by Jonn Lavinnder
This edition of The HighWay has two accounts of God’s ReCreation. You can also find photographs of the event on the new and improved Diocesan Web site www.kootenay.anglican.ca. The new Web site is powered by SquareSpace, which allows easy access for keeping the site current.
Anglicans recreating themselves is not such an unusual idea. We sometimes think of ourselves as being more concerned about small ‘t’ rather than big ‘T’ traditions.
Returning to roots is the general trend at the beginning of the millennium, but in actuality, looking at congregational characteristics may be the defining factor in identifying who we have become as Anglicans. The hope is that this knowledge will solve our declining numbers by introducing programs that appeal to lapsed Anglicans or the unchurched.
Indications of embracing a wider view of ourselves was apparent in the workshops offered at God’s ReCreation. “Emerging Christianity,” for example, was one workshop based on the book, “Christianity for the Rest of Us” by Diana Butler Bass. Another indication of our interest in redefining ourselves may be seen in The HighWay’s new column by Catherine Dafoe Hall on “Congregational Development.” However, to keep the balance, another column began this month by Ken Watts introducing the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer and offering a series of articles on “The Many Ways to Pray.” Prayer is probably the most important factor in making congregational changes.
When Bishop John began a preliminary session on “Congregational Growth” at St. Saviour’s in Nelson, he started with an exercise of charting St. Saviour’s history. There were, however, very few people who knew the church’s history beyond ten years. In reality, for most of us, traditions have occurred in recent times. When people say, “This is the way we always do it.” Actually, they mean, this is the way it’s been done for the last so many years. No one remembers exactly when it started, but for all intents and purposes it should not be changed.
Anglicans need an anchor; be it the Bible, the BCP or the BAS; we are people of the book. The question is whether we, as Anglicans, would lose our identity if we read the words on a projection screen.
