The names of those who will make the requested presentation from the Anglican Church of Canada at the Nottingham meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council have been published. Unlike the American case, the information comes from an official press release:
Anglican Church announces ‘presenters’ to Anglican Consultative Council
As well as the four presenters, Archbishop Andrew Hutchison, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, has announced that he will attend at least part of the meeting of the Consultative Council in Nottingham, Eng., the week of June 19…
The Canadian presenters to this special hearing will be:
- The Very Rev. Peter Elliott, Dean of Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver and prolocutor of General Synod.
- Canon Robert Falby, Chancellor and lay canon of the Diocese of Toronto and a member of General Synod;
- The Rev. Dr. Stephen Andrews, President and Vice-Chancellor of Thorneloe University, member of General Synod for the Diocese of Algoma and a member of the Primate’s Theological Commission;
- Ms. Maria Jane Highway, a member of the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous partner to General Synod from the Diocese of Brandon and a member of the Faith, Worship and Ministry Committee of General Synod.
Godspeed, Canadians.
Though I know nothing of these individuals personally (of course I know nothing: I’m a Yank! *g*), including a First Nations’ person (particularly in the context of conversing with the Global South) would seem an inspired choice.
As a Canadian, I see this as a very strong and balanced team. Dean Elliott is a gay man in a partnered relationship. Mr. Falby has been guiding the Diocese of Toronto as it deals with the issue, and I assume is in favor of same-sex blessings. Dr. Andrews is moderate to conservative, and a highly regarded theologian within the Canadian church. I don’t know about Ms. Highway, but at General Synod there were indigenous voices against same-sex blessings for cultural reasons, and I assume she represents that perspective. Certainly the team is composed with a view towards dialogue.
I note that both the ECUSA and Canadian elected delegations to the ACC include women who are bishops. It seems a pattern might be set here; if the US and Canadian churches remain semi-excluded from Anglican international bodies, will the representation of women be set back a decade or more? Is it possible that Lambeth 2008 could see no women attending?
Re Peter’s query, “It seems a pattern might be set here; if the US and Canadian churches remain semi-excluded from Anglican international bodies, will the representation of women be set back a decade or more?” I am trying hard to avoid falling prey to conspiracy theories (which seem to be so widespread on all sides these days)! But if in fact it is the case that the US and Canadian churches are excluded from the international bodies of the Anglican Communion, then I think there will be setbacks in the cause of women’s orders. It appears to me that many… Read more »