Lest We Forget 11/11/11 REMEMBRANCE DAY - City Light News

Guest ColumnsCLN is committed to running monthly “guest columns” open to anyone who wants to articulate their views on a religious, political or otherrelevant issue. Articles may be written in the fi rst person and are published at the discretion of the editor. Writing should refl ect standardjournalistic style and is subject to editing. Statements, beliefs and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of CLN or its advertisers.Essential changes happeningin Anglican churchesby Leslie McManusJonathan Gibson has been part of Ogden communityfor 18 years as Anglican Rector for St. Augustine’sAnglican Church, until Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011.He is now Rector of Grace Anglican meeting at NewLife Community Church a few blocks away. This changecame as a result of some big changes in the AnglicanChurch at large.Anglican Essentials ’94, was a gathering of AnglicanChristians of Canada in Montreal, to articulate astatement of the essentials of the Christian faith, knownas Essentials. “We were hoping to call the AnglicanChurch of Canadaback to her Orthodoxroots. One significantthing that came outof that meeting wassomething called theMontreal Declaration ofAnglican Essentials,”Gibson said. “Thisdocument articulatesOrthodox Christianity:the essentials to ourunderstanding of thenature of the Trinity, thenature of sin, and theauthority of the Bible.Anglicanism and othermainline Protestantchurches were movingaway from the faithand formulating aRevisionist Christianitythat was downplayingand actually denyingthese essentials. In 1994we believed there hadto be a movement thatwould seek to call theAnglican Church ofCanada back to herroots. “There was a very strong Orthodox EvangelicalAnglican Clergy in Montreal in the 90’s, and there wereover 700 people that met, and gave a great deal ofthought into that meeting,” he pointed out.In 1998, over 600 Anglican Bishops, representingthe Anglican Communion worldwide, met in England.Resolution 110 came out of that meeting, with a clearexpression of the Biblical understanding of the orderingof human sexuality. It was clear in terms of practicethat the Anglican Communion should not move in thedirection of the legitimizing same-sex relationships. Atthat meeting 550 of the Bishops voted in favour of theResolution, 30 abstained and 50 voted against it.Despite this clear international statement, there wasa man by the name of Gene Robinson, divorced andnow living in a same-gendered relationship, in 2003in the United States. He was made a Bishop in theEpiscopal Church (the American branch of the AnglicanCommunion).There were more meetings in the AnglicanCommunion. The Primates (senior Bishops of 39provinces of the Anglican Communion) had numerousmeetings between 2003 and 2009 trying to pull theEpiscopal Church away from the direction they weregoing. There was a disregard for what the InternationalCommunion was saying and movement in the directionof the affirmation, licensing, consecration andordaining of people to ministry positions who werewww.calgarychristian.comin openly same-sex relationships.The same-sex issue is really just the tip of the icebergchallenging authority of Scripture and the nature ofthe church, denying essential Christian doctrine andChristology about the nature of Jesus, His life, death,and resurrection.This lightning-rod issue precipitated discussion ofother issues that go back to 1994 and the MontrealDeclaration of Anglican Essentials. Only one of the fourteenMontreal Declaration of Anglican Essentials speaks abouthuman sexuality. Most of them deal with the wholetheme of the nature of the faith.“On September2010, St. Augustine’scongregation in Ogdenbegan an intentionaldiscernment process, asto our future relationshipwith the AnglicanChurch of Canada andthe Diocese of Calgary,”Gibson stated. “We didthat from Septemberthrough to April, 2011.On April 10th wehad a vote in whichpeople were asked tostate:1) I believe I am calledby God to remain withinthe Anglican Church ofCanada, a member ofthe Diocese of Calgaryor2) I believe I am calledby God to realign withthe Anglican Churchin North America aspart of the Anglican— photo by Peter McManusGrace Anglican Church Rector, Jonathan Gibson.Network in Canada110 people voted. 