Dear Friends
A (Compass) Rose by any other Name …
We are now officially “The Anglican Church of Southern Africa” (ACSA). This historic decision was ratified at a meeting of Provincial Synod held in early September. Gone into history is the more confusing name by which we have been known for close on 200 years: “The Church of the Province of Southern Africa” (CPSA). We remain closely aligned with the worldwide Anglican Communion, and committed to seeking unity within this diverse global community.
New rules for Election
At the same Provincial Synod meeting, further decisions of historic significance were passed in regard to the election of the Archbishop of Cape Town. Significantly, the electoral base of the wider Anglican Church in Southern Africa in the election of the Archbishop is dramatically increased, removing the control that the Diocese of Cape Town has previously had in the elective process (the recent division of the Diocese of Cape Town into three separate Diocese has also had an impact). The new rules recognise the increased ambassadorial role of the Archbishop, and allow the Suffragan Bishop of Cape Town greater powers of responsibility in helping govern that Diocese. Our present Archbishop, Njongonkulu Ndungane, has announced that he will retire during 2008. The new Archbishop will be elected during 2007 and will serve in a co-adjutor position until the office becomes fully his/hers during 2008.
Forging a Real-World Faith
I have just picked up Gordon MacDonald’s book “Forging a Real-World Faith” for a second time. This book had a profound impact on my world-view and faith-perspective five or six or so years ago. Gordon’s words in the introduction are profound:
“Real world: a paradox in words, for in the strictest sense the word world describes our global space, its peoples, and its natural systems. It’s a limited place, and reality is not limited. To a person who believes the Bible, reality expands far beyond the world, far beyond the limits of the universe, to a place called Heaven whose boundaries and dimensions boggle the mind. But that’s also reality.
So I did what poets often do. I created my own word – real-world – and I assigned three dimension of reality to it. First is the place the Bible calls Heaven where the Everlasting God, Creator of everything, dwells. The second dimension is the inner space of the human being with all its darkness and its potential beauty. And the third dimension is the streets upon which we live out our lives as we work, play, love, and struggle.”
These three dimensions are all real. So often we are tempted to consider real only that which we can see, touch and hear. Gordon challenges us to expand our perspective, and to discover a renewed, more whole, experience of God: to allow the spiritual dimension of our life to be as real as the physical, the emotional as real as the rational.
Giving & Receiving
Our focus on Stewardship has given us some important reminders of the principles that underlie our Christian lifestyles. We’ve been reminded of the importance of Trust, Submission, First-Fruits. All of these are difficult to practice, and I much appreciated Kevin & Diane MacGregor’s testimony to their personal journey in this regard during our services on Sunday 17 September. I value their courage in making themselves and their family vulnerable before us, and before God.
It seems that in practise it is so much easier to give, than to receive. I am personally struggling with our inability as a community to receive. To be specific, it is our unwillingness to make our needs known to each other. We have our “Good Samaritan” Group who are really keen to be of service to us, but have little or no opportunity. When Mary offered to organise meals for us when Dawn was in hospital, my immediate reaction was, “Don’t worry, we’ll be fine!” It took a major effort to say, “No, actually that will be wonderful, thank you!” and it was truly a blessing to come home in the evenings to a cooked meal. But it was VERY hard to accept the help offered, to admit that I (and we as a family) needed help from others. It was also a great blessing.
While I rejoice at the abundance of giving we experience at Corpus Christi, it is important that in addition to stewarding our resources, gifts, talents and time, we need to begin to steward our need as well. It is perhaps a greater sin to hoard our need than it is to hoard our wealth, because we disable others who desire to serve and help us. Expressing our need is not weakness, it is strength.
Leadership
Please take seriously my request (in last month’s newsletter) that you interact in the process of electing Churchwardens and Councillors for 2007. Those we elect need to be representative of our parish on every level, and only your participation can help this happen.
Blessings
Mark
A (Compass) Rose by any other Name …
We are now officially “The Anglican Church of Southern Africa” (ACSA). This historic decision was ratified at a meeting of Provincial Synod held in early September. Gone into history is the more confusing name by which we have been known for close on 200 years: “The Church of the Province of Southern Africa” (CPSA). We remain closely aligned with the worldwide Anglican Communion, and committed to seeking unity within this diverse global community.
New rules for Election
At the same Provincial Synod meeting, further decisions of historic significance were passed in regard to the election of the Archbishop of Cape Town. Significantly, the electoral base of the wider Anglican Church in Southern Africa in the election of the Archbishop is dramatically increased, removing the control that the Diocese of Cape Town has previously had in the elective process (the recent division of the Diocese of Cape Town into three separate Diocese has also had an impact). The new rules recognise the increased ambassadorial role of the Archbishop, and allow the Suffragan Bishop of Cape Town greater powers of responsibility in helping govern that Diocese. Our present Archbishop, Njongonkulu Ndungane, has announced that he will retire during 2008. The new Archbishop will be elected during 2007 and will serve in a co-adjutor position until the office becomes fully his/hers during 2008.
Forging a Real-World Faith
I have just picked up Gordon MacDonald’s book “Forging a Real-World Faith” for a second time. This book had a profound impact on my world-view and faith-perspective five or six or so years ago. Gordon’s words in the introduction are profound:
“Real world: a paradox in words, for in the strictest sense the word world describes our global space, its peoples, and its natural systems. It’s a limited place, and reality is not limited. To a person who believes the Bible, reality expands far beyond the world, far beyond the limits of the universe, to a place called Heaven whose boundaries and dimensions boggle the mind. But that’s also reality.
So I did what poets often do. I created my own word – real-world – and I assigned three dimension of reality to it. First is the place the Bible calls Heaven where the Everlasting God, Creator of everything, dwells. The second dimension is the inner space of the human being with all its darkness and its potential beauty. And the third dimension is the streets upon which we live out our lives as we work, play, love, and struggle.”
These three dimensions are all real. So often we are tempted to consider real only that which we can see, touch and hear. Gordon challenges us to expand our perspective, and to discover a renewed, more whole, experience of God: to allow the spiritual dimension of our life to be as real as the physical, the emotional as real as the rational.
Giving & Receiving
Our focus on Stewardship has given us some important reminders of the principles that underlie our Christian lifestyles. We’ve been reminded of the importance of Trust, Submission, First-Fruits. All of these are difficult to practice, and I much appreciated Kevin & Diane MacGregor’s testimony to their personal journey in this regard during our services on Sunday 17 September. I value their courage in making themselves and their family vulnerable before us, and before God.
It seems that in practise it is so much easier to give, than to receive. I am personally struggling with our inability as a community to receive. To be specific, it is our unwillingness to make our needs known to each other. We have our “Good Samaritan” Group who are really keen to be of service to us, but have little or no opportunity. When Mary offered to organise meals for us when Dawn was in hospital, my immediate reaction was, “Don’t worry, we’ll be fine!” It took a major effort to say, “No, actually that will be wonderful, thank you!” and it was truly a blessing to come home in the evenings to a cooked meal. But it was VERY hard to accept the help offered, to admit that I (and we as a family) needed help from others. It was also a great blessing.
While I rejoice at the abundance of giving we experience at Corpus Christi, it is important that in addition to stewarding our resources, gifts, talents and time, we need to begin to steward our need as well. It is perhaps a greater sin to hoard our need than it is to hoard our wealth, because we disable others who desire to serve and help us. Expressing our need is not weakness, it is strength.
Leadership
Please take seriously my request (in last month’s newsletter) that you interact in the process of electing Churchwardens and Councillors for 2007. Those we elect need to be representative of our parish on every level, and only your participation can help this happen.
Blessings
Mark
