RESPONSE TO THE BISHOP'S CHARGE
DIOCESE OF FREDERICTON - SYNOD 2000

Delivered by Archdeacon Stuart Allan and Mr. Bill Gerhardt,
co-chairs of the Response Committee on the Bishop's Charge
Christ Church Cathedral - June 17,2000

Bishop Hockin and Members of Synod:

It is an honour and pleasure for this committee to share the voices of the people of this synod in their response to the Bishop's charge. It was an excellent charge, full of hope - yet challenging. We choose to begin this response with texts from the second book of Acts.

"When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues as of fire appeared among them and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the spirit gave them ability." (Acts 2:1-4)

At this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished they asked, "are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear each of us in our own native language?" (Acts 2: 6-8)

We hear them speaking about God's deeds of power. All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, what does this mean? But others sneered and said, "they are filled with new wine"(Acts 2:11b-13). Since last evening we the church have likewise gathered together in one place. While there were no literal violent winds that shook the Cathedral, it has become apparent to this committee through the many strong responses that there are powerful winds stirring within our hearts. But as our Bishop has pointed out in his charge, the church must be prepared to recognize AND to respond to "these troubling times (which are) symptoms of a deeper malaise." (line 21-22).

Bishop Hockin, in referring to the survey of winter 2000, plainly tells us, "there is a deep dissatisfaction with the status quo", yet he also tells us, that dissatisfaction is "seldom named" (l. 33-34.)

We, the representatives of the church of God, have named ways to strengthen our church in order to remedy our dissatisfaction. We have said that our Bishop has listened; he will provide strong leadership; yet he has invited us all to share in the work set before us in building up the kingdom. And there is excitement that our most important problems have been identified. It is particularly clear that we not only agree that our youth must be involved, but that we must act upon the ideas presented, such as a youth synod.

Here are the types of responses we received, and we quote directly from our discussion groups:

• We have been challenged to "shake-up the tree radically while maintaining the roots"
• Don't change the product...change the presentation
• Empowerment by the church to allow the Holy Spirit to do His will
• The furrow has been plowed; it is up to us to cultivate it
• Encouraged by the Bishop's acknowledgment of bible teaching; challenged by new focus on Christian home as learning- center
• Recapture the lost generation
• Stop "'shacking-up" with the culture

There are expressed fears: particularly worries of no action or follow-through. Rural parishes expressed the concern that "the charge caused concern to small rural parishes in that lack of resources should not limit vision."

Summarizing… in our Anglican tradition, our Bishop wears the sign of Pentecost on his brow with the miter, the divided tongues of fire. Those tongues of fire may languish and smolder, as some fear, or they may ignite and burn and blaze as we hope. Bishop Hockin has challenged us that we, the church, blaze- not with small warmish campfires in each parish, but with a diocesan-wide bonfire stoked with the solid kindling of, "scriptural and catholic truth" (l.48-49). And this fire must not just comfort the bones of the elders, it," must meet the want of the present generation" (l.49-50).

Bishop Hockin points the way to the kindling of this most glorious bonfire, through his 4 strategies. Here are your (synod's) further responses concerning those strategies.

FIRST, WHAT CAN PARISHES DO?

Point #1: Building Up And Strengthening the Church As It Now Exists

With regard to building up and strengthening the church as it exists at the parish level, delegates have said we must start by strengthening our leaders, our clergy and our vestry members. Leading by example was an oft-mentioned phrase used by delegates.

Concern was expressed with the "work overload" accepted by clergy and the need for clergy to "let go" and lead in their parishes rather than try to do it all themselves.

As our Bishop suggested we agree we need to focus especially on our young people, starting by asking them how the church can play a new role in their turbulent lives.

One of our groups provided a particularly helpful summary of our challenge: They said: "we must learn it, we must live it and we must lead it."

