French/English Project
https://archives.anglican.ca/link/official1170
- Date
- 1977 August
- Source
- General Synod. Minutes
- Type
- Act 66
- Mover
- Dr. R.J. Gardiner
- Seconder
- The Ven. P.S. Lucas
- Text of motion
- That General Synod commend and encourage the work of the Project on French/English Relations, both in its project officer and advisory group, and express its hope that consultation among the Anglican diocese in the Province of Quebec will continue so that Christians may engage creatively in the issues confronting both French and English people. CARRIED ACT 66
- Notes
- [Text of report as found on page 143 of the General Synod Journal]
- PROJECT IN FRENCH-ENGLISH RELATIONS
- November 15th, 1976 is likely to join the list of the "most important dates" in Canadian history. It was the day that the Parti-Quebecois came into power. It is a coincidence, but nevertheless a significant coincidence, that about the same time the National Executive Council of the Anglican Church of Canada approved the setting up of a Project in French-English Relations.
- The immediate proposal came through a resolution in the Inter-Church Relations Committee endorsing the "appointment of a person to assist the Anglican Church of Canada to understand and involve itself at all levels in the cultural and religious content of Quebec, and French-Canada". Suggestions for such an initiative, going back many years to various individuals and groups, drew support from the experience of General Synod meeting in Quebec City in 1975. Canon R.M. Turpin of Montreal was appointed, on a part-time basis effective January 1st, 1977, to act as the Primate's representative in French-English relations and to work closely with the Bishops having jurisdiction in Quebec. It was agreed that these Dioceses -- Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa, Moosonee, Arctic and Algoma -- should appoint representatives as a Support Group to help Canon Turpin.
- In talking to French-speaking Roman Catholics and to Anglicans in Quebec, it has become apparent that this Project must involve far more than what is currently understood by "ecumenical relations". On the one hand, the temper of the times makes the subject of Canadian unity of great consequence to Anglicans all across Canada. On the other hand, the Anglican Church in Quebec has been brought face to face with the challenge of how best to witness and to minister in the rapidly changing Quebec.
- In these first months of the Project Canon Turpin has been attending a variety of events where the French Roman Catholic Church is involved in the life of Quebec, and has listened to many views about what is happening in society at large. With the Support Group reporting the different concerns of the Anglicans throughout Quebec, urban and rural, north and south, it is now possible to define a number of practical measures for inter-diocesan cooperation. A summary of these thoughts and activities was presented at the May meeting of the National Executive Council. It is planned that these interrelated subjects of English-French relations and of the Anglican Church's ministry in Quebec will form part of the agenda when General Synod meets in Calgary in August [1977].
- Respectfully submitted, R.M. Turpin, Project Officer.
- Subjects
- French/English Project
- Turpin, Reginald M. (Reginald Matthew), 1915-2009
- Biculturalism - Canada - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Quebec (Province) - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Canada - English-French relations
- Multiculturalism - Canada
- Multiculturalism - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada