I am a female Anglican priest living in Sorrento, B. C. I served in the Diocese of Keewatin, where I was ordained, and then in the Diocese of Kootenay. I retired to Sorrento 5 years ago. Since coming to Sorrento I have done some interim work and help out in Kootenay and in APCI. The main work I have done in my time in Sorrento is at Sorrento Centre. This is an Anglican Retreat and Conference Centre. It is a great place to work or volunteer as there is always cutting edge Anglican learning happening. Change is the main happening at Sorrento Centre! As a result it is hard to attend the main stream parish church on Sunday where inclusive language is frowned upon and music is 500 years old.
So – to your questions. Where is my church now? By “my church”I mean the Anglican Church of Canada.
My church is lost in childish arguments and tantrums, in upholstering the pews, in excluding those who are different, in protecting the status quo. The male bishops of the church have no clue what it is like to be a woman, either lay or ordained, in the church today. They are afraid of change, of losing their power and of letting the Gospel of love lose in the world. I weep for the church which is so far from where Jesus calls us to be.
I have little hope that there will be any change by 2019. I`m not sure the church will survive. However, if there is a miracle and the church will allow change, perhaps some of the following will happen.
People will read the bible and have a real working knowledge of scripture. That includes children who will be welcomed with deep love and sincerety into worship services.
All people will be welcomed into our church. Gay and lesbian folks will be blessed and married in our church. There will be no issues around women as incumbent priests or as diocesan bishops.
We will truly care about the poor, the hungry and the homeless. We will consider our first work to care for the marginalized people in our society. All churches will have made the necessary changes for disabled people to come to worship and be part of the church community.
We will be a church that forgives easily and quickly. We will respect every human being and treat them carefully and gently.
We will simplify our church buildings. Get rid of the buildings that drag us down and use up our resources. We don`t need them.
Every single member will have a real ministry and be enabled and encouraged to fulfil it.
I have little hope that any of this will happen.
[...] by a bunch of mealy-mouthed spoilsports, so it doesn’t let me post to itsVision 2019 discussion; this comment from a female Anglican contains too much promise to overlook, though: My church is lost in childish [...]
The problem in the ACoC has little to do with the attitude of males, bishops or otherwise, towards women. Tragically many have been led down the garden path into apostasy by what I would describe as frivolous claims such as those by this priest. My question to her would be whether she is committed to the vows she made at her ordination. If so, she should join those who are committed to genuine orthodoxy and not be taken in by what might be called “politically correct” arguments. To be a true Anglican one must first be a committed Christian and that means accepting the authority of Scripture and the uniqueness of Jesus Christ. Failure to do so means you are no longer an Anglican and NOT a Christian.
I trust her lack of hope is well fulfilled, as the idea of blessing and marrying gay and lesbian people has no support in Scripture. Of course they are welcome in the church – all sinners are. Jesus said, “Go and sin no more.” Gays and lesbians in the Anglican Church of Canada need to live holy lives of celibacy.
The first work of the church is to proclaim the majesty of Christ, and his work upon the cross to redeem sinners, not to care for marginalized in society.
What pessimism!!! Not what I would want or expect from a current and future leader in our Church. It shows a lack of trust in the Lord. There are some good hopes for the future (true care for homeless and poor, reading and working knowledge of the Bible). However, it appears instead this individual has brought their sense of ‘victimhood’ to their ministry; clouding a true reading of Holy Scripture. Victims read the Bible with an agenda already present to warp the Word of God. Although I will never say there are not victims of great wrongs, however, those who do not move beyond this view of themselves (and others) are those who are allowing themselves to be, or those who have not discovered true healing through forgiveness as Christ requires. Sadly this individual’s pessimism is not what the future of our Church needs. Our future as Christians needs to start with an understanding that God does have expectations of us, which means there is some ‘right and wrong’. And when we fail, we need to pray for forgiveness to God from the Bible, not to ‘whom it may concern” with the “I’m OK, your OK” view of Scripture.