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Deacon works on front line
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Ministry grows crops at church
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TheAnglican THE NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF TORONTO
A SECTION OF THE ANGLICAN JOURNAL
www.toronto.anglican.ca
JUNE 2020
‘I would do it all over again’ Bishop Fenty reflects on ministry as he prepares for retirement BY STUART MANN
WHEN he was just five years old, Bishop Peter Fenty told his family that he would like to be a priest when he grew up. Today, after 45 years of ordained ministry, his passion for God and the Church remains undimmed. As he heads towards retirement at the end of November, Bishop Fenty, 68, has no regrets about the path he has followed from an early age. “I’m convinced that God called me to ordained ministry and I would do it all over again,” he says. “There is no other vocation I would choose than a priest of the Church and now a bishop. It’s something I enjoy getting up to do every single day, in its good moments and not so good moments.” After attending Codrington College in Barbados, he was ordained a priest in 1975 and served in three parishes there, as well as being a chaplain to the University of the West Indies. From 1980-82, he attended Huron College in London, Ont., earning a Master of Divinity degree. He ministered in Barbados until 1992, then answered a call to be the rector of St. Lawrence, LaSalle in the Diocese of Montreal, moving there with his wife Angela and two young children. He says he learned an important lesson during his early years in ministry, one that has stayed with him all his life. “I learned that it was important to listen to the other voices whom God has placed before us in sharing God’s mission, especially those of the laity,” he says. “I’m grateful that I was able to quickly learn that it’s not all about me – it’s about many others whom God has also called. That helped me to be a team player – to value and respect the gifts of others and to affirm and encourage the raising up of those gifts in ministry.” In 1997, he became the incumbent
Clockwise from top left: Bishop Peter Fenty, the area bishop of York-Simcoe; with Sr. Constance Elizabeth Murphy, SSJD, during his collation as Archdeacon of York in 2003; with his spouse Angela, daughter Peta-Anne and son Andre at his consecration as bishop in 2013; with the Rev. Canon Dr. Stephen Fields, one of the founders of the diocese’s annual Black heritage service; preaching at the consecration of three new bishops at St. Paul, Bloor Street in 2017. PHOTOS BY MICHAEL HUDSON of St. Joseph of Nazareth, Bramalea, in the Diocese of Toronto, serving there until 2003, when he became the Executive Assistant to the Bishop of Toronto and Archdeacon of York. He held that position until 2013, serving under Archbishop Terence Finlay and then Archbishop Colin Johnson. During those years, he was involved in a number of important initiatives in the diocese. He was part of the planning group for the
diocese’s annual Black heritage service, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. He was also a member of the committee that drafted the diocese’s guidelines for the blessing of same-sex couples. In 2013, he was elected bishop at St. James Cathedral and has served as the area bishop of York-Simcoe since then. York-Simcoe is one of four episcopal areas in the diocese, comprising 47 parishes with 74 congregations.
He says being the area bishop of York-Simcoe has been a joy and a pleasure. “I’ve worked alongside wonderful clergy and lay people. I’ve really valued the leadership of our regional deans, our two liturgical officers, our area council, our youth coordinator and of course Jennipher Kean, my wonderful administrative assistant.” Like many bishops, he says his Sunday visits to parishes have been the highlight of his ministry
in York-Simcoe. “I’ve enjoyed the privilege every week to be in a parish with the clergy and people, doing what we do well, which is to worship an awesome God – to celebrate God’s unconditional love for us and for all of God’s creation. “I am also proud of the manner in which a number of our parishes, who even with their challenges, are doing creative things to fulfil their ministries. That has been a real joy
10 THINGS I WANT TO DO AFTER COVID-19 – SEE PAGE 5
Continued on Page 8
2 TheAnglican
INTERVIEW NEWS
June 2020
I can’t imagine living anywhere else Deacon Elizabeth Cummings is the coordinator of the Open Hours Program at Holy Trinity, Trinity Square in Toronto. This interview took place on April 29.
found myself at Holy Trinity. When I moved north to Toronto, I was definitely in a place of spiritual questioning. Very religious, my family had moved around a lot and attended many different Christian churches, but I wasn’t sure if Christianity had anything more to offer me going forward. When I decided to attend St. Stephen in-the-Fields here in Toronto, it was only because a friend had recommended it and I was wondering if the more Anglo-Catholic tradition was what I needed. The physicality of the smells, bells, bowing and liturgical calendar had always intrigued me – a potential bridge between the more cerebral ways I had known God before and the physicality of the day to day. This insight proved largely correct and, combined with the high level of preaching and teaching I was receiving, I decided to start attending church regularly for the first time of my own volition. Always drawn to the issues of social justice, I had never heard of the position of deacon in the Anglican Church before a few years ago. It took at least another year of thinking about it before I decided to officially discern. The process brought plenty of hoops to jump through and fears of not being good enough, but it’s also taught me a lot about myself and pushed me in my spiritual development.
The Open Hours Program and the People Presence Volunteers work together to keep the church sanctuary open six days a week for all the different kinds of people who come through Trinity Square, which is close to Yonge-Dundas Square and the Eaton Centre. We create a uniquely welcoming and relaxing space in a part of the city that is only getting busier and more closed off. We also partner with the monthly Homeless Memorial, which remembers the growing number of people who have died un-housed in the city. At the start of this year, we recorded the 1,000th name. During this time of COVID-19, food and other survival supplies are always at the top of my mind. Crisis situations like this not only reveal current inequalities and failures in our social imagination, but also dangerously exacerbates them. We have seen a quadrupling of the number of people who we serve daily, and an intensifying of need. While there is always some small hope on the horizon, people have lost most of the systems they depended on for food and all the indoor spaces where they could sit down out of the elements. Like every other Canadian, they are scared, but they have nowhere safe to retreat to. Our second focus is connecting our wider communities with ways that they can make a meaningful difference. Watching these social injustices unfold, even from isolation, is extremely difficult. For many of our older volunteers, the people who I am serving are their friends and family. Staying connected, supporting one another, and advocating to all levels of government has become even more crucial at this time. The best and worst part of working right now have to be the same thing, which is being an essential worker during COVID-19. I’ve changed my daily
Deacon Elizabeth Cummings with food supplies at Holy Trinity, Trinity Square. PHOTO BY ZACHARY GRANT
commute so that I don’t have to actually touch anything besides my subway seat. That said, staying home and watching the growing need from afar would be equally stressful. I’m extremely grateful for the way that the team at Holy Trinity has come together to support each other, making sure each of us feels valued, and providing us with the tools to remain as safe as possible. Originally from the (United) States, I needed a change after university and decided to hike the southern half of the
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Appalachian trail and then move north for a few years. Starting out only knowing my roommate, I quickly found a community in Toronto to call home, and now can’t imagine living anywhere else. While my father worked as a coordinator in a similar program while I was growing up, I never imagined following in his footsteps. Graduating with a BA in graphic design, I really enjoyed working in that industry for a number of years, both as a freelancer and in-house. Growing climate anxiety started to leave me more dissatisfied with my chosen occupation and I decided to transition to something less carbon intensive. Dovetailing with my discernment process, I sought out more opportunities in the drop-in related sector and eventually
Becoming a deacon was hugely affirming and I would encourage everyone to become more familiar with the Community of Deacons. The office of deacon is still relatively unknown in many corners of the Church, which is a limitation on how people understand the mission of the Church, not to mention a concern that some may be missing out on their vocation. The Diocese of Toronto’s website includes a short synopsis of the process on the page “Diaconate Ministry,” with a more in-depth overview entitled “The Iona Report” available through the national church’s website. Five years from now, I hope to be serving God and my neighbour. At this point in time, I have a hard time trying to figure out what the world will exactly look like in five years, but of that I can be sure. I am similarly bad at picking favourite passages from scripture, but I often return to the book of Amos. One of the prophets of the First Testament, I am always struck by how pertinent and timely it feels even now.
