Anglican Samizdat

Since the Diocese of New Westminster won the court battle for the buildings of parishes that left the diocese and joined ANiC, St. John’s Shaughnessy, once the largest Anglican parish in Canada, has gone downhill a little. Sunday attendance has dropped from 850 to between 3 and 13; the parish is running a deficit of $20,000 per month and in the week, the building, according to the treasurer, is like a mausoleum.

This was discussed is a parish meeting in November 2011.

Here is the mausoleum remark:

And the $20,000 per month deficit:

Who is paying for this deficit, you might be wondering? The well known philanthropist, Bishop Michael Ingham:

You can listen to the whole meeting here:

A triumph of Pyrrhic proportions for Bishop Michael Ingham.

Lest anyone should start with the wrong idea: it’s not that we have much to learn about Mohammed’s paedophilia or the finer points of exactly which part of the anatomy must be amputated for various and sundry crimes. No, apparently, we Christians are simply too loving and the Koran can teach us how to balance our love with “justice”. No, no, not the stoning adulteresses type of justice, the “tolerating economic systems which keep whole nations in poverty” justice, about which the Koran has much to enlighten us, apparently. When it isn’t waxing eloquent on the joys of removing the heads of infidels.

From here (page 11):

My impression (from, admittedly, a reading of this book alone) is that the Qur’an has much of value to say about justice and how we should build, and live in, what the author calls a community of the middle way. It has less to say about the Christian virtue of love.

This discrepancy may permit us to correct our own faith. It often seems that many Christians will go the extra mile and more in loving response to an individual in distress while at the same time tolerating economic systems which keep whole nations in poverty. The message of the Qur’an might help us attain a better balance between love and justice. In all events, we have much to learn and even perhaps much to make use of.

The recent court decisions in the Diocese of New Westminster have left Michael Ingham with a number of empty church buildings. St. John’s, Shaughnessy had the largest congregation, so now Ingham is trying desperately to create the illusion of vitality in the empty parish.

From here (page 5):

The sounds of choral music filled the sanctuary of St. John’s, Shaughnessy (SJS) this past Advent, November 27th and Dec 4th-18th. Bishop Michael was able to make arrangements with Dr. Diane Loomer, one of Vancouver’s best-known and most respected choral music directors to have music in worship at the 10 am service of Holy Communion led by members of her newest ensemble, EnChor.

The article notes, “[t]he sounds of choral music filled the sanctuary of St. John’s, Shaughnessy” but it makes no mention of the pews being filled with people. That’s because they weren’t.

From here:

In an effort to bring St. John’s Shaughnessy, Vancouver, back to life following the departure of Canon Dr. David Short and 98% of the congregation, the faux congregation of remainers and ringers invited the Christ Church Cathedral Choir to a service of 9 Lessons and Carols. A VOL observer who was on the spot sent back this note, “St John’s is getting desperate in its attempt to fill empty pews. Steven Schuh, a graduate of Regent College and a former member of St John’s, has returned to the parish and has worked hard to encourage the gay/lesbian agenda in the Diocese of New Westminster.

From here:

Committee Chair the Rev. Paul Strudwick and Randy Murray, Communications Officer summarized the CommComm strategy for an increased communications presence regarding the returning parishes. Paul and Randy presented DC with plans involving, information gathering and sharing with people now worshipping at the parishes.
A major consideration is establishing a web presence for the returning parishes and how that can be achieved with optimum results. The new ideas will be used in the coming weeks to communicate Advent/Christmas worship and event information more broadly to the parishes themselves and to the catchment areas.

The congregations are small but they are energetic and enthusiastic.
Chancellor Cadman suggested that as this is a situation that is unique, CommComm and the Executive Officers would welcome ideas and suggestions from DC members and beyond.

The “returning parishes” are the buildings of St John’s Shaughnessy, St Matthias and St Luke, Church of the Good Shepherd in Vancouver, and St Matthews in Abbotsford. The congregations left pretty well en masse to join ANiC. Since the Diocese of New Westminster now has four buildings with congregations that have been diminished to the point of non-existence (St. John’s Shaughnessy used to attract over 800 people, now 27 diocesan stalwarts roam its echoing sanctuary every Sunday), it has to find a way to disguise its self-adopted role as dog in the manger. What to do? Use the medium that will demonstrate that the church is relevant because it understands technology: the Internet.

This is not the first time that the Diocese of New Westminster has used the Internet to trumpet propaganda. The diocese is the proud owner of http://www.samesexblessing.info/, dedicated, among other things, to convincing wary conservatives that, all evidence to the contrary, they are still welcome. 80% of the world’s Anglicans are now out of communion with the diocese, J. I. Packer, one of the world’s most prominent evangelical theologians, is no longer welcome on diocesan property and many Anglican primates will not only not take communion with Bishop Michael Ingham, but don’t even want to be in the same room as him. So that didn’t work.

Still, there’s always Facebook, Twitter and the diocesan blog, best known for its capacity to bore the balls off a buffalo at 40 paces even when the bovine victim is standing upwind.

The Diocese of New Westminster, having secured legal ownership of St John’s, Shaughnessy’s building, is looking for a new rector for the church. Such is the paucity of suitable contenders in Canada, that Michael Ingham on a recent trip to Canterbury, asked Rowan Williams for suggestions.

And now, according to this, Rowan Williams has come through:

Archbishop Rowan Williams has followed-up and recently sent +Michael a letter suggesting two possible candidates for the Interim Ministry position at St John’s, Shaughnessy.

It looks as if Rev. Giles Fraser or Rev. Graeme Knowles might have found a new job.

Randy Murray, head of the diocesan Ministry of Truth, observes (Page 6):

A decision  of the Supreme Court of Canada has ended a long period of litigation in the diocese of New Westminster. Doors of three parishes are now open for worship conducted by clergy licensed by the bishop of the diocese.

The doors are indeed open – allowing everyone to leave.

Over the coming months and years, as with all relationships that are broken, people will need time to heal: we continue to believe in God’s grace to bring about healing where there has been division. While some parishioners have followed clergy away from the buildings they sought legal means to control, others, disenchanted by the controversy, are returning to the life and worship of the Anglican Church of Canada.

In the case of St. John’s Shaughnessy, the number of the some parishioners who departed was 802 and the number returning was 27.

The history of our church is one that values theological breadth and generous hospitality.

The generous hospitality must have been what prompted the diocese to eject 802 people in order  to make room for 27.

These unanimous court decisions clarify the relationship, within the structures of the Anglican Church of Canada, between parishes and the diocese…….. They affirm General Synod 2007’s determination that the blessing of same-sex unions is not a matter of core doctrine.

They don’t affirm anything of the sort. The court concluded that the organisation that determines Anglican doctrine in Canada is the Anglican Church of Canada and no other. If the ACoC decides that Pelagianism is the true expression of Anglicanism in Canada (the ACoC does believe this, of course, it just hasn’t officially admitted it yet), the court would happily agree.

Let’s end with a barefaced lie from Michael Ingham:

Tonight we repent, and ask God’s forgiveness. We extend the hand of friendship to those who have left this place and ask for mutual forgiveness.

If anyone has any lingering doubt as to where Rowan Williams’ sympathies lie in the legal conflict between the Diocese of New Westminster and ANiC, this might be instructive:

Bishop Michael had two conversations with Archbishop Rowan who was well aware of the diocese’s situation regarding recent court decisions. Bishop Michael asked him if he would consider casting his eye around the communion for a possible interim appointment for St John’s, Shaughnessy. Archbishop Rowan said that he would and when he bid Bishop Michael farewell he told him that “thoughts were forming.” Since then, he has been very busy preparing for his African trip. Bishop Michael has followed up on the conversation with a letter.

The photo appears to be Rowan Williams and Ingham high-fiving each other, a little used Anglican greeting secreted somewhere at the back of the BAS.

It is encouraging that, having met with the ACoC’s foremost heretic bishop and progenitor of the cataclysmic mess that represents Canadian Anglicanism, Rowan has some thoughts forming.

Here is an odd trend: when an Anglican Church of Canada diocese evicts an ANiC congregation from its building it starts a Facebook page. It happened at St. Alban’s, Ottawa and now at St. Matthew’s Abbotsford where we can learn what the new parish is all about:

Who out there thinks Abbotsford needs a congregation that pays more than lip service to the Great Tradition; interacts energetically with the best in biblical and theological scholarship; grounds its worship in the Eucharist; is open to learning from everyone, including other religious and secular philosophies; is inclusive of all (period); where gifts and talents aren’t used to serve a leader’s vision but radically shape the very nature of the community; fosters an aesthetic that makes room for beauty in music, poetry and the visual arts; teaches children not merely information but the rhythm’s of worship; and where the priest is someone who takes the time not only to help people in crisis or grief but who participates in a mutual “confession of life” through spiritual friendship?

If you like the sound of that or, you like it but notice missing pieces in the description, you may want to check out St. Matthew, Abbotsford, a place in formation; a place and a community where thoughtful, classic, Christian Spirituality is what we’re after though we’ve certainly not arrived at our destination! The congregation is in its beginning phase; if you or someone you know might be interested in helping shape this “path” please pass this note on.

As the new incumbent notes, the parish “is inclusive of all (period)”. I assume “(period)” is intended to signify that the inclusivity is so vast in its encompassing that a normal full stop insufficiently emphasises the impossibility of adding to what is already embraced by this “place in formation”.

It’s hard not to notice, though, that while Allen Doerksen is eager to learn from “other religious and secular philosophies” he isn’t so keen on mentioning – or even including – Jesus, his death on the cross, his resurrection or our need for his atoning sacrifice because of sin.

That must be the trend: throw out a believing parish, throw out Christianity along with it then, having no congregation, no financial support and no integrity,  attempt to drum up business by starting a Facebook page that sputters about “thoughtful, classic, Christian Spirituality”.

More accurately a rota of clergy returns. But will this effort in Keeping up Appearances actually convince anyone that anything other than an elaborate sham is taking place?

From here:

ACoC Worship Returns to St. John’s Shaughnessy SEPTEMBER 25th, 2011

The Venerable John Stephens, Archdeacon of Vancouver has arranged a rota of clergy to conduct Sunday services and musicians to lead the music in worship beginning Sunday, September 25th at 11am with a Celebration of Holy Communion.

The Venerable Andrew Pike a former curate of St. John’s will lead the worship, September 25th, October 2nd and October 9th.

Probably not.

Vancouver parish evicted from its building by the Diocese of New Westminster.

6.4 earthquake off Vancouver Island’s west coast.