Statement from the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada

Statement from the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada

October 21, 2009 - The following is a statement from Archbishop Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, in response to the Vatican's announcement of an Apostolic Constitution earlier this week.

I hereby acknowledge the announcement of the Apostolic Constitution (a formal papal decree) whereby Pope Benedict XVI makes provision for groups of Anglicans who, while retaining certain aspects of Anglican Tradition, wish to be received into communion with the See of Rome. I offer the following comments.

This is not an entirely new phenomenon. For a number of years, Rome has made provisions for individual Anglicans to be received. What is unique about this provision is that it responds to groups of Anglicans who have made special enquiries. Who these groups are has not been announced.

As Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said in a letter to the Bishops of the Church of England and to the Primates of the Anglican Communion, "It remains to be seen what use will be made of this provision since it is now up to those who have made requests to the Holy See to respond to the Apostolic Constitution."

It is not clear how their desire to retain certain aspects of Anglican Tradition will be honoured. That may spelled out in more detail in the "code of practice" within the constitution.

From a Canadian perspective I do not foresee a groundswell of response to these provisions. I say this knowing that even among those who have separated themselves from the Anglican Church of Canada, there is an abiding desire to remain in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury, and to maintain a place within the family of churches we know as the Anglican Communion.

I believe that among the vast majority of Anglicans and Roman Catholics in Canada and in the world there is a genuine commitment to build on 40 years of formal dialogue between our Communions. We acknowledge substantial agreement on many matters of faith. We embrace the call to action articulated in the 2007 statement Growing Together in Unity and Mission produced by the International Anglican Roman Catholic Commission on Unity and Mission. That statement takes us into a new phase of common witness in the service of the Gospel — locally, nationally, and internationally.

While this announcement from the Vatican creates some shock waves, I do not believe them to be seismic. I believe the greater will of the whole church while acknowledging our "real but imperfect communion" is to continue steadfast in dialogue that will lead us more deeply into that unity for which The Lord prays, "That they all may be one." (John 17:21)

Fred Hiltz
Archbishop and Primate



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Denial of visitor visas for Anglicans draws fire

Anglican Journal News: Denial of visitor visas for Anglicans draws fire

ART BABYCH
Sep 30, 2009

New Democrat Immigration Critic Olivia Chow is calling for a "free and
fair" appeals process in the wake of the denial of visitor visas to 11
Anglicans from Myanmar.

The group had been invited by the Anglican diocese of British Columbia
to take part in a cultural exchange.

"Decisions appear to be made on a whim, and refusals seem to be more
likely for applicants who are not from European countries," said Chow at
a news conference on Parliament Hill Sept. 29. "Without a free appeals
process, like in the UK and Australia, applicants are left high and dry.
They don't have their visa and they don't have their money."

To read the full story, please visit the Anglican Journal website,
www.anglicanjournal.com


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Back to Church Sunday, September 27, 2009

Back to Church Sunday
Sunday, September 27th, 2009
Our Parish is participating in an exciting opportunity to invite people back to church. Back to Church Sunday is a successful campaign launched in the UK which provides an opportunity to reconnect with those who have lost touch with the church and invite them back. People drop out of church for all sorts of reasons but millions would come back with an invitation.
On Sunday, September 27th, 2009 everyone in the Parish is encouraged to invite a friend to church. The idea is that through a personal invitation to a friend or acquaintance those who have for some reason stopped attending church will return.
The campaign will show we are a welcoming church and it’s a great opportunity for us to reach out and share the good news of Jesus with others who have in the past been a part of the story, but for some reason are not at present a part of a worshipping community.
Three things you can do:
Pray for someone you know who doesn’t go to church.
Visit someone on the Parish list, a friend or neighbour, to invite them.
Offer to drive that person to church on September 27th .
I know we will see God's blessing as we faithfully take up this challenge and privilege.
Alan+

The Parish Service on September will be held in Trinity Church, 1622 Route 121, Springfield, NB.

We are looking Forward to seeing you there!!!! Check out the Parish of Central Kings Web at http://www.annewalling.com

Parish Meeting

P A R I S H M E E T I N G
New Building
Parish of Hampton
　
Objective To receive information and discuss possible implications for our parish.
Attendees All members of the Parish of Central Kings
Date/Time Sunday, July 19th from 12:45–2:30 PM
Location Church of the Ascension
What to Bring An open mind, your creative thinking and your vision for the Church. "Focus on the future."

