Some ACC laity profiles

Vice Chair
Professor George Koshy (Church of South India)
General Secretary of the Church of South India, elected vice-chairman of the ACC in 2002, member of World Council of Churches.

The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand & Polynesia
Dr Anthony Fitchett
In 2005, asked the standing committee to consider specified rights of the lay members. Under the resolution, the Standing Committee would examine circumstance when it would be appropriate to vote by orders; clarifies the use of secret ballots and majorities other than a simple majority; examines means to persuade primates to send lay people in those instances where a province sends only one delegate to ACC; considers whether the chair of vice-chair shall be one clerical and one lay; provide a meeting of lay members early in each ACC gathering.

The Anglican Church of Australia
Mr Robert Fordham
In 2005, elected to the Inter-Anglican Finance and Administrative Committee. An accountant. He was a Member of the Parliament of Victoria for twenty-two years and held five Ministerial portfolios including Education and Industry, Technology and Resources. He was Deputy Premier from 1982 to 1989. While Minister for Education he was awarded the inaugural gold medal of the Australian Council for Educational Administration, in recognition of his own and his Department’s contribution to the reform and restructure of State education in Victoria. Chairman of board of a water authority and a winery.

Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil
Professor Joanildo Burity
Political scientist. Resides in Recife.

The Anglican Church of Canada
Ms Suzanne Lawson
Received a lifetime achievement award from the International Association for Volunteer Administration. Suzanne Lawson is a seasoned professional executive in the Canadian and international voluntary sector. She has held a variety of positions in the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, was Executive Director of Ontario’s Arthritis Society, Executive Director of Program for The Anglican Church of Canada, Executive Director for the ALS Society of Canada (known often as Lou Gehrig’s disease), and Director of Volunteer Resources for Toronto’s Sick Children’s Hospital. She took an active role in the leadership of the Canadian Government’s Voluntary Sector Initiative. Article in Integrity newsletter, Toronto.

The Church of the Province of Central Africa
Mr Daniel Taolo
Attended the 3rd Global South encounter.

Iglesia Anglicana de la Region Central de America
Miss Maria Elizabeth Barahona Flores
We do not know if she is related to the primate of Central America, whose last name is Barahona. Ms Lisbeth Barahona Flores of the Anglican Peace and Justice Network spoke on “Gender, trade, and entrepreneurship.” She also attended the UN Commission on the Status of Women, Anglican Women’s Forum.

The Church of England
Canon Elizabeth Paver
Retired school principal. On the ACC standing committee. Did not feel that the HoB had responded adequately to the requests of the Dar es Salaam communique. Signed letter of support for Bp Iker in 2007.

The Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean
Dr Michel Razafiarivony
Madagascar ethnologist, I think.

The Church of Ireland
Miss Kate Turner
Runs a non-government organization for conflict resolution in Ireland. In 2005, protested the primates request to suspent TEC and the AcoC delegates from the ACC meeting. Attended the Ianternational Anglican Women’s Network, consultation of African anglican women.

The Anglican Church of Kenya
Mr Amos Kirani Kiriro
No information found.

La Iglesia Anglicana de Mexico
Miss Sarai Osnaya-Jimenez
No information found in English.

The Church of the Province of Myanmar (Burma)
Dr San Myat Shwe
?Related to Rev Dr Mahn San Si Htay, previous ACC member.

The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion)
Mr Abraham Yisa
Barrister. Registrar of the Church of Nigeria. Chairman of the CANA board of trustees.

The Church of North India (United)
Mr Kalyan Peterson – alternate member
Honorary treasurer of CNI. Formerly Associate General Secretary of the ISPCK.

Hebrews 13:20-21 (New International Version)
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

A heartfelt confession

At Northern Plains Anglicans. May all of us intercessors come before God in humility.

Luke 3:15-22

Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, (Luke 3:15)
      Holy Spirit, please give us expectation and hope about what you will do among us.

John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Luke 3:16)
      Jesus, please baptize us all with your Holy Spirit and with fire.

“His winnowing fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly clean out his threshing floor, and gather the wheat into his barn; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” (Luke 3:17)
      Jesus, please come soon and thoroughly clean out the church and gather your faithful ones to yourself.

And with many other exhortations he preached to the people. (Luke 3:18 )
      Father, help us hear and respond to the exhortations of your witnesses.

But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison. (Luke 3:19-20)
      Jesus, rebuke those who call evil good and good evil.

