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BREAKING NEWS
Late this afternoon, a judge of the B.C. Supreme Court, Mr. Justice Sigurdson, ordered the Diocese of B.C (on Vancouver Island) to allow the people of St Mary of the Incarnation (Metchosin) in Victoria, BC, back into their building in time for Sunday services.
On the evening of Friday, April 4th, Bishop James Cowan, of the Diocese of BC, was discovered to be supervising the changing of the locks at St Mary Metchosin (Victoria).
On February 17, St Mary parishioners voted 105 to 14 – an overwhelming 88 per cent majority – to seek episcopal oversight from Bishop Don and the Anglican Network in Canada. Prior to the vote being taken, the diocese attempted preemptive action by inhibiting the two priests – the Venerable Sharon Hayton and the Rev Andrew Hewlett. More recently, with Archbishop Terry Buckle’s intervention and assistance, an agreement was reached (posted on the diocesan website as well as the Lambeth Conference blog) which saw the priests resign from the Anglican Church of Canada and allowed the parishioners continued use of their building pending further negotiations.
In a news release issued by the Diocese – which refers to ANiC exclusively and rather ominously as “The Network” and to Bishop Don as a former Anglican bishop – the bishop is quoted as saying “I am sorry that events have brought us to the necessity of this measure”. However, there is nothing in the news release to support the notion of “necessity” or to indicate what events triggered the move. While the release indicates the building was seized by the diocese for the use of the few diocesan-loyal parishioners, a sign posted by the diocese on the building Friday evening stated that no one could access the building and directed those wishing to worship on Sunday morning to go to St Mary the Virgin, a smaller heritage building down the road which also belongs to the parish of St Mary of the Incarnation. Another sign posted on Saturday morning advised the diocese would be holding services in the St. Mary of the Incarnation building.
April 25-26 “Compelled by Christ’s Love” conference registration
Our conference agenda is now available. If you are not able to attend the entire conference you are invited to come to the Friday evening and/or Saturday afternoon services. There is no charge for either of these services and no need to register to attend.
Our online registration form seems to be working well once again. We apologize for any inconvenience. If you registered online between March 25 and March28 and have not received a confirmation, please contact Zenia to see if your registration was received. Due to the problems we experienced, we’ve extended the early bird registration deadline until April 11.
There are still rooms available at the second conference hotel – the Town and Country Inn. To access the conference rate and the block of rooms we have reserved, please book by calling the hotel directly and say you are with the “Compelled by Christ’s Love” conference. (Call 1-888-777-1266 or 604-946-4404.) Online booking will not give you access to our block of rooms.
Anglican Essentials Network (AEN)
Mr Claus Lenk is the Chair of Anglican Essentials Network and has just been confirmed as co-chair of Anglican Essentials Canada, sharing duties with the Rev Jennifer Wickham, Chair of Anglican Essentials Federation.
Anglican Federation leadership and members prepare to take a stand
The Anglican Essentials Federation executive committee has just issued an important call to action. The letter says, in part:
Our “quiet”, non-confrontational approach has simply not stemmed the tide.
The policy of the Anglican Essentials Federation is not that we will “stay” but that we will “stand”. As leaders of Federation, we have determined that it is now time to chart a new course. You will see this unfold over the next weeks and months as we take a higher profile, unequivocal stand.
We, as leaders of Federation will publicly take a stand. We expect Bishops committed to orthodox Christian teaching, historic Anglican practice, and our position within the Anglican Communion to take a stand, particularly in the House of Bishops’ meeting next month.
Now we call on you, and all those within the Anglican Church of Canada who are committed to orthodox Anglican teaching, to join us in taking this stand. We know that there are many, many people who are deeply distressed by the actions of the church they love and are feeling increasingly isolated in a church that claims to be inclusive. If we stand together we can make a visible witness.
We want to support our colleagues in the Federation, and stand with them in fervent prayer.
Network prayer ministry
Our prayer ministry is now in place. Garth Hunt, ANiC national prayer coordinator, and his national team of intercessors welcome prayer requests. Please note, that this prayer ministry is not intended to replace existing parish prayer ministries, but will focus primarily on requests for prayer that are of national scope or ANiC-wide concern. All prayer requests will be kept in the strictest confidence as required.
