December 2016
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ANGLICAN JOURNAL Since 1875 vol. 142 no. 10 december 2016 Welby, Francis vow to strive for social justice André Forget STAFF WRITER While decisions by some Anglican churches to ordain women and allow same-sex marriage have been major hindrances to formal unity between IMAGE: THOOM/SHUTTERSTOCK Anglicans and Roman Catholics, a common declaration issued by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Pope Francis October 5 reaffirmed their commitment to ecumenical work. “While…we ourselves do not see solutions to the obstacles before us, we are undeterred,” the declaration says. “We are confident that dialogue and engagement with one another will deepen our understanding and help us to discern the See related story, mind of Christ for his church.” p. 3. See Anglicans, p. 13 ILLUSTRATION: ALIDA MASSARI IMAGE: SASKIA ROWLEY The task force on the theology of money argues that the current Rejoice economic system is an example of “structural sin.” There’s something special about Advent concerts, which draw Christians and non-Christians alike. See story p. 7 ‘A vision of enough’ André Forget Traumatized as a child, Rwandan Anglican STAFF WRITER On October 18, an Anglican Church of works to heal genocide-scarred youth Canada task force released “On the Theol- Tali Folkins about what the next day would bring, had ogy of Money,” a report calling the faithful STAFF WRITER to be reminded by their parents that it was to embrace a “vision of ‘enough’” when it Emmanuel Gatera was only five when time for bed. IMAGE: SKYBOYSV/SHUTTERSTOCK comes to material wealth. trauma of a kind so familiar to his fellow About an hour later, a mob of more Many Christians in the 21st century Rwandans first began to afflict his young than a hundred people had gathered are torn between their faith, which teaches brain. outside the house. They tried to bash their that hoarding wealth is wrong and that PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED way through the front door, but Gatera’s Christians should support each other, and Emmanuel Gatera It was Christmas Eve, 1963 at his fam- father, a carpenter, had built it to withstand an economic system that values individu- is now a priest. ily’s home in southwest Rwanda. The family had just sung Christmas carols, and such an assault, and it held. So the mob alism, limitless growth and commodifica- he and his seven-year-old brother, excited See Trauma, p. 12 See Theology, p. 10 BIBLE READINGS on p. 15 Bells toll for 5 11 9 Aleppo PM# 40069670 Emblem of ‘I was sick, pain and hope and you visited me’ 2 anglican journal • december 2016 WORLD4 PWRDF launches appeal for Haiti Tali Folkins other assistance to Haitians, the agency STAFF WRITER said. The grants were made through ACT The Anglican Church of Canada’s relief and Alliance, a coalition of church-based aid development agency is asking for dona- agencies. tions to support the people of Haiti as they PWRDF officials say that although some attempt to cope with the aftermath of Hur- concerns about the efficacy of disaster Matthew ricane Matthew October 4. relief spending in Haiti were raised after a The Primate’s World Relief and Develop- number of recent high-profile news stories was the most about the American Red Cross, donors to “ ment Fund (PWRDF) launched an appeal powerful storm PWRDF can be confident their money will for Haiti October 8, noting that, while the be well spent. PWRDF staff make regular to have hit the storm had passed, its effects were likely to visits to the offices of their partner agencies island nation continue to be felt for some time. to assess how projects are being adminis- Matthew was the most powerful storm to in almost 10 tered and inspect their books for receipts have hit the island nation in almost 10 years, years. and other important documentation, says PWRDF said. It brought torrential rains and Simon Chambers, PWRDF communica- —PWRDF winds of close to 220 km/h to a Haiti still re- tions co-ordinator. covering from the catastrophic earthquake Donations can be made online, by that struck in 2010. About 60,000 people phone (contact Jennifer Brown at 416- were still living in tents or other makeshift 5A toddler rests said. There is a higher risk of cholera and 924-9192 ext. 355; or 1-866-308-7973) homes following the earthquake. near collapsed other water-borne diseases, it added. or by mail. Cheques should be payable to As of press time, at least 1,000 people had homes in Jérémie, PWRDF announced an initial grant of “PWRDF,” marked “Haiti Response,” and already died in Haiti as a result of the storm, Haiti, October 10. $15,000 for Haiti relief October 4, and has sent to: PWRDF, The Anglican Church