International Compass Rose Society Meets in Edmonton

The international Compass Rose Society held its spring meeting in Edmonton from April 16-19. Bishop Jane Alexander was “delighted” to welcome her friend and president of the Society Bishop C. Andrew Doyle and members of the Board of Directors to All Saints’ Cathedral for a eucharist on Wednesday evening. Earlier this year, Bishop Jane had been welcomed by Bishop Doyle as guest preacher at the Episcopal Diocese of Texas Diocesan Council. The Edmonton diocese became a member of the Compass Rose Society in 2007.

Following the service, the Very Rev. Neil Gordon, Dean of Edmonton, conducted a tour of All Saints’ Cathedral, noting the history of the parish, founded on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River by Canon William Newton in 1875. The cornerstone of today’s All Saints’ Anglican Cathedral was laid in November, 1955 and the church opened for worship the following year.

Members of the Society were particularly interested in the Cathedral Chapel - a sacred space honouring the first peoples of Treaty 6 Territory. Earlier in the day, Archdeacon Travis Enright and Bishop Jane Alexander had been invited to share with Society members about the Edmonton diocese’s commitment to walking with our Indigenous brothers and sisters. Travis described the work and mission of Indigenous Ministries and the dicoese’s commitment to meeting the spiritual needs of First Nations’ communities. Safe spaces like the Standing Stones worship service, which blends Cree tradition and Anglican liturgies, create opportunities for dialogue and healing. “This is an amazing piece of the Anglican Mission of reconciliation,” said Bishop Andrew.

At a wine and cheese reception welcoming Society members to the Cathedral, Bishop Andrew explained that the Compass Rose Society was formed to support the mission and ministry of the Anglican Communion and, specifically, “projects that the Archbishop of Canterbury wishes to undertake.” Since its inception in 1994, the Society has given $10.6 million (USD) to support the Communion. In 2017, the Society donated nearly $8 million to the Anglican Consultative Council, in addition to more than $685,000 to dioceses of the Anglican Communion for specific purposes, such as reconciliation education, health care programs and emergency relief. Those attending the gathering were given a wooden holding cross provided by a member of the Board of Directors from Hong Kong.

For more information, or to become a member of the Compass Rose Society, contact Tami Hawkins: thawkins@epicenter.org, or visit: www.compassrosesociety.org