AIMS
AND OBJECTIVES
To
build a growing Christian Community in which the men of the
Diocese may receive spiritual refreshment, share Christian
fellowship and concerns with one another, and be encouraged to:
WITNESS
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show by a living example
our belief in our faith; |
UNITE |
unite Anglican Churchmen in
a common effort by encouraging an appreciation of, and a
loyalty toward, the whole Church; |
GROW |
pledge ourselves to regular
Church attendance and to active participation, in the
life and work of our Church; |
LEAD |
aid and encourage all the
youth of our Church to play their full part in the
Church's life; |
EXTEND |
render all possible
assistance to Church extension, by bringing the Cross of
Christ to unchurched
hearts and places. |
THE
BROTHERHOOD PRAYER
Defend
us, 0 Lord, with Thy heavenly grace, that we may continue Thine
forever; and daily increase in Thy Holy Spirit, more and more,
until we come into Thy everlasting kingdom. Amen.
THE
BROTHERHOOD EMBLEM
(a
challenge to men who wear it to be faithful Christians)
This
emblem is the blood-red cross of St. George on a white
shield. Since the time of the Crusades, George has been
the patron Saint of Englishmen. His cross is combined with
the cross of St. Andrew (patron Saint of Scotland) and that of
St. Patrick (the Apostle of the Irish) to form the Union Jack.
St. George would be the first to have us see in this emblem, not
so much a reminder of himself, and of any good deeds which he
may have done, but rather the Cross of Him whom both we and St.
George acknowledge as the Captain of our Salvation - Jesus
Christ, the Son of God.
The
white shield speaks of that steadfast purpose with which
He went forward to His death. The blood-red cross stands
for that love which led him to give His life that all men might
be saved. By His death, He destroyed death. By His
rising to life again, He has restored to us Everlasting Life.
WHY...
The Brotherhood of Anglican Churchmen
Since
the earliest days of the Church, Christians have always banded
together for worship, fellowship and mutual inspiration through
the sharing of their faith. The men who saw the
Brotherhood beginnings believed this same unity was a necessity
in these times. They organized themselves in their
parishes and deaneries and as a diocese. Their intention
was to supplement existing men's groups, not to supplant them.
They
are convinced their movement is necessary:
Because... |
the B.A.C. joins Churchmen together in a Community of faith and
fellowship which strives to stimulate an increased awareness of
God's will and purpose for us, individually and corporately; |
Because... |
the Brotherhood steadily strengthens Christian men through
spiritual unity and development to meet the challenges of the
day and to combat the materialism, the indifference and the many
other distractions which would blind men to the vision of His
will, or otherwise deter them from working toward the
accomplishment of His purpose; |
Because... |
the B.A.C. has demonstrated in hundreds of parishes across
Canada that it is an effective medium for uniting men who are
willing to plan and execute programs to promote the Christian
way of life. |
Because... |
the B.A.C.
brings men together in the knowledge that they possess a
priceless heritage in their own branch of the Church with
its unbroken succession from New Testament times in the
Scriptures, the Creeds, the Sacraments, and the three-fold
ministry. |
HISTORICAL SKETCH
In
April, 1951, a group of representative laymen from fourteen
deaneries in the Diocese of Huron gathered for a laymen's
conference in Windsor, Ontario. They had gathered at the
request of the Rt. Rev. G. N. Luxton
who knew the time was opportune for the men of the Diocese to
draw up plans for a more active diocesan laymen's organization
than was then in existence, with aims and objects that would
inspire them to be devoted, loyal and committed Churchmen.
The committee chosen from among these men considered suggestions
made from the floor for a name for this organization. From
these suggestions, the name unanimously chosen by the committee
and the Bishop was "Brotherhood of Anglican
Churchmen". Col. W. Gibson White was elected
the first president of the B.A.C. and under his leadership both
the Aims and Objectives and the Constitution were drawn up.
The Brotherhood movement has grown throughout the years both
within the Diocese of Huron and in many other Dioceses in
Canada. The Dioceses of Niagara, Calgary, Ontario and
Toronto were among the first to have chapters using the name and
shield of the Brotherhood, but the movement has now become
instrumental in binding men together in most parts of the
nation, from Newfoundland to British Columbia.
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