44 TheAnglican TheAnglican
COMMENT COMMENT
Set by theHope HolyisSpirit Our alight Faith-Our changing lives W I
e had seen the trailcame across a pastoral leter a few times and ter from the Bishop of said to ourselves, Toronto to the clergy and maybe we should laity proposing a signifiwatch that movie sometime. cant fundraising effort. In it he And then, the sometime proposed a graduated schedcame. Free Solo is a National ule of offerings to achieve a Geographic film that won the substantial goal and an indiOscar for best documentary feature in 2018, vidual appeal to each church family in the as well as the Audience Award at TIFF in diocese by a member of their parish “to the same year. one’s It chronicles journey of knock at every door andthe rouse the inrock climber Alex Honnold’s free solo climb habitants to devote a small portion of what of Elhas Capitan, a 3,200-foot granite rock face God bestowed upon them to promote so in Yosemite National Park. For the uninitigreat a work.” ated, a free climb an ascent without That lettersolo came fromisJohn Strachan, the the safety of ropes or a harness. It is a climb first Bishop of Toronto, in January 1854! that provides no room for error. And a free The Our Faith-Our Hope: Re-imagine solo climb of El Capitan has never been Church campaign began with an idea I first done before. proposed to Synod a decade ago. As it graduThe cinematography is breathtaking. The ally took shape, we determined that it would camera moves with the climber a single be a cooperative program sharedlike between the unit. Toeand holds and hand grips are barely diocese parishes that responded to the discernible atGod’s moments thetoway up.enAt generosity of manyon gifts us to some points, Mr. Honnold contorts, presses gage God’s mission. We identified the goals of upward to leverage movement and Strengthening Localenough Parishes, Building the twists – all while the lensOur cap-InChurchhis fortorso Tomorrow, Revitalizing tures the harrowing At times, even heritance and Giving height. to Others. theThe camera operators away clergy because Canadian Northturn has many and they can’t bear look. of The documentary lay catechists into charge parishes who work touches emotional the mental without athe stipend. Manystrain, are isolated in comconcentration andtraumatic the determination of one munities that face pastoral issues climber’s resolve to do it, in spite of the including, unfortunately, the accumulatedconstant of death injury. suicides. The movie is pain ofrisk dealing withor multiple The not for the faint of heart, my,ofis$500,000 it worth Diocese of Toronto made abut grant the fromjourney. 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 leaders could come together for mutual learning, support and refreshment. So far, 276 have participated from half a dozen dioceses. Grants ranged from $500 to $100,000. The Diocese of the Arctic, for instance, brought peoe are familiar with the term “doubting Thomas,” which is derived from the story of Thomas’s unwillingness to believe his friends who told him that while he broad inviting smile,the was absent, they had seen firm handshake and Risen Christ. the word the “welcome” Thomas’s inability to accept incredare risen the memories we ible news that Christ had should not have when evidence Angela and I first be a surprise. He needed and met Terence remained skeptical of what Finlay, he hadBishop heard.of Toronto, in the summertime of Only when Jesus appeared a second 1997.made I wasthe beginning my mindid he believe and confession, istry Lord as theand incumbent of We St. Joseph of that “My my God.” may think Nazareth, he should Bramalea. have believed when he heard the When his office, there was a news on we theentered first occasion. warmth andwell genuineness by both One may ask, whatexperienced kind of follower of us in our was first he? meeting withdifferent Bishop Finlay. or disciple Or, how is He was very in getting doubt to know us Thomas frominterested us? Did Thomas’s make and our Weofshared the stories him anyyoung less a family. follower Jesus Christ? of our did Christian journeys life. It Jesus not rebuke himand for family his unbelief. was a pleasure to of engage with him and have a Rather he spoke how blessed are those sense of the pastoral care and support he who have not seen but believe. We wereofnot fered clergy their resurrection families. I hadeither, no idea witnesses toand Christ’s thatthrough six yearsthe later I would be working closely but scriptures and testimonies with him past as hisand executive assistant and of many, present, today we confess Archdeacon of York. that Christ lives. IAs got to know he many was affectionateChristians,Terry, thereasare things we ly called, when I became a member ofabout the Posdo not understand. We have doubts tulancy and “healthy a regionalskepticism,” dean. He our faithCommittee and embrace gavebecause wise counsel andfaith offered goodhave insight not we lack or even a into challenging facing the Church. weak faith, butmatters because we’re seeking a His was a calming voice andThere’s a non-anxious presdeeper understanding. nothing ence. He strong leadership wrong oroffered unusual whenepiscopal one struggles with in the diocese, both pastorally and morally. He questions about religious faith. was a model of deep faith and Thomas was singled out asprayerful doubting, but 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 OPINION ARCHBISHOP’S DIARY B y B ishop A ndrew A sbil BY ARCHBISHOP COLIN JOHNSON
