Friday, April 15, 2011

Reaffirmation

To Reaffirm suggests renewing the same Affirmation. I am puzzled by the opening paragraphs. It seems that an Archbishop named Collins, and a man named Allan Singleton-Wood (I know that name) were quoted respectively. Inasmuch as the speakers include the Archbishops of the Concordat Churches, we can be sure that there will be no sympathy for the pro-ordinariate position. - Fr. Hart

From Virtue Online
VICTORIA, BC: Traditional Anglicans Will Host Congress in Reaffirmation of St. Louis

By David W. Virtue
http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=14250April 14, 2011

A Congress of Traditional Anglicans will bring together traditional Anglican church leaders from around the world, working towards renewing the "spirit of St Louis," encouraging unity and greater solidarity through the celebration of the historic Anglican tradition and heritage. 

The Congress will meet June 1-4 in Victoria, BC, at historic St. Anne's Chapel and be hosted by St. Mark's Traditional Anglican Church.



This conference grew out of the urgency brought about by the Pope's offer of an Ordinariate (Anglicanum Coetibus) that galvanized Anglo-Catholics both in and out of the Anglican Communion to seek unity with Rome. Not all Anglo-Catholics favor this and a major split has occurred in the North American branches of the Traditional Anglican Communion. 



"I believe that by far the great majority of Anglo Catholics are indeed in favour of unity ('being in Communion') with Rome. This is what Archbishop Hepworth insisted we would be getting. The great majority of Anglo Catholics (myself included) have been horrified to find that this is totally untrue. This is not just "Unity", nor "in Communion with", it is TOTAL ABSORPTION by the Roman Catholic Church. Archbishop Collins is a very straight "shooter". 


"In his speech in Mississauga he pulled no punches "The Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus moves beyond the Pastoral Provision by establishing a structure similar to dioceses, run by an Ordinary who may be a married Catholic priest. But the Anglican Use parishes are forerunners of how Anglican patrimony can flourish within the Roman Catholic Church", said Singleton-Wood. 

"The time has arrived when we believe that a plan needs to be developed to deal with the problems that have taken hold in God's churches. Man's pre‐disposition to change 'for the sake of change' has created confusion and demoralization, resulting in shrinking congregations and closure of churches, leaving many without "spiritual homes" in which to worship", commented Allan Singleton-Wood, chairman of the event. 

"It is imperative that we Anglicans get back to our "roots" that grew to provide us with a "spiritual oasis" for countless numbers of souls. We believe the Holy Spirit expects us to take action to restore it," he told VOL. 

Speakers include Archbishop Mark Haverland, Primate of the Anglican Catholic Church (ACC), and Archbishop James Provence, Primate of the Anglican Province of Christ the King (APCK). Other speakers include Bishop Robert D. Redmile of the Christian Episcopal Church, Bishop Peter D. Robinson, the Presiding Bishop of the United Episcopal Church, and Canon Gunn-‐Walberg, a member of the Fellowship of Concerned Churchmen. High Masses will be conducted by Haverland and Provence.


Traditional Anglicans from a wide spectrum of Jurisdictions will take part in study groups and discussions covering some of the key areas of the Affirmation of St. Louis, the founding document of the Traditional Church. 


The aim of the Congress, with the help of the Holy Spirit, is to initiate a plan to help take "the next step" in reaffirmation, said Singleton-Wood. 


VOL has been invited to cover this event.


Interested persons can contact: Allan Singleton-Wood at (250) 383‐8562.


Complete information can be found at their website: www.traditionalanglicancanada.com

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Fr Singleton-Wood is the unfortunate person who had been treated so shoddily by his TAC Bishop for daring to analyze (and publish) the complications and implications of accepting the terms and conditions of Anglicanorum Coetibus?

AFS1970 said...

I am glad to see such a conference, however a couple of things puzzle me. Why is there a need to reaffirm anything, have we collectively drifted or departed from the original affirmation?

My second question is why there is a need to gather these three churches who already have a concordant agreement based on their mutual acceptance of the original affirmation. IF one really wants to fix problems and mend what has ripped us apart, shouldn't it be the various other groups that have broken away coming together to reaffirm their roots?

Anything that binds any of us together is a good thing. This is at least the second unity conference that is coming up within the greater continuum. Perhaps the scope is too small and we should not be having multiple different unity conferences.

Fr. John said...

If it does reaffirm the Affirmation of St. Louis, as well as the spirit, then it could only be to the good. We should all pray for God to reveal His Son in an unmistakable way at this congress, so as to send a message to all of Anglicanism to return to the faith once delivered to the saints.

Fr Tom said...

It would appear from the parish website that Allen Singleton-Wood is not the priest at St. Mark's, but the Rector's (Senior) Warden. Canon Stanley Sinclair is listed as the Rector.

Anonymous said...

I was confused as well. It seems like there was at least one paragraph missing in the original, or some paragraphs were moved around.

Fr Theodore

charles said...

when you can, Fr. Hart, please share the itinerary. Would you be speaking/teaching? It would cost me over 1k to attend. Nice if speeches were posted on the net, etc.. no Ordinariate, no WO.

Fr. Robert Hart said...

Charles:

I think the speakers are bishops because of the importance of what they plan to address. Bishop Robert D. Redmile of the Christian Episcopal Church is the one I am not familiar with at all; maybe someone has information about them. I can see if my Archbishop (who is also my own bishop) can share the itinerary.

AFS1970:

It seems that the need to Reaffirm St. Louis has everything to do with all the problems caused by the highest levels of TAC hierarchy concerning Anglicanorum Coetibus. At least, that seems to be the case from what I know so far.

Fr. Robert Hart said...

I see that Allan Singleton-Wood had already sent me information via email, and also attached "the agenda." I cannot open the agenda file, however; and I have a lot of programs to read (or so I thought) just about anything. The announcement on the PDF copies strangely, one word on each line. So, please be patient.

The
Congress
of
Traditional
Anglicans
Victoria,
British
Columbia,
Canada
March
31,
2011
Dear
Church
Leaders:
A
TIME
FOR
HOPE!
I
feel
sure
you
will
agree
that
the
time
has
arrived
for
a
plan
to
be
developed
to
deal
with
the
problems
that
have
taken
hold
in
God’s
churches.
Man’s
pre-­‐disposition
to
change
“for
the
sake
of
change”
has
created
confusion
and
demoralization
,
resulting
in
shrinking
congregations
and
closure
of
churches,
leaving
many
without
“spiritual
homes”
in
which
to
worship”.
It
is
imperative
we
get
back
to
our
“roots”!
They
grew
to
give
us
a
patrimony
which
provides
a
“spiritual
oasis”
for
countless
numbers
of
souls.
We
believe
the
Holy
Spirit
requires
us
to
take
action
to
restore
it.
We
need
your
support
and
your
presence
to
show
that
Traditional
Anglicans
have
a
united
witness.
Car
ferries
are
available
from
Vancouver,
B.C.,
and
Port
Angeles
and
Anacortes
in
Washington
State
(the
latter
going
through
the
scenic
San
Juan
Islands).
Victoria
is
a
tourist
destination,
and
combining
the
conference
with
a
few
extra
vacation
days
should
be
a
consideration
(e.g.,
the
nearby
Butchart
Gardens
are
world
famous.).
We
invite
you
to
take
a
leading
role
in
the
Mission

RE-­‐AFFIRMATION
and
to
join
us
in
beautiful
Victoria
this
June.
The
first
reservations
include
leaders
from
Australia,
New
Zealand
and
South
Africa,
a
good
indication
that
there
will
be
solid
world
representation
at
this
important
event.
The
Fellowship
of
Concerned
Churchmen
is
fully
supporting
the
meeting,
which
takes
the
place
of
its
normal
biennial
regional
conference.
The
details
are
on
our
website
www.traditionalanglicancanada.com
Yours
in
Christ
Allan
Singleton-­‐Wood,
General
Chairman

Fr. David Marriott said...

The Congress is called 'Reaffirmation' as an allusion to the Congress of St. Louis, whence came the original 'Affirmation': in this regard, the Victoria Congress, as developed by the Parish of St. Mark, Victoria BC (APCK)(http://traditionalanglicancanada.com/)complements the work of the Fellowship of Concerned Churchmen (FCC) which is leased to be part of this Congress.
The Congress is not limited to the three denominations: invitations have been sent to all denominations which subscribe to the tenets expressed in the original Affirmation, including the ACC, APCK, REC, CEC, DHC, TEC, Anglican Church of Canada, the Network, and ACNA, as well as some members of the TAC churches (ACCC & ACA) - and on to many of the overseas churches.
Speakers to date include: Archbishops Haverland (ACC-OP) and Provence (APCK), Bishops Robinson (UEC) and Redmile (CEC), Canon Gunn Walberg (ACC-OP) & a workshop arranged by the FCC, with Mr. W. Spaulding with Frs. Gunn Walberg, White and Marriott.
It has been advised that a detailed agenda is to be made available in the next few days.

