The Right Reverend Barry B. Clarke Bishop of Montreal The Anglican Church of Canada Diocese of Montreal Monseigneur Barry B. Clarke Évêque de Montréal Église anglicane du Canada Diocèse de Montréal January 20, 2014 Bishop s Communiqué - Bishop s Purple Prose Greetings in the name of our Lord in this New Year Prayer: Oh God, our times are in your hands, but with favor we pray on your church as guided by your Holy Spirit, filled with the love of Jesus, who shares in partnership with you in your mission. We pray that we understand your mission of love to be expressed through compassion, justice, healing and reconciliation. And guided by your spirit, we may fulfill our calling, our vocation as disciples, living out the Marks of Mission that we, in the Anglican communion, have placed before us. And we pray that they are consistent with your longing and desire for us as partners with you in your mission of love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen I write to you, in the Bishop s Communiqué ( Bishop s Purple Prose) with news around the diocese. I first want to say thank you to each of you as clergy and laity for your faithfulness in your respective ministries and your leadership both through the diocese and the wider church. You are a blessing to me and to the church. May God continue to strengthen you in the ministries to which you share in the life of the diocese. PERSONNEL The Anglican Parish of St. Andrew and St. Mark s Dorval I am pleased to appoint The Reverend Francie Nadeau-Keats as the Priest-in-Charge of The Anglican Parish of St. Andrew and St Mark s, Dorval for 4 months, with the option of renewal while the selection committee continues to do its work. Her appointment is effective February 1, 2014. The Reverend Francie Nadeau-Keats comes to us from the Diocese of Quebec s Lower North Shore. The parish is continuing to seek a Full-time Incumbent. Expressions of interest can be sent to the Bishop's office. The Reverend Bryce Sangster The Reverend Bryce Sangster has accepted an appointment from The Right Reverend Linda Nicholls, suffragan Bishop of Toronto, to the office of Priest-in-Charge of Campbellford, Hastings and Roseneath. The appointment is effective March 1, 2014. Bryce will complete his work and ministry in Morin Heights, St. Sauveur on Sunday, February 16 th. The Reverend Charles Morris The Reverend Charles Morris has accepted an appointment by the Rt. Rev. Michael D. Oulton, Bishop of Ontario to the office of Incumbent of the Parish of St. Mary Magdalene, Picton, commencing March 15 th. The Reverend Canon Dr John Simons The Reverend Canon Dr John Simons has announced to the Executive and Board of the MDTC that he intends to retire in the spring of 2015. A committee will be set up in the spring of 2014 to begin the search for a new principal. The Reverend Canon Bruce Glencross The Reverend Canon Bruce Glencross has announced his retirement as Rector of St. John the Baptist, Pointe Claire as of August 31 st. Bruce and Carol will move to New Brunswick where they have built a retirement home. Blessings and prayers to them.
