ANGLICAN JOURNAL Inspiring the faithful since 1875 vol. 140 no. 1 january 2014 A DEFINING MOMENT Mississauga, Ont. A hush fell in the room as aboriginal bishops, clergy and elders wrapped a sunset-red Pendleton blanket around Archbishop Michael Peers, former pri- mate of the Anglican Church of Canada, and prayed over him. Each iconic woollen blanket, tradi- tionally made by the native people of Oregon, has a story, and that given to Peers concerns “The Evening Star” that helps his tribe. The powerful moment was part of a commemoration, held Nov. 16, of the 20th anniversary of the Anglican Church of Canada’s landmark apology to indigenous people for the role it played in the Indian residential schools system, which took native children from their homes as part of the government’s policy of assimilation. The Anglican church operated about 30 of the federally funded schools. Aboriginal and non-aboriginal Angli- MARITES N. SISON cans paid tribute to Peers, saying that his Former indigenous ministries co-ordinators Donna Bomberry and the Rev. Canon Laverne Jacobs wrap “The Evening Star” Pendleton blanket around apology paved the way for healing and Archbishop Michael Peers, the former primate, as Bishops Adam Halkett and Lydia Mamakwa look on. See also Thank you, Michael Peers, p. 4. See Michael, p. 7 If you sign that ARCHBISHOP TO VISIT CANADA statement, Archbishop of Canterbury you’ve got to Justin Welby is scheduled to make a “personal, pastoral “ visit” to Canada April 7 to 9, be prepared to stand up and this year, as part of his personal commitment to get to know the be counted. primates (senior archbishops) —Jane Alexander of the Anglican Communion bishop of the diocese of and learn about each of their Edmonton local contexts. Welby will meet with the primate of the Anglican Church WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH of Canada, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, in Toronto. Mississauga, Ont. behind it and you’ve got One’s commitment to a to be prepared to stand up “I think it’s very wise on his FRANCIS WONG KC/LAMBETH PALACE cause—such as ending and be counted,” Alexander [Welby’s] part” to get to know Archbishop Welby and his wife, Carolyn, greet Anglicans in Hong Kong. homelessness—may start told members of Council the primates of the Anglican No major events are planned has said that his visits are also with issuing a statement of General Synod (CoGS), Communion before bringing for the visit, as requested by aimed at fostering friendship or signing a petition, but it the Anglican Church of them all together for a meet- Welby himself. and “mutual understanding” doesn’t and shouldn’t end Canada’s governing body ing,” said Hiltz. Welby—who has had a long among primates. there, said Anglican dio- between General Synods, Welby was enthroned as the ministry in conflict resolution— Since his enthronement, cese of Edmonton Bishop during its meeting here 105th Archbishop of Canter- has rolled out a plan for visiting Welby has visited Barbados, Jane Alexander. Nov. 14 to 17. “And you have bury on March 21, 2013. He every primate across the An- Guatemala, Mexico, Kenya, “If you sign that state- to actually be prepared to succeeded Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, glican Communion during his Hong Kong and Japan, among ment, you have to stand See ‘I came’, p. 2 who retired in December 2012. first 18 months in office. Welby other places. —MARITES N. SISON WHO CAME ON THE TWELFTH DAY OF CHRISTmas (jan 6)? Answer: 12 drummers drumming (refers to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed) Apostles’ the in doctrine of points twelve the to (refers drumming drummers 12 Answer: EPIPHANY ANGLICANS IN ARts & CULTURE PUBLIC LIFE …They 9 knelt down Her Honour, and worshipped the Lieutenant Governor Lining up for Jesus PM# 40069670 PM# 3 11 ACROSS CANADA ADVOCATING FOR THE HOMELESS “Thousands of Canadians Toronto and metropolitan for dignity, which the baptismal wake up every day in a the ecclesiastical province covenant calls us to, just gets rundown apartment, a of Ontario, said that the lack lost.” crowded hostel among of adequate and affordable Henriette Thompson, public strangers or even out in the housing is both a rights issue witness co-ordinator for social cold,” said Murray MacAdam, and a heath issue, noting that and ecological justice for the social justice and advocacy many people are working but Anglican Church of Canada, consultant for the diocese still live below the poverty noted that aboriginal people of Toronto, told the Anglian line. “If you are spending a “spoke about the issue of Journal as people across huge amount of your income housing and homelessness Canada prepared to observe on rent, and then there’s as being so real in their own National