Archbishop Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, paid a traditional call on Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams on Oct. 16. It is a tradition for new Anglican leaders of provinces to visit the archbishop, the titular head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, at his home in Lambeth Palace.

During their two-hour meeting, Archbishop Hiltz described the current state of the Anglican Church of Canada, particularly after the national meeting, General Synod, this past June. He spoke about the issue of human sexuality, and explained the diocese of Ottawa’s decision to approve blessings of same-sex unions. (The diocese of Montreal, which later passed a similar motion, had not yet met).

Archbishop Williams appeared receptive to the Canadian church’s actions. "He described our approach to handling the whole matter as ‘coherent,’" said Archbishop Hiltz. "We also, in that conversation, focused on the pastoral statement of the bishops and the kind of value that has for the church."

The two also discussed ecumenical relations, and the Archbishop of Canterbury was interested to hear about the continued development of the Full Communion relationship between the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

Archbishop Hiltz made several other stops during his five-day trip. He visited the Anglican Communion Office, where he spoke with Deputy General Secretary Gregory Cameron, and Philip Groves, facilitator of the listening process around the human sexuality issue for the Anglican Communion. He shared a meal with the Primate of Ireland, Archbishop Alan Harper, and even gave a spontaneous presentation to Norwegian Lutheran students about Anglican-Lutheran relations in Canada.

Throughout these visits, Archbishop Hiltz heard encouraging feedback about how the Anglican Church of Canada is dealing with the issue of same-sex blessings.

"It’s always nice to hear someone like the Archbishop of Canterbury or from the Anglican Communion Office say you’re handling this coherently, cautiously, judiciously, and you’ve got some things I would hold up as a model for others to consider as they grapple with the issue," said Archbishop Hiltz. "Of course that’s very encouraging and I’m looking forward to sharing those kinds of reflections at the Council of General Synod and the House of Bishops. Because we need to hear that."

(Forwarded from ACC Web News.)
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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 174,555 baptized members in 620 congregations. It is a member of the Lutheran World Federation, the Canadian Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

For more information, please contact:
Trina Gallop, Manager of Communications
302-393 Portage Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 3H6
204.984.9172
tgallop@elcic.ca

Subscribe or unsubscribe to ELCIC Information by emailing info@elcic.ca with a short message.

The ELCIC’s Global Hunger and Development Appeal (GHDA) is collecting donations to assist with relief efforts in Uganda. It is estimated that tens of thousands of people in the region have been displaced by floods that have submerged whole villages.

Heavy torrential rains that started in mid-July have resulted in severe flooding throughout northern and eastern Uganda, specifically in the Amuria and Katakwi districts.

Designated funds received by GHDA will be sent on to Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) who is partnering with Action by Churches Together (ACT) International, a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide.

Staff from CLWR are in Uganda and currently assessing how Canadians can best aid in relief efforts being coordinated by ACT.

Immediate needs being addressed include supplying tarpaulins or plastic sheeting for shelter and for drying the few harvested food crops, blankets to provide warmth and mosquito nets to reduce the prevalence of malaria, relief food for the immediate food needs of especially vulnerable individuals and sanitation interventions in communities.

To support relief efforts in Uganda, donations can be made to GHDA–Uganda Flooding Appeal as follows:

– Via the ELCIC Website: www.elcic.ca (click on the "Donate Now" link)
– By mail: GHDA, 302-393 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3B 3H6 (please indicate "GHDA-Uganda Flooding Appeal" in the memo portion of the cheque)
– Through all GHDA Congregations

The ELCIC’s Global Hunger and Development Appeal (GHDA) works in partnership with Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) to carry out development and emergency response work internationally along with refugee resettlement in Canada.

—————————————————————–
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 174,555 baptized members in 620 congregations. It is a member of the Lutheran World Federation, the Canadian Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

For more information, please contact:
Trina Gallop, Manager of Communications
302-393 Portage Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 3H6
204.984.9172
tgallop@elcic.ca

Subscribe or unsubscribe to ELCIC Information by emailing info@elcic.ca with a short message.

