1)  http://acicanada.ca/node/115 March 15th 2007 ACiC Press Release   Sunshine Coast, BC, Canada     Dedication of ‘Noah’s Ark’ in Pender Harbour Sunshine Coast, BC, Canada   Almost two years ago, the Rev. Barclay Mayo hit the front page of many newspapers as his Christ the Redeemer congregation was evicted from their church building over their stand for the traditional definition of marriage*.  On this Saturday March 17th, Bishop TJ Johnston will be dedicating a new church building which crossed the Georgia Straight to Pender Harbour from Campbell River, BC**.   While their older 2,400 square building only seated ninety people, their new 4,800 square facility  seats 140 people***.  The congregation of Christ the Redeemer are living in the midst of this promise being fulfilled.   The Pender Harbour congregation rejoices that God has made this humanly impossible vision come to fruition, when many thought that it was beyond the reach of their small congregation.  So far over $300,000 in donations, grants and low interest loans have been given.  The Pender Harbour people are moving ahead in faith that the Lord will indeed keep his promises to “give us a hope and a future.” God really does own ‘the cattle on a thousand hills’.  It really is all about God and His desire for fellowship ministry on the Sunshine Coast.   The Rev. Barclay Mayo and Christ the Redeemer congregation are part of the Anglican Coalition in Canada, a pioneering movement in Canada.  Direct oversight for the Anglican Coalition in Canada is provided by Bishop Thomas (TJ) Johnston, a missionary bishop of the Province of Rwanda and the Anglican Mission in the Americas.  The Anglican Coalition in Canada is covered by their five African and Asian Archbishops on the ACiC Primatial Council.   A video presentation of the ACiC story is available online at http://acicanada.ca/documents/acic.ram . For information on possible affiliation, please click on http://acicanada.ca/affiliate .   A small CD introducing the work of the ACiC is available free of charge and newly released DVD’s of talks from Bishop Johnston sharing the vision, passion and DNA of the ACiC are available on request.  The ACiC is committed to evangelism, church health and church planting.   For further information about the Anglican Coalition in Canada, please contact the Rev. Barclay Mayo, Acting Network Leader at bamayo@xplornet.com (604-883-1371) or The Rev. Ed Hird, ACiC Communications Officer at ed_hird@telus.net 604-929-5350). -         30 –   * David Virtue, Virtue Online, 3/27/2005: Two Congregations will Vacate their Properties http://listserv.episcopalian.org/wa.exe?A2=ind0503d&L=virtueonline&T=0&F=&S=&P=571b ** For pictures of the ‘floating’ church building, click on http://redeemerpender.ca/Pictures%20of%20our%20Congregation.htm *** To share in this miracle, click on http://www.redeemerpender.ca/Miracle.htm   2a)  http://acicanada.ca/node/114 A Brief Report on the 20th Annual Renewal Mission 2007 with the Rev David Rich+ Submitted by aciccom on March 13, 2007 - 8:11am. A Report from North Vancouver, BC on the 20th Annual Renewal Mission 2007 with the 12-member AMiA team    Renewal Mission participants cannot stop talking about the deep impact on their lives from the March 2nd-4th 20th Annual Renewal Mission.  The Rev David Rich brought with him a 12-member AMiA team primarily from Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Mississippi, as well as from Asheville North Carolina and Buffalo New York. Our growing friendship with the Rev. David Rich and the Holy Trinity team was birthed during the five times that our Canadian ACiC team has now attended the AMiA Winter Conferences.     The theme was 'Healing the Whole Person', a fitting focus for the Rev David Rich, an AMiA priest who led a Christian counselling centre in Buffalo New York for almost a decade.  In the past year, Rev. Rich returned to Mississippi to support the Rev. Canon Dr. Tim Smith, Rector of a new congregation, Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Jackson Misssippi http://www.holytrinityjackson.org/ .  The vitality and life of the 12-member AMiA team deeply impacted the hundred people who attended the weekend Renewal Mission.  Many were healed physically, emotionally and spiritually.      One of the highlights of the Renewal Mission was a 'soaking prayer' Eucharist on Saturday afternoon where we participated in a Liturgy for the Prayers of Deliverance and Cleansing. This liturgy was originally written by the Rev Conlee  and Signa Bodishba of Christ Church, Mobile, Alabama (AMiA) for healing the effects of the Rwandan genocide. We were grateful for the fifty-five clergy who attended the Pastor's lunch in which David Rich+ talked about recovery from clergy burnout, and Emily Smith spoke about healing the trauma that many clergy wives experience.    