The Prayer Book Society of Canada Newsletter Michaelmas 2004

The Way Forward INSIDE The Essentials Conference, Ottawa, 1 The Way Forward August 30 – September 1, 2004 The Essentials D. Scotchmer Conference This article appeared in a slightly different version in the Michaelmas edition of The Lamp. 3 The first thing that conference. Above all, I was the last week in summer! Correction: impressed me as I pulled impressed by the We’ll be lucky to get Typographical error into the grounds of Bethel organization, anybody to come, even if all in Article by Pentecostal Church on determination, dynamism, the planning gets done in Dr. Packer Fisher Avenue in southern commitment, and time!” 6 Ottawa, where the Anglican friendliness of the large No Theology Essentials Conference was number of disparate But I was quite wrong. Please, We’re being held, was the large Anglicans who had come Here it was. Well-organized, Anglicans number of volunteers here to a Pentecostal with teams of eager young 7 directing the steady stream Church in Ottawa at the helpers - and an attendance The Current Crisis of cars into the parking lot. end of the summer because of well over 700 delegates. in Anglicanism Immediately afterwards, I they felt something needed Wow! Impressive was the 9 was impressed by two other to be done about the state operative word. New Books of things: the parking lot was of the Anglican Church in Common Prayer huge, and it was almost Canada. Why was it now available completely full. necessary? 9 Pulling off the Something More to Think About I was to see many Essentials Conference “The So, why had it been impressive sights during the Way Forward” was a necessary to organize a 10 remarkable feat in itself. conference on such short Address by the The conference had been, Rev’d Canon notice? Dr. Robert Crouse after all, conceived and planned during two months As most Anglicans are in summer, and summer is aware by now, the General not always the best time Synod of the Anglican plan a large undertaking Church of Canada, which with a volunteer workforce. met in St Catharines in Even more remarkable was May, was set to vote on a the timing of the controversial motion which conference - the week would have given individual before Labour Day. I dioceses the authority to remember thinking, when I permit same-sex blessings. PBSC National Chairman heard of the projected dates Michael Edward addresses The matter is highly The Way Forward Conference, for the first time, “Oh, dear, Ottawa, August, 2004. Ð Continued on Page 2 Michaelmas, 2004 The Prayer Book Society of Canada Newsletter

The Essentials Conference… “General Synod’s opinion is in error Ð Continued from Page 1 and contrary to the teaching of Scripture and the tradition of the divisive, and contradicts Scriptural undivided Church, the clearly teaching and classic Anglican expressed conviction of the norms. The international Primates Anglican Communion at the of the Anglican Communion Lambeth Conference of 1998, the throughout the world had warned overwhelming ecumenical that to proceed down such a path consensus of the Church inside would be to create divisions at the Canada and abroad, and the 1997 deepest levels within the Anglican Guidelines of our own House of Communion. A delegate from the Bishops.” Reaction to the motion Archbishop of Canterbury came to from abroad was swift, as well. the Synod, and warned of the Writing from a theological ramifications to Anglican unity if consultation in the Bahamas, General Synod were to proceed. Archbishop Drexel Gomez of the The Rt. Rev’d Donald Harvey, Bishop of Eastern Newfoundland and West Indies criticized the action In the event, General Synod Labrador takes the podium at The saying “In our view, the Way Forward Conference, Ottawa, deferred the motion until 2007. In amendment is much more serious August, 2004. the meantime, the matter will be than even the original form of the referred to the Primate’s Theological whether in association with the motion…in employing expressions Commission, which will consider structure of the Anglican Church of which Scripture uses to describe whether it represents a change of Canada or not, an organization marriage (Eph. 5:25-33)”. doctrine. The Archbishop of which could speak for them, and Canterbury welcomed the decision would have the ability to speak to Many Anglicans were dismayed to defer the issue, saying that the the wider Anglican Communion at the resolution, deeming it decision to hold back “offers hope beyond Canada. prejudicial to any decision by the for the continuing collegiality of Theological Commission. For the Anglican Communion” (i.e., So, the idea for the conference others, it is a sign of how far the that it offers hope for unity within was born, and carried through to a Anglican Church of Canada has worldwide Anglicanism). reality, here in Ottawa, in the last drifted from its Scriptural, week of the summer. Apostolic, and Catholic roots, and However, the very next day, from classical Anglican norms. General Synod passed, amidst a The Conference began by Many Anglicans felt a need to certain amount of confusion and affirming its determination to work repudiate the actions of the Synod, procedural manoeuvering - and by for (1) a renewed Canadian and to distance themselves publicly. a show of hands - a resolution Anglican orthodoxy that will affirming “the integrity and sanctity recover the principles of our So, amidst all the confusion, of committed adult same sex heritage (2) the support and disunity, and uncertainty, relationships.” expansion of orthodox Anglican traditionalist Anglicans put their ministry, through faithful witness to heads together. An organization was At the close of the session, the truth of the Gospel, and then needed which could hold all Donald Harvey, Bishop of Eastern (3) re-affirmed its unity with faithful Anglicans in Canada Newfoundland and Labrador took faithful Anglican believers together, in communion with the the stage to read a statement on world-wide Anglican Communion, behalf of nine Canadian bishops: Ð Continued on Page 3