Students of theology and young theologians are being invited by the World Council of Churches (WCC) to bring new perspectives and contributions to the debate about the future of the ecumenical movement by participating in an essay competition to mark the Council’s 60th anniversary.
Participants in the contest, both clergy and lay persons, are invited to address the theme “Making a Difference Together – Prospects for Ecumenism in the 21st Century”. The WCC expects to receive a significant number of quality essays reflecting on the theme from different church traditions, contexts and perspectives. The best six essays will be presented by their authors at an international consultation on the same theme to be held in Bossey, Switzerland, in late 2008. Other selected essays will be published by the WCC.

“There can be nothing better than fresh eyes when it comes to looking to the future,” says WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, commenting on the contest. “We hope young theologians and theology students from all over the world will grab this opportunity to bring some new, challenging perspectives to the attention of leading figures within the ecumenical movement,” he adds.

Essays should be written in English. However, they will be judged for the quality of their contribution and not their English language proficiency. With a length of between 5000 and 6000 words, the essays should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere. More details and a number of resource documents are available on the WCC website. The deadline is 28 February 2008.

The contest is part of the programme to commemorate the Council’s 60th anniversary in 2008. It will include a celebration at the 13-20 February 2008 meeting of the WCC central committee and the promotion of local celebrations through visits to member churches. Resources for common prayer, Bible study and celebration will be made available to congregations and groups on the WCC website in early 2008.

Formally inaugurated in Amsterdam in 1948, the World Council of Churches has been the churches’ primary instrument to promote the search for Christian unity and to foster common witness and service for sixty years. The Council enters the year of its 60th anniversary with a membership of 347 churches in more than 110 countries and territories. It represents some 560 million Christians.

More information (in English): http://www.oikoumene.org/contest

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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 174,555 baptized members in 620 congregations. It is a member of the Lutheran World Federation, the Canadian Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

For more information, please contact:
Trina Gallop, Manager of Communications
302-393 Portage Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 3H6
204.984.9172
tgallop@elcic.ca

Subscribe or unsubscribe to ELCIC Information by emailing info@elcic.ca with a short message.

Amid the roar of thunderous applause filling the sanctuary of Lutheran Church of the Cross, Winnipeg, Rev. Susan C. Johnson was acclaimed as the fourth National Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) on September 29, 2007.

"Receive Susan as a messenger of God, pray for her, stand with her in witness to Christ," said retiring Bishop Raymond L. Schultz, presiding at the service. "Receive her as a messenger of Christ," he continued, "a fellow servant in God’s everlasting household of peace. Thanks be to God!"

Over 300 people filled the church which is located in downtown Winnipeg’s. The service began with a lengthy and brightly coloured procession of vested clergy who were greeted with the hymn, Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty.

"This is the day the Lord has made," declared Archbishop Fred Hiltz of the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) as he delivered the sermon. "Let us rejoice and be glad in it!"

The newly installed Primate, who was also elected to his position in June at the ACC General Synod said he was, "humbled and honoured by the opportunity," to preach at the ordination and consecration service for Bishop Johnson. "I hope this marks the beginning of a long and happy relationship as partners in ministry. Called… not only to provide leadership in our respective churches but to call them, by our example, into yet Fuller Communion in the service of the Gospel and in the Spirit of Jesus who prays we all may be one, as he and the Father are one."

As part of the service, Bishop Johnson was presented with four signs of ministry.

Don and Lois Johnson, parents of Bishop Johnson, presented a Bible and asked her to, "remember to learn and live the Holy Scripture as a trustworthy steward of God’s holy mysteries."

Bishop Michael Pryse of the Eastern Synod, place a pectoral cross around the new bishop’s neck and called on her to remember her service to Christ, "crucified, risen and passionate for the life of the world."

