Bishop
Miller's Charge
to
128th Synod of the
Diocese of Fredericton
BIBLICAL REFERENCE
19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” NRSV
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
INTRODUCTION
Finding the words to introduce my second charge presented a challenge. It has been nineteen months since our last Diocesan Synod and much has happened in the life of our Diocese, our National Church, and the Anglican Communion. Being a living breathing Anglican in the early twenty-first century is not only challenging but wonderfully exciting. It is within this life and reality that I welcome you to the 128th Synod of our diocese
As we prayerfully engage in the business of this Synod we are called by God to be faithful to the covenant we share in baptism and to show forth God’s love to a broken world. The Church present, within this social context, finds that its traditional understandings and conventional norms are challenged by progressive thought and action in the midst of a deep longing and hunger for intimacy with God. Discerning God’s will for our personal and corporate response in the midst of this tension-filled reality is no easy feat. God is calling for a deep commitment to repentance, prayer, spirit-filled knowledgeable leadership and the fruit of the Spirit manifested in time, talent, treasure and testimony. Our prayerful response ought always to be a commitment to the challenge of our baptismal covenant in our present context. Let’s be frank - as God’s church, we find ourselves in an uncomfortable place these days.
Morris and Olsen in a little book titled “Discerning God’s Will Together” remind us that “Today is an in-between time for the church, between the past, when the church was firmly established in Christendom, and an unclear future for the church. Today is the time for redefinition; it is a time for the church to listen to its stories, to talk about its direction and identity, and to patiently discern the shape of its future life and ministry. Yet people are weary from church business as usual, from church gatherings that do not connect with the deeper meanings of their life and faith. The church must draw on its best traditions in faith and practice in order to find new ways of interacting and deciding. The process of prayerful spiritual discernment draws on the best of the church’s practices and offers a depth of faith and life uncommon in the church today.”
A new social structure, that is yet to be defined, or its impact measured, will have its way, because it is driven largely by a new ideology that, as Walter Brueggemann suggests “is at least indifferent if not hostile to every social structure and institution that is indispensable for a functioning human community.” “Hope For The World “
The Church in our Anglican context and reality is challenged during the ‘in-between’ time, and at the same time all indications are that ‘the faithful’ understand our presence as Brueggemann would suggest as ‘indispensable.’ If this be the case then, in the midst of chaos, confusion and bewilderment, we are called to transformation. Our church has been slow to respond to the needs generated by this rapid change and at the same time being true to God’s mission in the world. This change can be labeled as ‘evil incarnate’ and we react by waging a battle that seeks “winners and losers” or to respond by demonstrating God’s love and compassion in a spirit of obedience and faithfulness to God’s mission in Jesus Christ.
The tension between the world’s agenda and God’s mission is intensified and driven largely by artificial images and a culture of immediacy. Many people of faith have admitted that there is a major downside to technology in that we all, to a greater or lesser extent, are “technologically bound.” Our response has been to give our hopes and desires over to this artificiality. Jean Baudrillard in response to this cultural phenomena writes “Nowadays one no longer says: You’ve got a soul and you must save it,” but: You’ve got a sexual nature, and you must find out how to use it well.” “You’ve got an unconscious, and you must learn to liberate it.” “You’ve got a body, and you must know how to enjoy it.” “You’ve got a libido, and you must know how to spend it.” “Forget Foucault” There may not be a verse in Scripture that we can quote as to the sinful nature of technology, but there is much said about the sinful nature of idiolatry in culture.
As directed by our visioning synods of 2000 and 2001 your council has taken deliberate steps to make our collective vision a reality. I see this vision as a call and mandate for change as a positive step to equip the leadership and the parishes to meet the challenge of ministry in a rapidly changing context. This is very much a work in progress and I am delighted with the work that has been accomplished thus far. At the parish level there are wonderful signs of growth in many areas, yet at the same time there are many areas that will require prayerful imagination to address the concerns for the future. Bishop, Synod Staff and Diocesan Council are focused in their endeavors to facilitate the call of the Gospel in every task undertaken on your behalf.
I am grateful to the Committees of Council for their willingness to embrace our new model of governance. The seven areas of ministry serve as umbrella structures enabling transparency, accountability, evaluation and budgeting. While these several areas are treated separately they are linked and dovetailed in their overall vision of mission to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ for the making of disciples. These Committees and Ministry areas are listed in your journal and their work will serve as a starting point for your small group discussions tomorrow. The results of your time together will form the basis of Synod’s response to the Bishop’s Charge.