Media coverage of Anglican Network in Canada
The Economist – March 27 2008 – Angry Anglicans (You can post comments online)
Centretown News (Ottawa) – March 28 2008 – The man with the plan wins (Article on the Rev Garth Bulmer who announced he was gay upon retirement in December – with a passing reference to the Network’s position.)
The Chatham Daily News – March 29 2008 – Dealing with turmoil
BC Christian News – April 2008 – “Victoria BC: Harsh reality sets in for Anglicans”
News shorts – Canada
The Anglican Journal has created a timeline of the crisis in the Anglican Church of Canada, but has limited it to the issue of same-sex blessings rather than the more fundamental theological concerns.
A letter from Chris Trendell posted on the New Westminster Diocesan website provides another perspective on the property dispute. However, Liz counters on the Essentials blog with her own story – a reminder of the personal cost and sacrifice exacted by the crisis in the ACoC.
LambethConference.net/Canada draws our attention to the Bishop of Montreal, Barry Clarke’s, proactive efforts to head off parishes defecting to ANiC. He is working on a Shared Episcopal Ministries (SEM) scheme but ironically emphasizes the limitations to this scheme which make it completely unacceptable to many orthodox parishes. The article which originally appeared in the Montreal Anglican, says, “Bishop Clarke said if he agreed to share episcopal ministry with another bishop “the visiting bishop would still be under my authority” as diocesan bishop. The visiting bishop would, for example, have no right to appoint clergy to fill any vacancies. It would be a pastoral ministry without any particular status.” A visiting bishop’s involvement would probably be mainly in the form of confirmations and such ceremonial visits. Arrangements would have to be negotiated to cover remuneration, travel costs and the like.
The article also says that, under the ACoC’s SEM guidelines the list of potential visiting bishops “…must include both serving and retired bishops from the seven dioceses in the ecclesiastical Province of Canada.”
In the blogs
The Rev David Curry muses on the Rev Canon Dr Kendall Harmon’s blog about the situation in Canada with the unchecked innovations and the exodus of parishes from the ACoC. He speculates that, one day, orthodox clergy could be dragged by their ‘progressive’ bishops before Human Rights Commissions to face allegations of hate crimes because they refuse to go along with the ACoC’s same sex agenda. Curry concludes, “The ironies are huge. Secular courts and law might be used to protect or attack traditional orthodox Anglicans because of the church’s embrace of a secular agenda that lacks the clear warrant of scripture and tradition.”
The Rev Ken Harding writes in Anglican-Mainstream about the concept of Communion and the impact of the Anglican Church of Canada’s decisions and actions upon Communion. He concludes, “If we attempt to remain in communion with those who are not in communion with God we ourselves lose our communion with God, because one is dependent upon the other.”
GENEralities – the Rev Gene Packwood’s blog – has moved to: http://generalities.bleat.ca
Archbishop Greg
Archbishop Greg has been in Brazil on a pastoral visit to the Diocese of Recife which was ex-communicated by the Primate of Brazil for its orthodox stand. At that time, Archbishop Greg and the Province of the Southern Cone came to Bishop Robinson Cavalcanti and Recife’s aid. Now, Recife is permanently included in the Southern Cone.
Local events
Niagara Essentials is promoting an event featuring the Rev Dr Grant LeMarquand, Associate Professor of Biblical Studies and Mission at Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry in Pennsylvania.
Topic: What does Jesus think of the Church?
Time: Saturday, April 12, 10:00am – 4:30pm.
Location: Wellington Square Church, 2121 Caroline St., Burlington, ON
Contact: For more information see the Niagara Essentials website. Please pre-register.
Common Cause Partnership
The Common Cause Partners were represented at the recent consecration of the new Archbishop of Myanmar, Stephen Than Myint Oo. See this ACN report on the enthronement.
Ever wonder who is part of the Anglican Communion Network (USA)? Read this article.
News shorts – USA and North America
On Thursday, a judge in Virginia issued a 88-page ruling in a case involving 11 parishes taken to court by the diocese after they realigned out of the Episcopal Church (TEC). He ruled in favour of the parishes citing the extent and severity of the divisions ripping the church and Communion apart. In a news release, the parishes appeal for a return to amicable negotiations, however TEC is expected to continue the legal assault. TEC’s news release suggests ongoing legal action.
Bishop Gene Robinson, in a Boston Globe interview, discusses plans for high profile gay/lesbian presence at Lambeth. Among other things, he discusses plans by TEC bishops to host evening gatherings “…at which bishops from around the world can come meet Robinson”. The article say that “Robinson believes that, regardless of what happens this summer, that the Episcopal Church will consider lifting a moratorium next year on electing more gay bishops and on developing official liturgies to bless same-sex couples. He said the moratorium was imposed out of deference to the Anglican Communion, but that he believes the idea that the Anglican Communion is really interested in talking about sexuality is a fiction. He cited as evidence a trip he took last fall to the Pacific Rim to meet with concerned Anglican leaders, one of whom withdrew an invitation to meet; another leader, he said, simply fell silent every time Robinson mentioned the controversy over his sexuality.”
On March 29, TEC went ahead with the election of a bishop for a rival Diocese of San Joaquin despite serious questions regarding the canonical legality of this election. The (original) Diocese of San Joaquin voted last Fall to seek refuge under the jurisdiction of the Southern Cone. Virtueonline also gives an account of TEC’s San Joaquin convention. TEC’s attempt to depose Bishop John David Schofield earlier in March is reported to have been conducted in violation of TEC’s own canons.
Virtueonline reports that TEC has managed to “hijack” anyone looking for the Diocese of San Joaquin’s long-standing website. Searchers are automatically redirected to TEC’s newly established rival diocese. Peter Ould explains how this was done and the implications, gives the explanation from the website administrator, and calls for Bishops and Primates to demand that the Anglican.org domain name be handed over to the Anglican Communion Office. As a result of TEC’s clandestine action, the (original) Diocese of San Joaquin, now under the Southern Cone, moved its website to www.sjoaquin.net. But the story doesn’t end there. The UK-based Anglican Communion Office (ACO) – which is heavily funded and staffed by TEC – now lists the Diocese of San Joaquin as vacant – not Bishop Schofield and not the “pretender” bishop elected by TEC. The ACO page also provides the rival TEC diocese’s website – not the Diocese of San Joaquin/Southern Cone website. Does this mean Bishop Schofield can expect to have his Lambeth invitation withdrawn? And what about the Archbishop of Canterbury’s statement last fall that parishes’ connection to Canterbury is through the diocesan bishop, not through the national church organization? If TEC’s legal maneuvering weren’t so very mean-spirited and sad, it would make good theatre.
George Conger reports that the president of TEC’s “appellate court of review for the trial of bishops” has agreed to look into the apparently illegal deposition of the 87-year-old Bishop William Cox, now a bishop under the jurisdiction of the Southern Cone. Conger also reports that legal council for Bishop Cox has advised the Presiding Bishop that her announcement of Bishop Cox’s deposition constitutes defamation given its illegality. The Anglican Communion Network confirms this report. The Standing Committee of Diocese of South Carolina has protested the flaunting of church canons in this deposition. BabyBlueOnline discusses TEC’s legal “end game”, saying TEC is acting to distance itself from the Communion to advance its legal position. But another point of view is that, by failing to follow its own rules, TEC is hurting its chances of success in the courts. If you’d like some background, Conger provides more detail.
TEC Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori is taking legal action against another 80 year old retired bishop; this time, it’s the Rt. Rev. Edward H. MacBurney. Here is more on the suffering TEC’s action is compounding.
George Conger reports that calls for TEC to be financially accountable continue to fall on deaf ears. In a third attempt, two retired TEC bishops wrote an open letter, February 29th, calling for full public disclosure of the amount and source of money spent on litigating departing parishes. TEC reportedly cut funding to missionaries recently.
Read this April Fools blog in which the author discovered that it’s hard to beat the absurdities that have actually happened in TEC and the Communion.
