1) http://www.acicanada.ca http://www.st-martins.cc/news/statement282.php
http://www.cknw.com
http://www.grahamscott.com/vault/ (audio)
July 3rd 2004 Saturday 7:30pm
Sterling Fox, CKNW, Corus Radio Network across Canada
Sterling Fox: A couple of Anglican parishes in the British Columbia diocese of New Westminster 
(which is the Greater Vancouver area) who are being threatened with eviction from their churches 
because of their disagreement with the diocese and the bishop, of course, on the matter of 
same-sex marriages.  Ed Hird is the acting Media Director of the Anglican Communion in Canada.  
He's also the Rector of St. Simon's Church in Deep Cove, which is part of North Vancouver, 
British Columbia, and one of the congregations literally being threatened with eviction. 
Mr Hird…Ed, welcome to our show.

Ed Hird: Yes, I appreciate.  It's great to be with you.

Fox:  How long has this disagreement, for lack of a better word, between your congregation and 
others with the diocese been festering over the issue of same-sex marriage?

Hird:  It goes back actually six years since our former bishop and diocese voted for same-sex blessings.  
And then two years ago there were eight congregations that withdrew from the Synod.  There are now 
eleven congregations that have formally protested and have declared a disconnection with 
Michael Ingham and the Synod.

Fox:  Now those eleven congregations…Are they all in this one diocese of New Westminster in BC?

Hird: Essentially.

Fox:  Are you aware of any other Anglican congregations (we are on in five provinces across the 
country) experiencing the same battle of opinion that you are?

Hird: Actually it used to be more local and more regional.  But what has happened is through 
inaction on a national level, there is the same unfortunate confusion that has happened across the nation.  
The General Synod, which is the national body, recently voted to not take action and yet they took 
action simultaneously.  It has got people very confused. 
They voted to affirm same-sex relationships, to affirm the integrity and sanctity of them, which 
basically defines them as holy.  And so, what's left to discuss.  

Anglicans around the world are around 75 million.  The view of Anglicans worldwide is that this is 
not where the Anglican Church is coming from. 
And there are a few thousand Anglicans off on the West Coast who are making it up themselves.  
We're not telling people what to do, but we want to be faithful to the Anglican beliefs and 
practices worldwide.

Fox:  So in the opinion of your congregation, this whole business of the Church sanctifying same-sex 
unions through official liturgies is just wrong, you're just opposed to it, period?

Hird:  Everyone is welcome in our church. We are not perfect, but we can't make it up as we go.  

Fox: Okay

Hird:  We're part of a historic faith that has some convictions and we want to be faithful to that.  

Fox:  Okay, I understand that part, Ed, and I wasn't trying to sandbag you, sir.  I was just trying 
to get your position clarified because now it has moved beyond a disagreement between a parish and 
the diocese in which that parish is located.  And you have already told us that there are a number 
of parishes that are like-minded.  But now this has bubbled up beyond the surface into what 
essentially is boiling down into a turf war, if you will, with no disrespect intended, because 
the diocese is threatening to evict you and your fellow members at St. Simon's.  Did you people 
not build that church with your contributions to the collection plate?

Hird:  Our congregation has been around for 59 years, and we built it ourselves and supported it.  
We are a self-supporting congregation.  We unanimously voted to dismiss our former bishop Michael Ingham 
and to accept the offer of actually five international Anglican Archbishops/Primates from Africa 
and Southeast Asia.  And so now we have new Anglican coverage from around the world.  We are not 
trying to tell our former bishop what to believe or what to do.  

Fox:  Right…

Hird:  We have certain convictions and we would ask to be respected in those convictions.  So we are 
just getting on with our lives.  

Fox:  Now Mr. Hird, what I am after of course is a legal clarification. 
For example, the title to the church and the property surrounding St. Simon's.  Who is that 
deeded to?  The diocese?

Hird:  Well, there is no question that it is deeded to the congregation, the people of St. Simon's.  
And we are also legally incorporated and have been so for many years.  That is somewhat unusual.  
Across the nation, it is not always the case that the congregation has the legal title.

Fox:  I was going to say, it is usually the diocese that has the legal title to the parish church 
and so on.

Hird:  We are in a very fortunate position.  But the bureaucratic maneuver is suggesting because 
we have accepted a new bishop, therefore they use the word 'parish' as a bureaucratic word that 
doesn't even need people in it.  And they would suggest that a parish can never leave. 
Only individuals can leave.  But in our case, the entire congregation voted unanimously to choose 
a new bishop.

Fox:  So they are threatening you with eviction from a property that you own, that they have no 
claim to, so they don't have a lot of legal ground to stand on, at least from this laymen's perspective.

Hird:  Well, we would certainly agree with you.

Fox:  What about the other churches that don't have the sort of clear title that your congregation 
does?  Suppose in another part of town, another congregation with equally strong feelings about 
this issue disagrees with the bishop and so on, that is threatened with eviction. 
If indeed with that church, if the deed and title is held by the diocese, they can get tossed.  

Hird:  I understand what you are saying.  What is unique to the West Coast is that the diocese 
many years ago encouraged many congregations to get separately incorporated.  

Fox: Interesting.

Hird:  So many congregations on the West Coast are in quite a unique position.  But also there 
is a concept called 'beneficial ownership' 
Our lawyer Bob Kuhn http://www.christianlegalfellowship.org/Interventions/twufactum.html
(he's the one who won the Trinity Western University case http://www.twu.ca/Challenge/), he's a
 very gifted lawyer.  He says that beneficial ownership which relates to the Christ the Redeemer 
congregation up on the Sunshine Coast, even though it's held in trust by the diocese, the 
congregational members are the ones who have paid for, invested in it, built it up.  Beneficial 
ownership is a very strong legal argument for retaining property.

Fox:  We don't have a great deal of time left, Mr. Hird.  What is next in this ongoing dispute?  
Do you have for example a court date?

Hird:  No, a lot of this is just basically public relations intimidation, and seeking to demoralize 
the congregations, and divide-and-conquer.  But there is a great sense of unity, so we are getting 
on with the ministry, and sharing the good news.  Everyone is welcome in our church.

Fox:  So now you are called the Anglican Communion in Canada (ACiC). This is the new setup and 
the new affiliation. 

Hird:  That's right. 

Fox:  Do you have a website?

Hird:  Yes, we do actually.

Fox:  What is the web address?

Hird: I will just get it for you right now.  It is www.acicanada.ca

Fox:  http://www.acicanada.ca/

Hird:  And if I can just re-mention, we're not rejecting anybody. 
Everyone is welcome in our church.  We walk with people where they are at.  We are certainly not 
perfect.  We basically just want to be able to get on with our life without oppressive threats 
from our former bishop.

As Anglicans, it is like we have a roadmap that we have been following, and our former bishop has 
come up with a new roadmap and a new destination.  And we are saying that he is welcome to go use 
a new roadmap, but please rent your own bus.  And don't hijack our bus.  That is all we are asking.

Fox:  Interesting analogy.  Ed Hird, thank you for taking the time.  We appreciate your joining us.  

Hird: Yes, God bless.

Fox: Ed Hird, Acting Media Director for the Anglican Communion in Canada.  And you and I both know 
this is far from the end of this story.  We will keep a watch on it for you. End

2) http://gs2004.classicalanglican.com/modules/news/
http://dioath.ca/doc_response.htm
Diocese of Athabasca, Northern Alberta, Canada
Statement of Response to the Recent Events at the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada

The clergy of the Diocese of Athabasca, wishing to address the needs of our parishioners, met 
with Archbishop John Clarke on June 25, 2004, to discuss the issues arising out of the recent 
meeting of General Synod in St. Catherine's, Ontario. We offer the following statement:

We affirm the desire to offer our homosexual sisters and brothers pastoral care and support.

We are deeply concerned about the implications of the decision of General Synod to "affirm the 
integrity and sanctity of committed adult same sex relationships." This decision will have an 
impact on our theology and on the life, order and organization of our Church. We are concerned 
that the decision is actually a statement of belief and not just a pastoral practice.

We wish to express our commitment to that which the Anglican Church has held true for centuries 
as expressed in The Book of Common Prayer, The Book of Alternative Services and elsewhere. We 
encourage our parishioners to read the "Solemn Declaration of 1893," (page vii of The Book of 
Common Prayer), the ordination services within the prayer books and the Archbishop's Pastoral 
Letter of June 27, 2004. We affirm the Anglican standard of viewing the world through scripture 
as interpreted by reason and tradition as guided by divine inspiration.

We, as clergy of the Anglican Church of Canada, desire to remain in full communion with the 
worldwide Anglican Communion and intend to maintain those relationships. We wish to act in unity 
and so uphold the Archbishop's directive delivered in his Charge to the Diocesan Synod of 
October, 2003, that "no clergy of the Diocese may bless or perform the marriage of same-sex couples."

