Saskatchewan anglican
The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • November 2013
New parish, new name By Sue Boxall
Beadwork in the afternoon Participants of the James Settee College summer session hold up some of the beadwork they are working on, during an afternoon activity. The College held its summer session at Camp Okema in August. For story see Page 4. Photo — Mary Brown
Diocese of Saskatoon reimagines church during 71st Synod By Peter R. Coolen SASKATOON – The 71st Synod began on the evening of Sept. 12 with the opening Eucharist service and the Bishop’s Charge, followed by a reception by the bishop in the Parish Hall. The 71st Synod ran from Sept. 12-15 and was entitled “Reimagining Church.” The synod was unusual in that it included a series of five workshops, open to all members of the diocese, which were intercalated with the working sessions of synod. These workshops were entitled: Brave New World; What in the World is God up to?; The School of Jesus; Changing World, Changing Church; and Where Do We Go from Here? The workshop sessions were moderated and lead by Rev. Ryan Sim, a church planter with the Diocese of Toronto, who
is currently engaged in a fresh expression ministry and has a passion for encouraging creative new approaches to ministry and mission. Approximately 100 people attended the synod and the series of workshops. Greetings to synod were sent by Chief Perry Belgarde (FSIN), Bishop Don Bolan (Roman Catholic Bishop of Saskatoon), Inner city Churches, the Mennonite Church and in person by Saskatoon Mayor Don Atchinson. The synod also welcomed representatives from other denominations (Roman Catholic, Mennonite, United and Baptist churches) who were present at the opening service Bishop David Irving, in his Bishop’s Charge (see the text of the Bishop’s Charge elsewhere in this issue) referred to the progress that had been made in the diocese since the last Synod, entitled “Embracing Change”. It had then become obvious
to many that changes needed to be made in how the diocese offered ministry in both the rural and urban setting. This progress had included: new internal communications systems; the establishment of a Locally Raised Clergy program; assistance to the diocesan newspaper (the Saskatchewan Anglican); appointments of a new diocesan archivist, a diocesan youth co-ordinator , a Locally Trained Clergy training officer and a stewardship officer; workshops on new ways of doing ministry, amalgamation discussions that resulted in the merging of three city parishes; and internal (Habitat for Humanity ) and external (Baja, Mexico) outreach programs. With the present series of workshops in this synod, members of the diocese can begin to look at methods and models that they could consider for use in re-invigorating their own parishes, as well as their
own personnel religious life and practice. Also, during the opening service, the following Certificates of Recognition for long Service in Ministry were made (the full text of several of these awards will be printed in a future edition of the Saskatchewan Anglican): Rev. Quenton Little presented Marion Weinhandl. Marion was awarded a Certificate of Recognition for her 76 years of devoted service in ministry as organist for St. Stephen’s Church, Lintlaw. Marion began to play the organ at St. Stephen’s at age 10 and has continued to do so up until today, except for the year 1941, when she had to leave town for one year to attend high school. It is rare indeed to have a Sunday at St. Stephen’s without Marion at the organ. Rev. Peter Norman presented Mary Ann Assailly. See ‘Reimagining’ on Page 4
FORT QU’APPELLE (Qu’A) – When two existing parishes, with four churches plus Anglicans from nearby towns, amalgamate, it can be difficult to choose a new name. After many meetings between the churches and Diocese of Qu’Appelle, the amalgamation was approved, but the difficult job of name choice began! The Parish of Touchwood Trail (St. John’s, Fort Qu’Appelle and St. Cuthbert’s, Dysart with members from Cupar as well) and The Parish of Holy Faith (St. Paul’s, Balcarres, All Saints, Katepwa and the towns of Abernethy and Ituna) were having a hard time choosing. It wasn’t until new incumbent Rev. Warren Huestis arrived in January that they set off on a new way of looking at names. Parishioners were asked to look at saints found in the Book of Alternative Services, “For All the Saints, Prayers and Readings for Saints’ Days.” Huestis suggested members of each congregation, individually, pick a few they liked, based on descriptions of the saints’ lives and actions. They were to think about their mission in this area of the province and about the person(s) who most embodied those traits. It sounds simple, but it took time to wade through many pages of people, some of whom they may not have known before! One Sunday each church congregation gathered, including children of the parishes, in individual churches, to try to define the most obvious trait God was telling them to focus on. Ballots were distributed, and at the tally, it appeared many of the people decided finding a place somewhere between our great traditions and current culture, that would bring the love and word of God to our communities, was the ultimate goal our name should reflect. Then came the difficult task. It is hard to change a name so familiar to many and has, in itself, a significant meaning. The second round of ballots was passed out and, after a long discussion, the choice was made – Thomas Cranmer and Richard Hooker (Teachers of the Faith). So, with Bishop Rob Hardwick’s approval, all Anglicans in the areas mentioned above will be part of “Teachers of the Faith Parish.”