December 3, 2008 Huron bishop not yet acting on same-sex blessings

The newly-elected bishop of the diocese of Huron, Robert Bennett, says that he has not yet acted on the diocesan synod’s motion in May asking the bishop to give clergy permission to bless same-sex marriages “where at least one party is baptized” and to authorize an appropriate rite.

---

December 1, 2008 Lutheran bishops share similar same-sex issues

The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) said its joint meeting here with the Anglican Church of Canada’s house of bishops was “a sign of our deepening full communion relationship.”

---

December 1, 2008 Bishops moved by refugee story

Annie Kashamura-Zawadi came to Canada with five children, $20 in her pocket and a huge dream.

---

December 1, 2008 Symposium will help shape future

A national symposium about faith in the Canadian context is being proposed by the Vision 2019 Planning Task Force as one way of engaging Anglicans across the country to “help shape the mission priorities” of the Anglican Church of Canada for 2010 to 2019.

---

December 1, 2008 Despite tough economic times, bishops say they need to meet

The house of bishops has expressed concern about cutting one of its meetings in the triennium because of General Synod’s budgetary constraints, and said it would look for “creative ways” to find funds to finance such a meeting.

---

December 1, 2008 Dioceses consider next steps towards same-sex blessings

Bishops from four dioceses emerged from the house of bishops meeting in October struggling with how to proceed with plans to introduce same-sex blessings in their dioceses.

---

December 1, 2008 New indigenous province proposed

The Governance Working Group (GWG) is proposing the creation of a new ecclesiastical province that would allow the Anglican Church of Canada’s indigenous members to govern themselves and achieve “self-determination, jurisdiction and authority.”

---

December 1, 2008 Majority of bishops endorse moratoria

The Canadian house of bishops on Oct. 31 said a “large majority” of its members could affirm “a continued commitment to the greatest extent possible” to a moratorium on the blessing of same-sex unions but also recognized that this would pose difficulty for some dioceses “that in conscience have made decisions on these matters.”

---

November 6, 2008 Diocese of Niagara bishop calls for rite for same-sex blessing

The bishop of the diocese of Niagara, Michael Bird, on Nov. 6 said he intends to follow in the footsteps of two other bishops in the Anglican Church of Canada who have informed their synods about their intention to develop a rite that would allow the blessing of same-gender couples who have been civilly married.

---

November 1, 2008 Algoma elects Andrews as new bishop

The diocese of Algoma on Oct. 2 elected Rev. Stephen Andrews, who is General Synod prolocutor, as its new bishop. Bishop-elect Andrews, who is president and vice-chancellor of Thorneloe University in Sudbury, Ont., was elected on...

---