Anonymous said...

Bishop Robert D. Redmile was ordained by Bishop Donald Davies, retired from TEC. Bishop Davies had been a part of the Episcopal Synod of America.

Bishop Redmile had written a letter in favor of union with Rome in 2003. I'm not sure what has happened since then.

http://christianepiscopal.ca/pastoralletter.html

Fr Theodore

Fr. Steve said...

What this appears as to me, is not only a renewal of the Affirmation of St. Louis, but also an attempt to hold out the olive leaf to what's left of the TAC after those who are going to leave for the Ordinariates.

Fr. Robert Hart said...

THE AGENDA
The Congress of Traditional Anglicans
JUNE 1-4 Saint Ann’s
Members of Saint Mark’s, as the host parish, are welcome to attend
all events without registration fee. We hope you will come for as
many events as possible!~ For the individual dinner events, please
make your reservation at the church. Payment before or on the
date.
Please pray for the success of the Congress.
THEME: Re-Affirmation – celebrating our Anglican
Heritage
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1 All day registration
5 PM Choral Evensong
Speaker: Bishop Robert Redmile: Catholic Faith & Anglican
Doctrine
6.30 PM Opening Night Dinner + Marriott Inner Harbour Hotel
Keynote Address: Allan Singleton-Wood
+
THURSDAY, JUNE 2 Ascension Day
9 A.M. Morning Prayer (sung) Address by Father Peter
Jardine on The Voice of the Martyrs
10 15 A.M. Address on The Beauty of Holiness: Anglican
Worship
by Canon Kenneth Gunn-Walberg
Followed by discussions
11.30 A.M. HIGH MASS OF THE ASCENSION celebrated by
our very own Archbishop James Provence, Primate, Anglican
Province of Christ the King. Speaker: Archbishop Mark
Haverland, Primate of the Anglican Catholic Church of
America. Soloist: Rachel Mitten –Mozart Alleluia
Followed by Lunch served on the bandstand behind St Ann’s
Sandwiches, Fruit, Dips, and Desserts
Afternoon of special activities and tours.
6 P.M. BANQUET in the Palm Court of the Empress Hotel
Concert by the Newcombe Singers: music of Gilbert & Sullivan
operettas and George Shearing’s Shakespeare Sonnets
8 PM Solemn Evensong of the Ascension.
FRIDAY, JUNE 3 In Ascensiontide
9 A.M. Morning Prayer
10 A.M. Address on Apostolic Authority and Anglican Orders
by Bishop Peter Robinson, Presiding Bishop, United Episcopal
Church
11.30 A.M. HIGH MASS celebrated by Archbishop Mark
Haverland, sermon by Archbishop Provence. A votive for the
Church.
AFTERNOON MEETING – The FCC sponsored the St. Louis
Church Congress in September 1977, where The
Affirmation of St. Louis was adopted. This document spells
out the fundamental principles and doctrine of orthodox
Anglicanism. Today's meeting will allow you to gain a better
understanding of current happenings in the Continuum in
North America, and to meet several of the current Board
Members of the Fellowship.
5 PM Evening Prayer
6 PM Dinner at the Travellers’ Inn, 2269 Douglas Street with
a special program, to be announced
SATURDAY, JUNE 4
9 AM Morning Prayer
10 AM The Next Step Discussion of the Future of Traditional
Anglicans
12 Noon Holy Eucharist (sung)
We disperse for lunch – close of Congress.

Canon Tallis said...

Having attended the original Congress in St Louis, I am really tempted to attend this meeting in Victoria. As it is in Canada I am wondering if the services will be in ac cordance with the Canadain Book of Common Prayer (as I would assume they should be) or will prayer book Anglicans again be insulted by having both of the communion services be more Romano missal services.


On the other hand, any meeting in which all three of the archbishops from the Denver succession will be prominent but which will also include those outside that succession will be a strong step in the right direction of bringing all of those who are trying to maintain and extend the fullness of the Anglican tradition together so that we can make the strongest common cause and end the schisms among us.