Anglican Ordinariate for the Canadian Forces
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ANGLICAN ORDINARIATE FOR THE CANADIAN FORCES Bulletin/Volume 7, No 3 Thanksgiving 2010 BISHOP ORDINARY TO THE FORCES The Right Reverend Peter Coffin STB, MA, DD CANADIAN FORCES ARCHDEACON General Walter Natynczyk, Chief of Defense Staff speaks to the assembly prior to signing the Installation documents for the new Chaplain General INSTALLED AS CHAPLAIN GENERAL The wind might have been blowing strongly and the rain may have been about to set in, but inside the Roman Catholic Cathedral Basilica of Notre Dame, in Ottawa on 12 September 2010 the crowd was warm and excited. The new Chaplain General of the Canadian Forces was about to be installed. Our own colleague, Archdeacon Karl McLean, newly promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General, and selected by the Interfaith Committee on Canadian Military Chaplaincy (ICCMC) was about to be appointed by the Chief of Defense Staff to become the head of the military chaplain Branch and the leader of over 200 Regular Force and 100 Reserve Force chaplains, the dozens of congregations of the military chapels across Canada and abroad, and the caretaker of the faith for the tens of thousands of Canada’s military members and their families. The service started with the sound of the pipes, as LCol (Ret’d) the Rev. Canon Bill Fairlie piped the procession down the aisle of the Basilica. Music was certainly central to the entire afternoon. There were anthems by Christ Church Cathedral’s Girls’ Choir, the Cathedrals Men and Boys’ Choir, and solos by its Organist and Director of Music Matthew Larkin. The Canadian Forces Aboriginal Advisory Group’s Drumming ensemble also led in a moving chant for leadership, surrounding Padre McLean and raising their voices and drum beats, first to the roof and then to the heavens. ARCHDEACON Prayers were offered by all BGen the Ven K.R. Mclean, CD the denominational representatives of the CANONS ICCMC and by the Most Col the Rev’d J. Fletcher, CD Rev Claude Miller, CANON PASTOR Metropolitan of Canada, Bishop of Fredericton and Cdr the Rev’d B.D. Park, CD CANON RECRUITER Karl’s home bishop. The central moment of the LCol the Rev’d N. Shaw, CD afternoon was when the CANON TREASURER Chief of Defense Staff and LCol the Rev’d G. Thorne, MMM, CD Bishop Peter Coffin (Chair CANON RESERVIST of the ICCMC) signed the Cdr the Rev’d J. Wilcox, CD installation documents. The Canadian Forces Aboriginal Advisory Group CANON SECRETARY led a moving chant for strength in leadership. A WORD FROM OUR BISHOP the Church. We heard from the Peace and “Feeling the Winds of God Reconciliation Commission as the Charting a new course” work of healing is not Dear Friends: yet finished. It will be a long road and Since 1893, and every three years since, the Anglican may God be our Church of Canada has met in General Synods for the guide as we walk it purpose of discerning the mind of God for our part of together with our the mission of the church and to organize our indigenous brothers corporate life so that all things might be done and sisters. ‘decently and in order’ for the effective and faithful ministry to which we are called in Jesus, our Lord. We had passionate This was my seventh General Synod and my first but gracious sitting solely with our Anglican Military Ordinariate discussions in forums members. At the 2007 Synod, I was still the Bishop entitled “Sexuality of Ottawa and moved between delegations. Discernment”and I would encourage you Once again I was immensely proud of our delegation to look for the final (Lay Members: CPO2 Mark Nicolle, Mr. Nelson communique on the Usher, Ms. Colleen Bateman. Clergy Members: Maj. Anglican Church of Michelle Staples and Maj. Todd Meaker). We stayed Canada website. It the course - a long nine days - and shared our has, at the Primate’s ministry within the Canadian Forces while others request, been shared of their context. I was also proud of this forwarded to all Synod. It was the best that I have ever attended and Anglican Chaplains. while we may not have always ‘solved’ those things Some might argue Bishop Peter Coffin before us there were tangible signs of hope in and that it did not go far commitment to our ‘Beloved Church’. enough or that maybe While the Military Ordinariate has long been a part it went too far or that of General Synod it has not been so, in an intentional it even said little. I think, however, that it says a great deal. way, for our indigenous members. This changed at What everyone seemed to agree upon is that it changed the tenor Synod 2010 with the formal recognition of Bishop of the conversation by a generosity of spirit that has not always Mark Macdonald and the indigenous people as been evident. For this I am grateful. having a distinct and