Archbishop Hiltz presented the bishop’s staff and asked Bishop Johnson to remember that she shepherds, "Christ’s flock on behalf of God."

The bishop’s ring was presented by Dr. Joy Johnson, Bishop Johnson’s sister, who noted that the ring was a sign of her office and prayed that Bishop Johnson’s love, word and witness to the church would be God’s love, word and life for our time.

A full festival choir, complete with clarinet, oboe, flute, french horn, bassoon, and percussion accompanied the clearly celebratory hymns that were selected for the occasion. The hymns and songs were from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, the ELCIC’s new hymnal.

Breaking with the well-structured service, Bishop Johnson addressed those in attendance, thanking all who took part in the service for the joyous celebration as she declared that she will, "do all [she] can to move [the ELCIC] into the future."

The entire service was video-taped and it is hoped that a commemorative DVD (approximately 10 minutes in length) will be available for purchase. Further information will be forwarded once available.

A photo montage of the service is available on the Bishop’s Page on the ELCIC website: https://elcic.ca/From-the-Bishop/Ordination.cfm
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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 174,555 baptized members in 620 congregations. It is a member of the Lutheran World Federation, the Canadian Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

For more information, please contact:
Trina Gallop, Manager of Communications
302-393 Portage Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 3H6
204.984.9172
tgallop@elcic.ca

Subscribe or unsubscribe to ELCIC Information by emailing info@elcic.ca with a short message.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC)’s National Church Council (NCC) met in Winnipeg from September 27-29. The following is an overview of highlights from the third day of meetings:

NCC commenced on the third day of meetings at 9:00 a.m. with prayer and devotions.

The first report of the day was from Ruth Vince, Executive Director of the Evangelical Lutheran Women Inc. (ELW). Vince reported on recent focus groups that both her and Rev. Paul Gehrs, Assistant to the Bishop for Synodical Relations, have been conducting across the country. The focus groups encouraged participants to think about a way forward and consider what an organization might look like that is faith-based and the barriers to achieving that organization. Preliminary findings suggest that there is a desire for gatherings, biblical reflection and worship incorporating people of mixed groups and generations. An assessment of the feedback has taken place and Vince notes that the findings require, "further reflection to determine a way forward." Vince advised council that an advisory group will be established to use the assessment to look at models for the future that the ELW and ELCIC might consider feasible.

In addition, Vince noted that several significant budget cuts were made by the ELW board at its recent September meeting. The largest area of reduction is to staff salaries. Vince will be assessing staffing needs for 2008 and determining the appropriate cuts to staff time and salaries. Travel for Vince and the National ELW President, Betty St. Onge, have been immediately eliminated and no travel will be budgeted for these individuals in 2008. In addition, Vince noted that the ELW’s publication, Esprit, is also in a significant deficit position and requires ongoing subscription support.

Carlos Pena, Vice-President of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), brought greetings to council on behalf of Bishop Mark Hanson. Pena provided council with a brief synopsis of the ELCA’s 2007 Churchwide Assembly which took place in August in Chicago and resulted in the re-election of Bishop Hanson. In addition, the Assembly celebrated the 20th anniversary of the ELCA, introduced a new initiative titled "Book of Faith – Lutherans Read the Bible"- a five year initiative to promote the study of the Bible, adopted a Social Statement on Education, and called on the church to develop a strategy on HIV/AIDS.

The Rt. Rev. Colin Johnson, Bishop of Toronto of the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC), provided his reflections on the NCC meetings. This was his first NCC meeting as the Anglican Representative on council. Referring to a reading for St. Michael and All Angels (September 29), Johnson based his remarks on Revelation 12 reflecting on some the similar ‘dragons’ for the ELCIC and ACC. Johnson noted the importance of, "invest[ing] fear in something that is productive rather than protecting something that is inevitable." Council asked about whether there has been any feedback regarding recent changes at the ACC’s General Synod regarding Lutheran clergy now being eligible for election to Anglican Bishop positions. Johnson indicated that there have been some questions on this and noted that in the spirit of the Full Communion relationship between the two churches, an invitation was recently sent to Bishop Michael Pryse, ELCIC Bishop of the Eastern Synod, to request nominations for an election taking place in the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island (filling the vacancy which occured due to the Primate’s election).