Housing Day on nothing or very little left lives...in their families’ lives Nov. 22. “This tragic situation over for food, you go to food and in their communities,” threatens to become even banks. You are not well fed at the Joint Assembly of the worse if the federal govern- in food banks—you are not Evangelical Lutheran Church ment does not provide the going to die, but [the food] in Canada and the Anglican financial support needed for is not nutritious.” It creates a Church in Ottawa in July 2013. social housing subsidies. As cycle of poverty and ill health, “Whether they come from people of faith inspired by a Johnson said. isolated communities in the gospel vision of dignity for Children are affected and north or whether they live in all, we need to raise our voices so is their education, particu- urban areas, the situation of about this.” larly if they frequently have housing and homelessness for Prior to speaking at a to relocate, he said. “It’s a aboriginal people in Canada is MICHAEL HUDSON public rally, Archbishop Colin very vicious cycle. The whole particularly critical.” A guest at St. James Cathedral of Toronto’s drop-in centre. Johnson, diocesan bishop of notion of respecting people’s —LeiGH ANNE WILLIAMS ‘i came here tO GET AWAY FROM PEOPLE LIKE THAT’ Continued from p. 1 could not be successful in its of the Terwillegar community stand up to your neighbours current form. was like. “I had a meeting with and say, ‘Who are you to tell us The church wasn’t caving the community and it was who can live in our neighbour- in to community pressure painful,” she said, noting such hood?’ ” from “10 per cent or so of the comments as, “No way, not Alexander offered the community that have lobbied, here. What’s going to happen advice after speaking about bullied and spoken most loudly to my property value? I came her diocese’s “painful” experi- and aggressively against any here to get away from people ence when it got involved in such project,” Alexander told like that.” Housing First and the City of members of her diocese in a Alexander told CoGS Edmonton’s 10-year plan to letter sent ahead of the an- members that they need to be end homelessness in the city. nouncement. “This is not the ready for “awful things,” includ- Alexander spoke in the context PAULA E. KIRMAN case. There are problems with ing venomous language from of a progress report made to A memorial sculpture reminds Edmontonians to care for the homeless. the project and we do not be- opponents. CoGS by Henriette Thompson, lieve that it has any chance of But as painful as the experi- General Synod’s public wit- wishing to put into practice to Holy Trinity Riverbend succeeding in its current form.” ence was, Alexander said, “it’s ness co-ordinator for social a 2011 interfaith statement’s Church in Terwillegar Towne, She asked for the diocese’s good work.” She added that and ecological justice, about call to end homelessness and in southwest Edmonton. patience, saying, “there will other programs of the diocese efforts across the church to provide affordable housing—to In November 2013, the be a project on the land and it continue, including one that follow through on the Anglican which it was a signatory—had diocese announced it was will further your vision for an teaches people in the church to and Lutheran churches’ Joint entered into a memorandum withdrawing from the project, inclusive and just community.” be good neighbours and not to Declaration on Housing and of understanding with Jasper saying the community con- Alexander shared with treat the homeless and the poor Homelessness. Place Health and Wellness to sultation process had been CoGS what the “enormous as projects to be worked with. The diocese of Edmonton, build a 60-unit building next “deeply flawed” and the project pushback” from some members —MARITES N. SISON Anglican Journal and planned giving–a great partnership ildred has appreciated the monthly Anglican Journal advertisements and month, entirely tax free. In addition, she will receive a donation receipt for her gift Mstories about planned giving from the Resources for Mission team at General to General Synod of $15,000, which will provide a tax credit of approximately $6,960 Synod. She has appreciated the stories of generous, visionary donors over the past next year. Assuming the top marginal tax rate, this is equivalent to a before tax 19 years and now wants to be part of this wonderful, caring group in order to make yield of 13.7% from a guaranteed income investment. Mildred has asked that her a difference in the life of the church. immediate gift of $15,000 be used at the discretion of the officers of General Synod Mildred, age 83, is very sharp and knows something about finances, mathematics, where it will do the most good.