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VANCOUVER, 21 August 2006 – After months of working with the Panel of Reference, designated by the Archbishop of Canterbury to hear applications for “Adequate Episcopal Oversight”, the Anglican Network in Canada was excluded from the process only days prior to the hearing. Instead, the Panel of Reference restricted their meeting in late July to representatives of six Vancouver-area parishes, officials from the diocese of New Westminster, and the Primate of Canada, Archbishop Andrew Hutchinson.
The Network had originally applied to the Archbishop of Canterbury in October 2005 for “Adequate Episcopal Oversight” for all biblically-faithful Canadian Anglican parishes and clergy – that is, to have an alternative bishop appointed to oversee Canadian priests and parishes that are in serious theological dispute with their existing bishop or leadership.
In the diocese of New Westminster, not only have priests and elected wardens been fired and congregations locked out of their own buildings, but many parish youth have been waiting more than 5 years for confirmation from an orthodox bishop and new orthodox ministers cannot be ordained for these congregations.
“We know many orthodox Canadian Anglicans will be disappointed that the Network’s case was not heard by the Panel,” said Bishop Donald Harvey, moderator of the Anglican Network in Canada. “However, we are grateful that the Panel is considering the plight of these six congregations in the diocese of New Westminster which have remained true to traditional Anglican teaching despite punitive action by their Church authorities. Please pray with us that the Panel’s decision will provide the urgently needed protection and oversight for these parishes.”
The Network’s original application followed the 2005 requests by the Primates of the Anglican Communion and the Anglican Consultative Council that the Anglican Church of Canada “voluntarily withdraw” from participation in the highest bodies of the Anglican Communion at least until 2008 because of its departure from traditional Anglican teaching. This withdrawal is referred to as “walking apart” or “suspension” from participation in the global Communion.
The Network will now appeal to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Primates for a response to our original application for a Canada-wide solution. There are thousands of Anglicans across Canada who are committed to traditional Anglican teaching and who want to remain a vital part of the global Anglican Communion.
The Network will continue to actively represent and support all Canadian Anglicans and parishes whose orthodox, biblically-faithful views put them at odds with their church authorities. The Network is also committed to ensuring that orthodox Canadian Anglicans are able to officially remain in communion with their spiritual brothers and sisters around the world – even if the Anglican Church of Canada permanently “walks apart”.
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