October 2009 CoGS Wheels

National Indigenous Ministry (NIM) is going to be an important agenda item at CoGS next month and at General Synod in Halifax next year. Many of you know of my work as a member of the Governance Working Group (GWG) on "File 3: National Indigenous Ministry." As part of our preparations for this historic initiative for the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC), the GWG has consulted widely, including attending the Brandon/Keewatin Area Mission formation for Northern Manitoba, the Council of the North, the Provincial Synods of Rupert's Land, Canada, and British Columbia and Yukon.

This month we consult with the last Ecclesiastical Province, Ontario and then the House of Bishops in November and CoGS shortly after. Three of us were honoured to attend the Sixth National Sacred Circle, at Port Elgin Ontario in August. It was there that we had the most important dialogue, as it included Indigenous Anglicans from across Canada, the Primate, most Bishops from the Council of the North, and the National Indigenous Anglican Bishop.

Six National Sacred Circles have been organized by the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples (ACIP) since 1988. They are analogous to a General Synod in that they gather Indigenous Canadian Anglicans from every region of the country to meet for a week in prayer, fellowship, Gospel Based Discipleship, singing jamborees, and in a series of "talking circles" that address key questions or themes. The results of discussions are brought together in evening plenary sessions for summary and publication. Although the gathering is not legislative—does not make rules or canons—it does organize and direct native initiatives.

This August, the GWG had a chance to present the work that is being done preparatory to General Synod where it is hoped that this unique constituency in the Anglican Church of Canada will finally be granted the self-governance that has been so long desired by Aboriginal Anglicans. ACIP published a Covenant in 1994 that expressed the desire to form a partnership with non-Indigenous Anglicans that will encourage them to remain within the ACC with growing, Spirit-filled ministries. Key in this was the appointment of the first National Indigenous Anglican Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Mark MacDonald in January 2007. Bishop Mark is much loved by both the Indigenous and non-Indigenous church, and is a wise and effective leader. GWG has worked closely with both Bishop MacDonald and Archdeacon Sid Black from ACIP on File 3.

Our presentation went well and created much discussion and debate in the Sacred Circle. We are hoping to bring this work together in the form of a proposed new Canon to present to General Synod to formally recognize National Indigenous Ministry (NIM), and to inculcate it into the structures of our national church. The most important outcome of that would be to establish the legitimacy of Indigenous Canadian Anglicans in their pursuit of self-determination, authority and jurisdiction. But we all agreed that building honest relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Anglicans was paramount. Beyond a Canon, the future possibility of a fifth ecclesiastical province to encompass NIM will likely be presented in a comprehensive GWG report to General Synod. There is some misunderstanding that the formation of a fifth province is already underway. However, that is not correct, and this concept will need more discussion before it is a reality. Meanwhile all of us who attended Sacred Circle were excited that a historic point has been reached, and that finally the Anglican Church of Canada is ready to embrace Indigenous Anglicans as truly equal partners, and for sincere recognition and fulfillment of the Covenant of 1994.

Please pray for our Church in this because failure will almost certainly mean that our Indigenous Canadian Anglican brothers and sisters will have no choice but to walk apart. That would be an unnecessary and tragic loss.