From here:
Bishop Ronald Ferris of the northern Ontario diocese of Algoma, who also served as bishop of the Yukon, said he intends to retire, effective Sept. 30, 2008.
…Bishop Ferris has been known as a strong conservative voice on the issues surrounding homosexuality. At the 2004 General Synod governing convention, he stood with a group of nine bishops who criticized as “contrary to the teaching of Scripture” synod’s vote to affirm “the integrity and sanctity” of adult same-sex relationships.
I understand this may Bishop Ferris’ time/need to retire, but I am very sad to hear it. Algoma was the diocese I grew up in. It was so reassuring to know they were standing strong against the apostate direction the greater church has taken.
Bishop Ferris, I wish you well. I pray your succeeding bishop will have the same strong stance for what is right that you do.
May God bless you for your courage!
Does anyone know the names of the Bishops who stood with Ron Ferris in 2004 at General Synod. One, I believe was ++Don Harvey, another was ++Len Whitten. Who were the others and are they still active?
I’ve been googling, googling, can’t find it. There were 9 bishops. I’m pretty sure ++Burton was one.
yes + Burton was one and he is now in ministry in the US
The nine Bishops according to VirtueOnline were:
Rt. Rev. Donald F. Harvey, Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador
Rt. Rev. Ronald C Ferris, Diocese of Algoma
Rt. Rev. Andrew Atagotaaluk, Diocese of Arctic
Rt. Rev. Benjamin T. Arreak, Diocese of Arctic
Rt. Rev. Larry Robertson, Diocese of Arctic
Rt. Rev. William Anderson, Diocese of Caledonia
Rt. Rev. Anthony Burton, Diocese of Saskatchewan
Rt. Rev. Charles Arthurson, Diocese of Saskatchewan
Rt. Rev. Terrence Buckle, Diocese of Yukon
Re: 5 Not Archbishop John Clarke, Athabasca?
They’re disappearing fast, aren’t they
Reminiscent of “Ten Little Indians.”
Bishop Ferris has another 18 years to give and the Church needs him to help chart through present waters. I am convinced that practical men and not ideologues will bring the Church through these times. Since the Holy Spirit told ++ Buckle to stay on I pray the Holy Spirit would send a similar message to Bishop Ferris.
5 ML
Has it occurred to anyone else that these bishops, by-and-large, represent Canada’s “third world”?
The wealthy dioceses have uniformly advanced the anti-scripture position. Filthy lucre?
Peace,
Jim
Jim: Very astute observation. Maybe though its less about money as about culture. If you have already gone to the hard work of discovering what things in your culture are consistant with Scripture and what things are not then this is just one more thing to prayerfully weigh. But if you think your culture IS christian then as culture changes so should Christianity. The more you live and work close to people who must leave parts of their culture to follow Christ the more this idea is understood. I dont know but I wonder if St Chads in Toronto wouldnt be similar?