What Has Changed? D R a W N T O G E T H E R a T G E N E R a L S Y N O D
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
JULY 2010 THE NEW BRUNSWICK ANGLICAN / 1 A SECTION OF THE ANGLICAN JOURNAL JULY 2010 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF FREDERICTON The Nicodemus Project one year later — What has changed? D R A W N T O G E T H E R A T G E N E R A L S Y N O D BY JIM MORELL This is encouraging news! It has been 13 months since It has been one year since synod said we need a new set of delegates to our Diocesan priorities for our parishes and our diocese: to re-learn what it Synod 2009 voted strongly in means to be Christian and An- favour of what is secularly de- glican; to prepare our leaders scribed as “transformational for a different future; to help change.” our struggling parishes; and to So, HAS anything changed? evaluate the effectiveness of Yes! our governance structures and Reports to the Diocesan Coun- processes. We also agreed on the cil Administration Team tell need for parish-level follow-up on us that many parishes have the very successful stewardship undertaken bold new initiatives conference and the teachings that they hope will result in of Bishop Edward Salmon pre- their spiritual, numerical and sented in the fall of 2009. fi nancial growth. As well, recent There are many positive signs articles in the New Brunswick that point to change and growth Anglican tell stories of the faith in Christ, but there are also some benefits of an outreach initia- signals that not everyone is con- tive to the homeless as well as vinced the Nicodemus Project is the decision to become a tithing necessary or appropriate. This Christian. is not surprising. In any major Since we began our diocesan project that encourages change self-assessment process many there will always be those who years ago, parish leaders have argue or resist or want to keep ART BABYCH/ANGLICAN JOURNAL maintained, “one size does not things as they are. Even Jesus fi t all.” They asked to be given encountered sceptics and apathy In his refl ection on General Synod on page 3, Archbishop Claude Miller laments his inability to express in words direction and support, and lots when he spoke of the life-chang- the positive spiritual understanding that General Synod was for him. He uses Psalm 133 to help him express of flexibility in deciding what ing decisions that God longs for his feelings: “How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!” Reports in the national needs to be done and how to do and expects of us. media and received by the New Brunswick Anglican from our diocesan General Synod members (page 5) it. So that is the path that our In less than 12 months parish agree with Archbishop Miller’s assessment. Perhaps the mood of General Synod was affected in some small Archbishop Claude Miller and delegates will once again gath- way by the intentional community-building efforts held during the fi rst few days of the meeting. The activities Diocesan Council have followed. er as Diocesan Synod. At that ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous, but they all drew the members of General Synod together. Here our Their only expectation is that time the question will be asked: youth member Emily Jacobs (centre) and lay member Bob Brittain enjoy one of the more ridiculous activities every parish will initiate a process “What has changed? Are we, as involving animal imitation. that engages the whole congrega- individual Christians and as the tion in an open discussion around Anglican Church, doing our part the question: “Are we the individu- to become more like the people als and the congregation, that God that God expects us to be?” expects us to be?” There is great How will you answer that confi dence that if our people are question? asked this question, the Holy Spir- Primate gives thanks for it will guide us in becoming better Christians and that will result in Jim Morell is chair of the healthy, welcoming, growing and Administration Team of ‘life-giving partnership’ mission-focused parishes. Diocesan Council. with Diocese of Fredericton Congregational Growth and A letter from the Most Rev. Fred J. Hiltz, Archbishop and Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, to the Most Rev. Claude Miller, Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Development Fund in the works Province of Canada and Bishop of Fredericton, dated May 21, 2010. by David Edwards ated by Bishop Edward Salmon in Dear Claude, simple but profound words that can convey the Diocese of South Carolina. Amid the business of preparing for General the true depth of our love, respect and admi- In response to decisions of Dioc- The fund is intended to en- Synod and the conversations that are tak- ration for one another. In our case, working esan Synod in 2009, the Parish courage parishes, groups of ing place at Church House around fi nancial together to fulfi ll God’s mission as a church Support and Development Team parishes, deaneries or archdea- challenges and the need for restructuring, I family, I want to be sure to say thank you for is working toward the initiation conries to undertake innovative, feel compelled to pause and refl ect and give your generosity and the visionary and vital in a diocesan fund similar to the risk-taking projects that will lead thanks for the life-giving partnership that support you give to the ministries of the “Builders For Christ Fund” cre- exists between the people of your diocese national church. and the staff of the General Synod and our What we have accomplished in the last national partners. triennium — and what we will seek to ac- Get the news fi rst at I look forward to expressing my senti- complish in the next — would simply not be ments personally to you and your General conceivable without your proportional gift in http://anglican.nb.ca Synod members in two weeks time. As you support of the work of the national church. participate in debates, resolutions, and hear On behalf of everyone at Church House, While you’re there, reports from committees, staff and partners please accept my sincere gratitude to you and alike, I hope that you will see fi rst-hand the the people of the Diocese of Fredericton for subscribe to E News and get the news delivered to great care that is being taken, the great pas- your partnership in the gospel of Christ, your e-mail in-box each week. sion that is at work day-to-day, and the great love that we all share for our beloved church. I am, Click on the News button at the top of the page and As is often the case in families, we are Sincerely yours, choose E News from the drop-down menu sometimes silent when we should speak the + Fred 2 / THE NEW BRUNSWICK ANGLICAN JULY 2010 D I O C E S A N N E W S Anglican family dinner a taste of the Heavenly banquet BY ANA WATTS ‘confidence of a certain faith; in the comfort of a reasonable, The Anglican family of religious, and holy hope’ (Burial the Diocese of Fredericton of the Dead, BCP page 599). gathered at the Crowne Toward the end of his talk Plaza Hotel in Fredericton Bishop Hockin made reference on Friday evening, May 7, in to his wife Isabelle but called her celebration and thanksgiving Elizabeth by mistake. Although for the election of our Bishop he apologized to his wife he was Claude Miller as Archbishop pleased with the laughter of and Metropolitan of the the audience. “That’s great,” he Ecclesiastical Province of said. “I had hoped there would be Canada. The ballroom was some humour in this.” crowded with tables, the food Archbishop Miller and his and company delightful, the wife Sharon refused to accept a speakers thoughtful as well gift in honour of this occasion, as light-hearted, the music preferring instead that any mon- sublime and the Companion ey that might have been spent on Diocese of Ho was on the one would go toward the needs of bishop’s heart. our Companion Diocese of Ho. The evening began with a Archdeacon Patricia Drum- brief examination of Archbishop mond, organizer of the event as- Miller’s life as presented by Keith sured the Millers that any money Dow of Kingston, who fi rst met left from the proceeds of the din- him as a technical engineer and ner would indeed be directed to property appraiser. Mr. Dow was Ho, but she presented Mrs. Miller impressed and amazed by his with a bouquet of fl owers. knowledge, thoroughness and Diocesan Chancellor Clyde expertise, not to mention his Spinney, master of ceremonies drawings and insight. for the evening, also presented Mr. Dow also noted that only Bishop and Mrs. Hockin with a 15 years after his ordination to the token of appreciation. priesthood, Archdeacon Miller was Music for the evening was elected a bishop, and that during coordinated by Christ Church the last fi ve of those years he had The diocese celebrated in thanksgiving for the election of our Bishop Claude Miller as Archbishop and Metropolitan of Cathedral organist Willis Noble completed a doctoral degree. Im- the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada at a dinner in early May. The Millers did not want gifts on the occasions but asked and featured classical guitarist pressive achievements to be sure. any money that might be spent on them be send to our Companion Diocese of Ho in Ghana.