[Special Meeting of House of Bishops]
https://archives.anglican.ca/link/official3152
- Date
- 1979 February 14
- Source
- Anglican News Service
- Type
- Press Release
- Text of motion
- Toronto, Feb. 14, 1979
- For immediate release
- The "House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada" is an imposing title which conjures up images of authoritarian pronouncements. Last week, however, the Bishops from the 30 Anglican Dioceses in Canada came to Ottawa, not to pronounce, but to listen, learn, discuss and to seek help in facing some major pastoral concerns.
- This rather unusual session of the House of Bishops began on February 5th in the Beacon Arms Hotel. February 6th was spent examining the process of Federal Government. M.K. Hicks, of Transport Canada, discussed "How Decisions are Made" in the Canadian Government. Blair Seaborn, of Fisheries and Environment Canada, described "As a Deputy Minister Sees It," while Peter Dobell, director of the Parliamentary Centre for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, looked at "What Issues Does Parliament Influence?"
- G.E. Steele, President of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, spoke on "Influencing the Government - A Process Sinister or Benign?" The final presentation on the afternoon of February 6th was "The Politician's View" by Michel Rochon of l'Universite de Montreal, formerly assistant secretary in the Prime Minister's Office.
- After dinner on Tuesday, February 6th, the Honourable Mitchell Sharp led a wide-ranging and informal discussion with the Bishops, concerning the workings of governments.
- February 7th and February 9th the Bishops spent time in plenary and group sessions discussing agenda arising from, and since, previous meetings of the House of Bishops. Primarily, these concerns were in the area of pastoral and personal matters.
- For example, in the Anglican Church, all clergy must be licensed to a particular Bishop in order to carry out any sacramental or preaching function. There is no such thing as an Anglican "Priest-at-large." The Bishops spent some time examining particular problems this can raise in relation to the significant number of clergy presently working in a variety of non-parochial ministries, often not supported wholly or even in part by the Anglican Church, and those who, although retaining their ordained status, are employed full-time in a "secular" occupation.
- The Bishops also spent considerable time discussing the deliberations which have taken place since the presentation last year of the Report of the Task Force on Human Sexuality (see previous media release coverage - Feb. 3, 1978). The report, which had been commissioned to examine the question of homosexuality within the total context of human sexuality and the Christian faith, contains recommendations to assist the Bishops in exercising the pastoral concern of the Church for persons with homosexual orientation. It is not meant to formulate "official" Church policy. A study guide on human sexuality for use by the general membership of the Church is also being prepared and the discussions by the Bishops will assist in its preparation.
- Patrick Watson, well-known Canadian writer and broadcaster, led off the discussion on February 8th with a look at "What Broadcasting, Magazines and Newspapers are Saying to Us, About Us." Later in the day, the Bishops were joined by Eli Mandel, Professor of English at York University, for discussion of "What Poetry and Fiction are Saying About Canadian Culture." Dr. Mandel is currently Writer-in-Residence for the city of Regina.
- On February 8th the Bishops were received at Rideau Hall by Governor-General Edward and Mrs. Schreyer.
- This unique session of the House of Bishops was designed and organized by a committee responsible for continuing and widening the education and knowledge of the Bishops in areas of contemporary concern.
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- Subjects
- Anglican Church of Canada. House of Bishops
- Anglican Church of Canada. House of Bishops - Rules and practice
- Anglican Church of Canada - Bishops - Education (Continuing education)
- Episcopacy - Anglican Church of Canada
- Anglican Church of Canada - Government
- Church discipline - Anglican Church of Canada
- Anglican Church of Canada - Clergy - Licensing
- Homosexuality - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Anglican Church of Canada. House of Bishops. Task Force on Human Sexuality
- Decision-making - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada