ANiC News Release:
Two more Ontario parishes join Anglican Network in Canada
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5 October 2008
The congregations of St George’s in Ottawa and the Church of St Peter in Hamilton both voted with overwhelming majorities today to come under the episcopal oversight of Bishop Donald Harvey, Moderator of the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) and under the Primatial authority of Archbishop Gregory Venables of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone.
The two congregations demonstrated strong unity in making these decisions. At St George’s the vote was 130 in favour and 27 opposed, while at St Peter’s, 42 voted in favour and one was opposed. Attendance at both parish vestry meetings was unexpectedly high.
With the addition of these two parishes, ANiC now comprises 21 parishes, 13 of which were former Anglican Church of Canada parishes at the time of their votes.
“It is a great joy to welcome the people of St George’s and St Peter’s into a faithfully Anglican and unabashedly Christian organization,” said the Venerable Charlie Masters, Executive Archdeacon of the Anglican Network in Canada. “By aligning with the Anglican Network in Canada, they join a growing movement of Anglicans throughout North America seeking to remain in the mainstream of global and historic Anglicanism.”
St George’s, which is located in the heart of downtown Ottawa, has an average Sunday attendance of 250. Historically, about 100 St George’s members have attended vestries (church business meetings) to vote. The congregation of St George’s was formed in 1885 and continues to meet in the same location to this day. The people of St George’s are actively engaged in their community, offering practical assistance to the marginalized, Good News to spiritual seekers, and solid Biblical teaching to all who pursue a closer relationship with God. St George’s website is: www.stgeorgesottawa.ca.
The Church of St Peter (Hamilton) traces its roots to 1890. The current church facility was built in 1915 and this was later expanded with the additions of a parish hall and day care centre. St Peter’s has always had an orthodox membership, upholding the authority of the Bible and the divinity and lordship of Jesus Christ. From the beginning, there has been a focus on outreach and missions. The parish founded St Peter’s Hospital in the late 1800s and, more recently, the St. Peter’s Daycare. In addition to Sunday services, youth, children’s and men’s ministries, St Peter’s offers a variety to ministries in the community, including a monthly Soul Café for relaxed fellowship while enjoying the sound of local musicians.
These congregations acted because they are determined to remain biblically faithful, true to historic Christian orthodoxy and long-standing Anglican teaching. Unfortunately, the Anglican Church of Canada continues to abandon mainstream Anglican teaching and doctrine, particularly in relation to the authority of the Bible, breaking with the vast majority of global Anglicans. While orthodox Anglicans are in a minority in Canada, they are the overwhelming majority worldwide.
What is happening in Canada is part of a much bigger controversy in Anglican churches globally. Since 2003, the Primates of the Anglican Communion have repeatedly asked the Anglican Church of Canada to return to biblically faithful Anglican practice and teaching and to provide adequate episcopal oversight for dissenting parishes, but to no avail. In 2002, the communion-breaking actions of the New Westminster diocese in the Anglican Church of Canada first sparked the current global crisis and realignment now taking place in Anglicanism. Other Anglican Church of Canada dioceses have since voted to follow New Westminster’s lead, including the Dioceses of Ottawa and Niagara, where the parishes of the St George’s and St Peter’s are geographically located.
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.
The Anglican Province of the Southern Cone 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.
Members of the Anglican Network in Canada are committed to remaining faithful to Holy Scripture and established Anglican doctrine and to ensuring that orthodox Canadian Anglicans are able to remain in full communion with their Anglican brothers and sisters around the world.
Contact:
Marilyn Jacobson
That is wonderful news.
Welcome aboard! It was the best move we ever made.
While we see these churches voting with their feet as a whole, we do not see the individual members of other places leaving one by one and family by family. The only hint of the fallout is the empty churches and for sale signs dotting the landscape and loses as seen in the National Church’s finances.
Obituary [#3], while there are clusters of ANiC Churches, there are also large gaps between them. If the disaffected had somewhere else to go, they might return to Church.
If they even know about us. We are starting to get some mainstream media coverage now, but in the past if you didn’t read the blogs you might not have known there was an alternative. The rector has a huge amount of control over what information gets into a parish – in many places anything from Essentials gets filed in square file #1.
obituary (3) and Gordon Arthur (4)
Hello,
Keep in mind that not all ANiC churches are formerly ACoC Churches. There are at least five parishes with a combined average Sunday attendance (ASA) of more than 200, that we not previously part of ACoC. Additionally, ANiC is initiating “church plantings”, and thus we can look forward to the creation of more ANiC congregations. I am very hopeful that one such new congregation will soon be established in may area (Owen Sound, Ontario), and have been in touch with ANiC about helping out with this planting.
The fact is that we do see individual people and families leaving ACoC. ACoC ASA is declining by a rate of 2% per year. Admittendly, some of this is due to mortallity. However, ACoC has very little left in the way of young families, and consequently is dispreportionately comprised of senours and “empty nesters” who are past that stage in their lives in which they would be (please excuse any offence in this) “replacing themselves” with the next generation. These “empty nesters” already had their children. These children have grown up, and did not go along with ACoC as it drifted away from God’s Holy Word.
The challenge now facing ANiC, is to be there to pick up the pieces. To be the truly Faithful Anglican Church for all of us. There is so much work that needs to be done, and done quickly.
