From Abbey News:
The parishioners at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church in Abbotsford have been told it will be Thanksgiving (Oct. 12) before they receive a Supreme Court decision over who owns the church property – the local congregation, or the Diocese of New Westminster.
In June, Justice Stephen Kelleher presided over a three-week civil trial to determine whether the diocese owns the land and buildings of four churches that broke away over the issue of same sex blessings. At stake are the properties of St. Matthew’s on Guilford Drive, and three Vancouver-area churches: St. John’s Shaugnessy, St. Matthias and St. Luke.
“In the meantime, it’s kind of business as usual,” said Rev. Mike Stewart. “We’re feeling positive. Morale is good.”
Behind the scenes, the clergymen are building a new Anglican hierarchy within the Anglican Network in Canada.
“It is a growing movement of orthodox Anglicans,” said Stewart. “There are almost two expressions of Anglican churches in Canada now.”
Trevor Walters, who was rector of St. Matthew’s for the past 18 years, has been made bishop of a new diocese that covers Western Canada, from B.C. to Manitoba. He will still be based at St. Matthew’s.
Stewart, who has been an associate priest in Abbotsford for the past seven years, has been promoted to rector of St. Matthew’s.
He said these new developments show the church will continue, regardless of the Supreme Court decision as to who owns the church property.
“We’re looking to the future very positively,” said Stewart. “We just may need to meet in a different building.”
“There are almost two expressions of Anglican churches in Canada now.” I am pleased that the Rev’d Stewart said “almost”. The direction of the ACoC is headed is inclusive new age apostacy. unless repentence takes place the term Anglican church will not apply.
“Behind the scenes, the clergymen are building a new Anglican hierarchy within the Anglican Network in Canada.”
I hope that great imagination is being applied to this. to copy the old system, including synod operations as they were is folly. This does nothing to improve the chances of oneness in unity.