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Eleventh Sacred Circle (2023)

Also in National Sacred Circle gatherings

Welcome to the Eleventh Indigenous Anglican Sacred Circle, a national gathering of Indigenous Anglicans for prayer, worship, discernment and decision-making taking place May 28 to June 1, 2023.

All plenary sessions will be live-streamed on this page.

Over the course of five days, Indigenous Anglicans will come together to endorse a new vision for the self-determining church within the Anglican Church of Canada.

In preparation for this important work, we are providing this summary of highlights for the week including the installation of the National Indigenous Anglican Archbishop.

Resources

News and information

June 1, 2023 — Sacred Circle elects new members of the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples (ACIP)
May 30, 2023 — Sacred Circle ratifies Covenant and Our Way of Life — Anglican Journal
May 29, 2023 — Opening Service and Installation of the National Indigenous Anglican Archbishop
May 29, 2023 — Sacred Circle must be ‘peace bringers,’ Harper says in opening sermon — Anglican Journal
May 29, 2023 — Video of Archbishop Chris Harper at the lighting of the Sacred Fire
May 25, 2023 — Sacred Circle 2023 will be ‘pivotal moment’ for church, national Indigenous archbishop says — Anglican Journal

Livestream Recordings

June 1, 2023 — Morning Plenary | Afternoon Plenary and closing worship | Evening Plenary
May 31, 2023 — Morning Plenary | Afternoon Plenary | Evening Plenary
May 30, 2023 — Morning Plenary | Afternoon Plenary | Evening Plenary
May 29, 2023 — Afternoon Plenary | Evening Plenary
May 29, 2023 — Opening Service and Installation of Archbishop Chris Harper

Highlights of Sacred Circle

Sunday May 28

  • Travel Day to Sacred Circle

Monday May 29

  • 7:00am Lighting of the Sacred Fire
  • 9:30am Opening Eucharist and Installation of Archbishop Chris Harper, National Indigenous Anglican Archbishop
  • 1:30pm first plenary session
    • History Highlights with Q&A
  • 7:00pm second plenary session. Presentations:
    • “Pitching Our Tent” — Mishamikoweesh
    • Vancouver School of Theology: Indigenous Incorporation Curriculum
  • 9:00pm Gospel Jam

Tuesday May 30 — Orange Shirt Day

  • 11:00am third plenary session
    • The Covenant and Our Way of Life
  • 3:45pm fourth plenary session
    • Talking Circle reports
  • 7:30pm fifth plenary session
    • Partner reflections: Aotearoa
  • 9:00pm Gospel Jam

Wednesday May 31 — Red Shirt Day

  • 10:45am sixth plenary session
  • 1:45pm seventh plenary session. Presentations:
    • Trauma to New Life
    • Suicide Prevention/Embracing Life
    • Justice and Reconciliation
  • 7:30pm eighth plenary session. Partner reflections:
    • Amazonia
    • Susan Johnson, National Bishop ELCIC
    • Most Rev. Linda Nicholls, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada
  • 9:00pm Gospel Jam

Thursday June 1 — Black Shirt Day

  • 10:15an ninth plenary session.
    • Election results for ACIP
    • Consensus — Our Way of Life
  • 2:00pm tenth plenary session: The Young Adults Speak
  • 4:00pm Closing eucharist
  • 7:00pm eleventh plenary session: Tribute, tree planting, and give aways!
  • 9:00pm Gospel Jam

Friday June 2

  • Extinguishing the Sacred Fire
  • Departures home

Acknowledging the land and God’s creation

This acknowledgement is crafted in light of the Principles of Reconciliation by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, as we seek to live faithfully in Christ and in right relationship with all. 

We give thanks to the Creator for this land, its waters, forests and all living beings, and for the abiding presence of Christ among us. From coast to coast to coast, these have been cared for and nurtured by First Nations, Inuit and Métis through countless generations. 

We honour the enduring relationship Indigenous Peoples have cultivated with these lands and waters, and the treaties and agreements that reflect these sacred bonds. We acknowledge the harms caused by colonial expansion, through frameworks like the Doctrine of Discovery and structures like the residential school system. We recognize our past failures as a Church, including disruption of connections to the land and suppression of Indigenous spiritualities. 

Guided by the gospel of Jesus Christ, we confess our need for healing. We commit ourselves to seeking truth, pursuing reconciliation and nurturing harmony with all creation. We place our trust in Christ, through whom all things are reconciled to God. 

May God strengthen us to live faithfully as stewards of the Earth. Let us walk in love, justice and reconciliation, joining in God’s work to restore all creation.