The Future of the Anglican Church in Canada

[George4JC]

Where do those within the Canadian Anglican Church see the national church within the next 10-20 years?
How spiritually strong and healthy will it be and how will it be viewed by the worldwide Anglican community and those of other Christian denominations?
Also why do you believe your viewpoints and, if you can, support your viewpoints with scriptural references.

[gtsecc]

My Bible makes no comment on the Canadian Church.
Does your zondervan have some such reference I am yet unaware of?

[AngCath]

The Anglican Church in Canada will progress as the Spirit inspires.
Other Anglicans will call them brethren. Christians of other denominations will hopefully do the same.
My Bible has nothing to say about the Canadian Church.

[George4JC]

Maybe I should redefine my question as to what changes do you believe and direction will the Canadian Anglican Church be making in the future and do you think such changes are positive as a whole for the health of the church.
For example, "but not exclusively" the same sex blessing and marriage issue.
I hear raffles and card playing as a form of fellowship seems to be becoming more and more acceptable by some within the church.

[gtsecc]

Maybe I should redefine my question as to what changes do you believe and direction will the Canadian Anglican Church be making in the future and do you think such changes are positive as a whole for the health of the church.
For example, "but not exclusively" the same sex blessing and marriage issue.
I hear raffles and card playing as a form of fellowship seems to be becoming more and more acceptable by some within the church.
Obviously that is bad.
The hope is that the Church rallies around the Eucharist.

[brightmorningstar]

The church isnt called to rally around the Eucharist any more than it is called to follow the gospel once delivered. (Galatians 1) The church is to make disciples teaching them to obey all Jesus taught and commnaded (Matthew 28) As to same-sex blessings that is a violation of a secondary sacrament, marriage. Its no use using the sacrament of the Eucharist to overide disobedience in the sacrament of marriage, the church is to uphold all sacraments and all of Christ's teaching ....


very good question George4JC

[higgs2]

Raffles and card playing? I hadn't heard of this being an issue.

[longhair75]

Raffles and card playing? I hadn't heard of this being an issue.
next they will start drinking wine..........

[pmcleanj]

Raffles and card playing? I hadn't heard of this being an issue.

Actually, it is quite a problem.

Since the drop-off in Family Values, with most members of the ACW being either wage-earners or salaried professionals, attendance at Thursday-afternoon tea-and-bridge socials has fallen off dramatically. In my great-grandmother's time, the ACW had a bridge afternoon at least monthly, and where there were avid players even weekly. And over a couple of rubbers they planned the future of the church. Great-grandmother of course played whist, not bridge -- bridge was too unrefined -- but being the Via Media the church didn't get into too many sectarian issues between the bridge players and the whist players.

Now-a-days, though, they're lucky to be able to get people out to a single aftenoon social, and that on a Saturday where they have to compete with soccer games and the farmer's market for attendance. And most young Anglicans in Canada don't even know how to play bridge.

The regular annual quilt-raffle is still going strong though, since they've moved to lap-quilted squares instead of frame-quilting. So I'd say the raffle isn't at as badly endangered as is the card-playing is.

[pmcleanj]

next they will start drinking wine..........
What, in the afternoon, while playing cards? Never!

It makes it too hard to count trump...

[gtsecc]

The church isnt called to rally around the Eucharist any more than it is called to follow the gospel once delivered. (Galatians 1) The church is to make disciples teaching them to obey all Jesus taught and commnaded (Matthew 28) As to same-sex blessings that is a violation of a secondary sacrament, marriage. Its no use using the sacrament of the Eucharist to overide disobedience in the sacrament of marriage, the church is to uphold all sacraments and all of Christ's teaching ....


very good question George4JC
You failed to get the fact that it is the people rallied around the Eucharist who gave us the NT, not the other way around.

[George4JC]

Don't some people view card playing and raffles,as harmless as it may appear,as a form of gambling?
Isn't gambling frowned upon in the bible?

Some make the argument against gambling as being a lack of faith in the Lord's ability to provide.
Others may say gambling denies the Lord by partaking in activies of chance which can be viewed as a form of denial in our Lord's ultimate involvement in our lives.
Also can't gambling be viewed as an act of coveting?

Where can a harmless game of cards or raffle lead someone who may be unknowingly predisposed to a gambling addiction?
Personally I know most of us would not have any problem with a friendly game of chance taking over our lives, but most will have to admit to know of someone who started out as social gamblers to becoming controlled by it.

1 Thessalonians 5 verse 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil

Also I have a question, Why don't as many church goers attend bible studies as those who attend these card games or raffles? (Just a personal observation from my locality)
I prefer fellowship in prayer and scripture over that of all other activities. I state this not to proclaim myself to be self righteous or to have a "holier than thou" attitude. I am but a lowly sinner. I simply get joy out of bible study based fellowship, but when I am exposed to this gambling based fellowship I am very uncomfortable.

Remember I do not mean to personally offend anyone. This is my viewpoint towards gambling.

[gtsecc]

Gambling is for people who are either delutional or poor at math, or both.

[AngCath]

Remember I do not mean to personally offend anyone. This is my viewpoint towards gambling

just my observation, but this seems to be the real intent behind this thread. if i am wrong, please forgive me.

[AngCath]

also, i'd try to remember that bible studies are, in the grand scheme of christian history, rather new and not necessarily a part of the christian walk.
not that i'm saying we shouldn't study scripture, but if we centered our lives around the Daily Office (which includes abundant exposure to scripture) and Mass on Sundays with the rest of our lives spent living in the world we'd be living in quite a biblical mannter.

[George4JC]

Two of my children play cards. I love my children, I hate gambling.

Again, just stating my viewpoint towards the activity of gambling.

[gtsecc]

Well, actually, it is not a book that the church originally intended for everyone to read unaided. I think you can make a case that many folks should not read the Bible by themselves. People doing this have done incredible destruction to the Church.