FROM THE PARISHES FALL 2008 LETTER

RECTOR TO GO ON LEAVE OF ABSENCE WITHOUT PAY FOR 4 WEEKS

Photo from the Community’s website

With the approval of Bishop Susan Moxley and of the wardens of the parishes, I will be taking four weeks leave-of-absence (without pay, since I have already taken my holidays earlier this year) in November. I plan to fly to England on October 28 and return on November 26.

You are aware that the Anglican Communion and the Anglican Church of Canada have been divided over the question of the blessing of same-sex unions. I know that the same divisions within the Communion and the Canadian Church are reflected within the people of our parishes. I have been promising to write something to you on the matter in these parish letters, and every time I sit to prepare something I find it more complicated than I first thought. We see in our Church that it is difficult even to enter into a discussion with people on either side of this issue without causing offence – it is so obvious to both sides. It is like tectonic plates crashing into each other. Since devout Christians seem to be so adamant on either side of this issue, and unable to hear or be convinced by the arguments of the other side, it suggests to me that there must be something right and something wrong about both sides. My hope is to be able to write something about this and perhaps contribute to the discussion that the wider church is undertaking. Maybe it will only be to highlight some questions that need to be resolved or that are being raised about our assumptions by this issue.

The plan is to go on retreat in order to write to the monastery I stayed in earlier this year in Mirfield England, the Community of the Resurrection (see above, you can visit their site at www.mirfieldcommunity.org.uk ). In the last couple of days in England I will visit my sister in Lewes and be joined by my sister from Toronto and mother from Ottawa and we will celebrate my mother’s 80th birthday. The Reverends Reg Macdonald and Doug Chard have agreed to take services during my absence. The following ministers may be contacted for pastoral emergencies: The Rev. Reg Macdonald (902-634-4657); and if he is unavailable, the Rev Doug Chard (543-4860); or the Rev. Ron Appleton (543-2200 home or 543-3440 office).

Please pray for me while I’m away that God would grant me light.