In late 2023, CBC Radio cancelled its long-running program Tapestry after host Mary Hynes announced her retirement. The weekly radio show focused on spirituality and religion—one of Canada’s last remaining religious programs in English-language secular media. The post Decline of religious journalism in secular media inspires new approaches appeared first on Anglican Journal ..read more

As I write this in late March, I’m mindful that we recently passed t the fourth anniversary of the start of the lockdowns due to the pandemic. In March 2020 we were suddenly confined to our homes, shocked at the speed with which COVID-19 caused chaos. We wondered whether the church would survive being unable to gather in person. The post Joy in small steps! appeared first on Anglican Journal ..read more

Archbishop Linda Nicholls, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, says she intends to write Ottawa on medical assistance in dying (MAID)—one of a slate of MAID-related actions Council of General Synod (CoGS) approved at a special online session March 9. The post Primate to write Ottawa about MAID expansion plan appeared first on Anglican Journal ..read more

Many people suffered like Mary during the especially isolating early period of the pandemic. And, according to some mental-health professionals, many could also benefit from the community, support, and sometimes even counselling resources churches can provide. With the public system struggling to affordably meet the nation’s needs for mental health care services, they say, faith organizations may be able to help ease the burden. The post ‘A space for people to be cared about’ appeared first on Anglican Journal ..read more

For some people, the answer to this question is straightforward: you shouldn’t. In the last generation, Anglicanism has fractured between, broadly, liberals and conservatives. The presenting issue has been the welcome the church offers to LGBTQ populations, but there are related issues of Scriptural interpretation, the role of women, and relationship to surrounding culture. The conflict has coincided with the rise of the internet and is set within the deeply rooted legacy of colonialism as well as the decline of church institutions in the Euro-Atlantic world and the shift of Christianity’s glo ..read more

Feather (prayer): Creator God, we the children of your creation stand humbled as your grace is revealed before us, in the change of seasons and the promise in your Word given. Forgive us as we have failed you and Creation by losing sight of you and straying from the good road. Grant us courage to meet this day with open hearts that we can speak truthfully and go forward with bravery, knowing that your guiding hand and strength are with us. Bless us that we might be a blessing to others. In Jesus we pray. Amen. The post A Pentecost prayer for courage and bravery appeared first on Anglican Journ ..read more

Leaders of the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) have called for an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an end to arms transfers to Israel in a series of statements and open letters to Canadian government officials, while also speaking out against a wave of antisemitism they said began with the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas. The post Primate, Lutheran head seek Gaza ceasefire, decry antisemitism appeared first on Anglican Journal ..read more

Sharp drop during pandemic: stats officer The COVID-19 pandemic saw a significant decline in church attendance, marking a “radical discontinuity” even with previous downward trends, the Anglican Church of Canada’s statistics officer says. Canon Neil Elliot presented data from 2022 diocesan returns in a January report sent to bishops and diocesan executive officers based on […] The post Membership decline steepens appeared first on Anglican Journal ..read more

Toronto police arrested nine interfaith climate activists, including an Anglican deacon, at a downtown Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) branch April 9 during a sit-in protest against the bank’s investment in fossil fuel projects. Members of the Faith and Climate Action Network (FCAN)—which includes various Christian denominations as well as Muslims—read a statement at the […] The post Interfaith climate activists arrested at RBC sit-in protest appeared first on Anglican Journal ..read more

Held as a wave of decolonization swept the former British Empire, the 1963 Toronto Anglican Congress proclaimed the commitment of the worldwide Anglican Communion to a new spirit of “mutual responsibility and interdependence” (MRI). More than 60 years later, however, many Anglican scholars say despite some progress, these hopes have not been achieved—with richer developed […] The post Decolonizing hopes emerged at 1963 Anglican Congress—but Global North still dominates Communion, MRI at 60 conference hears appeared first on Anglican Journal ..read more