Canada news briefs: Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario

Raffles discouraged

Stick to craft fairs and auctions and avoid the raffles, Bishop Peter Mason of the Diocese of Ontario has advised the Anglican Church Women at their 32nd annual meeting in Kingston, Ont.

The ACW had asked the bishop to address the question of raffles, lotteries and ticket sales. Anglicans have a mission to set an example in society, Bishop Mason said. While it’s not the worst sin in the world to spend 25 cents on a ticket, its purchase breaks down the equation of good value for good work.

The bishop said the Canadian government’s lotteries have moved people to try to get as much as they can while giving as little as they can. He noted the Gospel says that to get good value for what one buys, one must give good value for what one sells. Lotteries support the opposite principle of trying to get something for nothing.

He encouraged the women to continue with craft work and auctions rather than raffles and reminded them God would not let them down.

Dialogue

Name was confusing

Anglican Houses has voted to change its name to LOFT Community Services. LOFT stands for Leap of Faith Toronto.

The 46-year-old charity says only the name will change; the organization will still follow the Gospel values of reaching out to the poor and disabled. It will still work with the diocese and speak at parishes.

Anglican Houses runs 11 programs from 31 residences and sites in the diocese. Its name has confused people, executive director Terry McCullum said. People confused it with the Anglican Church’s national office or believed its services were only for Anglicans, or that it was directly operated by the church. The name change may also make it easier to get financial support from people other than Anglicans.

Toronto Anglican

Bishop demonstrates

Just four days after his ordination as co-adjutor (assistant) bishop of Ottawa, Peter Coffin was a key spokesman at a June 28 vigil in front of the Supreme Court of Canada, held to offset a planned demonstration by U.S. anti-gay firebrand Rev. Fred Phelps of Kansas.

Mr. Phelps did not show up that day as planned to protest the court’s recent decision granting equal rights to gay and lesbian couples.

“Christian Scripture says that whether we be gays, straight or lesbians, God died for us because God loves us,” Bishop Coffin told demonstrators. People should talk to one another even though they have differing opinions on the issue, he said.

Mr. Phelps and a small band of his supporters did turn up in the capital in August but their demonstration attracted little notice.

Bishop Coffin will be installed as bishop of Ottawa on Oct. 17. Outgoing Bishop John Baycroft has been named Anglican ambassador to the Vatican.

Crosstalk