EDMONTON – At the end of April, eleven clergy and lay members of the Anglican Church of Canada gathered at Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre in Cochrane. The group considered proposals for renewal of the Anglican Church of Canada’s baptism materials to meet the needs of the 21st century church. The project is funded by a grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. The audience for the work includes parents and sponsors who are new to the Anglican Church of Canada, whether they come from other countries or from ecclesial traditions with different practices and understandings of baptism. The need for updated resources has emerged as many churches welcome Christians from diverse backgrounds. Participants in the working group represent six dioceses and all four ecclesiastical provinces; the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples (ACIP); the Council of the North; the Francophone community in Québec; and The Episcopal Church (USA). Six of the eleven members who were born outside of Canada bring perspectives from Africa, the Caribbean and the United States.
The team reviewed and provided feedback on draft liturgies, including a Cree Anglican Baptismal Liturgy with a decolonizing Thanksgiving over the Water, and a Rite of Acknowledgment of Baptism for a Stillborn Child. Once they are finalized, these liturgies will be brought forward for approval. The Rite of Acknowledgment will go to the Faith, Worship and Ministry Coordinating Committee for recommendation to the November meeting of the Council of General Synod. The Cree liturgy will be presented to ACIP at their meeting in October.
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