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OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE FAMILIES IMPACTED BY COVID-19.
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TheAnglican 3
NEWS
June 2020
FOOD FOR ALL
Flemingdon Park Ministry farm staff Amos Owolabi (top left) and Esey Tewolde and Melodie Ng (above), ready The Common Table’s garden beds for spring planting at Church of Our Saviour in Toronto on April 28. The Common Table, a program of the diocese’s Flemingdon Park Ministry, provided fresh produce for more than 1,200 people last year and is hoping for even better yields this year. PHOTOS BY MICHAEL HUDSON
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The Anglican Church Cricket Festival 2020 We regret to inform you that the Anglican Church Cricket Festival planned for June 27th 2020 has been postponed indefinitely due to the uncertainties around Covid-19. We will review the situation later in the summer and advise if the event can be rescheduled to a later date.
We thank you for your understanding. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27 For more information contact: Ranil Mendis - rmendis1@gmail.com | Peter Marshall - judipeter@hotmail.com
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44 TheAnglican TheAnglican
COMMENT COMMENT
Our Faith-Our Hope is changing Notes from a gratitude pad lives
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came across a pastoral let“Give thanks in all circumter from the Bishop of stances, for this is God’s will Toronto to the clergy and for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 laity proposing a signifiThessalonians 5:18). cant fundraising effort. In it he proposed a graduated schede all know how easy ule of offerings to achieve a it is to give thanks in substantial goal and an indigood circumstances. vidual appeal to each church family in the When things are diocese by a member of their parish “to going well and life seems berouse unfolding as knock at every one’s door to and the init should, it’s easy to feel grateful from the habitants to devote a small portion of what bottom our hearts. God hasofbestowed upon them to promote so But for most great a work.” of us, life is not like that right now. The COVID-19 virusJohn continues to wreak That letter came from Strachan, the havoc on our world, disrupting our best-laid first Bishop of Toronto, in January 1854! plans. are sick,Hope: afraid and lonely; our The People Our Faith-Our Re-imagine churches are shut;began jobs have Church campaign withevaporated; an idea I first many of ustoare trying to be full-time proposed Synod a decade ago. As itschool graduteachers working from home; we ally took while shape,also we determined that it would are to stay away fromshared each other. Thisthe is be atold cooperative program between not how life should be! diocese and parishes that responded to the So how, in midst of this generosity ofthe God’s many giftspandemic, to us to en-can we give thanks to God? How can gage God’s mission. We identified we thecultigoals of vate a spirit of Local gratitude whenBuilding everything Strengthening Parishes, the seems I can only offer anOur ap- InChurchso forbleak? Tomorrow, Revitalizing proach that has worked for me. I borrowed heritance and Giving to Others. theThe idea from a woman I once knew in one Canadian North has many clergy and of parishes served.ofShe kept awho “gratilaythe catechists inIcharge parishes work tude pad” on her nightstand. Every night without a stipend. Many are isolated in combefore bed sheface would grab apastoral pen andissues jot munities that traumatic down four or five things for which she was including, unfortunately, the accumulated grateful that day. I have recently taken on pain of dealing with multiple suicides. The that practice as a way of astaying thankful Diocese of Toronto made grant of $500,000in difficult from Ourcircumstances. Faith-Our Hope (OFOH) to fund a Here are a few of the things my gratirequest from the Council of theon North and tude pad from theof past several weeks: Anglican Council Indigenous Peoples to hold regional circles where clergy and lay 1. 7:30could p.m.come Pots together & Pans Movement. leaders for mutual I lovesupport hearingand therefreshment. sound of clanging learning, So far, 276 have participated from half a dozen dioceses. Grants ranged from $500 to $100,000. The Diocese of the Arctic, for instance, brought peo-
ARCHBISHOP’S DIARY BISHOP’S OPINION BY ARCHBISHOP COLIN JOHNSON
By Bishop Kevin Robertson
ple from 48 communities together. The feedback has been astounding. It makes a differpots and pans each night, as people on ence in peoples’ lives. our street step out onto their porches The Anglican Chaplaincy for the Canadian to honour frontline workers and Forces elected its first full-time bishop to prohealthcare staff. Some churches are vide episcopal care for regular and reserve also ringing their church bells at 7:30 chaplains and their families, and to military each night join in. ThisItcacophony is personnel acrosstothe country. only became double gratitude me:endowment I am reminded possible because of an for initial of to be grateful for the frontline workers, $500,000 from OFOH. and also thosegrant who show to Another $500,000 from gratitude OFOH to the them! Give thanks for sacrifice. Give Primate’s World Relief and Development for appreciation. Fundthanks (PWRDF) supports new work in mater The Anglican Support nal2.and child health Outreach in the developing world Network. and midwifery services in remote northern Since the of is this communities in beginning Canada. Ours thepandemic, largest outreach workers in Anglican singlefrontline gift any diocese has ever given to ministries have gathered regularlyofin a PWRDF in its 50+ year history. Because network of mutual support and resourcematching federal government grants, that sharing. Those within this network gift created a value of over $2.5 million. Safeare leading the efforthealth to continue ministering deliveries and proper care are now to the most vulnerable among us, includavailable because of your generosity. ing the homeless, the marginally housed, Parishes around the diocese have been hungryaccessible, and the socially isolated. madethe physically youth work is be- I give thanks forare their deeptrained, commitment ing funded, leaders being pio- to those who arein falling further through the neering ministries new contexts have been cracks during this pandemic. Give thanks planed and an amazing array of creative projfor compassion. ects have been undertaken locally because of 3. Faith-Our Virtual Worship. Our Hope – not just because of the For most of us,now worship was but also financial resources available, transformed in an instant. One week because of a reinvigoration of imagination we were in our buildings. The next we and commitment. out. Asinheart-wrenching Wewere haveshut succeeded remarkable ways. that has parish been, I participated, am so thankful Whileasnot every thefor vast the resiliency of communities whomany majority did – and achieved more than responded to thisSome challenge offering had thought possible. of theby parishes did not formally join the OFOH project because they were already in the midst of substantial funding efforts. Others added to their
