Diaconal Formation Event in Kelowna — Back row left: The Rev. Canon Dr. William Christensen, Mike Johnstone, Richard Simpson. Middle row: Nora Nitz, Martha fish, The Rev. Elizabeth Lewis - Deacon Front row: The Rev. Chris Ross - Deacon, Julia Roberts, Joanne Simpson, Debbie Wilson, Pat Simons

I was one of ten people from throughout the Diocese of Kootenay who participated in a diaconal formation training event held at St. Andrew's, Kelowna September 18 - 20. We were privileged to have The Rev. Canon Dr. William Christensen lead us through an exploration of Christian Ethics — Faith in Action. The aims of the workshop were five-fold:

• To provide participants with a working knowledge of different aspects of Christian ethics
• To sharpen skills in analysing moral arguments
• To introduce some of the skills and resources needed to resolve moral dilemmas
• To develop an understanding of the complexity of moral problems, and
• To increase awareness of the legitimate roots of moral difference.

We discussed the close relationship between our faith and morality.

"The only convincing way we profess our faith is by the way we live our lives. It is in daily living that we fashion our response to all God has given us — ourselves, other people and the rest of creation.
Understanding this and living out our shared humanity as fully as possible is what morality is all about."

Christians disagree about ethics as much as other people do. However, regardless of the differences, they share a number of fundamental assumptions about life. Bill pointed out that the traditional Anglican approach to ethics has a distinctive flavour:

• A strong emphasis on practice rather than belief ...
• An emphasis on responding to the varying situations and circumstances of life ...
• A belief that while fundamental values and principles of our faith are unchanging, our understanding and interpretation of them does change as life unfolds ...
• A strong emphasis upon being rather than doing ...
• A strong emphasis upon "Incarnational theology"... a distinctive Anglican emphasis: two senses = 1. Jesus' incarnation and 2. Our own incarnation
• While Anglicanism is a creedal faith, it is not a confessional Church ... what unites us is the liturgy and the Prayer Book ... and emphasis upon unity in diversity, upon finding the "via media," the middle way that accommodates disagreement and differences of opinion ... a uniformity of belief is not a typical Anglican emphasis ...
• The Anglican Episcopal structure emphasizes the fact that we are always part of a larger Church and therefore there is always a healthy tension between the local, regional, national and international dimensions of our life together. And, there is therefore, a sensitivity to how our decisions and practices impact the larger family. As a result, there is a strong emphasis on process and good order.
• Anglicans emphasize three sources of authority, places we go to or consult in the process of ethical decision making: scripture, tradition and reason.

Throughout the weekend, we were all challenged, stretched and affirmed as we delved into the study of Christian ethics. Using case studies and other excellent learning methods, we learned to apply a practical approach to moral decision making.

Dr. Christensen is an excellent teacher and an expert in the field of Christian ethics. The weekend proved to be a valuable time of learning and growth for all participants. For more information about the diaconate in the Diocese of Kootenay, please contact: The Rev. Chris Ross, Deacon, by email: clross@telus.net,
or at
St. Andrew's,
4619 Lakeshore Road, Kelowna, B.C.
V1W 1X3.

New Service launches Church Growth Sunday

By Peter Davison

CROSS & CROWN — (Andrea Harwood-Jones keyboard not seen), Anita Baturin, Jonathan Oliphant, Karen Wiseman, Darren Strutt, Devan Baturin, Chris Harwood-Jones, (drummer Greg Baturin not seen).

September 20 launched a new pattern of worship at All Saints, Vernon. The early morning Eucharist moved to 7.45 am from 8 o'clock, while the 10 am Choral Eucharist moved to 11 am, making room for a new contemporary service "The Table" at 9.15 am. The new service attracted some 100 people, including a number of new faces. Both the liturgy and most of the liturgical songs were provided in a service booklet specially designed for easy participation. A homegrown instrumental and choral group called "Cross and Crown" provided music, reflected in the distinctive logo on the booklet cover, and on the posters, which had widely advertised the new service. One of the songs included a beautiful piece of saxophone playing by Devan Baturin.

The Reverend Rita Harrison presided at the liturgy, while Canon Chris Harwood-Jones played one of the guitars and preached. He began his homily by suggesting that the first reading from Proverbs ("Where can a competent wife be found?") was not one he would have chosen to launch a new pattern of worship! But he used this to remind a congregation, which included many first-timers, that this reflected the fact that we are a "lectionary church" that requires us to read almost the whole of scripture over a three-year cycle. Anglican liturgy, he pointed out, has four main features. We gather, knowing that Christian faith cannot be lived alone; we listen together to God's word in scripture, and need each other to understand its meaning; we pray together, not just for our own wants, but for the well-being of the whole church and the world; and we partake sacramentally of Christ in order to be filled with his life and to live it in the world. As pilgrims we are all in this together, and all of us are, in a very real sense, beginners and seekers.

Much thought and effort had gone into preparing this new service as a means of enabling people to discover Christ and worship in a more contemporary idiom. The lead participants had obviously practised well, and the enthusiastic congregation, which included a goodly number of long-time parishioners, did not notice any minor glitches. Many of these were also enthused by the spirit of the new service.

The 11 am Sung Eucharist reflected the drawing power of its 9.15 am predecessor, but still produced a congregation (including choir) of about ninety people. One of the hopes expressed was that, with two main services, there will be plenty of room to welcome and accommodate more parishioners, while the coffee hour (now called Hospitality Hour) will bring together parishioners from both services. If the enthusiasm generated so far is any indication, All Saints is poised to attract many new parishioners.