Canadians give more

Canadians were more generous in 2005 than in the past, addressing catastrophic disasters such as the Asian tsunami, hurricane Katrina and the massive earthquake in Pakistan. Tax filers donated a record $7.9 billion to charities. More than 5.8 million donors contributed to the record high. The total donations were almost 14 percent higher than in 2004. Statistics Canada reported that in 2005, the median donation was $240, up $10 from the previous year. In other words, among those reporting charitable donations, half gave more than $240 and half gave less. Nationally, one in four of all tax filers claimed charitable donations, roughly the same proportion as in the past. The number of donors in Canada rose by only 0.9% in 2005, which is causing some concern among charitable groups who would like to see a larger pool of donors. Seniors gave more than younger Canadians, donating an average of $1,700. The average donation was about $1,300. By city, tax filers in Abbotsford, British Columbia reported by far the highest median donation at $560. Toronto was next with a median of $350, slightly ahead of Saskatoon, Vancouver and Saint John at $310.

New ACiC church in Ontario

A priest and half his parishioners in Waterford have left the Anglican Church of Canada and become the first congregation in Ontario to join the more conservative Anglican Coalition in Canada. The Rev. Stephen Emery and about 30 people from Trinity Anglican have moved across town in order to disassociate from the ACC’s stand on same-sex unions. The new church, known as St. Barnabas Anglican Mission, held its first Sunday worship service on Nov. 5 in the hall of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Rev. Emery will be the rector and senior pastor. St. Barnabas said its members “cannot in good conscience accept the endorsement by the Canadian General Synod (ACC) of ‘the sanctity and integrity’ of samesex relationships.” St. Barnabas is committed to “staying true to traditional Anglican values, upholding the final authority of Scripture and staying connected with the worldwide Anglican Communion.”

The ACiC is a group of ten churches, primarily in BC and Saskatchewan, aligned with the Province of Rwanda. One parishioner who left, Jim Bloomer, said there was no property dispute over the 100-year-old building. “We walked away from it all. We left with nothing.” Meanwhile about 30 parishioners are continuing to worship at Trinity with a temporary priest.

St. Clement’s votes down $5M plan

A slim majority of votes cast in favour of a massive building and ministry plan at St. Clement (Eglinton) in Toronto was not enough to pass the plan. Of 265 votes cast, 138, representing 52%, were in favour of the $5.1M plan. However a two-thirds majority (177 votes) was required. The vote was held at a special vestry on Nov. 19. Because the first ballot did not approve the overall plan, a second ballot that would have determined the sale of some assets including the current rectory and two adjacent 25-foot lots was never taken.

The church had hoped to raise $3.6M over the next 5 years--$1.1M for new ministry (including a third priest) and $2.5M towards the refurbishment of the buildings. Concerns had been expressed at vestry that building costs could escalate. The plan had been under consideration for about 4 years and considerable money had already been spent on architectural plans and feasibility studies.