In this week’s edition of our weekly newsletter, Scott Gunn reflects on a remarkable week at General Synod in Toronto, and the gift of communion among Anglicans worldwide.
Dear friends in Christ,
I’ve just been in Canada for a few days, visiting the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada. My primary purpose was, with a colleague, to represent Forward Movement in their exhibit hall. While we did sell a few things, our main desire was to tell Anglicans in Canada what we’ve been up to lately and to learn a bit more about how we can better serve the needs of the church there.
As time permitted, I spent time observing the synod at work. When people stopped by our booth, I was able to talk with people about Forward Movement, but also about the life of the church in Canada. On Sunday morning, I left synod to visit a couple of Anglican congregations for worship. All of it was a gift.
Every person I met was delighted to learn that I was visiting from the Episcopal Church. Receiving the gift of hospitality is a deep honor, always. As I spent time with fellow Anglicans in worship and conversation, I was moved by how similar our churches are. In many ways, coming to a Sunday service in the Anglican Church of Canada isn’t much different at all from doing the same in an Episcopal Church. But I was also moved by differences, the sometimes subtle ways our churches address our contexts.
I could write a book about my gratitude for the Anglican Church of Canada and my time with them, and I could write a similar book about my time with Anglicans in many nations around the world. Today my heart is overflowing.
Scott Gunn
Executive Director
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