of according to the CBC. Tens of thousands PHOTO: LEMOYNE/UNICEF since then sent $25,000 more (plus $20,000 Canada, 80 Hayden Street, Toronto, ON of homes have been destroyed, along with for Cuba). The money will help provide M4Y 3G2. g roads and other infrastructure, PWRDF food, medical aid, shelter, clean water and Diocese donates $500,000 for PWRDF health projects André Forget A big portion of the donation— dian delegation to the diocese of Masasi to STAFF WRITER $343,000—will go to PWRDF’s All learn about the programs in action and to The diocese of Toronto will be donating Mothers and Children Count program act as “champions for the food security and in Burundi, Mozambique, Rwanda and maternal, newborn and child health work $500,000 to The Primate’s World Relief and Tanzania, where there are high rates of of PWRDF” when they return to Canada. Development Fund (PWRDF) to support child and maternal illness and mortality. The donation also provides impetus for maternal, newborn and child health in In Mozambique, for example, there are 500 a new program to foster more culturally Indigenous communities in Canada and in deaths per 100,000 live births, compared to sensitive maternal and newborn health several African countries. 12 per 100,000 in most of Canada. services for Indigenous communities in The money comes from the diocese’s The program aims to combat these high Canada’s North and in Mexico and Peru. Our Faith – Our Hope fundraising cam- rates by upgrading health-care facilities in Zaida Bastos, development partnership paign, which has brought in a total of $33 rural areas and providing better access to program director for PWRDF, said this ini- million so far to support a wide array of PHOTO: ZAIDA BASTOS 5Some of the donation will be used for clean water. tiative comes in response to a need identi- local and international mission initiatives. “solar suitcases,” portable sources of Because PWRDF is eligible for match- fied by PWRDF’s Indigenous partners in In a press release, Archbishop Colin electricity for maternal health clinics. ing grants from the Department of Global Canada and beyond. Statistics around Johnson, diocesan bishop of Toronto and Affairs Canada, the program will receive rates of child and maternal mortality in metropolitan of the ecclesiastical province needs of families are enormous…This is an additional $1.9 million, for a total of isolated Indigenous communities can be of Ontario, said he was “delighted” that the such a great ministry and good news in almost $2.3 million. as high as those for developing countries, diocese was supporting work with women action,” said Johnson. PWRDF’s Women Empowerment she said. and children outside its own jurisdiction. PWRDF executive director Will Postma Project, which helps women in Mozam- National Indigenous Bishop Mark Mac- “In Africa, it is the church that has the said, “The fact that faith-inspired giving is bique secure access to bank loans for the Donald said he is “excited to hear of this trusted responsibility for medical and translated into really important deeds of purposes of creating small businesses, will initiative, having just had a number of con- social support of vulnerable people to a mercy and compassion where the needs receive $55,000 of the remaining funds. versations with folks in Northern Ontario degree unknown here. In the North, the are highest—that says a lot.” The balance of $52,000 will fund a Cana- about the urgent need for this work.” g The Anglican Church of Canada 2015 ANNUAL REPORT Now available online! anglican.ca/annualreport Read about the difference 2015 made. anglicananglican journal journal • •december october 20162016 13 WORLD4 Church unity ‘for the sake of the world’ André Forget STAFF WRITER Since their inception 50 years ago, ecumen- ical dialogues between Roman Catholic and Anglican churches have often focused on arcane points of doctrinal similarity and difference. But there is a growing desire in both churches to see unity as more than an end in itself, said Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, reflecting on his recent trip to Rome. “The unity of the church is not for the church itself, and if it is, we might as well stop talking,” Hiltz said in an interview. (in)finite“The unity of the church has to be in the interest of a common and faithful and united witness to the gospel, and the gospel is clearly for the world.” Hiltz travelled to Italy October 4-6 as part of a delegation of Anglican primates and bishops led by Archbishop of Canter- bury Justin Welby to celebrate the 50th an- niversary of the Anglican Centre in Rome. It was his first time in Rome, and his first time meeting Pope Francis, whose work he admires and whom he often quotes.