ple from 48 communities together. The feedSomebody asked me the other day, how back has been astounding. It makes a differdid the town hall meetings go? Free Solo ence in peoples’ lives. came to mind. The first few months of my The Anglican Chaplaincy for the Canadian episcopacy have been marked by listenForces elected its first full-time bishop to proing, learning and climbing a steep learning vide episcopal care for regular and reserve curve thatand resembles a rockand facetoatmilitary times chaplains their families, rather than a simple rise. In stretches, I feel personnel across the country. It only became well harnessed, tethered of by possible becausesupported of an initialand endowment those who have made the climb before: staff, $500,000 from OFOH. clergy and $500,000 lay leaders. then the to town Another grantAnd from OFOH the hall meetings were scheduled, five of them Primate’s World Relief and Development in three days insupports strategicnew places around the Fund (PWRDF) work in materdiocese. I wondered who comeworld and nal and child health in themight developing whatmidwifery might be services on your in minds andnorthern hearts. and remote I wondered ifin folks might heariswhat was communities Canada. Ours the largest cominggift to any restdiocese on my heart, keeping me up, single has ever given to inspiring me in these early days of ministry PWRDF in its 50+ year history. Because of as a bishop. I wasgovernment delighted by the recepmatching federal grants, that tion. Thirty to forty people each gathered gift created a value of over $2.5 million. Safeat St. James and Cathedral, St. Bride, Clarkson, deliveries proper health care are now St. Andrew, Scarborough, St.generosity. Paul, Newmarket available because of your and St. Paul, Uxbridge. Parishes around the diocese have been Each meeting accessible, was scheduled last for made physically youthtowork is betwofunded, hours. Each went distance. asked ing leaders arethe being trained,I piofolks at a couple ofinjunctures, would you like neering ministries new contexts have been to take and a break? No, keep going, they said. I planed an amazing array of creative projspoke for about 40 minutes and then the balects have been undertaken locally because of anceFaith-Our of our time was– spent inbecause Q and A.ofThis Our Hope not just the is my favourite part, andavailable, the mostbut daunting financial resources now also too, like of going free solo – after all, you just because 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 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
never know what you might be asked: What goals to meet parish capital needs and did will happen after General Synod? What spectacularly well. Taking that into account, kind of counsel will clergy give with respect at least $50 million in new funds has been to MAID? How will you support rural mincontributed to ministry in the diocese and beistry? How will leadership change to meet yond in the last seven years, over our regular the demands of the future? And many more offerings and FaithWorks contributions. questions. We are a different diocese because of that. And what is on my heart? At each Yes, the money has helped us fund new mingathering I shared four words that, for me, istries, adapt old buildings, engage in new set a tone and direction for our various mission, support vulnerable people in ministries. They arethan not that, the four words, Christ’s name. More though, it has as though they are definitive in nature; helped build relationships between people, alrather,people more to like fourpersonal pillars upon which lowed share stories, idenministry might stand for this new season tified and trained new leaders, built up confiof our and Church. In no particular order, and they dence, assisted people to articulate are creation, diversity, discipleship and share their faith. mission. Overchanged the nextbynumber of months, I have been the experience. I youmore will be hearinginmuch more aboutabout each am confident speaking clearly of these. my faith and my commitment to it. I have disI was aheartened by how folks engaged I covered new capacity to give generously. at themet town I appreciated have thehall mostmeetings. amazing Anglicans, heard the candor the playfulness and their storiesexpressed, and been moved by their faithimagination hope articulated fulness. I haveshared, rejoicedthe in the creativity and and the courage unknown boldness of visionrequired of peoplefor andan parishes future. in the beginning,disapis now (and yes,As toitbewas honest, occasionally and ever be.I Such the Church pointed byshall a few). think was our church is in a coming to fruition on the dayFaith-Our of Pentecost different place because of Our when We the have disciples were set alightchurch. by the Hope. begun to re-imagine Holy No ropes, no harness, and I amSpirit. profoundly grateful to you and thetoe holds people and hand barely at many likegrips you who havediscernible made and are times; and even in the face of harm, a deep making a difference in our world because of resolve toin keep the faith.And My, Iitam hasespecialbeen your faith Jesus Christ. worth the to journey. theand Spirit of God ly grateful the layWith leaders clergy in anddiocese the testimony ofthe neighbours, lookrose what our who took initiative and has thus far. to it happened so graciously. The campaign is now officially concluded, but the allocations continue and the mission God invites us to share is still on our 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. Our Christian praxis is not about having faith in faith alone. The Greek word for “faith” (pistis) is a derivative of the word for “persuasion” (peitho). Our faith is not just a mindless, unquestioned acceptance of the things we were taught about