New Ministry Appointments It is with much pleasure that I announce new exciting ministries that two parishes in the Diocese are embarking on. Brittany Love has been appointed as 'Emerging Ministries Pastor' at St James the Apostle, Montreal. In addition Afra Tucker starts her in the new role of 'Young Adult Emerging Ministry Facilitator' at The Church of the Epiphany, Verdun. Lastly Scott Evans is returning to the Diocese of Montreal for 3 months to undertake a leadership development project with our younger leaders in the Downtown area. It is an encouragement to see parishes take bold steps to develop and resource imaginative new ministries. ÉGLISE DE LA NATIVITÉ On Sunday, January 12 th I presided at the Eucharist at St. Ignatius of Antioch Montreal North and presented to Margaret and Ted Humphreys the Bishop s Award. At that time, I also made the transfer of all rights and responsibilities of St. Ignatius of Antioch Montreal North to Église de la Nativité and rededicated the church with the new name of Église de la Nativité. This is an important moment in the history of the diocese and in the journey of Église de la Nativité. For 40 years they have travelled from one parish to another for their worship life and activities. I was pleased to be part of a wonderful celebration in acknowledging the presence of Église de la Nativité in the diocese, and for their support and now giving them full responsibilities of a new home. PARISH STATISTICS FOR 2013 As we move into our annual vestry meetings and appoint new wardens, delegates for synod and diocesan committees, I am grateful for all those who give of their time for this important administrative ministry in the life of the church and I say thank you. I also encourage you, both clergy and laity, of the responsibility of filling out the parish statistics, to do shortly after your annual vestry meetings and send it to the Synod office in order for us to, in a timely manner, prepare the documentation for General Synod. I m enclosing a memo from David Jones, Chancellor of General Synod, about part of our work to prepare for membership for 2016. From: David Jones, Chancellor of General Synod Subject: Timing Issues for Determining the Number of Diocesan Clergy and Lay Delegates for General Synod 2016 The purpose of this memorandum is to suggest how dioceses might proceed to elect clergy and lay members for General Synod 2016 if their diocesan synod occurs before the relevant statistics are available. As you know, each diocese is entitled to a minimum of two clergy and two lay delegates with the number of any additional delegates being the determined by the average attendance in your diocese on Easter, Pentecost, the second Sunday in September, and Christmas in 2013 and 2014. The General Secretary, Michael Thompson, has already been in contact with you about collecting these statistics, and the relevant statistics will be available as early as possible in 2015 However, it may be that a particular diocese will be electing its delegates at a synod prior to the statistics being available, so that the actual number of delegates to be elected would not be known at that time. In such a case, the diocesan synod should elect the two clergy and two lay delegates, and also elect a sufficient number of alternate delegates in ranked order, so that the latter can be redesignated as delegates once the actual diocesan entitlement has been determined when the statistics are available (and also have some additional alternates in case any designated delegate cannot attend)..
FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT We are currently seeking a candidate to fill the position of Financial Development Consultant. The consultant will develop and implement stewardship activities in the Diocese, both in parishes and at the Synod level. We are accepting applications and the posting is available on our diocesan website. THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION SUNDAY This year, the Theological Education Sunday is on February 16 th which highlights the work of the Montreal Diocesan Theological College. I encourage you to uphold this Sunday in your calendar and make use of the materials that the college has prepared for this event. I also encourage you to invite one of the people from the college who might be prepared to speak about the MDTC. As we journey together in the formation for ministry of the clergy and laity our college provides wonderful leadership in this arena. NEW HOPE, NEW LEADERSHIP, NEW CHURCH On Fri. Feb. 21 (7-9 pm) and Sat. Feb. 22 (9:30 3:30) at the Diocesan Centre, Phil Potter, the Archbishop of Canterbury's Missioner and leader of Fresh Expressions UK, will be here to work with us on creating ministries that can connect with people in our neighbourhoods and communities. There is no charge this one s on us. With Phil we will look at a way of being church that is engaging with their communities while retaining the richness of our traditions. We will hear about what Phil has learned and done about releasing every member in ministry. We will have a richer toolkit for renewing ministry where God has placed us. If you and/or your parish is actively exploring new ministries, or thinking of beginning this important work, the opportunity to work closely with a such a skilled, gifted and experienced leader will be invaluable for you. For more information or to register please