goals to meet parish capital needs and did worship services by live stream, Zoom, spectacularly well. Taking that into account, conference call and pre-recorded video. at least $50 million in new funds has been Now, we can all visit any number of contributed to ministry in the diocese and bechurches each week and hear some yond in the last seven years, over our regular great music as well as a variety of offerings and FaithWorks contributions. homilies. Give thanks for creativity. We are a different diocese because of that. 4. Jubilee! Yes, the money has helped us fund new min In March, our Diocesan Council made istries, adapt old buildings, engage in new the courageous decision to proclaim a mission, support vulnerable people in Jubilee. For two months, no parish in Christ’s name. More than that, though, it has our Diocese has needed to paypeople, clergy alhelped build relationships between or to theshare monthly allotment. It idenwas lowedcosts people personal stories, our hope that this relief would give tified and trained new leaders, built up confiparishes somepeople breathing room as they dence, and assisted to articulate and adjusted to a very different reality and share their faith. created stewardship opportunities I have beennew changed by the experience. I in response toin the pandemic. Giveabout am more confident speaking clearly thanks my faith and for mygenerosity. commitment to it. I have dis5. Thea Risen Jesus. to give generously. I covered new capacity This pandemic has taken many things have met the most amazing Anglicans, heard away from us, but it has not taken their stories and been moved by their faithaway our rejoiced proclamation the One and fulness. I have in theof creativity who sets us free and gives us life. We boldness of vision of people and parishes celebrate that theoccasionally tomb is empty! Now (and yes, to be honest, disapnothing can separate uschurch from the love pointed by a few). I think our is in a of God in Christ: “neither death, nor different place because of Our Faith-Our angels, principalities, nor Hope.life, Wenor have begunnor to re-imagine church. powers, nor things present I am profoundly grateful to younor andthings the come…” 8:38) made Nor can manyto people like(Romans you who have and are thisa pandemic. Weour areworld a new creation, making difference in because of bound God forever. for your faith inwith Jesus Christ. AndGive I amthanks especialresurrection and new life. ly grateful to the lay leaders and clergy in our diocese who took the initiative and rose May God the Holy Spirit, who came upon to it so graciously. the Church on the Pentecost, fill us The campaign is Day now of officially concluded, withthe a renewed sense of gratitude our but allocations continue and thefor mission life together. may we giveonthanks God invites usAnd to share is still our in all circumstances, for thisparagraph is God’s will for us doorsteps. As my first noted, thisin Christ was notJesus. the first financial campaign, nor will it be the last – the work of the Church is not over. Let us continue onwards in faith and in hope.
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broad inviting smile, firm handshake and the word “welcome” are the memories we have when Angela and I first met Terence Finlay, Bishop of Toronto, in the summer of 1997. I was beginning my ministry as the incumbent of St. Joseph of Nazareth, Bramalea. When we entered his office, there was a warmth and genuineness experienced by both of us in our first meeting with Bishop Finlay. He was very interested in getting to know us and our young family. We shared the stories of our Christian journeys and family life. It was a pleasure to engage with him and have a sense of the pastoral care and support he offered clergy and their families. I had no idea that six years later I would be working closely with him as his executive assistant and Archdeacon of York. I got to know Terry, as he was affectionately called, when I became a member of the Postulancy Committee and a regional dean. He gave wise counsel and offered good insight into challenging matters facing the Church. His was a calming voice and a non-anxious presence. He offered strong episcopal leadership in the diocese, both pastorally and morally. He was a model of deep faith and prayerful thoughtfulness, and was genuinely concerned about the well-being of the clergy and laity under his episcopal leadership. In the spring of 2003 I received a call from the Archbishop’s office inviting me to meet with him. I thought I was going to be invited to sit on another committee of the diocese. He
BISHOP’S OPINION BY BISHOP PETER FENTY
quickly got to the purpose of our meeting and asked if I was willing to be considered as a candidate for executive assistant and archdeacon. The position had become vacant when Archdeacon Colin Johnson was elected suffragan bishop. I was surprised when he met with me just before the clergy conference that year and offered me the position. It was a privilege and distinct honour to serve as his executive assistant and archdeacon. I got to know Terry even better and learned much from him. I witnessed the depth of his faith and his concern for every parish in the diocese. He showed compassion, particularly for the marginalized and minorities in the Church and in the wider community. Archbishop Finlay was very disciplined in his work. He worked long hours and paid attention to detail, thoroughly reading documents, letters or any material needed for meetings. It was also evident that he cared deeply for the wider Church and appreciated the importance of ecumenical relationships. One of the qualities I admired about Terry was his willingness to make time for people. He made himself available to clergy and laity who needed to meet with him. I was often asked to join him in meetings with others, and it was evident that he always listened intently. Terry was a pastor, mentor, friend and confidante. Another quality I admired in him was his humility. He engaged with people in all stations of life. He was as comfortable talking
and engaging with persons on the street corner or drop-in centre as he was with persons serving in public office. One of the challenges he faced was the Church’s position on human sexuality. While in office he upheld the doctrine and discipline of the Church. On leaving office, he officiated in a same-gender marriage, for which he had to be disciplined by his diocesan bishop, who was once his archdeacon, executive assistant and suffragan bishop. In receiving the admonition, he told his successor in office that he expected nothing less from him and that he was exercising his episcopal ministry responsibly. I believe that Archbishop Terence was leading the diocese in the direction of being more welcoming to those who were vulnerable, marginalized, voiceless and in the minority. He made a very significant difference in the life of the Diocese of Toronto. It is not surprising, therefore, to hear and read the very complimentary reflections that many have shared about their experiences of him. He exercised a servant ministry throughout his ordained life, and for that we give thanks to God for his example. I was privileged and honoured to have had the opportunity to know him as my bishop, mentor and friend. The Church has been blessed to have had him as a faithful bishop. He will be missed and leaves a legacy of exemplary leadership, humility, compassion and profound faith. We are grateful to his family for having shared him with the Church and assure them of our prayerful support. We give Archbishop Terence Finlay back to his Creator God with the same graciousness we experienced of him. May he rest in peace and rise with Christ in glory.
