44 TheAnglican TheAnglican
COMMENT COMMENT
What is Jesus calling youchanging to in 2020? Our Faith-Our Hope is lives G I
od is good! And so is came across a pastoral letgracious disruption. In ter from the Bishop of turning over the tables Toronto to the clergy and in the temple, teachlaity proposing a signifiing that the last shall be first cant fundraising effort. In it he and uplifting the poor, the proposed a graduated schedhumble and the marginalized, ule of offerings to achieve a Jesus gives us clear direction substantial goal and an indito problematize our inherited beliefs about vidual appeal to each church family in the superiority, privilege and entitlement. diocese by a member of their parish “to In Romans 13,one’s the Apostle begs knock at every door andPaul rouse theus into “wake from our sleep.” We are in the habitants to devote a small portion of what International Decade forthem People of African God has bestowed upon to promote so Descent. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, workgreat a work.” ingThat against racism South Africa, said,the letter came in from John Strachan, “And you remember the rainbow in the Bible first Bishop of Toronto, in January 1854! is the sign of peace. The rainbow is the The Our Faith-Our Hope: Re-imagine sign of prosperity. We want prosperity Church campaign beganpeace, with an idea I first and justice and we can have it when the proposed to Synod a decade ago. As itall gradupeople of shape, God, the people ally took werainbow determined thatofitGod, would work together.” How can we, as an institu-the be a cooperative program shared between tion and as “the rainbow people of God,” diocese and parishes that responded to the work together to disrupt racgenerosity of God’s manyand giftsdismantle to us to enism? Our gospel speaks to issues of injustice gage God’s mission. We identified the goals of and inequality Local in health and wealth, access Strengthening Parishes, Building the and priority; how can we put into words and Church for Tomorrow, Revitalizing Our Inaction the call to change the policies, strucheritance and Giving to Others. tures systems that has oppress holdand Theand Canadian North manyand clergy each other down? lay catechists in charge of parishes who work The deep and insidious colonial messages without a stipend. Many are isolated in comthat shape ourface society need to be challenged, munities that traumatic pastoral issues uprooted addressed for freedom including,and unfortunately, the the accumulated of each and all. with When Moses suicides. came intoThe the pain of dealing multiple Promised there were people Diocese ofLand, Toronto made a grant of already $500,000 living there. When the Europeans came from Our Faith-Our Hope (OFOH) to fundtoa Turtle America, were requestIsland/North from the Council of thethere North and people already living here. There is a long Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples to pattern in thecircles humanwhere story clergy of imposing upon hold regional and lay one another, dispossessleaders coulddehumanizing come togetherand for mutual learning, support and refreshment. So far, 276 have participated from half a dozen dioceses. Grants ranged from $500 to $100,000. The DioFriday 24th January at 6 p.m. cese of the Arctic, for instance, brought peo-
Evening Prayer (BCP)
BISHOP’S OPINION ARCHBISHOP’S DIARY B y B ishop R iscylla S haw BY ARCHBISHOP COLIN JOHNSON
ple from 48 communities together. The feeding in order to gain. One of the side effects of back has been astounding. It makes a differcolonization is that it influences everybody ence in peoples’ lives. in its reach – so all the people who came The Anglican Chaplaincy for the Canadian to Turtle Island as settlers or who were Forces elected its first full-time bishop to probrought as slaves were adversely pervide episcopal care for regular and reserve suaded to and be ashamed of their own cultures, chaplains their families, and to military languages and customs. How many personnel across the country. It onlysecondbecame and third-generation have lostof possible because of anCanadians initial endowment their family $500,000 fromheritage, OFOH. which also needs to beAnother personally researched and reclaimed? I $500,000 grant from OFOH to the encourage you in your personal discovery, Primate’s World Relief and Development as it adds(PWRDF) richness supports and depth to your your Fund new workfaith, in materfamily, nal andyour childcommunity. health in the developing world There are also glimpses of hopenorthern in our and midwifery services in remote sacred stories,inlike in theOurs stories of Ruth and communities Canada. is the largest her mother-in-law, andhas theever Goodgiven Samaritan. single gift any diocese to Where the50+ glimpses of hopeBecause in our prePWRDFare in its year history. of