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Des changements radicaux nécessaires pour le Québec

I just read about the state of the Anglican Diocese of Quebec, and its inevitable disappearance unless it changes radically. It was past the comments deadline so I'm writing here.

I would imagine that the best strategy for the future is to develop a lively French language TV show, with services, and to start an educational campaign in French on the formation of house churches, with people encouraged gather to pray and follow services on TV or the Internet, with a priest or two available to visit house churches once or twice a year. It might even make sense to offer priesthood preparation this way, so that some house churches would have a priest. It would not make sense for these house churches to aim to take on the financial burdens of a church building. Church icons in the form of roll up wall and window hangings could be made available for helping to create a church atmosphere that is inexpensive and mobile. In fact some different hangings could go up according to the liturgical year while others are always displayed. creating such an art form could well appeal to Quebecois.

I realize that this house church/TV/Internet strategy would not appeal to current congregations but may well win new parishioners who want Catholic services but with a broad theology that allows for women and gay priests and equality.

Just a thought.

John McGrath
Unaffiliated, but Grace Church or All saints on occasion
Providence, RI, USA
9 February 2015

To God, from the gods

Concerning last week's letter and question by your 'troll' - I have always treasured a comment made years ago by Michael Green. At the time, 1975, I was a young student at the University of Cape Town and he had come out from the UK to lead a campus-wide Mission. When challenged about the way in which the church uses pagan practices he said something like 'The Church has always baptised paganism.'

Frank Nelson
St Peter's Cathedral
Adelaide, South Australia.
dean@stpeters-cathedral.org.au
9 February 2015

I think I can feel an irregular verb coming on

I adhere to sound teaching
You have been led astray
He is a pagan

Some Christians seem to have an 'us and them' mentality, which tries to reinforce their faith by emphasising the difference between them (the 'saved') and members of other religions or none. Unfortunately it is not uncommon for 'them' to be extended to other Christians who do not possess a sufficiently rigorous attitude to John 3.16.

It is hard to believe that God wants to spend eternity in the company of just a few hard-line fundamentalists, but what do I know?

Thanks for the interesting link about time.

Michael Leuty
St Peter's Church, Nottingham
Nottingham, UK
9 February 2015

I just read your last front page letter, still on that subject with a little addition. I found out from the scriptures that some of our doctrines are either man made, borrowed from either Judaism or of pagan origin.

We placed boundary on Holy Communion, while Christ Jesus never commanded such but to all that believe in Him. Confirmation or laying on hands of a bishop is alien to the epistle, we also restrict those not married in the church but professing Christians and also Christians not affiliated to Anglicanism. We make a ritual of it while it is not.

2. In Marriage ceremony, most anglicans in Nigeria are been forced to celebrate two or three marriage ceremonies just because they are Christians: the African traditional wedding, court wedding and church wedding. Is a big burden.

3. The organized Priesthood, it is alien to the act of the apostles and epistles, it is borrowed. And this practiced has robbed congragants closeness to GOD.

4. Sabbath day, we insist Sunday is the sabbath day for Christians, and must be kept holy, but it is not, it is borrowed from Judaism.

5. Lent, Christian fasting period cannot be found in the act of the apostles, it is borrowed. Also, some of our festivals like Christmas, Easter, child dedication/churching, and again, confirmation.

6. Our church design, clothes and colours cannot also be traced to the Acts of Apostles or the Epistles. We no longer offer animal or human sacrifices, why copy their altar? These are just my observation.

Olubob Ezekiel
St. Peters Anglican church, Abule-egba, Diocese of Lagos West
lagos, nigeria
adeolubob@gmail.com
9 February 2015

(Editor: While we find some of the biblical and historical arguments in this letter to be questionable, we found it interesting enough to be considered for publication)

Thank you for your thoughts about time. It was an unexpected inspiration for my sermon. An alternate sense of time and the Transfiguration seem to go together!

Carlton Kelley
St. Paul's Episcopal
Dowagiac, Michigan
frcarltonstpauls@yahoo.com
9 February 2015

     (Editor: Glad it was useful. If you have a text, send us a copy).

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