The next meeting of NCC will take place March 5-8, 2008 in Winnipeg. Council will add on an additional day to the March 2008 meeting to accommodate time for work on visioning from the council level.

NCC meetings are also scheduled as follows:
September 11-13, 2008
March 5-7, 2009

Council adjourned at 12:00 noon.

—————————————————————–
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 174,555 baptized members in 620 congregations. It is a member of the Lutheran World Federation, the Canadian Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

For more information, please contact:
Trina Gallop, Manager of Communications
302-393 Portage Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 3H6
204.984.9172
tgallop@elcic.ca

Subscribe or unsubscribe to ELCIC Information by emailing info@elcic.ca with a short message.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC)’s National Church Council (NCC) is meeting in Winnipeg from September 27-29. The following is an overview of highlights from the second day of meetings:

NCC commenced on the second day of meetings at 9:00 a.m. with prayer and devotions on Romans 14:7-8.

The first item on the agenda for the day was a report from Group Services Inc (GSI). John Wolff, chair of the board for GSI, reported on the “slow and steady progress” of the solvency position of GSI. When GSI began their solvency funding strategies in 2003 there was a $16 million deficit; projections for 2007 estimate that number could be reduced to $10.5 million by the end of the year. “We’ve made some strides here,” notes Wolfe.

Council heard reports from the five ELCIC Synod Bishops; Rev. Roger Haugen, Assistant to the Bishop for the Saskatchewan Synod provided a report in Bishop Cindy Halmarson’s absence. Bishops share highlights and concerns for their respective synod and these reports are part of the Council’s environmental scan. Mission renewal is a focus in many synods with programs being developed to train both pastors and lay leaders. New models for ministry are being explored among the synods to address concerns arising from the increasing number of congregations that are holding worship services with an average number of 50 or less members.

The Report from the Office of the Bishop was presented. Since the report is sent to council members prior to the meeting, the time devoted to this item on the agenda is used to ask questions and address recommendations submitted in the report.

Rev. Ryan Andersen, Assistant to the Bishop for Stewardship in Public Life provided an update on the Task Force for Human Sexuality. An update of the Task Force is available on the ELCIC website at https://elcic.ca/Human-Sexuality/default.cfm .

The following appointments were ratified by the council: 

• Ms. Judy Kochendorfer; to serve on both the Anglican Church of Canada Council of General Synod (COGS) and the Joint Anglican Lutheran Commission
• Rev. Doug Reble; to serve on the Canadian Council of Churches governing board
• Rev. Dr. Allen Jorgenson; to serve on the Joint Anglican Lutheran Commission
• The re-appointment of Bishop Michael Pryse and Rev. Ilze Kuplens-Ewart; to serve on the Joint Anglican Lutheran Commission.

Council recessed for lunch at 12:00 noon and reconvened at 1:00 p.m.

Council received and passed a motion to recommend that the ELCIC proceed with the "Meeting our Muslim Neighbours" project to encourage and empower broad leadership, and provide resources that can be used by congregations to engage their Muslim neighbours in conversation.

Council heard reports from the Director of Finance and Administration, the Treasurer and the Audit committee.

Correspondence sent to the National Bishop, Officers of the Church and/or council was reviewed. Letters sent to the attention of council and the officers are distributed to NCC, along with correspondence sent to the National Bishop that is of value to the council.

