44 TheAnglican TheAnglican
COMMENT COMMENT
Take the LentenHope leap is changing lives Our Faith-Our O I
ur great nephew was came across a pastoral letborn in Australia on ter from the Bishop of March 1, 2012. The Toronto to the clergy and news of his birth laity proposing a signifireached us the day before, on cant fundraising effort. In it he Feb. 29. It was a leap year. So, proposed a graduated schedwhile he may be turning eight ule of offerings to achieve a in the land down under, to us substantial goal and an indiin Canada, he is only turning two. You may vidual appeal to each church family in the play the same kind of creative math with diocese by a member of their parish “to someone close one’s to youdoor whoand happens knock at every rouse to thehave inbeen born on Feb. 29. habitants to devote a small portion of what Every four yearsupon or so, we add one daysoat God has bestowed them to promote the end of February so that our modern-day great a work.” Gregorian calendar remains alignment That letter came from John in Strachan, the with the earth’s revolutions around the sun. first Bishop of Toronto, in January 1854! It takes theFaith-Our earth about 365.242 days (365 The Our Hope: Re-imagine days, five hours, 48 minutes 45 seconds Church campaign began withand an idea I first to be exact) to orbit the sun once. is proposed to Synod a decade ago. AsThis it gradutechnically called solar year. that A solar year ally took shape, weadetermined it would is from either the spring or fallthe bemeasured a cooperative program shared between equinox to the following one, or from diocese and parishes that responded tothe the summer orof the winter solstice tous the generosity God’s many gifts to toone enthat gagefollows. God’s mission. We identified the goals of Five hours, 48 minutes and 45 seconds Strengthening Local Parishes, Building the doesn’t really seem like very muchOur in the Church for Tomorrow, Revitalizing Incontext ofand a whole year. However, if we heritance Giving to Others. didn’t a leapNorth day every four years, The add Canadian has many clergy after and only a century, calendar wouldwho be out lay catechists inour charge of parishes work of synchaby aroundMany 24 days. A missing six without stipend. are isolated in communities that face traumatic pastoral issues including, unfortunately, the accumulated pain of dealing with multiple suicides. The Diocese of Toronto made a grant of $500,000 from Our Faith-Our Hope (OFOH) to fund a request from the Council of the North and Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples to hold regional circles where clergy and lay here is no leaders could come together forlonger mutualJew Greek, thereSoisfar, no 276 learning, support andorrefreshment. longer ordioceses. free, have participated from half aslave dozen there no longer male Grants ranged from $500 tois$100,000. The Dioand for female; for all of you peoare cese of the Arctic, instance, brought one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28, NRSV) In this familiar passage from the Letter to the Galatians, St. Paul speaks of the dissolving of our differences so that we may claim our primary identity in Christ. But that one-ness is understood by broadfrom inviting smile, remembering that we come different firm handshake places and have distinct stories to tell. and We the word “welcome” are strengthened in our relationships as we are the faces, memories we pay attention to the different languaghave Angelatogether and I first es and identities thatwhen are woven met Terence Bishop of into the rich tapestry of our Finlay, life in Christ. Toronto, in the summer of It has been said that Toronto is the most 1997. I was and beginning my mindiverse city in the world, if you look istry asour thediocese, incumbent St. Joseph across youofwill see andofhear Nazareth, Bramalea. Anglicans from all corners of the CommunWhen we entered office, there a ion, worshipping andhis ministering inwas a variety warmth and genuineness by both of languages and styles. I experienced have thoroughly of us in our meetingofwith Bishop Finlay. enjoyed thefirst experience being the area He wasfor very interested in communities, getting to know bishop many of these asus we and our young family. We in shared the stories have celebrated together Tamil, Spanish, of our Christian journeys and family life. It Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese, Tagalog was Indigenous a pleasure tolanguages. engage with him andthe have a and And over sense of the pastoral care and support he past year alone, I have met newcomers tooffered clergy families. I had no many idea Canada whoand are their now in our pews from