3a) http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1141335,00.html
July 2nd 2004, Sky News, UK
GAY DEAN: DO YOU AGREE?
The Church of England is placing itself in the middle of a bitter row with the appointment of 
an openly gay priest to a senior position(…)

3b) http://gs2004.classicalanglican.com/modules/news/
http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/news168.asp
Installation of Dean of St Albans - Statement       
2nd July

Anglican Mainstream deeply regrets the installation today of Dr Jeffrey John as Dean of 
St Albans Abbey.  This provocative action will mean that neither the Abbey nor the diocesan bishop 
can serve as the focus of unity of the diocese, as will be apparent from the significant absences 
from the installation ceremony, such as representatives from the partner diocese of North East 
Caribbean and Aruba.

Those who have promoted this appointment - principally the diocesan bishop - must bear 
responsibility for the damage this situation will inflict upon the mission of the Church of England 
in  Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and North London.  Parishes and Ministers who cannot accept this 
deviation from orthodox Anglican teaching will, sadly, now need to consider the extent to which 
they can involve themselves in the structures of the diocese.

Anglican Mainstream has opposed Dr John's appointment for two reasons. 
First, because his teaching and the life of his household, by his own testimony, fall outside the 
boundaries of the Church of England's position on marriage and sexuality, as recently re-affirmed 
in the House
of Bishops' Report Some Issues in Human Sexuality.    In line with the
witness of the major world-wide Christian traditions we affirm the teaching of Scripture that the 
only acceptable context for sexual intercourse is within marriage, between a man and a woman.  
This is God's gracious provision for the welfare of all people.  We are not opposed to 
homosexual people being members of the Church and strongly deplore homophobia in all its forms.  
We affirm that the Good News of
salvation in Christ is for the whole of humanity.   It is incumbent on
all church leaders, whether or not in Episcopal orders, to set a godly example in this regard 
to the people committed to their charge.

Our second reason for opposing the appointment is that it undermines the Archbishop of Canterbury's 
call, with all his fellow primates, not to act precipitately but to share in a process of 
reflection during the
work of the Lambeth Commission.   As has been evident from the reactions
across the Communion, this appointment has caused dismay to many by appearing to place the 
Diocese and Abbey of St Albans, as part of the Church of England, out of step with much of 
the Anglican Communion and the major Christian churches.

Anglican Mainstream is continuing its dialogue with Downing Street and
Lambeth Palace about the implications of this appointment.   We call for
urgent action by the General Synod and other Church authorities to put in place the reforms 
recommended by the Perry Report [Working with the Spirit] which will make the process of 
appointments to senior positions
in the Church more open and accountable.   We invite all Christian
people to join with us in a strong affirmation of the institution of marriage and its 
contribution to the welfare of our society and in
working earnestly to promote and defend it.   We urge them also to join
with us in praying for the churches and church leaders of the Diocese of St Albans, that 
the Holy Spirit in His grace and mercy will lead them into a fuller understanding of His 
purposes for His church, and grant them the courage and power to obey Him.


Contact details
Dr Philip Giddings, Convenor, Anglican Mainstream
0118 378 8207 (office hours)
0118 954 3892 (home)

Preb Richard Bewes, Rector of All Souls, Langham Place
020 7 580 6029

3c) http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/9066464.htm
Posted on Fri, Jul. 02, 2004
Gay Clergyman Appointed Cathedral Dean
THOMAS WAGNER
Associated Press
ST. ALBANS, England - A gay Anglican priest who lost a bishop's throne because of a 
global uproar was welcomed Friday as dean of the cathedral shrine of England's first 
Christian martyr(…)

4) As Long As We All Get Along http://www.pfm.org/BPtemplate.cfm?Section=BreakPoint_Home&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=11543
Selling Truth for Unity
BreakPoint with Charles Colson
February 5, 2004
Peter James Lee was one of the sixty Episcopal bishops who voted to approve the 
appointment of Gene Robinson, an openly gay man, as bishop of New Hampshire. Since the 
vote, Lee has faced stiff opposition from conservative evangelical churches in his diocese.

In his speech to the annual meeting of his diocese, Bishop Lee said this, "If you must 
make a choice between heresy and schism, always choose heresy."

I can think of nothing more dangerous. What Lee is basically saying is that we can tolerate 
anything within the Church just to keep the Church together.

What would cause someone to think this way? In part there is much at stake economically in 
keeping things the way they are. Schism is the enemy because pastors' retirements and church 
properties get threatened if you break away from a denomination-as do bishops' reputations.
But putting personal interest ahead of truth, sacrificing truth on the altar of what we call 
unity? No. And it's not real unity; it's expediency.

