Category Archives: Anglican Church of Canada

Primate Fred Hiltz apologises to gays, lesbians and bisexuals

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At a Eucharist to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Integrity, Fred Hiltz apologised to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Anglicans for hurting them. He didn’t extend the apology to sadomasochist Anglicans for the obvious reason.

From here (Page 8):

AT a 35th anniversary celebration for Integrity, the organization for Anglican gays, lesbians and bisexuals, the primate, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, publicly apologized for the hurt the church had inflicted on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people.

“I know many of you have suffered the consequences of homophobia in the church,” he said. “I know many of you have suffered subtle forms of persecution.” He acknowledged that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people have been labeled as disordered and unnatural, have suffered anxiety and depression and “have been pressured to hide the truth about what you are.”

He said, “I stand before you as one member of the church called by office to care for all members of the church.” He admitted the church had silenced them, refused to listen to them, and failed to see them as deeply committed to the church. Then, speaking slowly and emphatically, he said, “I am sorry for the many ways in the past, and maybe in the present, in which you have been hurt by the church. I am sorry.”

Canadian Anglicans and Lutherans share problems

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Other than their theology, that is.

From here:

Lutheran and Anglican bishops brainstorm solutions to common problems.

Canadian Lutheran churches appear to be faced with many of the same problems known to Canadian Anglicans.

Trying to find homosexuals to marry?

Well, yes, but also:

These include shrinking congregations and an increased interest in weekly eucharist.

What this really means is that many congregations are too small to warrant their own priest, so, if members of these “shrinking congregations” want a weekly eucharist, it may have to be a do-it-yourself job. Not that there’s much wrong with that – at least the sermons might make sense:

Speaking here at the Oct. 22-25 joint meeting of the Anglican House of Bishops and Lutheran Conference of Bishops, she added there has also been pressure to revive a practice of permitting lay people to preside at the sacrament, as some Lutheran churches did at one time.

Anglican Church of Canada closes Partnerships Department

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From here:

Staff at the national offices of the Anglican Church in Canada learned more yesterday about the impact of the financial cutbacks and the new look of Church House and its programs.

Although it was announced Oct. 5 that most departments will be affected, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, filled in more of the details of the restructuring that will take effect Nov. 1.

The Partnerships department, from which four staff positions were cut, effectively has been closed. Its work – focused in three program areas – Partners is Mission, EcoJustice and the Anglican Healing Fund.

Trees throughout Canada are wearing a black ribbon. I was going to say the angelic hosts are raising a toast to the recession, but I decided not to.

Anglican Church of Canada to marry penguins

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After years of searching unsuccessfully for homosexuals willing to tie the knot, the Anglican Church of Canada has, at last, found a community of suitable candidates: gay penguins.Add an Image

Bishop Michael Bird – no relation to a penguin – has stated that the requirements in the Diocese of Niagara for gay penguin matrimonial bliss is that one penguin must be baptised – no problem for the average penguin – and that the gay penguins must be in a long term monogamous relationship. The latter qualification may be relaxed since it poses a bit of a problem for the average gay penguin. And then Bishop Bird will be back to having no-one to marry.

From the BBC:

King penguins do not form long-term homosexual pairs despite same-sex “flirting”, one of the first evidence-based studies has revealed.

Researchers found that over a quarter of the birds in one colony displayed in same-sex pairs, yet only two pairs bonded by learning each other’s calls and both were later seen caring for eggs in heterosexual pairs.

The scientists suggest that these same sex displays could be caused by an excess of males or high levels of testosterone.

I’d like to make sure everyone understands that Bishop Bird has never been accused of having high levels of testosterone.

Anglican clergyman is reluctant to define Anglicanism

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From here:

The prospect of something codified and named Anglicanism I find unsettling. Roman Catholicism provides an ecclesial authoritarian structure and demands subservient obedience from its adherents. Protestantism provides several forms of confessional authoritarianism, requiring subservience to refined interpretations of scripture and doctrine. Biblical Fundamentalism, of course, comes across as absolutely absolute in its biblical interpretations, that is, according to whomever the pastor or preacher may be. What is disturbing is the concept of subservience to humanly contrived authorities that seem to me to be the antithesis of the liberation and freedom that is the gospel (good news) of God’s redemption through Jesus Christ who we know as Saviour and Lord.

This comes as no surprise, since once you codify – systematise or define – what Anglicanism is, you also define  what it isn’t; and that would exclude many Western Anglicans: to be Anglican requires a person at least to be a Christian.

Canon Gordon Baker seems to think that the Bible is a human contrivance and is disturbed by those who think it isn’t. Although he claims to know Jesus as Saviour and Lord, I can’t help wondering where his knowledge comes from since he doesn’t accept Biblical accounts as fundamental and absolute.

The truth is, his “liberation” is the familiar antinomian bad news of “if it feels good, do it”.

The Anglican Church of Canada desperately seeking cash

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The ACoC is running out of money, so it is giving the Health and Wealth gospel a shot; being effete liberal elitists, their stewardship mavens call it a theology of abundance, though:

“This is stewardship, not fundraising” is something I have heard often during the past 15 years as a stewardship teacher. However, as a once-upon-a-time development director for a most-worthy-cause non-profit organization, I know that large gifts always have a spiritual component….

That being said, the Symposium on the Spirituality of Philanthropy presented by the Office of Mission Funding of the Episcopal Church in late September was a first, and frankly long overdue. The 64 participants, representing 31 dioceses and eight provinces of the Episcopal Church, as well as the Anglican Church of Canada, filled the Episcopal Church Center’s chapel to hear four presentations that combined the theology of abundance with highly practical approaches to making the “ask” for a major gift.

What does the Anglican Church stand for?

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A question posed by The Rev. Dr. Gary Nicolosi here:

Did you know that more people around the world can identify the golden arches of McDonald’s than the cross of Jesus Christ?

Why is that?

Ask any bystander what the Anglican Church of Canada stands for and you will probably get a blank stare.

If it comes to that, ask any Anglican and you will probably get a blank stare. The Anglican Church of Canada has gone to great pains not to stand unequivocally for the foundational beliefs of the faith for which it thinks it is a merchant. Bishops and priests routinely dither on questions of Jesus’ divinity, his atoning sacrifice on the cross, his bodily resurrection and man’s innate sinfulness. Many priests say that they cannot, in good conscience, recite the creeds and some no longer hold with antiquated ideas such as heaven and hell.

Perhaps that is why.

The Age of Aquarius dawns in Christ Anglican Church, London

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I went to see Hair in London, UK in the 1960s. I wasn’t a Christian in those days and, while I enjoyed the general aura of comfortably rebellious hairiness, it still struck me as pretentious drivel. Even then I knew enough about Christianity to understand that “The Age of Aquarius” doesn’t belong in a church. Until now, that is; and where would it fit better than in an Anglican Church. Another fine production from Christ Anglican Church London:

I expect next year they will enthral the audience with a rendition of another Hair favourite: “Masturbation Can be Fun” – with actions if we’re really unlucky.