contact jmarshall@montreal.anglican.ca or mdunwoody@montreal.anglican.ca ORDINATION 2014 On Sunday, March 30 th at 4pm, at Christ Church Cathedral, I intend to ordain, to the order of priesthood, The Reverend Alain Brosseau, The Reverend Lorne Eason, The Reverend Nicholas Pang, and The Reverend Brian Perron. LENTEN CLERGY RETREAT The Lenten Clergy Retreat will take place at Manoir d Youville from April 6 th to 8th. The retreat leaders this year are The Reverend Dr Tim Smart and the Reverend Ellen Clark-King. It is important for all clergy to take this time together in prayer. Sophie Bertrand will be sending registration details soon. CLERGY DAY I invite you to put into your calendar a Clergy Day for this spring. This year the Clergy Day will take place at St. Paul's Lachine, on May 27 th from 9:30 to 3:30. I encourage all clergy to be present. MISSION WORKS GOLF TOURNAMENT
This year the Mission Works Golf Tournament will take place on Monday, June 9 th at Whitlock Golf and Country Club in Hudson, QC. More details to follow. If you or a member of your parish would like to be part of the organizing committee, please inform Nicki Hronjak at programmeoffice@montreal.anglican.ca or at xt 244. We all know the great work carried on by the missions. Let us do all we can to make the Golf Tournament once again a resounding success in support of their work. DIOCESAN SYNOD 2014 I call for the Diocesan Synod 2014 to convene on the Feast of St. Luke, the Physician and Evangelist on Saturday, October18 th in Fulford Hall. Once again it will be a one day Synod and I pray that all delegates will be present. The theme of this year s Synod is Called to Grow. REPURPOSING OUR INHERITANCE: LOANS AND G.U.M. GRANTS FOR MISSION Funding from Repurposing Our Inheritance for parishes and congregations will be made available from the sale and income resulting from the redevelopment of diocesan properties. When funds become available they will be disbursed as follows: 70% will be invested and the interest will be made available for diocesan needs. 20% will be made available to the Loans Committee (a sub-committee of the Finance Standing Committee) for parish/congregational capital projects. 10% will be made available to the Growth, Understanding & Mission (GUM) Fund for seed grants for congregational development projects and creative missional initiatives designed to reach people not currently being reached by traditional forms of church. LENTEN RESOURCES I would like to encourage you consider using one of these very fine new resources available to help adults explore their Christian faith and discipleship in God s mission. Pilgrim: A Course for the Christian Journey is a major new teaching and discipleship resource from the Church of England. It aims to help every local church create a place where people can explore the Christian faith together and see how it can be lived out each day. It approaches the great issues of faith not through persuasion, but participation in a pattern of contemplation and discussion with a group of fellow travellers. Learn more on their website www.pilgrimcourse.org. Resources are available through Augsburg Fortress Press. Animate: Faith or Animate Bible These are 2 creative and imaginative video-based studies. One focuses on the Scriptures and our relationship with the Bible, the other focuses on major aspects of faith: God, religion, Jesus, salvation, the cross, the Bible, and church. In the videos participants will hear from contemporary Christian leaders. Through the video presentations, discussions and journaling, participants are engaged and inspired to connect with their faith. Animate encourages everyone including the facilitator to participate in the experience, have a point of view, and deepen faith. Learn more at animate.wearesparkhouse.org Resources are available through Augsburg Fortress Press.
Becoming the Story we Tell is a new resource from our National Church s Task force of Christian Hospitality. This is a comprehensive set of resources to help parishes focus on renewing our sense of baptismal identity and calling by re-entering the deep drama of the gospel, and restoring the connection between our baptism and our annual immersion in the story of Christ s Passion. It includes study materials, liturgical guides, sermon resources, and parish day outlines. The resources are free and downloadable. Follow the links at www.anglican.ca/primate/becoming/ Janet Marshall has copies of each of these resources. Don t hesitate to contact her at jmarshall@montreal.anglican.ca if you would like to take a look at them before making your choice. PERSONAL The Reverend Dr Holly Ratcliffe is on a leave of wellness and away from Christ Church Sorel and her work at the correctional facility in Drummondville until the end of March. I invite you to uphold Holly in this journey of healing and for the people of Sorel and her ministry at Drummondville. THOUGHTS One of my joys as I travel around the diocese is to be part of worshiping communities that are meeting some of the new challenges of being church in local communities in the 21 st century, using some of the work of the Ministry Action Plan. They often tell me their stories. It is important to share these stories and I encourage you to visit our website and have these stories posted so that we can all benefit from the importance of how we are all engaged in God s mission. In Christ, +Barry