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Vol 19 No 1 Jan/Feb 2008 ONLINE The official gazette of the Diocese of Port Elizabeth: Anglican Church of Southern Africa

Quick Links: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Top | Homepage PAGE 2 Christmas extra 2007  •  Downeys retire  •  Some more reflections  •  A home from home  •  Link formed between RSCM(SA) and SAKOV  •  Our Gender Desk Downeys retire [Pam Brown] After 16 years of ministry at St Mark’s in Humansdorp - ten of them as assistant-priest - Eddie Downey, has retired.  A farewell supper, which was prepared and enjoyed by sixty parishioners, was held in the church hall of St Mark’s for him and Esmé, on Thursday 4 Oct 2007. The Downeys have retired to Uitenhage and will be sadly missed. We wish them every happiness in their new home and know that our loss is St Katharine’s gain. Pic: Eddie and Esmé Downey receiving their leaving present from Jeremy Brown on behalf of the congregation of St Mark’s Church, Humansdorp. Some more reflections [Tony Kriel] In the early days, most clergy came from England - when there was a vacancy, the Bishop wrote to USPG for a replacement! Priests got six months’ long leave every five years to go back to England to do  deputation work for USPG, and we turned to various English missionary organizations for help! Soon the growth of indigenous clergy put an end to all that. Bishops in those days were rather serene and remote, addressed as “My  Lord”, some folk even did a little curtsy as he swept by and many kissed his ring before indulging in stilted conversation! How marvellous that we can now give our bishops a jolly good hug! In the early days of my  ministry in the Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman the rector did everything - composed, typed, duplicated the parish magazine on a devilish machine that deposited ink all over except on the paper, as well  as stapling and distributing the end product. Secretarial help was unheard of, if you possessed an ancient typewriter that some local firm had discarded, you were regarded as well equipped. Visual aids were limited to koki pens and newsprint! Transport was a major problem, one used some inadequate vehicle that one kept going with a pair of pliers and some wire, and much of one’s stipend went into the bottomless pit of transport. Medical Aid was unknown, clergy relied on local medical people not to send an account. Sadly, the long established Religious Orders faded away, but as the ministry of women opened up, opportunities for  ministry for them became freely available.  The growth of the nonstipendiary, or self-supporting ministry (we never seemed to find a satisfactory name for this) has opened the way for a wide  variety of men and women to exercise a priestly ministry while continuing to hold a career in the secular world, and while there were some hasty and ill-advised ordinations, here again the church has been enriched by their ministry. Theological Education by  Extension has proved a valuable tool for theological study, both for those entering the ministry, or as lay ministers. Theological Colleges went through some major changes, and married ordinands are now an integral part of these. Structures Synods were rigid and  intensely formal. Clergy were fully robed in cassock, surplice, scarf and degree hood (in the Kimberley heat of summer!) and sat separately from the lay delegates, all men of course, who were on the other side of the hall! Women were firmly excluded except from the kitchen! However as time went on, robes disappeared, and only clerical collars were obligatory for clergy, and all the parish delegates sat together. Women and young people took their rightful place and once again these formal bodies were enriched by their participation. Elective Assemblies were cloaked in the deepest secrecy, and there was much unhealthy gossip and speculation; now the whole Province is represented, and the names of delegates are published in advance, giving opportunity for prayer and reflection beforehand. Social issues filled Synod agendas and anti-apartheid motions predominated, so much so that any other resolutions such as on ecology, were brushed aside as irrelevant! Many churches displayed signs welcoming people of all races at all services. Here and there, there was stubborn resistance to racial mixing, and looking back we wonder how so-called Christians could actually have adopted such racist attitudes. In all these changes, one of the greatest attributes of Anglicanism has been demonstrated, namely the ability to adapt and change without losing sight of the essentials of the Faith, and one can only look  back in wonder at how God led his Church forward as we wrestled with the challenges that faced us. Ecumenical progress Ecumenical progress was much slower - the Church Unity Commission struggled to get real change going. For instance, we used to visit a farm to give the farmer and