covenant drafted Sacred Circle to review at June meeting Joelle Kidd STAFF WRITER The foundational documents of the planned Indigenous Anglican church have now been drafted, and Sacred Circle, the national gathering of Indigenous Anglicans, will be discussing them when it meets online June 10-12, National Indigenous Archbishop Mark MacDonald says. Sacred Circle, he says, has been working ‘Transformed by the on a covenant (similar to a constitution) and a document, similar to a set of canons, called Our Way of Life. The Anglican encounter with the other’ Council of Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous House of Bishops Leadership PHOTO: VIANNEY CARRIERE Circle has reviewed the first draft of these Anglicans and Lutherans celebrate in song the agreemenent on full communion in Waterloo, Ont., July 8, 2001. documents, which will soon be translated into some Indigenous languages. When Sacred Circle meets this month, it will Announcing an Anglican-Lutheran collaboration discuss them, after which they will be sent back to local communities for more Tali Folkins With both these milestones in Archbishop Linda Nicholls, and discussion; they’ll then be the subject of ACTING EDITOR, ANGLICAN JOURNAL AND mind, the Anglican Journal and National Indigenous Archbishop another online meeting in the fall, and will Canada Lutheran have embarked Mark MacDonald appear this month be “fulfilled and sealed” by a Eucharist in Kenn Ward on a collaborative project. For our in Canada Lutheran. Meanwhile, June 2022, he says. EDITOR, CANADA LUTHERAN The creation of these documents is June issues, we’re sharing the same we’re prepararing a series of articles the next move in establishing the self- This July marks the 20th anniversary engaging Anglicans and Lutherans in feature article—written jointly by determining Indigenous church, which of the signing of the Waterloo Anglican and Lutheran writers— dialogue about a variety of topics—all was enabled by the amendments to Canon Declaration, a formal agreement looking back on the history of of them to run in both publications as XXII passed by General Synod in 2019. for full communion between the full communion (please see “The Assembly 2022 approaches. It’s part of the work the department of Anglican Church of Canada and Waterloo Declaration at 20,” on pages It’s our hope this collaboration Indigenous Ministries has been focused the Evangelical Lutheran Church 8-9 of this issue). We’re also doing will help foster dialogue about on in the past year, MacDonald says, with in Canada (ELCIC). And as they a “column swap”: ELCIC National opportunities, challenges and dreams the support of Resources for Mission, the did in 2013 in Ottawa, the national Bishop Susan Johnson shares her for our common future. We hope you fundraising arm of the national church. governing bodies of the two churches reflections with us (please see “ ‘Like enjoy reading the result of this shared One of a number of possible names will be meeting again in a single trees planted by streams of water,’ ” work as much we enjoyed putting it for the new church, and as yet unvetted, MacDonald says, is “The Sacred Circle”— Assembly July 2022 in Calgary. p. 5) while columns by our primate, together. g up to now the name of the national gathering only. The pandemic has “amplified and By Andreas Thiel I suffered the death of a beloved spouse sharpened” Indigenous Ministries’ work, Grieving in November 2020, but—because of public he says. “Some of the issues we face, TORIES OF GRIEF have been health guidelines—was prevented from challenging on a good day, have reached Smultiplying the world over as humanity mourning as I was accustomed to (in the overwhelming proportions in the midst of beyond ‘words continues to grapple with death during company of other people). What did this COVID-19.” this pandemic. What makes me any more teach me about myself and the strange The loss of nine elder clergy by the alone’ qualified to speak of grief and mourning world I suddenly found myself in? What Indigenous church during the pandemic— than the next person? Nothing, of course; glimmer of hope might emerge from this most to COVID-19—has caused a crisis of Loss, sharing and healing I offer the following personal reflection dark chapter? leadership. In response, MacDonald says, in humility. My hope is that some of my The Book of Alternative Services “we are working to provide … training, in a time of physical experience will resonate with others who features a prayer that may be used during accountability and accreditation for some distance have faced a similar trial over the past year, the funeral liturgy (BAS, page 602). of our long serving faithful leaders, putting or perhaps prompt further conversation I’ve appreciated this prayer for its all- them on a track towards ordination and concerning grief. See ‘IN SHARING,’ p. 4 See PROGRESS SEEN, p. 12 3 12 History and Knitting as reconciliation in spiritual PM# 40069670 New Zealand practice 2 anglican journal • june 2021 COVID-19 claims retired Bishop NEWS IN Bedford-Jones Communion leaders call on Canadian BRIEF4 Joelle Kidd company to end Namibian oil drilling project STAFF WRITER Bishop Michael Bedford-Jones, Matt Gardner STAFF WRITER a former suffragan bishop in the diocese of Toronto, died April Anglican leaders in Canada have 18 from complications related joined bishops across the Anglican to COVID-19. Communion in calling for a Canadian Bedford-Jones and his company to halt oil drilling in the wife, Bonnie, both contracted PHOTO: MICHAEL HUDSON Kavango Basin—an ecologically COVID-19 and were admitted Archbishop Linda Nicholls, sensitive protected area in Namibia. to the ICU in Oshawa, Ont., primate of the Anglican Archbishop Linda Nicholls, primate the diocese of Ontario said in a Church of Canada, wrote in a of the Anglican Church of Canada, and PHOTO: ZAIRON/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS series of email prayer requests Facebook post. “May he Rest National Indigenous Archbishop Mark The Okavango (or Kavango) River March 31 and April 6. In Peace—a good and faithful MacDonald both signed a petition flows through northern Namibia. In a statement sent out April servant of Christ as priest and calling for an immediate stop to drilling concerns. 18, Michael Oulton, bishop of bishop.” Nicholls succeeded by Canada-based firm Reconaissance “One of our baptismal promises is the diocese of Ontario, wrote Bedford-Jones as area bishop for Energy Africa (ReconAfrica). to ‘safeguard the integrity of creation, that Bedford-Jones had fought Trent-Durham, in the diocese Thirty-four Anglican bishops and and respect, sustain and renew the a “courageous battle with of Toronto, when he retired in two other archbishops also signed life of the earth,’ ” Nicholls says. She COVID-19,” and requested 2008. the petition, launched by Luke Pato, also cites the church’s commitment to prayers for Bonnie Bedford- Bedford-Jones was ordained bishop of Namibia. It was delivered in 1968 and served in several Indigenous peoples’ right to “free, prior Jones “as she deals with her March 8 to the government of Namibia, Toronto parishes and as and informed consent” as stated in grief and her own struggle with its consulate in Cape Town and to COVID-19.” His death was executive assistant to the bishop UNDRIP. ReconAfrica in Vancouver. also announced April 19 by of Toronto. He was dean of St. The ReconAfrica project, The Kavango Basin supplies water the diocese of Toronto, which George’s Cathedral in Kingston, MacDonald says, “directly involves to the Okavango Delta. A UNESCO added that Bonnie had been located in the diocese of Ontario, the urgency of Indigenous rights in World Heritage site, the delta is known discharged from hospital and from 1991-1993. Elected connection to resource extraction, the for its biodiversity and is a sanctuary was recovering at home. bishop suffragan in the diocese integrity of creation, and our common “Remembering with of Toronto in 1994, he first for 400 bird species and Africa’s ecological future; it represents our gratitude the life and ministry served as area bishop of York- largest remaining elephant population. solidarity with Indigenous and non- of Bishop Michael Bedford- Scarborough from 1994-2006, ReconAfrica has purchased rights to Indigenous Anglicans who are facing Jones who died today then as area bishop of Trent- drill for oil in more than 35,000 square these existential issues with prophetic after contracting COVID,” Durham. g kilometres of the basin. courage in their own context.” Oil exploration of the Kavango Basin The company, however, says claims by ReconAfrica, Anglican leaders say, that the project is on environmentally violates the rights of the San people sensitive land are untrue. The drilling under the United Nations Declaration site, according to materials on its on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples website, is 80 km from the Kavango What if you had to (UNDRIP). They believe drilling will River and thus, ReconAfrica says, not give birth in the dark? Give light, make water scarcer in Namibia, the “in or very near the Okavanga Delta.” It give solar. driest country in sub-Saharan Africa, says the project has the potential to lift For many women in remote parts of and are also concerned about the local people out of poverty by providing access to “affordable and sustainable Mozambique, it’s a reality. In 2016, PWRDF impact of climate change. They also cite inadequate public participation energy,” and that the company is brought clean solar power to 30 rural health and environmental impact assessments improving local roads and drilling new clinics. Wall-mounted “solar suitcases” are wired along with “moral and spiritual” wells for potable water.