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The Anglican Church In the Anglican Communion: A global community of 70 million Anglicans in 64,000 congregations in 164 countries. Archbishop of Canterbury: The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Justin Welby, Lambeth Palace, London, England SE1 7JU. In Canada: A community of about 600,000 members in 30 dioceses, stretching from Vancouver Island to Newfoundland and north to the Arctic Ocean. Primate: The Most Rev. Linda Nicholls, Church House, 80 Hayden St. Toronto, ON M4Y 3G2 Tel: 416-924-9192 In the Diocese of Toronto: A community of 254 congregations in 210 parishes covering 26,000 square kilometers. Of the nearly 5 million people who live within the diocesan boundaries, 376,000 claim to be affiliated with the Anglican Church, with about 80,000 people identified on the parish rolls. The diocese is home to many ethnic and languagebased congregations, including African, Caribbean, Chinese, Filipino, French, Hispanic, Japanese, and Tamil. The City of Toronto has a large population of aboriginal peoples. Bishop of Toronto: The Rt. Rev. Andrew Asbil York-Credit Valley: The Rt. Rev. Jenny Andison Trent-Durham: The Rt. Rev. Riscylla Shaw York-Scarborough: The Rt. Rev. Kevin Robertson York-Simcoe: The Rt. Rev. Peter Fenty The Diocese of Toronto: 135 Adelaide St. E., Toronto, Ont., M5C 1L8 1-800-668-8932/416-363-6021 Web site: http://www.toronto.anglican.ca
COMMENT
June 2020
TheAnglican 5
My Top 10 list when this is all over BY THE REV. CANON DAVID HARRISON
F
or years I’ve had a fantasy that the world would shut down and I could just stay at home and read books. For weeks on end. An introvert’s nirvana. Well, the world shut down. But I haven’t done much more than crack the cover of Miriam Toews’ newest novel. Instead, I’m living in a world of constant improvisation, back-to-back Zooming, and (yes) telephone conversations with parishioners and friends. It’s been strange, exhausting, enlivening, hard and full of surprises. What things am I most looking forward to doing when the pandemic is over, asks The Anglican’s faithful editor? Here’s what I’m looking forward to. 1. Reading. Yes, that’s right. Somehow after another day of Zooming, all I have energy for is to plop myself in front of yet another Netflix series. And so I want to finish Miriam Toews’ novel and begin to attack the backlog on my bedside table.
2. Getting up early on a Thursday morning. Although I’m the furthest thing there is from being a morning person, one of the weekly routines I look forward to is the 7:15 a.m. mass followed by breakfast (one boiled egg and two and a half pieces of toast) with a faithful band of parishioners, presided over by 98-year-old Professor Blissett, our chief butterer of toast. 3. Celebrating the liturgy with (more than four other) living, breathing humans. I want to hear the sounds, see the faces and shake the hands. 4. Commending my dear colleague Father Robert McCord to God’s care with a glorious requiem. Robert died suddenly in March and we are waiting for the time when we can fulfill his wish for a high mass with all the liturgical trimmings. 5. Visiting a library. “Medicine for the Soul,” said the inscription above the earliest library we know of, from the 1200s BCE. My soul needs some of this medicine. 6. Getting “just because” exercise. My commute from home to church is roughly ten paces. I’m looking forward to the time when going to meetings and running er-
rands and going to my weekly duplicate bridge game gets me on my feet or on my bike. 7. Hugging my mom. (And she will tell you I’m not the huggiest person in the world. And she is correct. But still!) 8. Having lunch with some dear friends. I realize I have taken for granted the simple act of making a lunch date and catching up over a meal. This is a time for fasting from the way in which human beings form and sustain family, friendships and community – with food and drink. (Yes, “Do this,” said Jesus. And so we shall. And in person!) 9. Sailing. My real “happy place” is a summer property that has been in my family for almost a century. There I sail and read and play board games, and Mary Lou and I and my folks get to re-connect with our two adult daughters. I’m hoping (perhaps against hope – we will see) to get there in August and just “be.” 10. Discovering what God has been up to in the Church and in my life. I don’t for a moment subscribe to the theology that God has inflicted this pandemic upon
the world to teach us something. But I do subscribe to the theology that, through this extraordinary time, God is doing something new. In the Church we are seeing creativity, courage, resilience and lots of curiosity from outside our walls. In my own life, this has been a time of creativity in writing, practicing the organ (something I haven’t done for a few years) and composing music. Things I simply wouldn’t have “got around to” if all of a sudden everything predictable had not been turned on its head. I have been very fortunate through this pandemic – much more fortunate than most. I have the security of continued employment, comfortable shelter, plenty of food and company and support, and ministry I love. This pandemic has not been the “stay at home and read books” moment I had imagined. But I am thankful, from my admittedly comfortable perch, to be able to reflect on what really is important. Yes, absence does make my heart grow fonder. The Rev. Canon David Harrison is the incumbent of St. Mary Magdalene, Toronto.
Gospel reading works its magic yet again BY MURRAY MacADAM
As I went up to my computer to pray Studying about that good ol’ way And who shall show up on the screen Good Lord, show me the way
T
hese somewhat cynical lyrics came to mind as I trudged upstairs and into my office to gather with members of my parish for a weekly service – gather, that is, pandemic-style: each of us home alone, gazing into the screen before us. Like many, I’ve gotten more or less used to a shrunken life in the COVID-19 era. Isolation is never easy but being cut off from one’s brothers and sisters in faith is, I find, hardest of all. What was once my favourite day of the week – Sunday – is now the toughest. Not being able to worship inperson together makes the harsh isolation of the pandemic even more searing, like
salt being rubbed into a wound. We’re all in this together, I told myself resignedly as I turned on my computer for our Zoom gathering. I reminded myself that thousands of other Christians are also worshipping in this way. My spirits lifted somewhat as the faces of other parishioners came into view on my screen. Then our gospel reading worked its magic: “When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you’… A week later his disciples were again in the house... Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’” (John 20:24-29) Locked away. Living in fear. Yet Jesus is present. In this anxious time of “house arrest,” the words of this familiar passage resonated with me as they never had before. As we reflected on this scripture,
I realized that numerous other Christians have experienced fear and uncertainty as well. And by pointing out the marks of his crucifixion to Thomas, Jesus reminds us that he too has suffered — and in fact has suffered much more than us. But suffering is not the most powerful thing about Easter. Nor is fear and anxiety. They can’t defeat the power of resurrection. As we reflected on this passage and what it means for us, I gazed upon the iconic painting of Jesus in my office by well-known Christian artist Michael O’Brien. As I gazed into Jesus’ eyes, he spoke to me in a new way – reaching past my fear and anxiety and into my soul. I wasn’t just looking at a lovely painting: I was connecting with Jesus in a new, deeper way – just as members of our parish connected with each other during our service in a new way. At first, our online dialogue moved in fits and starts, liked a stalled car’s engine coming to life. But gradually more of us felt comfortable enough to speak and offer our ideas. One of us noted that if we just sit in fear,
it paralyzes us. That led us to think about what we could do to help some of those in our community who were hardest hit by the pandemic. They include homeless people who are housed in a large recreation centre so they can be safely far enough apart from each other. Yet this arrangement has also meant that they have little to do to pass the time. One parishioner suggested we investigate whether computer tablets and iPads might be donated to our homeless neighbours so they could stay in touch with the world beyond the recreation centre’s walls. Others chimed in to discuss this proposal further. I left our service with a greater sense of the peace that Jesus talks about – and with a deeper appreciation that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, including pandemics, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Murray MacAdam is a member of St. John the Evangelist, Peterborough.
Who will we be on that day? When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly… (Acts 2:1) BY THE REV. GREG CARPENTER
T
hese words will be read in most churches in the diocese on Sunday, May 31, the fiftieth day after Easter, what some people call the birthday of the Church but is more commonly known as Pentecost. More than anything, it is the day that the disciples learned that everything in their lives had changed once again as they took on a new role: apostle. That day did many things, but I am not sure it presented to
them the option of going back into the upper room. Taking on this role meant evolving beyond that of being a student under the guiding eye of their rabbi. It meant emerging from the upper room, stepping into the town square and going out into a world they would change forever. It would be far too simplistic to equate the experience of our parishes and today’s Church to that day. However, as some people start seeing a gently flattened curve and hopeful statistics, their silent wondering is clear: when will we be allowed to start gathering in our places of worship once again, and, just as importantly, who will we be on that day? We all know we must wait for guidance from our pastoral leadership, which
is listening for the advice of the medical community to safely see what our new normal will be. But it doesn’t change the fact that many are still wondering. This time of separation has not been easy, but it has also been a time of amazing discovery. Most of my colleagues comment that they have never been busier in ministry. Parishes across our diocese and in many faith expressions have taken a crash course in online worship, live streaming, and Zoom-everything. As we have worked diligently to stay at home, supporting the work of essential services by not adding to their workload, the innovation and evolution that has taken place in the lives of Anglicans here and elsewhere has seen the reward of a renewed level of connectedness.
In all that wondering, and as the yearning towards a new normal continues, my mind has settled on questions revolving around many things: • Since we don’t know how much longer the present restrictions on gatherings are going to continue, is it premature to dream about what we will do when…? • In all the innovation and evolution, have we entertained the thought that God might be asking us to slow down a bit – that right now, instead of being busier, this may be calling us into a time of reflection? • As we effectively reach out to people in our communities, both near and far, are we effectively reaching Continued on Page 8
6 TheAnglican
COMMENT
June 2020
There’s no going back, so now what? Virtual liturgies and interactions raise questions for Church BY JANET MARSHALL
O
ver the past several weeks, we’ve seen an impressive burst of creativity as we learn new ways to worship, pray, teach and share the gospel online. Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have been impressive, to say the least. We are streaming, live streaming and Zooming, and while it feels like a new world for us, we’ve actually been fast-tracked into a future we knew was coming. Now that we’re here there’s no going back, so it’s worth looking at the sorts of interactions and relationships we’re creating through our online presence. It’s great that there are so many more people who can see us, but what is the potential for evangelism? How do we invite people to engage with us? And how can we move from engagement to relationship: from online to in-person once we can gather again? Also, we like to count things. We use quantitative measures such as average Sunday attendance (ASA) and average weekly attendance (AWA) to track congregational sustainability and growth. It’s no surprise that there are lively questions about how to count our virtual interactions. I want to begin by saying unequivocally: virtual liturgies count. Online interactions are real and can be very meaningful. We are reaching people and showing our presence and response in this time of anxiety. We are touching lives. The question is how we understand the nature of these encounters given the different media being used. Online worship methods There are basically three different methods being used for online worship: streaming a pre-recorded liturgy; live streaming; and using a video conference platform such as Zoom. Streaming a pre-recorded liturgy is most like a performance. We can record lots of “takes” to get it just right so that people can see us at our best. Liturgy legitimately has an element of performance, and some very popular churches are highly performative, as are many Protestant traditions. I remember going back to the Presbyterian church of my childhood and youth after I had been attending an Anglican church for a few years and being very surprised by how little there was for the congregation to say. Pre-recording allows us to make the best impression possible. The investment in the interaction is primarily ours. The audience has the privacy to come and go, linger a bit or engage, have it on in the foreground or background as they choose. This is window-shopping evangelism. The gift is in the potential for a very large number of people to come into contact with the video as they scroll through Facebook. It is a ministry of witness and presence that shows how we worship, who we worship, how we pray and who we pray for. This is a significant and new opportunity for evangelism that is bearing fruit as we see the number of views being recorded on our Facebook pages or YouTube channels.
However, any counting we do is, on the surface, going to be widely inaccurate. Some people will give us a fly-by “like,” some will linger, some will watch the entire liturgy. We can collect the number of likes and, more significantly, we can count the of the number of people who leave comments. Most significant is how often the video is shared. By sharing a video on their own Facebook page, someone has chosen to align themselves with this liturgy. Sharing it with their network of friends is a form of virtual evangelism saying, in effect, “this is meaningful to me and I want you to see it too.” If we delve a little deeper, Facebook and YouTube will show us the average watch time and audience retention for each video, so we can see real data about how people are engaging with our worship. Churches that post pre-recorded liturgies can also use the Premiere functions on Facebook or YouTube to mimic a live experience, inviting people to tune in and watch at the same time, and unlock more data. Live streaming introduces spontaneity and the potential for imperfection. Again, worship is essentially performance. The audience may be onlookers, or they may engage; they can stay or come and go. They may stumble upon our worship as they scroll through their newsfeed. But with live streaming, sometimes microphones don’t work properly, you can hear the cleric’s children in the background, things can and do go wrong. This risk adds an element of intimacy that invites the onlookers into the experience. Watching, we feel empathy, humour and frustration, and this engages us. It feels more personal. Churches that live stream on Facebook usually allow live comments and reactions as people tune in to watch. This invites people to feel like they’ve become part of a group who are having a shared experience. They move from being an onlooker to being part of a virtual community – if only for a short time. Through the comments, people can offer their prayers and share the Peace in real time during the liturgy. Other pages and individuals can also host Watch Parties, inviting their friends or followers to join them in the live viewing experience. This is like window shopping evangelism where the door is open and there are ways that you are invited to enter. You can step in just a little bit by making a comment, or you can come right in by joining the party or, in this case, the virtual congregation. Similar to pre-recorded streaming, any counting we do is going to be inaccurate, but we can count “peak live viewers” – the number of people who actually tuned in live – and audience retention, and be