honoured identity and place in We hosted Bishop Suheil Dawani and his spouse Shafeeqa and this Synod and indeed within all of the councils of have embarked on a partnership between the Anglican Church of Canada and the Diocese of Jerusalem which includes Israel, Palestine, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. Due to the conflict, Christians in the Land of the Holy One have diminished in numbers. It was here, in Jerusalem, that the followers heard the words of Peter at Pentecost and became Christians. Their descendants today, even with diminished numbers, contribute significantly to the social infrastructure of their communities and in the peace process, such as it is. Particularly pleasing to us was the Primate’s initiative to inaugurate ‘ The Silent Night ’ project to benefit the Bishop Ordinary Trust. Last year we participated in ‘ The Amazing Grace ’ project, which was a great success and enabled the Council of the North’s Suicide Prevention Program. Having the ‘Silent Night ’ project focus on the Ordinariate is such an encouragement to us and an affirmation of our part in the Major the Rev Todd Meaker (Clergy member) and CPO2 Mark Nicolle (Lay member) listen at General Synod 2010. ministry to and the mission of the Canadian Forces. Throughout 2 of 8 the Synod we were very present and I am particularly grateful to Commander Baxter Park and Padres Andrew Cooke, Jennifer Gosse and Liam Thomas of the Halifax Team, for staffing our table and hosting visitors. There is obviously more but suffice it to say that one of the greatest pleasures of this Synod, as it is whenever we gather as a faith community, is that of hearing from one another and encouraging one another in this great gift of the Church in which we are entrusted with the mission of Jesus. The month of June continued on for me, as in the course of my duties I experienced more of the Church. Colonel Karl McLean, Deborah and I went to Washington, DC where we participated in the consecration of the new Our Bishop, Peter Coffin, far right, participates in the laying on of hands Bishop Suffragan for Federal Ministries during the consecration of Jay Magness as the new Bishop Suffragan for Federal Ministries for the United States. As such, Bishop Magness will be (Military, Veteran Affairs Hospitals and the endorsing authority for all American Episcopalian military chaplains. Correctional Institutions), the Right Reverend James ‘Jay’ Magness, a former Navy Chaplain separated due to deployments and other duties. To help us be and on the diocesan staff of the Diocese of intentional in praying for one another, Major Catherine Askew is Virginia. Karl was one of the ‘Presenters’ and preparing an Ordinariate Cycle of Prayer which we shall see soon. I joined in on the laying on of hands with the All of us need the encouragement of prayer and to know that His Defence Force bishops of New Zealand and grace is sufficient for us. Indeed, more than we can ask or Australia and a host of Episcopal bishops with imagine! Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori as Chief Consecrator. Then I was off to C.F.B During the Synod CPO2 Mark Nicolle did overtime duty on the Suffield for a wonderful Confirmation of two Nominations Committee. Thanks Mark! Their work was made young people well prepared by retiring much more difficult because of considerably diminished numbers chaplain Ellis Jagoe. on committees due to budget constraints. We had nominated a whole slate of excellent people and we are grateful to them for All of this gives one cause to rejoice and to allowing us to do so. give thanks to God for the blessings of our beloved church and the privilege of the Peace and Grace ministry to which, by our baptism, we are +Peter called. Anglican Bishop Ordinary Many of you have been on the move this (The Right Reverend Peter Coffin was appointed by the Primate to the position of summer due to postings. Many of you are Bishop Ordinary (Anglican) to the Canadian Forces in November 2004.) Colleen-Nora APPOINTMENTS FROM GENERAL Bateman (General SYNOD AND THE PRIMATE Synod Lay Youth Major Michelle Staples (Chaplain, CFB Edmonton) delegate from the Military Ordinariate) has been elected by General Synod to be the and the Rev. Iola Anglican Military Ordinariate member on the Metuq from the Council of General Synod Diocese of the Arctic listen to the Lt(N) Jennifer Gosse (Chaplain, MARLANT proceedings at Formation Halifax) has been appointed by the General Synod 2010. Primate to the Eco Justice and Partnerships Committee. 3 of 8 GENERAL SYNOD REFLECTIONS by Major the Reverend Todd C. Meaker, SSC It was a distinct honour to be a member of the Anglican Military Ordinariate delegation to the 2010 General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada, that convened in Halifax, Nova Scotia from 3 to 11 June, 2010.