It is not my intent to restate that which is already in your possession by way of the Council’s Report to Synod. I will report only in so far as this good work serves to guide and direct our way forward. As you may well appreciate since my installation the learning curve have been very steep. But your prayers and support have been a wonderful blessing to Sharon and me. My sincere intent for the episcopal administration of our diocese over the past nineteen months has been guided by a prayerful discernment process that seeks to respond to the need of our diocese and the wider Church with pastoral sensitivity. I have discovered in my travels to the archdeaconries that this diocesan community is a community reflecting God’s love in a very real way. We are called to grow together as the inter-and co-dependent Body of Christ. We are called to listen not only to God and each other but to the very words that come from our own lips. It is these words that others hear and to which they respond. It is our own words that are capable to building up or tearing down.
The strength of our relationships depends on the health of our prayer life and our obedience to God’s word as manifested in the person Jesus Christ. Our reaction to fear, real or imagined, in our present cultural context to a very large degree serves as our motivation. Jesus understands this human trait. Fear motivated the disciples to seek safety and security behind closed doors. In spite of locked doors and solid walls Jesus appears in their midst and the disciples are overjoyed. It is the same Jesus that is in our midst by the presence of his Holy Spirit.
The fear that motivates our culture has invaded the Church on many fronts and in many places we have endeavored to build our security at the expense of others. As fellow brothers and sisters in Christ we have not sought out the Christ in others, rather we have taken the easy road of judgement. Fear must be put in perspective. If perfect love casts our fear then it is faith cast in this prefect love that must serve as our motivation. We have souls worth saving and life everlasting is what is desired for us by a loving God.
Our changing social context driven largely by technology and avarice seems to promise a better life, perhaps even eternal life. In spite of our embracing the promise there is little evidence that our fears have dissipated.
Many years ago, just after Mother Teresa had been awarded the Nobel Prize, she was on a Canadian interview show with a biologist who had just won a Nobel Prize. During the discussion, the biologist began to speak of the possibility of creating everlasting life through DNA research. To stir things up, the host asked Mother Teresa what she thought of the possibility of “real” everlasting life as opposed to the Church “fiction.” Mother Teresa replied “I believe in love and compassion.” It prompts the question “Would everlasting life matter if one lived in a world without love and compassion?”
I encourage this Synod to see this introduction as a backdrop against which our vision and work in faith may move our diocese forward in response to the Gospel. Hiding behind closed doors because of fear is not the call of the Gospel. Jesus calls us to “go” “go into all the world. And “fear not” for I am with you until the close of the age”.
CHARGE
It is with much gratitude that I accept on your behalf the reports of the Diocesan Council and its Teams and Committees. These presentations to Synod reflect thousands of hours of prayer and work to enable God’s mission among us. Tomorrow evening we will gather to give thanks and praise to God for his abundant blessings. The vision of this diocese is focused on the “Proclamation of the Gospel for the Making of Disciples” - bringing God’s much needed love to a broken and hurting world, our families, and our community. Our response ought to be motivated by our love and obedience to our Lord’s commission. We witness God’s love as it is returned by our neighbor in response to the love we demonstrate to them.
The work of Diocesan Council, its Teams and Committees has been undertaken in a spirit of generosity. Our governance model is much less hierarchical (top down) and more horizontal. A horizontal model requires consultation and broader participation drawing on all talents, gifts and imagination and the sharing of concerns in a process demonstrating prayerful mutual respect for one another. An example of this is your participation tomorrow morning as you participate fully in the response to this Charge. We know that the road to the kingdom begins with repentance and acts of sacrificial love that demonstrate God’s love for us in the giving of his Son Jesus Christ. God loves us and understands fully our disobedient and prodigal ways, yet he patiently waits for our return.
Your Bishop and Diocesan Council through the work of the Teams have been very busy since the November 2003 Synod. The cooperative prayerful support of our parishes and all the faithful have enabled much to be done. I sense however that we are just getting started. In the midst of this new beginning for our diocese, Church life locally continues to be challenged by wider issues that require additional resources and energy. Globalization is driven by a culture of immediacy and we are driven to react instead of taking time to reflect and seek God’s direction. We must seek God’s Spirit to enable God’s agenda, not our spirit enabling our agenda.
Our governance and administrative model opens up opportunity for all voices to be heard. A new Diocesan Council will be elected at this Synod. I thank all members of Diocesan Council and Chairs and members for their good work and look forward to our new Council continuing that which has begun.
ADMINISTRATION
The reports submitted under Administration are found in Section (D) pages 6-11. The work of Council with respect to administration is extensive. Diocesan administration personnel are stretched to the limit in response to council’s directives. As our vision for ministry is developed, it only stands to reason that as expectations rise, management and administration increases. To meet the challenges we have looked to the benefits of technological tools to assist with the day to day information and communication that is required to keep each Anglican in New Brunswick informed as to the life and work of the diocese.
The new Diocesan Information Management System has had much to do with the production of the statistical returns that are included in the convening circular. This new system in a few weeks will be interactive with all parishes who have internet access. For those few parishes who do not, I encourage you to seek ways of participation. Your synod staff is there for your assistance. This system when fully functional will eliminate many time consuming manual tasks that diverts resources and talents from more meaningful efforts. Even the Sabbath rest gets compromised when the work load is untenable.
In a spirit of good stewardship our diocese has responded to the requirements of government and other agencies that seek to serve and protect all those entrusted to our care in the life of the church. The Constitutions and Canons Committee under the care of our Chancellors and their Committee members have worked countless hours drafting policies and procedures and still have much to do. In positions of trust, transparency and accountability are a top priority for institutional governance. Your prayers and cooperation are encouraged for their good work.
The work of the Diocesan Archives has been extensive, and through an extended consultation process are proposing a new Combined Parish Register. I encourage you to support this initiative that is in keeping with our policy to preserve and protect the heritage of Anglicanism in this place. I thank you for your response to place parish records in safe keeping in the Archives. If there are any who have not I encourage you to attend to this as soon as possible. Our records are invaluable and should be protected.
The Finance Committee summarizes the broad mandate of this good work under several sub-committees. Your support of the diocesan budget is that which funds the ministry of our diocese and our mission contribution to the wider church. I thank you for your support. Parishes share with me on an ongoing basis their struggle to meet local commitments and at the same time respond to diocesan requests. This is a chicken and egg situation - without the parishes there is no diocese, and without the diocese there are no parishes. We are one in Christ’s Body - the Church. As St. Paul says “If all were a single organ where would the body be?”
I thank you on behalf of the whole body for you response to the budget. The story of the good work that we are about is told in the narrative budget that was shared diocesan-wide prior to Diocesan’s Council approval. There seems little let up as to the increasing costs for ministry and infra-structure maintenance and ministry. Many of our church and hall facilities, and rectory buildings require upgrading or replacing. Bishop’s Court and the Synod Office require much needed capital expenditures. Our aging facilities have inhibited in many ways our effectiveness in the wider mission of the church. Clergy positions are threatened in some parishes because of the inability of parishes to meet regular stipend costs. We have central payroll but the diocese depends fully on the parishes for payment of clergy remuneration and benefits. There is no pool of diocesan funding to cover stipend shortfall.
There are many encouraging plans and initiatives at the parish level - from renovation projects, new churches and parish re-alignments. All must be undertaken with conscious thought as to the financial impact not only in the parish, but the diocese and the wider Church. Tradeoffs are a commitment to standing still, not moving forward. Increased financial and leadership commitment at every level are required to further the proclamation of the gospel at the parish, diocesan and national levels. We are called to “Let down Our Nets” in faith.
I must commend however those parishes that are working diligently under part-time clergy with a view to returning to full time or seeking creative models of cooperative ministries with adjoining parishes. This is but one way in which imaginative strategies must be employed in a changing context. The sharing of resources at every level of ministry is part of the vision of our National Church in developing a framework “for a common journey in Christ.” The initiative of “letting down the nets” places our common task as developing a strategy that will resource and sustain our shared ministry in the gospel. However, any vision of ministry must see itself first as a response to God’s mission to the world, to bring God’s people back to him, while showing his compassion and mercy to the faithful.
Our capital campaign, “Building Faith For a Lifetime” is a stewardship initiative that will add greatly to the faith formation of our younger folk. Our young folk are our greatest resource and Jesus said “help the little to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.” I encourage everyone present to prayerfully consider signing your pledge before you leave. The seven Bishop’s Dinners at the Archdeaconry level offer an opportunity for you to encourage others to be involved. This wonderful opportunity to share in God’s mission to our children and the children of our communities depends on your prayers and leadership.
EPISCOPAL MINISTRIES
As your Bishop there are many ongoing tasks and responsibilities that require daily episcopal attention. These ministries are not more or less important that any other, however, they exist because of our polity and tradition. They include: the appointment and support of Clergy; Retired Clergy; Staff; Seminaries and Seminary Training; Vocational Discernment; Chaplaincies; Matrimonial Commission; Lay Reading; Faith and Worship; Provincial and General Synod; House of Bishops; Episcopal Visitor to the Church Army; and, National Church Committees to name a few. Many of these ministries are shared with ministry teams and I am grateful for their support and encouragement.
The two ongoing major issues in the life of our Canadian Church have to do with Residential Schools and the Blessing of Same Sex Relationships.