News shorts – International
The Anglican Church of Southern Africa installed a new Archbishop, the Most Reverend Thabo Makgoba (48). He was elected late last year to take over from Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane. The Province includes about four million members, in six Southern African countries.
A pastoral letter from the Church of Nigeria Standing Committee says that parishioners have already fully funded the expense of their bishops and delegates attending GAFCON. It goes on to call the church to Biblical standards on family life – especially on the matter of polygamy – an issue in African countries. It also makes this rare acknowledgement, “Leadership in the Church has often reflected the leadership style of the gentile rulers who lord it over their subjects rather than the standard of servant leadership commended and modelled by our Lord Himself.”
GAFCON
The Diocese of Sydney (Australia) held a symposium on March 14 to explain the decision by the bishops of that diocese to attend GAFCON, but not Lambeth.
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Russell Powell provides a concise overview of GAFCON. You can listen to it or read it. |
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Robert Tong provided this special briefing on Lambeth conferences which he entitled, “Doing the Lambeth Walk”. It offers some historical context, including the fact that the Province of Canada, in 1865, wrote the Archbishop of Canterbury requesting these gatherings to deal with “innovations” – however, they conceived of them as synods. You can listen to it or read it. |
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Dean Dr Phillip Jensen gave an address called “The Limits of Fellowship” in which he carefully explains, based on scripture, the Sydney bishops decision not to go to Lambeth. You can listen to it or read it. |
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Dr Mark Thompson’s presentation focused on the Anglican Communion – “The Anglican Debacle: Roots and Patterns”. You can listen to it or read it. |
David Virtue comments on the necessity of GAFCON, saying “…at the end of the day GAFCON is needed. It will be a safe place for orthodox Anglicans to worship, pray and plan mission strategies incorporating The Great Commission, recognizing the authority of Scripture and calling the faithless to repentance… The truth is, if GAFCON did not exist, it would have to be invented. Where else can these godly bishops find a place of refuge? If a new orthodox province is in the making in North America, it too will find no solace in the arms of Lambeth or Canterbury. GAFCON will be its home.”
And another defence of GAFCON in the Church of England Newspaper by layman Dr Chik Kaw Tan counters critics stating, “Many who ascribe to a theologically orthodox position genuinely believe that the attendance of all archbishops and bishops at Lambeth 2008, and the promulgation of the Anglican Covenant, will redress and heal the fracture in the Anglican Communion. There is the hope that more ‘conversations’ and face-to-face meetings will persuade our erstwhile North American brethren to return to the point where they first left us. This is a profound mistake; they don’t intend to!”
The Rev Ken Harding offers a paper <http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/index.php/2008/04/01/why-gafcon-a-canadian-response/> which places GAFCON in the context of Church history.
Archbishop Peter Akinola (Nigeria) has called on his province to pray intensively for GAFCON. The Church of Nigeria website specifically requests prayer for “courage, strength, vision and wisdom for the Primate and other faithful Anglican leaders in the global church; that God may speak to His church, give clear direction for the Anglican Church worldwide and glorify His Name.” It also calls for prayer for “the organizers of GAFCON and for God’s guidance in all practical arrangements and safety in travel.”
Lambeth conference
Archbishop Gomez has called on orthodox bishops to attend Lambeth, saying ““I prefer to be at the table where the discussion is taking place than to view it in absentia”.
Reviving Anglican classics
Is there an out-of-print Anglican classic that you think should be reprinted? Communicate your views to the Anglican Bible and Book Society.
Just for laughs
A minister had waited for some time in a long line-up at the service station on the eve of summer vacation time. Finally, it was his turn, and the attendant motioned for him to pull up to the pump. “Sorry about the delay, Reverend,” he said. “It seems everyone waits until the last minute to get ready for a long trip.”
“I know what you mean,” chuckled the minister. “It’s the same in my business.”
Food For Thought
Man’s (and woman’s) way leads to a hopeless end. God’s way leads to an endless hope.
Suffering from truth decay? Brush up on your Bible.
There is no right way to do a wrong thing.
And now a Word from our Sponsor…
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2: 1-11
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