Category Archives: Anglican Church of Canada

The Diocese of Niagara: A tale of hypocrisy and lies.

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On February 17th 2008 St. Hilda’s Anglican Church, Oakville held a vestry meeting to consider a proposal to join the Anglican Network in Canada. The vote was unanimously in favour with 1 abstention. A lot has happened since then and I thought it might be interesting to chronicle the story so far.

Immediately after the vote our pastor, Paul Charbonneau, was suspended with pay and was inhibited from ministering in the Anglican Church of Canada; shortly after, he was fired. The diocese relieved the wardens of their duties, installed a parish administrator working on behalf of the diocese and froze St. Hilda’s bank account. They attempted to take St. Hilda’s to court on Friday February 29th – clearly this move was prepared ahead of time – but, through the efforts of our legal team we were given a week of grace.

We circulated the details of our plight to all the Oakville Anglican churches in the hope of mustering some support; there were few responses, but this one from Dan Tatarnic, Assistant Curate, St. Christopher’s Church, Burlington is representative: “Dan Tatarnic here, keep your opinion to yourself, it is not worth two cents.”.  Thanks Dan.

On Sunday February 24th, the diocese held a service in St. Hilda’s building as a political statement; outsiders were invited to attend to swell the numbers which would otherwise have been close to zero. The resultant travesty is chronicled here. After this, we had our usual service . As a particularly pastorally sensitive gesture, the priest in charge for the diocesan service inflicted this on his unsuspecting victims.

On February 29th, the court ruling was that St. Hilda’s was to be given exclusive use of its building – temporarily.

On March 20th We were back in court – this time with a different judge – and the ruling handed down on May the 5th was that St. Hilda’s and the diocese had to share the building;  the diocese was given a time slot on Sundays that made it impossible for St. Hilda’s to worship in the building. We decided to conduct our Sunday worship at a local school; the first Sunday at the school was Pentecost 2008, a date that symbolised a new beginning. The diocesan service had a disappointing turnout: here is the parking lot. And here are some pictures from the real St. Hilda’s.

Since then, the diocesan service each Sunday has had no-one attending its service other than the priest, his wife and the person who sets up the altar. In an abundance of trivial irritations, it is hard to choose one to represent them all, nevertheless: the ‘priest in charge’ at St. Hilda’s (the diocesan euphemism for ‘stooge’), Brian Ruttan asked us to return the communion vessels and linen – much of which was donated or handmade by parishioners – so that he could use them for his congregation of zero. We returned them and are using plain replacements; interestingly enough, the plain replacements have acquired a special value.

In a spirit of reconciliation and to reduce court costs, St. Hilda’s has approached the diocese to settle the dispute outside the courts with an arbitrator; this has been rebuffed by the diocese who want things to be settled by the courts ‘in public’.

As of this writing (September 2008), the diocese is still holding empty services in St. Hilda’s building each Sunday and still refusing to negotiate. Which brings us to the question of why does each side of this issue want the building? St. Hilda’s wants it for ministry, including:

  • Food Drive: Food for Life Canada, together with Kerr Street Market and St. Hilda’s Church, run an outreach program for people in need in the Hopedale area.
  • “Cloz for Moz” Project: An outreach to Mozambique which delivered crates of nearly new clothes and blankets to this area of need in Africa
  • Garage Sale “Giveaway”: We have a community Garage Sale, but the items are Free! An illustration of God’s love for us.
  • Free Car Wash: We offer free car washes to passers by as an illustration of the love of Jesus.
  • Power and Light: A junior youth group where kids from the church and community meet Friday evenings for Fun and Games!
  • Freebie Friday: Freebie Friday is a drop-in for the students of Blakelock High School, which is located just a few doors away. Each Friday during the school year, St. Hilda’s Parish Hall is open from 11:00 am – 1:30 pm for the students to drop by during their lunch hour to have lunch, play games, talk to a volunteer or to go into the church to pray. We usually get more than 100 kids.
  • Artists for Africa: A fund raiser by St. Hilda’s artists to help alleviate poverty in Africa.
  • Alpha: Members of the community are invited to find out more about Christianity
  • Marriage Alpha: A marriage course open to members of the community.

Why does the Diocese of Niagara want it? Because the land it sits on is worth around a couple of million dollars.

Michael Ingham is elegantly angry

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From the New West website

Our Bishop Michael Ingham-and other Canadian bishops-called the idea of a “retrospective moratorium” punitive, unfair or a step backwards. Bishop Michael was elegantly angry, declaring the WCG demonstrated “rigidity and a lack of wisdom.”

The WCG also advanced the concept of an “Anglican Covenant” and an “Anglican Faith and Order Commission,” something sounding ominously like the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; which, in Globe and Mail reporter Michael Valpy’s words, “almost certainly would impose limitations on homosexual inclusiveness.”

Where did this WCG come from, you ask? It was established just last February by Archbishop Williams to “address outstanding questions arising from the Windsor Report”-with the implied assumption that the Windsor Report is now Anglican doctrine and must be implemented. Responses from this corner of the communion were, at best, skeptical.

The Rev. Neil Fernyhough of St. Hilda’s, Sechelt, who went to observe the Lambeth Conference, wryly noted “there’s no uniform opinion with regard to the Windsor Report…but it’s already being accepted as the 39 Articles.”

Even Bishop James Cowan of British Columbia, whose vote at last year’s Canadian General Synod showed he’s more of a “go slow” prelate when it comes to same sex-blessings, doubted that measures now being proposed by WCG to “minister” to churches that have left their dioceses “will have any more sway” than other groups created by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

One has sympathy for the current Archbishop of Canterbury: well-intentioned, gentlemanly, scholarly to the point of obscurity, and clearly someone who does not want the global Anglican Communion to fold on his watch. A fine writer, an accommodating leader, and an admirable man in many ways, but sometimes one wishes for the soldierly toughness of one of his predecessors, Robert Runcie.

The most felicitous words spoken at Lambeth were those of Sir Jonathan Sacks, chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregation of the Commonwealth. He recognized that, too often, religious groups have shown conflict “between faiths, and sometimes within faiths.”

But, he continued, “The Anglican Communion has held together quite different strands of Christian theology and practice more graciously and successfully than any other religion I know.”

One hopes this may continue. And yet, one knows the history of the Christian church is full of divisions, reaching back to the animosity between Saints Peter and Paul. Many schisms, separations, dissolutions, new “reformed” churches.

That may happen again, over this issue, but if so, let it happen. As Archbishop David Somerville said of the ordination of women to the priesthood, “If this is what God wants us to do, we must do it.” And the same can be said of this current brouhaha over the blessing of same-sex unions.

My feeling is, if there are parishes and dioceses that cannot accept the full inclusiveness of diverse sexualities, let them go. Staying together is not the most important thing about religious life.

The idea of Michael Ingham being ‘elegantly angry’ is an intriguing one. How does he do it? What does it look like? Does he temporarily conceal his – undoubtedly genetically acquired – bicorne nature with a rainbow mitre? It is a profound relief to know that a bishop of the Anglican church of Canada is not subject to the foot stamping, tooth gnashing temper tantrums of mere mortals.

Instead, he takes it out on the parishoners and priests in his dioscese who can no longer put up with his selling out to the Dark Side. If he were merely ‘letting them go’, he would not be initiating lawsuits, threatening a world famous theologian with trespassing, firing priests and seizing property that doesn’t belong to him – all done elegantly, of course.

Corn Flake Anglicans. Plumbing the depths of banality.

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In case anyone is under the misapprehension that the average pew-warming Anglican possesses the theological insight to have an intelligent opinion on same sex blessings, read the letter below; the ‘featured letter’, no less, from the Anglican Journal.

These thoughts are the product of centuries of Anglican pew-pandiculation; eat your heart out Pascal.

Dear editor,
Come on, bishops. Get with the coming of the 21st century. While I am not gay, and married to a wonderful lady for 53 years, we both have friends who are gay. Not our way of life but it is theirs, and the Anglican Church and we are not going to change that. It is a way of life that is here and has been here for years and years so let’s get on with it and embrace everyone in the name of Jesus.

If the Anglican Church of Canada decides to endorse same-sex unions, so be it. That is not going to change our corn flakes in the morning.

As a church we need to get on with life and bring it into the 21st century. If we don’t, our membership will dwindle while other faiths churches increase. Just look around at some other faiths. They must be doing something to get the attendance they do.

We personally feel that the main problem with the Anglican Church of Canada is two prayer books. The BAS has been with us for something in the neighborhood of 25 years. Why not decide on one prayer book?

Eric and Joy Magill
North Bay, Ont.

Canadian Primate vigorously challenges and repudiates. But does anyone believe him?

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Canadian Primate disputes charge that church offers ‘false gospel’

The problem here, is that it is very difficult to pin any of the ACoC leadership down on exactly what they believe the gospel is; after all, no-one can accuse you of believing a lie when you refuse to divulge your beliefs. For example, in the recent debate on the Michael Coren show, Peter Wall, when asked whether he believes in the Virgin birth and the resurrection, waffled around the issue to such an extent that it wasn’t possible to figure out exactly what he does believe.

Bishop Michael Bird, when visiting a Niagara church this year refused to state what his beliefs are on the grounds that they are ‘personal’! The refusal of a Christian – especially a leader – to clearly state what he believes is, in itself, evidence of a false gospel.

And then we have Rev. Lynn Corfield, who doesn’t believe that mankind is sinful.

From the Anglican Journal

Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, challenged the statement issued by a global group of conservative Anglicans accusing the Anglican Church of Canada and The Episcopal Church in the United States of proclaiming a “false gospel that has paralyzed” the Anglican Communion.

“The Gospel of God in Christ is faithfully proclaimed by Canadian Anglicans today just as it has been by generations who have gone before us,” Archbishop Hiltz said in a press statement issued July 2. “I believe it is important to state this truth in response to the recent statement from the GAFCON (Global Anglican Future Conference) gathering in Jerusalem which suggests otherwise.”

About 1,000 conservative Anglican leaders, at the end of their June 22 to 29 meeting, announced the formation of a network within the communion, which promised to be the alternative to what they call a “false gospel” on issues such as homosexuality. The network, called the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, is being spearheaded by primates and bishops opposed to the consecration in 2003 of V. Gene Robinson, an openly gay divorced father, as bishop of the diocese of New Hampshire, and the approval in 2002 by the synod of the Vancouver-based diocese of New Westminster of a motion asking its bishop to allow same-sex blessings.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has criticized the formation of the network as “problematic in all sorts of ways.”

Archbishop Hiltz said the GAFCON statement “is based on a premise that there is ‘acceptance and promotion within the provinces of the Anglican Communion of a different gospel which is contrary to the apostolic gospel.” He added:  “The statement specifically accuses Anglican churches in Canada and the United States of proclaiming this ‘false gospel that has paralyzed the Communion.’ I challenge and repudiate this charge.” (in all the ‘challenging’ and ‘repudiating’ that is going on, nowhere do we see any repentance or sorrow at the havoc wreaked by the ACoC and TEC; what we see is defiance)

Archbishop Hiltz said that in his visit to churches across Canada he has witnessed “a faithful proclamation of the apostolic gospel” and has met clergy and laity “who care deeply for the church, its unity and witness.”

Archbishop Hiltz also said that while he recognizes that “our relationships (within the Communion) are bruised and broken, the gospel calls us to be reconciled, to pursue healing and to seek the counsel of the Holy Spirit.” He added: “I do not believe the Anglican Communion is paralyzed by a false gospel.”

The Canadian Anglican church, the primate added, values its role in the Anglican Communion. “We are committed to constructive dialogue on all issues facing our beloved church and the Communion, including the very difficult issue of the blessing of same-sex unions.” (Note: the ACoC is not commited to constructive dialogue: repeated offers from ANiC churches to negotiate outside the courtroom have been rejected)

He reiterated that Anglicans in Canada “remain convinced that, as contentious as this issue may be, it should not be a Communion-breaking issue.” (Generally speaking, ‘Anglicans in Canada’ aren’t convinced of anything much. Those that are have left the Anglican Church, joined ANiC or are desperately clinging on to an increasingly vain hope that things will change for the better eventually)

He also expressed the church’s support for Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.

c/p Essentials blog

The children are not returning to their wicked step-parents

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From the Telegraph.

Clergy who have defected from their liberal national churches to join traditionalist provinces overseas said the scheme to put them in a “holding bay” before returning them home was “demeaning and unacceptable”.

Meanwhile orthodox Anglican leaders have pledged to press ahead with the creation of their rival movement, claiming that it is an “illusion” to believe that the damage caused by the election of an openly gay bishop can be undone.

It comes just days after Dr Rowan Williams said that the Lambeth Conference gathering of Anglican bishops last month had exceeded expectations and showed that most wanted the 80 million-strong worldwide Communion to stay together despite deep divisions over sexuality.

A letter written by five bishops who have defected from the ultra-liberal Episcopal Church of the USA to conservative churches in Africa and South America was highly critical of the plan announced at Lambeth to create a “pastoral forum”, headed by Dr Williams, that would try to resolve new crises in the Communion and act as a “holding bay” for parishes that have left their home countries.

It said: “We note that the pastoral forum proposal has been developed without any consultation with those most directly affected in North America. This had led to a number of serious misunderstandings with regard to the situation at the local level and the relationship between the bishops, clergy and congregations and their sponsoring provinces.

“We would also observe that the various analogies offered, for example, that we are disaffected children being reunited with our parents or that we are being placed in a holding bay before being restored to our proper province are both demeaning and unacceptable.”

The Communiqué is here.

Poor old Rowan still has his head in the clouds – perhaps he is suffering from the delusion that he never left Swansea. How could be possibly think that the parishes in North America who have risked losing everything but their integrity, would be willing to sit in a ‘holding bay’ until they were ready to return – suitably chastened – to the dioceses who abused them. The same dioceses that turfed them out of their buildings, froze their bank accounts, fired their priests, took them to court and have repeatedly refused to talk – in spite of being pathologically addicted to ‘conversation’ with everyone else about anything at all.

It is about as likely as Rowan saying something clear and straightforward.

The truth is out there

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On July 31st the Diocese of Niagara – who are suing the pants off parishes that voted to join ANiC – agreed to a debate with ANiC on the Michael Coren show.

The Rev. Lynn Corfield from the diocese offers her impressions of the Michael Coren ANiC Diocese of Niagara debate

I have extracted a few choice morsels for your delectation:

In July I had an invitation from The Very Rev’d Peter Wall to join him in a panel discussion on the topic “The Future of the Anglican Church.” Peter explained that the conversation was to be with two members of the Anglican Network of Canada and was for the Michael Coren Show. We would be taped and then later that day (July 31st) it would be broadcast on Vision TV. The invitation came in the midst of my sabbatical leave and I was somewhat out of touch with recent developments, but I said yes!

…

Basically it went well. But It felt like Peter Wall and I didn’t get much ‘air’ time in compared to the views of the ANC..

Translation: we were not allowed to bring up the ‘homophobia’ word.

Michael did say that one hour is not enough and that we could only scratch the surface of the topic – and I can agree with him. It was said several times by Paula and Ray that the Bible is black and white on the issue of homosexuality and this is simply not up for negotiation. In my view the Bible is the living Word of God; it has a heart that beats passionately into each new generation. It was frustrating to hear the same arguments that I and other people who believe in the blessing of same sex unions do not understand the Bible, nor the canons of the Anglican Church.

Stripped of the flowery ‘beating heart’ metaphor, what we are left with is Humpty Dumpty in Alice Through The Looking Glass: `When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, `it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.’

What is at stake is how we treat people who are different in some way from ourselves. The Anglican Network in Canada – feel that they are starting a new church which expresses the true tenants (sic), formularies and tradition of the Anglican Church.

ANiC starting a new church? 70% of the world’s Anglicans are saying that TEC and the ACoC are the ones who have started a new church; you need to listen to the beating heart of Anglicanism, Lynn.

c/p Essentials blog

Anti-Alpha, the liberal course for the luke-warm

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The Alpha course has reached every denomination in almost every country; it has touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom have found Christ through it. It started in an Anglican church (Holy Trinity, Brompton) and it begins by asking the most basic questions: why are we here; what is life about; what happens when I die. This year we have, ‘Is there more to life than this?’

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Azbd4zYVJuQ]

Not surprisingly, it is Evangelical.

Evangelical is not good enough for liberal churches such as the United church, so they have produced their own ersatz-Alpha Handbook – and hope to export it to gullible Anglicans. Forget about the trite percontations of life and death that plague naive Evangelicals; the important stuff is in the Handbook. For example, when bringing a salad in a Jell-O mold to a potluck, don’t forget to use less water than the recipe calls for; it doesn’t get deeper than that. Order your copy now before they are all snapped up by potential church-going Jell-O mold aficionados.

From the Toronto Star:

The Handbook, at times instructional, at times irreverent, attempts to break down that intimidation factor by giving short instructions on how to act in church, from the time you walk through the door and are handed a church bulletin to the time you leave and drop the bulletin in the recycling bin.

Douglas put together the book with partner Nanette McKay after getting permission to use a similar U.S. publication as a template. Douglas and McKay have been stationed in Fiji for the past two years, working with local social justice groups on behalf of the church.

Their book describes in great detail basic churchgoing procedures: how to receive communion, pass the collection plate and hold a hymnal and what to bring to a potluck. (Casseroles and salads are good, and if you bring a salad in a Jell-O mold, use less water than the recipe calls for, the book advises.)

There are also tips on identifying the type of a minister you have depending on the type of clothes he or she is wearing. (The alb and stole represent the minister role as a servant of God, while sandals and coffee stains may show little interest in material goods.)

Some tips are meant for those who have been going to church for a while, such as how to get off a committee. (Find a replacement.)

Douglas says many of the lessons might seem obvious or even silly, but he wanted to make sure nothing was left out. “If you don’t know this stuff, you think it all matters,” he says.

While written for the United Church, Douglas says the lessons can be applied in general terms to just about any denomination. Some, such as those on potlucks and committees, might apply to any group of people.

But there are, of course, aspects that are strictly Christian, such as prayer posture, the 60 essential Bible stories and three versions of the Lord’s Prayer – the sorts of things dealt with exclusively in Bruce’s Jesus 24/7 workbook….

Workbook author David Bruce, minister at Toronto’s Leaside United Church, sees Jesus 24/7 as an alternative to the more evangelical Alpha, but one that allows readers to take a more liberal approach to the gospels than is seen in the British creation. Its intention, however, is the same: to help bring people into the fold through better understanding of basic Bible stories.