From SF:
Memorandum
To: Diocesan Clergy, Members of Diocesan Council
From: Bishop Michael Ingham
Date: February 19, 2009Subject: New Activities of the Network
Dear Friends in Christ:
Throughout the centuries, Anglicanism has held together evangelicals, liberals, and anglo-catholics in a single church. Such is our ethos and mysterium.
It is this historic tradition the newly-arrived Network now seeks to undermine. Specifically, they have begun active church-planting in this Diocese with the assistance of the recently retired Bishop of Algoma, Ronald Ferris, who has relinquished his ordained ministry in the Anglican Church of Canada. These efforts to create a parallel Province in this country inevitably involve the recruitment of people from our own congregations, and directly contravene the ancient and modern traditions of the Christian church.
Their goal is to alter Anglican identity. They want to re-shape dioceses along ideological rather than geographic lines. They reject the historic episcopate and seek to put in its place a kind of theological party leadership. There is nothing “orthodox” about these schemes.
I write to make it clear that no assistance or encouragement is to be given to the Network or its leaders in their aim of replacing the generous breadth of our tradition with a narrower one. This applies to all clergy, diocesan and parish officers in their stewardship of buildings and other human and financial resources.
Let us carry on with our mission and ministry as this Church has received it from Christ. As we approach Lent, let us be aware of the temptation to pursue human rather than godly standards, and focus our work on the Gospel of God’s love and justice.
Kindest regards,
Michael
The horror of disrupting the ethos and mysterium and – planting churches. I think I am going to have an attack of the vapours. It is hard to see how any organisation that is truly Christian could possibly object to church planting.
“involve the recruitment of people from our own congregations”. There is no need to recruit people in the Titanic to join those in the lifeboats.
“They want to re-shape dioceses along ideological rather than geographic lines”. Parishes and individuals who have joined ANiC simply want to belong to a diocese that is Christian: it has nothing to do with ideology.
“I write to make it clear that no assistance or encouragement is to be given to the Network or its leaders”. This appears to be an open threat.
This: “As we approach Lent, let us be aware of the temptation to pursue human rather than godly standards” is a perfect example of how the liberal church, without batting an eye, accuses others of doing what it itself does.
Michael Ingham is simply running true to form. He sends out these missives from time to time, but I’m not convinced they make much difference.
Historic episcopacy? What about the historic faith? Talk about putting the cart before the horse…. then removing the horse… and then wondering why the horse has joined ANiC!
Of course, the fact that he feels threatened by ANiC/ACNA must mean they’re doing something right…
I will point out again that Bishop Ron has not given up his ordained ministry.
It is incredible to see such hate in print.
Whatever happened to Gamaliel’s “let’s see if this thing is from God”? Whatever happened to “love your enemies, do good to those who persecute you”? Whatever happened to “you have heard how the gentiles lord their power… let it not be with you.”
This is more like the “And Saul breathing out threats…” I wonder if the church was praying for their enemy, Saul. Let’s pray for the Damascus Road for Michael Ingham
Pray for Mr. Ingham. He is truly lost.
Ingham, I think, has seen some of the writing that is on the wall. He is losing Parishes, and in those Parishes that remain he is losing Congregants. His Diocese is in what pilots would call a death spin. Perhaps he thinks that if he can destroy ANIC and ACNA, that his situation will improve. But he does not see the truth anymore. The sheep know their Sheppard, and the Sheppard is Jesus (not Ingham). And so the sheep go to their Sheppard, wherever He may be.
I would like to say that I hope the new church plants – as in all ANiC churches/congregations/house groups – would not be so much interested in ‘going after’ those already who know the Lord Jesus Christ, but those who don’t. And I would think the latter is what Bp. Ferris has in mind.
Just so Margo. I find this letter sad really, as it shows a theologically bankrupt leadership desperately trying to grasp onto what is ‘theirs’ – though of course the Church is always and only, Gods!
What a hurtful and uncharitable letter. Exclusive and eight years too late. The Network would not be necessary if people had received pastoral care as promised. It denies the reality of people with family in both churches who have visited on special occasions. Others have left for other denominations. Perhaps the Network should bill the Diocese for continuing to pay their bills. I gather the Network churches graciously continue to pray for him and the Diocese. There is freedom of religion in Canada. People are free to worship where they choose. Lord, have mercy.
This man has missed his calling in lfe. He would do well as dictator of a banana republic .
Charity, please.
I saw this in a comment about a different situation over at Stand Firm and thought of the good bishop right away
I too am saddened by Bishop Ingham’s letter and question his comment about the Network contravening the ancient and moderrn traditions of the church. What traditions exactly is he referring to?
As a so-called bishop, Michael Ingham is nothing less than a wolf in sheeps clothing believing that God is subject to him. As a politician he is well polished as he conveys falsehooods in a manner than many are “taken in”. I pray for his repentence but his arrogance makes that impossible unless the Holy Spirit convicts him in a very sharp and abrupt manner.
It’s easy to jump all over Michael Ingham.
He is powerful and proud. He has position and respect from the world. By some hailed as a leader of a ‘justice cause’, he perhaps sees himself written up as a hero in future history books. He wears fancy vestments and has likely even received phone calls from the Dalai Lama. Wow!
Or is it: Woe!?
Let us have sympathy for this man. He is just as we were when we were without Christ and dead in our trespasses. He is deceived as many of us once were deceived. Let us pray that, even today, Michael Ingham will find himself on his knees before the Lord who died for him, who cried out from the cross for his forgiveness, and who offers peace with God even to this man who lives and works as an enemy. And let us pray that Michael will rise humbled, forgiven and clothed in the righteousness which only Lord Jesus can give.
What glory this would be!!
This attitude just shows how desperate the diocese of New West (NW) is, in attempting to stop the growth of ANiC they make themselves look foolish and un-Christian. ANiC is growing and there is no stopping it each month new churches are joining.
I read a statement by Gandhi yesterday where he says “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians, they are so unlike your Christ”. Doesn’t this speak of the attitude of both NW and ACoC.