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The 2007 Summer Ecumenical Institute entitled "Making Peace in the Household of God" is scheduled for June 26 to 29 in Saskatoon. As final preparations are underway, the final timetable has been released along with a list of optional workshops. The conference begins on Tuesday evening with an ecumenical worship service at St. Paul's Cathedral at 7 p.m. Dr. David Brubaker, one of our keynote speakers, will preach the sermon. The general public is invited to attend this service.
The workshops will be held on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. SEI registrants will be invited to select from among the workshops that are offered on various ecumenical topics. Dr. Brubaker will lead the participants in the plenary discussions on Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday morning, the Rev. Dale Lang will speak on Forgiveness and Peacebuilding.
The following workshops are offered:
Applying Spiritual Resources in Conflict Management and Resolution
Dr. Bill Blackmon and team
Conflict and Personality Types
Helen Smith-McIntyre
Intentional Interim Pastorates: Helping Churches in Transition
Pastor Ken Bechtel
Aboriginal Healing Circles: One Model for Peacebuilding
Harry Lafond & Howard Cameron
Advanced skills for intervening in high intensity conflicts
Dr. David Brubaker
"Living With It": how to be a force for good when conflict can't be resolved
Dr. Jim Arnold
Service of Lament and Hope
Pauline Steinmann, Leo English, Jerry Buhler
The State of Current Ecumenical Dialogues
Adèle Brodeur, Dr. Cameron Harder, Dr. Helmut Harder, Nicholas Jesson
The Prairie Centre for Ecumenism is pleased to announce that its Summer Ecumenical Institute for 2007 will take place in Saskatoon June 26-29. The theme of the conference is conflict resolution and transformation within and among churches, under the working title "Making Peace in the Household of God."
Many Canadian churches appear to be experiencing conflict, often more within than between denominations. Liberals and conservatives in many churches are in tension over issues such as human sexuality and the interpretation of scripture, and the 'heat' seems to be rising. The skills of courtesy, listening and dialogue, which ecumenically-minded people have been developing over the years, are today needed just as much within our churches as between them.
Our keynote speaker for the conference will be Dave Brubaker, who since 2004 has been Assistant Professor of Organizational Studies in the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University in Virginia. Before that he was Senior Partner in 'Cooperative by Design' an Arizona-based peacebuilding consortium, and has held other posts in community development, conciliation services and with the Mennonite Central Committee. Dave has 20 years' experience of research and teaching conflict transformation skills and of working as a 'hands-on' conflict mediator in church settings in North America, Africa, the UK, Nepal and Brazil. Dave holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and an MBA in Global Economic Development. He is currently completing doctoral research with the University of Arizona, specializing in religious and organizational conflict. He is a member of the Brethren in Christ Church, one of the Mennonite family of churches.
Working on the conviction that conflict within the Body of Christ can be transformed into a source of life-giving energy, this conference will explore the biblical and theological foundations for conflict transformation, discuss current research into conflict transformation in the church setting, and provide an introduction to practical training in conflict transformation skills. As always, the SEI will offer inspiring worship, short workshops on a variety of subjects related to ecumenism, and the opportunity to network and share fellowship with others who are committed to inter-church cooperation. It is open to all who are committed to inter-church cooperation, both lay and ordained, whether working at a grassroots or an institutional level. The timetable will provide an opportunity for church leaders and ecumenical officers to meet each other and discuss common concerns, and for those involved in shared ministries to meet together.
Set aside these dates: June 26-29, 2007. Registration and program details will be forthcoming. For further information, please contact the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism. Telephone 306-653-1633 or email
You are invited! The opening presentation by David Brubaker will be a public lecture. Please download the public lecture poster and display in your church.
Conflict is not necessarily a bad thing. Yet in the churches there is a fear of conflict, and a tendency to go for peace at any price, sweeping conflict under the carpet until it cannot be contained. The 2007 Summer Ecumenical Institute aims to help church people build a vision of how conflict can become a force for good in our communities, and to equip participants with the basic skills they need to become active peace-builders in their own settings.
The theme is a timely one. Many Canadian churches are experiencing conflict, often more within than between denominations. Liberals and conservatives in many churches are in tension over issues such as human sexuality and the interpretation of scripture, and the 'heat' seems to be rising. The skills of courtesy, listening and dialogue, developed in the ecumenical movement, are today needed just as much within our churches as between them.