Among the interesting points made were these:

• parishes have to actively support the spiritual growth of our clergy and their participation in courses on financial management and self-care
• all parishes need to do a parish planning based on strengths and weaknesses
• lay people must accept an increased leadership role. We are relying too much on clergy
• parish worship and programs have to be more flexible to meet the needs of everyone in the parish and the community
• we must practice what we say we believe

Point #2: Reaching Out To Those Who Are Not Yet Part of The Church

We as parishes have to be willing to invest our time, talent and treasure in the lives of people. Our parishes need to be more open to frank discussions of issues; welcoming to newcomers; encouraging and sharing of ideas and be prepared to share our resources with our neighbouring parishes.

We must not isolate ourselves but be actively involved in our broader community. We need to place more emphasis on all aspects of faith in our families. We can no longer simply expect the young people of our parishes to be involved in our church life. We must be prepared to involve them and interest them.

The parish needs to provide emphasis on music and to provide support and revitalization of the Sunday School.

Specifics:

• provide resources for family devotions
• train people in "how to talk to families" about our faith and teach it in the home
  "consideration to be given to closing church buildings and combining congregations.
• "it is time for bold steps, tough but necessary decisions"
• "encourage youth to attend camp and provide finances to make it accessible to all"
• "focus on youth and young adults and involve them as leaders for parish activity and support

Point #3: Equipping Ourselves With Resources

We need to utilize the various programs of every parish by actively using the deanery structure as an organized force for inter-parish sharing of programs and activities.

As well, we need a central resource center with a detailed and updated listings of human and material resources. Within the parish itself, we must identify, develop, and utilize the spiritual resources and LATENT talents and gifts in the parish by helping people identify them.

There is a recognized need for encouragement and support for continuing education of clergy and training lay leadership. Also, frequent education renewal and /or training for vestry and Sunday School teachers.

Key Items mentioned:

• parishes provide a monthly family prayer to be used at mealtimes
• better use of NB Anglican newspaper as an effective communication tool
• encourage use of both old and new liturgical resources; that is, BCP, BAS and contemporary music
• make use of annual opportunities for continuing education

Point #4 Stewardship and Financial Development

In the area of stewardship at the parish level, delegates feel that we must begin to do things differently and with greater emphasis. They are also convinced that improved stewardship will follow naturally if we are successful in the other three areas mentioned by the Bishop. We must do a much better job communicating. Our people need to know the spiritual basis of good stewardship; the challenges we face; the specific needs we have and the role each person plays in meeting these needs. We acknowledge there is sometimes confusion between stewardship and simply asking for money. An over-arching suggestion is that the diocese needs to have a business plan to match our new vision and should lead in the creation of new deanery plans for our buildings and deployment of clergy.

Among the other interesting suggestions were these:

• Encourage personal testimonies regarding the importance of tithing
• Ask everyone to increase giving by 1 toonie per week
• Let's break our addiction to project and building-based fund raising
• Let's augment the training of clergy and gifted laity in the principles of stewardship of tithing
• Our parishes need to be good models of stewardship
• Can we change the formula for parish support for the diocese so that all parishes give 10 %of their income?

SECOND, WHAT CAN THE BISHOP AND DIOCESE DO?

Point #1: Building Up And Strengthening the Church As it Now Exists

With regard to the important role the Bishop and diocese can play in the building up and strengthening of the church as it now exits, delegates are unquestionably looking to the Bishop for both leadership and support. The Bishop plays a key role in strengthening both clergy and lay ministries in all its forms.

Bishop, delegates are asking that your vision and the four key points in your charge be regularly and actively promoted, especially through the NB Anglican newspaper. And that you follow-up with individual clergy and vestries to monitor our progress.

Delegates want you, Bishop, the Archdeacons, diocesan staff and council to come more often to their parishes, especially for open discussion (not just services). Delegates report that parishes need to better understand the role that the diocese can play in supporting and strengthening their ministries.

