Friday, October 31, 2008

Canadian Bishops Act (so to speak)

Anyone else tired of waiting? Show of hands -- how many can put our lives on hold until 2010 (at least). I'm too old.



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a c c w e b n e w s
The Anglican Church of Canada
http://www.anglican.ca/
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A Statement from the House of Bishops

October 31, 2008 -- The following statement was released by the House
of Bishops at the conclusion of its meeting in Niagara Falls, Ont.

A Statement from the House of Bishops
We being many are one body for we all share in one bread. (1 Cor 10:17)

The meeting of the Canadian House of Bishops which concluded today was
our first time together since we were in England at the Lambeth
Conference last summer. We spent considerable time -- more than two
days -- sharing impressions of the conference, discussing events in
the Canadian Church since Lambeth, and seeking agreement among
ourselves on a way forward for our Church and its dioceses in the
context of the proceedings at Lambeth.
During this extended discussion, the Conference of Bishops of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, our partner in Full Communion,
accompanied us in conversation, bible study, prayer and mutual
support. We are grateful for their presence and contributions.

We acknowledged with gratitude the key role played by the Archbishop
of Canterbury in leading us at Lambeth. In particular we noted with
thanksgiving the retreat addresses and the three presidential
addresses. We share with him the understanding that the Anglican
Communion is a gift from God and commit ourselves to working together.
We also rejoiced in the clear sense from the bishops gathered at
Lambeth that we wished to continue to walk together while addressing
the theological issues arising from discussions about same-sex unions.

One of our main topics of conversation was the agreement by many
bishops at Lambeth on three moratoria: on the blessing of same-sex
unions, on the ordination to the episcopate of people in same-sex
relationships and on cross-border interventions. This discussion was
in the context of decisions made recently by several diocesan synods
in the Canadian Church that asked their bishop to prepare and
authorize rites for the blessing of same-sex couples.

Our discussion initially comprised two parts. The first consisted of
reports to the House from several bishops of whom such requests have
been made -- Ottawa, Montreal, Niagara, Huron, and the Anglican
Parishes of the Central Interior -- as well as bishops from other
dioceses who anticipate such requests in the not-too-distant future
and bishops whose dioceses have received unnecessary and unwelcomed
"cross-border interventions."

For the second part, we formed an indaba group to reflect on what we
had heard in the previous session. (Indaba -- a model for discussion
used at Lambeth -- is an African word meaning "a gathering for
purposeful conversation among equals.") Several themes emerged in this
discussion.

* Some dioceses have not yet engaged in the listening and
discernment process and some are just beginning;
* Some have been listening and discerning for many years and have
reached differing conclusions;
* Even in the face of difference, there was a desire expressed to
"stay at the family table."
It became clear during this process that many individual bishops
wanted something from the House as a whole "to take home" with them to
share with members of the church.

In response to that request, we added to our agenda a third session on
this vitally important topic. In April, 2005 at its meeting in Windsor
Ontario, this House responded to a number of requests made in the
Windsor Report including a commitment to the moratoria proposed in
that document until General Synod makes a decision.

In this third session, the House heard from the Primate who set out
for us his understanding of what was being requested of us by Lambeth
and the Archbishop of Canterbury. He noted the Pastoral letter from
the House of Bishops to General Synod in 2007 which asked for the
greatest pastoral generosity possible to gays and lesbians, consistent
with the current teaching of the church. He also reminded us of our
agreement in 2004 for a process of Shared Episcopal Ministry (SEM) and
indicated to us his desire for "gracious restraint," to use the
language of the Archbishop of Canterbury, on the matter of same-sex
blessings.

The Primate said to us:

"I come to this meeting of the House of Bishops mindful of our
Canadian context and the call for authorization of public rites for
the blessings of same sex-unions in a number of our dioceses. I am
also mindful of the place of the Anglican Church of Canada in our
worldwide Communion.

