Would the Governing Body ever personally apologize for its mistakes? 'Fess up? Say they need to repent? Publicly acknowledge and recognize past failures? Say the first step is telling the truth? Say "Pray that we may all perceive the need for our own healing"?
Stopped laughing yet?
The head of the Anglican Church of God did, in an open letter read aloud in every congregation of that church last year!
He said: "Healing never happens if we ignore the wounds. The first step is truth-telling -- recognizing and acknowledging past failures."
"We have an obligation, and a will born of our desire to be just, to account for past injustice."
"We have an obligation, and a will born of our desire to be just, to account for past injustice.
"Healing also requires being prepared to turn and walk in a different
direction. Indeed repentance means 'turning around'. The wounds of past
prejudices, injustices and broken trust will never be healed unless we
'strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of
every human being.'"
Would the GB make statements like that? A filthy Babylonish "Christian" whore sure did. The GB lies about its mortal enemy, and many of us have believed their falsehood that Catholicism and other religions hide pedophiles and have no enlightened policies. Bet that will be spotlighted.
But then, are you seeing their new coziness with the U.N.?
Cynical today,
Jerry
Document from my files for those who want more than the bite, courtesy of another poster: Letter
[start quotation]
to be read in congregations of the Anglican Church of Canada, as permitted
by the Diocesan bishop, on Sunday, May 28, 2000.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:
I write to share something of this moment in the life of the Anglican Church
of Canada. In this troubling time we are faced with litigation so costly as
to change radically our structures and our life as a national church. But
the time is also profoundly hopeful; God leads us ever deeper into the path
of healing and new life.
Simply put: resulting from abuse in the residential schools, there are over
1600 claims of varying kinds brought against the General Synod of the
Anglican Church of Canada. About one hundred cases involve the proven abuse
of children, and the perpetrators are in prison. The costs of litigation and
settlements for these alone is sufficient to exhaust all the assets of the
General Synod and of some dioceses involved.
What does this mean? For the national church, the way we presently carry out
our mission will be modified. We are negotiating with the federal government
in order to find alternatives to litigation by which we can make a just
contribution to compensation. We will know in a few months if an agreement
is possible. However, whether or not this is achievable, we will be a very
different Church.
Where in this do I discern hope? At the heart of it, we trust God is with us
in the choices we face, that we will find new ways to carry out our shared
mission and that we will continue to work for healing and reconciliation.
Healing and reconciliation is our first and clearly-affirmed goal. Both the
Council of General Synod and the House of Bishops gave it the strongest
possible support in meetings earlier this month. The legacy of the schools
has been deeply wounding. Healing never happens if we ignore the wounds. The
first step is truth-telling -- recognizing and acknowledging past failures.
The Anglican Church of Canada collaborated with the Government of Canada in
a policy that brought pain to many individuals and despair in many
communities. That injury continues into the present. We have an obligation,
and a will born of our desire to be just, to account for past injustice.
Healing also requires being prepared to turn and walk in a different
direction. Indeed repentance means "turning around". The wounds of past
prejudices, injustices and broken trust will never be healed unless we
"strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of
every human being". Ever since the General Synod of 1969 set us in a new
direction, aboriginal and non-aboriginal Anglicans have been learning to
walk together in a different way. I assure aboriginal brothers and sisters
that we will not be deflected from this road. I call each of us to recommit
ourselves to that path, so that together we may find the healing Christ
offers in his Cross and Resurrection.
I want to assure all Anglicans that what is at risk financially are our
assets, not the contributions that provide for the ongoing ministry and
mission of the church at parish, diocesan or national levels. Your
contributions serve the mission of the church -- not the costs of
litigation. If our present structures cease to exist, we will find a way for
our contributions to continue to serve that work.
How do we continue authentically if the depletion of our assets means we are
unable to meet the claims against us? I believe that our greatest asset in
the Anglican Church of Canada is our ability to be in relationship, to
support and care for each other. This will survive. So will our capacity to
worship, to learn, to grow, to serve and to bear witness to Christ. Nothing
at the heart of our faith -- our desire for wholeness and healing in
ourselves, in our relationships, in our country and in our world -- is at
risk. We have these abundant and enduring assets that will help us continue
to do justice and work for healing. As we move into the future, I ask for
your prayers: for the bishops and people of Cariboo and Qu'Appelle dioceses
who are most immediately concerned; for the Anglican Council of Indigenous
Peoples who give outstanding leadership, and who bear such love for the
whole of the Church; for those whose ministries are given over to witness in
the courts. Pray that we may all perceive the need for our own healing.
We read in the gospels how Jesus speaks of things ending -- of the heavens
and earth in turmoil. In one sense, it is a picture of chaos. But Jesus says
that it is more truly to be interpreted as a birth: ".when these things
begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption
is drawing near." (Luke 21:28) For many in the church, things are being
shaken, and it feels like chaos. But we stand up and raise our heads; God is
present and leads us into something new.
When we look up at the evening horizon, we see the sun falling. Turn the
other way, and we will see it rise. I believe with all my heart, and with
sure confidence, that God is with us both in the falling and in the rising,
and that, even in our dying, God will bring us to new life.
(Signed)
+Michael
Archbishop and Primate
