The Bishop's Charge 2004

To the 160th Synod of the Diocese of Huron

Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 16th 2004

Part I
We gather together as the family of God in that part of God’s vineyard known as the Diocese of Huron to share in this sacred meal and to be fed with the Body and Blood of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

We gather together as lay and ordained leaders to be the Church, to equip ourselves for ministry and to make decisions which will allow us to move forward from strength to strength.

We gather together in this beautiful and historic Cathedral to thank God for the past. In this place in July of 1857 the clergy and laity of the newly formed Diocese of Huron elected their first bishop – the first election of a bishop by a Synod in the Anglican Communion. Planning is well underway to celebrate our 150th anniversary in 2007 and the activities and programs will allow us the opportunity of giving thanks to God.

As we think of the Diocese, this Cathedral, your Cathedral - as one example - has a glorious history.
- The first resident clergyperson in this city, during a cholera epidemic, held a vigil at Blackfriar’s Bridge warning and preventing those who wished to visit.
- Food was distributed on this site during several famines in the early and mid 1800’s and continues to be distributed to the needy today.
- The first school for black children in Canada was erected on this site prior to emancipation and the establishment of the public education system as we know it today.
Much more could be said of every community in the diocese as the faithful live out their discipleship.

Today we gather as society undergoes a transformation, and the Church, in the midst of society, is experiencing tremendous change. The changes in the agricultural industry and depopulation of our rural areas are having a tremendous impact on the viability of many of our congregations. We have beautiful and historic Churches from the 19th century positioned in communities far different than when they were built. This is immobilizing for some as they use so much of their energy and resources to care for the fabric or physical plant. In many areas that are experiencing tremendous growth, we often lack the resources to establish new congregations.

We also gather to hear God’s Word and listen to God speak to us through the Holy Scriptures. In tonight’s readings we have heard and learned that God is patient; that there is a vision and it will surely come; that God is sovereign and we need not fear; that God is acting and will act. Centuries before the Word was made flesh, that little known prophet Habakkuk heard God’s Word and wrote:

“Write the vision; ……
For there is still a vision for the appointed time;….
If it seems to tarry, wait for it;
It will surely come, it will not delay.”
(Habakkuk 2:2-4)

One of the most affectionate letters we have from Paul, that great apostle and evangelist, was addressed to the Christians in Philippi. We might call Paul a Church planter and the congregation in Philippi the first congregation he established on European soil. He writes:

“I am confident of this, that the one who began a
good work among you will bring it to completion….”
(Philippians 1:6)

God has begun good work in Huron and God will bring it to completion. How will this be accomplished? How will the Church follow Jesus Christ and serve Him? In our Gospel reading, Matthew says we will inherit the Kingdom prepared for us for:

“Truly I tell you, just as you did
it to one of the least of these who are members of
my family, you did it to me.”
(Matthew 25:40)

Through God’s Word we are energized, encouraged, and made hopeful. We continue to commemorate Our Lord’s resurrection and the gift of life. Our Lord died and in dying rose from the dead so that we also might learn to die so that we may have new life. In these extraordinary times, I believe Jesus is calling us to allow some of the things we hold dear and take for granted to die; so that we might rise up to be the Church for tomorrow. I believe we are called to a time of visioning, a time of strategic planning, a time of imagining. As we consider our current resources; human, physical and financial; we will give thanks and want to use our resources in new and life giving ways to proclaim God’s love for the world. We are called to be intentional, creative, and innovative as we prepare to do ministry in the future. This was affirmed by Diocesan Council at the end of February and a Committee has been working hard these past few months and will lead us in a conversation tomorrow about how we can move forward. Imagine Huron….. let us Imagine Huron.

Let us not only Imagine Huron but let us begin by listening to the words of Our Risen Lord. We have been enjoying and reflecting this Easter Season on Our Lord’s Resurrection appearances, and from the Acts of the Apostles on the experiences of the early Church.

One of my favourite Resurrection stories comes from the Gospel of St. John. Peter decided to go fishing and six other disciples joined him. As fishermen know, often one catches nothing. But at daybreak the risen Jesus, acting in history, helps the disciples discover they are fishing in the wrong place and to cast the net on the other side of the boat. We need to discern where we are not catching any fish and to follow Our Lord’s directions and in so doing the net will be full. After a breakfast of cooked fish and bread and in the midst of their tiredness, Jesus says to Simon Peter, “Do you love me more than these?”. More than these! More than what? Is Jesus asking Peter if he loves Him more than his home, more than his possessions (a boat, nets, etc.), more than his friends and even more than himself? That question from living Scripture is before us now. For the risen Jesus is amongst us and asking us perhaps the most difficult question we could ever be asked. Members of the family of Huron, do you love me more than you love your buildings, more than you love your possessions as parishes and congregations, more than you love your organizational structure, do you love me more than you love yourselves? I hope and pray that our faith in Jesus Christ and our love of Jesus Christ will enable us to answer clearly and with conviction:

“Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” . As with
Peter, Jesus’ final words to us will be, “Follow me.”.

