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In Sure and Certain Hope — Study Guide

In Sure and Certain Hope: Study Guide supports individuals and groups who wish to explore the theological and pastoral questions raised by medical assistance in dying. Developed as a companion to the Anglican Church of Canada’s primary resource In Sure and Certain Hope, the guide offers structured processes, case studies and reflective tools for thoughtful, prayerful conversation in community.

The study guide helps groups enter complex discussions with care, grounding reflection in Christian hope, pastoral presence and the shared responsibility to accompany one another at the end of life.

Suggested uses

  • Parish study groups exploring end-of-life pastoral care
  • Clergy, lay leaders and pastoral visitors seeking guided frameworks for discussion
  • Healthcare chaplains and spiritual care providers
  • Theological education, formation programs and facilitated workshops

Key themes

  • The Christian call to accompaniment, compassion and presence
  • Speaking honestly about suffering, hope and end-of-life decisions
  • Deepening skills for listening, facilitation and pastoral discernment
  • Theological principles shaping pastoral care in the context of MAID
  • Case-based reflection on real-world pastoral situations

Best suited for: individuals, parish leaders, pastoral teams, chaplains, theological students and any group seeking structured, faithful conversation about end-of-life pastoral care.

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.