sent stories, where the liberating message matching federal government grants, that of Jesus infiltrates andofindwells expandSafe the gift created a value over $2.5tomillion. reign of God? our Church need deliveries andWhere proper is health care areinnow of the good news of available because ofdecolonization? your generosity.Where can we participate with integrity, humility Parishes around the diocese have been and respect? made physically accessible, youth work is beAnother to are unsettle is ing funded, place leaders beingourselves trained, pioin the Final Reportinofnew Canada’s Truth neering ministries contexts haveand been Reconciliation Commission, outlines planed and an amazing arraywhich of creative proj94 ways systematically racism ects havetobeen undertakendismantle locally because of and to –reconstruct the fabric Our inequity, Faith-Ourand Hope not just because of the of our liferesources together now through child but welfare, financial available, also education, and culture, health and because of alanguage reinvigoration of imagination justice. When we work together, bound by and commitment. our strong in Jesus and our willingWe have faith succeeded in remarkable ways. ness serve theparish radical gospel of inclusion, Whiletonot every participated, the vast our storydid can– be Reconciliamajority andtransformed. achieved more than many had thought possible. Some of the parishes did not formally join the OFOH project because they were already in the midst of substantial funding efforts. Others added to their
tion is a spiritual discipline, a way of life, a goals to meet parish capital needs and did process in which we are constantly enspectacularly well. Taking that into account, gaged, renewing, expanding. Our history is at least $50 million in new funds has been also about the future: what are we willing contributed to ministry in the diocese and beto do about it in 2020? How can we speak up, yond in the last seven years, over our regular step outside ourselves to encounter others, offerings and FaithWorks contributions. disagree agreeably? How can we support We are a different diocese because of that. one another to persist, continue on, stay in Yes, the money has helped us fund new minthe fray? Whose voice is missing – or to istries, adapt old buildings, engage in new whom do we need to listen, that we might mission, support vulnerable people in have ears to hear? Christ’s name. More than that, though, it has Also consider the Unitedbetween Nations’people, Sus- alhelped build relationships tainable Development Goals, which aimidenlowed people to share personal stories, to endand poverty, promote deep and sustaintified trained new leaders, built up confiable peace, and protect theto planet. This and is dence, and assisted people articulate where we must connect with young people share their faith. who are crying out for our attention. TheirI I have been changed by the experience. voices must be heard, and our policies and am more confident in speaking clearly about structures must reveal our responses to my faith and my commitment to it. I have distheir insights concerns. Our Church isI covered a newand capacity to give generously. not worldAnglicans, – it is in the haveseparate met the from most our amazing heard world. The young people whoby aretheir not in their stories and been moved faithour churches still part of our parishes, fulness. I haveare rejoiced in the creativity and our families and our communities in vital boldness of vision of people and parishes and How do we holddisapeach (andpowerful yes, to beways. honest, occasionally other to by account? doour we church challenge our pointed a few). How I think is in a internal and unconscious assumptions about different place because of Our Faith-Our superiority andbegun ageism? Where do we seek Hope. We have to re-imagine church. wisdom? I am profoundly grateful to you and the Havepeople courage. Bader Ginsberg says, many likeRuth you who have made and are “Real change, enduring change, making a difference in our worldhappens because of one time.”Christ. Take aAnd step.I am Who would yourstep faithatina Jesus especialwe be if weto decided love our neighbours ly grateful the layto leaders and clergy in for theywho already as beloved of rose God? ourwho diocese took are, the initiative and Who could our neighbours be if they were to it so graciously. freed our prejudice and expectations? Thefrom campaign is now officially concluded, Who areallocations you being continue called to and radically inbut the the mission clude? Whatus is to Jesus and the gospel God invites share is still on our calling us to in 2020? doorsteps. As my first paragraph noted, this was not the first financial campaign, nor will it be the last – the work of the Church is not over. Let us continue onwards in faith and in hope.