When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while he prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are my beloved son; in you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:21-22)
      Father, thank you for opening a way to heaven for us through your son Jesus. Let your Holy Spirit come on us daily so that we know we have been adopted by you and can call you, “Abba, Father.” Thank you.

      A word received: Pray for my people — pray they will be set free from deception. Pray for new hope for my people — pray they will put their hope and trust in me. Pray for a spirit of generosity to flow through the diocese. Pray that my people will be generous with their time and talents and resources. Pray that they will be wells of living water overflowing with my Spirit. Pray for a generous outflow of my Spirit throughout the diocese.

Friday: 16, 17; Daniel 3:1-18; 1 John 3:1-10; Luke 3:15-22
Saturday: 20, 21:1-7(8-14); Daniel 3:19-30; 1 John 3:11-18; Luke 4:1-13

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Pray for the Diocesan Convention that it will be a threshing floor of the Holy Spirit.

Albany Intercessor

An Easter Prayer: born anew to a living hope

Almighty and everlasting God, through the death and resurrection of your Son you have proclaimed to us the gospel of peace. Grant that by the power of his resurrection we may be born anew to a living hope, and so overcome the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

(K.B. Ritter, Gebete fur das Jahr der Kirche, 2nd ed. Kassel: Johannes Stauda-Verlag, 1948, p. 144)

From Eric Swensson’s blog “Awakenings”

A Serbian Easter Poem: Christ is Risen and Brings the Joy!

People rejoice, nations hear:
Christ is risen, and brings the joy!
Stars dance, mountains sing:
Christ is risen, and brings the joy!
Forests murmur, winds hum:
Christ is risen, and brings the joy!
Seas bow*, animals roar:
Christ is risen, and brings the joy!
Bees swarm, and the birds sing:
Christ is risen, and brings the joy!

Angels stand, triple the song:
Christ is risen, and brings the joy!
Sky humble yourself, and elevate the earth:
Christ is risen, and brings the joy!
Bells chime, and tell to all:
Christ is risen, and brings the joy!
Glory to You God, everything is possible to You,
Christ is risen, and brings the joy!

– St. Nikolai Velimirovich

From Glory to God in All Things, where there is a YouTube clip of this.

Collect for a church convention

Meeting this weekend are the diocese of Western Michigan and the Province I synod.

Almighty and everlasting Father, who hast given the Holy Spirit to abide with us for ever: Bless, we beseech thee, with his grace and presence, the bishops and other clergy and the laity here (or now, or soon to be) assembled in thy Name, that thy Church, being preserved in true faith and godly discipline, may fulfill all the mind of him who loved it and gave himself for it, thy Son Jesus Christ our Savior; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Pray for the Communion Partners bishops

I confess I’ve not yet read the full statement posted at the ACI and signed by 11 or more of the “Communion Partners” bishops.  But from what I’ve skimmed of the blogs this morning and seen of the hostile reaction from TEC’s progressive wing  (see: here, here, and here for starters) leads me to believe that commenter TJMcMahon at Stand Firm is right.  The bishops that signed this statement need our prayers.  Here’s what TJ wrote:

We do need to pray for the men who signed this. Whether we are in TEC or out, they need our prayers and our support. They have done something bold in defense of the Church.  Reading the list serve and some of the blogs, there are those out there who are literally trying to raise the fires of hell against these bishops and priests.

It may be that the last battle for the soul of the Episcopal Church has begun.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

A good reminder and exhortation.  So let’s be in prayer.  May I suggest the compilation of Scripture-based prayers for our leaders that I compiled a number of years ago?  It gives prayers straight out of Scripture.

Here is a list of the bishops who signed the ACI document on the Polity of the Episcopal Church:

The Right Reverend  James M. Adams, Jr  (Bishop of Western Kansas)

The Right Reverend Peter H. Beckwith (Bishop of Springfield)

The Right Reverend William C. Frey (Assisting Bishop of Rio Grande; Retired Bishop of Colorado)

The Right Reverend Alden M. Hathaway (Retired Bishop of Pittsburgh)

The Right Reverend John W. Howe (Bishop of Central Florida)

The Right Reverend Russell E. Jacobus (Bishop of Fond du Lac)

The Right Reverend Paul E. Lambert (Bishop Suffragan of Dallas)

The Right Reverend Mark J. Lawrence (Bishop of South Carolina)

The Right Reverend Edward S. Little II (Bishop of Northern Indiana)

The Right Reverend William H. Love (Bishop of Albany)

The Right Reverend D. Bruce MacPherson (Bishop of Western Louisiana)

