Anna Redsand at St. Dunstan's, Aldergrove

One TWU is a small but active organization dedicated to affirming the diversity of faith, sexuality, and gender in the community of Trinity Western University in Langley. This group was the principal presenter of author and educator Anna Redsand’s book tour visit to St. Dunstan’s, Aldergrove the evening of January 16, 2017.  Anna Redsand was promoting her newest work, “To Drink from the Silver Cup – From Faith Through Exile and Beyond”.  

Although One TWU were the primary promoters, this event was enthusiastically supported by St. Dunstan’s rector, the Reverend David Taylor and the St. Dunstan’s community.  Parish lay leaders Carol and Doug Tindall (among others) were present and in Rev. Taylor’s absence (he and husband the Reverend Andrew Halladay were on a well-deserved winter vacation), St Dunstan’s deacon the Reverend Linda Varin was present to welcome the audience and to encourage One TWU folks to consider a visit to St. Dunstan’s for worship.  

Anna Redsand has a presence. She possesses the confident, professorial bearing of someone who has long experience as an instructor and mentor but there is nothing stuffy about Ms. Redsand for when she smiles her eyes sparkle and her face lights up. 

For those of us who are Anglicans, worshipping in the diocese of New Westminster with even a cursory knowledge of what has gone on in this diocese and in the Anglican and Episcopal world over the last 20-30 years, it was interesting to listen to someone from one of the reformed denominations speaking to a group mostly from reformed congregations about coming out as gay to family and friends and jeopardizing their connection to their faith communities.  

Raised by Christian Reformed Church (CRC) missionaries on the Navajo reservation in New Mexico, Anna Redsand realized in the early 1960’s at the age of 16 that she would have to leave the faith community that had always supported her and embark on a decades-long journey for a spiritual home that would welcome her as a lesbian and as someone who’s primary connection to the gospel is its message of social justice.  

During her brief presentation which ran 40 minutes, Anna selected various passages from her new book and read them to the 30 people gathered in the St. Dunstan’s sanctuary. Beginning with the passage about her realization that she would have to leave and concluding with the section about attending the recent wedding of one of her nephews to his husband, Anna gave the audience a taste of the contents of the book.  

Following the reading there was a brief Q&A when members of One TWU thanked Anna for her presence and her leadership. The question was asked about whether she is currently part of a worshipping community and she replied “yes” but encouraged the questioner to read the book for the full story.  She did reveal that she returned to her Christian faith after five decades and during that time she'd explored a number of faith traditions, however it was her participation in 12 Step programs that eventually directed her back to faith.

There were a number of St. Dunstan’s members present in the nave that evening and they offered some information about where the Anglican Church is at the present time in its journey toward full inclusion of LGTBQ2 people in the full life of the church.  

IMAGES

• Anna Redsand at St. Dunstan’s reading from her most recent book,  “To Drink from the Silver Cup – From Faith Through Exile and Beyond”.
• Anna Redsand smiles as she prepares to answer a question during the Q&A segment.