Trash Wednesday

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There is something about Ash Wednesday that brings out the the worst in those Anglican panjandra who are desperate to create a spurious aura of relevance in a culture that has no use for them.

Here we have Ashes to Go from the Diocese of Toronto, brought to you by three McDonalds ex-employees who found their way into the Anglican priesthood to continue their fast food vocation in another form:

And in the UK, climate zealots are using fake oil instead of ashes. Remember You are Dust and to Synthetic Oil You Shall Return:

Complaint leads to removal of pro-life ad from Guelph Transit buses

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This is one of the advertisements:

The article below describes the advertisements as “controversial”, in itself a sad indictment on a society that sees controversy in protecting the unborn and none in inviting drag queens into children’s libraries to spread “diversity” to infants.

Read it all here:

A controversial anti-abortion advertisement that had been running on Guelph Transit buses has been removed by the City of Guelph after a complaint was made by a member of the public.

Lifelong Guelphite Fiona Douglas recalls seeing anti-abortion advertising by Guelph & Area Right to Life on Guelph Transit buses since she was a child. Now 27, Douglas has been campaigning for the past few years to have the advertisements removed from public property.

The nub of the problem is the phenomenon that was unheard of before 2010: triggering. The notion is that if a person is exposed to an idea which runs contrary to his conditioning, it might upset – trigger – him. And obviously, since my generation’s children seem to have inadvertently bred a crop of fragile snowflakes, we can’t have that.

“It’s triggering for me as someone who has never had an abortion. It upsets me that people are able to make other people question what is right for them and their health care through the lens of human rights,” said Douglas.

Before anyone jumps to the conclusion that the woman filing the complaint is against free speech, she hastens to assure us that she is all for it. As long as it doesn’t upset anyone:

Douglas said she believes strongly in freedom of speech and acknowledges Right to Life has every right to advertise, but doesn’t want to see messages that are misleading or could be upsetting to some people.

When is the Anglican church, which loves social action so much it has swapped saving souls for banning pipelines, going to do something socially positive and support groups like the Guelph & Area Right to Life?

Anglicans for freezing to death in the dark

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Canadian Anglican bishops like nothing better than to protest oil and gas pipelines in spite of the fact that the fossil fuel carried in the pipelines is the only thing stopping their heads freezing to their mitres.

The latest protest against the Coastal GasLink Pipeline has a new twist. It introduces the 2SLGBTQQIA element. Yes, I know this is a few more letters than we are used to but the Anglican Church of Canada prides itself on its inclusion, so the effect of a pipeline on 2SLGBTQQIA people (you know who you are) is a real concern.

My worry in all this is, why is there no “N” in 2SLGBTQQIA? For the necrophiliac community. Surely Anglicans should include those who are in a stable monogamous relationship and given to such affections: “till decomposition us do part” has a distinct liturgical ring to it.

Our ongoing concern is for the safety of all involved in this conflict, and particularly the unarmed, peaceful Wet’suwet’en land and water protectors and their allies. We share the concern that the MMIWG Final Report Calls for Justice 13.1-13.5 have not been addressed in the planning and implementation of the Coastal Gaslink Pipeline. We call on the governments of Canada and British Columbia, along with Coastal Gaslink to “complete gender-based socio-economic impact assessments on” this project and “include provisions that address the impacts of projects on the safety and security of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people.”

Christ Church Anglican to conduct same-sex marriages

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The rector, Rev. Yme Woensdregt, of Christ Church Anglican in the Diocese of Kootenay, thinks this is “quite wonderful” whereas, in reality for today’s Canadian Anglican church, it is rather common-place and mundane. There is no wonder in it at all.

What is interesting about it is that it is billed as same-gender marriage not same-sex marriage. Sex is, of course, determined by chromosomes but gender, we are told, is a social construct. The church has already moved on – as I knew it would – from same-sex marriage to the marriage of a biological man who identifies as a woman to a  biological woman who identifies as a man. Or any possible permutation thereof. If you are not confused yet, I expect you soon will be when the ACoC concocts its next yet more inclusive and improved marriage ménage.

From here:

Christ Church Anglican in Cranbrook has officially received permission from Bishop of Kootenay Lynne McNaughton to perform same-gender marriages.

“It’s quite wonderful,” said Rev. Yme Woensdregt of Christ Church, “and our congregation is — as I say, three or four years ago it was almost unanimous [in support of same-gender marriage] and that has not changed. For most of us, we don’t see why that ought to be a problem.”

Woensdregt explained that in 2016 they received permission from previous Bishop of the Diocese of Kootenay, John Pivett, to bless a civil marriage of same-gender people.

Anglican Church of Canada opposes Middle East peace plan

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It’s easy to see why: first, it’s a Trump proposal and the ACoC loathes Trump, second the ACoC is biased against Israel almost to the point of being anti-Semitic.

If only the primate were as interested in the salvation of souls as she is in hating Trump, perhaps fewer souls would be fleeing her church.