With God's help, conflict within the Body of Christ can be transformed into a source of life-giving energy. We will explore the biblical and theological foundations for conflict transformation, discuss current research, and provide an introduction to practical training in conflict transformation skills.
Signed articles do not necessarily represent the opinions of "Ecumenism in Canada" or the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism.
Les articles signés ne représentent pas nécessairement les avis de "Oecuménisme au Canada" ou le Prairie Centre for Ecumenism.
Following a long and passionate debate at the 2007 General Synod in Winnipeg, the Anglican Church of Canada has rejected the blessing of same-sex unions. The result is not decisive, however, as both clergy and laity voted in favour with the bishops narrowly defeating the resolution. Earlier resolutions affirmed that the blessing of same-sex unions is a doctrinal matter and that they are consistent with the core doctrine of the Anglican Church of Canada.
The decision reached at the General Synod is the latest stage in a long process of discernment for Canadian Anglicans. At the last General Synod in 2004, a motion to authorize what is called a "local option" was deferred to this year's General Synod. In the interim, the Primate's Theological Commission was asked to recommend whether the blessing of same-sex unions is a matter of doctrine according to Anglican theology and canons (law). The report, entitled the St. Michael's Report, was released in 2005. It recommended that the blessing of same-sex unions is a matter of doctrine, but not of core doctrine in the sense of being credal. In light of this recommendation, the Council of General Synod referred four resolutions to the 2007 General Synod. The first resolution, approved Saturday, accepted the St. Michael's Report conclusion that such blessings are doctrinal, but not core doctrine. A further resolution to increase the voting requirement on these motions to 60% was rejected by the General Synod. A motion from the floor to hold a secret ballot was also rejected.
On Sunday morning following the celebration of the eucharist, the debate continued. The third resolution was approved, affirming that the blessing of same-sex unions is consistent with the core doctrine of the Anglican Church in Canada. As observers have noted, this establishes a theological space for gay and lesbian persons within the Anglican Church. However, the General Synod rejected the resolution tabled at the 2004 General Synod: to affirm the authority and jurisdiction of individual dioceses to authorize same-sex blessings "with the concurrence of the diocesan bishop, and in a manner which respects the conscience of the incumbent and the will of the parish." Both lay and clergy delegates supported the motion, but the House of Bishops was split 19 in favour to 21 opposed. The resolution required the support of all three orders to pass. The result of these resolutions is that the blessing of committed same-sex unions is not permitted in the Anglican Church of Canada at this time.
In 2002, the synod of the Diocese of New Westminster (Vancouver) approved the blessing of same-sex unions for the third time, and the bishop Michael Ingham concurred. Since then same-sex blessings have been permitted in that diocese in parishes that have studied and approved such blessings. It remains to be seen whether such blessings will continue after the General Synod rejected the resolution affirming the authority and jurisdiction of dioceses in this matter. The House of Bishops instituted a moratorium on same-sex blessings a number of years ago. The Anglican Journal reports that a number of bishops have expressed concern about possible disregard of the General Synod decision. An additional resolution has been brought to the General Synod from the Diocese of New Westminster to affirm the continuing practice of the Diocese of New Westminster until such time as the General Synod takes further action on the matter.
Signed articles do not necessarily represent the opinions of "Ecumenism in Canada" or the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism.
Les articles signés ne représentent pas nécessairement les avis de "Oecuménisme au Canada" ou le Prairie Centre for Ecumenism.
In addition to holding their national gatherings across Winnipeg from each other, this week the Anglican and Lutheran churches are also holding elections for their national bishops. The Anglican Church of Canada's national bishop is called a primate. The current primate, Archbishop Andrew Hutchinson has announced his intention to retire at the end of this week's General Synod. In April, the House of Bishops nominated four bishops to stand for election as primate. On Friday afternoon, on the fifth ballot, the General Synod elected Bishop Fred Hiltz, 53, of Nova Scotia and PEI as its 13th primate.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Winnipeg, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada at its National Convention has elected the Rev. Susan Johnson as its new national bishop. Johnson succeeds Bishop Raymond L. Shultz who has been national bishop since 2001. The bishop-elect has been Assistant to the Bishop of the Eastern Synod since 1994. She has also served as vice-president of the ELCIC from 2001 to 2005 and as an advisor to the Lutheran World Federation Council since 1998.
