The President

The President’s Page

December, 2008

Greetings to All,

I am happy to report that the CCN in North America and worldwide is doing well.

We had a small, but excellent, CCN-NA Board meeting October 17-19 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. JoAnn Ward, Spenser Simrall and St. Mark’s Cathedral were amazing hosts. The 2009 Annual Board Meeting is scheduled for October 16-18 in Raleigh, North Carolina; Pullen Memorial Baptist Church will be our hosts. Please mark your calendars now for this important meeting. You will be hearing more as we get closer to the date. After much discussion, the Board voted to send a gift of $1,000 to the new Bishop of Coventry and $7,000 to the CCN in Coventry. I took both of the checks when I went to Coventry for the Enthronement of the new Bishop and a meeting of the global Presidents and Representatives of the CCN.

The Enthronement service on November 1 was a major production, with hundreds of clergy and representatives from around the world and England. The service began after most of the participants and congregation were seated, with the new Bishop and his "party" in the Old Cathedral ruins, leading the Litany of Reconciliation in front of the altar. At one point in the service, the new Bishop greeted various groups, representing the CCN, of industry, arts, education, etc. The President of the CCN Germany, I, and the representative of South Africa, were greeted along with the new canons for reconciliation and ministry. I have already had a wonderful letter from Christopher Cocksworth, thanking the CCN-North America for our gift and looking forward to working with us in the future. The Dean, new Canons, and others had beautifully organized our stay and meetings. We met in the Deanery, and Dean (Provost) John was completely engaged. Bishop John, the Suffragan, and "head" of the CCN in England, joined us for one day of the meeting. Archbishop Josiah of Nigeria was also present. The Dean, as well as Canon David Porter, may both try to come to our CCN-NA Board Meeting in Raleigh next fall. The CCN seems to be finally a center piece of the whole ministry of Coventry! For the first time in many years I am excited about our future together!

Plans are being made for a Golden Jubilee of the rebirth of the Cathedral in 2012, with the hope to opening a World Centre for Reconciliation. I will send some more information on that later.

Also, I have heard from the head of a large CCN Chapter in England who is involved with refugees and is hoping to connect with some of us in January. The original email asked if I could suggest some CCN centers on the East Coast, and so I mentioned Hartford and Raleigh, but asked if he might consider further inland. I've heard back that he would love to talk further.

Blessing for a joyous Advent.

Anne

Anne Stevenson, President
The Community of the Cross of Nails in North America