From here:
The bishop of the Anglican diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador, Cyrus Pitman, has announced his retirement effective this November.
In a letter to members of his diocese, Pitman said that he has informed Archbishop Claude Miller, Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada, that the diocesan synod scheduled this November 15 to 16 will elect a new diocesan bishop.
“My resignation as Bishop will be effective the date we elect a new bishop,” said Pitman.
On June 12, 2004, Pitman was elected co-adjutor bishop of the diocese, with automatic right of succession to the office of diocesan bishop. He became diocesan bishop when then bishop, Donald Harvey, retired in November that same year.
At the height of the controversy over same-sex blessings, which led to the departure of some clergy and laypeople – including the former bishop – the quiet and soft-spoken Pitman surprised many when he asked clergy in his diocese to declare their loyalty to the Anglican Church of Canada as they renewed their ordination vows and renewed their licences.
“Today, my friends, is a fresh start,” he had said in his sermon at a mandatory gathering held Jan. 21, 2008 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in St. John’s, Nfld. “It’s not a power grab as has been suggested by some. Whether someone is of a conservative bent or a liberal bent or some other bent, whatever these labels mean, I will support you… But let’s not make any mistake about it. There are boundaries.”
It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that Pitman’s “boundaries” had little to do with maintaining the integrity of the Christian faith in the Anglican Church of Canada and, notwithstanding his protestation to the contrary, a lot to do with the exercise of power. As Malcolm Muggeridge observed: “you can choose love or you can choose power; you can’t have both”. Pitman chose power.
On January 10 2008, Pitman wrote to his clergy demanding their allegiance:
In what could be the start of real schism in the Anglican Church, a Newfoundland bishop is demanding clergy come to the provincial capital to declare whether their loyalties lie with him or his predecessor, the leader of a breakaway conservative movement.
“Attendance at these gatherings is mandatory,” Cyrus Pitman, bishop of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador warns in a Dec. 18 letter to clergy obtained by the Star.
Clergy from Eastern Newfoundland’s 33 parishes are to be in St. John’s on Jan. 21 to restate their ordination vows and to get new licences, with a date for those from the six Labrador parishes yet to be set.
Clergy need a licence from the church to minister to a parish or perform marriages.
On April 10 2008, Pitman fired one of his priests for upholding Biblical standards:
The Rev. Darrel Critch, Rector at St. Mary the Virgin on Craigmillar Avenue, St John’s, Newfoundland has been removed from his position by Bp. Pitman and Archdeacon Peddle.
This happened on the evening of Thursday the 10th of April at an emergency Vestry Meeting called by Bishop Pitman. Archdeacon Peddle showed up at the meeting and shortly thereafter Rev. Critch was relieved from his duties. Archdeacon Peddle has now been appointed administrator of St. Mary’s.
Why? Well what I have heard is that Rev. Critch made a stand on the Scriptures and removed a couple from choir who were living together in an immoral relationship.
In July 2008, Pitman, in a fit of ecclesiastical McCarthyism, made an attempt to compile a register of lay people who had left the Anglican Church of Canada to make sure that none of them exercise any ministry in an ACoC diocese:
LAY RELINQUISHMENTS
Lay people who have also left the Anglican Church of Canada are asked to indicate their intentions to the Bishop who will maintain a register for future information.
It seems clear to us that lay people who leave also relinquish their privilege to be part of any Ministry that they have been allowed to perform.
After an illustrious career devoted to erecting boundaries designed to discourage undesirables – once ejected – from obstinately straying back into the Anglican Church of Canada, the bishop has decided to take a rest and retire.
I think that we always knew that many of those who obtained high office in the churches were self-seeking unbelieving people. The times we live in allow this to become manifest; which is, of course why God allows this to happen. Sifting the grain, and blowing off the chaff.
But regardless, this poor sinner needs Christ too. How shall such a man ever hear the gospel?
It seems that the first wave of Anglican GLBT bishops are starting to retire and pass the reins to their protegees eg Ingham/Elliott. Hiltz heads up the whole sad project, only God knows what we can expect next, but you can be certain that it will contain demands for cash and tons of hypocrisy…
Cannot imagine who will miss Pitman?
Two comments:
1. New Westminster had to abandon its last big attempt at fund-raising as it got virtually no support (the message seemed to be we won’t give you more money while you’re pouring millions of dollars into non-viable parishes such as St. John’s Shaughnessy, which is empty most of the week, and at the same time paying $600,000 a year in rent on downtown offices).
2. Peter Elliott is not guaranteed to succeed Michael Ingham. There is a body of opinion that New Westminster needs a fresh start, which can only come from someone outside the diocese. Whether this group is big enough to affect the outcome remains to be seen.
No Gordon, there are no guarantees in life, but short of Elliott getting slapped down by a metrobus; assumed in a fiery chariot driven by the prophets or arrested in the DTES I’d say that the sick self-perpetuating politics and the usual sheepanglicans have already baa-aaed their vote.on this one.
As far as I can see, I am one of the few who is actively campaigning against him [for a ‘fresh start’]; where is this group of true blue rebels of which you talk?