his sons, who were Anglicans, Communion, but the mother, who prepared the lounge, made cakes and served the tea, was not given Communion because she had not been confirmed by a bishop! Now, at last, other ministries have been recognised as valid, and United Churches have been established. Our own times have brought other challenges, such as the hugely divisive issue of sexuality, the increasing secularization of society, and the whole area of inter-faith dialogue, the ever present challenges of poverty, crime and the many social ills that continue to afflict our society. God has been faithful in it all, and it is that faithfulness that will continue to prod, guide and inspire the church as it moves ahead in this 21st century. To him be all glory for ever. A home from home The iindaba editor recently visited Daphne ffolliott at ‘Villa Tranquilla’, and came away feeling that the name sums up this lovely home which Daphne is opening up to country Anglicans needing a ‘home from home’ when loved ones are in hospital. Within walking distance of Greenacres Hospital and the shopping mall, it is ideal for anyone who may have a partner or child in hospital. She is offering Bed and Breakfast and, if  eeded, a light supper to guests, plus the use of her lounge with TV and beautifully tranquil fragrant garden (ideal for times of quiet meditation). The en suite double-bedded room has its own entrance and is within a well secured complex. And there to welcome visitors too is ffudge her cocker spaniel! Daphne is a member of Holy Trinity in Central and invites any visitor to accompany her to services on a Sunday morning if they wish. Contact her on 041 365 0638 or 083 655 2811 e-mail at dff@icon.co.za Pic: Daphne and ffudge are ready to welcome their guests. Link formed between RSCM(SA) and SAKOV [Jenny Yates] Ecumenism recently reached yet another milestone when the Royal School of Church Music (SA) and the Suid-Afrikaanse Kerkorrelistevereniging formed a link with one another. A wonderful opportunity has thus been created for church  musicians of different denominations to reach out to one another and to pool their knowledge and resources. Port Elizabeth set the ball rolling recently when Sakov invited the RSCM chairman, Jenny Yates, and Maureen de Villiers to attend their AGM at the Summerstrand NGK. Prof Albert Troskie gave an interesting and informative talk on the role of the organist, with particular emphasis on  hymn accompaniment, choir training and selection of music. He illustrated his talk by playing several hymns from the recently published Liedboek while we sang along with him. There are some delightful tunes in this new book, including Taizé music. Jenny was invited to give a brief outline of the work of the RSCM. She also showed them a copy of ‘Voice for Life’ which aroused considerable interest. One of the young  delegates was so impressed that he has expressed an interest in coming to Summer School! We came away with the feeling that, no matter our denomination or language, we all share the same ideals and aspirations in our lives as church musicians and, yes, even the same problems! Our Gender Desk The Gender Desk is up and running and is being facilitated by Ethel Schultz Pittaway, ably helped by committee members Nicolette Leonard, assistant priest at St John’s, Nosipho Williams, Myron Leonard, Nomonde Qoto (MUCFL), Sylvia Frans (AWF), Phopho Mayekiso and Zimkhitha Bilibana. Their vision is to: break down the walls that divide us and to bring about unity. (Eph 1:9, 10). equip believers by affirming the biblical truth of equality viz human equality and equal responsibility. (Galatians 3:28) Mutual submission: Christian love in action, treating each person with dignity. (Eph 5:21) To equip men and women to experience relationships and marriages based on biblical equality. Mission: To encourage equality and esential  dignity of men and women of all races, ages and classes. To affirm that all persons are made in the image of God and are to reflect that image in the community of believers in the church, home and society. To uphold that the Bible teaches that women and men are equally redeemed through the death of Christ. To provide for men and women to diligently develop and use their God-given gifts for the good of the home, church and society. Goals: To approach the process of change in a Christian manner in order to interact with individuals and social institutions in ways that are centred in Christ. To affirm the theological basis and communicate the biblical truth of the equality of men and women of all racial and ethnic groups, all economic classes and all age groups. To work for justice for all in society and the church. To be a Christian change agent in the areas of sexism. Pic: With Ethel Pittaway-Schultz are Nosipho Williams (in African dress), Zimkhitha Bilibana and Phopho Mayekiso. Quick Links: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Top | Homepage