God and the Bible. It is a “confidence” grounded in the and engaging on the street “evidence” of with God’spersons love revealed in thecorperner or drop-inChrist centreand as he was with persons son of Jesus experienced in our serving in public daily lives. In theoffice. book of Acts, Paul sings of theofchallenges faced was the after theOne praises the Jews he of Beroea, who, Church’shim position on human sexuality. While hearing preach, “searched the scripin office he upheld discipline tures every day tothe seedoctrine whetherand these things of theso” Church. leaving office, he officiated were (ActsOn 17:11). inIfa same-gender for faith whichand he had we are goingmarriage, to grow our to be disciplined who make it our own,by it his willdiocesan require bishop, lots of work. was once his archdeacon, It requires that we, in ourexecutive own wayassistant and at and own suffragan receiving admoniour pace,bishop. becomeInthe curiousthe enquirer tion,eager he tolddisciple, his successor in office that he exand studying the scriptures, pected nothing less from and that he was testing the validity of itshim historical claims, exercising his episcopal ministry responsibly. and comparing its assertions with those believe that Archbishop Terence was leadof Iother religions and philosophies. It will ing the diocese in theopportunities direction of being more also mean pursuing to put the welcoming to those were vulnerable, words of Jesus intowho action. marginalized, and in the minority. Uncertaintyvoiceless is not a disqualifier from He made a very significant in theas being called to be a discipledifference of Jesus. Just lifecommissioned of the Diocese those of Toronto. It is not surprishe who doubted when ing,stood therefore, to hear the very comhe with them onand the read mountaintop in plimentary reflections thattherefore many have shared Galilee, he says to us, “Go and about disciples their experiences of him. He exercised make of all nations, baptizing thema servant ministry in the name of thethroughout Father andhis of ordained the Son life, and of forthe that we give thanks to God for his exand Holy Spirit, and teaching them to ample. I was privileged and honoured to obey everything that I have commandedhave you. had the opportunity know him as myto bishAnd remember, I amtowith you always, the op, mentor and friend. The Church has been end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). Like the blessed to have him“Healing as a faithful bishop. man in the storyhad of the of the Boy He will be missed leaves a legacy help of ex-my with a Spirit,” we and can say, “I believe, emplary leadership, humility, compassion and unbelief” (Mark 9:24). 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.
It is healthy to wrestle with doubt
W Serving Archbishop Finlay was a privilege A BISHOP’S OPINION By Bishop Peter Fenty
he was not alone. Matthew’s account of another post-resurrection appearance exposed some of the other disciples. The account BISHOP’S OPINION says that when the Risen Christ himself stood with Bthe a mountaintop in Y Beleven ISHOP Pon ETER FENTY Galilee, “some doubted” (Matthew 28:17). quickly gottotohave the purpose of ourto meeting and We ought the audacity acknowlaskedthat if I was willing to be considered as a edge there are things we may never candidate fororexecutive understand believe. assistant and archdeacon. The spiritual position had become vacant It is a healthy exercise when when Archdeacon was elected Christians wrestleColin with Johnson doubt and uncersuffragan bishop. I wasthat surprised he tainty. It may be said a faithwhen unquesmet with meuntested just before thefaith clergy tioned and is no at conference all. The that year offered wrote, me the “There position.lives poet Lordand Tennyson It was a privilege distinct honour more faith in honestand doubt, believe me,tothan serve hiscreeds.” executive assistant and archdeain halfas the con. to know even betterthe andclaim WeI got ought to be Terry wary of making learned him. I witnessed depth that we much know from everything there is tothe know of his faith concern for every parish about God and and his God’s world. Accepting ourin the diocese.is Heimportant showed compassion, particulimitations and healthy. Anne larly for the the marginalized andand minorities in Lamott, political activist novelist, the Church in the wider community. wrote, “Theand opposite of faith is not doubt, disciplined in butArchbishop certainty.”Finlay Beingwas ablevery to express uncerhis work. He worked as long hours andcontinue paid attainty is acceptable long as we tention to detail, reading docuto discern God’s thoroughly purpose and will for us. ments, or any material neededwas for the It hasletters also been said that “doubt meetings. was also thatopposite.” he cared essence ofItfaith, and evident not faith’s deeply for the wider Church and appreciated Sermons or what other people say to us the importance of ecumenical relationships. help to put things in perspective. They asOne of the qualities I admired about sist us in arriving at a point where we Terry are was his willingness tobecome make time forcomfortpeople. inclined to believe or more He made available clergy and laity able with himself what remains anto unfathomable who needed to meet with him. I was often mystery. 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
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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. Fred Hiltz, 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 the largest population of aboriginal peoples in the country. 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