DVDs of the Renewal Mission will be able to be purchased online at http://www.reason-for-hope.com/ or by contacting stuart@lightspeed.ca (Attention: Stuart Spani)                                                                             Blessings, Ed Hird+                          Rector, St. Simon's Church North Vancouver                   Anglican Coalition in Canada/Anglican Mission in the Americas    2b) www.newday.org  Greetings Ed !   Thank you for contributing your valuable time to our Christian programming here at It’s A New Day in Winnipeg, MB a few months ago.  The sharing of your personal testimony, ministry experience with St. Simon’s and book, “Battle for the Soul of Canada”, is sure to inform and inspire our loyal viewing audience.   The Interviews you have taped with us will be aired by television and streamed via the Internet on Friday, March 23, 2007 inclusive.   You can view your program online every hour commencing at 12 Noon to 9 a.m. Central Time on that days.  Simply log onto our website at http://www.newday.org, click on “Watch Us Online” and follow the instructions there.   (This programming will also repeat every five hours online over the weekend following your program airing.)     Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide are now viewing It’s A New Day online, in addition to watching by television across Canada, as we connect people to Jesus Christ through the insightful teaching and testimonies of our awesome Guests!   God bless!  Barbara I. Peters Guest Coordinator, It's A New Day  New Day Ministries,  Christian Media Centre 1111 Chevrier Boulevard, Winnipeg, MB   Canada   R3T 1Y2 204.949.3312  Phone / 204.949.3334  Fax   www.newday.org   Watch us online!    3a)  http://babybluecafe.blogspot.com/   Thursday, March 15, 2007 815 lobbying House of Bishops to ignore Communique Deadline? BB NOTE: Looks like 815 is lobbying the House of Bishops to ignore the Communique Deadline. Gotta love that "Peter Panesque" quote from Jan Nunley, "It's not an ultimatum unless you think it is." That's sort of like telling New Orleans, it's not a hurricane unless you think it is. Which of course, is sort of what happened. Episcopal bishops expected to talk, not act (BB NOTE: Because this is what 815 wants them to do. ) By Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA TODAY When the 296 U.S. bishops of the Episcopal Church retreat this weekend for four days of reflection, their prayers may address questions that threaten to rip their church from its historic roots in the 77-million member worldwide Anglican Communion. Conservative Anglicans in the USA and abroad demand that by Sept. 30, the Episcopal Church stop blessing same-sex unions, cease approving any actively gay bishops and adopt a view of the Bible as the literal authority for morality. They say homosexual behavior is "against Scripture," as proclaimed by a majority vote at the 1998 Lambeth Conference of all Anglican bishops. "There's an ultimatum before the bishops," says the Rev. Kendall Harmon, canon theologian for the Diocese of South Carolina. Harmon reads this in the lengthy statement signed by the 38 primates, leaders of national and regional churches, including U.S. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, after they met in Tanzania in February. But when the Episcopal House of Bishops meets Saturday through Wednesday at Camp Allen, Texas, for its annual spring retreat, "no definitive statement is expected, although they may have a business session," says the Rev. Jan Nunley, a spokeswoman for the Episcopal Church. They may not vote on the issues until their regular September business meeting — if then. "It's not an ultimatum unless you think it is," Nunley says. On the table are questions of theology and authority: "What actually is required? How far does (the Communion's) theological jurisdiction go?" Nunley says. Developments since the Tanzania meeting: •Several Episcopal bishops who approved the church's first and only openly gay bishop, the Right Rev. V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, in 2003 rejected primates' demands in public letters. "Under no circumstance" would he support such moratoriums, wrote the Right Rev. John Bryson Chane, bishop of Washington, D.C. •Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, head of the Anglican Communion, called for the U.S. church to clearly conform to the 1998 Lambeth teaching on homosexuality. But he has no enforcement power. This week, clergy and lay leaders from the Diocese of Utah contradicted Williams in an open letter saying, in part, that Lambeth resolutions have no legislative or theological authority. And a public letter from the Diocese of Wyoming questions whether the bishops alone can set policy without consulting the other half of the church's governing legislature, the House