From here:
The Archdeacon introduced The Rev. Allen Doerksen, Bishop’s Missioner to the Central Fraser Valley and Priest at St. Matthew. Allen recalled his childhood in Abbotsford as a member of the “Mennonite Tribe” in Abbotsford and as a young person he knew that the “Anglican Tribe” was a very active part of the Christian Community. He used the term “Tribe” not in an anti-ecumenical way but as a way of defining a church that has changed and now lives a “principled pluralism.” The emergence of the worshipping community at St. Matthew, Abbotsford is an exciting and challenging event. Those who are new to Anglican worship or worship in general and are in the beginning stages of their journey of faith find a place in this community.
Allen takes heart that this can be a place where art and beauty can flourish in what many would see as a very pragmatic suburban community.
St. Matthew is a mission church of the diocese and Allen is very grateful for the support of the diocese and he is confident that the time will come when this community can be self-sustaining.
Rev. Allen Doerksen is the brother of Brian Doerksen, a Christian musician and song-writer associated for many years with the Vineyard Movement. Allen was installed by the Diocese of New Westminster’s heretic-in-residence, Michael Ingham, as the rector of St. Matthew’s after the congregation who paid for the church was ejected. I can only assume that the brothers are much as the brothers Hitchens, occupying opposite poles of the metaphysical spectrum.
Brother Allen uses the term “principled pluralism” to describe his church. He doesn’t explain what he means by this, but if he is implying an accommodation to the concept that religions other than Christianity are as valid as Christianity, then he has coined an oxymoron, since he is supposed to adhere to the proposition: “Jesus is the only way to the Father”. From a Christian’s perspective, to water that down is as unprincipled as it comes.
Obviously, the Diocese of New Westminster is paying to keep the parish afloat: an act of face-saving rather than generosity from Michael Ingham.
Here are the 500 people who used to worship in the building when it was self-sustaining, departing in an act of principled non-pluralism:
