Caledonia Times
June 2017 - Volume 49, Issue #6 - The Dean’s Last Edition The Diocesan Section of the Anglican Journal
In April, Worley chosen by Synod
then in May the PHoB declines his consecration on discipline issue ordained deacon and subsequently priest in 2005. Since ordination in 2005, Worley has served in the Dioceses of Rio Grande, with the AMIA Group connected to Rwanda and Tuam, Killala, and Archony Diocese as well as in Caledonia. Born in Alabama, Worley moved to New Mexico when he was five. He studied zoology and botany at Western New Mexico University. He then did environmental consulting work, which included studying the impact of U.S. Department of Defense missile testing on wildlife. Worley eventually felt a call to the priesthood, and graduated with an M.Div from Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, Pennsylvania. He was ordained a priest in The Episcopal Church (TEC) in 2005.
The Rev. Jacob Worley The Rev. Jake Worley, an Alabama-born priest, was elected Bishop of the Diocese of Caledonia. Worley, Rector of the Bulkley Valley Regional Parish, which includes the congregations of St. James’ Smithers, St. Clement’s, Houston and St. John the Divine, Quick, was elected on the eighth ballot of the Synod. The electoral synod on April 21st and 22nd at St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Prince Rupert, BC was held to find a successor for Bishop William Anderson. He had announced his plans to retire in His Charge to the last regular session of Synod in September, 2015. Anderson had served as Bishop of Caledonia for 15 years, having been elected in October 2001 and consecrated and installed as Bishop of Caledonia in February 2002. He retired from active ministry on December, 2017.
In 2007, Worley founded a new church in Las Cruces, New Mexico, as a missionary for the Anglican Province of Rwanda. The church would later join the Anglican Church in North America, a grouping of conservative congregations that left TEC in 2009. In the meantime, Worley had left. After an interim term as rector at St. Martin’s Anglican Church in Fort St. John, B.C., in 2013, then a year of ministry in the Church of Ireland, he returned with his family to B.C., where he assumed his role as rector of Bulkley Valley. In 2015, Worley told a B.C. newspaper he and his wife felt God calling them to that part of the world. They also fell in love with Canada and its people, he said. “There is a sweetness and genuineness about Canadians that I really like,” he said. The decision of the Provincial House of Bishops
The 47 year old Worley was born in Fort Rucker, Alabama in August, 1969. He came to faith in Christ at the age of 19. Shortly thereafter he met his wife of 27 years, Kelly. Before studying for ordination, Worley became a wildlife biologist working on a missile range, helping to gauge the effects of the weapons being used on the local wildlife. He also worked for a mining company to help protect the local wildlife after a spill and to assess the area for damage and reclamation work.
Part and parcel of the process towards the consecration of the new Bishop of Caledonia is a vote and affirmation of the Bishop Elect by the other Bishops of the Province of BC-Yukon. (a) a Bishop shall be elected by the Synod of a Diocese under its own Rules of Procedure and confirmation thereof shall be sent to the Metropolitan within seven days. The Metropolitan shall in turn notify the other Bishops of the Province who shall register with him or her then- concurrence or objection.
After encouragement to pursue ordination studies, Worley and his family went from their home in New Mexico to Trinity School for Ministry in Pennsylvania and there studied and received a Master’s Degree in Divinity. Upon return to New Mexico after seminary, Bishop elect Worley was
Objections, according to BC-Yukon Provincial Canons, the objection to the election of a Bishop may be taken only on any of the following grounds: (i) That the person elected is not thirty years of age. (ii) That he or she is not a Priest in Holy Orders of the Anglican Church of Canada or of some church
in full communion therewith; (iii)That he or she is deficient in learning, training or experience; (iv) That he or she has either directly or indirectly secured or attempted to secure the Office by an improper means. (v) That he or she is guilty of any crime or immorality; (vi) That he or she teaches or holds or has within five years previously taught or held anything contrary to the Doctrine or Discipline of the Anglican Church of Canada. The decision of the House of Bishops (on objections to an election) shall be final. The Provincial House of Bishops met with Bishop Elect Worley on May 4th to interview him and to give concurrence or to present and discuss any objections that might have been raised. After a protracted discernment, the decision was to not consecrate Worley, owing to the fact that he had, in the opinion of the House, he had breached Church’s discipline.
In a press release announcing the decision, Archbishop John Privett shared, “After many open and prayerful conversations, the majority of the House concluded that within the past five years the Rev. Worley has held – and continues to hold – views contrary to the Discipline of the Anglican Church of Canada...The view he held and holds is that it is acceptable and permissible for a priest of one church of the Anglican Communion to exercise priestly ministry in the geographical jurisdiction of a second church of the Anglican Communion without the permission of the Ecclesiastical Authority of that second church... According to the press release from the National Church in Toronto, “The question of his views arose from a review of his exercise of priestly ministry when he served in the Anglican Mission in America under license from the Province of Rwanda in the geographical jurisdiction of The Episcopal Church without permission of The Episcopal Church.” As the Provincial House has registered its objection, the Rev. Worley will not be consecrated Bishop in the Diocese of Caledonia in the Anglican Church of Canada. As outlined in Canon 4 of the constitution and canons of the Province of BC & Yukon, in these matters. The Diocese of Caledonia will now begin the process to hold a new electoral synod according to its canons in these matters. The Diocese of Caledonia will now begin the process to hold a new electoral synod according to its canons,” The release concluded. - With files from the Anglican Journal and the Province of BC-Yukon.
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and energy to this Diocese and to the Cathedral and will be greatly missed. Thank you Jason for all you have given to us in your time in Caledonia. We pray God’s blessings on you and your family as you prepare for your new ministry in Athabasca.
The Archbishop writes... Dear Friends in Christ, I write this as we approach the Feast of Pentecost when congregations across the Diocese will be celebrating the gift of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church. We will now enter the Season of Pentecost, that long season in our church year when we are especially conscious of God’s work in our midst. It is a season of growth and of light; a season of faith and of hope. At the episcopal election in April, I was aware of the deeply prayerful atmosphere of the meeting and of the changes in the voting over 8 ballots. We believed that the Holy Spirit had led the synod to the election of Jacob Worley. Then in accordance with the customs of our church, Jacob’s name was sent to the Provincial House of Bishops. The Bishops were to register either their concurrence (their affirmation) or their objection to the election. After careful consideration of a great number of documents and regular prayer for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the majority of the Bishops registered an objection to the election. They came to this conclusion based on one of the Provincial Canons (Church regulations) Canon 4 (b) vi which reads “That he or she teaches or holds or within five years previously taught or held anything contrary to the Doctrine or Discipline of the Anglican Church of Canada.”. This was a most difficult decision and it means that Jacob Worley will not be consecrated as Bishop. The decision of the Bishops is final. The Rev. Worley was received into this Diocese as a priest in good standing by Bishop Anderson and the Bishops have not contested that decision. Jacob will continue to serve God as a priest of the Church. These events raise many questions. How can two bodies of the Church each acting in faith and through prayer come to different conclusions? There is no easy answer. What can be said is
that each body was acting in good faith, with a deep sense of responsibility, and with awareness of the implications of their decision for the church and for the individuals concerned. It is very much a long standing tradition that different levels of the church work together in making such an important discernment. When someone believes they are called to be a priest that call is tested at the parish level, then at a diocesan level (usually through a committee of Examining Chaplains) and then at the Provincial level of the wider church through the Advisory Committee on Postulants for Ordination. All three of these bodies make their discernment and report to the Bishop who makes the final decision. Each of them has an important role to play. Sometimes these bodies are in full agreement and sometimes they differ in their decisions. What we do uphold is that it is through each of the parts of the body of the Church working together that the Holy Spirit is at work and God’s will is discerned. When there is disagreement or differing views we trust that God is Sovereign and in the wisdom that is greater than our own, God is working his purposes out. At a meeting of the Diocesan Executive on May 26, a resolution was passed that we will proceed with a new episcopal election before October 31, 2017. The members present believe that the Diocese needs and is waiting for its own Bishop and that we must move into the future continuing to trust in the wisdom of God and in the work of the Holy Spirit in the Church and in our lives. A date for the election will soon be announced.
I have also received the resignation of the Rev. Enid Pow from the parish of St. Martin’s, Fort St. John effective August 2017. Enid has accepted an appointment as rector of Holy Trinity in Winnipeg. We are sorry to see her leave the Diocese, but rejoice in her call to a new ministry. Thank you Enid for all you have brought to your life and ministry here. During the past few months I have been keenly aware of the wisdom and the many gifts that the Rev. Gwen Andrews brings to her work as Diocesan Administrator and for the care with which the Diocesan Executive undertakes it responsibilities. I give thanks for God’s grace and love which has been present during the meetings of the Executive and thank each of the members for their ministry to the diocese. Faithfully, Archbishop John Privett
In other Diocesan News, I have received the resignation of the Very Rev. Jason Haggstrom as Dean of St. Andrew’s Cathedral. His last Sunday will be July 30, 2017. Dean Jason will become the new Dean of the Diocese of Athabasca in Peace River, Alberta. He as given a great deal of time
Cathedral Roof project wraps up
The Caledonia Times Publication of the Diocese of Caledonia
Editor: The Dean of Caledonia Published monthly, except July and August by: Diocese of Caledonia, 200 – 4th Avenue West Prince Rupert, BC V8J 1P3 (250) 627-1143 or (250) 600-7143
As folks from across the Diocese came for the electoral Synod, the contractor that the Cathedral congregation hired to do the work on the nave roof was also at work. As seen in this pic above, the roof was stripped of its old roof, rearmoured with plywood and then sealed with ‘peel and stick’. This allowed then for a 50 year, composite roofing shingle to be put down. The original plan of putting metal down on the high, very steep roof proved to be exceedingly difficult and so the change was made to the composite shingle. Delays on the contractor’s side over weather last year, caused the scaffolding to be on the Cathedral over the winter months. There was much grace in this as the scaffolding was cared for and maintained during that time. There was also some surprise that there was little rot to be found in the wet enviroment. The Church Committee is now planning to do some smaller projects that include railings and doors for safety and security purposes.
Address correspondence and copy to the address above. Or to caledoniatimes@gmail.com Submissions must be received by the first day of the month for the following month’s issue. Send subscription orders, address changes Diocese of Caledonia c/o Anglican Journal 80 Hayden St. Toronto, Ontario M4Y 3G2 Printed and mailed by: Webnews Inc., North York Ontario
Many thanks are sent out to the donors who gave gifts to this work of a new roof - Ed.
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Caledonia Times — June, 2017
Skypilot Moments Fanning faith into flame again When this issue was initially started, some weeks ago, it seemed to be headed in a particular direction. In particular that we were celebrating what had happened here at the Cathedral. Many were poised to rejoice over the renewal of the episcopal ministry in the 138th year of ministry as a diocese together. Then there was time for prayer thought and discernment from the wider Church, leading to the decision that there would not be a consecration of the Bishop Elect. And so this issue changed direction, noting what has happened and where we expect to go next. As Archbishop John put it in the letter read to the parishes on June 4th, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3.8) In the wake of the Electoral Synod, I took time to take stock of my own ministry and what I felt I had left to offer the parish and the bishop elect. My wife and I prayed and talked about the experiences of being nominated and going through the processes of the election. One of the things that I became vitally aware of was my own heart’s desire to be a parish priest – and to be a good one. In a way, it was a wakeup call for me to some things that had grown quiet in my life and ministry. It was not intentional neglect or even a personal choice. I discovered that I had been squeezed into a mould not made for me. The fire
inside slowly died down to embers. Then, there was a bit of an epiphany. I open up my study bible that I have had since my very first days of ministry. I opened it up to 2nd Timothy 1.6-7 and read these words, “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” Beside this, in the margin of my Bible is written the words, ‘Stir it up my son, stir it up.” If I felt that I had offered everything I could to where I was then what was next? This caused me to look around at what else I might do. After a process of prayer and talking with Bishop Fraser Lawton and the people of St. James’ Cathedral, Peace River, I have felt led to say yes to the invitation to join them in Athabasca Diocese. My family and I will do so in mid August. The same sense of calling, of vocation that drew me home to Caledonia six years ago is a feeling that I have again and realized that is never static, never for maintenance. We as followers of Christ are always being called upward and forward. Some in my last diocese thought me coming to Caledonia a crazy idea. When I told friends and colleagues that I was that I leaving a parish in the South that was doing exceptionally well to come to the North there was consider-
At our little Church of the Good Shepherd in Taylor we use the old hymn book. One hymn we regularly sing is “All Things Bright and Beautiful.” While I enjoy this hymn I have tended to think of it as just a pleasant children’s song. A book called Living Ecological Justice: A Biblical Response to the Environmental Crisis made me look at this hymn differently. I saw that even in our very traditional Anglican Church we have a start on valuing God’s creation. Living Ecological Justice is a product of the group “Citizens for Public Justice.” Fifteen people collaborated to produce this collection of essays and activities to help Christians get involved in climate change in a positive way. The authors come from different Christian backgrounds: Mennonite, Presbyterian,United Church, Christian Reformed, Roman Catholic and Anglican. Two Anglicans Rev. Dr. Mishka Lysack and Karri Munn-Venn are the editors. Mark McDonald the National Indigenous Anglican Bishop of Canada also contributed. Living Ecological Justice is an easy book to browse through; however, it is not meant just for reading but rather for using. The book is divided into three parts: Protecting What We Love, The Biblical Case for Creation Advocacy, and Towards Abundant Life for All Creation: Worship, Community, and Action. At the beginning of each chapter we are given one or two Bible verses to introduce the topic. This is followed by a short essay, and
Caledonia Times — June, 2017
Some people will call it risky. It may hurt or even anger people you care for. It might cause sadness for you and for others. To not listen though and not follow makes the Church powerless and useless in the divine mission. Faithfulness is about listening to the Spirit and to each other and showing the character of Christ, first to each other, then to the wider world. I have come to realize that the years I spent in Caledonia as a teenager will be with me wherever I go, whatever I am called to do. It was in this Diocese that I came to know Christ as my Saviour and my Lord. I learned how to be a strong Christian during those years. Moreover, I will treasure my years with all of you as Rector at St. Andrew’s and as Dean of Caledonia. Please know that I am with you all in prayer as you seek God’s will concerning leadership in the Diocese and you will remain in my heart as I seek to stir it up again for the sake of God’s kingdom.
Jason+ A very positive book recommended generally for adults and specifically for church libraries.
Books on the Way By Ruby McBeth
able confusion. From a human point of view, I can see how come. Why would one leave a safe and secure situation to take risks? Vocation however and the work of the Holy Spirit in a priest’s life come of a need to be obedient to the call that God has placed on one’s life. When God calls and appoints, this is what matters.
two or three pages of activities and meditation prompts. One activity asks people to form a line and hold hands. A series of questions are asked. For example: “If you travel by air take one step back; If you hang your clothes out to dry, take one step forward. This exercise could get one thinking about our personal choices and their effect on other people. Each chapter closes with a prayer - quite suitable for church services. The book ends with two chapters which give direction and challenge to church groups. An essay by Rev. Dr. Mischka Lysack (University of Calgary) called “Ministry of Effective Creation Advocacy: Protecting What God Loves” gives six points to challenge churches to get active in protecting the environment. His last point states: “Creation advocacy requires work in partnership with allies outside the church.” This leads directly into the last chapter: Canadian Interfaith Call for Leadership and Action on Climate Change. This document produced in 2011 begins “We, ... are united in our conviction that the growing crisis of climate change needs to be met by solutions that draw upon the moral and spiritual resources of the world’s religious traditions.” At the end of the book we see pictures of the authors and a paragraph introducing each of them. While several of the authors are scholars and university professors there are also some with strong connections to the soil. One of the writers Carol Thiessen is a senior policy advisor for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. After these bios we are given more activities, scriptures for reflection, and useful resources.
Lysack, Mishka, and Karri Munn-Venn (eds.) Living Ecological Justice: A Biblical Response to the Environmental Crisis. Ottawa, Ontario: Citizens for Public Justice, 2013.
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tions.
Canada in brief Huron bishop to call for ‘five-year plans’ from each parish Faced with a number of “very fragile” congregations in the diocese, Huron Bishop Linda Nicholls says she is planning to ask for fiveyear financial plans from each parish. “The big picture plan is around the need to stabilize the diocese in terms of the sustainability of parishes because we have a lot of fragile congregations, very fragile,” Nicholls says. The bishop says she is planning to call on each parish church to develop a five-year plan for financial stability and building upkeep, with measureable benchmarks, at the diocesan synod in May. At the same time, says Nicholls, churches need to be working at discipleship and “working on why we are the church, working within churches and on the spiritual needs of the community around us.” She adds, “We don’t have time to wait; we don’t have time for people to wake up to this.”
“What I’ve seen in the church generally, and I see it here, too, is the feistiness of congregations,” she says. “Feistiness is good because we need that stick-to-it-iveness to work through some tough times.” —Huron Church News In Vancouver, Iraqi refugee becomes Anglican priest Fr. Ayoob Shawkat Adwar, a priest in the Chaldean Catholic Church, was received as an Anglican priest at a ceremony in Surrey, B.C., March 26.