more confident of people’s engagement in worship. So, along with the views, shares and number of people commenting, it’s worth counting and keeping track of these numbers. Zoom or another video conferencing platform is a way of keeping in touch with the congregation and tending the community. This is a walled-garden approach. People need to have the link to enter and, once in, can interact with each other; they can see each other, hear each other and, through the chat, write notes to each other. In a Zoom liturgy, people are treated as participants. Engagement is supported with a downloadable bulletin attached with the link. You’re invited to say the responses and sing the hymns. During worship, the chat function can be used to share prayers and the Peace, or the mics can be turned on. After worship ends, churches will often have a virtual coffee hour and check in with each other. The officiant can speak directly to the group, sharing community news and facilitating interactions. Compared with streaming on Facebook or YouTube, the reach to the public is limited. The focus is on engaging with the liturgy, fostering personal interactions and nurturing relationships within the congregation while it can’t meet in person. Zoom links can be shared on parish social media feeds, but people will need to follow the link to enter the service. Counting is therefore easier but not entirely accurate. You can count the number of log-ons, but you won’t get an exact count since there are couples and families participating from a single device. This being said, it’s the closest we can get to ASA and AWA counts. Unexpectedly, parishes offering Zoom services are finding that participation in daily prayer is high – much higher that they would expect from in-person gatherings. These prayer services are providing structure to people’s days – something to look forward to and be part of every weekday. This is a particularly important ministry for people who are struggling with isolation and are at risk with mental health issues. Even though there is a doorway to these Zoom gatherings, evangelism is happening through people inviting their friends. Like the invitation to a Watch Party, inviting a friend to a Zoom worship service is clearly easier than making the invitation to inperson worship in our churches. Through our virtual worship, gossiping the gospel is flowering. Expanding and enhancing the experience Our goal should be to use these media to
offer window shopping, an open door, and an invitation to stay a while and engage in the experience of worshipping God as part of a community – even at a distance. No single virtual tool will do all of this, and no cleric can do all three (planning and leading just one is a lot of work), but each offers a piece. The opportunity is to develop whichever media you’re using so that it leads from onlooking to engaging, interaction to relationship. Here are some suggestions to enhance the experiences so that people are invited to linger and participate in the spiritual experiences we’re offering. • Have a host who is not the officiant when live streaming or Zooming. When live streaming, the host can watch the comments and respond to prayer requests in real time. With Zoom, a host can monitor the participants, make sure that video cameras and microphones are turned off and on at appropriate times and, if necessary, block intrusive participation. They can share their screen and sound to display pictures and play music. • Keep it short. Sunday morning liturgies should be 30 minutes at the maximum unless you are offering a fully professional video with multiple officiants and live music. Even five minutes of focused prayer each weekday can be a very attractive offering for people to look forward to. • Include other voices in the reading and prayers. With Zoom, it’s easy to include people from their homes. • Choose inviting settings for daily offices or prayer services. Record in more relaxed, casual or personal settings, such as your home or outdoors. • Add a brief thought for the day. Reflect briefly on the gospel – five minutes or less – connecting to our experience of living through this pandemic. • Link a bulletin to the posting or invitation. Include information about your church and highlight the ministries of outreach and pastoral care. • Expect people to join in the prayers and sing the hymns. • Introduce yourself and your parish. Add some personality; give people an impression of you and the church you’re representing. At either the beginning or end of the liturgy, greet the onlookers and wish them well. Let people know of your church’s website and highlight an outreach or community service of your parish or the diocese. • Invite financial support. Let people know how they can contribute to the ministry and mission of the church. Don’t be shy! We’re hearing stories of people asking how they can contribute after watching an online service. Finally, keep track of your stories and your counts. These experiences are worth keeping. Virtual church and the use of online media for evangelism, worship and community-building are with us to stay. It seems obvious that now we’ve entered this new environment – and are seeing how many people are being touched by our churches’ presence and witness – we must continue. Let’s learn as much as we can and share what we’re learning. Janet Marshall is the diocese’s Director of Congregational Development.
June 2020
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PRAYER CYCLE FOR JUNE 1. The College for Bishops Educational Program 2. T he Philip Aziz Centre for Hospice Care 3. S t. John’s Community Outreach Ministries 4. LOFT Community Services 5. The Bridge Prison Ministry 6. Couchiching Jubilee House 7. Theological Colleges of the Anglican Church of Canada 8. T he Postulants of the Diocese of Toronto 9. The Dam 10. Christ Church, Bolton 11. Christ Church, Brampton 12. H oly Family, Heart Lake (Brampton) 13. St. Hugh and St. Edmund 14. North Peel Deanery 15. St. James the Apostle, Brampton 16. O ntario Provincial Commission on Theological Education (OPCOTE) 17. St. James, Caledon East 18. St. Joseph of Nazareth, Bramalea 19. St. Jude, Bramalea North 20. A URA - Anglican-United Refugee Alliance 21. T he Rev. Leigh Kern, Coordinator of Indigenous Ministries 22. Toronto Urban Native Ministry 23. Council Fire 24. Momentum Program 25. The David Busby Centre 26. Downsview Youth Covenant 27. Lakefield After-School Program 28. Camp Couchiching 29. C hapel of St. Peter and St. Paul, Diocesan Centre 30. The Council of General Synod
IN MOTION Appointments
• The Rev. David Danner (Diocese of Southwest Florida), Honorary Assistant, St. James Cathedral, April 16. • The Rev. Canon Douglas Graydon, Honorary Assistant, St. James Cathedral, April 16. • The Most Rev. Colin Johnson, Honorary Assistant, St. James Cathedral, April 16. • Ms. Maria Ling, Assistant Curate, Grace Church on-theHill, May 1 and St. Elizabeth, Mississauga, Nov. 29. • The Rev. Brian Suggs, Associate Priest, All Saints, Kingsway, May 1.
