Dear Brothers and Sisters,  – Please add this to our Diocese of Montreal messages. I don’t see it on the diocese of Montreal page – though I might have missed it.

The Dream baby dream poster is charming and beautiful. I won’t post it in our church, though, unless it is to jump-start yet another discussion on the Church and racism. It’s a beautiful poster. I watched the video, which most won’t be able to do in our church, not having computer access. So, the image presented to most of us is a white baby, cute as the dickens, with a bishop’s mitre. The multicultural aspect improves on the video, although the child who is most obviously a child ‘of colour’ simply bounces and slides in and out a few times.

The idea for the poster is marvellous. I would like to think that in our church of 2019, we would automatically create a poster that reflected beyond the ‘white’ nature of our church to its multicultural reality – babies (if we are using the images of babies who will grow into our church of the future) of Aboriginal, Black, Asian, western European descent… three or four babies, in other words…

A marvellous image and idea and yet it saddens me. In fact, I did use it in a sermon – and asked what the poster said to our congregation about the church’s vision of 2019. The first to respond to what might be ‘wrong’ with the image was a nine-year-old boy whose parents are of Caribbean (Black) descent and Cambodian. He said, “the baby’s white.” We talked about the issues of what we want the church to be in 2019. About inclusion. About awareness. About difference.

In 2019, we hope to see our leadership reflecting all aspects of our church. We hope to see a church in which we automatically reach out to, and respect, everyone.

We hope for a church In which the voices of poor and marginalized are heard. In which we work together to bring about justice for all. The Church will recognize that the voices of the marginalized will only be heard if those with power reach out to help the voiceless gain confidence and know the value of their      say in our church.

We would also like to see a church that continues to ask questions and to minister from within the questions, that is willing to live in uncertainty and to trust that God is bigger than any of our images, words, fears. That God is love, and that more and more we will reflect that love to the world.

I’m not sure that the last issue would be of concern to every member of our parish, but I would like to see more inclusive language liturgy – as we find in our new hymn bookas well as more creative liturgy.

Roslyn Macgregor, Priest in the Diocese of Montreal (of a multicultural parish St. Cuthbert, St. Hilda and St. Luke) and of the multicultural, multilingual Mile End Community Mission)

Where is your church now?

I am in the Anglican Church in Montreal, Quebec. It is a church very much in the minority in many ways. English is a minority, being Anglican is a minority in this Roman Catholic province, being faithful is a minority position in the most secular society in Canada. We have seen our Diocese go from 68,000 members in the 1970′s to 25,000 today, and it continues to shrink. At the same time we have seen our church and this Diocese recently get too caught up in same-sex issues and not concentrating enough on the overall mission we are called to. On my bad days, I am depressed. Yet I know in my heart that God has placed me here in this context, and I am meant to preach the word and be faithful to what God is calling me, and his people, to at this time in this place.

Where do you want the Anglican Church of Canada to be in 2019?”

I want to see the church reach out a lot more in mission both within and outside of Canada. I want to see the church listen carefully to the Holy Spirit and follow what God is calling us to. In our Diocese I want to see less emphasis on buildings and a lot more emphasis on mission. I want to see the church take up once again discipleship, to make strong disciples, not just church-goers. I want to see the church reach out to our secular society and tell the Good News, as well as what is working well in the church.

I thank the National church for this opportunity to vision.

It is my hope that the Church will not be left behind, and indeed will not exclude itself from the mainstream of Canadian society, in terms of what has been, admittedly, a long and sometimes bitter debate over the expression of love and commitment between two persons of the same gender.

Thus, I really hope that the Anglican Church of Canada — my Church — will not only be allowing for same-gender blessings but perform actual marriages. And much earlier than 2019! That would be far too long!

Time to move on to other issues.

A phone message from Montreal, answering the question “Where is your church now, and where do you think the Anglican Church of Canada should be in 2019?

1.By 2019 I hope we will realise our powerlessness as an institution : we are a small minority and I hope will be leaven in the world.

