TAP: Hopeful vision in difficult times
IN 2005 TWO IMPORTANT events took place in my life: I started proofreading for The Anglican Planet and my youngest daughter was born. These events are always together in my mind since I was going into labour the day we needed to go to press with one of our early issues, and Sue and Pete convinced me to get the files back to them before heading to the hospital.
Fifteen years later TAP is going strong (so is my daughter) and I’m honoured to take on the role of Interim General Editor. I look forward to steering the ship during this time of transition, now that Pete Molloy has settled in England.
I am not a cradle Anglican, having grown up in the Pentecostal movement, with time spent in the Mennonite and Lutheran traditions, and finally Anglicanism for the past 16 years. I am married to an Anglican priest, and our family has served in the Dioceses of Saskatchewan and Ontario. I am a layperson, and not a theologian, but perhaps a keen “inside observer” of Canadian Anglicanism.
Since 2014 more and more of my professional life has been taken up with working for entities within the Anglican Church of Canada. I was blessed to spend several years doing Communications work for the Council of the North, and gained a broader understanding of the Church through my work with bishops and clergy across the country and across the theological spectrum. I learned about the challenges facing Anglican ministry in the North, but also experienced the strength and beauty of this sacrificial work.
Then in 2017 I was appointed National Director of Anglican Communion Alliance, a position I continue to hold. ACA is one of the successors to Anglican Essentials Canada and represents theological conservatives that have remained within the Anglican Church of Canada. I also serve on the International Steering Committee of the Communion Partners.
The last few decades have been a particularly difficult time for orthodox Anglicans in Canada. On whichever side of the realignment question you find yourself, you have felt the pain of this situation. Many are experiencing alienation, particularly those who serve in remote areas, or in dioceses in which there are few like-minded people.
Add to this the events of General Synod in 2016 and 2019. There is much for which to be thankful (the growing strength of the Indigenous Church and the Marriage Canon remaining unchanged would be at the top of my list); however, there is also a sense of sorrow and betrayal. The process of discernment in which we participated was summarily dropped when the vote on the Canon was defeated, and many leaders have relied on deeply flawed reasoning in order to adopt a “local option” for same-sex marriage. There is great concern about what this will mean for the unity and integrity of the Church in future matters of doctrine.
In all of this, I believe that The Anglican Planet has a more-important-than-ever role to play in Canadian Anglicanism, as a source of unity and encouragement.
Since our inception TAP has done excellent work – on the most shoestring of shoestring budgets – providing news, analysis, inspiring feature stories and the best of Anglican theological reflection, all with an independent editorial policy. We have top-notch writers and thinkers from both the Anglican Church of Canada and the Anglican Network in Canada, drawing from the Evangelical, Anglo-Catholic and Charismatic streams in the Church. And we are your window into the worldwide Anglican Communion!
We try to do three things. First, we root ourselves in the best of the Anglican tradition. Through our Anglican Mind section, we dig deeply into Scripture and look to theologians past and present to see what they would say to us in our current context.
Second, we look to see what God the Holy Spirit is doing in our world today. Our Features section highlights innovative ministry initiatives in the Church.
Third, TAP works hard to paint a hopeful vision for the future of Anglicanism around the world. We bring the best Anglican thinkers into the homes of everyday Christians.
In this interim before the appointment of a permanent General Editor, I hope to build on this strong foundation. My goals are modest but clear: I want to help TAP gain a better financial footing, and I want to draw in even more of the best Anglican thinkers – both writers and advisors. As a start, over the next few issues, you can expect this editorial space to be filled with guest editorials so that you can hear from key leaders from both the Anglican Church of Canada and the Anglican Network.
Would you like to have a part in this renewed effort? Throughout the Fall, I have been engaged in various discussions about the financial framework of The Anglican Planet. We have our challenges, to be sure, as do all print media, but I am very confident about the future. I am not shy about saying that we are producing an excellent newspaper that informs, enlightens and inspires Canadian Anglicans. If you find this to be true, please consider a subscription – either individual or parish-based. If you already subscribe, would you consider a gift subscription or a donation? Benefactors would be most welcome.
You can donate online at www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/st-peter-publications-inc (please designate “Anglican Planet Project” in the message box) or by phone or email (below).
To subscribe, please contact our Administrator, Mrs. Anne Chisholm, who will gladly accept payment by credit card or cheque.
• By phone: 902-368-8442
• By mail: The Anglican Planet Office, 11 All Souls’ Lane,
Charlottetown PE, C1A 1P9
• By email: anglicanplanet@gmail.com
As part of our revitalization, I also invite you to write to us at anglicanplanet@gmail.com to share your encouragement, ideas or critiques of our work. We welcome Anglican news and features from the diocesan, national and international Church and try to make some space for local Anglican news as well. Please be in touch if you would like to join us in this venture (but do query us first before making any submissions). And remember to visit us online at www.anglicanplanet.net or www.facebook.com/anglicanplanet.
With a grateful heart for your faithful readership, support and prayer,
Sharon Dewey Hetke