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CORRECTION PLEASE NOTE A typing error appeared in Dr. J. I. Packer’s article “1966 and 2002: or Why I Walked in 2002”, which appeared in the Eastertide 2004 edition of the Newsletter of the Prayer Book Society of Canada. On page 6, column 3, the words “women as” were omitted from the sentence which incorrectly appeared as “That, for instance, is how many with whom I sympathize accept the ordination of presbyters and bishops.” Dr. Packer writes “This wrecks my argument and makes me a Quaker, Salvationist, or Plymouth Brother.”

The sentence in its context should have read:

“Theological, pastoral and constitutional missteps of secondary importance can ordinarily be accepted under protest. That, for instance, is how many with whom I sympathize accept the ordination of women as presbyters and bishops. But when a primary Christian doctrine that is part of the gospel is negated, integrity calls for direct non-acceptance, which the suspending of communion expresses.”

Our apologies to Dr. Packer, and to all our readers.

The Essentials Conference… the principle of universal and revival of orthodox Ð Continued from Page 2 Christianity, what C S Lewis called Anglicanism, with representation “mere Christianity”: that principle from laity, clergy, and bishops from throughout the Anglican which has always been at the heart all four of the ecclesiastical Communion world-wide. of Anglicanism, the desire to hold provinces of Canada. only to that which has always been PBSC National Chairman believed by Christians “ubique, In order to realize this goal, the Michael Edward put it well: “we re- semper, omnibus” (“everywhere, Conference then agreed in principle affirm what is quintessentially always, and by all”). to the establishment of two new Anglican, what Anglicans have national bodies, and set in place a always believed.” He then quoted The Conference then set about steering committee to oversee their its main task: birth. These two bodies have been the creation of given the interim, working names new structures of “The Federation” and “The for orthodox Network”. The likelihood of Anglican changing the name from the “The believers in Federation” at some time in the Canada. The future was mentioned. As one vision is for a speaker wryly noted, there had new, national, been far too many jokes flying grassroots around about Klingons and federation of Vulcans. orthodox Anglican In essence, the old Essentials individuals and Coalition will be absorbed into a Some PBSC members at The Way Forward Conference: left constituencies new organization, which will be a to right, Desmond Scotchmer, Editor PBSC Newsletter; Naomi Luth, Federation Representative for the Ecclesiastical committed to Federation of all Canadian Province of Ontario; Walter Raybould, PBSC President, the recovery Niagara North Branch. Ð Continued on Page 4