The second reason for putting unity over truth is that American Christians of all stripes-evangelical, 
as well as liberal-no longer take truth seriously. David Brooks in a recent New York Times 
column made the point that Americans believe that, "In the final days, the distinctions will 
fade away, and we will all be united in God's embrace. This happy assumption has meant that 
millions feel free to try on different denominations at different points in their lives, and 
many Americans have had trouble taking religious doctrines altogether seriously."

As a result, says Brooks, we tend to think that all people of good will are "basically on the 
same side," we practice religion that is easygoing and experiential rather than rigorous and 
intellectual, and we "have trouble sustaining culture wars."

The result is that, like Bishop Lee, we've fallen into this mushy ecumenism, believing that 
doctrines and distinctions make little or no difference. But our forebears, particularly in 
the Reformation tradition, didn't shed their blood for retirement plans, for buildings, or 
for a cozy sense that everybody is okay. They shed their blood for truth.

All other considerations, whether we're seeker-sensitive or liturgical, whether we're taking 
care of our retirement plans or building new additions, everything is secondary to the 
preservation and defense of truth.

This applies to every church, not just the Episcopal church. In my experience, Bible-believing 
churches can sometimes be as unwilling to apply church discipline over matters of truth and 
morality as Bishop Lee. One politician I know boasts about his faith while voting for gay 
rights and against the partial-birth abortion ban. Not only is he not disciplined by his 
church in the name of truth, but he gets time and again to speak in the pulpit. Anything else, 
of course, might cause disunity.

As Pogo said, "We have just met the enemy, and he is us." It's all well and good for 
evangelicals to sit around and say "those crazy Episcopalians." But they're just reflecting 
what all of us do in lesser degrees. And Lee's words ought to be a sobering wake-up call to us all.

5) http://www.st-martins.cc/calendar/guestpreachers.php
ORTHODOX SERVICES OF ST. MARTIN'S
AT THE HARVEST PROJECT
201 Bewicke Avenue
North Vancouver, BC
You are Invite to Worship at the Harvest Project on Sundays at 10:00 am Special Guest Preacher 
Service of Holy Communion with the Rev. Dr. James Packer* July 11th
-
July 18th-Aug. 29th
Alternating Services of Morning Prayer and Holy Communion with the Rev. Paul Carter's Summer
Sermon Series on the Book of Esther

The Rev. Dr. James I. Packer was born in England and educated at Oxford where he earned degrees 
in Classics and Theology. He served as a priest and seminary tutor for nine years before becoming 
warden of Latimer House, an Anglican evangelical study centre in Oxford , in 1961. In 1970 he 
became Principal of Tyndale Hall, an Anglican seminary in Bristol , and in 1979 he was appointed 
Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology at Regent College , Vancouver . He retired from 
full-time teaching in 1996 although not from active ministry among the people of God. Dr. Packer 
has written many best-selling books, and is one of the most widely read Anglican authors in the world.

For more information please contact either Ron Edwards @ 604-985-9839 or Patricia Young @ 604-980-2955

6) http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/articles/38/50/acns3850.cfm
ACNS Interview with Most Revd Robin Eames on the work of the Lambeth Commission

In recent weeks, ACNS has received a large number of queries about the progress of the Lambeth 
Commission on Communion (LCC). ACNS managed to catch up with the Chair of the Commission, the 
Most Revd Robin Eames, as he passed through St Andrew's House this week. He agreed to give some 
personal reflections on the work of the Commission, given that it is impossible for him or the 
Secretary of the Commission to respond to the large number of individual enquiries that we have received.

1. How would you describe the challenge facing the Lambeth Commission on Communion?

Archbishop Eames: Well, you know the Anglican Communion has become deeply polarised by recent 
developments in the Canadian Diocese of New Westminster and the Episcopal Church (USA). It would 
not be putting it too strongly to say that there is a sense of betrayal in parts of the Communion 
about the actions in North America(…)

6. Is the commission still receiving evidence/presentations?

Eames: Yes. All are invited, without exception, to make written submissions to the Commission by 
means of the process set out on our website in the advisory of 18th December last year (http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/articles/37/00/acns3713.cfm ).(…)

7. Should the commission's remit also have included the issue of sexuality, or was it justified 
to centre the commission's work purely on how to maintain the highest degree of communion when 
confronted by divisive issues?