of Deputies, which includes clergy, deacons and laypeople. Both houses meet every three years at a General Convention, where decisions are made for the church. Wyoming called for Jefferts Schori to reject the primates' "restrictive" demands and disruptive politics. Harmon says, "If in the end, the Episcopal Church wants to play the autonomy card, they can, but the costs will be terribly high." How high? Although the "consequences" in the maybe-an-ultimatum Sept. 30 deadline are not spelled out, continued membership in the worldwide communion is the core question. Meanwhile, Nunley says, Jefferts Schori is telling the whole church, "Let's talk, let's wait. We'll see what happens." posted by BabyBlue at 8:11 AM 2 comments links to this post          3b)  http://acicanada.ca/node/112   The Anglican Mission in the Americas Responds to the Primates' Tanzanian Communique Submitted by aciccom on February 22, 2007 - 3:24pm. http://www.anglicanmissioninamerica.org/ Response to the Primates' Communique   The Anglican Mission in the Americas Feb 22, 2007 The Anglican Mission in the Americas Response to the 2007 Primates' Communiqué from Tanzania In response to the 2007 Primates' Communiqué, the Anglican Mission in the Americas has issued the following statement: The Anglican Mission in the Americas (AMiA) commends the Primates of the Anglican Communion for their strong resolve to demand clarity from The Episcopal Church (TEC) concerning adherence to the standards of the Communion regarding sexuality. The Communiqué issued a firm demand for reformation and repentance within TEC to be marked by specific commitments and actions, and we fully support this demand. We believe it should always be remembered that while much of the focus of this recent Primates' meeting has revolved around The Episcopal Church's violations of the 1998 Lambeth Resolution I.10 concerning human sexuality, those violations have, in fact, been only a painful symptom of the much greater crisis of faith and leadership that presently exists within TEC and the many questions that TEC has raised in recent years regarding the authority of the Scriptures as our "standard and ultimate rule of faith." [Lambeth Conference of 1888 – Resolution 11] Given the continued crisis in Anglicanism, especially in the U.S., we are thankful that the Primates unequivocally rejected The Episcopal Church's request to end all interventions in North America until there is deep and genuine change in The Episcopal Church. [See Communiqué, paragraphs 32 and 34.] This decision provides much needed protection for those who can no longer accept the spiritual authority of TEC. We are grateful that the Primates see the Anglican Mission as a part of the larger family while recognizing our mission and ministry as a missionary movement of the Province of Rwanda. The Anglican Mission will continue to focus on its mission to carry the Gospel to the 130 million un-churched in North America and to plant new churches. We remain thankful that the AMiA enjoys a secure home in the Province of the Episcopal Church of Rwanda and the assurances of our Archbishop that this will not change without our request and/or consent. Given our canonical standing within the Province of Rwanda, the Anglican Mission is in no way expected to be placed under the oversight or authority of either the proposed Pastoral Council or a Primatial Vicar, but we will support and pray for our brothers and sisters in the Communion who may be entering into this interim arrangement. Cynthia P. Brust Director of Communications Anglican Mission in the Americas PO Box 3427 Pawleys Island, SC 29585 843-237-0318 Office 843-325-1071 Cell 843-237-4008 Fax cbrust@anglicanmissioninamerica.org www.anglicanmissioninamerica.org  Click for the Primates Communique from Tanzania   http://www.anglicanmissioninamerica.org/index.cfm?id=694D0C21-8C50-4F60-9F37E77E96DEDD38   4a) http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/ (Anglican Mainstream)  http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=497b8ed0-da2b-4160-bc7b-35c5525b56cd&k=0 Canada Anglican leaders promote same-sex blessings Randall Palmer, Reuters , National Post,  Published: Monday, March 12, 2007 OTTAWA — No core Anglican doctrines should prevent the blessing of same-sex unions, Canadian Anglican leaders said in a decision that could set their church on a collision course with the global Anglican Communion. The decision Sunday strengthens the alignment of the Anglican Church of Canada with the U.S. Episcopal Church against attempts by the broader Anglican Communion to fight same-sex marriage and the ordination of homosexual clergy. The worldwide church has asked the Anglican Church of Canada to put a moratorium on blessing homosexual unions, but the Canadian church's Council of General Synod agreed on Sunday to present a