A few days ago I posted an article about a parish meeting at St. John’s Shaughnessy where comments were made that, under the diocesan regime, the parish was losing $20,000 per month and attracting only 13 people to its services. A number of people wondered where I obtained the audio recording of the meeting; it was in plain view on a website owned by the diocese. Since it was, presumably, a private meeting, that seemed a little odd to me and I have been expecting the recording to disappear ever since I published the article.

Well, it’s still there, but a note has been added: “if your name is David Jenkins you are not welcome”. I presume it is referring to me, not the ex-bishop of Durham who undoubtedly would be most welcome in the diocese.

I feel quite hurt; I thought the Diocese of New Westminster was an inclusive diocese.

Here is the cruel and unkind remark that has cut me to the quick:

Update #1: The page you see above has now been taken down. However, the parent directory is still up and contains this admonition:

These files are all copyright (c) 2012 by the Anglican Church of Canada
Posting all or part of any of them on some other website is a copyright violation.
David Jenkins, take note!

I imagine I am still unwelcome, but the  diocese has added some veiled legal threats to emphasise my standing as persona non grata.

Here is a screen shot – just in case it is altered yet again:

I wonder if my posting that is a copyright violation? Either way, I think the diocese needs a new P.R. department.

Update #2: Obviously I really am unwelcome at the Diocese of New Westminster: the diocese has blocked my IP address and I now see this:

You are not authorized to view this page

The Web server you are attempting to reach has a list of IP addresses that are not allowed to access the Web site, and the IP address of your browsing computer is on this list.

Since I subscribe to an encrypted VPN service and can not only make my IP address anything I want but have it appear to come from just about anywhere in the world (Russia is one of my favourites), I can still access the page – which, perversely enough, still says “David Jenkins, take note!”, an odd piece of advice to someone who, supposedly, has been blocked from seeing it.

This is starting to sound like a grade B spy film.

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.

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”.

Probably not.

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

6.4 earthquake off Vancouver Island’s west coast.

Fred Hiltz is breathing an obvious sigh of relief that the court case between the Diocese of New Westminster and the four Vancouver ANiC parishes is over and the ruling is effectively in favour of the Anglican Church of Canada. Had it gone the other way, Hiltz’s worst nightmare for his beloved church would have been realised: any Anglican parish that has had enough of the ACoC’s drift into the mist of feel-good new age social-work would have been able to pack its bags and leave along with the building. There could have been a stampede.

A parish may still leave, of course – without its building. Perhaps this is not such a bad thing: there is nothing so faith building as being compelled to take it seriously.

If conservative Christians who remain in the Anglican Church of Canada have lingering doubts as to where the Primate stands on the direction of the Anglican Church of Canada, this nauseatingly obsequious letter of congratulations to the most liberal and least recognisably Christian bishop in the ACoC should dispel them:

With integrity and insight, you represented the Anglican Church of Canada, its constitution,

Canons and recognized decision making processes within the synods of our church – diocesan, provincial, and General. Our entire church owes you a great debt of gratitude. That expression of thanks is extended to your chancellor, solicitor, communications officer and others who supported you in your endeavours to represent our church with such resolve, grace and dignity.

I realize, Michael, this entire matter has not been without personal cost to you. You have been the brunt of a lot of slanderous attacks both professionally and personally, but, you stood your ground and upheld the decisions of your synod and the spirit in which they were made and acted upon. You consistently modeled every effort to be as pastorally accommodating of a variety of theological perspectives in these matters as possible.

I know this decision comes as a great relief. I know you view it not simply as victory, but as an opportunity to redirect time, energy and financial resources to the ministries to which the

Diocese of New Westminster is so passionately committed in serving God’s mission.

My respect for your leadership is deep and my gratitude for the witness of the diocese to our Lord Jesus Christ and his reign of love, justice and peace for all is profound.

Now that the Supreme Court of Canada has dismissed the leave to appeal made by four Vancouver ANiC parishes, the congregations are preparing to vacate the buildings.

Predictably, Michael Ingham’s response includes the familiar recitation:

I want to take this opportunity to repeat that no one is being asked to leave the church buildings in which they worship, except those clergy who have resigned their ministries in the Anglican Church of Canada. My hope is to work with each of these congregations to appoint mutually agreeable clergy who will be loyal to the Church in which they serve.

It’s anyone’s guess as to why he keeps repeating this: does he think a big enough lie repeated often enough will eventually be believed? Is Ingham projecting his own love of buildings over faith onto others? Is it a clumsy PR stunt?

What sane Christian would willingly attend a parish in a diocese run by a bishop whose beliefs are no longer recognisably Christian?

William Blake’s The Defiled Sanctuary is apposite:

I saw a chapel all of gold
That none did dare to enter in,
And many weeping stood without,
Weeping, mourning, worshipping.

I saw a serpent rise between
The white pillars of the door,
And he forc’d and forc’d and forc’d,
Down the golden hinges tore.

And along the pavement sweet,
Set with pearls and rubies bright,
All his slimy length he drew
Till upon the altar white

Vomiting his poison out
On the bread and on the wine.
So I turn’d into a sty
And laid me down among the swine.