78%believed they werecalled to realign and become part of this new Anglicanmovement,” he concluded. April 24 was Rector Gibson’slast Sunday at St. Augustine’s.Because of Gibson’s long relationship and connectionsin the community of Ogden he talked with Pastor JohnCuyler, of New Life Community Church (NLCC) inOgden. (7642 - 22 Street SE, Calgary, AB). The groupestablished Grace Anglican Church at NLCC on May 1,2011. Grace now rents office space and holds two Sundayservices: an 8:30am Holy Communion and a 1pm moreContemporary Communion.The new movement that Grace Anglican is part of ismade up of 37 churches in Canada and part of a largermovement of North American Anglicans. “We are stillAnglicans but just not part of the Anglican Churchof Canada,” Gibson elaborated. “The very thing wewere trying to do within the Anglican Church, with theMontreal Declaration, we realize is no longer possible.We decided there needed to be a new expression ofAnglicanism in North America which is seeking to befaithful to Scripture, true to what the church has alwaystaught about the nature of Christ, upholding the Biblicalstandards for human sexuality and morality, and tryingto find a way in all of that to planting of new churches.”To learn more about Grace Anglican Church visit http://www.anglicannetwork.ca/ or you can email Jonathan at: aniccalgary@shaw.ca.Culture modelersand makersby Brian Rushfeldt,Executive DirectorCanada Family Action CoalitionWho are the influencers that model and makeCanadian culture?Many people are concerned about the cultural shiftin Canada and its effect of weakening moral behavioursand human decency of society. Their concerns are valid!When and why this shift started is difficult todetermine, but the harmful consequences of rejectinga religious based moral foundation and embracingone of individualism and secularism is clear. This shiftescalated after the secular based Charter of Rights wasimplemented in 1982. Pierre Trudeau’s intent was toshift Canada from a Christian based society to one basedon secular humanism. And that intent – when it suitstheir ideology – is what drives many judges’ decisions.Canadians were duped by Trudeau and his promotion of“human rights” and all the “good things” he promised.Back then most Canadians had no idea of the futurenegative consequences.Concern about the erosion of civility, freedoms,morality and righteousness can turn into despair, or intodrive to become a culture maker. The Christian churchand religious freedoms have taken the brunt of the secularculture revolution. But the church has not responded withaction; with few exceptions it has remained in a cocoonof apathy. The abortion issue is one stark example ofprotestant churches failing to uphold a culture of sanctityof life and speak out for innocent unborn babies. TheCatholic church stands almost alone in its defense ofunborn life. Many protestant church people cry out fora political solution to the matter, while doing nothing toreach the culture with a spiritual solution.I am often asked, “How can I make a difference?”I often respond, “Get engaged,” which is a polite wayof saying get off your butt and do something. I thenexplain that as we model moral principles and teachand promote moral truth, we influence individuals andgroups. Collectively we can influence the nation. I cannotchange the culture on my own, but if five million GodfearingCanadians who believe that upholding moralprinciples that inspire good and noble behaviour, andthat obeying Jesus’ command to love others as ourselveswould boldly speak and act we would see quantum changein our nation.Engaging culture is quite simple. One does not haveto be a “star” nor a politician nor a hero – one just needsto be equipped with information and be bold to speakand act (with wisdom).Democracy gives us that freedom, just as Christianitydoes. Democracy has pitfalls but it is superior to socialism,communism or dictatorships. However, as Billy Grahamsaid, “democracy is only as good as the people involved init.” Stewarding democratic freedom necessitates engagingin society. Power to effect change is in the people whoengage. Abraham Lincoln said, “Elections belong to thepeople. It is their decision. If they decide to turn theirback on the fire and burn their behinds, then they willjust have to sit on their blisters.”I appreciate a quip by George Bernard Shaw,“Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governedno better than we deserve.”It would do us well to remember that next time wehave an opportunity to run for political office or votefor good men and women who do.Christians are called to engage culture. We are asked tomodel righteousness and justice. We are commanded to“shine” God’s truth into dark and desperate situations. Itis we – God’s people – who are called to be culture makersand modelers, not culture compliers and consumers.CITY LIGHT NEWS, NOVEMBER 2011 — 5