NOTE3: Bumped once again…..
NOTE2: Bumped again….
NOTE: Bumped from 14th April (when the story broke) to 20th April to keep this fresh – there’s a good debate going on here.
The Rev. Darrel Critch, Rector at St. Mary the Virgin on Craigmillar Avenue, St John’s, Newfoundland has been removed from his position by Bp. Pitman and Archdeacon Peddle.
This happened on the evening of Thursday the 10th of April at an emergency Vestry Meeting called by Bishop Pitman. Archdeacon Peddle showed up at the meeting and shortly thereafter Rev. Critch was relieved from his duties. Archdeacon Peddle has now been appointed administrator of St. Mary’s.
Why? Well what I have heard is that Rev. Critch made a stand on the Scriptures and removed a couple from choir who were living together in an immoral relationship. When the body of St. Mary’s became divided, he put out a survey basically saying “make up your mind, either you stand on God’s word over this or you don’t” and to have answers in by Friday 11th April to be tabulated. He had made it clear that if the congregation stood with him, he would stay…if not, he would leave the Parish. However preemptive action was taken prior to Friday…..
I understand that he was offered another Parish somewhere else and when he refused it, he was advised that perhaps he should take some time off on sick leave to which he said that he would not, since he was not sick. That is then when he was placed on administrative leave.
When the survey ballots were actually counted, approximately 350 votes were cast, and 94% were in support of the priest.
Sunday Morning, Archdeacon Peddle conducted his first service at St. Mary’s. When he announced that Rev. Critch had been placed on administrative leave, I understand that about 300 people got out of their seats and left the Church in protest.
I have multiple sources confirming these events (though some of the details are only from one source – thank you Gerry).
Note that Rev. Critch is not a member of the Essentials Network, though I believe he is a member of Essentials as the overall body.
I’m not entirely sure if this is an example of an orthodox priest getting dumped because he had the temerity to stand on his beliefs and make waves, or whether it is simply a ham-fisted attempt to exert and maintain control. Either way, it is hardly an edifying spectacle and I am sure that Rev. Critch would value your prayers.
perhaps this one will gather steam again sometime in the coming weeks or months…….. sigh……….
Every Sunday a group of us has worshipped together at rented halls. Our offerings have gone to mission work. New people come week by week. This Sunday will mark a major milestone for us as we will again have Fr. Critch with us.
God has made a way !
We have great news…. how do we make a new blog posting?
I see the comment about the two members of the choir living in what you call an “immoral” relationship. Who are you to judge???? I attend St. Marys when I am in St. John’s on Sunday…I was baptized there….I was raised there….I was confirmed there. I like Father Critch, still do, always will (hopefully). What I do not like is the intolerence of the so-called Christians of this group. You call Bishop Pittman a power-monger, yet everything I see here and everything I hear from your members is centered around one theme: “We are right, you are wrong….follow us or be condemed”. I guess the Muslim faith isn’t the only group that has it’s small minority of fanatics.
Allan (#304), for someone who says “Who are you to judge????”, there seems to be a whole lot of judging going on. If you read the site a little closer, you will actually discover that the dominant theme is that we are all sinners who deserve God’s wrath but that, through God’s grace and the atoning power of Jesus’ death, our relationship can be restored. There is nothing we can do to merit salvation – it is all God’s grace. The Bible teaches us (as does the BCP) that God is holy and hates sin. Those who have experienced His loving grace should naturally desire, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, to be obedient to His commandments, even though they may frequently stumble. To willfully continue in sin, and spurn the counsel of those in positions of spiritual authority, suggests an unregenerate heart. This is Christianity 101.
As an aside, this is a very old thread, and I only noticed your comment because I use an RSS feed. Don’t expect anyone else to respond or even read your comment. If you want to join the current discussion, look to the threads from the last couple of days.
Folks, you have made many attempts to discredit the Anglican Church of Canada in general and Bishop Cyrus Pitman specifically. I’m sort of glad you people came along and kicked up this fuss. You have served a great purpose to the ACoC–and that is to make us stronger and more determined to survive the thrive. “God’s blessings to you all”.
Stronger,
This thread is buried in the recesses of 2008, so I doubt that anyone is going to read these comments, but I think the ACoC does a fine job of discrediting itself without any assistance.