SYNOD ELECTS NEW BISHOP IT IS TIME TO STOP BEING POLITE GO, GO, GLOBAL WARMING For more coverage from the electoral synod see PAGE 7 Refl ections on General Synod 2007, PAGE 13 Are we joining a politically correct trend? PAGE 14 A section of the Anglican Journal General Synod 2007: A MESSAGE FROM OUR BISHOP-ELECT A Personal Journey and the Secretary-General of the Anglican Communion delivers a po- litely crafted pitch for unity. I won- der if we mean the same thing. Don't even try to sell me a "business as usual" church. I hunker down. But the earnest presentation of the Ab- original Council opens me up again when a speaker quietly observes that WENDY NEWMAN Jesus shows us how to redistribute CHRIST'S CHURCH CATHEDRAL power. Another little moment of was invited to forward a journal grace breaks through. Thank you, Iof my feelings as a member of God. The cruel legacy of residen- General Synod 2007 to the Niagara tial schools will take generations to Anglican. This is not an objective heal, though it is begun. ("You are account, but my record of an in- not OK. You must be changed; you tensely personal Christian journey. must be like us. And we have the Equipped with a personal sur- power here.") Why can't this church vival kit that includes Canticle 6 see that it is doing the same thing to from the New Zealand Book of gays and lesbians right now? Note to Prayer, an email from a wise friend, self: Is this church worth saving? and the photo directory of Christ's We take a peek at the elephant in Church Cathedral, where people the room as we begin the discussion are holding us all in prayer, I ar- on same-sex unions and the St. Mi- rive in Winnipeg. I travel a lot and chael Report. This is presented with meet new people easily, but here I sensitivity and respect. Despite my fi nd myself surrounded by "Synod disagreement with the St. Michael regulars" who've known each other conclusions, I smile inwardly. We forever. Not a comfortable pew. do many things well in Anglican On Tuesday I attend an orienta- land. This session has been one of tion, where once again the generous them. I am grateful for the silences love of Peter Wall for the church is and prayers built into it. evident. He chairs the organizing On Wednesday I go a lunch-hour Dear Friends in Niagara I would accept this responsibility. I work of bearing that message to a committee. I am so proud of him. Eucharist organized by Integrity. Ever since June the 2nd, it seems indicated that I enthusiastically ac- society and world that God calls Primate Andrew Hutchison reminds Bishop Ralph presides and Rev. like my life has been a whirlwind of cepted. I am honoured, humbled us to serve. us that we are here to discern what Andy Asbil delivers an unforget- activity and it is clear that my life and thankful that you have placed The summer is now offi cially the Spirit is saying to the Church. table homily. It feels like a warm is about to change dramatically! I your trust in me and that I have here. Many of us will be travelling Hmmm. It feels like the eve of D- bath on a winter night. I am touched am continuing my work as Rector been called to this ministry of and vacationing. Remember God Day, actually. Note to self: Hang by God's grace at an anxious time. of St. Luke's while at the same time leadership. I assure you that I will in your vacation time. Spend some in here with the discomfort. Walk We go to a plenary session—kind I am beginning to prepare to take use every God-given gift that I time in prayer and refl ection, visit your talk. of a town hall. People line up at the on the new ministry of Bishop in have to serve you faithfully as Co- a local church if you are traveling The opening service at the Cath- microphones. The north-south and the diocese of Niagara. I felt it was adjutor Bishop and ultimately as and above all let us all continue to edral begins with an Aboriginal urban-rural fi ssures in the church important, however, to write a brief Bishop of Niagara. Many people witness to our faith in Christ. smudging ceremony by the river— mirror those in Canada at large, but note to our Anglican community think of these times as diffi cult, Be assured of my prayers and the fi rst of many blessings of a they feel more distressing in the in Niagara. and they are. More importantly, my support. Yours in Christ, strong Aboriginal Anglican pres- church. I notice that "conservatives" When I was elected Bishop, we have a joyful and hopeful mes- ence. Still, I fi nd the air crackling are organized and strategic here; it Archbishop Caleb Lawrence asked sage to proclaim and I know that MICHAEL BIRD with unacknowledged tension. appears that "liberals" kind of turn up me before the entire synod whether together we will be faithful in the Coadjutor Bishop-elect We begin each morning with to see what happens. We use different prayer and refl ection in a pre- languages. I wonder if some "con- assigned small group. My group servatives" in the hall are feeling as includes Peter Elliott, formerly of alienated as I am. There appears to be Niagara, now Dean of New West- a carefully choreographed domina- minster, and Bishop Fred Hiltz, tion of the microphones; some of the Step into another's shoes later elected Primate. I say straight views expressed are over the top. The up that I fi nd this Synod tense and language is coded and not always stressful. It helps. My group leader honest. "Treat the matter sensitively", A response to Charlie Masters' Toronto Star interview invites us to talk directly and safe- "let's have more study", "wait" and "I ly—the only place where that hap- really love this church" all mean "no". JOSHUA MORRISON tionally. Being in the media spot- not the sin" attitude towards homo- pens consistently all week. Note This feels like a church in fear – fear STUDENT - UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO light is a vulnerable position and it sexuals in the church. I hope that to self: Loving through difference that the consequence of any change efore I begin at length, this ar- takes great courage to step into that anyone reading this will approach is classic Christian work. So do it. will be catastrophic. Supported in Bticle refers to an interview that light. I also respect him for having the situation I'm going to pose with Resolve to keep asking yourself: "Is prayer, I approach the microphone the Reverend Charlie Masters con- such a powerful faith in Jesus and an open mind and a prayerful heart. I the unconditional love of God fl ow- and urge the assembly not to deliber- ducted with the Toronto Star. It can God. People like Rev. Masters are also hope that Rev. Masters will read ing through me RIGHT NOW?" ate in fear. I don't feel quite so help- be found at this web address: http:// the backbone of the church and we this and that if he wishes to respond We begin the business of Gen- less, having spoken. But my gut per- www.thestar.com/article/213177. need them to speak their opinions to me personally or publicly he will. eral Synod. Why doesn't this feel sists: how does the Anglican Church I will start by saying that though and lead the Church with clear and Imagine that you have been an like church? I am not new to pol- appear today to a broken world so in I disagree with Rev. Masters polit- strong voices. Anglican for all of your life. The itics or advocacy, but some of the need of the Good News? Paralysed ically, I respect him for many rea- This all being said, I would like church is your home, and you love bare-knuckled politics here gives and self-absorbed? sons. First, he has had the bravery to propose a hypothetical situation it and everyone in it as best you can. me a jolt. Later the Bishop of York to stand up for what he believes regarding Rev. Master's belief that speaks on "gracious magnanimity" CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 in not just in the Diocese, but na- we need to adopt a "love the sinner, CONTINUED ON PAGE 13 2 NIAGARA ANGLICAN JULY 2007 CATHEDRAL CAMPAIGN God, be merciful Preserve to serve to me, a sinner! threat to their power; he had to be destroyed. Jesus never claimed to be King of the Jews; but he was tagged with the label because the Sanhedrin knew that Pilate could not permit a rival claim to the authority of Caesar. It was all a matter of preserving one's own best interests. The fi rst "Christians" were SUSAN WESTALL Jews. Saul of Tarsus was steeped ALL SAINTS, HAMILTON in Jewish tradition and the Torah. hroughout the life of the Bible Did the logic of Gamaliel have Tmankind has sought for an any effect on him? Like the other escape, a way out. Humanity has apostles (Paul calls himself an proved itself to be incapable of ac- apostle although not one of the cepting responsibility for its own original Twelve) he sought proof actions.