07/10/2026
A LETTER HOME:
Dear friends,
I write home to you as your Laity representative to the BC/Yukon Provincial Council.
This a summary (from my perspective), of what transpired at our recent weekend 'in person' meeting in Kelowna, July 2026.
The worship services we had throughout the meeting were excellent and kept us deeply focused on the Spirit of God working among us.
There were six working sessions where many issues related to
the current and future health and welfare of the Anglican Communion in Yukon and BC were discussed. An experienced facilitator helped guide us through these conversations.
This following is a summary of some of the issues which I, as a lay person thought were important.
(1) What is the heart ….the core message of our Anglican faith and how do we express and live it out in our local parish, Territory and Provincially?
By Loving God and by loving our neighbours as God loves us.
(2) Where did we as Anglicans in this Province come from, and
what is our past, our history?
(3) How are we going to meet the challenges of the future especially in an era of uncertainty (even chaos) and wherein does our hope lie?
How do we stay rooted in love amidst the challenges of the Climate Crisis, the onslaught of Artificial Intelligence, tariffs and other threats to our economic welfare and sovereignty as a nation, and the multiple escalating wars around the world?
(4) How do we restore balance to the large human and financial inequities within our Anglican communion……the divide between sparsely populated remote /rural areas of Yukon and Northern BC, and the densely populated urban centres of the lower mainland?
(5) How might we collaborate to share our resources in a more equitable manner?
(6) How are we progressing in lifting up and empowering ..Indigenous Nations, along our joint journey of Truth and Reconciliation?… our youth and young adults? ...and our laity?
(7) Observations were made by some parishes, of an increase in baptisms and confirmations with more people attending church, especially young adults who seem to be spiritually hungry for a deeper meaning to their lives.
(8) That each of us, laity and clergy, are responsible and accountable for, our own spiritual formation and that this is a life long calling/commitment as Christians, as lovers of Jesus.
(9) Conversations were had about sharing bible and book studies online at the parish, diocesan and provincial levels. Some people expressed the desire to learn more about the Desert Mothers and Fathers, the Monastic and 14th Century mystics as well as other more modern-day spiritual writings which may help us delve deeper into spiritual practices like meditation, contemplation and centering prayer.
(10) We discussed that we are not ‘alone or isolated’ as parishes within the province and how it is so important for us to recognize and give thanks for the multiplicity of blessings we have received from God and from each other.
Every representative at the Provincial Council meetings was asked to make an ‘action commitment’ coming out of the weekend. My action was to communicate the above information back down to the all the congregants of our Territory, as soon as possible.
I believe my action has now been fulfilled.
If you have any questions about the BC Provincial Council, I would be delighted to answer them as best as I can, from a lay persons perspective.
Respectfully submitted
Marie Hay
July 10, 2026.
Laity Representative from the Territory of the People, to the BC /Yukon Provincial Council.