that six years later I would Nigeria, be working closely different places, including Ghana, with him as his executive assistant and When Syria, India, Columbia and Melanesia. Archdeacon York. Bishop SusanofBell served as our Canon I got to know Terry,described as he wasthe affectionateMissioner, she often Diocese ly called, when I became a member of the Posof Toronto as “the Anglican Communion in tulancy Committee and a regional dean. He gave wise counsel and offered good insight into challenging matters facing the Church. His was a calming voice and a non-anxious presence. He offered strong episcopal leadership in the diocese, both pastorally and morally. He was a model of deep faith and prayerful thoughtfulness, and was genuinely concerned about the well-being of the clergy and laity under his episcopal leadership. In the spring of 2003 I received a call from the Archbishop’s office inviting me to meet with him. I thought I was going to be invited to sit on another committee of the diocese. He
BISHOP’S DIARY ARCHBISHOP’S DIARY Bishop ACndrew Asbil BY B AyRCHBISHOP OLIN JOHNSON
ple from 48 communities together. The feedhours adds up over time. back has been astounding. It makes a differFeb. 29 becomes a day of course correctence in peoples’ lives. ing, of bringing things back into alignment, The Anglican Chaplaincy for the Canadian of synchronizing our earthly everyday lives Forces elected its first full-time bishop to prowith the heavens. In a similar way, Ash vide episcopal care for regular and reserve Wednesday summons us to stop, to correct chaplains and their families, and to military our course,across to take ancountry. accounting of our lives personnel the It only became and find because ways of immersing in the possible of an initialourselves endowment of ancient means of recalibrating our souls. $500,000 from OFOH. The branches of Palm Sunday, once waved Another $500,000 grant from OFOH to thein adulation and hope, are reduced on WednesPrimate’s World Relief and Development day to(PWRDF) ash to remind us ofnew thework fragility of life, Fund supports in materof our of our propensity to lose our nal andmortality, child health in the developing world footing and to wander away from God. and midwifery services in remote northern In the busyness of ourOurs lives,isof making communities in Canada. the largest ends meet, of working andever raising families, single gift any diocese has given to of volunteer and history. getting stuck in trafPWRDF in itswork 50+ year Because of fic, or lostfederal in the latest Netflixgrants, series,that it is matching government easycreated to assume thatofall that matters what gift a value over $2.5 million.isSafe is in front and of us. And before long are we now can deliveries proper health care miss the numinous that call us available because of moments your generosity. back to reality and life. Parishes around the diocese have been In the Ash Wednesday liturgy, premade physically accessible, youth the work is besider summons theare community to prepare ing funded, leaders being trained, pioto enterministries the seasoninofnew Lent by saying neering contexts havethese been planed and an amazing array of creative projects have been undertaken locally because of Our Faith-Our Hope – not just because of the financial resources now available, but also because of a reinvigoration of imagination and commitment. We have succeeded in remarkable ways. While not every parish participated, the vast majority did – and achieved more than many BISHOP’S OPINION had thought possible. Some of the parishes By Bishop evin Robertson did not formally joinKthe OFOH project because they were already in the midst of substantial funding efforts. Others added to their microcosm.” It certainly is! At times, we have done a good job of recognizing and affirming the diversity among us. Later this month, on Sunday, Feb. 23, Anglicans will gather at St. Paul, Bloor Street for the annual Black History Service. For 25 years, this service has celebrated the Black heritage of our Church with liturgical innovaBISHOP’S OPINION tion, creativity and joy. This year’s preacher is the Rev. B Canon Stephen Y BISHOP PETERFields. FENTYI hope you will plan to be there! quickly got to thededicated purpose of our meetingreand We have also considerable asked if I–was willing to prayer, be considered a lay sources money, time, clergy as and candidate executive assistant and church leadershipfor skills – to nurture diverse archdeacon. position had become vacant communitiesThe across the diocese, and many when Archdeacon Colin the Johnson elected Anglicans from around globewas have been suffragan bishop. I was surprisedand