resolution that said "the blessing of same-sex unions is consistent with the core doctrine of the Anglican Church of Canada." The resolution will be submitted to this June’s triennial General Synod, the Canadian Anglicans' highest decision-making body. The council that decided on this on the weekend runs ecclesiastical policy in between synod meetings. Archbishop Andrew Hutchison, head of the Canadian church and one who favours same-sex blessings, said he recognized the possibility of an Anglican schism. "Of course I do," he told Reuters on Monday. "It's a real risk." He said his church faced the difficulty of balancing its role within broader Canadian society "where homosexuality is part of the human landscape," as well as trying to be sensitive to the many branches of the Anglican church opposed to it. Canada's Parliament legalized gay marriage last year, though churches are not obliged to conduct same-sex ceremonies. For the past several years the Anglican Communion has taken the U.S. and Canadian branches to task over their practices, with the conservative Anglican churches — notably in Africa, Asia and Latin America — threatening to sever ties. Meeting in Tanzania last month, Anglican leaders gave the U.S. Episcopal Church a September deadline to stop blessing same-sex unions. The British Columbia diocese of New Westminster has also been blessing same-sex unions, but the Tanzania meeting did not single out the Anglican Church of Canada this time because it was still in the process of deciding its national position. "The primates (archbishops globally) have made it quite clear that they're not going to tolerate this," said retired Canadian Bishop Donald Harvey, head of the Anglican Network in Canada, which is seeking a return to orthodoxy. "We would be extremely concerned as to what the future would be," he said of any synodical decision to endorse same-sex blessings.    4b)     http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=3132         Latest News   Canadian Synod Plans Decisive Vote on Blessings 03/13/2007     • Print/Download   The Anglican Church of Canada will hold an up or down vote on same-sex blessings when its General Synod meets June 19-25 in Winnipeg. Meeting March 9-11 in Mississauga, Ontario, the Council of General Synod approved the request. General Synod is the highest legislative assembly in the Canadian church; Council of General Synod is the governing body when General Synod is not in session. “Another three years does us no good whatever because in the eyes of the Communion, we will have crossed the Rubicon and whatever damage has been done will have been done,” said Canada's primate, the Most Rev. Andrew Hutchison. Archbishop Hutchison, who will step down at the conclusion of synod, said Council of General Synod should assist synod in its deliberations on homosexuality at General Synod, not manipulate the outcome. Submission of the resolutions by the council was not an endorsement, but served to place the issue before the Church’s senior governing body, a member of the council told The Living Church. Archbishop Hutchison told the council he believed same-sex blessings are an appropriate pastoral response to specific local circumstances and not a question of creating a new doctrine on marriage. However, whatever synod decided, Archbishop Hutchison hoped that synod would not postpone a clear decision. General Synod will be asked to vote on a motion that “resolves that the blessing of same-sex unions is consistent with the core doctrine” of the Canadian church. A second resolution would request the Council of General Synod to “consider a revision” of the marriage canon “including theological rationale to allow marriage of all legally qualified persons.” In 2006 the Canadian parliament created gay marriage under law; however churches are not required to marry same-sex couples. The council rejected a third resolution asking for consideration of a canonical change permitting the solemnization of same-sex marriages and blessings. The council also recommended that the rules of voting be suspended and that for these two resolutions to pass, they must garner a supermajority. Depending on the type of vote synod adopts, approval would require a 60 percent majority of all diocesan representatives or a minimum of 60 percent approval if the vote is by orders. General Synod will also present Canada’s response to the Windsor Report. Supporters of same-sex blessings are scheduled to gather in Ottawa April 13-14 for a “Whole Message Conference,” led by the former Canadian primate, the Most Rev. Michael Peers, and the retired Bishop of Connecticut, the Rt. Rev. Arthur E. Walmsley. (The Rev.) George Conger  4c)  http://www.anglicanjournal.com/nc/100/article/blessings-vote-to-be-decided-by-resolution/ Blessings vote to be decided by resolution Approval by 