April 2021 ‘Life Marches On’ As the Pandemic Persists, Anglicans Across Canada Continue to Adapt Life- and Death-Defining Liturgies

ANGLICAN JOURNAL Since 1875 anglicanjournal.com @anglicanjournal vol. 147 no. 4 april 2021 ‘Life marches on’ As the pandemic persists, Anglicans across Canada continue to adapt life- and death-defining liturgies Matt Gardner weeks,” he adds. “When we can do it in the STAFF WRITER proper and safe way, it just reminds us of “Baptism by fire” may be a fitting how privileged we are to be able to do … description for the first baptisms carried things we [used to] take for granted.” out by the Rev. Michael Tutton. While vaccine rollouts are ongoing, A full-time journalist with the the fight against the novel coronavirus Canadian Press who was ordained in 2018, is far from over. As the pandemic drags Tutton is currently an assistant priest at on, Anglicans are increasingly striving to the Anglican Parish of St. Timothy and adapt liturgies to the “new normal” of the pandemic, including services marking St. Paul in Halifax. He officiated at his first some of the most significant parts of two baptisms last fall and winter. Both took life and death: baptisms, weddings and place during the COVID-19 pandemic. funerals. Despite the measures required to safeguard against COVID-19, including Following health guidelines masks, social distancing and frequent sanitization, the experience of the baptisms When Tutton officiated the baptism at was highly fulfilling for Tutton—and, he St. Timothy’s, capacity inside the church believes, for others as well. was limited to comply with COVID-19 “It feels special to be performing restrictions. All participants wore masks baptisms in a time of adversity for people, and observed strict social distancing. knowing that they’ll look back on that day Parishioner Colleen Munn brought her daughter Janessa to be baptized on and it’ll be part of their family’s story and Jan. 24. Her family had originally planned their legacy,” Tutton says. to baptize Janessa on Easter 2020, and “It was also, I think, very uplifting then Thanksgiving. However, spikes in PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED for the people of the parish, because COVID-19 infections meant they had to Halifax priest the Rev. Michael Tutton has officiated over two pandemic baptisms— everything we do now, we don’t know if including the Jan. 24 baptism of 13-month-old Janessa, daughter of Colleen Munn. we’ll be able to do it in three weeks or four See SMALLER GATHERINGS, p. 6 THE ‘Canada needs healing’ 4 INTERVIEW Bishop Isaiah Beardy on Bill C-15 and UNDRIP Joelle Kidd the Declaration”; current suffragan bishop of the Northern STAFF WRITER “prepare and Manitoba Area Mission. He has also served implement an as a councillor and chief in his home In December 2020, Minister of Justice and action plan community of Tataskweyak Cree Nation Attorney General of Canada David Lametti to achieve the (Split Lake, Man.). introduced Bill C-15, the United Nations Declaration’s This interview has been edited for Our people Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous objectives”; and length and clarity. Peoples Act, which, if passed, will require are waiting “table an annual “ the government of Canada to align the for Canada report on progress Bill C-15, if it passes, requires to live up to country’s laws with the United Nations to align the laws that Canada’s laws align with the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous our nation- of Canada and on UN Declaration on the Rights of Peoples (UNDRIP). The declaration, the action plan.” Indigenous Peoples, is that right? to-nation which was adopted by the UN in 2007, is These actions relationship not legally binding. Canada endorsed the Yeah, that’s my understanding. It will are to be taken become law if it’s passed at Parliament declaration as an “aspirational document” that’s spelled “in consultation through two levels of government, the in 2010, and officially adopted it “without out in the and cooperation House of Commons and the Senate. qualification” in 2016. treaties. with Indigenous Modelled after the private member’s bill 5 Isaiah peoples,” according to the backgrounder There was a similar bill, Bill C-262, introduced in 2018 by then-MP Romeo Beardy, bishop on the bill. which didn’t pass the Senate. Do you Saganash—which passed the House of of Northern To hear more about what Bill C-15 think this new bill is going to be able Commons but failed in the Senate—Bill Manitoba Area could mean for Indigenous communities, to pass both houses? C-15 would require the government to Mission the Journal spoke with Bishop Isaiah “take all measures necessary to ensure Beardy, former member of the Anglican I think there’s going to be a more secure PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED the laws of Canada are consistent with Council of Indigenous Peoples and See BEARDY, p. 3 4 11 Senior year— Jubillee from my Commission PM# 40069670 bedroom project launch 2 anglican journal • april 2021 NEWS4 CoGS hears of progress, priorities at triennium’s halfway point Matt Gardner, Joelle Kidd and and “way of life”—of the self-governing Matthew Townsend Indigenous church. Sacred Circle, he said, ANGLICAN JOURNAL STAFF will meet online this summer—with a series At this year’s first meeting of the Council of regional sacred circles also planned to of General Synod (CoGS), members heard allow discussion of these documents. of progress made by leaders, committee MacDonald also told CoGS of the members and staff of the Anglican Church pandemic-related deaths of several senior of Canada towards goals established at clergy involved in Indigenous ministry, General Synod 2019—and the ways that which he called a “horrible situation.” He the COVID-19 pandemic has introduced noted “that on a good day, we are stretched new challenges in this triennium. very thin.” Thus, the deaths have brought The one-day, online meeting was both grief and further constraints to held on Zoom on Feb. 20, about halfway ministry during the pandemic. between the previous meeting of General Other initiatives of Indigenous Ministries Synod and the next, in 2022. The day include its online gospel jams; work on began with remarks from Archbishop gospel-based discipleship; lay ministers’ Linda Nicholls, primate of the Anglican training and training for ordination; Church of Canada, who briefly reflected and support groups for youth suicide on the pandemic’s impacts on Anglicans. prevention, MacDonald said. Canon Murray “We got through Christmas, which was Still, co-chair of the Anglican Council of a challenge for many because so many of Indigenous Peoples (ACIP), reported on an us were in full lockdown and unable to ongoing partnership between ACIP and the be with family and friends, and still living 5 Part of an the Indigenous church, all priorities that Red Cross that had led to joint organizing of with all the uncertainties of COVID,” she illustration by emerged at the previous General Synod. suicide prevention workshops, in Winnipeg said. A new year had brought with it a Reconciliation Strategic Planning Working Group and elsewhere. continuing shutdown. “But there is hope Animator (SPWG) chair Judith Moses said the CoGS, meanwhile, is reviewing the on the horizon,” Nicholls added. Melanie Delva group had now received feedback from Anglican Church of Canada’s constitution. As the day progressed, CoGS members depicting Council CoGS on the listening groups formed after Chancellor Canon (lay) David Jones said heard several reports on how the church of General Synod the onset of the pandemic, and possible that over the past year, CoGS has received is working to develop plans and new halfway through priorities for CoGS to consider. With this five memoranda from the Governance structures for the future. Among the key the 2019-2022 work complete, the SPWG had entered Working Group (GWG) to flesh out what topics reviewed were the church’s efforts at triennium the second phase of its work, Moses said, concerns and possible changes might emerge from the constitutional review strategic planning, constitutional review PHOTO: MELANIE DELVA which involves looking at the implications and the further self-determination of of these potential priorities. proposed at General Synod 2019. GWG Moses said that although a strategic plans to bring to the May meeting of CoGS plan similar to Vision 2019 will be the proposals it might recommend for “simply not possible” in 2022, Anglicans CoGS to take forward to General Synod in 2022, he said. OING INTO LABOUR in the dark of night will receive an overarching plan for the national church. The council also passed a resolution can be dangerous without electricity. G Like the SPWG, Indigenous Ministries extending thanks to Dale Drozda, who In 2016 PWRDF partnered with We Care Give life, has seen changes in its work and plans, decided to withdraw from CoGS. Clare Solar (USA) and Mozambican partner EHALE give solar. especially regarding this year’s Sacred Urquhart will take Drozda’s place on the to install clean and efficient solar power to 30 Circle gathering, National Indigenous council. Archbishop Mark MacDonald said. The next meeting of CoGS is scheduled health clinics without light. These “solar Its focus now, he said, is preparing the to take place on March 13, followed by a suitcases” have made a huge impact on safe constitution and canons—the “covenant” three-day meeting from May 7-9. g deliveries and health of moms and babies. This month, PWRDF begins a new project with We Care Solar and EHALE to bring 51 more solar suitcases to Mozambican health clinics A N G L I C A N C H U R C H O F C A N A D A in need of power.

Load more