A number of items regarding the 2007 National Convention were presented to the council. Minutes from the convention were approved with revisions. A report from the convention, including a summary evaluation of the 2007 National Convention was shared with council members. Council also reviewed a number of action items that came forward to council as a result of motions passed at convention.

Kathy Magnus, North American Regional Officer of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF), gave her report to council. LWF is currently going through a renewal process; Bishop Raymond Schultz is chair of the renewal committee. While there are only 80 staff in the Geneva head office, with over 5,000 LWF staff deployed in the field the positive impact of LWF is far-reaching.

Earlier this year, Magnus announced that she will be taking an early retirement at the end of 2007. Magnus thanked council members for their "accompaniment in this wonderful experience called The Lutheran World Federation. The ELCIC has been an absolutely critical partner." Magnus noted that a number of key ELCIC individuals are involved in significant positions within the LWF. "Thank you for the leadership you share through these people," Magnus told council.

Magnus also noted the significant financial commitment the ELCIC has made to The LWF. "You aren’t a very big church, [yet] you’ve made a significant, constant contribution to the global Lutheran family. Thank you for always being there and for always making this a priority."

National Bishop Susan C. Johnson noted how Magnus has become, "an integral part of the ELCIC’s life as a church." Of Magnus’ contribution to the ELCIC, Bishop Johnson said that Magnus helped the ELCIC, "claim the work of The LWF as our work and [has] shown us that 66 million Lutherans do make a difference." Council presented Magnus with a small gift of appreciation.

Council adjourned at 4:45 p.m. with devotions and prayer. Saturday’s agenda will include reports from Evangelical Lutheran Women Inc. (ELW) and partner reports from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Anglican Church of Canada. Council will adjourn prior to the Ordination and Installation Service for Bishop Johnson which will take place at 3:00 p.m. at Lutheran Church of the Cross in Winnipeg.

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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 174,555 baptized members in 620 congregations. It is a member of the Lutheran World Federation, the Canadian Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

For more information, please contact:
Trina Gallop, Manager of Communications
302-393 Portage Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 3H6
204.984.9172
tgallop@elcic.ca

Subscribe or unsubscribe to ELCIC Information by emailing info@elcic.ca with a short message.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC)’s National Church Council (NCC) is meeting in Winnipeg from September 27-29. The following is an overview of highlights from the first day of meetings:

The September meeting of NCC commenced with Opening Worship Service at 7:00 p.m. at Laureate’s Landing in Winnipeg, Manitoba. ELCIC National Bishop Susan C. Johnson delivered the sermon at Opening Worship. A copy of the sermon will be available on the Bishop’s page on the ELCIC website: https://elcic.ca/From-the-Bishop/default.cfm

The business session of NCC commenced at 8:00 p.m. This is the first full National Church Council meeting for National Bishop Susan C. Johnson since she was elected at the ELCIC National Convention in June. "Let me just say how much I am looking forward to working with you and to our partnership" noted Bishop Johnson in her opening remarks to council, "This is an exciting time for me."

NCC members were joined by Kathy Magnus, North American Officer of The Lutheran World Federation, Carlos Pena, Vice-President of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and The Rt. Rev. Colin Johnson, Bishop of Toronto of the Anglican Church of Canada. Synod Bishops are also in attendance at NCC meetings as advisory members. Bishop Cindy Halmarson of the Saskatchewan Synod is absent for this set of meetings as she is on a short medical leave.

Round-table introductory remarks were shared and the agenda for the meeting was approved. In addition, the NCC Minutes from the June 20 and 24, 2007 were approved by council.

The business session was adjourned for the day. Friday’s agenda will include reports from Group Services Inc, the Office of the Bishop, the Officers and the Director of Finance and Administration.

—————————————————————–
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 174,555 baptized members in 620 congregations. It is a member of the Lutheran World Federation, the Canadian Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

For more information, please contact:
Trina Gallop, Manager of Communications
302-393 Portage Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 3H6
204.984.9172
tgallop@elcic.ca

Subscribe or unsubscribe to ELCIC Information by emailing info@elcic.ca with a short message.

