Response to the Bishop's Charge
to the
127th Session of the Diocesan Synod of Fredericton
Bishop Miller, Synod Delegates and Observers,
First, your Committee, Hazel MacKenzie, Trevor Holder, Albert Snelgrove
and myself, would like to thank you for this opportunity to respond to
this first charge of your episcopacy.
We have been very impressed with the strong goal oriented focus of the
charge, which continually keeps before us out Lord’s great commission,
that, with renewed vision, our focus and goal is to go forth into all
the world and make disciples, and that, therefore, what we should be
about as a diocese, should reflect that sense of mission, and go part of
the way towards realizing it.
We are aware that the pace of the last three years has been hectic for
all concerned. We sense a need to give the many, many new
initiatives of this period roots and strong foundations before
moving too much further. We believe that this charge gives us that time
for consolidation and firming up the new things we have begun. It still,
however, contains some new initiatives which will keep us challenged
and take us yet another step further towards achieving our goals, so
that when the wonderful day arrives that all 70,000 Anglicans show up
on a Sunday, and others also, we will be able to cope with the
challenge.
Youth Ministry
You have outlined an incredible challenge to us - that we may “create a
new spiritually focused, youth friendly environment.” This is the
goal. However, it is a goal backed up by a 14 point action plan
with concrete suggestions as to how we obtain that goal. The suggestion
that perhaps God knows and understands our capabilities better than we
do is certainly applicable here. The fact that Camp Medley is in
such need of great renewal is a clear indication that we are not
presently properly equipped to receive our youth.
The decision to enlist the support of a professional fund raiser is a
logical and tangible step towards building on the efforts of our
previous synods.
We are also reminded in this charge that the Christian education of our
youth cannot be ‘done in a vacuum.’ Their education cannot be
something they leave behind at church, but is rather a preparation for
the outside world, that as youth they reflect the word of God in their
communities.
Education and Development of Our
Clergy and Lay Leaders
With the acknowledgment that education undergirds everything we do, we
hear with satisfaction of the success of the ministries begun following
Synod 2001. You have identified that when planning Clergy college
for 2004, new sources of funding will have to be identified. We
hope your working relationship with Bishop Hiltz, will lead to a new
relationship between our dioceses, which will result in shared
stewardship of resources and opportunities.
You are obviously concerned with the health and welfare of your
priests, and we see you as a role model for parishes which need to be
supportive of their clergy as they perform difficult and demanding
parish ministries.
In addressing the problem of fewer candidates seeking ordination your
challenge to parishes to be supportive and to partner with the
diocese to develop curacy settings is one of reason and practicality.
The ministries established which have helped the laity to be part of
the great commission are to be celebrated. A beginning has been
made. However, time is needed to root these ministries to enable
them to grow and bear fruit.
Bishop Claude, in your praise, thanks and encouragement for special
ministries in our diocese, and your recognition of the gifts of others,
you encourage us in the belief that we are all part of a royal
priesthood. Your focus of more attention on layreader training is a
positive step in addressing the very real fact that many parishes in our
diocese will be facing tremendous challenges in the future, either
financial or due to a shortage of clergy.
Another indication of your concern for your people is your pastoral
concern that such groups as the retired clergy and/or wives have their
needs met.
While you are pro-actively meeting the spiritual needs of those in your
care through ministries such as the Alpha programme, we are excited to
hear that a new initiative has been undertaken in the Companioned
Spiritual Formation Team, which it is hoped will provide new and deeper
opportunities in spiritual growth.
Stewardship and Financial
Development
Bishop Claude, you have reaffirmed to us the diocesan support that is
available to us a a result of the work of the Stewardship Education and
Action Team. We need to encourage more of our parishes to take
part in the annual conferences available to them. Much has been
started in this regard and we need to keep the momentum going. We
believe that Narrative Budgeting is a very effective tool in educating
or reminding our parishioners how their money is being put to
work. It is important to note that narrative budgeting is not a
change in accounting practices, but simply a better way of describing
how our budget is working to minister to our community.
Strengthening Struggling Parishes
In the coming months and years we shall follow the progress of the
newly-formed parish of the Nerepis and St. John with great
interest. Our interest in this amalgamation is in both the
opportunities offered for expanded ministry in this specific area of the
Diocese, and also in the example it provides of bringing parishes
together to discuss shared ministries in a common region.
We believe that the recently-formed Archdeaconry Commissions can
provide a most valuable forum to discuss and assess the needs and
opportunities for partnerships in ministry between neighboring parishes.
Constitution and Canons
We appreciate the work of the Constitution and Canons Committee, which
has endeavoured to consolidate and redraft the additions to the same
made over many years to make them easier for all to follow and
understand.
Blessing of Same-sex Unions
We recognize the serious issues that are before our Communion at this
very moment with respect to the place of members of the Church who are
homosexual. Recent events in the Diocese of New Westminster, the
Diocese of Reading in the U.K. and in the Diocese of New Hampshire in
the USA have already caused some division in the communion and bring the
potential of greater rupture.
We acknowledge that as a Bishop of the Church you are under great
pressure, and that perhaps this will be your greatest challenge.
We promise to pray for you. Your Charge included a motion which
this Synod will debate and will vote upon. Therefore we do not
wish to respond to this area of your charge specifically.
Nevertheless, we support whole-heartedly your desire to be an “agent of
unity in the Church.” We treasure greatly the unity of our beloved
world-wide Anglican Communion, our National Church and the unity of the
Diocese of Fredericton. We trust by God’s grace we shall go
forward together as members of the body of Christ.
Diocesan Communications
We see improved Diocesan communication as essential, and it seems
obvious that electronic communication is the way we need to go. We
would welcome diocesan help to bring parishes up to speed in this
area. We believe effective communication is two way, however, and
would encourage parishes to communicate with the Diocese as to what is
going on and important in their lives, as well as expecting the diocese
to communicate well with them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we appreciate the strong direction given, bishop.
We believe it represents the will of God for this Diocese, and we pray
that the Holy Spirit will continue to lead and guide you in the years
ahead.
Committee Chair: The Rev'd Patricia Drummond
Members: Mrs. Hazel MacKenzie, Mr. Trevor Holder, the Rev'd Canon
Albert Snelgrove
08 November 2003
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