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The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • February 2012
40 yea rs–
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anglican
Happy 40th birthday Saskatchewan Anglican!
Rev. William (Bill) Portman (ret’d), the first managing editor of the Saskatchewan Anglican, poses with the January 2012 edition of the tri-diocesan newspaper. January marked the 40th anniversary of the Saskatchewan Anglican newspaper, which was founded in 1972. The monthly publication serves the Anglican dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle. Photo – Joanne Shurvin-Martin
Saskatchewan Anglican: The history of our tri-diocesan newspaper By Rev. William Portman (Editor’s note: Portman was managing editor of Saskatchewan Anglican from 1972-82.) REGINA – That Saskatchewan Anglican this year celebrates 60 years of service to the church in the province is testimony to the value placed on this ministry by our three sponsoring dioceses. Despite financial cutbacks in many area, the Anglican is still here, linking our three dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle, with news of our neighbours and thought- and, it is to be hoped, action-provoking sharing of the faith. Though the Anglican itself, as it currently is, came into being in 1972, it was successor to various publications in each diocese. All three had published “occasional
papers” targeted mainly at Eastern Canada and – most importantly – the “Old Country”, on whom they relied for steady supplies of money and clergy. The Qu’Appelle Crusader was launched as a monthly magazine in 1952, primarily to communicate within the diocese, while the Saskatoon Churchman did the same job around the same time. Successive early editors of the Crusader were Revs. Leslie Warren, Ralph Howell and Dunstan Pasterfield; Gerry Steele produced the Saskatoon Churchman. It is hard for Anglicans today to imagine how rigidly turfprotective our three dioceses were – both politically and doctrinally – in those earlier days. Qu’Appelle was seen as “High Church”; Saskatoon and Saskatchewan were “Low”; terms now – thankfully – almost
unknown to today’s Anglicans. There was little contact at the lay level, and relations among the three bishops could best be described as “correct”. Two theological colleges, Emmanuel in Saskatoon and St. Chad’s in Regina, ensured that the differences were perpetuated. Gradually, as more Canadian (rather than English) clergy moved into responsible posts, barriers began to break down as they recognized that everyone was engaged in the same work of the Gospel. Tentative steps were taken in inter-diocesan consultation and co-operation; the Saskatchewan Anglican later became a symbol of this changed attitude. Meanwhile, there were developments at the Canadian Churchman, national magazine of the Anglican Church of Canada. (Continued on page 5)
By Jason Antonio
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REGINA – If you were born in 1972 or were already alive and kicking, these are some of the noteworthy and exciting things which took place in that year: • Paul Henderson scores the “goal of the century” to give Canada the win during the Summit Series between Canada and the Soviet Union • Saskatchewan premier Woodrow Lloyd dies • Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson dies • The Watergate Scandal occurs, which eventually leads to U.S. President Richard Nixon resigning from office • The birth of the Saskatchewan Anglican newspaper! Yes, in 1972 (January to be exact), the publication of the tri-diocesan newspaper began providing news, opinions, thoughts and pictures to tens of thousands of Anglicans across the province. People in Moosomin were now able to know what was going on in Lashburn, while people in Watrous learned about what was taking place in Pakwaw Lake. For a newspaper that has been around for 40 years, one would think the publication would have had a lengthy list of managing editors. But such is not the case. The Saskatchewan Anglican has been faithfully guided by nearly a dozen individuals over the course of its lifetime, including:
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Rev. William Portman, 1972-82 Rev. Patrick Tomalin, 1983 to 2001 Ed Lewis, 2001-02 Gwendolyn Grisham, 2002-05 Anna Irish, 2004-05 Garth Neel, 2005-06 Fred Stephens, 2006-11 Jason Antonio, 2011 to present
To help celebrate the Saskatchewan Anglican’s 40th anniversary, these former managing editors have been asked to contribute a short reflection on their time at the helm of this newspaper. Their reflections will appear during the next few months. Sadly, Gwendolyn Grisham won’t be able to give some of her thoughts editing the paper, as she recently passed away. In this edition of the Saskatchewan Anglican, the first two editors of the paper reminicse about their time running the show. I want to personally thank you, the reader, for your commitment to reading this newspaper over the many years and decades it has been in existence. It might be a cliché, but if it weren’t for your continued dedication to reading the Saskatchewan Anglican, we might not be in business today. So I invite you to join me in celebrating the newspaper’s 40th birthday, with the hope of many more years of keeping Anglicans in Saskatchewan well informed.
Saskatoon joins group dedicated to immigrants By Klaus Gruber SASKATOON – Saskatoon has joined the Sponsorship Agreement Holders Association. This newly formed group will hopefully provide a more co-ordinated voice for Sponsorship Agreement
Holders (SAHs) with Citizenship and Immigration. The Diocese of Saskatoon has had a sponsorship agreement since the early 1990s; this agreement is being revised as we speak and new agreement should have been signed in January. (Continued on page 5)