Praise God he is out of there! My hat is off to the blessed Bishop Harvey who stood on the side of Scripture.
Sadly it will only get worse.
Bishop Pitman was more concerned about clergy making a commitment to him than he was to Christ. His retirement should have come a lot sooner. I do hope he isn’t counting on his pension to be there.
The possible reduction of pension payment applies to all clergy including those who have recently left the Anglican Church of Canada.
I remember Bishop Pitman complaining in a ”human sexuality session” at GS 2010 that now in his poor diocese there were two Anglican flags; the ACoC’s and ANiC’s (which he did not dare mention directly). I found that pitiful. And then I realised why the 3 dioceses of Newfoundland thought of ”merging for greater fruitfulness” (foreshadowing the General Presiding Bishop).
I stumbled across this website through a search engine. I wish I had not. What a den of iniquity and self-righteousness displayed! Horrible commentary about a bishop that I would guess this blogger has never had a conversation with, yet feels justified enough to pass judgement on. I am a priest who ministers in the Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland & Labrador who has known Bishop Pitman for 12 years. He is a Godly servant of Christ who loves all people. Yet this blogger seems to comprehend the mind of Christ and has determined that the Bishop is somehow not fit to serve in His holy Catholic Church. If I truly believe the postings of this blogger, I would have no chance of Grace. Only the puritanical self-righteous would be welcomed into the heavenly places and those who simply loved others as they would have been loved would be kicked to the curb by this blogger. I’ll place my faith in Gods redeeming grace.
Dear Sam,
Respectfully, would you be kind enough to show us the error of our ways? From what I have read in the Holy Bible Jesus Christ had no problem with challenging the wrongs that he encountered. I for one see a great many wrongs being inflicted upon my Church and it makes me feel many things. Sadness, of course. Anger, admittedly that also. But I am correct in speaking out and challenging these wrongs. I believe that I am not just correct, but am in fact obligated.
In your own way you seem to be quick and willing to act in a self-righteous way. I assume that you have never met this blogger, yet you post comments that are anything but compassionate. Have you taken any time to learn anything about this blogger? Or have you accidentally committed the very same sin that you accuse David of committing?
No one wins at this game.
Deleted.
My commentary is a tame compared to the vitriol spewed by the postings I have read. The blogger calls my bishop a “Newfie joke” in a previous article. Does he or you realize that we Newfoundlanders & Labradorians consider this term offensive and borderline racist? Is this truly a charitable and Christian way to act for an Anglican blogger?
Having reviewed the initial blog I was unable to find the words “Newfie joke”. Perhaps he posted this elsewhere. Do you have a link?
In the meantime, what of the allegations in the initial blog pertaining to laity? Did the Bishop compile some sort of an “undesirables” list?
I can understand him wanting to ensure the Priests under his license being fully informed of their obligations. Especially in light of his predecessors departure. But are the allegations pertaining to the removal of The Rev. Darrel Critch from St. Mary the Virgin true? You are geographically and organizationally closer to this situation than I am. Do you have some information that I am not aware of?
The offending link is
http://sthildaschurch.ca/test/?p=267
Regarding your questions, I do not wish to answer on behalf of my bishop. I know he certainly is qualified to do so for himself.
Perhaps if there was more actual dialogue between actual persons without pseudonyms, then all this Internet innuendo on this blog would be replaced with stories of the Good News of the saving power of Christ and not the overly sarcastic and negative diatribe.
As I type this I acknowledge my own need for grave and forgiveness. Lord have mercy on me a sinner.
Fr. Sam Rose
My apologies, the entry you came across was, as the directory name implies, supposed to be a test and not an active or searchable item. I have remedied that.
As one sinner to another, what in your view, is the “Good News of the saving power of Christ” which you would prefer I concentrate on?
I only ask because much of my “sarcastic and negative diatribe” is fuelled by my perception that the Anglican Church of Canada frequently preaches an ersatz gospel.
My view was reinforced by your own primate in a Q and A session; he couldn’t manage to give a coherent answer to the question “what is the Gospel of Christ?” Not a good sign.
You can listen to his answer here.
I imagine that all our sins are recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life but are wiped clean by His Sacrificial Blood for those who claim Christ crucified. So my sins and yours are forgiven. So why do you continually pass judgement on other Christians? I do not know you, nor you me, but we are united in Christ. But if you are calling me as a Newfoundlander an offensive term such as Newfie, I am bidden by Christ to turn the other cheek. Even if you choose to slap it with hateful and spiteful commentary, I would simply pray for you. Our Bishops and Primates deserve our prayer more so than our sinful judgements. Based on what I have read here on this blog, you prefer to judge more than seek Godly unity. I was ordained a deacon and priest by Bishop Donald Harvey who taught me to seek the peace of Christ that passes all understanding – even if I think I have a person or situation figured out due to my sinful pride.
If, as you imply, you respect Bishop Donald Harvey then I presume you also respect his decision to leave the Anglican Church of Canada.
He is pretty clear on whether the Anglican Church of Canada is adhering to the Gospel – it isn’t. From here: