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Bishop Logan Writes

This article also appears in the March issue of the Diocesan Post.  

By acting as if they were free, the people of Eastern Europe became free. - Rebecca Solnit

We have a unique and particular calling as the inheritors of faithful people who came from the Anglicans on the islands of the north Atlantic to settle in these islands and inlets on the coast of British Columbia. It cannot be denied that those who were shaped by the monastic movement of the monks of Iona and the Benedictines of the Mediterranean were shaped and re-shaped in a unique and particular way. They were the Indigenous and brought their own ancient traditions and beliefs to meet and shape anew this spirituality revealed by God in Jesus of Nazareth. The history of Christianity on these islands resulted in a robust and deep spirituality, a middle way—a way that for centuries has held together a broad spectrum of faith and practice. This is who we are, this is our heritage.

We, who are the inheritors of this faith, have over the last number of years been on a sacred journey of reconciliation with the First Peoples of this land. A sacred journey that has caused us to go deeper in the work of reconciliation. A reconciliation which will result in us birthing Renewed Hearts, Renewed Spirits and thus becoming a Renewed People. Our work of reconciliation will enlarge us and it will have an effect on our parishes, our neighbourhoods and have a deep effect within ourselves. It is because God has been very much part of our yesterday and will surely be very much part of our tomorrow that we stand on the threshold of transformation. We rely on the Creator who is still creating and recreating the land we live, work, play and worship on. We rely on the Creator who is still recreating us into renewed people. This is the promise that comes from our vision. This is the promise that comes from God.

My dream for the Anglican Diocese of the islands and inlets of the west coast of Canada:

Our diocese has become a model of reconciliation for all those seeking right relationships: a person with their God; individual with another; person with their church; church with church and other faiths; individual and church with their community and First Peoples; church with the world.

We root out and resolve conflict and identify and repair broken relationships. We serve as a resource to all who come to experience the wonder of our place and to grow spiritually with us as we practice our ministry of reconciliation and be what we have become.