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The Essentials Conference… around the world to know that, Ð Continued from Page 3 whatever the shenanigans of This group will likely grow, General Synod, there still exists a and grow rapidly, as there are a Anglicans committed to the centre of orthodox Anglicanism; number of dioceses across the recovery and renewal of the people who re-affirm and believe country where moves are afoot to orthodox faith of our tradition. the principles of the Solemn put in place a process similar to This Federation, unlike the old Declaration of 1893, the founding that which resulted in the blessing Essentials Coalition, is not limited document of the Anglican Church of same-sex unions in New to the three original founding of Canada, set out in the beginning Westminster. The Network will organizations (the Prayer Book of the Book of Common Prayer constitute a national body where Society of Canada, Barnabas faithful Anglicans who cannot Anglican Ministries, and Anglican Alongside this structure, and accept decisions of their dioceses Renewal Ministries), but is open to working with it, will be a new (or of the General Synod of the all Canadian Anglicans who uphold group, given an interim working Anglican Church of Canada) will traditional Biblical orthodoxy. The name of “The Network”. It will be be cared for. The intention is to see creation of this new body was seen led by Donald Harvey, retiring that all faithful Anglicans receive as necessary. While the old Bishop of Eastern Newfoundland adequate Episcopal oversight, Essentials Coalition has done and Labrador. whatever the agenda of revisionist sterling service in the past, there bishops or diocesan synods. was a perceived need to widen its The Network will consist of base to form a truly national and organizations, parishes, and Orthodox Anglicans are representational organization for all individuals who find themselves in determined not to be divided from orthodox Anglicans which could impaired communion with their one another. And why indeed have the ability to speak to the dioceses and bishops, and/or the should they be? They hold one wider Anglican communion General Synod of the Anglican Faith, and will not permit the beyond the borders of Canada. Church of Canada. An obvious actions of renegade synods, or of example is those parishes within the bishops who have contravened the The interim Council of the Diocese of New Westminster who solemn oaths they took before God new organization comprises walked out of the diocesan synod and the congregation, at their members of the Essentials and refused to accept the Episcopal ordination and consecration, to executive, (the four officers, plus leadership of Michael Ingham. divide them. the three “heads” of the coalition Members of the Network make it organizations), now joined by clear that it is not they who are Also of great interest was the members elected from each of the leaving the Anglican Church: it is highly informative and thought- four Canadian ecclesiastical the Bishop of New Westminster provoking presentation made by provinces. There are four bishops and those who agree with him, the legal team for the dissenting on the council, one from each who, in spite of the unequivocal parishes in New Westminster about ecclesiastical province. Naomi Luth, warnings from the International the legal issues which ensue when former President of the PBSC Primates of the Anglican congregations and clergy wish to Lambton County Branch is a Communion, and from the disassociate themselves from their newly-elected member of the Archbishop of Canterbury, have own dioceses. Following this was an Council, having been elected from disassociated themselves from the equally probing presentation about the Province of Ontario. worldwide Anglican Communion, the financial aspects related to these and repudiated the doctrinal issues. Many speakers stressed standards of Anglicanism. repeatedly the need for Anglicans Ð Continued on Page 5

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The Essentials Conference… members is strong enough, the The Federation and the Ð Continued from Page 4 local authorities will push ahead Network will, I hope, play a vital with a revisionist agenda. part in determining the future of Anglicanism in this country. They The conference was attended It needs to be stressed that, in a are very much grass-roots by several representatives of global very real way, the issue is not organizations. Interestingly, two of orthodox Anglicanism: including homosexuality, which has always the speakers at the conference the Most Rev’d Greg Venables, been with us, and which needs to quoted from The Lord of the Rings. Primate of the Southern Cone in be dealt with pastorally, sensitively, Paul Orritt, in talking about the South America, the Rt Rev’d with Christian compassion. Same- role that ordinary Anglicans had to Wallace Benn, Bishop of Lewes in sex blessings are only the presenting play in the work that is unfolding England and a representative of issue. The underlying issue is of in our church, quoted the words of Anglican Mainstream, the Rt Rev’d paramount importance, and this is Elrond, spoken at the Council at Robert Duncan, Bishop of why the principles involved cannot Rivendell, when Frodo steps Pittsburgh, and Moderator of the be sacrificed. And this is perhaps forward to take the task of bearing Anglican Communion Network in where conservatives have not made the Ring to the Cracks of Doom in the USA, and Dr Bill Atwood, their point clearly enough. Many the Fire-Mountain, Orodruin. General Secretary of Ekklesia, an well-intentioned people, motivated “This is the hour of the Shire-folk, international organization no doubt by good intentions about when they arise from their quiet connecting First and Third World “inclusivity” are favourably disposed fields to shake the towers and Anglicans. The conference ended to this motion, and have failed to counsels of the great.” “We’re the with a Eucharist from the Book of grasp the larger issue, which is this: Shire-folk”, he added, “and now is Common Prayer, presided over by what is the Anglican Church of the time.” the Rt Reverend Don Harvey, who Canada to be? Is it to be a church was assisted by all of the bishops under the authority of Scripture, in Brett Cane also quoted the who were present from Canada and communion with the Anglican words of Frodo, spoken at another around the world. Communion throughout the time: “I wish it had not happened world, and a part of the universal, in our time”, only to have the Anglicans everywhere need to Catholic, and Apostolic Church, obvious pointed out by Gandalf, understand the gravity of the holding the faith received from the that we have no choice in the situation confronting them. The Apostles and delivering the same timing of these things. Mr. Cane agenda for change is underway in unimpaired to succeeding pointed out that it is the same for many dioceses, and often has generations, or is it to be a splinter us. We have no choice over the support in the highest places. The church buffeted like a flag by the dilemmas and conflicts that prevailing official line is that winds of secular culture, which confront us. But we do have a nothing will change, even if believes, contrary to all accepted choice in how we respond. Frodo proposals to bless same-sex unions understanding, that a small section made his choice, and Anglicans are are passed by diocesan synods in of the Church can remake being faced with their own. Hence Toronto, Niagara, Ottawa, and Christian teaching at will – remake the title of the conference “The elsewhere. Make no mistake. Even it, moreover, in a way that Way Forward”, and the theme where they support the proposed contravenes directly the plain chosen by the Essentials Council changes, the hierarchy is far more meaning of Scripture, and earlier in the year for their televised concerned than they let on. universally-accepted Christian teleconference, beamed coast to However, this is an ideologically- teaching? coast via satellite, “For Such a Time driven issue, and, unless the push- as This.” back from orthodox church