With respect to Residential Schools, I thank God for our assuming part of the collective responsibility for our Church’s commitment to the funding of the partnered settlement with the federal government. At the beginning many in our diocese thought it someone else’s problem. But in true Anglican fashion the Anglican Church responded with a unanimous decision to embrace the opportunity to repent and seek forgiveness and reconciliation, so that those wronged by a well intentioned educational program for aboriginal youth might see the love of God in action.
Seven of our thirteen notices of motion that we will be considering at this Synod have their genesis in the “blessings of same sex relationships” debate. This debate has been ongoing for many years but has been intensified by the unilateral actions of the ECUSA and the Diocese of New Westminister. The results of these actions have strained relationships at the Parish, Diocesan, National Church and the world-wide Anglican Communion levels. The Body of Christ is hurting and the cries that express this hurt are largely mono logical. Many on both sides of the issue long to be heard, long to be listened to, but see their cries as futile in the midst of the present din.
I am grateful for the leadership of the Primates of the Communion, our own Primate and the House of Bishops. As Bishops we are willing to wait on the process of prayerful discernment that will culminate at our General Synod in 2007. And we call upon our constituency as represented by our Synods to support this willingness to cooperate. Political strategies may serve to deliver up an outcome in keeping with the desires of some, but as the Church we desire unity in the Body of Christ, a unity that flows from our Lord’s desire for his people in John 17. The Gospel desires the inertia of God’s Spirit, not the inertia of fear. Motivation by fear demonstrates a profound lack of faith. We must depend on God and God alone - anything less will fall short. We must place our confidence in the theocracy of the Cross and recognize the limitations of our democratic structures.
I am somewhat disappointed that there are no motions that expressly call us to action in support of our collective mission. A number of the notices I consider redundant in light of scripture, our previously stated position, our canonical process and our Bishop’s statements. I pray that your response to this Charge will consider more carefully my appeal to resource and sustain those ministries that have a direct bearing on the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ.
MISSION AND OUTREACH
The Diocesan Council, while having a separate Team for administration purposes, realizes that all committees are dedicated to Mission and Outreach. Mission and Outreach reflects the loving heart of God in the world. The mission of the Church is undergirded in prayer and desires of the Church a mature Theology of Mission.
I believe the definition offered by David Bosch is helpful. “Mission has its origin in God. God is a missionary God, a God who crosses frontiers towards the world. In creation God was already the God of Mission, with his Word and his Spirit as missionaries. God likewise sent his incarnate Son into the world. And he has sent his Spirit at Pentecost. Mission is God giving up himself, his becoming human, his laying aside of his divine prerogatives [power] and taking our humanity, his moving into the world, in his Son and Spirit.” Cray Lecture
Further Jurgen Moltmann writes; “it is not the Church that has a mission of salvation to fulfill in the world: it is the mission of the Son and the Spirit through the Father [and] that includes the Church.” Cray Lecture
David Bosch continues; “Mission has its origin in the heart of God. God is a fountain of sending love. This is the deepest source of mission...there is mission because God loves people.”And to respond in a spirit of servant-hood “is about finding out what God is doing and joining in.” Cray Lecture
The mission and outreach committee is challenged to find the balance between mission at home and abroad. A great portion of our recent initiatives are led by our youth. They want to make a difference and in doing so have shown us how we can partner with them. There is more detail provided in the Youth report of Council.
I have been approached by a number of dioceses from around the world for Companion Relationships. At the present time we do not have an official companion relationship but thank God for the prayers and companionship with the Diocese of Recife, our former companion diocese. A new companion relationship is under consideration.
There is a call from the committee for the support of this Synod in the area of refugee sponsorship. A coordinating individual or body is required to develop and resource this ministry. The appointment of a new PWRDF Diocesan coordinator has given this ministry new life. Workshops are planned for the fall, and much help is needed from the parishes to promote this work. I am encouraged that our diocesan camps will be considering “mission” as part of the program for campers at our camps. This Synod should embrace the opportunity to make a difference by finding creative ways to partner in this ministry.
PARISH SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT
The Diocesan Council through the work of the Parish Support and Development Committee has a broad mandate which is both practical and philosophical. Practical in the sense of providing resources and opportunities for parish support in the areas of training and resources for parish lay leadership, and philosophical in the sense of providing encouragement to parishes when distressed by concerns for their future.
The Bishop and Council are seeking direction from this Synod in regard to several areas of our diocese that are facing an uncertain future because of rapidly changing demographics and aging infra-structure. Many parishes are threatened by this inevitability. This reality is found in both the rural and urban settings. I believe a diocesan-wide long- term strategy is required to prepare, and, at the same time, sustain in the midst of this foreseeable change. A pastoral consultative and participatory approach will be required.