Each of us individually, and our diocese corporately, will, by following Jesus, see into the future and share our hopes and dreams. In a visioning exercise last fall, I was asked to write a few words about what I hope the diocese might look like in five years and I quote:

In five years, because of our energized and passionate
lay and clergy leaders and spirit filled faith communities,
our diocese will have discerned its mission to the
wider community. Our growing understanding of
individual and community needs and a commitment to
address the same has positioned the Church as a
leader in helping persons in our villages, towns and
cities achieve their potential and be all that God has
created and called them to be. The Gospel’s
imperative, “to do unto the least who are
members of my family” (as we heard in tonight’s
Gospel) and to proclaim the Good News is being
lived out.

Let us Imagine Huron! Albert Einstein, that great scientist and philosopher once said: “Imagination is more important than knowledge”. Imagination is the ability to form mental images of what is not actually present. Another way of saying that is:

Imagination is the ability to create new images or ideas by combining previous experiences. Can we as a diocesan family celebrate our previous experiences, create new models of ministry based on those experiences and as we implement the same, follow Our Lord into the future?

- Imagine Huron where committed and passionate lay and clergy leaders energize the baptized.

- Imagine Huron’s membership in southwestern
Ontario placing their resources, (time, talent and treasure) in God’s hands for the building up of the Kingdom.

- Imagine Huron’s vibrant and exciting worship attracting newcomers.

- Imagine Huron where our support for those
in need is enhanced and expanded.

- Imagine Huron where organizational structures serve the needs of tomorrow’s Church.

- Imagine Huron’s membership declaring that they love Jesus more than anything else and being prepared to look at our existing resources and where changes need to be made.

- Imagine Huron where disciples are made.


- Imagine Huron where the Church is growing and expanding.

- Imagine Huron where God’s children act out of hope and not fear.
My sisters and brothers, I invite you to Imagine Huron, where………….

Part II
A. Shortly we will adjourn today’s opening sessions of our 160th Synod and we will reconvene tomorrow and Tuesday at the London Convention Centre. I want to express our welcome to Dr. Tim Sedgwick and thank him for taking time to be with us. Dr. Sedgwick is a faculty member of the Virginia Theological Seminary and he will speak tomorrow morning and afternoon and will be more formally introduced at that time. His
presentations will help us have some insight into today’s Church and the world in which we live as we seek to Imagine Huron. Tomorrow night we will welcome Bishop Ann Tottenham as our Synod Banquet Speaker. Ten days ago she was awarded a Doctor of Divinity Degree (honoris causa) from our own Huron University College. On Tuesday morning The Reverend Dr. Doug Leighton will help us understand more of Huron’s history as we move from one generation to another.

We will have presentations on our Companion Diocese, on Evangelism, the newly formed Bishop’s Youth Ministry Council, Huron Hunger Fund, The Settlement Fund, Our 150th Anniversary Committee, Huron GraceWorks, Huron Church Camp, Fresh Start, Imagine Huron, Ad Hawk, Wellness Committee and Safe Church Committee. As Synod is the “parliament” of our diocese we will examine some of our Constitution and Canons and look to make changes in order to more fully govern our corporate life in this 21st Century.

B. Later this month, May 28th to June 4th, the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada, which meets every three years, will convene at Brock University in St. Catherine’s, Ontario. At this Synod a new Primate will be elected. Please pray for:

The Right Reverend Ronald Ferris, Bishop of Algoma
The Most Reverend Andrew Hutchison, Archbishop of Montreal
The Right Reverend Caleb Lawrence, Bishop of Moosonee
The Right Reverend Victoria Matthews, Bishop of Edmonton
who have consented to have their names placed before the Synod; and please pray for the clergy and laity who will choose, that their discernment and prayer will raise up a leader for our Church.

We pray for the General Synod and all its work – the difficult issues to be discussed, the decisions to be made – that Our Lord’s Will will be done and Our Lord’s Kingdom will be enhanced and expanded.

C. Awards and Announcements:
i) I wish to announce the appointment of The Rev’d Canon Peter Townshend as Archdeacon of Waterloo effective June 1st. Archdeacon designate Townshend will be collated on Tuesday June 15th at 7:00 p.m. in The Church of the Holy Saviour, Waterloo.

ii) We are blessed with many capable and experienced clergy who live out their baptismal ministry as ordained leaders in our many congregations. Tonight I am announcing the appointment of The Rev’d Mario Hryniewicz as a Canon of the Cathedral Chapter of Canons.

iii) We are truly blessed with thousands of lay members throughout our diocese. In the last several years we have acknowledged over 110 with the Bishop’s Award for Excellence in Ministry. There are some, however, who not only work to do ministry at the local level but who use their gifts at the diocesan and National level and impact the wider Church. In this context I wish to award the Order of Huron to:

- Mrs. Nina Burnham of Six Nations Parish
- Mr. Harry Dykstra of Trinity Church, Bayfield
- Mr. Gordon Haggert of St. Barnabas, Windsor
- Mr. Ray Hinton of St. Mark by the Lake, St. Clair Beach
- Mrs. Betty McLeod of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London
- Mr. Joe Wooden of St. John by the Lake, Grand Bend

We have gathered in Eucharistic fellowship tonight and we have been fed and nourished in this sacred meal. May our commitment to follow Our Lord enable us to faithfully be the Church in our generation.

Glory to God, whose power,
Working in us, can do infinitely
More than we can ask or imagine.
Glory to God from generation to generation,
in the Church and in Christ Jesus,
for ever and ever. Amen.

The Right Reverend Bruce H.W. Howe
11th Bishop of Huron
May 16th , 2004