Aboriginal Anglicans move toward self-governing church
https://archives.anglican.ca/link/official2106
- Date
- 1994 May 6
- Source
- Anglican News Service
- Type
- Press release
- Text of motion
- Winnipeg, May 6, 1994 -- The trend toward native self-government has taken another step forward, this time in the church. A group of Aboriginal Anglicans has agreed to work toward the creation of "a new, self-determining community within the Anglican Church of Canada."
- The decision arises from a consultation of 20 Aboriginal Anglican leaders which was called to advise the church on priorities. 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, meeting in Winnipeg this week.
- 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 felt the presence of the Holy Spirit all through the gathering. Every day we shared traditional [aboriginal religious] teachings, scripture readings, the eucharist and biblical reflection."
- "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."
- Archbishop Michael Peers, the church's Primate, notes that the church began a fundamental reviews of its relationship with native people 25 years ago, after a national report called its practices into question. "Since that time, we've worked at ways to increase our sensitivity to the needs and hopes of Aboriginal people. The dialogue that will be created by this initiative is a further step along that road.
- This is a sign of increased self-confidence, and a perception within the Aboriginal community that the rest of the church is ready and willing for this dialogue," he said. "Much of that dialogue will take place in local congregations and in dioceses."
- The initiative comes at time when the church is examining all of its structures and priorities. The National Executive Council has welcomed the Aboriginal initiative and pledged its "prayerful support and dialogue" throughout the process of developing a new relationship.
- Aboriginal people are estimated to make up about four percent of Canadian Anglicans. There are approximately 210 Aboriginal congregations, 70 Aboriginal clergy, and two "suffragan" (assistant) bishops.
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- Contact: John Bird, media relations (416) 924-9199, ext. 256
- Other participants in the native consultation are available for comment in other parts of the country: Donna Bomberry -- (905) 563-8510 (Niagara Peninsula), The Rev. Margaret Waterchief -- (403) 651-3246 (Southern Alberta), The Rev. Martin Wolfleg -- (604) 224-2597 (Vancouver), Esther Wesley -- (705) 267-7911 (Timmins, Ontario), Olive Elm -- (519) 652-2714 (h) (Southwestern Ontario), Morris Fiddler -- (807) 471-2520 (Northwestern Ontario), The Rev. Joshua Arreak -- (819) 979-3542 (Iqaluit, Nunavut), The Rev. James Isbister -- c/o (306) 763-8781 (Prince Albert, Sask.), The Rev. Murray Still -- (306) 734-2332 (Southern Saskatchewan), Audrey McKay -- (604) 621-3278 (w) or 3324 (h) (Nass Valley, BC), Vi Samaha -- (604) 458-2330 (central British Columbia), The Rev. Lily Bell -- (604) 626-3559 (Haida Gwaii)
- Notes
- [Text of Covenant reads as follows:]
- A Covenant
- We, representatives of the indigenous people of the Anglican Church of Canada, meeting in Winnipeg from the 23 to 26 of 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 within 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 in Canada.
- May God bless this new vision and give us grace to accomplish it. Amen.
- [21 signatures]
- Background to Covenant:
- Our Journey of Spiritual Renewal
- We, the indigenous partners in Canada of the Anglican Communion respectfully affirm our place in God's Creation and in God's Love, manifest through the Grace of Jesus Christ. In specific, we address the Anglican Canadians with whom we are in direct Communion.
- We have shared a journey of close to three centuries in which we have been:
- - denied our place in God's Creation
- - denied our right as Children of God
- - treated as less than equal; and
- - subjected to abuse, culturally, physically, emotionally, sexually and spiritually.
- The result, in our communities, homes and daily lives, has been and continues to be:
- - broken homes and lives;
- - sexual and family violence;
- - high recidivism and incarceration rates;
- - high chemical abuse;
- - loss of spiritual fulfillment;
- - loss of cultures, languages and traditions; and
- - poor stewardship of Mother Earth.
- Because the National Church's canons, structure and policies have not always responded to our needs nor heard our voice; we now claim our place and responsibility as equal partners in a new shared journey of healing moving towards wholeness and justice.
- We acknowledge that God is calling us to a prayerful dialogue towards self-determination for us, the Indigenous People, within the Anglican Communion in Canada. Through this new relationship we can better respond to the challenges facing us in a relevant and meaningful way.
- As faithful people of God, guided by the Holy Spirit, we invite you, the Anglican Communion of Canada, to covenant with us, the Indigenous Anglicans of Canada, in our vision of a new and enriched journey.
- Subjects
- Anglican Church of Canada. Council for Native Ministries
- Anglican Church of Canada. National Executive Council
- Peers, Michael G. (Michael Geoffrey), 1934-2023
- Indigenous peoples - Canada
- Indigenous peoples - Canada - Anglican Church of Canada
- Native Covenant (1994)
- Covenants - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada