NEWSLETTER # 4

This is the latest in a series of Newsletters that will be posted by the new Anglican Essentials Federation Council in an effort to keep you informed, educated and encouraged as we move forward in our struggle to maintain orthodoxy in the Anglican Church of Canada. (ACC). We encourage you to contact us with any questions, comments or suggestions you may have to enable us to serve you better as a source of communication and unity among Essentials supporters.

PURPOSE

The purpose of Essentials is to help co-ordinate the vision and effort of orthodox Anglicans in Canada through faithful witness to the truth of the Gospel.

AIMS

Arising from The Way Forward Conference 2004, held in Ottawa at the end of August, a federation of orthodox Anglican persons and parishes, dedicated to a renewed Anglican orthodoxy was established. Its aims are to recover the foundational principles of Anglicanism in Canada and work for their reinstatement in the life of the Anglican Church of Canada. This council is made up of Bishops, Clergy and Laity from each ecclesiastical province in Canada.

DEVELOPMENTS

There have been many developments within the Anglican Communion since the end of November. Here are some of the steps which have been taken in the past few weeks.

* The Interim Federation Council has met three times by teleconference during December and have three more dates set for January.

* The reorganization of the Essentials Constitution continues and it is expected to be in final form by the June 2005 conference.

* The Website is presently being constructed by Angelpiper Webworks with the view to having it operating by February 15^th 2005.

* The next Essentials Conference has been set for June 9-12 2005 in Toronto Ontario with exciting themes and speakers. Details will be forthcoming in future newsletters.

* The search committee, which is seeking to fill the new position of General Secretary to the Federation (our national secretary), hopes to be able to report by February that it has found a successful applicant, and that we may have that position filled by March 05.

* The Essentials Council has set its next face to face meeting in Vancouver at the end of February when we will meet for four days immediately after the Primates' meeting in Ireland.

* Essentials Canada was represented by Bishop Don Harvey, Canon Charlie Masters and Rev. Dr. Trevor Walters at a meeting in London England on December 15, 2004 with Anglican orthodox leaders of the U.K. and U. S. and with Canon Gregory Cameron of the Anglican Consultative Council and Convenor of the Windsor Report.

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“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and one mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:4-6