From here

Dear Prime Minister Trudeau:

Greetings to you from The Anglican Church of Canada.

I write today to urge Canada to maintain a principled policy position in accordance with international law, and to strongly, publicly oppose President Trump’s “Peace to Prosperity” plan for Israel and Palestine announced January 28th, 2020. Your confirmation in 2017 that Canada’s embassy in Israel will remain in Tel Aviv, affirming the open, international status of Jerusalem as a city of two peoples and three faiths, and your 2019 vote at the UN General Assembly affirming the right of the Palestinian People to self-determination, clearly demonstrate Canada’s commitment to principled leadership.

We commend to you the spirit of the Statement of the Patriarchs and Heads of the Holy Land Churches on January 30, 2020, on the “Deal of the Century”, urging instead “a just and lasting peace in the Middle East based on the international legitimacy of relevant UN resolutions, and in a manner that guarantees security, peace, freedom and dignity to all of the peoples of the region.”

We lament with global and Canadian ecumenical partners that the Trump administration’s plan is far from being a “win-win” for Israelis and Palestinians. Rather, we recognize, with many others including Canada, peace with justice will not come by discounting or ignoring Palestinian rights and aspirations. For solutions to be based upon equality, human rights and self-determination for all, the occupation of Palestinian lands must first end and Palestinians be meaningfully involved in planning processes from the beginning.

In 2013, The Anglican Church of Canada General Synod adopted a resolution calling on our church to support the goal of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East. The resolution recognizes the legitimate aspirations, rights and needs of both Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace, with dignity within sovereign and secure borders. It condemns the use of violence of all kinds, especially against civilians, calls for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, and upon Israel, as the occupying power, to respect the Fourth Geneva Convention, which forbids the transfer and settlement of its own citizens in the occupied territories.

The Anglican Church of Canada commends your “commitment to a safe and secure homeland for the Jewish people, and to a lasting peace between all peoples in the Middle East”. We pray with the Holy Land Patriarchs and Heads of Churches that, for their part, all Palestinian political parties, factions and leaders end their internal conflicts and adopt a unified stand towards state building based on plurality and democratic values.

With this letter comes the assurance of our respect for your leadership and prayers for you and the Government of Canada. I look forward to supporting Canada’s efforts with other international leaders in denouncing the notion that President Trump’s “Peace Plan for the Middle East” offers a framework through which peace could be negotiated.

Yours in Christ,

The Most Reverend Linda C. Nicholls
Archbishop and Primate

A Church of England Green Lent

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The Nicene Creed has it wrong. Rather than:

For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven

It should say:

For us men and to rebuild our relationship with the planet
he came down from heaven

Because, you see, being reconciled with the planet is more important than being reconciled with God the Father. If you worship Gaia, that is.

From here:

Church of England’s first ever green Lent campaign launches
Launching the resources, Archbishop Justin Welby said: “We urgently need to rebuild our relationship with our planet. To do this, we need to change our habits – in how we pray and how we act.

“Lent is not just about discipline. It’s about allowing Christ to show us what’s keeping us from loving and serving Him – and joyfully letting it go.

“Whatever age you are, this Lent I hope you’ll engage with God’s plea for us to care for His creation, and that these campaign resources will help you on that journey.”

Just some of the questions posed during the series are:

‘How much water goes into making a pair of jeans?’

‘Could you twin your toilet?’

‘When was the last time you gazed at the night sky?’

‘What was the carbon footprint of the meal I just ate?’

If you don’t have a relationship with the planet – I must admit, I don’t – then pull yourself together, twin your toilet,  feel guilty about the carbon footprint of your dinner and google how much water was used in making your trousers. That should do it.

And bishops wonder why people are leaving the church of England.

Sorry, I see I used “men” above. I meant “members of the non-binary, gender fluid, LGBT+, androgynous community; (aka a CofE vicar).”

Bishop Jane Alexander is resigning

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After years of working for IBM, I noticed that when executives were fired the favourite euphemism used was “so and so is seeking employment opportunities elsewhere”. When minions were fired, they were aiding in “right-sizing”. A manager who had no minions was a “free floating apex” who would soon be floating out the door.

Church euphemisms bandied around at such times include “prayerful discernment”, “a change coming”, “calling me out”, “called into places and called out of places”.

And they are all here. Not that I am hinting that Alexander was fired: you can’t fire a bishop. If you could there wouldn’t be any. She has probably just finished reading the Anglican Church attendance statistics.

Bishop Jane Alexander, bishop of the diocese of Edmonton, says she will be stepping down from her position July 31, with “no idea” what she will be doing next.

“I have no need to say, ‘What’s the next big thing?’ The big thing is always just serving Jesus wherever he puts you,” says Alexander. “So, I know that’s what I’ll be called to do, but what that looks like? I have no idea.”

Alexander announced her resignation in a letter January 26.