Yes, we welcome into ANiC the Parishes of St. Peter in Hamilton, St. George’s in Ottawa, and St. Aidan’s in Windsor. Let us also plant new Parishes, so that we may also welcome individuals and families.
Onward Christian Soldiers.
Correction in my earlier posting
I mistakenly said “These children have grown up, and did go along with ACoC as it drifted away from God’s Holy Word.” What I meant to say was “These children have grown up, and did NOT go along with ACoC as it drifted away from God’s Holy Word.”
Fixed! –admin
It continues to sadden me to see the bickering going on among Christians. This site has reflected a lot of unchristian comments and responses. I am quite comfortable in the Anglican Church of Canada. I hope people remember that the General Synod of 2007 defeated the motion to go forward with the blessing of same gender unions. The AC of C. however, does not have the jurisdiction over dioceses who choose not to abide by the decision of the General Synod. I am further dismayed by the actions of the Southern Cone to intrude in the business of another jurisdiction, it is shocking. I wonder how archbishop Venerables would react if the AC of C suddenly started ordaining women in his province? People who support him and bishop Harvey should consider where they are on these issues – the ordination of women, remarriage of divorced persons, new forms of liturgy, etc. For those who feel that the AC of C is becoming too liberal, does it not bother you that the province of the Southern Cone is at the other extreme – Ultra Conservative? Search the province of the Southern Cone and you will not find even one licensed female priest.
I wish all who leave the AC of C the very best, but I do hope they are fully aware of the facts and know what they are leaving for. They cannot say its because of the AC of C permitting the blessing of same gender unions, as the record shows that to be untrue. Some dioceses may be doing this but that flies in the face of the motion of General Synod. Also the Lambeth conference called for a moratorium which I fully expect the dioceses of Canada, at least the majority of them to honor. Thank you and I fully understand if you decide not to post this comment.
A member of the AC of C
#8 Unfortunately, what the ACoC signs on to and what she actually does are only too often two very different things. All of the issues you bring up have been debated ad nauseum on this blog, especially the ordination of women issue. I for one have no desire to debate them yet again.
Rev. Randy [8],
The 2007 general synod also passed this: “That this General Synod resolves that the blessing of same-sex unions is not in conflict with the core doctrine (in the sense of being credal) of the Anglican Church of Canada.”
This, the fact that 4 dioceses have passed motions that approve SSBs and the fact that Fred Hiltz condones the policies of New Westminster surely means the writing is on the wall. Even if the moratorium on SSBs holds (something I doubt), how long will it hold and, without repentance from Michael Ingham and co, what real use is it?
In the recent Michael Coren show, Dean Peter Wall was unwilling to unequivocally state that he believes in the physical resurrection of Jesus and his virgin birth; Rev. Lynn Corfield declared that mankind is not sinful. Last year in a Niagara clericus meeting, all but one of the priests present were in favour of dropping the recital of the creed since they no longer believed it. Niagara synods celebrate liturgies with a mish-mash of pagan symbols and ideas. It is no longer a question of conservative vs liberal: it is Christianity vs neo-paganism.
Greg Venables has intruded in nothing: the ANiC parishes asked to come under his jurisdiction. This isn’t about territory (well, it is for the ACoC), it is about sticking with the truth.
If you would like something to be shocked and dismayed about there is this: the church in which you feel comfortable is at odds with 70% of worldwide Anglicans, is ferociously prosecuting ANiC parishes in secular courts for no other reason than to seize their buildings and is deliberately smearing the reputation of ANiC bishops who can no longer put up with the heresies being pursued by the ACoC.
[8]
Rev. Randy Lockyer
I confess. It annoys me when someone comes on to our website, accuses the members of this Blog with unchristian behaviour and then displays a profound ignorance of the information covered daily here. David (in [9]) has responded to some of the substantive issues.
The question I pose is “what do you consider unchristian”?
Is it hearing the ACoC called heretical? Is it our common use of the term apostasy with reference to the ACoC? If that’s your criticism, let’s debate. If it’s the myriad strong criticisms of the leadership of the ACoC, let’s debate.
As it stands, your remarks are nothing more than unsubstantiated drive-by tripe.
Peace,
Jim
Jim: Thanks for your “kind, Christian words”. It further reaffirms my thought that you and the others who support your “view of Anglicanism” are filled with a rage and hatred that I can’t find supported by scripture. I think my earlier words touched a sore point. Maybe you did not like me pointing out just how ultra – conservative the province of the southern cone really is, on issues such as the ordination of women. Sorry if that hurts. However, I will treat you with a little more kindness and Christian respect than you afforded me in your enraged rant.
With Kindness
Randy
Randy [#12],
How about less pop-psychology and more rational discussion.
#12 It would be nice if you answered Jim’s question instead of insulting him – I would also like folks to know that Randy and the Rev. Randy Lockyer who posted here a while back are the same person. We do appreciate it if you sign in with the same name each time.
Rage and hatred, eh? Have you ever met Jim face to face? No? Have you actually sat down and had a discussion with any of us? In person, over a coffee, perhaps? Jumping to that sort of conclusion on the basis of a blog post isn’t exactly a Christian attitude either.
[12]
Randy,
Once again you have shown us your character: you accuse; you denigrate; you judge; you project. And still, you won’t answer questions.
Pity.
Peace,
Jim
Peace, please. A little more kindness would not hurt, and labelling everybody with “rage and hatred” isn’t that. I think Randy you’d find it’s more frustration, anger and sadness at times than rage and hatred.