60% majority needed Marites N. Sison staff writer Mar 13, 2007 Mississauga, Ont. Sexuality issues, including whether dioceses may decide for themselves whether to allow the blessing of same-sex unions, will be decided by General Synod through resolutions requiring the approval of a 60 per cent majority of the members of the order of bishops, laity and clergy or 60 per cent of dioceses if a vote by diocese is requested, the Council of General Synod (CoGS) has decided. A committee examining the issue told CoGS that if General Synod accepts the conclusion of the Primate’s Theological Commission that the blessing of same-sex unions “is a matter of doctrine, but is not core doctrine in the sense of being creedal,” any move to allow same-sex blessings would require the adoption or amendment of a canon (church law). A canonical change requires a two-thirds majority vote of each order at two successive synods. But after agonizing hours of discussions at their meeting March 8 to 11, a majority of CoGS members decided that a canonical change  “set the bar too high,” and would create an impasse in a church already exhausted with the divisive issue that has dragged on for decades.  They opted for the “resolution route” rather than the “canonical route.” There were only two dissenting votes. This means that a resolution deferred in 2004 that “this General Synod affirm the authority and jurisdiction of any diocesan synod, with the concurrence of its bishop, to authorize the blessing of same-sex unions” would only require the approval of 60 per cent of the voting members of bishops, laity and clergy. But while CoGS has chosen to settle the issue of same-sex blessings through resolutions, any member of General Synod can still propose that it be dealt with “canonically,” said Ronald Stevenson, chancellor or legal advisor to General Synod. The only requirement is that a delegate must give 30 days’ notice about his or her intent to the national church’s general secretary before General Synod begins June 19 in Winnipeg. In the absence of such a notice, a canonical change is still possible if rules are suspended during session. Archbishop Andrew Hutchison, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, expressed support for the resolution route saying, “I want this present synod to make a clear decision rather than a course that will put it off for another three years. Going the canonical route will do that.” He added: “Another three years doesn’t do us any good. In the eyes of the Communion we will have crossed the Rubicon and what damage has been done will have been done.” He said he was not convinced that “we are dealing with a matter of doctrine except that all we do as Anglicans is related to doctrine; this is a matter of pastoral discipline.” Archbishop Hutchison had suggested the 60 per cent majority vote, instead of a simple majority of 51 per cent, which some CoGS members said could give the impression that the sexuality issue was not being dealt with seriously. Canon James Robinson, of the diocese of Calgary, voted against the resolution route saying it would be viewed as “inadequate or rushed and will only compound divisions” in the church. “It’s important that we treat this canonically. To set the bar less would be unjust to the church and the communion,” he said, noting that the issue of remarriage of divorced persons had required a canonical change. Another resolution approved for presentation to General Synod requests the next CoGS to consider revision of Canon 21 (on marriage) including theological rationale to allow marriage of all legally qualified persons and to report to the next General Synod (2010).      5) http://www.ptlb.com  Dear Teammates,   I have for a long time been interested in encouraging people's faith and love for the Lord Jesus. I have prayed and thought about various ways to do that beyond the Devotions and the Prayer Prompts. I have decided to take the individual spiritual workouts that are contained in my book Spiritual Disciplines of a C.H.R.I.S.T.I.A.N. and send you a different individual spiritual workout every week. My hope is that these will prove to be a help and a spur to your spiritual life.  We will be sending these to you on Mondays so that you can try the discipline during the week. Let us know if and how it works for you. We hope that it provides a new depth to your love for the Lord Jesus Christ.   - Dr. Gil Stieglitz     Spiritual Workout: Willing Witnessing #1 Pray this prayer:   "Dear Lord Jesus, I am ready to tell people about you and the positive changes you have made in my life. If you want me to share my faith this week, arrange meetings and conversations so that other people will bring up the conversation. I will share my faith with them if you have them bring it up.   Thank You, Lord Jesus."   Next Ed-Mail Same-sex Blessings