"I trust the House of Bishops will support my call for respect for due
process through the General Synod in this matter. In 2007, General
Synod concurred with the opinion of the St. Michael Report (produced
by the Primate's Theological Commission) that the blessing of same-sex
unions is a matter of doctrine. It is not creedal in nature but
nonetheless it is doctrine. The same General Synod called for further
work by the Primate's Theological Commission in assisting the Church
to determine if this matter of blessings is a Spirit-led development
of doctrine. I believe that these deliberations across the church will
have a significant impact on discussion at General Synod in 2010 and
on the subsequent authority of dioceses through due synodical process
to proceed with blessings.

"Please know that I am mindful of the continuing havoc created in
several of our dioceses through cross-border interventions on the part
of Primates and bishops from other jurisdictions. I believe we must
call them to account. They too must honour the Lambeth call for
'gracious restraint.' I remain committed to addressing this issue
within the Communion. "

We spent several hours in conversation on the implications of the
appeal from the Primate.

As a result of these conversations a large majority of the House can
affirm the following:

A continued commitment to the greatest extent possible to the three
moratoria -- on the blessing of same-sex unions, on the ordination to
the episcopate of people in same-sex relationships and on cross-border
interventions -- until General Synod 2010. Members of this House,
while recognizing the difficulty that this commitment represents for
dioceses that in conscience have made decisions on these matters,
commit themselves to continue walking together and to hold each other
in prayer.

The House also affirms:

A commitment to establishing diocesan commissions to discuss the
matter of same-sex blessings in preparation for conversations at
General Synod 2010.

Continued commitment to exercise the greatest level of pastoral
generosity in keeping with provisions approved by this House in
Spring, 2007 and continued commitment to the Shared Episcopal Ministry
document approved in Fall, 2004.

We ask for your continuing prayers as we steadfastly seek to discern
the mind and heart of Christ for the wholesome care of all members of
his Body, the Church. We share a deep hope that though we may never
come to consensus over this matter of the blessing of same-sex unions,
we will live with differences in a manner that is marked by grace and
generosity of spirit, one toward another.

October 31, 2008

Links:

* This document in PDF format
http://www2.anglican.ca/pdf/HofB-Statement-08-10-31.pdf
* Shared Episcopal Ministry
http://www2.anglican.ca/primate/tpo/sem-intro.html
---

THe Pledge Drive

It's that time of year again.

Here's the Vicar's contribution to the Nov. newsletter:



FROM THE VICAR

The leaves are turning, Advent appraoches, another year draws to an end as we prepare to welcome the next. Always, we are drawn into the future even as we are called to live fully in the moment. The delicate, joyful (one hopes) balancing act/dance of the people of the God who is always calling.

I invite you, as the days grown short and the nights lengthen to carve out some time for yourselves to think about who you are and who you want to be, to live in the moment and face into the future.

And, as we always do at this time of the year, I ask you also to consider your stewardship for the coming year. I ask you to do this not primarily for the sake of your contribution to the life of Sain David's, although that, too, is important to us. But I ask you to consider it primarily as a part of your thinking about who you want to be -- who God is calling you to be. If you want to be a generous person, the only way to get there is to practice generosity. As for whether you want to be a generous person -- let me remind you, generous people live with a sense of abundance. They always seem to feel as if they have enough and then some. Ungenerous people, on the other hand, never have enough -- no matter how much they have. Not only does God call us to generosity, but our own happiness, peace of mind, and joy depend on our answering that call.

I ask you, as your pastor, to consider how much of yourself you need to give away in order to be and become a generous person, living with a sense of abundance. As the Vicar of Saint David's I ask you to consider, as a next step, how much of what you need to give away you want to designate to the life and work of this community. You know that we are facing a struggle to gte our feet back under us. You know that prices continue to rise. Keeping this community alive and available for you, for one another, and for the broader community is expensive. I ask you to consider what this community means to you -- now and for your future. What does it mean to you to have this community available to you every week (every day, if you ask)? What does it mean to you to know that we're here to celebrate and mourn with you -- to support you through the passages of your and your families' lives? What would it be like not to know that you could call on a community that knows and loves you when tragedy strikes, when life becomes too stressful, or when you want to celebrate new jobs, births, or the myriad joys that life brings? What are you willing and able to contribute to keep this community alive and available?

The diocese has taken a strong interest in St. David's. They often comment on the remarkable spirit of this place. (Truly, you are remarkable. The love, humor, tenderness, and strength of this community are not found just everywhere). And they have put their money where their mouths are. +Bud, on behalf of the diocese, has made a $5,000 challenge pledge. The diocese will match (up to 5K) each new dollar St.David's brings in during our pledge drive this year. That means every new pledge will be matched, dollar for dollar, by the diocese. Those of you who have been supporting this community with your pledges and are able to increase your giving next year will have that increase matched. So, $500 in new or increased pledge, will bring St. David's $1000. $50 gets us $100.

And for the kids -- 25 cents a week, which would be $13/yr, becomes $26. In fact, because I think teaching our children to be good stewards, generous people, excited about giving, is so important, I'll also issue a challenge to our kids (under 16). I'll add a match of my own to their pledges. So, 25 cents a week would, with both the diocese's and my match, mean $39 to St. David's. $1/wk would mean $52/yr from the kid, $52 from the diocese, and $52 from me for $156 to St. David's.

Please think first about how much you need to give away for your own soul's health.Then, please, think about how much of that total you'd like to pledge to St. DAvid's. Six members of our financial viability committee have agreed to go out, in pairs, to meet with member of the congregation to talk with you about the life of St. David's. What do you value here? What do you wish we would/could do? How would you like to support this work? Where can you volunteer? How can we help you help? And, of course, what do you think you'll be able to give next year? May we have your pledge?

As always, please feel free to give me a call, drop me an email, make an appointment, or grab me after a service if you'd like to talk more about this, or anything. And, again as always, thank you for all you do to make St. David's the extraordinary place it is. Your time, your financial support, and, most important of all, the spirit you bring through the door with you make all the difference. I can't thank you enough.

God bless you,

KHR+

(of course our struggling little church is happy to accept donations from friends from afar, as well. Feel free to send a check to St. David's Church, PO BOx 192, Pepperell, MA 01463!)

Monday, October 20, 2008

Vacation

Doesn't matter how long they are, they're always too short.

This one was 16 days -- well sort of. I did lose an entire day driving to Norfolk to catch a plane to MD to give a speech at a hospital merger/acquisition rally and then back. Took 20 hours. Gotta watch those hospital mergers and acquisitions. Too often it means a local community system gets bought by an RC system and all of a sudden the RC rules apply -- no abortion, no birth control, no emergency contraception, no family planning, no sterilization, no HIV counseling and prevention... It matters enough to be worth the trip. And why not? The extra day wouldn't have made a difference anyway. It would still feel too soon to leave now.

Earlier this year, as I contemplated the approach of 50, I began to think about what I wanted my life to be like. I decided I needed to spend more time at the water, in general, and at my house on the ocean on the Outer Banks of NC, in particular. So, I spent just under 2 weeks here right after Easter, the usual family vacation for a week in June, and 16 days (including travel) now. It's not enough! It's more vacation than I've taken at one time in years (ever?). But not enough. Is it ever enough?

Just as I finally begin to settle into a routine -- convince myself that NOW I could finally start to write, eat right ... -- it's time to return to the chaos. Not that the chaos ever completely left. There were calls and emails from the offices all along but at least there was some down time for sleeping, reading, running on the beach, swimming in the surf, and gorging on all the Southern foods that I can't find in MA.

Back now, though, to the chaos. Home for an hour on Tuesday (to unpack and repack)-- then away for the night. Back to the PRA office Wednesday morning, rush through catching up, and out the door to Western MA for a 3 day conference. Hit the ground running and don't really see home until Saturday -- when I'll still be running to catch up there and get ready for church on Sunday. (Anybody know an organist/choir director up this way who needs a job?)

And I'm so not ready to go home that I'm doing the narcissistic journalling on line thing. Sheesh!

KHR