James Bay Great Chapter 2008

For some reason I have had problems logging into my blog account, but after persevering this evening, finally managed to do it.

One of the things which gave me the energy to persevere this time around was my desire to report the loss of the building being renovated to be the Kash rectory. There have been numerous delays with the project which it was hoped would have been finished before the end of 2007. But, still unfinished, the building burned to the ground about 4 am on Saturday morning. There was some insurance on the building, and an insurance adjuster is to visit Kash soon to investigate the claim.

It now becomes more complicated to have a residence for a priest in Kash, but is still possible that even at this now late time in the winter road season, things could still proceed so that there could be materials for a new residence for a Kash rectory sent up on the road before it closes with Spring.

I received the news of the burning down of the building on Saturday morning while attending the James Bay Great Chapter 2008. The Great Chapter is an annual event attended by clergy and laity from parishes in the James Bay Deanery. The parish of Constance Lake, which is actually in another Deanery, often sends delegates as well, as they did this time. (This is a Cree parish which is outside of this almost entirely Cree Deanery.)

This year's Great Chapter was a pre-synod Great Chapter. In this Diocese there is a synod every three years, and the Deanery Great Chapters help to prepare for the synods. This was done by reviewing draft Diocesan goals, which have been developed after consultation with parishes. Only if the draft goals are adopted by synod do they become goals of the Diocese.

Our Diocesan Bishop has been telling us that he will be retiring in about two years' time, and hence one of the roles of a set of Diocesan goals is to aid in the election of a new Bishop. We will need a Bishop who can lead the Diocese in fulfilling the goals.

This year's James Bay Great Chapter was hosted by the Moose Factory and Moosonee parishes. The sessions and most meals were held at the Moose Factory parish hall. The Sunday morning worship was at the Moosonee Anglican Church, as was the Sunday lunch. The two hosting parishes shared in providing billets and accommodation for the delegates from other communities.

As Regional Dean I am chair of the Great Chapter. I am often amazed at how things work out in the sessions, and this Great Chapter was no exception. There were moments of sadness and discouragement, but for me these moments were overshadowed by a sense of God working through all things to bring about his purposes.

The oldest Great Chapter delegate present was 92 year old Cree priest Samuel Hughboy of Wemindji. He made many valuable contributions to the gathering. The youngest present in any of the sessions was a baby by the name of Ricardo Wesley, of Kashechewan. For the sessions in which he was present, he mainly slept!

For two of the clergy of the Deanery, this was their last Great Chapter before they retire in August of this year. We also sorely missed a number of folk who have departed this life over the last few years, as well as others who were absent for various other reasons. But there is also the emergence of some new leadership in parishes of the Deanery, which was quite evident in some of the voices and happenings at the Great Chapter. Some young people of the Deanery have attended Great Chapters for a number of the years, and I find it something of a wonder to witness their growth over the years.

Our Bishop, Archbishop Caleb, led us in a Bible Study on Saturday morning, which engaged us all, and inspired us to not be content with mere spiritual milk, but to be able to digest and to feed upon strong spiritual food. There are a number of faithful Christians in the Deanery whom it is quite evident have been feeding and digesting strong spiritual food over a long period of time.