when he able to find familiar, welcoming accessimet with me just before conference ble congregations here. the Weclergy have also made a that yearofand offered me the position.diversity priority celebrating the beautiful It wasthe a privilege andcommunity distinct honour to within LGBTQ2S+ as many serve his executive assistant and archdeaof us, as wearing Anglican garb, march in the con. to know Terry even better and PrideI got Parade every June. learned from him. I witnessed depth Whatmuch we have not done very wellthe is to of his faith andthe his culture concernoffor every parish really change our Church to in the diocese. He showed compassion, particueradicate all forms of discrimination that larly for thethe marginalized andofminorities dishonour rich diversity the wholein the Church andAt in the the very widercore community. people of God. of the gospel, Archbishop Finlay very disciplined in embedded in the life,was death and resurrection his work.Christ, He worked hours and paid atof Jesus is thelong Divine pledge of love tention to detail, thoroughly readingpeople docu- are for the whole world. When certain ments, or any material for treatedletters as “other” due to theirneeded skin colour, meetings. It was also evident that he cared deeply for the wider Church and appreciated the importance of ecumenical relationships. One of the qualities I admired about Terry was his willingness to make time for people. He made himself available to clergy and laity who needed to meet with him. I was often asked to join him in meetings with others, and it was evident that he always listened intently. Terry was a pastor, mentor, friend and confidante. Another quality I admired in him was his humility. He engaged with people in all stations of life. He was as comfortable talking
words: I invite you therefore, in the name goals to meet parish capital needs and did of the Lord, to observe a holy Lent by selfspectacularly well. Taking that into account, examination, penitence, prayer, fasting, and at least $50 million in new funds has been almsgiving, and by reading and meditating contributed to ministry in the diocese and beon the word of God… yond in the last seven years, over our regular Lent becomes the one season in our offerings and FaithWorks contributions. Christian year when all is righted. And we We are a different diocese because of that. celebrate our redemption through the death Yes, the money has helped us fund new minand resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through istries, adapt old buildings, engage in new this Christian Passover, we gain more than mission, support vulnerable people in just a day. We gain life itself. Christ’s name. More than that, though, it has This build Lent,relationships I encourage you and your parhelped between people, alish to people join metoinshare participating the Signs lowed personal in stories, iden-of Life program devised by Virginia tified and trained new leaders, builtTheologiup confical Seminary and the Society of St. John dence, and assisted people to articulate and the Evangelist. share their faith.Details about the program can be found www.signsoflife.org. TheI I have been at changed by the experience. Lenten invites us to contemplate am moreprogram confident in speaking clearly about the faith themes light, water, food, shelter my andof my commitment to it. I have disand community – elements of generously. everyday I covered a new capacity to give life that us,amazing and symbols too that have metsustain the most Anglicans, heard permeate our worship and faith life their stories and been moved by their through faithwhich Jesus presentin inthe ourcreativity lives, with the fulness. I haveisrejoiced and power to transform us. I will be hosting a boldness of vision of people and parishes conversation the symbols each disapTuesday (and yes, to beon honest, occasionally eveningby in athe month of March. Theislocation pointed few). I think our church in a of these gatherings willofshift to week different place because Our week Faith-Our throughout thebegun diocese. I hope thatchurch. you will Hope. We have to re-imagine consider joining me at theto location I am profoundly grateful you andclosest the to you.people Let’s like takeyou thiswho Lenten together. many haveleap made and are making a difference in our world because of your faith in Jesus Christ. And I am especially grateful to the lay leaders and clergy in our diocese who took the initiative and rose to it so graciously. The campaign is now officially concluded, but the allocations continue and the mission God invites us to share is still on our culture, ethnicity, language, gender, sexualdoorsteps. As