"'Preparing the Way', the strategic planning process that will make recommendations to the next General Synod. consulted with all Canadian dioceses in the first half of this year [1994]. A remarkable degree of consensus around a number of key points emerged: We will be smaller and must focus our resources. - The way we understand leadership is changing ....". "The 'Beginners', the task group that oversees 'Preparing the Way', developed four options to place before the National Executive Council in May [1995]. They were not intended to represent proposals for action, but to outline some clear choices for NEC's discussion. Option 1: Continue to work at the same priorities but with reduced funding ... Option 2: Build on national strengths: world partnerships, social justice, information and financial development services ... Option 3: Address fundamental issues facing the church in Canada, in partnership with dioceses ... Option 4: Reduce to bare essentials ...". "NEC rejected Option 1 as 'status quo' and asked for further development on the other three. Options 2 and 3 present a clear by unpalatable choice between focusing on international mission or domestic mission -- each at the expense of the other. Members tried in various ways to combine the two, but realized this would put us back to the status quo -- as someone observed: 'two plus three equals one'. Option 4 received little enthusiasm, but members felt it should not be eliminated at this point. Dioceses and national committee members are now being asked for further comments. NEC is expected to select a single option (for recommendation to General Synod) when it meets in November [1994]".
A consultation of 20 Aboriginal Anglican leaders met in Winnipeg, Man., from 23-26 April 1994. "The group, which included members of the church's Council for Native Ministries and Aboriginal members of other national committees, presented a statement to the church's national executive council in May [1994]. The statement invites the Anglican Church 'to covenant with us, the indigenous Anglicans of Canada, in our vision of a new and enriched journey'. 'We were elated by how clearly we all felt led to this unanimous vision', said Donna Bomberry, chair of the Council for Native Ministries. .... 'We feel like new missionaries', said the Rev. Arthur Anderson, an Aboriginal member of the national executive council. 'We are bringing a proposal to our church for a new spiritual relationship between ourselves and non-native Anglicans'". "Aboriginal people are estimated to make up about 4 percent of Canadian Anglicans. There are approximately 210 Aboriginal congregations, 70 Aboriginal clergy, and two suffragan bishops".
The text of "A New Covenant": "We representatives of the indigenous people of the Anglican Church of Canada, meeting in Winnipeg from the 23 to 26 April, 1994, pledge ourselves to this covenant for the sake of our people and in trust of our Lord and saviour, Jesus Christ: Under the guidance of God's spirit we agree to do all we can to call our people into unity in a new, self-determining community with the Anglican Church of Canada. To this end, we extend the hand of partnership to all those who will help us build a truly Anglican Indigenous Church of Canada. May God bless this new vision and give us grace to accomplish it. Amen".
"Trend: In the next 10 to 15 years the largest portion of current active membership will be deceased. How does that grab you ? The trend is taken from a demographic analysis of the Anglican Church prepared for a set of diocesan consultations now underway. .... Is all the news that gloomy ? No, but unfortunately much of it is. 'It's clear evidence', says Robert Pynn, 'that God is issuing a call to the church. The ultimate message is not the death of the church, but its rebirth -- a radical transformation.' Pynn, the dean of Calgary, chairs a group which is helping the national executive council with the planning process. Between now and the end of April [1994], every diocese will have a consultation to determine what messages it wants to send to the national church". "These findings and others, along with the demographic analysis, have been collected in a 24-page booklet prepared for the diocesan consultations. ... The results of all the consultations will be brought together at a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in May [1994]. The NEC is responsible for developing a 'short list' of options for the church's future directions".
"A poster, bulletin cover and resource list is available with this mailer (if not included with your package, please contact the Resource Centre). These resources support 1994 as the International Year of the Family. Celebration dates are intentionally left of the materials because different regions celebrate at different time. October 2 to 9 [1994] are the dates suggested for Canada". [Text of entire article.]
A listing of the eight items in the November 1993 Ministry Mailer with a numerical rating of each and a selection of comments. Items included: Resource Centre Catalogue, Ministry Mailer Newsletter, People of God, PWRDF Pew Bulletin Announcements, Partnership News, PWRDF Call to Action, Making It Work poster and Family Week poster.
A listing of the six items in the February 1994 Ministry Mailer with a numerical rating of each and a selection of comments. Items included: Ministry Mailer Newsletter, Resource Catalogue Update, PWRDF inserts, Stewardship Reflections, Partnership News and Ten Days material.
"An ecumenical coalition is playing a significant part in efforts to secure a future for the devastated Newfoundland fishery. Formed in October 1992, the Newfoundland and Labrador Interchurch Coalition for Fishing Communities includes representatives of all Christian denominations in the province. It works on the twin tasks of seeking the environmental recovery of the fishery, and the spiritual recovery of Newfoundlanders affected by the crisis. The goals of the coalition are to ensure the rebuilding of the fish stocks to sustainable levels, and to be present to the people in their communities during the moratorium on fishing, while calling them to respect the 'integrity of creation'". "The coalition's formation was preceded by months of careful work by many people, including the Anglican Church's national consultant on economic justice and peacemaking. David Pollock responded to an invitation from Archbishop Stewart Payne (Western Newfoundland). His work has included advocacy with government; examining alternative models of economic development; and participation in an inter-church delegation to Europe in 1992, to raise the issue of foreign overfishing with Christians, politicians, and environmental groups there".
"Willow Creek Community Church, on the outskirts of Chicago, is a 'mega-church' that has been extensively written about and copied". "The founders of Willow Creek set out to build a church that would attract people who didn't want to go to church. They began building a mental picture of these people and their needs. They called them 'Unchurched Harry and Unchurched Mary'. Fifteen thousand now attend Sunday services weekly. Lee Strobel, a 'teaching pastor' at Willow Creek, has written a book called 'Inside the Mind of Unchurched Harry and Mary'. The following comments, by Robert Longman, are taken from a discussion group on Ecunet, the computer network". "Observation #1: Harry/Mary has rejected church, but that doesn't necessarily mean a rejection of God". "Observation #6: Harry/Mary doesn't just ask 'Is Christianity true ?' Often, they're asking. 'Does Christianity work ?'"