Read it all here:
Bishop Michael Ingham announced today he will be retiring from his position on August 31st, 2013.
“The Diocese of New Westminster has been at the forefront of positive change in the Church for decades” he said. “From the ordination of women, to support for indigenous peoples, to the dignity of gay and lesbian Christians, to inter-faith dialogue – it has been a privilege to serve a Diocese living and growing at some of the leading edges of the Anglican Church of Canada.”
The “positive change in the Church” remark is something of a mystery. Michael Ingham, by being the first Anglican bishop to authorise same-sex blessings, was instrumental in the rupturing of the Anglican Communion, a change about as positive as a magnitude 7 earthquake.
In his letter of resignation, he notes:
In my almost twenty years in episcopal orders I – together with many others in this Diocese – have borne witness in the Anglican Church of Canada to important principles central to the Christian Gospel. Our witness of faith frequently encountered strong religious opposition. Strangely, the secular world has been more supportive.
To congratulate oneself on actions which were opposed by the majority of Anglicans and applauded by most secularists seems an odd boast for a retiring Anglican bishop; isn’t it supposed to be the other way around?
To affirm his standing in Vanity Fair, Michael Ingham has been awarded an honorary degree:
Michael Ingham, Bishop of the Diocese of New Westminster, is the first Bishop in the worldwide Anglican Communion to authorize the blessing of same-sex unions. The degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, will be conferred on The Right Reverend Ingham on Friday, June 14 at the 2:30 pm ceremony.
He’s been through a lot not suprised.
Who will be the next Bishop?
Dean Peter Elliott of course will be the next bishop. He has done all the political thngs, served on national committees, etc. Plus Vancouver is the natural place for the first partnered openly-gay bishop.
Perhaps, perhaps not. Michael Ingham was not Dean when he was elected and I have heard suggestions today that Peter Elliott may not be interested. If he does eventually get a See, it may not be New Westminster.
Actually, Michael Ingham was Dean at the Vancouver Cathedral for about two years, before he was elected Bishop of the Diocese. Prior to that, he was in Toronto as the Primate’s Secretary for I think 3 years.
Methinks that Elliott doth protest too much.
The erstwhile Dean has been under Westminster’s wing [so to speak] for many a year. As Ingham has spent his career removing the diocese from the sphere of Christian operations with the fevered help of his prodigy it follows that Elliott will be the bishop’s choice to ensure more of the same.
Having said all that, I do owe Elliott a huge debt of thanks, because back in 2001 when we were parishoners at the Vancouver cathedral Elliott cancelled our son’s baptism at the eleventh hour because he heard that we were moving to Nova Scotia. This typically unchristian act of his jolted me out of my complacency and allowed me to listen to the Spirit as it led me to a place of Christianity well away from the Diocese of New Westminster and people like Elliott and his mentor.
Yikes.
Remarkable how much damage Ingham was able to do to the church and the Kingdom of God. Tragically also much damage within his personal life. But if you write a paper and speak loudly about how sex need not be an expression of covenanted love, it must give your wife pause for thought.
Quite. The Diocese has disintegrated to the point where few congregations trust other parishes and conservatives are forced into a functionally Congregational model of Church.
Bishops come and go! Our Lord Jesus is more powerful than all bishops on earth.
Ingham was just a stoolie for the establishment, as many a “bishop” has been before and will be in the future. In NT times he would have been a Herodian. Such people would support any evil if the establishment tells them too. Their consciences are for sale to whichever worldly faction is dominant.
Nice to see that, however much the world changes, the corrupt bishop remains a fixture.
Funny that Ingham hasn’t worked out yet that the approval of the secular world to which he refers is a contemptuous approval. For even unbelievers respect principle when they meet it; it is the “trendy churchman” who has long since become a figure of fun in the secular world.
I suppose he will be expecting a pension so he will be even more of a burden.
Who’s going to be next and what will they be like?
What I’m hearing is that the power politics is well under way, with some candidates working hard to position themselves and already counting votes. I don’t know who the candidates are, but this could get ugly.
Roll on, 1st September!
Re Comment 8 Gordon Arthur
‘could get ugly’ doesn’t suprize me at all with what already’s gone on
They might get somebody over from England or a former British Colony would be a more neutral figure
This whole thing’s taken a lot out of us all
Our Rector was on a medical leave so I’m not suprized about the Bishop am amazed he stayed as long as he did.
“They might get somebody over from England or a former British Colony would be a more neutral figure” Is that a hint to hire a Canadian as the next bishop?
You don’t hire a person as the next bishop. In the current Canadian policy, people are being elected bishops by lay and clergy members of the Diocesan Synod.
We have no Pope has a lot do do with it so we get little popes running around
10.1 Sandy WM you’re reading something into John Payzant 10 that not even there or implied.
I think, they might be better off bringing in persons with less connections to the Diocese than what has happened in the past.