COUNSELLING
FOR JULY 1. The Anglican Church of Canada Archbishop Linda Nicholls, Primate 2. Resurrection 3. St. Aidan, Toronto 4. St. Andrew, Japanese 5. Toronto East Deanery 6. St. Barnabas, Chester 7. St. Bede 8. St. David, Donlands 9. St. John the Baptist, Norway 10. St. Luke, East York 11. St. Matthew, First Avenue 12. Mission to Seafarers 13. St. Monica 14. St. Nicholas, Birch Cliff 15. St. Saviour, Toronto 16. All Saints, Collingwood 17. Christ Church-St. Jude, Ivy 18. Good Shepherd, Stayner 19. Nottawasaga Deanery 20. Holy Trinity, Clearview 21. Prince of Peace, Wasaga Beach 22. St. George, Allandale 23. St. George, Utopia 24. St. John, Craighurst 25. St. James, Lisle 26. The Lambeth Conference 27. St. Luke, Creemore 28. St. Margaret, Barrie 29. St. Paul, Innisfil 30. St. Paul, Midhurst 31. St. Thomas, Shanty Bay FOR AUGUST 1. Trinity Church, Barrie 2. The Anglican Communion and the Archbishop of Canterbury 3. St. Stephen in-the-Fields 4. Epiphany and St. Mark, Parkdale 5. Jeremiah Community 6. Order of the Holy Cross Priory 7. St. Anne, Toronto 8. Diocesan Girls’ Choir School 9. Parkdale - West Toronto Deanery
Area Bishop’s Direct Appointment Process • Parish of Fenelon Falls • St. Matthew, Islington • Holy Trinity, Trinity Square • St. John the Baptist, Norway • Church of the Evangelists, New Tecumseth • St. Paul, Newmarket
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416.605.3588 10. St. Chad 11. St. George by the Grange 12. St. Hilda, Fairbank 13. St. John, West Toronto 14. St. Martin in-the-Fields 15. St. Mary and St. Martha 16. The Bishop’s Committee on Discipleship 17. St. Mary Magdalene 18. St. Matthias, Bellwoods 19. St. Michael and All Angels 20. St. Olave, Swansea 21. St. Paul, Runnymede 22. St. Thomas, Huron Street 23. Bishop Riscylla Shaw 24. Christ Church, Woodbridge 25. Emmanuel, Richvale (Richmond Hill) 26. Grace Church, Markham 27. Holy Trinity, Thornhill 28. St. Christopher 29. St. John the Baptist, Oak Ridges 30. York Central Deanery 31. St. Mary, Richmond Hill
Committee in Formation (not yet receiving names): • St. John, York Mills • St. Joseph of Nazareth, Bramalea • St. Paul on-the-Hill, Pickering
Vacant Incumbencies
Second Phase - Parish Selection Committee (receiving names via Area Bishop): • Grace Church on-the-Hill (Associate Priest) • Trinity, Steetsville
First Phase - Parish Selection
Third Phase - (no longer receiving names): • Church of the Incarnation • Epiphany and St. Mark, Parkdale • All Saints, Whitby
Clergy from outside the diocese with the permission of their bishop may apply through the Diocesan Executive Assistant, Mrs. Mary Conliffe.
ONLINE SERVICES AND MORE
Here are some of the churches in the diocese providing online worship services, sermons, Bible study and more during the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit the diocese’s website, www.toronto. anglican.ca for more information. St. James Cathedral, Sundays at 11 a.m. from the Diocese of Toronto Facebook page. All Saints, Kingsway, live stream on Sundays at 10 a.m. on its website and YouTube channel. Christ Church, Bolton, MondayFriday Morning Prayer at 9 a.m., Sunday service at 10 a.m. on Christ Church’s Facebook page. Christ Church St. James, weekly recorded worship videos on its website. Holy Trinity, Clearview, weekly sermons on its website. Holy Trinity, Guildwood, Sunday morning worship on YouTube. Holy Trinity, Thornhill, Sunday Ante-Communion and reflection at 10 a.m., Monday-Thursday viDEoVOTIONS at 8 a.m., noon day prayers on Zoom. Holy Trinity, Trinity Square, Sunday live stream at 10:30 a.m. on Zoom. Parish of Craighurst and Midhurst, Sunday at 10:30 a.m. from the St. Paul’s Facebook page. The Litany, Monday-Friday at noon from St. John’s Facebook page. Parish of Haliburton, Sunday Morning Prayer at 9:30 a.m. on its Facebook page. Parish of North Essa, weekly sermons and Morning Prayer, online Bible study, daily prayers, inspirational passages and videos on its Facebook page. Church of the Resurrection, Sunday Morning Prayer, 10:30 a.m. on YouTube. Church of the Messiah, Sunday worship live stream at 10:30 a.m. on YouTube. St. Bartholomew, Regent Park, weekly sermon and mass recordings on YouTube. St. Bede, Toronto, pre-recorded service and sermon each Sunday on YouTube and weekly Facetime Bible study on Wednesdays, with details on its website. St. Bride, Clarkson, weekly audio service on its website. St. Dunstan of Canterbury, Sundays at 10:30 a.m. on St. Dunstan’s YouTube channel. • Parish of Lakefield • Christ Church, Stouffville • St. Thomas, Huron Street
Conclusions
• The Rev. Susan Tate concluded her appointment as Interim Priest-in-Charge of the Parish of Fenelon Falls on April 13. • The Rev. Louise Peters concluded her appointment as Vicar of St. James Cathedral
St. George, Newcastle, weekly reflection on the readings on its Facebook page and YouTube channel. St. George on-the-Hill, Sundays at 10:30 a.m. on its website and Facebook page. St. George, Pickering Village, daily prayer at 8 a.m. and 8:30 p.m., Sundays at 10 a.m., live on its Facebook page and posted on its website. St. James, Caledon East, Sunday Ante-Communion at 10 a.m., daily Evensong at 4:30 p.m. on St. James’ Facebook page. St. James, Sharon, weekday prayers on YouTube. St. John the Baptist, Dixie, recorded worship and homily every Sunday on YouTube. St. John, West Toronto, Sunday Morning Prayer at 9:30 a.m. from St. John’s Facebook page. St. Jude, Wexford, Morning Prayer on its Facebook page. St. Martin, Bay Ridges, prayers, children’s chats and other worship on YouTube. St. Mary, Richmond Hill, Sundays at 10:30 a.m. on St. Mary’s website. St. Mary Magdalene, Toronto, masses, prayers and reflections on YouTube. St. Matthew, Oshawa and Oshawa Deanery, Sunday recordings on YouTube. St. Olave, Morning Prayer and more on YouTube. St. Paul, Bloor Street, weekly sermons on its website. St. Paul, Lindsay, Sunday worship posted on its website and Facebook page. St. Paul, Uxbridge, liturgy of prayers, scripture and Sunday homily, as well as other spiritual resources, on St. Paul’s website. St. Peter and St. Simon-theApostle, pre-recorded services on its website. St. Philip on-the-Hill, daily morning prayer and a Mandarin message on its website. St. Saviour, Toronto, weekly podcast on Podomatic. St. Stephen in-the-Fields, Sunday at 9:30 a.m. from St. Stephen’s Facebook page. St. Thomas à Becket (Erin Mills South), sermons and daily content on Facebook and YouTube. St. Timothy, North Toronto, reduced Sunday liturgy at 10 a.m., Morning Prayer and a thought for the day at 9:30 a.m. on week days, all on Zoom. Trinity East (Little Trinity), Sundays at 10:45 a.m. on its website. St. Thomas, Brooklin, worship on YouTube, Evensong and prayer meetings on a Friday evenings on Zoom, Wednesday morning services on YouTube. on May 15. Her husband, the Rev. Bruce Chalmers, has accepted an appointment with the Territory of the People in the central interior of British Columbia. • The Rev. Stephen Blackmore will conclude his appointment as Incumbent of St. Matthew, Islington on May 31. He has accepted an appointment with the Diocese of Niagara.
