In order to convince itself that it still has a future, the ACoC’s general synod has passed a resolution to adopt five transformational aspirations. They are to be a church that:
- invites and deepens life in Christ;
- champions the dignity of every human being;
- works to dismantle racism and colonialism;
- embraces mutual interdependence with the Indigenous church (Sacred Circle);
nurtures right relationships among people of faith in local, national and global communities and networks; - stewards and renews God’s creation; protects and sustains the earth; pursues justice for all.
Notably absent is a plan to lead the unsaved to salvation through Jesus Christ. I’m quite sure that is missing because the majority of ACoC clergy no longer recognize the categories “saved” and “unsaved”.
The other notable thing about these aspirations is that there is nothing whatsoever transformational about them. They are the same unimaginative anodyne cliches that have been at work in the church for decades and have brought it to where it is today.
The resolution had overwhelming support.
Read it all here:
General Synod has overwhelmingly approved five priorities or “transformational aspirations” prepared by the Strategic Planning Working Group (SPWG) to serve as the basis for the Anglican Church of Canada’s new strategic plan.
Members voted June 29 in favour of an amended version of Resolution A102, by which General Synod received with gratitude the SPWG’s report and adopted the five transformational aspirations as “transformational commitments to guide planning, priority-setting, resource allocation and collaboration with provinces and dioceses in the 2023-25 biennium.” The resolution also directed Council of General Synod to establish a group for implementation.
As adopted by General Synod, the five transformational aspirations call for the Anglican Church of Canada to be a church that “invites and deepens life in Christ”; “champions the dignity of every human being; works to dismantle racism and colonialism”; “embraces mutual interdependence with the Indigenous church (Sacred Circle)”; nurtures right relationships among people of faith in local, national and global communities and networks”; and “stewards and renews God’s creation; protects and sustains the earth; pursues justice for all.”
The Episcopal organization’s Baptismal Covenant uses the words, “respect the dignity of every human being” which has some problems in application because the definitions of “respect” and “dignity” have changed a great deal since 1979. Now people are offended and become indignant so easily. The aspiration to “champion the dignity of every human being” means to praise, approve of, and promote whatever any human being decides makes them feel good for to do otherwise would offend their “dignity”. So you will continue to see priests marching in various parades celebrating the sin of the day.
As Paul writes, “the wages of sin is…”
Believe it or not there are dissenting clergy within the Anglican communion, even reported by the Anglican Journal (thanks to David for the link). At the General Synod, Rev. Jesse Zink of the diocese of Montreal, opposed the resolution, saying he agreed with a fellow member of General Synod who had described the aspirations to him as “inoffensive.” Zink said, “I do not see in these transformational commitments the kind of rough edge that the gospel brings that this society so desperately needs to hear.”
Also in Montreal is The Rev Benjamin Crosby who wrote an excoriating response in Plough magazine to the mainline churches ‘value-neutral’ position of pastoral care in the face of expanding MAID legislation. Recommended.
As a delegate to General Synod, I voted in favour of the five aspirations, mostly because I supported the central aspiration to invite and deepen life in Christ.
While both the CoE General Synod, York, July 7-11, and the ACC General Synod, Calgary, June 27 to July 2 rise with the marriage Canon intact, their respective counterintuitive policies to ‘Bless’ same sex civil unions, and offer ‘prayers’ for transgender individuals, wholly contrary to Holy Writ, renders their respective Communions hypocritical at best, and apostate at worst. Once the Babylonian garment BBC CEO finds his way to a justified resignation, either Primate could put her or his name forward having qualified by their own policy of delay re. sexual abuse cases – “misconduct”; professedly attempting to navigate a way between safeguarding and privacy considerations. “Broad is the road…”.
Does it concern anyone else that this round symbol is a mandala, a Hindu/Buddhist symbol? We/they have replaced the Cross of Christ with another religion’s object, which just goes to show how far we’ve fallen.
The Anglican Church of Canada no longer worships our Saviour but worships the “god of political expediency” so it will accept any popular symble or image so nothing is really surprising.