May 2011 the Day the Dogs Died Everything Changed After the RCMP Shot the Inuit Dogs
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TEST YOUR IQ, p. 15 FEARLESS WOMAN, p. 2 BEING SPIRITUAL, p.15 CoGS REPORT, p. 6 Psst! Can you define ‘theodicy’? Up close and not-too-personal If you know what this means, Reflecting on 10 years of Maybe you’re smarter than your with U.S. Presiding Bishop please do us a favour: Let Canon Full Communion with the friends think! Katharine Jefferts Schori Harold Munn know Lutherans...and more ANGLIC A N JOURN A L Inspiring the faithful since 1875 vol. 137 no. 5 • may 2011 The day the dogs died Everything changed after the RCMP shot the Inuit dogs DIANA SWIft staff writer LLEGING THAT the large dog populations in Inuit villages posed both health and safety hazards, Canadian authorities ordered the RCMP to shoot A as many as 20,000 sled dogs in Inuit communities during the 1950s and 60s. By that act, they wiped out one of the fundamental underpinnings of the traditional Inuit way of life and sparked a decline that continues today. For centu- ries, dogs were essential to the Inuit for hunting, companionship, transportation and interaction with other communities. Speaking at the recent Vancouver conference “Sharing Truth,” lawyer Madeleine Redfern, mayor of Iqaluit, Nunavut, presented heart- wrenching highlights from the Qikiqtani (Baffin) Truth Commission (QTC) findings, published in its final report, Achieving Saimaqtigiiniq (“peace with past oppo- nents”). Redfern was the exective director of the QTC until it finished its mandate in 2010. The symbiotic relationship between the Inuit and their sledge dogs has always See FAMILy’S, p. 7 been the key to their traditional way of life. Photo: Ton Koene/GetStock.com FEAturE ISSUES IN SOCIAL juSTICE GUEST REFLECTION The case for After Fukushima There is a growing potential to have obesity included as a disability in Does nuclear power have a future in Canada? open communion legislation. The doors are open. THE REV. DR. GARY NICOLOSI —Dr. Shaheen Azmi, Ontario Human Rights Commission DIANA SWIft about nuclear generating expansion or refurbishment. staff writer stations. Are the risks worth (The Swiss government HOULD WE INVITE persons who are not baptized to HREE MILE ISLAND, the benefits? And how real recently suspended plans receive Holy Communion? The church is discussing this ‘ 1979. Chernobyl, are the benefits, anyway? to build new stations.) “In Squestion today. Anglicans 1986. Tomsk, 1993. They elicit calls to build North America, nuclear is in traditionally have believed that T the eucharist is a family meal, Fukushima-Daiichi, 2011. in costly safety features to full-scale retreat now,” says How can our churches be reserved for members of the Accidents such as these already high-priced nuclear Tom Adams, an independent places of hospitality if we challenge our complacency installations and to put the energy analyst based in church through baptism. Those who are not baptized are not and set us soul searching brakes on plans for nuclear Toronto. See NUKE, p. 12 exclude table fellowship members of the church; there- fore, they cannot participate in with the non-baptized? the family meal. This exclusive view of the eucharist has a long history. ‘ St. Paul warns against eating and drinking in an “unworthy man- ner” (I Cor. 11:27), though he seems to leave the decision whether to partake in the meal to each person’s conscience (I Cor. 11:28). See CLOSED, p. 11 MARTIN D. VONKA / SHUTTERSTOCK FEAturE PROFILE A fearless woman of firsts The 26th presiding bishop of the Episcopal church is an expert in forging relationships—even with those who disagree DIANA SWIft staff writer ATHARINE JEFFERTS bishop has several things at the top of SCHORI, 26th presiding her agenda. Though a woman of few bishop of the Episcopal words on the topic of her personal life, Church in the United States she waxes eloquent when speaking Kand 15 other countries, is determined to about her ministry, whose cornerstone build far-reaching relationships. is outreach. “We are called also to serve A woman of firsts, she was the first those who are not members of our female oceanographer to join the crew of institution. Our focus must be outward, an expedition ship in the North Pacific and our focus inward only insofar as back in the 1980s—much to the irritation it supports that mission in the larger of the captain. In 2000, she was elected world.” the first bishop of Nevada never to have As a champion of inclusiveness, served as the rector of a parish—to the she adds that “increasingly, we must raised eyebrows of some. In 2006, she see ourselves as a multinational, became the first female presiding bishop multicultural, multi-ethnic and multi- of the Episcopal Church in the U.S. and linguistic church in a relationship