my first paragraph noted, this ity or identity, we betray the gospel of Christ was not the first financial campaign, nor will and live up work to theofbaptismal covenant it be fail the to last – the the Church is not in which wecontinue promiseonwards to strive in forfaith justice over. Let us and in and peace among all people, and respect the hope. dignity of every human being. So how will we change? I have a few hopes: 1. I hope we will put resources in place to make anti-racism training a top priority over the coming year. It is long overdue in our Church. and on “Officer the street cor2. engaging I hope wewith willpersons create an for ner or drop-in centre as he waswithin with persons Diversity” staff position the serving in public diocese. Theoffice. one who fills this role One of thebe challenges he faced waswork, the and should experienced in this Church’s position on human sexuality. unambiguously committed to theWhile equity in office upheld the doctrine and discipline andhe full inclusion of all people within of thethe Church. office, he officiated life ofOn ourleaving Church, without excepin a same-gender marriage, for which he had tion. to be by his diocesan who 3. Idisciplined hope we will draw on thebishop, experience was once his archdeacon, of the many folks in executive our pewsassistant who and suffragan bishop. In receiving the admoniknow what it’s like to be “othered.” We tion, need he told successor in office thatas hetheir extohis hear their pain, as well pected nothing from him and that was dreams forless respect, dignity and he incluexercising his episcopal ministry sion. We have many peopleresponsibly. in our midst I believe that Archbishop Terence leadwho are leading the way in thewas dismaning the diocese in thesexism, direction of being more tling of racism, homophobia, welcoming to those who werebarriers vulnerable, transphobia and other that marginalized, voiceless and in the minority. divide and injure the people of God. He made very significant difference Theya have much to teach us. in the lifeOur of the Diocese Toronto. notcore surprisidentity inofChrist hasItatisits the ing, therefore, to hear and read comrecognition and celebration ofthe ourvery amazing plimentary reflectionsMay thatour many have shared God-given diversity. Church move about their experiences of him. He exercised toward this goal with renewed passion in a servant ministry the coming year.throughout his ordained life, and for that we give thanks to God for his example. I was privileged and honoured to have had the opportunity to know him as my bishop, mentor and friend. The Church has been blessed to have had him as a faithful bishop. He will be missed and leaves a legacy of exemplary leadership, humility, compassion and profound faith. We are grateful to his family for having shared him with the Church and assure them of our prayerful support. We give Archbishop Terence Finlay back to his Creator God with the same graciousness we experienced of him. May he rest in peace and rise with Christ in glory.
The gospel calls us to diversity, equity and inclusion
T
Serving Archbishop Finlay was a privilege
A
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February February 2020 June 2017
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The Anglican Church In the Anglican Communion: A global community of 70 million Anglicans in 64,000 congregations in 164 countries. Archbishop of Canterbury: The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Justin Welby, Lambeth Palace, London, England SE1 7JU. In Canada: A community of about 600,000 members in 30 dioceses, stretching from Vancouver Island to Newfoundland and north to the Arctic Ocean. Primate: The Most Rev. Linda Nicholls, Church House, 80 Hayden St. Toronto, ON M4Y 3G2 Tel: 416-924-9192 In the Diocese of Toronto: A community of 254 congregations in 210 parishes covering 26,000 square kilometers. Of the nearly 5 million people who live within the diocesan boundaries, 376,000 claim to be affiliated with the Anglican Church, with about 80,000 people identified on the parish rolls. The diocese is home to many ethnic and languagebased congregations, including African, Caribbean, Chinese, Filipino, French, Hispanic, Japanese, and Tamil. The City of Toronto has a large population of aboriginal peoples. Bishop of Toronto: The Rt. Rev. Andrew Asbil York-Credit Valley: The Rt. Rev. Jenny Andison Trent-Durham: The Rt. Rev. Riscylla Shaw York-Scarborough: The Rt. Rev. Kevin Robertson York-Simcoe: The Rt. Rev. Peter Fenty The Diocese of Toronto: 135 Adelaide St. E., Toronto, Ont., M5C 1L8 1-800-668-8932/416-363-6021 Web site: http://www.toronto.anglican.ca