Maybe a different Diocese of a different Province
At my former Parish since 1982 St John’s Shaughnessy hired a Rector from England Rev Fuller.
Bishop Ingham was born in England too but educated in Scotland before coming to Canada.
He was Secretary under our Primate for the Anglican Church of Canada Michael Peers.
He was then Dean of Christ Church Cathedral
Then Rector of St Martin in the Fields North Van
On one hand maybe persons should earn positions based on seniority like what’s happened here.
I’ve also heard the Priests in the Diocese see themselves as an in group sounds like pride and favoritism is this is all true.
Sounds like one has to earn to get on somebody’s good side.
So maybe they might be better off getting somebody from a different Diocese of Province.
Ingham’s Theology is concidered quite liberal as is the Diocese.
Perhaps they will have to examine that as well.
Your revenge is complete. Bishop Ingham was born in England too but educated in Scotland before coming to Canada He also attended Harvard for a year which was a bad sign.
No one is denying that Bishop Ingham is a nice man but his policies have encouraged the corruption of the church and society and he still can’t see it. That in my opinion makes him a hireling. Mind you, I expect the next bishop will be even worse?
Exactly, being ‘nice’ is no virtue.
Sandy WM 12.1 don’t see as to why the choice of wording ‘your revenge is complete’
Bishop Ingham also studied Jewish dietary habits in Israel
I’ve met and talked with him more than once is very nice had a good conversation at the Atrium at the Central Library.
Read both his books ‘Mansions of the Spirit’ and ‘Rites for a New Age’ as well as the critiques.
10.1.1 Michael Lee mentions of election by lay and clergy members of Diocesan Synod is the process. They don’t just hire. The voting process if thus.
They have to bring in a figure that can have a more stabilizing affect on the Diocese is as to why I mention as more neutral figure.
For those who have problems with ‘Rites for a New Age’, does it mean that they cannot use the Book of Alternative Services for public worship? Can those who have left the Anglican Church of Canada only use the Book of Common Prayer (1962) instead of the Book of Alternative Services (1985) for public worship?
One reason to leave ACoC is the corrupted BAS. There is not enough space here to point out every downfall of that publication.
Just one example
The BAS,
Dear friends in Christ, God is steadfast in love and infinite in mercy; he welcomes sinners and invites them to his table. Let us confess our sins, confident in God’s forgiveness.
Come’on down!
Not much commitment in the BAS version
If the BAS is indeed corrupted, then people should have left the ACoC when it was introduced in 1985. It is interesting to note that the Nicene Creed in the BAS (p. 189) only mentions “the Holy Spirit … who proceeds from the Father”, the position held by the Eastern Orthodox Church.
If some people will not now leave the cluster-f that the ACoC has become the BAS would not have made a difference then. It was the tip of the iceberg that sought free reign to change everything in its sights. Did anyone reading Rites for a New Age foresee where the church has ventured?
If you tell a lie often enough (ie Sunday Morning) it becomes Truth.
When I have sat down with folks and pointed out the differences it becomes apparent they never grasped the changes.
13.1 Michael li
I was at St Timothy’s Anglican, North Van was from St Martin’s, North Van talked about the Book of Alternative Services was interesting; furthermore, mentions about how some rather important things are not mentioned. So, important fundamentals of Christianity are somewhat debunked. I did not take notes and it was some time ago was back around 2002 when we had the walkout at Synod. One thing mentioned was that how something is ended with the phrase, ‘the Cross’ is not mentioned in the Book of Alternative Services was some of the things mentioned by the person.
Some might not want to use the Book of Alternative Services but there’s no cannot. In Canada we have freedom of religion and in the United States is separation of Church and State. The use of the Book of Common Prayer is used by those who decide to do so. Some Churches are more High-Anglican Catholic and some are more Low-Anglican Evangelical affects as to what emphasis is on the Book of Common Prayer. Where I go right now has a 6:30pm service that is more leaning towards the Low-Anglican Evangelical Stream of Worship where we’re more restrained about the use of liturgy in the Book of Common Prayer. St James’ on Cordova and Gore had a 7:30pm Evening Service used fully the liturgy in the Book of Common Prayer and seem to go beyond that with Worship of the Virgin Mary. The Episcopal Church in the United States of America, I’ve heard, is more High Anglican than the Anglican Church of Canada. Anglicans from Australia tell me that they are more Low-Anglican Evanglical. At the very beginning origins of Anglican History when we were the Church of England or C of E was when Henry the VIII of Tudor wanted to remain Roman Catholic; furthermore, at that time, the majority were Low-Anglican Evangelical and the minority were High-Anglican Catholic. The Tudors originally came from France to England. Roman Catholicism does not allow divorce instead allows annullment of marriages is where the first marriage is almost erased into non existance. Later on, then came in the Anglican Church History was the Broad Church Movement where the High-Anglican Catholics were made more lower and the Low-Anglican Evangelicals were made more higher.
It is very interesting to note that the news of the retirement of one Bishop has generated many comments. Perhaps we have focused too much on the power of a Bishop. We must not forget that the Church is primarily a layperson’s movement of faith and love in Jesus. Ordained people are not the Church. The leadership of clergy is not unimportant, but it is the faithfulness of the people of God that makes the Church great. The people of God can make an impact on the community. It is a miracle that the Church still exists in spite of bad leaders present. Perhaps we need a new Reformation to focus on the evangelistic work of the laity, not the role of Bishops. Jesus, not Bishops, is in charge of the Church.
15 Michael Li
I very much agree with you on many points but lets look as to why things go the way they do?
How the Church Government is set up?
The laypersons movement is right in many ways.
We are structured as an Episcopy means that we are of a structure that is under and in submission to a Bishop.
If there was a healthier involvement of laypersons could and would be congregational like what is in the United Church of Canada derived from one of their denominations the Congregational.
In other organizations there are Co-op buildings, Strata Councils and Unions.
These can be called Democracy.
Bishops and Priests have a lot of say in the Anglican Church.
We have no Pope so our rector sais and as a result we have little Popes running around.
This goes back as to who Peter is?
You are Peter and on this rock I will build this Church.
Peter is the rock both agreed upon by both Catholic and Reformed.
Gift is Apostle and Office Elder both mutually agreed upon by both Catholic and Reformed.
They see eye to eye on this as well as the Holy Trinity.
All seems well on these things up to this point.
But here’s the difference:
The Church of Rome believes Peter to be the first of a succession of Popes means that they believe in Papal Succession.
I do sense a balance and a stability in the Roman Catholic Church that I like.
The Pope has Papal authority making him the head overseer and moderator.
The closest the Anglican Communion has to this is the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Counciliar Government that the Archbishop dialogues with and the Queen.
The Provinces dialogue to maintain the bonds of affection.
The Archbishop does not really have any kind of Papal authority is amazing the Communion has held together as long as it has?
Laypersons have some say at SYNOD when it comes to SYNOD votes.
Dr J.I. Packer, Professor of Systematic Theology at Regent College was speaking about this topic at the 9am Learners’ Exchange at St John’s Vancouver meets at the Oakridge 7-Day Adventist Church is a Baille St & W37th is between Oak & Cambie Streets.
We are the former St John’s Shaughnessy at Granville & Nanton (W28th).
We were at around 1000 there and are the same if not more at the new location.
The old location is at about 30 the last time I was there.
There is now a pretty good dialogue between the Churches of Rome and England.
Some have left the Anglican Church for the Roman Catholic Church.
The dialogues are helping to possibly reform and strengthen the powers within the position of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Thank you very much for your long comment! I am a simple person. I believe Jesus is the Head of the Church. The fact that there are 41,000 Christian denominations in today’s world can be confusing to non-believers. This alone may lead non-believers to think that Christians cannot get along with one another.
I’m a simple person too
But this is and at the same time is not a simple subject and situation.
We’re talking about History here that is Historical Events.
Persons who are history buffs could and I think do become interested in this.
Some might get confused and some might not.
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John had differing views from one another.
Persons who are familiar with the functions of organizations might be able to relate and feel familiar about all of this.
Conflicts arise are followed with resolutions.
The Book of Proverbs is very good to read.
We cannot change human history. But, we can always learn from the past. It is interesting to note that the number of Christian denominations continues to increase every year.
Michael Li 17.1
The human populations increases could have something to do in relation to your topic.
The Methodists grow by 1 million per year.
Confessions of St Augustine is good to read; furthermore, he wrote about his feelings is a reoccuring chaos that rises up and disables.
Under the direction of a Priest or Professor of books to read, lectures to attend, courses to take is a good thking to do.
The number of Christian denominations increases every year because it is easier to create a new denomination than joining the existing ones. Today, we have more than 41,000 different denominations throughout the world. No wonder non-believers think that Christians do not get along with one another.
As with any other human activity there are simply way too many variables that make one quick easy and simple answer impossible.
But I will say this. If you become dissatisfied with your current Church, and presumably cannot find an existing one that you fully and completely agree with, than it is rather easy to start your own new one. Add onto that the con men that are in this world that use religion to basically rob people of their money. And let us not forget the cults started by the waccoes, some of whom are nothing more than new age hyppies. I think these groupings covers the huge majority of “new denominations”.
However, anyone who is genuine about the Christain Faith will be mindful of the Prayer of Jesus that we all be one. Of course those who wish to remain seperate from Rome have one interpretation of this, and those that feel a pulling towards Rome have another. Either way, I think it is clear that our Lord does not wish for us to be seperating ourselves into ever smaller and smaller groups.
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19.
Do you not see the irony in an Atheist defending an apostate bishop from an Evangelical Christian?