Habitat for Humanity seeks help from faith groups for major Canadian project
The event was a “small but significant piece of history,” says Archdeacon Stephen Rowe, rector of the Anglican Parish of the Church of the Epiphany in Surrey, since Adwar is thought to be the first Chaldean priest in history to have become a member of the Anglican clergy.
Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, will be in Canada this summer to take part in the construction of 150 new homes with Habitat for Humanity—and an Anglican priest with the home-building charity is encouraging faith groups to get involved.
Originally from Mosul, Iraq—heartland of the Chaldean church—Adwar was ordained as a Chaldean priest in 2008. His family began to arrive in Canada about five years ago, and Adwar himself followed in 2014, when he was granted refugee status.
In honour of Canada’s 150th anniversary, Habitat for Humanity has chosen Canada as the site of this year’s Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project, an annual project that features the participation of the Carters themselves, supporters of the charity since the 1980s. The project will see the construction of 150 homes in several Canadian cities, with the focus on Winnipeg and Edmonton. It will be Habitat’s largest Canadian construction project to date. “We’re creating new hope and possibilities for families to break out of the cycle of poverty,” says the Rev. Armand Mercier, who is rector at Edmonton’s church of St. Stephen the Martyr as well as director of family services for Habitat for Humanity Edmonton. Mercier says the project, which will involve 75 new homes in Edmonton alone, will require the help of an estimated 1,100 volunteers around July 9-13, when the Carters will be in Edmonton. Faith communities are encouraged to contribute either labour or lunches at the sites, he says. Helping families become homeowners, Mercier says, is a “meaningful and spiritually fulfilling” challenge. Information on volunteering for the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project can be found at www.hfh.org. Volunteers need not have previous construction experience or skills. —The Messenger
Nicholls stresses that she will not be “going around closing churches.” The decision on whether to close or remain open will be up to the congregations themselves, she says. However, she adds, “I will be the one who comes around holding up a mirror and say[s], ‘This is what I’m seeing. What are you seeing?’ ”
At around the same time, a group of Chaldeans began worshipping at the Church of the Epiphany. In Advent 2014, Melissa Skelton, bishop of New Westminster, gave her permission for a Chaldean Rite Mass to take place at the church. Over time, Anglicans and Chaldeans at the church started attending each other’s services and learning more about each other’s traditions.
Four financial “non-negotiables” face churches, she says: balanced budgets; not using reserves for operating costs; paying their full apportionment (contribution to the budget of the diocese); and paying clergy stipends and housing.
Meanwhile, Adwar had declared an interest in becoming an Anglican priest, and began a discernment process. He was confirmed as an Anglican in December, 2016; that ceremony, like his reception as an Anglican priest, was presided over by Skelton.
Nicholls, who became bishop of the diocese last fall after serving as area bishop for TrentDurham in the diocese of Toronto, says she was not surprised at the state of parishes when she arrived in her new diocese.
Adwar, who is fluent in both Arabic and modern Aramaic—a Middle Eastern language derived from the language of Jesus—will serve as a curate in the diocese of New Westminster, working with an experienced Anglican priest.
“This is true everywhere,” she says.
—Topic
At the same time, she adds, she also sees a certain strength of spirit in Anglican congrega-
Camp Cal getting ready for the summer season Camp Caledonia is gearing up for its 2017 Season and it is looking to be a good one. The camp is owned and operated by the Diocese of Caledonia and is located on Tyhee Lake, near the village of Telkwa. There are lots of activities for a wide range of ages: swimming and canoeing, soccer, volleyball, archery and wide games. There are also traditions like campfire, chores and the nightly awarding of the antlers to the most prolific cabin in camp that day. The dates for tihs year’s camps are as follows: Youth I (ages 6-10) July 4th to July 8th; Youth II (ages 7-12) July 10 to July 15th; Teen Camp (ages Page 4
12-15) July 17 to 23. Cut off date for Camps is December 31, 2017. The theme this year is “Beach Blast”
Comic Life
Older teens are encourged to consider checking out the Counselor in training (CIT) Program. You can do this by contacting the Registrar by emailing to registrar@campcaledonia.ca or by calling (250) 845-8121. Camp Cal exists to “provide a Christian community where people of all ages can share and expereince of God.” If you have someone who would like to go to Camp, there is the possibility of burseries to help out with the cost of sending a child to camp. Please ask the Registrar. Caledonia Times — June, 2017