Visit our web site: www.prayerbook.ca 5 Michaelmas, 2004 The Prayer Book Society of Canada Newsletter As Others See Us: A Roman Catholic View No Theology Please, We’re Anglicans By George Weigel

This past summer I had a pleasant Archbishop of Canterbury and head of style “conservative”) that Anglican dinner with a senior British churchman the Anglican Communion. It is no approval of the ordination of women who happened to be visiting Cracow offense against charity to suggest that would raise extremely grave questions while I was teaching there. His Grace Lord Carey is confused about several about the future of the Anglican- was, in many respects, an Anglican things -- and, once again, they are Catholic dialogue and the hope for prelate straight from central casting: theological in character. ecclesial reconciliation. Runcie replied handsome, charming, urbane, that there were indeed serious theological impeccably attired, emotions under Carey argues that, as John Paul II and ecumenical issues in play -- and then control, disclaimers always preceded by a has experienced more physical proceeded to make the case for ordaining “perhaps,” etc., etc. Earlier in the day, he difficulties, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger women on strictly sociological grounds. had gone to Wadowice, the Pope's has taken the Catholic Church in a new birthplace, and was clearly moved to direction, undercutting the Pope's heroic Which leads to the awkward but have seen the roots from which a great personal witness. The evidence for this? inescapable thought that some high- Christian witness had sprung. The 2000 Vatican document Dominus ranking Anglican prelates of recent Iesus, which reaffirms the unique salvific vintage have suffered from a dramatic What was disconcerting about our mission of Jesus Christ and the Catholic theology deficit. Lord Carey's successor, conversation was that it never touched Church's ancient understanding of itself Dr. Rowan Williams, is a formidable and on theology. We discussed at length the as the most rightly ordered expression in well-regarded theologian. Whether he impact on the Anglican Communion history of the One Church of Christ. can convince his fellow bishops of the and the Anglican-Catholic dialogue of Why has Ratzinger done this? Because, Anglican Communion to think last year's decision by the Diocese of Carey writes, Ratzinger is “exceedingly theologically, rather than sociologically New Hampshire (supported by a conservative,” a man who shows “little of and politically, about central questions of majority vote of delegates to a national the flexibility that characterized the Christian doctrine and Church order Anglican convention) to ordain as the approach of the Second Vatican would seem to be one of his challenges. local bishop a man who has lived for Council.” years with his homosexual lover -- this, If Dr. Williams is unsuccessful -- if after divorcing his wife in a church Really? Dominus Iesus contains 102 senior Anglican figures continue to treat ceremony. My interlocutor suggested, footnoted citations; fifty of them are the Gene Robinson affair as a politely, that the real problem here was taken from the documents of the Second management problem, while others one of management, or perhaps of Vatican Council. Another thirty-seven blame ecumenical chilliness on that great manners: U.S. Episcopalians had rushed citations are from the magisterium of bogeyman, Cardinal Ratzinger -- then, into this before the rest of the Anglican John Paul II, who, as Dominus Iesus before too much time has passed, many Communion had had a chance to adjust states, approved the document “with sure Catholics, including those fully its thinking to more enlightened (so to knowledge and by his apostolic committed to ecumenism, will sadly but speak) ways. That the Gene Robinson authority.” ineluctably conclude that what styles case in New Hampshire engaged some itself an Anglican “Communion” is in core theological questions, including the Carey also blames Ratzinger and the fact a fraternity of quarreling Protestant Church's claim to be the bearer of moral Congregation for the Doctrine of the sects. truth, did not seem to be at the top of Faith for the strained relations between my dinner companion's menu of Rome and Canterbury over the Anglican George Weigel is a senior fellow of the concerns. admission of women to the ordained Ethics and Public Policy Center in ministry. But this, too, makes no sense. Washington, D.C. Later in the summer I remembered Carey's predecessor, Archbishop Robert this conversation when reading several Runcie, had been told in letters from the This article appeared in “Viewpoints”, reviews of, and commentaries on, the Pope and from Cardinal Johannes from the website “Tidings On-Line”, on memoirs of George Carey, the former Willebrands (whom no one would ever September 3, 2004.