In an interview with the Journal, Alexander said that she had been feeling a change coming for a while. “Sometimes I think we think of discernment as something that happens once and then we go, ‘There, you’re done.’ But that’s never been my experience of it. I think we get called into places and called out of places, and I was aware…easily a year ago, that something different was changing…. I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m actually being called out of diocesan episcopal ministry.”

Church of England can’t decide when to have sex

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The Church of England, having issued a statement saying that sexual activity is only permissible between a married man and woman, has suddenly realised that it has been too decisive. Too binary. Too hurtful. Too divisive. Too Christian.

As a result, a week later, after the inevitable howls of protest, archbishops Welby and Sentamu have issued an apology, dripping with all the right words like “build bridges”, “difficult conversations” and “discern the way forward”.

Apparently, along with the usual sexual befuddlement, the archbishops have “questions of human identity”: they still don’t know who they are. There must be a pill for that.

How could any sane organisation issue two statements, ostensibly from the same individuals, one week apart that completely contradict each other? Unless they are trying to illustrate Mark 3:25. Of course Jesus was talking about Satan in that passage, not archbishops. Although the distinction is diminishing as the years go by.

We as Archbishops, alongside the bishops of the Church of England, apologise and take responsibility for releasing a statement last week which we acknowledge has jeopardised trust. We are very sorry and recognise the division and hurt this has caused.

At our meeting of the College of Bishops of the Church of England this week we continued our commitment to the Living in Love and Faith project which is about questions of human identity, sexuality and marriage. This process is intended to help us all to build bridges that will enable the difficult conversations that are necessary as, together, we discern the way forward for the Church of England.

The Most Rev Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury

The Most Rev John Sentamu, Archbishop of York

Bishop of Niagara has the solution to church decline

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In an open letter to her flock, Susan Bell, bishop of the Diocese of Niagara has set a record for the most italicised words ever to appear in a diocesan epistle. She used those italics to emphasis that the prediction that her denomination will cease to exist by 2040 is a call, not to hand-wringing, but to fighting a “climate crisis”. In doing so we will be “working to establish the kingdom of God”.

The message was delivered to the bishop by a beatific vision of St. Greta of Thunberg, patron saint of the church of the immaculate imminent extinction.

From here:

I want to talk to you about the future; and about some intimations about what we might be being called to – and maybe what we’re being called away from.  All of that is much more interesting than the hand-wringing of recent weeks.

Is this a crisis?  Yes.  A holy one, I believe.  The question is, how do we respond?  Well we are Christ-followers and so I’d humbly suggest that we need to do just that:  follow Jesus and listen for God’s voice to guide us.

I am firmly of the belief that God has gifted us with this time.  I am not being Pollyanna.  I mean this.  We have come to the end of a time in which the Church was a dominant force in our culture.  That is an undisputed fact.  And yet not one that should make us despair.  We’ve had a good run.

But I also believe that we are being called to deep engagement with our faith and simultaneously, and our behavior as a culture.  As an example, take the climate crisis.  What does the mission of God look like in the light of that?  If, as N.T. Wright has recently written, New Testament Christians believed that in Jesus the Christ, God was bringing earth and heaven together, “making creation new, restoring the world from all its pathologies,” then working to establish the kingdom of God is rightly the work of all believers.  This sounds to me like a robust mandate for a theology which will support bold and sustained Christian action to address the climate crisis.

This is a recovery of a strong Christology, which leads to a renewed sense of both Christ’s work among humanity and a template for our own Christian vocations.

Bishop of Huron sees battling global warming as his top priority

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Since the Anglican Church of Canada has given up on the idea of saving people from roasting in hell, it has taken up the task of saving them from roasting on earth.

“Consumers in the Hands of an Angry Gaia” doesn’t have the same resonance or weight as the original but neither does the purveyor of the message, Robert Todd Townshend, the new bishop of the Diocese of Huron.

Townshend has declared, in a diarrhoetic flood of stale platitudes, that a “push for greater environmental action may mark his tenure”. It will probably be more of a stain than a mark.

From here:

Reverend Canon Robert Todd Townshend is hoping to bring an environmental focus and action on climate change to Anglican churches across its Southwestern Ontario diocese.

Townshend was ordained Bishop of the Huron Diocese on Saturday afternoon, drawing about 1,000 people to St. Paul’s Cathedral on Richmond Street in downntown London.

After the ordination, Townshend reflected on the global climate change crisis and how faith can serve as a call to action, he said.

“The environmental movement has revived the biblical idea of us as stewards of the Earth, which is in every major religion because God is the creator,” Townshend said.

“I consider it an emergency,” he said of climate change. “If we call something a crisis for too long it is not considered urgent, but this is the most urgent thing.”

The Huron Diocese has always shown the ability to adapt and change as times demand and the push for greater environmental action may mark his tenure, he added.

“It will take a big movement of people, of political will. It’s crucial.”

Townshend becomes the 14th Bishop, succeeding Linda Nicholls, who was elected the head of the Anglican Church of Canada in July.