The Right Reverend Edward L. Salmon, Jr. (Retired Bishop of South Carolina)

The Right Reverend Michael G. Smith (Bishop of North Dakota)

The Right Reverend James M. Stanton (Bishop of Dallas)

The Right Reverend Don A. Wimberly (Bishop of Texas)

Also Endorsed By:

The Reverend Canon Professor Christopher Seitz

The Reverend Dr. Philip Turner

The Reverend Dr. Ephraim Radner

Pray for the election of a new Primate for Kenya

The Anglican Church of Kenya will be electing a new Primate on Friday.  Here are some of the details:

The next head of the Anglican Church in Kenya will be known on Friday when the 150-member electoral college elects the archbishop of Nairobi.

“There is minimal contact allowed between the bishop and the person nominating them and the church does not allow for campaigns,” he said. Bishop Dena said the next archbishop must be a holder of at least a Masters degree in theology, be 45-60 years in age, be a well-known spiritual leader, development-oriented and have been a bishop for at least five years.

The college members — a diocesan bishop, two priests and two lay persons from each of the 30 dioceses — will gather at the All Saints’ Cathedral in Nairobi at 9am to elect, by secret ballot, the man to replace Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi.

The candidate will be installed and enthroned, the Anglicans say, as the head of the 4.5 million member church in a grand ceremony on July 5.

No campaigns

A public relations officer at the church’s headquarters on Wednesday said that the preparations for perhaps the biggest event in the church’s calendar this year are going on well. But church leaders declined to give reporters interviews “for fear that their remarks could work for or against one of the four candidates”.

In the contest are Maseno West bishop Joseph Otieno Wasonga, Kitale bishop Stephen Kewasis, Taita bishop Samuel Mwaluda and Bungoma bishop Eliud Wabukala. In an interview on Monday, the church’s equivalent of a secretary-general, Bishop Lawrence Dena said no direct campaigns were allowed and tomorrow’s election is considered a mere formality as the “head has already been identified by God”.

Read the whole article here.

Lord, go before the leaders of the Province of Kenya, with your most gracious favour, and guide them with your continual help, that in all their works begun, continued and ended in you, [and in the election of a new Primate], that they may glorify your holy name, and finally by your mercy receive everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Thanks to Kendall Harmon for the heads up on this news, it had not been on my radar screen at all.  (Maybe Jill knew of this, however. She’s the one who keeps track of events for our prayer calendar.)

Easter Quotes: God’s Stunning Victory

The proclamation of the cross sounds like folly to many,
when in fact it is God’s wisdom.
What looks like powerlessness is God’s power.
What sounds like a tragedy is stunning victory.
The death that looks so shameful has established God’s honor.
What appears as a cause to mourn is a cause for inexpressible joy.
God has triumphed in the cross of Jesus, and we share the triumph with him.

- Michael Bird, Introducing Paul: The Man, His Mission and His Message, 113

From Trevin Wax’s Kingdom People blog, a blog I’m really glad I bookmarked back in Advent.  It’s become a favorite.

An Easter Prayer by Brother Roger of Taize: If You Were Not Risen

I found the prayer below posted at Beauty from Chaos and posted the link shortly after Easter, but did not post the prayer itself that day due to great busyness and a lousy internet connection.  I’ve added the artwork and a short reflection.

***

Art Credit

If you were not risen,
Lord Christ, to whom would we go
to discover a radiance
of the face of God?

If you were not risen,
we would not be together
seeking your communion.
We would not find in your presence
forgiveness,
wellspring of a new beginning.

If you were not risen,
where would we draw the energy
for following you
right to the end of our existence,
for choosing you again and anew?

– Brother Roger of Taize

Lord Jesus, remind us daily of the truth of Your resurrection that we might live in its fullness, and that we might wonder afresh at and experience the amazing truth of the fact that Your resurrection power is real and at work every day in the lives of each of us who has been baptized into Your death & resurrection!

Eph 1:18-21
18    I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
19    and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,
20    which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
21    far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Rom 8:10-11
10    But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.
11    And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

Luke 3:2b-9

the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. (Luke 3:2b)
      Holy Father, let your word come to us.

And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, (Luke 3:3)
      Holy Spirit, help all of us receive your word and go forth throughout this diocese calling people to repentance for the remission of their sins.

as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the lord; make his paths straight. (Luke 3:4)
      Jesus, we ask your blessing on all those who are called to be witnesses where they are alone: bless them with the fellowship of your Holy Spirit.

Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth; (Luke 3:5)
      Jesus, transform the landscape of our lives — make the rough places plain and level out the hills and valleys of our lives so that we can go forward in you.

And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” (Luke 3:6)
      Lord, we pray for all those whose hearts are not yet won to you that they will see and receive your salvation.

Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. (Luke 3:7-8 )
      Holy Spirit, please help us be doers of the word and not hearers only.

And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Luke 3:9)
      Father, protect us and this diocese from the wrath of evil persons and restore your church, let new life spring forth from it by the power of your Holy Spirit. Thank you.

      A word received: Pray for my people who are distracted by the things of the world and of the flesh. Pray they will turn their eyes back on me and seek my help to overcome temptation. Pray for a new birth, a new baptism in my Spirit for my wandering people. Pray they will be restored to me and be made whole once again.

Thursday: 18:1-20; Daniel 2:31-49; 1 John 2:18-29; Luke 3:1-14
Friday: 16, 17; Daniel 3:1-18; 1 John 3:1-10; Luke 3:15-22

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Pray for the Diocesan Convention that we will have good weather.

Albany Intercessor

Collect for the unity of the church

The Anglican Consultative Council will meet May 1-13.

Almighty Father, whose blessed Son before his passion prayed for his disciples that they might be one, even as thou and he are one: Grant that thy Church, being bound together in love and obedience to thee, may be united in one body by the one Spirit, that the world may believe in him whom thou
didst send, the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

PRAYER TABLE REPORT

(Weds., April 22, 2009; 1-1:30 p.m., in front of Christ Church, Schenectady; Deacon Alan Hart and Soon-To-Be-Deacon Scott Underhill.)

a–indicates anointed with Holy Oil.
t–indicates received a wooden cross made by Dennis Adams of North Carolina.
c–indicates received a Christ Church info card.

MOSES and BLANCHE — Young couple passing by stopped at the woman’s insistence (Moses was reluctant, but agreed.) Blanche said we have prayed for her alone here in the past and wanted prayers … “For US!”) She said Moses is the man she asked for prayers about in a recent stop at the Table.

JOE — Was going to pass by at first, but stopped and suggested we pray for “President Obama.” We prayed that our new president will be led by our Lord to make the best decisions he can to benefit the many people who are in need.

QUINN — This older man stopped by on his way from having just attended church service at St. Joseph’s. We prayed for his general well-being and that God will show Quinn signs today that He is working in his life.

t,c,a — DENISE — This young woman riding a bicycle saw the Table and stopped for prayer that she will soon conceive a child. We prayed that God will grant this woman her prayer if He deems it His will for her, and if so that she will be safe and protected throughout her term.

(A man on his way to work) — Pleasant man walking briskly past told us “Thanks!” but did not have time to stop.

Albany Intercessor

50 ideas for celebrating the 50 days of Easter

This is a must-read and bookmark resource for those wanting to truly celebrate the entire 50 day season of Easter:  Celebrate Easter’s 50 Days.  [Note: there are also some Pentecost celebration ideas included in the list of 50 ideas.]  It is very family-focused and perhaps the best such list I have seen.

Here are some of my favorites:

6. Add an “alleluia” song—or three alleluias—to your grace before meals.

8. Make a poster of a life-giving cross. Add paper flowers and leaves to it throughout Easter.  [Karen suggests: maybe each day add something you are thankful for about the cross, some sin that the Lord has conquered in your life, or some promise God has given that we know is sealed and true because of Christ's resurrection.]

10. Keep fresh flowers around.

13. Talk about baptism. Tell stories of family members’ baptisms.

28. If your family likes to sing and play instruments, have people over for a musical Easter celebration.

Thanks to Amy at Splendour of the Ordinary for the link!

Easter around the blogosphere: Celebrating the Easter Season and Being Transformed

As I’ve written about several times, I’ve been glad to find a number of other bloggers who have a strong desire to celebrate the full 50 days of Easter this year.  Here is a round up of links to and excerpts from a few blog entries I’ve found helpful and encouraging over the past 10 days.  A few links are repeats (last week I posted a few links but included no excerpts).  Let me know in the comments if any of you readers have found helpful ideas and encouragement to help you celebrate all 50 days of Easter.  — Karen

***

1. Christine Sine, at Godspace, has two relevant and challenging posts:

What have we done with Jesus?

