OCTOBER 2009 THE NEW BRUNSWICK ANGLICAN / 1 A SECTION OF THE ANGLICAN JOURNAL OCTOBER 2009 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF FREDERICTON Bishop Miller elected Metropolitan BY ANA WATTS Newfoundland, and Bishop Cyril nated for the position of Metro- Pitman from Eastern Newfound- politan. Although Archbishop Claude Miller, our diocesan land and Labrador will be here Miller is the senior bishop in the bishop, was elected Metropolitan for a week in the spring. And we Province by tenure, he is by no (chief pastor) of the Ecclesiasti- see communication as vital and means the senior tenured cleric cal Province of Canada on Sat- hope to have effective links from in the group. He came to the urday, Sept. 12, at a session of all our diocesan websites to the priesthood following a successful Provincial Synod held in Gander, provincial website.” career in civil engineering, real Newfoundland & Labrador. He But it is talk of the big picture, estate appraisal, development now bears the title of Archbishop work in the real world, that re- and property management. of the Diocese of Fredericton and ally excites Archbishop Miller. He was granted a Bachelor of continues to function as diocesan “We need to speak as one voice Theology by the Atlantic School bishop. His extra duties as Met- on important issues, from H1N1 of Theology in 1988 and ordained ropolitan include presiding over and gambling to sexuality and a deacon in June of that year by the provincial house of bishops, the cod fi shery.” Archbishop Harold Nutter. Bish- synod and council; presiding over As senior bishop in the prov- op George Lemmon raised him the election and consecration of ince, then Bishop Miller was to the priesthood the following bishops; and provision of pasto- appointed acting Metropolitan year. He served in the parishes ral care throughout the province, last spring upon the retirement of Kingston and Bathurst. In 1995 especially to the bishops of the of Archbishop Bruce Stavert of he was made a Canon of Christ dioceses in this province; and Quebec. In his acting position Church Cathedral and appointed responsibility for the Advisory he presided over a meeting of Archdeacon of Chatham. Committee on Postulants for the Provincial House of Bishops In 2000 Bishop Bill Hockin Ordination (ACPO). and Provincial Synod meetings chose him to be his executive “I am delighted to be able in Gander Sept. 10 – 13. He offered assistant and diocesan archdea- to serve as metropolitan,” says a stirring presidential address to con. During his time in those Archbishop Miller. He looks for- the 45th Provincial Synod. positions he entered a Doctor of ward to his job with relish. “We are a representative body Ministry (DMin) program at Ban- “We are already talking at the bearing our local concerns, while gor Theological Seminary. He Provincial level about sharing at the same time, endeavoring to graduated in May of 2003, shortly and collaborating, especially defi ne God’s apostolic mission after his election as coadjutor sharing educational resources, beyond ourselves. bishop of Fredericton in March. post ordination training for all “In the recent history of our He became diocesan bishop in clergy, including vocational church we have never been bet- November of that year. deacons; we’re talking about lay ter positioned to make a real education, looking at standards difference. We will regain our Archbishop Miller follows in of education for theological relevance when God’s mission the footsteps of four other bish- students, and partnering with is seen to be done. God’s love is ops of this diocese who served youth to ensure they are an a commodity always in demand, as Metropolitan: Bishop John integral part of our ministries and we will witness to this need Medley (elected 1878), Bishop JIM SWEENEY and mission. And as bishops, we as we are sent into God’s world in Richardson (elected 1934), Bish- Archbishop Claude Miller signs the oaths of the offi ce of Metropolitain are already planning to partner the true apostolic sense.” op A. H. O’Neil (elected 1963), and following his consecration at St. Martin’s Cathedral in Gander, Diocese of with one another. I will be go- All diocesan bishops in the Bishop Harold Nutter (elected Central Newfoundland. ing to the Diocese of Western province are automatically nomi- 1980). Clergy address synod priority Bishop issues directives on sanitary Communion practices Transforming ministry In light of the unpredictable effects of the H1N1 virus (swine BY GEOFFREY HALL fl u), Bishop Claude Miller issued an Episcopal Directive regarding Mainline Christian denomina- the administration of Holy Communion in early September. The tions of today all struggle with temporary instructions, subject to revision as necessary, enunci- how the Church can and should ate the principles, context and understandings of the sacrament live out the priority of the proc- of Holy Communion and focus on sanitary practices. lamation of the Gospel of Jesus See Communion on page 2. Christ. At least part of the an- swer has to do with what our 2009 Diocesan Synod (and others) are