The ELCIC election process is somewhat different than the Anglican process. No nominations are required because every member of the clergy roster is a candidate. Those who receive a vote on the first ballot become the candidates on subsequent ballots. No candidate can remove their name from the ballot, but after each ballot those who receive the least votes are removed. The election can take as many as six ballots. On the final ballot, the new national bishop is elected by a simple majority.
The 2007 Summer Ecumenical Institute entitled "Making Peace in the Household of God" is scheduled for June 26 to 29 in Saskatoon. As final preparations are underway, the final timetable has been released along with a list of optional workshops. The conference begins on Tuesday evening with an ecumenical worship service at St. Paul's Cathedral at 7 p.m. Dr. David Brubaker, one of our keynote speakers, will preach the sermon. The general public is invited to attend this service.
The workshops will be held on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. SEI registrants will be invited to select from among the workshops that are offered on various ecumenical topics. Dr. Brubaker will lead the participants in the plenary discussions on Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday morning, the Rev. Dale Lang will speak on Forgiveness and Peacebuilding.
The following workshops are offered:
Applying Spiritual Resources in Conflict Management and Resolution
Dr. Bill Blackmon and team
Conflict and Personality Types
Helen Smith-McIntyre
Intentional Interim Pastorates: Helping Churches in Transition
Pastor Ken Bechtel
Aboriginal Healing Circles: One Model for Peacebuilding
Harry Lafond & Howard Cameron
Advanced skills for intervening in high intensity conflicts
Dr. David Brubaker
"Living With It": how to be a force for good when conflict can't be resolved
Dr. Jim Arnold
Service of Lament and Hope
Pauline Steinmann, Leo English, Jerry Buhler
The State of Current Ecumenical Dialogues
Adèle Brodeur, Dr. Cameron Harder, Dr. Helmut Harder, Nicholas Jesson
St. Andrew's College, Saskatoon is pleased to announced that Sandra Beardsall, professor of ecumenics and church history, will offer a five-day course (for credit or audit) called "Preparing for Ecumenical Ministries," June 4-8, 2007 (course #HA 356).
Increasing numbers of Christian communities are working in close ecumenical ways to facilitate mission and ministry, especially in areas of depopulation or other financial struggle. Many of these become formally linked as "ecumenical shared ministry" congregations or clusters. This course will explore the dynamics particular to developing and sustaining ecumenical ministry initiatives in congregational settings. It will introduce participants to the structures, theologies, and ethos of the major denominations involved, and consider issues that are unique to ecumenical relationships. Participants will identify and strengthen their gifts for these ministries, in the context of the wider discussions of contemporary ecumenism. The instructor, Professor Sandra Beardsall, has worked in and with ecumenical shared ministry congregations for fifteen years. For more information, or to register, go to www.standrews.ca or call 1-877-644-8970. Registration deadline is April 23rd.
Following a long and passionate debate at the 2007 General Synod in Winnipeg, the Anglican Church of Canada has rejected the blessing of same-sex unions. The result is not decisive, however, as both clergy and laity voted in favour with the bishops narrowly defeating the resolution. Earlier resolutions affirmed that the blessing of same-sex unions is a doctrinal matter and that they are consistent with the core doctrine of the Anglican Church of Canada.
In addition to holding their national gatherings across Winnipeg from each other, this week the Anglican and Lutheran churches are also holding elections for their national bishops. The Anglican Church of Canada's national bishop is called a primate. The current primate, Archbishop Andrew Hutchinson has announced his intention to retire at the end of this week's General Synod. In April, the House of Bishops nominated four bishops to stand for election as primate. On Friday afternoon, on the fifth ballot, the General Synod elected Bishop Fred Hiltz, 53, of Nova Scotia and PEI as its 13th primate.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Winnipeg, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada at its National Convention has elected the Rev. Susan Johnson as its new national bishop. Johnson succeeds Bishop Raymond L. Shultz who has been national bishop since 2001. The bishop-elect has been Assistant to the Bishop of the Eastern Synod since 1994. She has also served as vice-president of the ELCIC from 2001 to 2005 and as an advisor to the Lutheran World Federation Council since 1998.
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Communio Sanctorum: The Church as the Communion of Saints