Easter Sunday is over.  Jesus is risen but what have we done about it?  How have our lives changed because of the life giving presence of Christ?  How many of us are still sitting at the empty tomb with Mary weeping because we are worried about what has happened to the dead body rather than focusing on how to encounter the risen Christ in our lives?  Or perhaps like Peter we have gone back to our pre Christ encounter jobs totally unchanged by all that Jesus has said and done.  …

If we really believed that Christ’s resurrection meant that the world was changed and that his resurrection life now flows in us too surely we would live very differently.  We would live by the law of God’s love

Also, there is Christine’s Christ is Risen – Let’s Celebrate! which I’ve linked previously, and her Easter Season Guide.

***

2.  Tara, at the Story-Formed blog, has a beautiful illustrated post Doors (which includes one of the prayers we’ve posted here at L&B, but also a great Easter poem written by Steve Taylor at EmergentKiwi about Christ “the Door-Kicker”).

Tara also has a MUST-READ blog entry: “Practice Resurrection”, where she writes (emphasis is mine)

I was challenged and encouraged by a post by Splendor in the Ordinary about Wendell Berry’s poem that ends with the words “Practice resurrection”.  I like those words – practice resurrection.  It reminds me I don’t have to have it all together or do something so spectacular, but I just need to practice…everyday.  In her post, Amy shared a list of things that a group of students came up with to “practice resurrection” during these 50 days of Easter.  I came up with my own list at the bottom of this post, and I wonder what it would be like if all serious followers of Jesus came up with a specific list of “practices” for the next 50 days and set about doing them.

As we practice resurrection, would those around us sit and enjoy the cascading actions?  Would they see the beauty of God’s story?  Would they feel “spring” in their lives and taste the sweetness of new life?  It seems to me that, like my cherry blossom petals, these resurrection practices are small graces.  They swirl and dance wherever the current of the wind takes them.  Alone, the small choices we make as individuals to practice resurrection may seem insignificant, but altogether?  Well that is a different story.  Because all together, as Easter people choosing to practice resurrection, our choices just might blanket the world.

So…I don’t think I am going to sweep the petals off my deck any time soon.  I am going to let them linger; I am going to run my toes through them; I am going to bask in their beauty; And I am going to let them whisper their Easter song:  “Practice Resurrection”!!

***

Just after Easter,  Amy at Splendor in the Ordinary encouraged her readers to Practice Resurrection (It was Amy who inspired Tara’s post at Story-Formed quoted above.)  She then followed up that post with a post on gardening: Gathering Fruit in which she wrote something that has profoundly shaped my thinking as to what this Easter season should be about for me:

Now that Easter season is here it is good to enjoy the fruits of the labor of Lent. Not that prayer and penitence end but I have found that the seasons of the church year are much like the season in nature: there are necessary times of dormancy and husbandry which bear forth into growth and harvest.

Rather than the more sober Lenten practices seeking God, we’ve been spending time enjoying the blessings of His earth, gathering in the fruits of discipline and husbandry.

I need to spend time these next weeks in actively choosing to gather together the truths the Lord has been wanting me to learn during Lent.  I sense there’s a lot the Lord’s been trying to teach me that I haven’t really grabbed a hold of, that there’s fruit the Lord wants me to be enjoying but that it’s still hidden – I’ve not been looking for it.   In what ways is the Lord challenging others of you to “gather the fruits” of your Lenten disciplines?

Finally, on Monday, Amy wrote a third follow up post “More on Celebrating Easter Season.”   She talked about how her church congregation renewed their baptismal vows and wrote:

In light of thoughts on Easter, I was struck by the relation of baptism and Jesus’ Resurrection:

Grant, O Lord, that all who are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ your Son may live in the power of his resurrection and look for him to come again in glory; who lives and reigns now and for ever. Amen. (BCP 1979)

How am I, as a baptized believer, living in the power of the resurrection each day?

(Emphasis mine.) That is indeed the Easter question for each of us!

Amy also included a link to a great resource to help us Celebrate Easter’s 50 Days, which I’ll be posting as a stand-alone blog entry.  Make sure you check it out.  It’s got some really good ideas.

***

May the Lord help each of us to keep encouraging one another to live in the truth and joy of Christ’s resurrection during these 50 days.

Hmmmm… Maybe we should write a new hymn based on that Lenten standby Lord, who throughout these 40 days :

Lord, who throughout these forty days
For us didst fast and pray,
Teach us with Thee to mourn our sins
And close by Thee to stay. …

What would we write for an Easter Hymn:  Lord throughout these FIFTY days?  What did the Lord accomplish in his post-resurrection appearances during those weeks?  What is He wanting us to learn from this 50 day season between Easter Sunday and Pentecost?

(posted by Karen B.)