plus light supper at 6.30 and talk at 7
Serving CHURCHArchbishop Finlay was a privilege ARCHITECTURE TORONTO
A
broad inviting smile,
and engaging with persons on the street corner or drop-in centre as he was with persons of Ryerson’s Department of History the word “welcome” serving in public office. BY BISHOP PETER FENTY discusses the diversities are the memories we One of the challenges he faced was the of Toronto’s church architecture, have when Angela and I first quickly got to the purpose of our meeting and Church’s position on human sexuality. While from the Neoclassical visions Finlay, Bishop of asked if I was willing to be considered as a in office he upheld the doctrine and discipline of the Georgians met to theTerence Gothic Revival Toronto, in the summer of candidate for executive assistant and of the Church. On leaving office, he officiated and eclectic tastes of the Victorians, 1997. I was beginning my minarchdeacon. The position had become vacant in a same-gender marriage, for which he had in the denominationally pluralistic istry city as the incumbent St. Joseph of when Archdeacon Colin Johnson was elected to be disciplined by his diocesan bishop, who during its first 100ofyears. Nazareth, Bramalea. suffragan bishop. I was surprised when he was once his archdeacon, executive assistant When we entered his office, there was a met with me just before the clergy conference and suffragan bishop. In receiving the admoni360 Windermere (south ofexperienced Bloor) warmth and genuineness by both that year and offered me the position. tion, he told his successor in office that he ex416-769-5686 ofstolaves.ca us in our first meeting with Bishop Finlay. It was a privilege and distinct honour to pected nothing less from him and that he was He was very interested in getting to know us serve as his executive assistant and archdeaexercising his episcopal ministry responsibly. and our young family. We shared the stories con. I got to know Terry even better and I believe that Archbishop Terence was lead************************** of our Christian journeys and family life. It learned much from him. I witnessed the depth ing the diocese in the direction of being more THE 2020 OTTAWA REGION was a pleasure to engage with him and have a of his faith and his concern for every parish in welcoming to those who were vulnerable, Charity & Not-for-Profit sense of the pastoral care and support he ofthe diocese. He showed compassion, particumarginalized, voiceless and in the minority. fered clergy and their families. I had no idea larly for the marginalized and minorities in He made a very significant difference in the that six yearsHosted later by: I would be working closely the Church and in the wider community. life of the Diocese of Toronto. It is not surprisCarters Corporation with himProfessional as his executive assistant and Archbishop Finlay was very disciplined in ing, therefore, to hear and read the very comDATE: Thursday, February 13, 2020 Stewardship officers fromHe around the Ecclesiastical Province meet at the Diocesan Centre in many Torontohave on Nov. 14-15. Archdeacon of York. his work. worked long hours and paid of at-Ontario plimentary reflections that shared TIME: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Front row fromtention left: Jane Kathryn Smith and Jeff Pym. Back about row from left:experiences Jane Scanlon,of Trish Miller, Lori Guenther I got to know Terry, as he was affectionatetoKirkpatrick, detail, thoroughly reading docutheir him. He exercised a Centurion Jay Koyle, Peter Misiaszek, Doucet Campbell of discussion included legacy giving, ly called, when I Conference became a member ofReesor, the Posments, letters or anyGillian material needed for and Neil Mancor. servantTopics ministry throughout his ordained life, and Event Center Christian in challenging times a roundtable ofand what’s and challenges. Thehis province tulancy and South, a regional dean. He giving meetings. It was alsoand evident that heconversation cared fornew, thatsuccesses we give thanks to God for ex170 Committee Colonnade Road comprises diocesesfor of the Ottawa, Ontario, Toronto, Huron, Algoma andIMoosonee. PHOTO BY MICHAEL HUDSONto have gave wiseOttawa, counselOntario and offered good insight in- the deeply wider Church and Niagara, appreciated ample. was privileged and honoured to challenging matters facing the importance of ecumenical relationships. had the opportunity to know him as my bishCOST: Early Registration fee isthe Church. His pervoice person (plusaHST) was a$50.00 calming and non-anxious presOne of the qualities I admired about Terry op, mentor and friend. The Church has been Includes a continental breakfast and a cold lunch ence. He offered strong episcopal was his willingness to make time for people. blessed to have had him as a faithful bishop. buffet, as well as electronic seminar handouts leadership afterboth January 30, 2020) and morally. He in the($60.00 diocese, pastorally He made himself available to clergy and laity He will be missed and leaves a legacy of exwas aTO model of deep and prayerful who needed to meet with him. I was often emplary leadership, humility, compassion and REGISTER, CALL faith TOLL FREE thoughtfulness, and wasx230 genuinely concerned asked to join him in meetings with others, 1-877-942-0001 profound faith. We are grateful to his family Page 3 FAX 519-942-0300 about the well-being of the clergy andContinued laity fromand it was evident that he always listened infor having shared him with the Church and EMAIL under hisseminars@carters.ca episcopal leadership. tently. Terry was a pastor, mentor, friend and them sions of ourof prayerful We give and of being “trapped” in a cycle discrimination, violence assure and deep ways to support. build community VISIT OUR WEBSITE In the OR spring of 2003 I received a calloffrom confidante. Archbishop Finlay back totohis Crepoverty, but also the sense of loneliness, the participants’ wit, Terence and work together advocate www.carters.ca the Archbishop’s office inviting me tocommunity, meet Another quality I admired in him was his ator God with the same graciousness we ex-the dignity and purpose determination and resilience shone for change. ISARC’s report on Brochure, Map & Online Registration with him. I thought humility. He engaged people in all staperienced of “Voices” him. May project he rest in peace and available Iat:was going to be invited they found at the Common Table.with through. will be released http://www.carters.ca/index.php?page_id=133 to sit on another committee of the diocese. Hehaving tions of life. He was as comfortable rise with Christ in glory. Despite faced deprivation, The daytalking concluded with discusin 2020.
Dr. Carl Benn firm handshake and
BISHOP’S OPINION
St. Olave’s Church
Law Seminar
GETTING TOGETHER
Determination, resilience shines through
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January 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
