Bishops

Reflections expand on Bishops in Dialogue Testimonies

23 Feb, 2016 in Blog / News from General Synod tagged Bishops / Culturial Backgrounds by tcosach

Bishops meet in London during the 2010 Consultation of Anglican Bishops in Dialogue. Submitted photo

By General Synod Communications

New commentaries by a group of bishops from across the worldwide Anglican Communion are offering a valuable supplement to the testimonies produced by the Consultation of Anglican Bishops in Dialogue.

An informal gathering of bishops from Canada, the United States and African nations, the consultation provides an opportunity for bishops from different national, social and cultural backgrounds to build relationships and seek common understanding through their shared unity in Christ, addressing diverse and sometimes conflicting views.

Since the first consultation at the 2008 Lambeth Conference, which was marked by divisions in the Communion over same-sex marriage and issues of biblical interpretation, the gathering has become an annual event. Following each consultation since 2011, the bishops have produced documents known as testimonies that summarize the consultations and the themes discussed, offering points of agreement and making shared commitments.

Expanding on the content of the testimonies, the new reflections add further commentary and critiques as the bishops move forward in their ongoing dialogue.

Archbishop Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, has written an introductory essay for the compilation, which provides context for the Bishops in Dialogue Consultation and testimonies and praises the new publication as “both gift and invitation to the Communion.”

Contributors offering reflections include:

Prof. Emmanuel D. Mbennah, PhD, vice chancellor of St. John University, Dodoma, Tanzania;
Robert S. Heaney, PhD, director of the Center for Anglican Communion Studies, Virginia Theological Seminary, USA;
The Most Rev. Francisco de Assis da Silva, Primate of Brazil and diocesan in Santa Maria;
The Rev. Canon Dr. Makhosi Nzimande, Anglican Church of Southern Africa;
The Rt. Rev. Nicholas Baines, bishop of the diocese of Leeds; and
Prof. Ephraim Radner, Wycliffe College, Toronto School of Theology, visiting scholar at the Institute for Ecumenical Research in Strasbourg, France.

Read the reflections on the Bishops in Dialogue testimonies.

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Archbishop Fred Hiltz gathers with members and friends of LGBTQ Community

19 Feb, 2016 in Blog / News from General Synod tagged Bishops / LGBTQ / Prejudice by tcosach

Yesterday, Archbishop Fred Hiltz met with members and friends of the LGBTQ community in Toronto at celebration of the Holy Eucharist at St. John’s, West in Toronto.

This encounter is one among many that the Primate has had with members of the Anglican Church in and beyond Canada. During the recent Primates’ meeting in Canterbury, care for this community became a clear priority for the whole of the Anglican Communion. There was recognition by the Primates of the many ways that LGBTQ communities are risk.

“…The Primates condemned homophobic prejudice and violence and resolved to work together to offer pastoral care and loving service irrespective of sexual orientation. This conviction arises out of our discipleship of Jesus Christ. The Primates reaffirmed their rejection of criminal sanctions against same-sex attracted people…”

-from the Communiqué from the Primates of the Anglican Communion, January 2016

Yesterday’s pastoral gathering was an opportunity from the Primate to be in dialogue with a local LGBTQ community about their lives and experiences within the Church and about the resolution that will go before the General Synod in July. Archbishop Hiltz remains deeply committed to hearing the diversity of perspectives in our church about this matter as reflected in his ongoing conversations with the Bishops of our Church, Canadian participants at the Anglican Consultative Council, Canadian and African bishops in dialogue, from theological students and faculty, and from members of the Council of the General Synod among others.

“I left the gathering more convinced than ever the need for the Church to take opportunity to hear first-hand the experiences and longings of LGBTQ persons,” Hiltz said. “So often we speak about instead of with the LGBTQ community. We all need to be creating these kinds of opportunities to have pastoral conversations.”