November 2015 Nglican Ournal Asince 1875 J
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
10 14 Two PM# 40069670 ‘The When prayer is faiths, nastiness 3 not enough one wedding refined me’ vol. 141 no. 9 november 2015 NGLICAN OURNAL Asince 1875 J PHOTO: LAMBETH PALACE In September, 36 Christians from around the world, ages 20-35, became the first members of the Community of St. Anselm, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s “unique experiment” of opening up Lambeth Palace to young adults who will live, pray, study and Best. Selfie. Ever. serve together for a year. Here, a few of the participants get their pose on after a commissioning service. Commission offers rationale for same-sex marriage Tali Folkins the Gentiles in the early church as drawn in Toronto, to receive the report. STAFF WRITER The church will still have to into the people of Israel’s covenant with “We’re suggesting this might be the more accurate, faithful and biblical way The church may want to look at same- discern whether this is God’s will God, but not required to observe Jewish of thinking about what might be happen- sex marriages as partaking “in the same “ tradition, so might the Anglican Church for the church. ing in the church today,” said commis- covenant” as heterosexual unions, but “on of Canada understand same-sex couples — ‘This Holy Estate,’ the report of the sion member Canon Paul Jennings, who somewhat different terms,” and possibly as drawn into the same covenant as Commission on the Marriage Canon of the explained the report’s section dealing with involving alternate liturgies, recommends heterosexual couples, but in a new way, Anglican Church of Canada models for same-sex marriage. “That is, it’s the report of the Commission on the commission member Stephen Martin told not a question of us redefining marriage Marriage Canon, released September 22 members of the Council of General Synod in the abstract to be more inclusive and (http://bit.ly/1ivbKrq). (CoGS), who gathered for a special session Just as the New Testament describes September 22-23 at St. Paul’s Bloor Street, See Same, p. 6 Arctic diocese aims for ‘Freedom 2015’ Syrian boy’s photo spurs donations By Art Babych The Anglican diocese of the Arctic is hoping that by the end of this year it will be free Tali Folkins from its decade-old debt for the rebuilding STAFF WRITER of St. Jude’s Cathedral in Iqaluit, Nunavut. The dramatic spike in donations for But for “Freedom 2015” to become a re- Syrian refugees this fall has left some ality, the diocese needs $723,000 by the end officials at Canadians aid groups with of 2015 to clear off the $10.3 million debt mixed feelings—on the one hand, THOMAS KOCH / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM incurred following the destruction by arson moved by the sudden outpouring Syrian refugees protest erection of of the iconic igloo-shaped St. Jude’s. PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS of compassion they’ve seen, and on fence barring their entry into Turkey. To help the northern diocese pay off the St. Jude’s Cathedral was destroyed by the other, mindful of the fundraising debt, the Anglican Church Women (ACW) arson in 2005 and rebuilt in 2012. Kurdi lying dead on a Turkish beach. challenges that have faced them for of the diocese of Ottawa hosted another of “It was just after that that we were most of Syria’s four-year civil war. its several fundraising events in support of in Iqaluit. He was in Ottawa to attend the There seems little doubt about the inundated with phone calls…It was St. Jude’s on September 20, at St. Stephen’s ordination to the priesthood on September cause of the increase: the publication, just unbelievable,” said Fikre Tsehai, Church, drawing about 100 people. 21 of Deacon Aigah Attagutsiak, an Inuk starting on September 2, of a photo- manager of Canadian Lutheran World The event coincided with a visit from the who serves both Inuktitut and English con- graph of three-year-old refugee Alan See Alan, p. 8 suffragan (assistant) bishop of the Arctic gregations at St. Margaret’s Anglican Church diocese, Darren McCartney, who is based See Arctic, p. 12 See Canada, p. 2 2 anglican journal • november 2015 WORLD4 Welby calls for primates’ meeting in 2016 André Forget what a review of the structures should in- STAFF WRITER volve, Hiltz sounded a note of caution. “My Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has hope would be that we don’t just come at a invited the 37 primates (senior archbishops) conversation like that from the point of view of the Anglican Communion to a face-to- of saying, ‘nothing’s working and everything face meeting in Canterbury in January 2016. needs to be fixed or made new.’ Because I, A 21st- A September 16 press statement by for one, don’t believe everything is broken,” century Lambeth Palace said that the meeting would Hiltz said. He pointed to the Anglican Con- “ be an opportunity for a “review of the sultative Council (ACC) as an example of a Anglican structures of the Anglican Communion.” It “pretty healthy” instrument of communion. family must quoted Welby as saying that he has suggest- Regarding Beach’s participation in the have space ed that primates “need to consider recent meeting, Hiltz noted that membership in for deep developments but also look afresh at our the Anglican Communion is a process over- seen by the ACC, and stressed that Beach’s disagreement, ways of working as a Communion.” The press statement has caused some participation does not mean ACNA is a part and even controversy. The Guardian ran an article of the Anglican Communion. mutual under the headline, “Archbishop of Can- “I think considerable care has been taken criticism. terbury urges breakup of divided Anglican with regard to how Archbishop Foley will Communion,” to which Lambeth Palace be present,” Hiltz said. “My understanding — Archbishop of responded—on Twitter—by tweeting, “Just is that he will be present for some time in Canterbury Justin conversation with the primates in advance Welby to clarify, the Archbishop of Canterbury is NOT planning to break up the Angli- of the formal meeting…The provision that can Communion.” The headline was later Archbishop Justin has made, I know… with Canterbury—one of the traditional changed. 5Archbishop comes out of his passion for and hope of requirements of Anglicanism. The Guardian reported that the arch- of Canterbury reconciliation.” In the statement, Welby acknowledged bishop would propose that the worldwide Justin Welby: The Invitations have been sent, but how many that “we each live in a different context” and grouping be reorganized “as a group of meeting will be primates will come? “I’m hopeful every- churches that are all linked to Canterbury that “the difference between our societies an opportunity body will come, but my honest answer is it but no longer necessarily to each other.” It and cultures, as well as the speed of cultural “for a review of remains to be seen,” said Hiltz, adding that quoted an unnamed Lambeth Palace source change in much of the global north, tempts the structures he does not feel his hope is unfounded. “I as saying the proposal would allow Welby us to divide as Christians.” But he pressed of the Anglican think the fact that everybody showed up for to maintain relations with both liberal and for unity, saying, “A 21st-century Anglican Communion.” [Welby’s] installation two years ago was a conservative churches in the Communion, family must have space for deep disagree- PHOTO: LAMBETH really good sign.” which have been deeply divided over the ment, and even mutual criticism. We have PALACE The meeting, the first to be hosted by issue of human sexuality. no Anglican Pope. Our authority as a Welby since he was enthroned in 2013, Fuelling the controversy was an church is dispersed, and is ultimately found will also give primates a chance to “decide invitation extended by Welby to Archbishop in Scripture, properly interpreted.” together their approach to the next Lam- Foley Beach, head bishop of the Anglican Welby expressed the hope that the meet- beth Conference,” said the press release. Church in North America (ACNA), to be ing will enable the Communion “to set a The conference, which is an opportunity present for part of the meeting. ACNA is course which permits us to focus on serving for the world’s Anglican bishops to discuss composed of clergy and congregations and loving each other, and above all on the and make decisions about issues facing the that have left the Anglican Church of proclamation of the good news of Jesus Communion, is usually held every 10 years. Canada and The Episcopal Church over Christ.” The last conference was held in Canterbury the blessing of same-sex unions by some In an interview with the Anglican Jour- in 2008. dioceses in Canada, and the election of nal, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the The primates last met at the Emmaus bishops in same-sex relationships in the Anglican Church of Canada, said the invita- Centre in Dublin in 2011, a gathering at- U.S. The creation of ACNA, which has its tion was “not a surprise,” nor was Welby’s tended by 23 primates. own episcopacy, has led to a complicated stated desire to review the structures of the Seven boycotted the meeting over con- situation where it is considered fully Communion. “He’s been quite open about cerns about the Anglican Church of Canada Anglican by some provinces in the that from early on.” Anglican and The Episcopal Church’s acceptance of Communion, but is not in communion When it came to his own thoughts on Communion logo same-sex blessings in some jurisdictions.