Anglican Network in Canada News Release
Feb 17th, 2008 by Kate
Anglican Network in Canada NEWS RELEASE
More Anglican congregations decide their future
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 17 February 2008
Seven Anglican congregations voted this weekend to accept the episcopal oversight of Bishop Donald Harvey, Moderator of the Anglican Network in Canada, under the Primatial authority of Archbishop Gregory Venables and the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone. Most churches accepted this option with decisive majorities.
What this means is that these congregations are requesting spiritual care from and will come under the authority of Bishop Harvey and Archbishop Venables, rather than their former Anglican Church in Canada diocese and bishop who are walking away from established Christian teaching and globally recognized Anglican doctrine.
Today, six churches voted to accept Bishop Harvey’s spiritual care.
St. George’s (Lowville), Campbellville, ON
In favour 128
Opposed 3
Abstained 1
St. Hilda’s, Oakville. ON
In favour 86
Opposed 0
Abstained 1
St. Chad’s, Toronto, ON
In favour 12
Opposed 10
Abstained 2
St. Mary’s (Metchosin), Victoria, BC
In favour 105
Opposed 14
Abstained 3
St. Matthew’s, Abbotsford, BC
In favour 186
Opposed 4
Abstained 5
*Holy Cross, Abbotsford, BC
In favour 23
Opposed 0
Abstained 0
*Note: Holy Cross was not an Anglican Church of Canada parish at the time of the vote
Voting Saturday
St Alban’s, Ottawa, Ontario
In favour 77
Opposed 1
Abstained 1
All of these churches have acted because they are concerned about what is happening in the Anglican Church of Canada. They are determined to stay true to historic Christian teaching but see the ACoC changing its teaching on fundamental, historic Christian teaching, such as the authority of the Bible and salvation through Jesus Christ alone.
While orthodox Anglicans are in a minority in Canada, they are in the majority worldwide. What is happening in Canada is part of a much bigger controversy in Anglican churches worldwide.
Since 2003, the leaders of the global Anglican Churches have repeatedly asked the Anglican Church of Canada to return to faithful Anglican practice and teaching. They have also called upon the Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC) to provide appropriate spiritual care and oversight for parishes like these which remain faithful to orthodox Anglican teaching – but to no avail. In fact the actions of the ACoC have helped precipitate the global realignment which is now taking place in the Anglican Communion.
Archbishop Gregory Venables, Primate of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone, has responded to the need of biblically faithful Canadian Anglicans for spiritual protection and care on an emergency and interim basis - pending a resolution to the crises in the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Archbishop Venables is well respected as an orthodox leader in the global Anglican Communion. He leads the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone which is one of 38 Provinces that make up the global Anglican Communion. It encompasses much of South America and includes Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay and Argentina.
Contact:
Marilyn Jacobson, communications
Anglican Network in Canada
mjacobson(at)anglicannetwork(dot)ca
Peter thinks it’s like election night, but I say It’s beginning to feel like I’m following cricket scores…
(grin)
The beginnings of a brave new world?
I hope so.
I am eager to see this grow, and in how other (earlier) continuing movements may form with it.
May God Himself truly bless us and lift us up.
May the lost ones find repentance and true faith in Christ.
Some pretty good numbers for cricket (77/1, 86/0, 128/3, etc.) I think we’re only at stumps on day one, though. We’ll have to see how the other side bats when they get their innings.
Yes, dear… ed (In case you are wondering “Bill in Ottawa” is Kate’s other half….)
I have no doubt that they will make good use of their ’spin’ bowlers, place some of their people at silly mid-off or silly mid-on and hope to catch the orthodox in the slips. It is thus so important that the orthodox play a straight bat at all times and watch out for the googly!
There should be a good crowd, as we’ll be surrounded by a great cowd of witnesses … and not a lager lout in sight!!
Apologies to those for whom cricket is beyond imponderable!
Incredible… I wasn’t expecting it to happen so fast. The April conference should be quite something.
I notice no reaction yet on the ACoC website. I don’t think they were quite prepared for this…
My prayer is that this group will grow, plant new churches, and not simply be one of many Anglican splinter groups. In particular, perhaps even before the April conference, that some movement will occur to unify the Network with the ACiC, and perhaps even to forge ties with other traditional Anglicans in Canada.
re #6 I believe that is the long term goal.
I am amazed that so many congregation are thinking with a like mind. It is almost as if the Holy Spirit has a hand here and is guiding “thoses who know the Shepherds voice” in a new direction. I only wish my congregation was open to this discussion , but it is beyond them. They do not want to hear about controversy in the church and seen unconcerned about the direction the ACofC is taking.
re #6 check out the Common Cause Partnership website for info on the amazing work being done to re-unite Anglican groups across North America.
http://www.united-anglicans.org/
Is the exact wording of the resolution used available anywhere? I concede this is mostly idle curiosity, but I have an interest as a churchwarden within the Diocese of Ottawa to suppress rumour. I prefer to do that with facts.
I think each parish worded the resolution they used on their own, Henry, although I could be wrong.
Henry
You may wish to contact one of the wardens at St. Alban’s or Fr. George.
Can anyone tell me what the story was on Holy Cross, Abbotsford? Where did they come from? Thanks.
Re: 9. I am following the work of Common Cause with intense interest, and am taking every opportunity to encourage the process along. The difficult part is that there are groups of orthodox Anglicans that are not involved in the Common Cause process, and it would be wonderful if a successful way were found to reach out to them.
Michael
As I recall, Holy Cross was a church plant of St Matthew, Abbotsford. +Michael didn’t like what they were doing, so he pulled the licence of the priest and withdrew support of the (then mission) parish. Rather than folding up and going away, the parish has continued.
I am writing from Victoria, British Columbia. I applaud those who are able to be honest about their thoughts and feelings and prepared to stand up and be counted. I was brought up an Anglican, baptized and confirmed, Head Choir Boy, Head Server and all. I married a wonderful woman (Baptist) and I realized that there were other ways to worship, all of equal acceptance and importance. After all we’re brothers and sisters in Christ regardless of our denomination.
The recent differences of opinion are healthy, it’s not good to sit back and just accept things as they come. To stand up and state ones opinion is critically important even if the heads of the church are not of like minds.
Archbishops, Bishops, all Clergy, Wardens and Church Council Members, please realize that those who are stating their opinions are the ones who ‘pay the bills’. This is the 21st. Century and changes are inevitable but that doesn’t mean that the hierarchy of the Anglican Church can just enforce policies that are not acceptable to the membership. Like in a business, respect ones clientiel, in other words, the parishioners ! They’re the ones who pay the bills.
Once again I am very pleased to see the laity speaking out. There are some Clergy, especially here in B.C., (Victoria….Archdeacon Bruce Bryant-Scott) who just assume that they can discipline (fire!)clergy who don’t follow the what seems to be ‘new’ ways of the Anglican Church, those who don’t believe in marrying same sex couples. It seems to me that we were taught in Sunday School that God created ‘man and woman’. Funny how we can change history to fit our sex drive and have the church support us !
Sorry, but if the hierarchy of the Anglican Church doesn’t soon wake up and realize that their congregations might just move on to another denomination who will appreciate them and listen to their opinions, well, is that ‘God’s Will” ???
Bryant-Scott (and I’m sure others) states that church properties belong to the Anglican Church of Canada, to the Diocese. That may be but it’s those within the church who made it possible to maintain the buildings, they’re the ones who ‘pay the bills’. It may now be time for Municipalities to ’step up to the plate’ and request property taxes be paid.
It would be a sad day if church’s can’t reconcile, oh, that’s kind of like ‘practicing what they preach’ !!!!! Not a good example for non-believer’s !
re: 13 Michael, In answer to your remarks, there are “Anglican” groups that are not jumping on the bandwagon because they actually are orthodox Anglicans and the issue of women’s odrinations preclude them from joining those who allow it.