6 Visit our web site: www.prayerbook.ca The Prayer Book Society of Canada Newsletter Michaelmas, 2004 Editorial The Current Crisis in Anglicanism

It’s been a summer of unworthiness. mismatch between traditional confusion in the Anglican Church Christian worship and teaching on of Canada, and indeed in the wider I remember well the debate the one hand, and secular thinking Anglican Communion throughout that accompanied the introduction on the other, it is traditional the world. At this stage, I believe it of the Book of Alternative Services worship and teaching which must is a good time to take a step back almost 20 years ago. There was go. The result is a church which, as and assess what this crisis is really much denigration of the Book of Dr. George Weigel points out in about. It’s a crisis over the Common Prayer as "irrelevant", the article which appears elsewhere authority of Scripture, it’s a crisis "too penitential", "too negative", in this Newsletter, has long since over the catholicity of the Anglican not celebratory enough. Criticism ceased to think about things Church; it’s about the Anglican of the new liturgies, for instance, doctrinally or theologically - or Church of Canada’s relationship to that they set up new idols, those of Scripturally. Such thinking is the wider Anglican Communion. the Gathered Community, or of deeply entrenched in the minds of Same-sex blessings are merely the the need to be "relevant" to many Anglicans. I have no doubt presenting issue. contemporary culture, was that it influenced many delegates to dismissed out of hand. In light of this past summer’s General Synod The current crisis has been current events, I believe, that debate of the Anglican Church of Canada. years in the making. It represents needs to be revisited. the culmination of what has been Traditional Anglican teaching going on within Anglicanism for The setting up as a primary locates the source of true doctrine more than two generations. We objective for contemporary worship in Holy Scripture. Liturgy must need only look at the liturgical the notion that the Church must reflect what is taught in Scripture, changes brought in over the past be relevant to the surrounding and the Church must in turn two or three decades to see this. culture has engendered in modern Ð Continued on Page 8 Modern liturgies concentrate on Anglicanism a mind-set among "us", on the gathered community, many which, I believe, predisposes they teach us to celebrate the the Church to sacrifice anything church, to celebrate ourselves, and which might be perceived as old- think of ourselves as good people. fashioned, or "negative", or In contrast, traditional Christian "irrelevant". A mind-set which liturgies, that of the Book of dictates that Christian worship and Common Prayer, for instance, or Christian teaching need to be the Liturgy or the All-Night Vigil attractive to the unchurched is one of the Orthodox Church, or the step away from a mind-set which old Tridentine Rite of the Roman dictates that Christian worship and Catholic Church, concentrate on teaching need to conform to secular

God, on His glory and mercy and thinking. According to this mind- St Michael defeating Satan, loving kindness, and on our own set, wherever there is a potential Raphael (1483-1520)

Visit our web site: www.prayerbook.ca 7 Michaelmas, 2004 The Prayer Book Society of Canada Newsletter