Among the interesting ideas on this topic:

• the diocese has to identify local ministry as a priority and fund it
• the Bishop's leadership is essential in introducing youth oriented liturgy and music
• the Bishop needs to establish a "safe mechanism" for the discussion of important issues
• the Bishop has to ensure that the pastoral needs of the clergy are being met, and there should be more pastoral letters from him to all parishes
• the diocese needs to recognize that all parishes are different and one size does not fit all.

Point #2: Reaching Out To Those Who Are Not Yet Part of The Church

The groups stated that you, Bishop, and the diocese need to provide leadership and allocate resources (personnel, material and finances) to encourage and support outreach.

Key Points:

• Give clarity and direction in terms of faith issues so Anglicans know what they believe when they reach out (do Anglicans believe in outreach?)
• Develop a 3-year plan of action to implement change- maintenance to mission (action, evaluation, accountability)
• Establish a pool of resources to be shared within deaneries and across the diocese (books, video and audio tapes, music, expertise, electronic technology, and equipment, schools for laity and clergy on outreach to society etc.)

Point #3: Equipping Ourselves With Resources

The main point from Synod discussions is to provide a follow-up and evaluation of the action items coming out of this synod.

We need to make available and make more effective use of all modern forms of communication ( web sites; email; videos; multi-media etc.)

We need to provide training, and continuing education for clergy and laity through conferences, resource libraries, and listings of available resources.

Clergy need to cooperate more at the deanery and diocesan level and share leadership.

Finally, we need to encourage the development of spirituality within our homes and families.

Some Specifics

• Make more use of retired people - both clergy and lay
• Annual training conference for lay leaders
• Establish a school for contemporary worship music to complement the school for church music in Rothesay.

Point #4 Stewardship and Financial Development

Bishop… communication, consultation, stewardship and the establishment of financial development programs are high on the lists of concern of Synod delegates. Synod would see the Diocese promoting parochial self-sufficiency, such as by reducing and eliminating block grants. Synod recommends that you, Bishop, the archdeacons and the parishes should establish a consultative process when the realignment of parishes and the closing of churches become a reality. Education in financial matters, i.e. stewardship, investments, etc., should be provided for all levels throughout the Diocese and should be a high priority.

Synod requests that the Diocese provide opportunities to develop timely communication processes and attain current resources in order to build a strong relationship between the Diocese and the parishes. The use of videos, the internet and other resources are valuable tools for the Diocese to explore in its journey to communicate its message to the parishes. Bishop, it is also recommended that you build a relationship with the media to raise the profile of the Anglican Church.

Among other interesting points made were:

• Teaching should come from Diocesan level to clergy.
• "State of the Diocese" message should be given on a regular basis.
• Teaching should come from the Diocesan level to clergy, then clergy to parishes.

A final general comment from those who took part in the discussions: Synod commends you, Bishop, for your efforts to provide this process of discovery and of strengthening our sense of the Diocesan family.

Conclusion

A modern day psychologist has written that, "culture inducts the young into its canonical ways". Bishop Hockin has reminded us through his charge that,"we must learn new ways of engaging the culture around us. We need to engage it, but never marry it again." (line 224-225). Ezekiel gives us a clue to the way to extract not only our young, but the whole people of God from the dry bones of culture:

O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live." (37:4-5)

It has become popular in our culture to speak of "toolkits" as metaphors for basic strategies for accomplishing tasks needed to reach desired goals. The people of this synod have responded to the Bishop's suggestions that we develop our own toolkit for lifting-up the church into a new relationship within a culture that has attempted to assimilate or even squeeze out the breath of God.

As the responses of the people have reminded us, the kit itself is the word of God, the sacraments of God's grace and a life of prayer and devotion. Within this kit the tools include: the power of preaching, worship and music; programs for education, programs for support, community presence, witness to Christian marriage and family life; money for resources, and finally - vibrant witnessing people.

We have accepted that we, at the parish level have to be much more active in our use of the tools in our toolkit. Parishes ARE the engines of mission, but we do look to you Bishop, and your Diocesan Council for unity of our purpose, for leadership and for support.

Thanks Be to God!