with chief pastor to its 2.4 million members other bodies such as the Evangelical in 16 countries. In addition, she is the Lutheran Church in America, the first female leader of any church in the Moravian Church, northern and worldwide Anglican Communion. In southern provinces, the Anglican 2008, she became the first woman ever Church of Canada and other churches in to preach a sermon in the venerable the world Anglican Communion.” Cathedral of St. George in Jerusalem. In this day of diminishing congregations, what does she say to The bishop is noted for her quick KARA FLANNERY / EPISCOPAL NEWS SERVICE intellect, composure and sang-froid, BISHOP Katharine Jefferts Schori is chief pastor to over 2.4 million faithful in 16 countries. churches dismayed at the departure traits that serve of parishioners? The key is to reach out to the young. “When we fail to her well in an era of zoology that School of the Pacific in Berkeley, Calif., when opposition communicate that the youngest She is a prophetic and describes various the premier Episcoplian seminary on the members of a congregation are just as to the investiture species and their Pacific Rim. much members as senior citizens and of women bishops courageous voice; her interrelationships. “In seminary, she was very much we don’t encourage their participation runs high in “I specialized in as she is now: very intellectual and in the ministry within the church and some quarters. ministry has always been zoogeography, very committed to the mission of the beyond, I don’t know many people who’d In May 2010, which tracks church,” says the Rev. Mary White, be interested in staying.” she pushed the about complete inclusivity. the distribution rector of St. Andrew’s church in Albany, A congregation must encourage its envelope again, of species. I N.Y. Adds fellow seminarian the Rev. very youngest members to participate co-consecrating as —The Rev. Ron Culmer, rector, was studying Ron Culmer, rector of St. Clare’s Church in mission as soon as they are baptized, suffragan bishop St. Clare’s Church, Pleasanton, Calif. cephalopods—squid in Pleasanton, Calif., “She sparkled, both within and beyond their own of Los Angeles ‘ and octopus —in the she shone. Her insights were quick. church. “When that happens, people Canon Mary North Pacific.” In the 1980s, the bishop, She spoke fluent Spanish.” Her divinity find that a congregation is a supporting Glasspool, a lesbian in a committed whom her husband, Richard, a retired colleagues never and nurturing same-sex relationship. “She is a breath mathematics professor, calls “fearless,” doubted she would community in of fresh air for the Episcopal church and joined the crew of a scientific expedition scale the heights. In seminary, she was very much which to foster Anglicanism. She is exactly the kind as the only woman aboard. The captain “We knew she as she is now: very intellectual their growth as of leader the church needs at this time gave her the cold shoulder at first, but would go far. She Christians,” she in its history,” says the Rev. Dr. Gary she persevered in talking to him and “he is nothing short and very committed to the says. “We can’t Nicolosi, the American-born rector of St. soon got over it,” recalls Jefferts Schori, of brilliant,” says expect people James Westminster Anglican Church who stresses that she goes to great Culmer. mission of the church. to come to us in London, Ont., and a former Episcopal lengths to forge relationships with those Somewhere along unbidden; those priest and church growth consultant in who disagree with her. the way, Jefferts —The Rev. Mary White, rector, days are long past.” the U.S. and Canada. Science and faith come together Schori found the St. Andrew’s Church, Albany, N.Y. Calling this But the bishop is a tough interview. in her pastoral life; the analytic skills time to become ‘ year’s meeting of She does not care for biographical necessary for scientific excellence have an instrument- primates in Dublin questions. Her answers are short, and influenced her approach to mission. certified pilot, as did her only daughter, “very productive,” Jefferts Schori her tone says, “Don’t go there.” Still, her “Science invites you to look at the world Katharine, a captain in the U.S. air force. also praised the scheduled spring past offers up irresistible glimpses into carefully and without prejudgment. It During her tenure as bishop of co-celebrations of several Christian what the future might hold. requires you to gather data objectively Nevada, Jefferts Schori displayed the denominations to mark 10 years of Born in Florida in 1954 to a scientific and to listen well and then alter your same commitment to inclusiveness as full-communion relationships. “This is family (her father was a physicist, her hypothesis based on the data,” she says.