It was an accidental picnic that first got the Anglicans and Lutherans of Carman, Manitoba, together.

Lutheran pastor Jim Halmarson explained how 12 years ago the town double-booked the local park, so members of his congregation had to flip their burgers alongside the Anglicans. The afternoon of forced fellowship started a three-year process of closer relations, from joint worship services to eventually an amalgamated church, Grace St. John’s Anglican / Lutheran.

These unions develop gradually. In June, Canadian Anglicans and Lutherans deepened their Full Communion relationship when their two national meetings voted to allow ministers to hold offices in each other’s denominations.

"It would now be possible for a Lutheran to be elected an Anglican bishop, which would be interesting," said Alyson Barnett-Cowan, director of Faith, Worship, and Ministry for the Anglican General Synod.

Rev. Halmarson welcomed the news. "I think it gives us a diversity for discovering leadership at different levels," he said. He also thinks there’s a "good possibility" that a Lutheran bishop may be elected in an Anglican church (or vice versa) during his lifetime.

"It’s going to be the growing pain thing of just getting used to each other enough that we say, ‘yeah, this can happen.’ I think we’re at a time in the church when people are more open to some of these ideas."

At a Lutheran synod several years ago Rev. Halmarson asked if he could nominate an Anglican to be synodical bishop. The answer was "no," but today it would be "yes."

An ongoing process
The two denominations have been in a "full communion" relationship since 2001, when the Waterloo Declaration asserted their similarities and allowed interchangeability of clergy. Confirmations had already been mutually recognized since 1995.

The Waterloo Declaration didn’t address the question of clergy holding offices in the other denomination. "I think that the resolution [at General Synod 2007] grew out of the lived experience of clergy being able to serve in each other’s churches," said Rev. Barnett-Cowan. "Practical questions come up as the relationship is being lived into."

Rev. Barnett-Cowan and Archbishop Fred Hiltz, elected Primate at the June General Synod, have served on the Joint Anglican Lutheran Commission, as well as an international commission uniting Anglicans and Lutherans worldwide.

Every six years, as in 2007, the national meetings for Anglicans and Lutherans coincide. This year they celebrated a water-themed Anglican-Lutheran Day. Fellowship with the Lutherans was the main reason General Synod was held in Winnipeg this year.

More fellowship will take place on Sept. 29 at the ordination of the new Lutheran national bishop, Susan Johnson, in Winnipeg. Archbishop Hiltz, local Bishop Don Phillips of the diocese of Rupert’s Land, and Bishop Colin Johnson of Toronto, a member of the Joint Anglican-Lutheran Commission, will participate by laying hands on Bishop Johnson.

Living out full communion
At the grassroots church level, Anglican-Lutheran relationships have been developing organically-like at accidental picnics. No one is keeping track of exactly how many joint parishes there are across Canada, or how many Lutheran and Anglican ministers are serving in the other’s churches. The denominations are so closely bound that the term "ecumenical" isn’t even used.

Rev. Halmarson said his own Anglican-Lutheran background was mainly "circumstantial." His home church is St. Stephen’s and St. Bede, a Winnipeg church with a mixed Anglican and Lutheran congregation. Currently he serves at Christ Church Anglican in Saskatoon, and his wife is the Lutheran bishop of Saskatchewan.

He admits that her position influenced his choice to serve at an Anglican church. "I didn’t want my wife to be my boss everywhere," he laughs.

Rev. Halmarson has enjoyed working out the quirks of being Lutheran in an Anglican church. Parishioners have commented on his "Teutonic orderliness" but also the richness of the Lutheran confession and absolution.

Every day he drives by a Lutheran church to work. A hundred years ago the churches were divided by culture and language, but now Rev. Halmarson wonders, "does it make sense to have an Anglican and a Lutheran congregation a block away?"

Throughout his Anglican-Lutheran ministries he has enjoyed the process of meshing traditions. In Manitoba, he developed an Anglican-Lutheran confirmation liturgy with Bishop Don Phillips of Rupert’s Land. "Don and I sat down and rewrote the liturgy to represent some of the best of both traditions and the things that are common, and we worked hard at it. It was a fun process. It takes effort."

This sort of openness and creativity keeps the relationship flourishing. "I think we live comfortably within our traditions, and think that we’re going to lose if we come together," said Rev. Halmarson. "From my perspective the opposite is true, that we actually gain far more than we would lose. The most often stated phrase from Jesus is ‘do not fear.’"

(Forwarded from the Anglican Church of Canada.)

Read the Waterloo Declaration online:
https://elcic.ca/In-Convention/2001-Waterloo/The-Waterloo-Declaration/default.cfm

—————————————————————–
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 174,555 baptized members in 620 congregations. It is a member of the Lutheran World Federation, the Canadian Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

For more information, please contact:
Trina Gallop, Manager of Communications
302-393 Portage Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 3H6
204.984.9172
tgallop@elcic.ca

Subscribe or unsubscribe to ELCIC Information by emailing info@elcic.ca with a short message.

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) invites applications for the position of Regional Officer for North America. Reporting to the LWF Director for the Department of Mission and Development, this position is based in Chicago and is responsible for the coordination of regional and sub-regional activities initiated by member churches and the LWF departments and offices, processing of mission and communication projects from member churches and LWF representation in the region. View the full description online: https://elcic.ca/Leadership/Employment-Opportunities/Job-Postings.cfm

Note: the deadline for applications is October 15, 2007.

—————————————————————–
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 174,555 baptized members in 620 congregations. It is a member of the Lutheran World Federation, the Canadian Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

For more information, please contact:
Trina Gallop, Manager of Communications
302-393 Portage Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 3H6
204.984.9172
tgallop@elcic.ca

Subscribe or unsubscribe to ELCIC Information by emailing info@elcic.ca with a short message.

The ELCIC’s Global Hunger and Development Appeal is collecting donations to assist with ongoing relief efforts in Colombia. Since March 2007, continuous rains have plagued the region of Colombia affecting 600,00 Colombians and displacing more than 300 families.

Action By Churches Together (ACT) International along with The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Permanent Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CPDH) have been assisting with relief support to the municipalities of Arauca and Arauguita through food distribution, health care, sanitation and housing since July.

On August 8, ACT announced it has reassessed the situation and, "decided that LWF should reinforce its support to displaced families in the department of Arauca who are particularly vulnerable. Through funding support to this appeal, LWF with its partner CPDH plans to continue their relief intervention, which includes: i) the operation of community kitchens, ii) recreational activities for youths and iii) awareness activities on health and human rights."

Funds collected through GHDA will be forwarded on to Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) who partners with ACT.

To support relief efforts in Colombia, donations can be made to GHDA – Colombia Flooding Appeal as follows:

– Via the ELCIC Website: www.elcic.ca (click on the "Donate Now" link)
– By mail: GHDA, 302-393 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3B 3H6 (please indicate "GHDA-Colombia Flooding Appeal" in the memo portion of the cheque)
– Through all GHDA Congregations

The ELCIC’s Synod of Alberta and the Territories is the Companion Synod of Colombia.

The ELCIC’s Global Hunger and Development Appeal (GHDA) works in partnership with Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) to carry out development and emergency response work internationally along with refugee resettlement in Canada.

—————————————————————–
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 174,555 baptized members in 620 congregations. It is a member of the Lutheran World Federation, the Canadian Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

For more information, please contact:
Trina Gallop, Manager of Communications
302-393 Portage Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 3H6
204.984.9172
tgallop@elcic.ca

Subscribe or unsubscribe to ELCIC Information by emailing info@elcic.ca with a short message.