The diocese allows HARRRP to use St. Peter’s church in Hamilton rent free. At first glance, this appears to be generous. Less so at second glance.
St. Peter’s once housed a thriving congregation, a congregation that, because of theological differences with the diocese, aligned itself with ANiC. To avoid costly court battles, in November 2010 the congregation surrendered the building to the Diocese of Niagara at which point the diocese, rather than allow a Christian congregation to use the building for worship, donated the use of it to HARRRP, a secular organisation.
Being careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them, the diocese, to advertise its generosity, has a smugly self-congratulatory article on display here:
HARRRP’s St. Peter’s location first opened its doors in November 2010. The building had been sitting empty since its congregation broke with the Anglican Church of Canada when the diocese of Niagara offered HARRRP the rent-free use of the building as a community centre. The diocese has remained involved, with the Rev. Peter Wall, dean of Niagara, the Rev. Bill Mous, director of justice, community and global ministries for the diocese of Niagara, and bishop of Niagara Michael Bird currently sitting on HARRRP’s board of directors.
Read more about the settlement with ANiC here:
Hamilton, Ontario, November 1st, 2010 – St. Peter’s Church in Hamilton, Ontario has been returned to the Anglican Diocese of Niagara by the members of the Anglican Network in Canada after a two year dispute over the rightful control over this property.
Negotiations had been underway for a number of weeks and an amicable agreement was reached at the end of last week that will transfer the assets and property back to the Diocese
Sadly shame is something that the wicked seldom feel. But while they bluster, God punishes them.
Whether the property should have been reclaimed by the diocese in 2010 or not – the reality is that it was (and has been largely unused for sometime). Surely the property should now be put to another good use? And HARRRP is a good and worthy use. While it may be officially “secular”, many of its volunteer leaders (and I am not directly referencing the three Niagara diocese officials) are men and women whose public service grows out (at least in part) of their deep faith. As well, it is no different than many other social service organizations with which different churches collaborate in our communities (and provide facilities rent-free or for a nominal rent).
Not long ago this blog criticized the same diocese for being mercenary in its handling of a property in Guelph – with sound reason. Now the criticism seems to be that the diocese is providing a facility to a volunteer agency doing good work at no charge …
I think the point is that the property in Guelph and this property in Hamilton should have been used for the strengthening and spreading of the Christian faith in those communities. I am sure that is what the churches were built for. For that reason, especially if the Hamilton property is being used without charge, then it could have been given to another Christian group or denomination that would have the ability to do that. Instead, it was given to a secular group.
Yes, HARRRP does indeed have some good programs. Yes, one can do good works without faith. However, if salvation is by faith and not good works, then it appears to me that the former precedes the latter, and that the ACoC has, sadly, demonstrated its abandonment of a key Christian principle by assisting in the latter without recognizing the priority and necessity of the former.
There can be no doubt that both properties were built (up) for the strengthening of the Faith, and that this has been compromised. Moreover, I do not dispute the assertions that for Christians faith is the foundation upon which good works are founded. In fact, that was the point of my initial comment. An organization whose leaders include many individuals of faith (like HARRRP) cannot be dismissed as ‘secular’. Otherwise we would risk marginalizing (?) the role of Christians in the public square, where our witness must be. Whether we are involved in an (officially) Christian organization or an (officially) secular one, it is our faith which is moving us to works of charity and compassion.
I looked at the board of directors list of HARRRP. Ignoring Michael Bird and Peter Wall for this question, who are the people of Christian faith on that board?
My apologies for the delay in responding – I would highlight two (at least): Larry Di Ianni and Raphael Kolenko. Both are laymen (of course), which underscores my original point. I suspect there are are others, but I do not know of them personally.
The actions by the Dioceses of Niagara and also New Westminster were and are reprehensible to say the least. In New Westminster the seizure of some properties is nothing less than legally stealing and considering the support of the apostate primate the ACoC has clearly shown itself to be ANTI-CHRISTIAN. This should be a clear warning to ALL members in ACoC to cease and desist from making any contributions to church buildings or maintenance. If the dioceses under the apostate leadership of the Primate are going to claim ownership, let them pay for these costs.
“What sea could furnish my eyes with teares enough to pour out, if I should think,
of all this Congregation, which lookes me in the face now, I should not meet one at the Resurrection, at the Right Hand of GOD! When at any midnight I hear a bell toll from this steeple, must not I say to myselfe, what have I done at any time for the instructing or rectifying of that man’s Conscience, who lieth there now ready to deliver up his own account and my account to Almighty GOD?
It is not GOD’s ordinary way to be whispering of secrets.
For publication of Himself He has constituted a Church. And in this Church, His Ordinance is Ordinance indeed; His Ordinance of Preaching batters the soule,
and by that breach, The Spirit enters;
His Ministers are an earthquake, and shake an earthly soule;
they are sonnes of thunder, and scatter a cloudy Conscience.”
The Reverend John Donne,
Sermon, 1624
“I can no longer condemn or hate a brother for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble he causes me.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community