In his Bishop’s Charge to the 93rd synod of the Diocese of BC, Bishop James Cowan made it clear that the the diocese is in trouble financially. Even the woodpeckers are against the diocese: they are devouring the cathedral.
This section in particular stood out for its spectacular inaccuracies:
Five members of the clergy with laity from three parishes – St. Mary, Nanoose, St. Matthias, Victoria, and just this week from Brentwood Chapel, have departed the Diocese of British Columbia and the Anglican Church of Canada for membership and possible ministry in a newly forming denomination. Many have been hurt by these departures, for they have been people we trusted, they were colleagues, and friends. Their departure is a wound in the Body of Christ which will take time to heal, both within the Body and in our memories.
To set the record straight:
The ministry of the priests who left the Diocese of BC is not a “possible” ministry; it is a ministry that is active and real.
ANiC is not a “new denomination”. It is a diocese in the ACNA and is recognised as Anglican by the majority of the world’s Anglicans.
The departure of the clergy from the ACoC is not “a wound in the Body of Christ”: it is a healing in the body of Christ since the ANiC priests have realigned with orthodox Anglicans. The wounding of the Body of Christ occurred – and continues to occur – when Christ’s professed followers wilfully depart from his commands.
I would disagree with you on the wound part. Surgury, even when necessary, still creats a wound which must be tended to, else it will become infected.
“from such turn away” This is the command that has been willfully followed.
Cathy, when the sword of truth is wielded it cannot wound the body of Christ. It does however cut, the infection is already present as the snare that binds is now choking and festering.
(again I didn’t finish)
….we can only pray that the soothing balm of repentence will release the captives, including this poor bishop who has so much more to worry about than the woodpeckers. They seem to know what they are doing. Again one of those “turns of phrase” that I find self incriminating. I wonder when ol’ Woody started the task.
What galls me is the bishop’s use of the words “trusted” and “friends.” Those “colleagues” who departed the Diocese of BC for ANiC were never considered “friends” by the bishop nor were they “trusted” as far as the bishop could throw them.
This is a bishop who failed to make hospital visits to his incapacitated “friends” and who has palmed off his pastoral duties for his clergy onto a retired clergyman by vote of synod.
I’m reminded of Facebook and its misuse of the word “friend” for one’s facebook contacts.
Whoa Sam, How did you know about the lack of hospital visits? Did you know that said Bishop never even bothered to phone said “friends” when they were hospitalized? Think there was a breakdown in trust? It was never there to begin with.
I think that was her point….