A G E N D A

12:45 p.m. Call to Order, Welcome and Opening Prayer.
12:50 p.m. Introductions
1:00 p.m. Adoption of Agenda
1:05 p.m. Purpose of Meeting, "To explore opportunities for co-operation between parishes."
1:15 p.m. Report from member of the Parish of Hampton
* Background
* Opportunity within the Community
* Adequacy of present structure
* Funding
* Possible Interest in neighbouring parishes
1:35 p.m. Question Period
2:20 p.m. Set date for follow-up meeting.
2:30 p.m. Adjournment and Closing Prayer

Important Parish Meeting

PARISH MEETING follows the July 19, 2009 service.
The Anglican Parish of Hampton is pursuing a vision to build a new Church and Fellowship Centre. Our Bishop has asked that we convene to consider the response of the Parish of Central Kings. Guests from the Parish of Hampton will be available to answer your questions.

Revived Anglican-United dialogue

a c c w e b n e w s
The Anglican Church of Canada
http://www.anglican.ca/
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Revived Anglican-United dialogue issues report Ali Symons General Synod Web Writer

After six years of conversation, the Anglican-United Dialogue offers their churches "Drawing from the Same Well: the St. Brigid Report." Formatted for quick reference, the report describes where Anglican and United churches are working cooperatively, and outlines the differences between the denominations.

Thirty-four years ago, the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) and the United Church of Canada (UCC) were having a much different conversation; they were talking about becoming one church. From 1967 to 1975, the churches made steps towards this "organic union" until the Anglican House of Bishops quashed the idea, and the dialogue broke off.

Restarting the conversation in 2003 was "awkward," said the Rev. Dr. Bill Harrison, the dialogue's Anglican co-chair. "No one's quite certain why the union was stopped, to be honest. The House of Bishops did not explain in any depth its reasons."

When 12 Anglican and United representatives met in 2003, the first step was for Anglicans to listen to pain and anger from many UCC representatives.

"They felt rejected," explained Mr. Harrison. "Since then, of course, we have developed a very close relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), so there was a sense that we had jilted them and walked up the aisle with someone else."

In 2001, ACC entered into a full communion relationship with ELCIC. The Waterloo Declaration allowed Lutheran and Anglican clergy to minister at the others' churches and for baptisms to be mutually recognized.

Now the national Lutheran and Anglican leaders are moving the two churches towards working together both in management and at a grassroots level, where joint ministry in rural areas is often a necessity.

The St. Brigid Report describes similar Anglican and United cooperation, which has sprung up in recent decades. Anglican and United church members work together in chaplaincies, social justice coalitions, and theological colleges, often within a broader ecumenical context. (The Anglican-United dialogue has contributed to an Ecumenical Shared Ministries Handbook.)

Over their 13 meetings, Anglican-United dialogue members visited many of these cooperative ministries across Canada. They spoke with deacons in Halifax, professors in Winnipeg, and church members involved with Indigenous reconciliation work in Ottawa.

The St. Brigid Report, which marks a pause in the dialogue, includes chapters on Indigenous experiences, sacramental theology, and interfaith relations. Members recommend that the dialogue continue to consider topics like Christology in interfaith relations and the history of the churches' missions. The ACC and UCC will wait to gauge the report's reception before making a next move.

"Perhaps the most important thing that the dialogue has to say to both the Anglican and United churches is that we have a remarkable amount in common," said Mr. Harrison. "We also think that our differences are significant, but we don't want our differences to be allowed to overshadow the unity that we do share."

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Read the St. Brigid Report:
http://www.anglican.ca/faith/relationships/sbr/index.htm

Check out the Ecumenical Shared Ministries Handbook http://www.anglican.ca/faith/relationships/esm/index.htm

The Anglican Parish of Central Kings is located just east of Hampton, New Brunswick and is about 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of the City of Saint John. Christ Church and Church of the Ascension are in the beautiful Kennebecasis River Valley, and Trinity Church is in the picturesque Belleisle Bay valley.

You can own a print of this beautiful painting by artist Helena at the Painting Round, City Market, Saint John, NB.

Details to follow.