2.In order for the Jesus “Kingdom Program” to be realised we will need to be both converted to the project and committed to God. We are the ones who will bring change about (if it is to come)

3.I hope by 2019 we will realise that the present homosexual debate is irrelevant to a servant Church and People.

Judy Oatway, a member of the Board of Directors of the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund responds to the question: Where is your church now, and where do you want the Anglican Church of Canada to be in 2019?

We made a video last November in connection with the Amazing Grace project, so as to explain a bit about what we are doing.

Vision 2019 is the perfect place for Anglicans across Canada to get to know what is happening these days at the oldest Anglican parish in Québec, now entirely French speaking!

version française

English version :

We have more short videos showing the Café Christ Church and the rectory project which are becoming available on our new website, www.christchurchsorel.ca

And for more reflection on this vision of mission in Sorel, Québec, in relation to the 5 marks of mission and the World Forum of Theology and Liberation, see the April issue of the Montreal Anglican, pp. 12 and following.

Filmed at the recent Council of General Synod meeting in Mississauga, Ont.

Through all the changing scenes of life,
In trouble and in joy,
The praises of my God shall still
My heart and tongue employ.

As I acknowledge the passage of the 48^th anniversary of ordination as a Deacon, and the approach of the same length of service as a priest, I am glad to see that old Tate & Brady rendering of Psalm 34 included in “Common Praise”. In my current exciting appointment as Interim at Trinity Memorial Church in Notre Dame de Graces, Diocese of Montreal, I rejoice to serve a community whose hearts and tongues praise God in a wide range of styles and constantly inspiring devotion. We are with some fear and trepidation engaged in a redevelopment project that will convert this vast edifice, created as a Memorial to those who served in the Great War 1914-1918 into a multi-service centre that will include a famous Montreal library, two church communities and a range of outreach ministries to the broader community. By the Vision date of 2019, by God’s grace a second project, the restoration of the exterior “skin” of this monumental structure on busy Sherbrooke Street, assisted by grants from the Quebec Religious Heritage Foundation, will also be complete, and the congregation’s many gifts and talents will be freed for Mission. Encouraged by a Lenten Study of the 5 Marks of Mission, the leadership of this congregation, of which the majority is of Caribbean origin, would endorse all five but emphasize the need to reach out to the surrounding community and respond to its human need with loving service. Proclamation of Good News, teaching and nurture of new believers we take as givens to our identity in Christ.

For my own part I recognize that I will not be part Trinity’s ongoing journey. My six-month term that began in 2007 has long since expired, and a prayerful Search Committee has begun work on the Parish Profile. I pray with the community that somewhere there is a priest who feels called to the challenge of developing fresh expressions of ministry in a diverse community setting, especially towards the Francophone majority surrounding us, supervising a major reconstruction project, raising significant amounts of funding, teaching good stewardship, and as pastor celebrating among, inspiring and caring for the flock, helping them realize the dreams God is calling them to dream.

Having enjoyed the privilege of service in three Dioceses, all in Eastern Canada, my vision for what little I know of the National Church would be liberation of every congregation from “one size fits all” conformity and in many cases badly sited and costly buildings, so that communities can respond with creativity and compassion to the Mission opportunities presented by their individual contexts.

When full retirement does become my state, I would envision by 2019 being in my ninth decade of life, a member of an ecumenical, bilingual faith community in the beautiful Laurentian town where my wife and I live. I would hope on occasion to find a place to sing old hymns, hear some classic Anthems, and enjoy exalted liturgy (but please God neither in 16th Century language nor always in Gothic monuments). The main Mark of Mission for us then will undoubtedly be the safeguarding of creation and the renewal of the life of this magnificent, beautiful corner of God’s good earth.

he Rev. Canon David W. Sinclair
Retired priest of the Diocese of Ontario, onetime priest in the Diocese of Niagara, now in Interim Ministry in the Diocese of Montreal.

Video from Emerge Montreal. More information at  www.emergemontreal.com