August 14, 2007
How long, O Lord, how long?
As you know, the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) at our recent General Synod, chose to move further away from the Church’s Biblically-based, historic teaching. Rather than heeding the requests of the Primates, the church again turned its back on the global Anglican Communion.
This is not merely the opinion of the Network leadership; it is also the view shared by Primates of the Global South as evidenced by the recent statement from the Global South Steering Committee. (www.anglicannetwork.ca/g_south_statement_071807.htm) In this statement, the Global South Steering Committee said they were considering alternative plans for pastoral care for faithful Canadian Anglicans.
Many Network members have wondered aloud why things seem to be moving so slowly. How much longer will we have to wait before Biblically-faithful Canadians are provided with a way of remaining Anglican and in full Communion? Many have emailed us over the last few months, some pleading for help in finding a parish that still honours the Bible as God’s holy, unchanging Word. Others unfortunately, have communicated the sad news that they are regretfully no longer Anglican, feeling they cannot be in fellowship with the increasingly unbiblical and inhospitable ACC.
My heart goes out to those who are suffering – often alone in unfaithful parishes – and desperately holding on to the hope that something will be done for them. I, too, feel an increasing urgency for change. And so I take comfort from the Global South Steering Committee’s specific mention of the need for alternative plans for pastoral care for faithful Canadians.
The Network leadership poured intense energy into working shoulder to shoulder with our Federation colleagues to bring about a change in attitude at General Synod. While many good things came of that effort, a change in direction by the ACC was not one of them. Based on the results of General Synod, we have redoubled our efforts to ensure the Primates are mindful of the plight of the Canadian faithful. Over the last few months we actively have been seeking the Primates’ counsel.
My personal hope is that God will open a way for us before the end of this year. We do know that September 30th is a key date – the deadline the Primates gave to the US Church. We expect that, after that date, they will speak more definitively and events may begin to unfold more rapidly.
We have committed from the start to act in collaboration with leading Primates and to do all we can to remain within the embrace of the biblically-faithful global Anglican Communion. We only ask that this solution allow faithful Canadian Anglicans to focus on the ministry of the Gospel under the authority of the orthodox Anglican Communion.
While I don’t yet know what shape this will take, I covet your prayers for all of us in leadership as we work together with the Primates to come to the best possible solution. Please also remember to uphold members of Network who are in unfaithful parishes and who have little fellowship and support.
In any event, in anticipation of a response from the Primates and in light of the decisions of General Synod, we are planning a gathering for later this year – possibly November – to bring together like-minded Canadian Anglicans. Based on the Primates’ response, we hope at this event to be able to provide a specific way forward for those who feel they can no longer remain part of the Anglican Church of Canada.
Finally, it is critically important to keep in mind the context for all this:
· First, we are not alone. While we who are orthodox (i.e. biblically-faithful) may be in the minority in the Canadian Anglican church, we are part of the vast majority in the global church, where over two-thirds are orthodox. And, incidentally, while the liberal provinces and churches are shrinking in numbers, the orthodox provinces and churches are healthy, vibrant and growing.
· Second, the crisis is global. Canada is only one of 38 “provinces” in the global Communion.
· Third, it is a fundamental theological dispute – not merely a disagreement about sexuality. Issues of sexuality are merely symptoms of much deeper disagreements – namely the authority of Holy Scripture and the divinity of Christ. We uphold historic, biblically-faithful Christianity.
· Fourth, a global realignment has begun. This may well be another Reformation. It is not a matter of some “leaving” the Communion and others “staying”, but a complete realignment that will divide the Communion. On one side, will be the smaller liberal minority – largely wealthy Provinces likely Canada and the US. On the other side will be the orthodox majority – those who remain in the mainstream of historic and Biblical Anglican teaching and practice. Although in the majority, the orthodox are largely from less wealthy Provinces of the Global South.
Please prayerfully prepare your heart. Whatever solution we reach with the Primates, we must be prepared for difficulty. We know that God is able to change the hearts of those in authority (Proverbs 21:1), but we have to be prepared. In some hostile dioceses, faithful parishes and clergy may suffer. Dioceses may well take legal action and, as a result, congregations may no longer be able to worship in their usual church buildings.
My dear friends, I think we all realize that the way forward is not going to be easy and almost all of us can expect to suffer in one way or another for the stand we take. Yet let us continue to be strengthened and encouraged by the example of the Apostles in Acts Chapter 5, verses 41 and 42: And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Dear Bishop Don.
Thank you very much for your pastoral letter. I found it very encouraging, but more that that I felt at last I had a leader and someone that really cared about me.
God bless you and keep you strong.
Our prayers are always with you.
George & Sheila Sheach Brandon MB.
Dear Bishop Don:
At last something tangible and encouraging. Enough time, effort and money has been spent in this longstanding battle with the liberal and revisionist part of our church. Let’s move on and put all our resources towards furthering Christ and His Kingdom. We thank you for your outstanding efforts.
Yours In Jesus
Morris and Donna Fisher
Wasaga Beach, Ont
Because of our disappointment and frustration with The ACC I am 1 of 30 that left Trinity, Waterford, Ont. in Nov. 2006 and joined with the Anglican Coalition in Canada and we now worship as St. Barnabas Anglican Mission in the church hall of The Ukranian Orthodox church in Waterford. There is more joy in this congregation now, than I ever experienced during the 24 years I attended Trinity.
I question this statement in Bishop Don Harvey’s newsletter where he says
“How much longer will we have to wait before Biblically-faithful Canadians are provided with a way of remaining Anglican and in full Communion? Many have emailed us over the last few months, some pleading for help in finding a parish that still honours the Bible as God’s holy, unchanging Word.” and yet he doesn’t mention the ACiC churches.
Gord Woods
Herman Russell,
August 17, 2007.
Thank God for leaders like Bishop Don. Having worked as a Sunday School Teacher under him in a NL. Parish many years ago when he was a priest, and having followed his leadership since that time, I have no doubt that he is a chosen and a true and faithful servant of Jesus Christ. May he be spared to continue to preach the “True and Living Word” and continue to carry out the work of the gospel as set out by Christ Himself. It is time for those leaders who otherwise differ and try to push down our throats false teachings, to frealize the truth and follow the example that Jesus set out for us and which is being followed by those who know the difference. Keep up the True Gospel Work Bishop Don, and God will continue to bless your ministry as he has done in the past.
hi i enjoyed the read
Dear Bishop Don,
Thank you for your outstanding and courageous stand. We are simply awestruck every time we read about how the Primates of the Global South are willing to stand for the gospel at all costs. We know that you are on that same page, and we praise God for you.
We have been travelling around this current fruitless circle far too long and it is time to move on with our true calling – presenting the truth, the hope and the healing in Jesus that the gospel offers.
Yours in Christ,
Don & Jean Hamilton
Diocese of Fredericton, New Brunswick
My Dear Bishop;
Mr. Woods mentioned in an earlier message the “Anglican Coalition in Canada”. This is the first I have heard of this organization. I have been investigating the Anglican Catholic Church of Canada and so far have found nothing I disagree with. My loyalty albeit stretched, still remains with the church of my baptism, 1945, the ACC. However the more I investigate the ACCC the more it seems to have in common with my baptismal community than the current ACC. I have one continuing dilema. Our Lord and His disciples taught unity and “same accordness”. Since there appears to be another reformation on the horizon has there been any discussion or investigation of inclusion with these other “home based” (Canada) organizations?
I would like to suggest and volunteer to work with ANIC on the formation of a unified small group network (with Ordained pastoral oversight and a unifying centralized curriculem). this might serve the needs of those Anglicans who have strong ties to their home parishes but feel uncomfortable with the food being served. It could also offer respite to those who wish to leave but are not sure were to go.
For your consideration
May the Lord be merciful
gary
I look forward to hearing from you
Posted on Behalf of Bishop Donald Harvey
Thank you so much for all your comments. I have been very encouraged both by those of you who have made your comments on this blog and by a number of others who have communicated directly with me.
Hearing from our Network members is very important to me – as it is to the entire Network leadership team – as we navigate the rough seas ahead.
I’d like to respond briefly to both Gord’s and Gary’s comments.
Gord mentioned the Anglican Coalition in Canada… We in the Network rejoice with our brothers and sisters who have found refuge in the ACiC – a body with whom we maintain close communications as we do with their US counterpart AMiA. Our calling, in the Anglican Network in Canada, has led us in a somewhat different, however. We have stayed as long as we have in the Anglican Church of Canada for two reasons. We have felt that God has specifically called us to do all we could to call the ACC back to its biblical roots. I think anyone who witnessed our Network members working together with the rest of the Anglican Essentials team at the recent General Synod would agree that we have put our heart into this mission.
Secondly, we have been committed from the start to act under the authority of the Primates, remain in the full Anglican Communion, and do nothing that further tears its fabric.. That has meant years of patiently submitting to and cooperating with the Primates as they sought various Communion wide solutions for our difficulties. We remain committed to acting only with the full blessing of a significant number of godly, orthodox Primates. With the September 30th deadline only six weeks away, I sense that things may begin to move far more quickly this fall. As I said in my letter, I am trusting God to open a way for the Network to be provided Biblically-faithful Primatial authority before the end of the year.
Gary mentions another Anglican body, the Anglican Catholic Church of Canada, and the bigger issue of working towards unity among the various orthodox groups rather than further fracturing. I share very deeply Gary’s concern for unity. Over the years, the Network has been committed to being a unifying force. We have watched what has been happening in the US over the last few years with much concern, as one orthodox group after another has broken with the Episcopal Church and found refuge under different Global South Primates. So, we thank God for the recent reversal of this trend. In the past few months, we’ve seen the Global South Primates begin to collaborate on their actions in North America – as witnessed by the Primates who endorsed the Province of Uganda and the Province of Kenya’s upcoming consecration of new North American bishops. We’re also seeing a new resolve and increased momentum among the Common Cause movement – the network of orthodox North American Anglican groups – to work more closely together. The Anglican Network in Canada is an active member in Common Cause and Canon Charlie Masters and I will be attending what could be a very important meeting of Common Cause bishops near the end of September. While reversing the fragmentation of the past few years will take time, we have much reason to be encouraged.
I think highly of the Anglican Catholic Church of Canada (ACCC) and I have made a number of contacts in the past. One difficulty is that the ACCC officially is not recognized as part of the Anglican Communion, whereas we in the Network are committed to remaining full members. In my conversations with some of the members in the ACCC, I sense they are giving priority to a way to come into “communion” with the Church of Rome than with the Anglican Communion.
In the past, I have “put out feelers” to a number of Canadian groups about the possibility of forming a Common Cause movement in our own country, but have discovered that progress has been slow. Perhaps with the new international momentum towards closer working relations among orthodox groups in the Communion we will see renewed interest here in Canada as well.
Bishop Don
Common Cause – Same Accord, is that light I see in the growing darkness of division. I hope so. did I say hope? hey isn’t that the stuff that substantiates faith?
It appears my first estate is alive and well.
Thank you Bishop Don and Canon Charlie and so many others who continue to work to provide the evidence of what we sometimes can’t see.
Praising God! With joy and thanksgiving
gary
Just a year ago, on Sept 8 2006 I was privileged to attend a common cause meeting in Vancouver BC chaired by Archbishop Yong Ping Chung. The main participants at this meeting were the Rev. Paul Carter, network leader of the ACIC and the ACIC clergy and Bishop Don Harvey and the Essentials Canada clergy. Other “Ortodox Anglican”groups were also represented. Until my trip to Vancouver I had worked diligently to get the majority of the congregation of Trinity, Waterford to become Essentials Canada members. I had difficulty explaining why Essentials was so reluctant to leave the ACC so six of us were invited to be present at parts of the Common Cause meeting to enable us to consider our options. As I stated in my first respose, we decided to become an ACIC congregation and become a mission church of The Province of Rwanda, our Primate is Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini and we receive oversight from Bishop Sandy Green of the ACIC and we remain in the Worldwide Communion. The main reason for this response, we had to return home before the end of the meeting but bfore we left, Archbishop Yong graciously came to wish us well and he indicated that he thought the common cause concept was going well. The difficulty still seems to be Essentials decision for their churches ( even in New Westminter) to remain with their Diocese and the ACC. I have the greatest respect for Bishop Don and Rev. Canon Charlie Masters, I met and listened to them both several times at Essentials meetings and conferences and consider them great men of God but surely the time has come to leave the ACC.
Gord Woods
Mr. Harvey,
Many times in history we have seen well meaning individuals delude themselves and others into doing the work of the devil. I believe your and your lemmings are travelling that road. As a great believer in prayer, I suggest you go that route. But, pray only for what God wants, not what you want. It will happen. I’m sure you will agree.
Richard Mills
St. George’s, Lowville
Diocese of Niagara
Richard,
“Work of the devil”? That’s a pretty harsh accusation to direct at Bishop Harvey and requires justification, which you don’t offer in your brief post. “Lemmings” is also generally used as a pejorative term, although unjustly to the rodent involved – check the Wikipedia article.
Certainly your comments couldn’t be termed “inclusive” nor “loving”, which are the usual mantras of those who oppose the Network. If you are writing from a conviction that +Harvey and the Anglican Network in Canada are false teachers in the New Testament sense (deluding themselves and others as you say) then you had better produce some very convincing arguments. I personally am convinced very much to the contrary based on, I think, a pretty thorough study of the issues involved, and based on personal acquaintance with the people involved including +Harvey and your own rector Charlie+.
No doubt +Don will certainly join you in prayer that God’s will be done – certainly he had opportunity to rush down a road out of the Anglican Church in Canada for a number of years, and yet he has shown patient and prayerful leadership in not doing so.
In Christ’s service,
Norm Henderson
St. George’s, Ottawa
shame, shame, shame!
How unfaithful this man remains.
I believe Mr. Harvey has done enough damge to the church and even more harm to the people of God.
How sad indeed for someone who holds on so hard to the idea that he is a bishop.
I would recommend that Mr. Harvey read “A Generous Orthodoxy.” This might open his mind to who Jesus of Nazareth is calling us as people of God to be.
I am so saddened by what is happening with this situation. This is not the path we should be going down as Anglicans, but more importantly as humans. In the end, do we want to turn our backs on those who are not as we wish them to be? I am praying that Father Don will see the way – soon, before more damage is done.
Sincerely,
Christine
Dear Sir,Bishop Don Harvey,
We are servants of the Most High God and love Jesus with all our heart and serve Him 24 hrs per day.My wife and myself have attended st John’s the Baptist Anglican church here in Duncan for the past 12 years and like the very sound teachings taught by our pastor Rev .Glynn Eason. We totally agree with your understanding and interpetation of the Holy Word of God .Yesterday,thus monday morning November 26-07 we as usual wake up with Rick Clouth of CBC1 news cast in Vancouver and heard the wonderfull, voice of one in the wilderness calling Repent!Repent!Repent!Repent!you sinners.We come from a very sound doctrinal church “the Christian Reformed Church” and we were elated to hear Bishop Don Harvey speak so Clear and eloquent and forward coming straight to the point and telling the world how the fork fits the handle.It blew us out of the water or bed for that matter, for we know few christians that dare to speak so truthfully out in the open.Sir Don Harvey May our Lord Jesus Christ be with you and fill you with compassion for the straying amongst your fellow anglicans and outsiders ,and be filled with the Love of God and enjoy the fellowship of the Holy Spirit now and for ever more.Amen . In service of our King most High we remain most humbly yours J.j S.and I.t.S