MARY IRWIN-GIBSON Companion relationships with a diocese in Tanzania and a group of parishes in British Columbia will be on the busy agenda of the new bishop of Montreal, the Right Rev. Mary Irwin-Gibson, at the diocesan conference synod October 16 and 17. JAMES ALMASI The bishop of Masasi in Tanzania, on his first visit to Montreal, is expected to join Bishop Irwin-Gibson in renewing a covenant between the two dioceses. BARBARA ANDREWS The bishop responsible for the Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior (of British Columbia) will renew an old friendship with Bishop Irwin-Gibson. October 2015 • A section of the Anglican Journal Official Publication of the Diocese of Montreal New bishops expected to reaffirm partnership with African diocese Diocese also urged to Still, contacts of other kinds sources are the primary driver of “This truth is difficult because since omy seems daunting. However, this divest from fossil fuels continued and these are expected climate change that is threatening the 19th century carbon has fuelled is a necessary transition to make.” to grow, through parish partnerships ecosystems and people,” says the industry and it is now tightly woven For more on the resolution, Harvey Shepherd and in other ways. Most recently Rev. Elizabeth Welch of St. Andrew into many aspects of our daily life. see Page 4. Archdeacon Michael Johnson and and St. Mark’s Parish in Dorval. Transitioning to a low-carbon econ - Two bishops who have scarcely met three young adults from the Mont - are expected to sign an agreement at real diocese visited Masasi this Diocese of Montreal synod October summer. 16 and 17 to continue an agreement Delegates to the synod will also reached by their pre decessors in hear from the bishop responsible for 2007 creating a companion relation - a regional grouping of parishes in the ship between that diocese and the British Columbia Interior with which Diocese of Masasi in Tanzania. the Diocese of Montreal has had a Bishop James Almasi , who was companion relationship since 2008. consecrated bishop of Masasi, in Visits back and forth and other southern Tanzania, in September contacts with Anglican Parishes of 2014, is to sign the agreement with the Central Interior, or APCI, have the Right Rev. Mary Irwin-Gibson, continued and it is not considered consecrated September 29 of this necessary to renew the agreement, year as bishop of Montreal. It will which was renewed in 2013 and reaffirm an agreement reached in will run out in 2018 unless 2007 by Bishops Patrick Mwachiko renewed again. of Masasi and Barry Clarke of Mont - Anyway, Bishop Irwin-Gibson real until the end of 2017 – complet - and Bishop Barbara Andrews go ing the period previously planned. back a long way as individuals, At that time the dioceses will review although not, of course, as bishops. the relationship. Early in their careers as priests, In the last few years the relation - Bishop Irwin-Gibson was rector of ship has been hampered to a degree the Parish of Dunham-Frelighsburg by developments in both dioceses. in the Eastern Townships for about Bishop Almasi’s consecration last seven years up to 1991. Bishop fall followed an 18-month inter - Andrews (as she later became) regnum after Bishop Mwachniko served the parish in nearby Cowans - stepped down, according to the rules ville at around that time. of his diocese, on reaching age 65. In other business, the synod will Bishop Clarke was on a sabbath consider a motion from the diocesan leave for about five months in 2013. Stewardship of the Environment The last visit by one bishop to the committee urging the diocese to get other’s diocese was when Bishop rid of investments in coal, oil and gas Beth Reed of the Montreal Diocesan Theological College and the diocesan MTL Youth team was one of four visitors to Mwachiko led a delegation to the companies that are potentially major the Diocese of Masasi in Tanzania this summer under a companionship relationship between the two dioceses. (She’s Montreal diocesan synod in contributors to carbon emissions. the one using both hands.) The relationship is expected to be renewed at diocesan synod this month. For more on the shortly before his retirement. “Carbon emissions from human visit, see Page 5; for more on the synod see several pages. (Photo: Tyson Røsberg) Conference Synod October 2015: Comment All those in favour? Brian Perron this year’s synod is designed to offer and take home a model that you can and do marvelous things during this with a desire to realize God’s pre - you the chance to participate in tailor to your own situation and time of new beginnings. Discover a cious work and fulfillment. However, The Rev. Brian Perron is on the dio ce - panels and workshops to help you calling. new purpose and direction. Uncover so much of what is done is in a san synod planning committee. better understand how partnerships It’s an opportunity for renewal, new potential by taking a deeper beautiful and quiet humbleness. This Are you ready for the question? Have can help you and your parish bring for looking at old “problems” in new look at the many and varied ways we year’s Synod will gracefully let much you registered for Conference Synod life and energy to your ministry. ways, and being inspired to bring are doing ministry and missions in of what we do shine. Focus and October 2015? For those of you who We’re bringing together experienced these new ideas back into your faith the diocese. We want Synod to be a attention will bring light to ministry have already registered, get ready for teams to highlight and showcase the and ministry. We’ll all have the time that enriches and leaves us able that will allow us all to see existing a stimulating time to learn and ingredients for success in parish chance to see how partnering with to return to our parishes with new potential, simply by networking and explore practical new ways of part - ministry. Their experiences will tell others, whether they are strangers, visions of where we as a people of aligning with parishioners, clergy nering in ministry. If you haven’t, us about those things that show acquaintances and old friends, puts a God can and will be led and ideas for and partners that exist already in our you may want to reconsider. promise and those that haven’t or new energy in our walk of faith. how we might bring these visions to diocese. Spread the word, and come Synod is an opportunity to collab - aren’t quite working. Many of the Leave all the baggage of the past life. out to witness an all-new Conference orate and network, discuss and workshops are designed for discus - in a folder at home. Come with an We’re a diocese rich in talent, Synod, October 16-17 2015. debate, encourage and enjoy. And sion in ways to allow you to create open heart expecting God to show truly gifted people working together All those in favour? 8 AngliCAn MOnTREAl • OCTOER 8 meet our partners from masasi tuesday, oct 13th at noon Pastoral in fulford hall the rt rev Letter j a m e s a l m a s i & canon geo rey monjesa Je voudrais remercier les membres du join us for a light lunch and Diocèse de Montréal pour leur accueil lively discussion! rsvp to nicki si chaleureux depuis mon élection. Je suis at 514-843-6577 by oct 6th très reconnaissante de toutes les sponsored by the personnes qui se sont offertes comme montreal unit of pwrdf candidats pour évêque de notre diocèse ainsi que pour leurs mots et gestes si généreux envers moi. The Anglican Fellowship of Prayer – Canada Praying through the five facets of prayer with As I take up this exciting ministry the Diocesan Representatives among you, it is with a sense of joy and Fresh from our experience in Newfoundland where it seemed that every parish had an AFP representative, we are anticipation of God’s agenda in bringing bound and determined with God’s help to encourage others us together. There is much for me to learn and I am grateful to all to join us in this fellowship of prayer. The official motto of the AFP is Prayer Unites and we want to unite the Diocese in who are so generous with their time in telling me about their prayer. We are reaching out to interested individuals, be it clergy or work and priorities in their ministries. lay, to join us in this adventure. Our goal is to have one or two representatives in each parish. This is a lofty challenge, Our Diocesan Conference Synod promises to be a great but one worth working towards as prayer is such a vital force in our lives as Christians. opportunity to be together, to share our ideas and hopes for We encourage you to peruse the website, anglicanprayer.org, read past newsletters, and review the resources to see what mission, and to celebrate the relationships we have made in our the AFP has to offer. We are willing to travel to deanery meetings or individual parishes to speak about AFP and our partnerships with the Dioceses of Masasi and the Anglican Parishes plans for future workshops. We are available to meet those of the Central Interior. This Synod is open to all members of the who are curious about AFP and to help them get started so that eventually the importance and impact of prayer will be promulgated.