April 1, 2007 Blessings vote to be decided by resolution

Sexuality issues, including whether dioceses may decide for themselves whether to allow the blessing of same-sex unions, will be decided by General Synod through resolutions requiring the approval of a 60 per cent majority of the members of the order of bishops, laity and clergy or 60 per cent of dioceses if a vote by diocese is requested, the Council of General Synod (CoGS) has decided.

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April 1, 2007 ‘Beloved’ Arctic missionary and broadcaster to receive top honour

Two Anglicans – a priest who has devoted more than 50 years as a cleric and volunteer in the Arctic and a popular broadcaster – were among those recently named to the Order of Canada.

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April 1, 2007 Priest to lose licence over same-sex marriage stance

Rev. Shawn Sanford Beck, an Anglican priest in the diocese of Saskatoon, was to lose his licence to minister after March 31 if he did not reconsider his declaration that he intends to marry gay couples, if asked, said diocesan bishop Rodney Andrews.

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April 1, 2007 Synod set to re-examine same-sex blessings

The most intense issue on General Synod’s agenda is expected to be, once again, the church’s view of homosexuality.

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April 1, 2007 Negotiations underway to save bookstore

Lutheran church bookseller Augsburg Fortress Canada is negotiating to take over the operations of the Anglican Book Centre, a move that would allow the Anglican retailer’s storefront operation in Toronto to remain open.

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April 1, 2007 Iranian refugee now a free man

In two days in mid-February, Amir Kazemian, an Iranian refugee who had spent nearly three years living in sanctuary at an Anglican church in Vancouver, went from being a detainee to a free man and permanent resident in Canada.

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April 1, 2007 Appeal results to be released in June

The Anglican Church of Canada’s flagship fundraiser, the Anglican Appeal, will be releasing 2006 figures later this year than usual, as part of the church’s overall audited financial statement.

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April 1, 2007 Evangelicals transform Christian unity in Canada

The increasing political influence of evangelical Christians in Canada is changing the face of Christian unity here. More than half the members of the Canadian legislature belonging to Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative Party are evangelical Christians, according to an article published in Walrus magazine, a Toronto-based magazine.

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April 1, 2007 A bit of comfort

Anglican Church Women groups in the diocese of Ontario have created dozens of hand-knitted Comfort Dolls for the International Community for the Relief of Suffering and Starvation (ICROSS). A humanitarian organization, ICROSS...

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April 1, 2007 Five lay people honoured with Award of Merit

Five individuals will receive the Anglican Award of Merit, the Anglican Church of Canada’s highest award for lay people; the honour is given to those who have contributed to the life and work of the church at the national and international level.

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