“Nobody likes to ask for money, but the Lord calls us to be bold!”, says Bishop David Parsons. There can be no doubt that God is doing something absolutely astonishing in The Arctic. This diocese covers over 3.4 million square kilometers, ministering, training, and spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ in 49 communities, most dotting the bays and inlets of the Arctic coast. Every … Continue reading The Winter is Over!
Most communities in the North have a Co-Op. A co-op is a group of people working together for the benefit of all its members and the wider community. Across the Arctic there are co-op grocery stores, hotels, insurance companies, and many other services. Many communities have a Hunters’ and Trappers’ Association, which is another sort of co-op that works together to benefit its’ members and the community. Continue reading “We’re a co-op!” Churches working together with a Mission
“It seems like no one knows what ‘Assessments’ are actually used for!” said Archdeacon Pryor to the Executive Committee at their meeting in November, “so that means we need to make a better system that makes sense for everyone.” Because the Diocese is a co-operative corporation with each parish as a member, there are many things that we can work together to accomplish better rather than each parish acting in an independent way. We need to better communicate that to our parishes, especially their vestries and wardens. Continue reading A New Approach to Diocesan Assessments
Back in 1963, Bishop Donald Marsh sent the material for a Church Hall to Puvirnituq (known to most as “POV”) via Roger Briggs in Great Whale River. This was in the days when ministers would receive buildings in pieces and have to figure out how to put them together! Continue reading Memories of Ministry in the North
“I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me: Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.” 1 Corinthians 15:3 (NLT) Our elders are a precious gift. Going right back to God calling Abraham to be the father of a great nation, the faith has been passed on from one generation to the next: … Continue reading Grant Funding allows Elders’ Stories of Faith to be kept alive
While 2021 was certainly hard on churches with extended closures and fewer opportunities for giving, God has blessed us richly as we work together to be good stewards, focusing our spending on growing the Kingdom and spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. Continue reading Called to be Good Stewards
It seems much of the southern church has accepted a mentality of decline. Leaders in some places put a positive spin on churches shrinking, as their version of planning for the future involves selling off property, laying off leaders, and giving up on the next generation. It shouldn’t be that way. “Just last week I had a call from 2 elders asking if we could … Continue reading Diocese developing new church-planting strategy
Anyone familiar with the Diocese will know that we have been living under the shadow of a large debt owing to General Synod. Due to errors in how unpaid assessments from parishes were reported to the national church, by 2021 the Diocese was being held responsible for $884,228 in apportionment for the years 2017-2021. Thanks be to God, the accounting errors were corrected in our … Continue reading General Synod forgives miscalculated debt
As the Diocese puts renewed emphasis on discipling the next generation of Christians, the Education Committee has set to work writing a new Confirmation Training Program that meets the needs of Arctic churches and their communities. Continue reading Education Committee gathers for new Confirmation Program