8 TheAnglican
NEWS
June 2020
Bishop sought social justice Continued from Page 1
to watch and to see how dedicated and faithful our people are. “My seven years have been wonderful and enriching,” he adds. “I give thanks to God for the clergy and people of York-Simcoe for the privilege of serving them. I will leave this ministry with fond memories.” Throughout his ordained ministry, Bishop Fenty has worked for social justice. He recently co-chaired the national church’s Partners in Mission and Social Justice and Advocacy Committee. In that role, he worked with national church staff on global issues, supporting partners in mission across the Communion. He also led an antiracism workshop at a meeting of the Council of General Synod. In the Diocese of Toronto, he served on the planning committee for the annual Black heritage service for more than 20 years. He was a member of the Social Justice and Advocacy Committee and, until recently, a member of the Bishop’s Working Group on Intercultural Ministries, which seeks to turn the recommendations of the report Being Multicultural: Becoming Intercultural into concrete action. He says the diocese has made significant strides over the years to welcome and embrace those who are not part of the dominant culture, but it still has a long way to go. “We need to guard against complacency or a belief that we have arrived,” he says. “Systemic racism is still very much present in the Church.” A sign of hope has been the number of Black lay leaders who have held prominent positions in the Church in recent years at both the diocesan and area levels, he says. “We can look at that and recognize that progress is being made.” The diocese also plans to create a staff position to support the work of the Diversity Officer and the intercultural working group. With his election to the episcopacy in 2013, Bishop Fenty became the first Black bishop in the Anglican Church of Canada. It was an historic occasion and his consecration at St. James Cathedral drew
a huge crowd. But he points out that, seven years later, he is still the only Black person to hold that office. “I think that’s something that speaks volumes about the Church across the country, which likes to claim how diverse it is. Toronto is one of the most diverse cities in North America, so we have to ask some questions around leadership in our Church. We also have to recognize that some hard work still needs to be done around sensitivity training and anti-racism and all of the other challenges that we have, so that those who are not part of the dominant culture may really feel welcomed and involved.” Although he is closely associated with Black and minority issues, he is passionate about seeking social justice wherever it is needed. “It’s about justice around same-gender inclusion, ageism and economic equality. It’s about addressing all of the inequities and prejudices that exist in our communities and to some extent in the Church. If we are going to be true to what the prophet Micah says – ‘What does the Lord require of you, O mortal? To do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with our God’ – we can only do that if we are acting righteously, and that means walking in a right relationship with God and with others. It’s at the core of our baptismal call.” He intends to continue lending his voice to social justice issues while in retirement, but first he plans to spend time with his family, including his grandchildren. “My family has always stood by me and been supportive, and that has been a wonderful joy,” he says. After a period of rest and relaxation, he plans to make himself available to the College of Bishops and to fill in at parishes on Sundays if needed. He has a passion for supporting clergy who are struggling with their vocation and he would like to continue doing that. He is also looking forward to continuing his involvement with Black Anglicans of Canada, a new organization that advocates for and supports Black Anglicans in lay and clerical
CHURCH HELPS MARKET
The Rev. Canon Gary van der Meer and Anne Freeman, co-manager of Dufferin Grove Organic Market, assemble food items in the parish hall of St. Anne’s in Toronto on April 23. When the city closed all parks due to COVID-19, the farmers’ market lost its home in a nearby park and asked the church for room to store and distribute its food. “Our mission is ‘Bringing the Community together for Good’ and that’s what this market does,” says Canon van der Meer, incumbent of St. Anne’s. “We started the conversation right away, and we offered the spaces that would be most useful – rent-free. I’m glad they came to us. It says the neighbourhood-connecting we do is noticed, and now we get to show that we come through for our community.” PHOTOS BY MICHAEL HUDSON
leadership positions. As he looks back on his 45 years of ordained ministry, he is full of gratitude. “I’ve been really blessed to serve the Anglican Church in the way I have,” he says. “Ordained ministry is a privilege, not a right. We have the wonderful opportunity of pastoring and supporting in a way that few other occupations do. We walk alongside many people in their moments of joy and celebration but also in their moments of sadness and grief. And that is a privilege for anyone to have.” Bishop Andrew Asbil, the Bishop of Toronto, says he has mixed feelings about Bishop Fenty retiring. “On the one hand, I feel sadness. I’m really going to miss him in the College of Bishop and his work in the diocese. He’s been such a faithful, tireless leader. He always brings a calming influence and a
thoughtful approach to all issues. He has this wonderful way of slowing things down, containing anxiety and helping us in our discussions on whatever the matter may be. “On the other, I feel deep gratitude and thanksgiving for his service. Forty-five years of ordained ministry is incredible. To work in the vineyard in all those different capacities is monumental. What he has seen and touched and encouraged in his ministry is breathtaking.” He says Bishop Fenty has been a stellar bishop for York-Simcoe. “His ability to apply pastoral wisdom and care for parishes and ministries on the ground has been amazing. He does it with such constancy. He always makes himself available to clergy and lay leaders in his area.” He says one of Bishop Fenty’s most important contributions to
the Church, both in the diocese and in the rest of Canada, is his work in social justice and advocacy. “His perspective on justice and looking for those who are missing, those who have been left out, whether by systems or individuals, is one of his lasting legacies, and the compassion he has for the one who is left behind is a great contribution.” Another legacy will be his preaching, says Bishop Asbil. “His passion for scripture and the Word and his ability to talk about hard things in the gospel light has been a real gift to us.” He says plans are underway to celebrate Bishop Fenty’s ministry and the contributions that he and his family have made to the life of the Church. Those plans will be communicated as soon as they are finalized. Bishop Fenty will retire on Nov. 30, 2020.
We are being called into a wonderful time Continued from Page 5
those who are not connected to the internet? • Will we be able to kickstart our own communities back into ministry, or will this time of separation hasten the decline so many speak of? I wish there was a simpler way to navigate through this time, but we are in that overused catch phrase, “uncharted territory,” and it is challenging. However, just as we all work to navigate
our way through these waters, I can’t help but believe we are being called into a wonderful time, similar to that of the day of Pentecost. While our time is different than theirs, as we wait for that longed-for all-clear when our doors are permitted to open once again, we will have a choice to make. Will we bring with us all those innovations and ideas that have inspired renewed connectedness, along
with more traditional ways of connecting? And will we take the challenge to find the time and space to slow down and not be so connected? When that day comes, I have no doubt there will be a great sigh of relief and a tremendous Hallelujah from all corners of our diocese and beyond as we continue as the people of God. The Rev. Greg Carpenter is the incumbent of St. Jude, Wexford.
SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER! Your friends at The Anglican wish you a peaceful and joyful summer.