…Crisis in Anglicanism BAS. In his address "Rites for a modes of thought – or our own Ð Continued from Page 7 New Age?" given to the Annual predilections or weaknesses. General Meeting of the Nova witness to that Truth to the world. Scotia and Prince Edward Island It’s argued that the issue of The BAS makes an explicit link Branch of the Prayer Book Society same-sex blessings needs to be put between contemporary culture, of Canada in May 1990, he put it in perspective: homosexuality in doctrine, and liturgy, but in a very this way: "The BAS starts from the and of itself is not one of the major different way. The BAS maintains, acceptance of contemporary culture concerns of the Bible; references in in its Introduction, that doctrine is as its standard, and reinterprets the either Testament are rare. Gay found in liturgy. Liturgy, in turn, Gospel in its light." couples wish for happiness like any must wear "the idiom, the cadence, others. Nevertheless, where the the world view, the imagery" of the Where you pick your starting plain meaning of the Scriptural passing age. Moreover, as the times point determines where you end text, supported by the traditional change, so also must liturgy – and up. For two generations now, understanding of the universal with it, doctrine: "The church must contemporary Anglicanism in church clashes with contemporary be open to liturgical change in Canada has been deeply influenced western culture, serious Christians order to permit the continuous by what I would characterize as have no choice but to stand with development of a living theology" these dubious doctrinal and the prophets, the apostles, and the (BAS, p. 10). liturgical precepts: that Christian church Fathers. The unchanging doctrine changes, and that the Gospel, in all its fullness, cannot be The loss of a doctrinal, a refashioning of doctrine should compromised. Scriptural, basis for the church’s reflect the preoccupations, the way of thinking is clearly evident in outlook, and the prejudices of the So it’s time to rethink the past the BAS. Again, the book’s passing age. We are a church that 40 years, time to reconstruct an Introduction sets out clearly the has forgotten how to think Anglican mind that stands on a modernist view of Scripture as the doctrinally, to think Scripturally, a sound Scriptural basis, on our "repository of the Church’s symbols church that has fallen into the habit collective memory: our true of life and faith." (BAS, p 9). The of reinterpreting the Gospel in the collective memory, not the ersatz implication is quite clear. Scripture light of contemporary culture. memory that has been imported becomes a collection of themes and Time to rethink the past 40 years. into Anglicanism over the past two symbols, haphazardly stored away decades. Time to think once again (a mere "repository of symbols") The idea of a Gospel that is about what vision of the Church which may be retrieved individually eternal and unchanging is at the we wish to embrace: that of or severally, re-arranged, and heart of all classical Anglican traditional Christianity on the one restructured to conform to thought, and is the very essence of hand, which seeks a world contemporary ways of thinking. all orthodox Christian teaching. transformed by the Word, or the The Rev’d Dr. Robert Crouse, The Gospel is revealed, and it is modernist revision, which is Honorary Chairman of PBSC, that objective, and it is set out in the prepared to see the Word clear-thinking, far-seeing critic of Holy Scriptures: it is True, and it conformed to the world. the liturgical revolution that exists of itself, independent of what remade Anglicanism in the 1980’s, we may think or feel at any given Desmond Scotchmer pointed this out over and over moment, and independent of again during those debates which changing fashions, philosophies or surrounded the introduction of the

8 Visit our web site: www.prayerbook.ca The Prayer Book Society of Canada Newsletter Michaelmas, 2004 REMINDER Something More to Copies of the Book of Common Prayer with an updated Table of Moveable Feasts now available at the new Anglican Think About Book Centre St George’s Reformed Episcopal Church, Some of our members may not “I Believe: The Nicene Creed”, realize that new copies of the Book of illustrated by Pauline Baynes Hamilton, Ontario Common Prayer are available at the As we reported in our Anglican Book Centre at its new location While I was there, another book at 80 Hayden Street, Toronto. Of caught my eye: a slender volume entitled Eastertide 2004 edition of the particular interest to all love and use the “I Believe: The Nicene Creed”, published PBSC Newsletter (“Something to Book of Common Prayer is the fact that by Eerdmans of Grand Rapids, Think About”), St George's the copies now available show an Michigan. This has lovely colour Reformed Episcopal Church in updated Table of Moveable Feasts for Fifty illustrations by Pauline Baynes, the very Hamilton, Ontario, bought the Years from 1971 to 2020. The Table of same Pauline Baynes who did the Moveable Feasts appears at the beginning illustrations for the original version of buildings of St Margaret's of your BCP (page xiv), and tells you C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia. The Anglican Church, which has just upon which date Septuagesima, Ash illustrations are up to the quality of those been closed. St George’s was a Wednesday, Easter, Rogation Sunday, original ones for the Narnia stories: filled former parish of the Anglican Ascension Day, Whitsunday, Trinity with grace, charm, vigour, and elegance. Diocese of Huron, shut down by Sunday and Advent Sunday will fall in If you are in Toronto, slip down to the any given year. new Anglican Book Centre, and have a the then bishop. St George’s peek, or ask your local bookstore to refused to die, joined the For all those of you (like me) whose order a copy. Once again, these would Reformed Episcopal Church (a BCP shows the table ending at the year make great Christmas presents. - Editor Continuing Anglican body), and 2000, these copies are a must have! Also available are new Books of Common lived out of rented space in a Prayer bound with the Book of Baptist Church on Main Street, in Common Praise, the old and much- Hamilton, until they were forced loved “blue hymn book” dating from out by standing room-only 1938, and containing all your favourite, attendance. fabulous old hymns with the REAL words….texts undiluted by modern politically-correct censors. The saga continues. We now hear that the first morning service Your editor was at the new at St George's was packed, and bookstore recently (where I snapped up that seventy-nine worshippers my new BCP), and was very pleased to note that these books are actually showed up for Evening Prayer. St prominently displayed. This is great George’s offers services exclusively news, as it shows a vote of confidence for from the Book of Common the future of the Book of Common Prayer. Prayer. Copies would make wonderful Christmas presents. God bless, and continued success, St George’s!