SPIRITUAL FORMATION
The words “spiritual formation” are code words that are used to describe a conscious effort to sustain and deepen our relationship with God. The seventeen ministries listed in the Report have this mandate. A mandate to offer every opportunity to our diocese to take part in planned study, training and fellowship activities that draw us closer to God and to encourage us to go forth into the world with a spiritual confidence that God wants others to join in. Our spiritual welfare is primary.
Synod’s guidance as to how these ministries may be promoted and enhanced would be welcome encouragement. Again, so much of the success for these worthwhile ministries is dependent on the support of the parishes and willingness to participate.
STEWARDSHIP AND FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT
This committee has been busy for a number of years sponsoring annual stewardship workshops and assisting the budget process in the development of our diocesan narrative budget. This model of telling our ministry story and the many benefits to God’s mission locally and abroad is a good news story. But it is not only a collective story, it is a personal story. The response to the call of God’s mission in the world begins in the individual heart and the depth of the relationship we have with God. God’s heart is a heart of abundant love. We cannot experience or respond with a spirit of generosity if we do not accept his call to love others as he loves. Stewardship is seen as a negative word because we perceive it as a word that is going to ask something of us that we are ill prepared to give. Giving should always be in response to the Giver. “God so loved the world that he gave”. His mission is to love us. Our mission ought to be to show him love in return. God never hoards what we give him and we ought not to hoard for ourselves or on his behalf. Every blessing in God’s world is to his honor and glory and is to be shared for the benefit of every creature great and small.
Our greatest asset is the relationship we have with God. And to help us understand this important truth the Council has directed the Bishop to pursue the opportunity to partner with our national church for a full-time stewardship and parish development officer for our diocese. I have submitted an expression of interest under their invitation to the diocese for a pilot project in stewardship development. I am encouraged by their early response. This pilot project is designed not simply for our benefit but for the benefit of the whole church. Under the terms of the partnership on-going resources and learnings would be shared with parishes, other dioceses and our national church.
If this grass roots initiative titled “Letting Down The Nets” under the guidance of our national church is to succeed it will require the full support of this diocese and the support of each and every Anglican across the Canadian Church. I am excited about the possibility that God’s mission will be advanced in this part of the kingdom and beyond by these efforts. Your thoughts and concerns are welcomed by the Team. Our commitment must reflect that of sacrificial love. With anything less, we will not see our vision for mission realized.
I sit as a member of the Financial Management Team of the National Church and as a member of the Financial Development sub-committee. I am privileged to be part of this exciting work. The membership of this committee is a wonderful group of highly skilled and knowledgeable folk that seek to do God’s will on behalf of the whole Church. Please keep this good work in your prayers.
YOUTH MINISTRIES
The extensive work completed and in progress by the youth committee and the diocesan youth director is reported on pages (D) 25-28. Our new Christian Education Director is working in close concert with the Bishop and the Youth Director. Youth leader training, youth ministry development, and parish youth support are a top priority for this ministry. I am excited about the number of parishes that have hired full or part-time youth leadership personnel, while others have entered into partnerships for shared youth leadership.
Since our last synod I have confirmed 283 youth and have started a data base where it will be possible for the Bishop, Christian Education and Youth Director to keep in contact for prayerful encouragement, and to extend invitations for common events that will serve to strengthen post-confirmation relationships within the diocese.
The leadership in parish-based youth mission initiatives is very encouraging. Youth teams with diocesan assistance are putting their creative ideas into action by visiting Belize, Cuba, and one parish planning a trip to Honduras.
Music and ministry camps continue to be highly successful, and leadership continues to be strong. A statement of encouragement from this Synod supporting the continuation of these initiatives would be extremely important. God’s children deserve nothing less. The work of Council and the capable leadership of our directors speaks for itself.
CONCLUSION
I thank God every day for your prayers and encouragement. I have enjoyed getting to know you better while traveling around the diocese and meeting many faithful volunteers at every level. On behalf of Diocesan Council I respectfully submit this work and charge you with the responsibility to encourage the whole diocese to engage in a process of prayer and support for the vision and ministry we share in God’s mission to the world. Fear ought not to inhibit us from moving forward in faith.
To the clergy, both active and retired, and our retired bishops, I thank you for your faithfulness in your calling to serve. May God bless each member of Synod as we partner in his service. May this Synod be a blessing to all and that you may witness his abundant love over the next three days and always. AMEN.
The Rt. Rev’d Dr. Claude W. Miller
Bishop of Fredericton
02 June 2005