Anglicans of the Word unite

Delegates meeting in New Bedford, Texas, have officially approved creating the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), which brings together a variety of conservative groups that have left the Episcopal Church in the USA and the Anglican Church of Canada over same-sex blessings and other theological issues. The new body claims 100,000 members in 700 parishes in 28 dioceses, and it hopes to be accepted as a 'province' in the worldwide Anglican communion. Official delegates from nine of the other 38 Anglican provinces in the world attended the assembly.

Priest to Bishop 8

The House of Bishops of the new Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) has recognized the election of eight new bishops, including four from Canada: Charles Masters of Ontario, Executive Archdeacon of the Anglican Network in Canada; Trevor Walters, rector of St. Matthew's parish in Abbotsford, BC; Stephen Leung, rector of Church of the Good Shepherd in Vancouver; and Silas TAK Yin Ng, rector of Richmond Emmanuel parish in Richmond, BC. The first three will serve in the ACNA diocese called Anglican Network in Canada; Ng will serve in one of the nine ACNA dioceses affiliated with the Anglican Mission in the Americas.

No regulation, no discrimination

After more than a year of study, the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has decided not to regulate broadcast content distributed over the internet and through mobile devices such as cell phones. The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada had made a submission to the CRTC asking that if the internet was regulated, Christian sites not be required to include balancing opinions from other religions, as Christian radio and TV stations are required to do. The EFC submission argued that current CRTC policies are discriminatory, stating: "Only single-faith religious broadcasters are required to provide balance in their programming by providing broadcasting time for other faiths as a condition of obtaining a broadcast license. All other traditional stations are permitted to have their programming balanced by the coverage of other stations in the broadcasting system."

Advocates for the poor also short of money

Kairos, a Canadian ecumenical social justice organization supported by 11 church denominations and church-related organizations, has cut five staff positions and restructured its programs in order to balance its budget. Executive director Mary Corkery said Kairos would have had a deficit of $500,000 by 2013 if the cuts hadn't been made.

Vulnerable workers not permitted

The Canadian government has announced it is introducing legislation to give the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration the authority to deny work permits to vulnerable foreign workers. This would prevent them being trafficked into Canada and forced to work as exotic dancers, sweatshop workers, and agricultural labourers.

Continue article >>

Martens step back

Henry and Elma Martens have stepped back as A Rocha Manitoba team leaders after serving for four years. They were instrumental in establishing the Pembina Valley Field Study Centre but recently moved from the centre to their new home in Morden, Man. Henry will continue maintaining the trails on the centre's 100 acres, and Elma will continue to help with the on-site vegetable garden. Nick and Susan Pharoah have been named interim directors of the centre. A Rocha is an international Christian environmental ministry.

Writing is its own award

Shawn J. Pollett's Christianus Sum, a novel set during the Roman Empire, won three first-place awards in the 2009 Word Guild Awards: best suspense novel, best romance novel and best historical novel. This is the first book for Pollett of Golden Valley, Ontario. Two Toronto poverty activists were also multiple winners: Tim Huff's Bent Hope: A Street Journal won the general readership book award; and Greg Paul's The Twenty Piece Shuffle: Why the Poor and Rich Need Each Other won the Christian living book award. Both books tied for first place in the best book dealing with culture category. Donna Dawson of St. Marys, Ontario, won awards for best contemporary novel and best independently published fiction for her suspense thriller Vengeance. Carolyn Arends of Surrey, BC, won the best life stories book award for Wrestling with Angels: Adventures in Faith and Doubt, as well as an award for her columns in Christianity Today magazine. John H. Redekop of Abbotsford, BC, won a first place award for his review 'Is Punishment All Bad?' in the Mennonite Brethren Herald and tied for best short feature article for 'Buying Two Farms' in the book Stillwood, the First 50 Years 1958 - 2008. The Word Guild is an association of Canadian writers who are Christian.

Scriven brought Hope to a lot of people

The town of Port Hope, Ontario, is hosting a celebration of the life of former Port Hope resident Joseph Scriven, who wrote the hymn 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus,' September 12 - 13. Scriven wrote the piece as a poem of comfort for his ailing mother, but musician Charles Converse set it to music in 1868. The weekend will include the dedication of a refurbished Scriven memorial; bus tours; church open houses, barbeques and suppers; a Saturday evening concert featuring country gospel singer Cheryl Dunn and other local artists and choirs; and an outdoor worship service on Sunday morning.

June 25/2009