Diocese of Athabasca synod passes some interesting motions...

From their Diocesan website.  The stuff in brackets is their website headline for each item.

[The Synod of the Diocese of Athabasca is in communion with the ANiC and the Province of the Southern Cone.]

The Synod passed the following motion on the Friday evening sitting of their 51st. Synod:

Resolution # 2008-11 - BE IT RESOLVED that the Synod of the Diocese of Athabasca inform the parishes and the bishops who have joined the Anglican Network in Canada and the Province of the Southern Cone that we are in full communion with them.

[The Synod of the Diocese of Athabasca expresses it's displeasure with bishops from other dioceses.]

Resolution # 2008-12 - BE IT RESOLVED that the Synod of the Diocese of Athabasca express its dismay that bishops of dioceses have resorted to secular courts when parishes within those dioceses have found it necessary to align themselves with the Anglican Network in Canada and the Province of the Southern Cone. 

BACKGROUND/INFORMATION NOTES: By resorting to the civil courts so readily, the bishops of those dioceses where there are dissident parishes and clergy have displayed so visibly that, to them, the issue is power, not the will of God. None of these churches that have associated themselves to the ANiC and the Southern Cone have taken their decisions lightly. Also, all of these churches have by their decisions stayed within the Anglican Communion. Conflicts over property should be settled with prayerful negotiation considering the best interests for all parties involved.

More items from their Synod is available on their website.  They also addressed the hot button issue of abortion:

[The Synod of the Diocese of Athabasca brings the issue of abortion to the forefront...

The Synod passed the following two motions with huge majorities on the Friday afternoon sitting of their 51st. Synod:]

Resolution # 2008-9 - BE IT RESOLVED that this synod of the Diocese of Athabasca request that the issue of abortion be brought to the forefront within the Anglican Church of Canada by the Primate.

Resolution # 2008-10 - BE IT RESOLVED that this synod of the Diocese of Athabasca lobby the current Prime Minister of Canada, The Right Honorable Stephen Harper: the current Minister of Justice, Rob Nicholson and our Members of Parliament and the current Premier of Alberta, the Honorable Ed Stelmach and our members of the Legislative Assembly, to table effective legislation on abortion that protects the interest and well being of both the fetus and mother.

While I am away from the country, I won't have as much time to monitor the blog as I might like;  I suspect that there will be some strong reactions to these items.  So I would appeal for a continuation of what has a generally respectful tone among those who comment here.

Comments

[Peter]

Generally respectful tone? This is felix hominum, isn't it? :-)

Still, I think it's great - an orthodox diocese that actually stood up to be counted!

[Tom]

God bless them and praying that the ACoC will take this as a constructive rebuke & turn back to where they need to be.

[Susan]

Resolution # 2008-11 - BE IT RESOLVED that the Synod of the Diocese of Athabasca inform the parishes and the bishops who have joined the Anglican Network in Canada and the Province of the Southern Cone that we are in full communion with them.
I don't understand. Was there some suggestion that the Diocese of Athabasca wasn't in communion with the Province of the Southern Cone? So why was this motion made? Does this mean that ++Clarke would have no problem licensing Short+ or Packer+, for example, as priests in his Diocese? And if that is what it means, then whither General Synod Canon XIX which I understand to mean if your Bishop toasts you, you are supposed to be toast in the eyes of the entire House of Bishops. I suppose I am being really stupid or something. I just don't get it.

[alex]

Susan, I think the intent is to say that "even if other dioceses don't think .... (insert parish here) is not a real member of the Anglican Church because they are now part of the ANiC, we still think they are part of the Anglican Church". I have no idea how this will work out in real life, especially as you mention there are some apparent contradictions to other canons and synod decisions.

Perhaps it is like saying Quebec is a "Nation". What does that mean in practice? No idea, but it sounds nifty!

[Tom]

Did it really happen if not reported in the Anglican Journal? ;-)

[Susan]

I've emailed the Anglican Journal a few times when I've been astounded at the absence of some news item on their website and I've always had a quick response from the editor. The usual reason given for posting a story on ecclesiastical mittens or whatever instead of the real news story of the day is that they have only one reporter and don't work weekends.

[Laurie]

It is my understanding that all it means is that if anyone who enters into the Diocese of Athabasca from the Network, they must first ask permission. So if this is full communion? I quess it would be.

[John Matthews]

A resolution on abortion! What a refreshing change from that other issue conflicting us, but it seems to beg a very serious question: how can we ask our politicians to address this issue when we as Church are effectively pro-abortion? Our stance on this, going back I am told to the 70s or so, is one of pro-choice. In moral theology terms you can not be neutral on an issue such is this – if you are not prepared to condemn it your silence condones it.
So the first thing we should be doing is to ask our Synods to reopen this file.
“Physician, heal thyself.”