Synod ‘09 participants rate meeting ‘Very Good Plus’ calling “transformational min- Find a detailed analysis of synod participant feedback on istry.” How do Christians live page 4. in such a way as to proclaim the Gospel and make disciples? The Rev. Dr. Ed White, consultant Get the news fi rst Please support the with the Alban Institute was the keynote speaker at the 2009 Cler- at New Brunswick Anglican gy Conference in August entitled http://anglican.nb.ca as generously as you can “Transforming Ministry.” where you can through the Equipping our leaders for Anglican Journal Appeal. ministry in our current context Use the envelope from the is a high priority for us and subscribe to was refl ected in the resolutions Archdeacon Geoffrey Hall, the bishop’s executive assistant, chats with E NEWS September paper or of the June meeting of Synod. the Rev. Dr. Ed White, Alban Institute consultant and keynote speaker at donate on-line at The clergy conference topic and this year’s Clergy Conference held at Rothesay Netherwood School in late http://www.anglicanjournal.com/ See Transformation on page 2 August. 2 / THE NEW BRUNSWICK ANGLICAN OCTOBER 2009 P A R I S H N E W S Transformation through forgiveness, grace and biblical hospitality Continued from page 1 and true biblical hospitality. The leadership was chosen to be a Gospel really does teach that it’s first effort follow-up on what not about us. Diocesan Synod is saying needs The business of the Church to happen among us. Ministry needs to be that of disciple-mak- that transforms actually ad- ing, while the majority of us are dresses several of the priorities in the membership business. including renewing our Anglican The kind of Church we are part identity, equipping our leaders of depends on what business we and being responsible stewards think we are in. The Church of the message and call of Jesus continues to operate using an to the Church. attraction model of proclaiming Three session presentations Good News. The more biblical — Personal Transformation, model, used by Jesus himself, Congregational Transformation, is incarnational. The Church and Transforming the World goes to the people rather than — guided consideration of some the people going to church. In new approaches that are as old as Borderland Churches, recom- the Church. Dr. White believes mended to the clergy as prepara- and teaches that transforming tory reading for the conference, the Church has as much to do author Gary Nelson describes in with recapturing what used to detail the change of church cul- be priorities as it does with shiny ture necessary if the Church in new and ingenious programmes: the 21st century intends to meet That transformation always be- its missional challenge. The gins with me. people in the borderlands are “Church members of these much more than just prospects, times are predominantly the rather they are those for whom character of the elder brother the Church exists. in the Parable of the Prodigal Well trained by the world and North American consumerism, Son,” says Dr. White. They are The Reverends Eileen Irish, Patricia Craig and Canon Ed Coleman chat during a break at the Clergy Conference the faithful members of the it may even be human nature for held at Rothesay Netherwood School in late August. church who have kept the lights us to be overly consumed with on, followed the rules, contrib- concern about the stuff of the tion. “Those Christians really be leaders in our church, in our once again on the journey of uted as asked and have done church – stained glass, cemeter- are out of touch and more con- diocese and in our parishes and faith as members of the Chris- everything right. They look at ies, memorials and buildings. cerned about themselves than beyond. Although its not rocket tian community of Anglicans in the (increasing) numbers out- It’s the nature of faith to look about me!” science it is still very diffi cult the Diocese of Fredericton. side the Christian fellowship as beyond, to look what the stuff If, in fact, we know who we for us to do. But who said being spendthrift prodigals. Its diffi cult is all about. When we fail to see are (understand our Anglican an Anglican Christian in the for us to forgive an irresponsible “things” in their proper perspec- identity) and attend to that Diocese of Fredericton was sup- The Ven. Geoffrey Hall is Execu- prodigal. The transformation tive, their importance is lost. which the Gospel teaches and posed to be a walk in the park? tive Assistant to the Bishop of of the Church and its ministry We shouldn’t be surprised then, commands (proclamation by way Has it ever been so? Let’s pray Fredericton, Secretary of the depends on returning to the when the result is the disregard of our very lives) we will find for one another that we’ll live Synod, Diocesan Archdeacon original message entrusted to of those around us and a lack of ourselves transformed and in into the vision being expressed and Territorial Archdeacon of the Church: forgiveness, grace success in effective proclama- fact fi nd that we are equipped to in fresh new ways as we embark Fredericton.