St Michael the Archangel

Visit our web site: www.prayerbook.ca 9 Michaelmas, 2004 The Prayer Book Society of Canada Newsletter St Benedict, Archbishop Cranmer, and the Spirit of Anglican Worship

An Address by the Rev’d Canon Dr Robert Crouse Given at St. Barnabas’ Church, Ottawa, March 25, 2004 Peter Scotchmer

Dr. Robert Crouse’s lecture took place on the feast day prescribed by the Book of Common Prayer for honouring the memories of both St Benedict, Abbot of Monte Casino, and Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, Translator and Reviser of the Liturgy, and Martyr. Although a thousand years separates the founder of western monasticism from the founder of the English Reformation, Dr. Crouse maintained that what they have in common outweighs by far the difference between them, and the differences between the circumstances in which they lived.

Both men lived, as we do, in times of “turmoil and confusion.” St. Benedict, born in 480 A.D., seventy years after the sack of Rome by barbarian hordes, was repelled by what he saw as the city’s “moral vacuity” when he went to study there, a reaction which led him to forsake the world for three years of solitary living in a cave, out of which experience came the Benedictine Rule, the basis for all future developments in monastic life. St Benedict’s influence can be seen in the art and architecture of the period, and in frescoes and music of the liturgy of the Romanesque era, and in the Benedictine motto “Ora at Labora”, “(“Pray and work”). So great was this influence that he has been called the “Father of Europe”. It was Benedictine monks who were sent to England by Pope Gregory the Great to convert thae pagan Anglo-Saxons in 597 A.D. According to Bendict, the “Opus Dei”, or Work of God, is paramount in human affairs. Prayer is not a means to an end, but an end in itself: we must not pray in order to work, but work in order to pray. All is for prayer.

In a very real sense, Dr. Crouse contends, Archbishop Cranmer continued Benedict's work. Born into the turmoil of the English Reformation, and the father of the Book of Common Prayer, Cranmer was burned as a heretic during Bloody Mary’s reign Before his death, he had taken the canonical hours of Benedictine prayer, and in the words of Dr. Crouse, “conflated them into Morning and Evening Prayer” which form the daily offices of the Book of Common Prayer. The Opus Dei was to be the daily work of all Christian People: “the word of God descending in grace” to be responded to by the “word of God ascending in prayer”. For both Benedict and Cranmer, the community exists for the sake of prayer, and not as modern liturgists would have it, the other way around: prayer for the sake of community.

Expanding on his latter theme, Dr Crouse argued that liturgists today have a very different view of prayer, seeing it as “therapy” for “personal efficiency”, for “serenity”, or for “community self-consciousness”. Opus Dei was never a means, but an end. Both Benedict and Cranmer knew that prayer would become “common prayer” when its practice became so habitual as to be instinctive. This tradition of common prayer, “a theological system which includes but transcends the subjective inclination of the worshipper” has been “eroded”, and in some places even discarded altogether, with “disastrous consequences liturgically, morally, and theologically for the cohesion of the Anglican Communion,” continued Dr. Crouse. Anglicanism will “rapidly move towards dissolution”, or exist only as a bureaucratic institution “with no religious significance”, Dr Crouse warned. The language of the King James Version of the Bible, and of the Book of Common Prayer itself, are deeply ingrained in Anglican devotional memory, but it is a memory that is being plundered by the “the new breed of service books” with their multiplicities of “alternatives”.

If we “lose sight of the language” of the original, we “lose too much of our Christian memory,” warned Dr. Crouse. The integrity of Anglicanism exists in Common Prayer, in Opus Dei, and only if it resists the revisionists can it stand. The cohesion of the Anglican Communion will not be recovered by bureaucratic manoeuvring. We must embrace Opus Dei. It is “the Anglican Communion for the sake of Common Prayer,” concluded Dr. Crouse, “not Common Prayer for the sake of the Anglican Communion.”

This article first appeared in the Trinity, 2004 Edition of the Newsletter of the Ottawa Branch of the Prayer Book Society of Canada.

10 Visit our web site: www.prayerbook.ca The Prayer Book Society of Canada Newsletter Michaelmas, 2004 Grand Valley PBSC Branch Annual Church Crawl August 2004 Every summer the Grand Valley Branch of the PBSC holds its annual “Church Crawl”, through some of the most historic and picturesque Anglican churches in the area.

Above: St John's Church, South Cayuga, 1842, near Dunnville, Ontario, Above: Interior of St John's Church, consecrated by Bishop John Strachan, 1846. South Cayuga, 1842, with original oil lamps. Right: Christ Church, Port Maitland. Rebuilt after a fire in 1926 in grey concrete to resemble stone, replacing the original church consecrated by Bishop John Strachan in 1846. The graveyard is close to the mouth of the Grand River. There is a stone to the memory of soldiers and dependents lost when the steam boat "Commerce" sank offshore in 1850."

Visit our web site: www.prayerbook.ca 11 The Prayer Book Society of Canada National Officers and Branch Contacts

OFFICERS Branch Contacts St. Catharines-Niagara NATIONAL ADDRESS National Chairman St John’s Mrs. Laura Dodson P. O. Box 38060 (905) 468-5202 Mr. Michael Edward, Mr. Michael Donan 1430 Prince of Wales Drive R.R.#1, Belfast P.O., (709) 753-5193 Ottawa, Ontario Grand Valley K2C 3Y7 Prince Edward Island, Miss Billie Farmer C0A 1A0 Conception Bay North Mrs. Marilyn Murrin (519) 583-0475 (709) 786-6270 PBSC Web site Episcopal Visitor London The Rt Rev’d Harold Nutter, www.prayerbook.ca Nova Scotia and Mrs. Suzie Dann Retired Archbishop (519) 473-2132 of Canada Prince Edward Island Mrs Marie Gibson Online Resources Lambton (902) 835–8210 PBSC Critique of Honorary Miss Naomi Luth Chairman/President (519) 336-7874 the new hymn book The Rev’d Dr. Robert Crouse, Moncton www.prayerbook.ca/ Professor Emeritus Mr. Peter Johnson North Bay newhymn1.htm Dalhousie University (506) 857-8500 Mrs. Dorothy Chabot (705) 472-1937 Past Chairman Fredericton PRAYER BOOK Mr. Ted Siemens Mr. Wilfred Alliston Manitoba SOCIETY OF CANADA (506) 450-9584 The Rev’d John Stennet NEWSLETTER Vice Chairmen (204) 383-5327 Editor Fundy Mr. Desmond Scotchmer, The Rt Rev’d Anthony Burton, Mr. William Holder Regina 40 Homewood Avenue, Bishop of Saskatchewan, (506) 648-0682 Cicely Pritchard Apt. 401 1308 5th Avenue East, (306) 586-9668 Toronto, Ontario Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Gaspé Coast M4Y 2K2 S6V 2H7 Mr. Cyrus Journeau Saskatoon email: (418) 752-3609 Dr. Jane Doig [email protected] The Rev’d David Curry, (306) 374–7208 Anglican Rectory, Montréal Editorial Committee 531 King St, Mr. Richard Lord Calgary Mr. Wilfred Alliston P. O. Box 2661, (514) 938-5349 Mrs. Colleen Chapman Mrs. Laura Dodson Windsor, Nova Scotia (403) 274-5944 Ms. Nancy Gall B0N 2T0 Ottawa Miss Naomi Luth Mrs. Joan Wilson Edmonton The Rev’d Dr. J. I. Packer The Rev’d Dr. James I. Packer, (613) 749-5058 Mr. David Bertsch Mrs. Carol Schiavetto Regent College, (780) 458-1194 Mr. Richard Spalton 5800 University Blvd, Quinte Vancouver Vancouver, British Columbia Dr. James Loudon V6T 2E4 Mrs. Norah Johnston (613) 966-7571 (604) 224-8986 Correspondence Secretary Port Hope-Cobourg Vancouver Island The Rev’d Stephen Sharman, Mr. Pat Bryan Dr. Pat Radcliffe 374 River Road, (905) 885-0518 (250) 758-5771 If you wish to join PBSC, St. Andrews, Manitoba please e-mail your name R1A 2Y1 Toronto and address to Dr. Diana Verseghy [email protected] Treasurer (905) 303-4490 Opinions expressed in this or mail it to: The Prayer Dr. Edgar MacDonald Newsletter do not necessarily Book Society of Canada, Comlongon Farm Niagara North reflect those of the Prayer Book Box 1435, Port Dover, Box 57 Winsloe Mr. Walter Raybould Society of Canada. Ontario. N0A 1N0. Prince Edward Island (905) 971-7863 C1E 1Z2

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