Eames: The simple answer is that the Lambeth Commission was not asked to reconsider the teaching 
of Resolution 1.10 of the Lambeth Conference of 1998, and so it is not at liberty to do so. 
The question of ministry by or to persons of homosexual orientation is not a matter which can 
be debated beyond the position adopted there, because the Primates made it clear in their 
statement of last October that Resolution 1.10 remains the formally voiced teaching of the 
Anglican Communion on this issue. It is part of the basis on which the Commission must come 
to its conclusions, and is not open to renegotiation by the Commission(…)

7) http://purposedriven.com/content.aspx?id=5226
40 Days of Purpose: Weekly Notes and Audio Replay
This is a weekly reminder to join Rick Warren this Thursday, July 8 at 8 a.m. PST as he 
continues week 5 of the seven week study of the 40 Days of Purpose.  You won't want to miss 
this powerful vision casting opportunity for your church!

Plan to dial (800) 776-0725 before 8 a.m. this Thursday, and reference
"40 Days of Purpose with Rick Warren".   If you do miss a scheduled
call, check the website for call archive information so you can catch up with the exciting study.

This week's Outline Notes and information about last week's call are available at: http://purposedriven.com/content.aspx?id=5226

Purpose Driven
If you were not able to participate in the live conference call with Pastor Rick, you can always 
hear him through the Audio Replay. 
Additionally, you can download the Weekly Notes to follow along with Rick's teaching.

WEEKLY NOTES (available the morning of each conference call)
      Week 1 - June 10, 2004 - Welcome & Overview of 40 Days of Purpose (No notes required)
      Week 2 - June 17, 2004 - Introduction:  A Vision For Your Church (Download Notes) http://www.purposedriven.com/images/40dop_email_notes/wk_2_notes.pdf
      Week 3 - June 24, 2004 - Worship:  You Were Planned for God's Pleasure (Download Notes) http://www.purposedriven.com/images/40dop_email_notes/wk_3_notes.pdf
      Week 4 - July 1, 2004 - Fellowship:  You Were Formed for God's Family (Download Notes) http://www.purposedriven.com/images/40dop_email_notes/wk_4_notes.pdf
      Week 5 - July 8, 2004 - Discipleship:  You Were Created to become Like Christ (Download Notes) http://www.purposedriven.com/images/40dop_email_notes/wk_5_notes.pdf
      Week 6 - July 15, 2004 - Ministry:  You Were Shaped for Serving God
    *
Week 7 - July 22, 2004 - Evangelism:  You Wre Made for a Mission

Audio Replay

If you missed the conference call, you can hear it here by dialing 888-203-1112.  Follow the prompts 
to hear the audio replay.

    *
      Week 1 - June 10, 2004 - Passcode is 604855
    *
      Week 2 - June 17, 2004 - Passcode is 232647
    *
      Week 3 - June 24, 2004 - Passcode is 740683
    *
      Week 4 - July 1, 2004 - Passcode is 712401
    *
      Week 5 - July 8, 2004
    *
      Week 6 - July 15, 2004
    *
      Week 7 - July 22, 2004

Note:  Each conference call will be available for replay beginning at 10p.m. PST that same day 
and will continue to be available through July 29, 2004 at midnight.

8) ) http://www.vaxxine.com/eves/britishcolumbia.htm
Please join us just one week from now for the 30th Annual July 16th -19th BC Christian Ashram 
Retreat with Bishop Malcolm Harding of Brandon, Manitoba, the Ambassador for Anglican Renewal 
Ministries of Canada http://www.cyberus.ca/~arm/ambassador.htm
. Six presentations will be given by him on the book of Philippians, the Epistle of Joy. Bishop 
Malcolm, who has led two of our St. Simon's Renewal Missions, bubbles with life and vitality in 
Christ.  By his very presence, Malcolm reminds you that bishops can be healthy and life-giving.  

The Christian Ashram was founded 70 years ago by the world-renowned missionary & author. 
Dr. E. Stanley Jones http://christianashram.org/jones.htm
  All ages are welcome, as there are children and teen programs each day at the Camp Alexandra 
location near White Rock, BC (just across the Canada/USA border).

Do you need spiritual refreshment and renewal? Do you want a vacation with God? Then join us by 
registering today.  Just e-mail us at ed_hird@telus.net or phone Norma Carruthers at 604-533-5509  
To find out more, please click on http://www.vaxxine.com/eves/britishcolumbia.htm

http://www.acinw.org/ http://www.st-martins.cc/news/statement281.php
ACiNW NEWS RELEASE
July 7, 2004
North Vancouver Church chooses growth over court battle

VANCOUVER - A group of North Vancouver Anglicans struggling to restore democracy in their parish 
have decided to drop legal action against the Bishop of New Westminster for firing its elected 
church trustees in September 2003.

The parishioners of St. Martin's Anglican Church in North Vancouver say they prefer to use 
resources for ministry instead of a court battle, adding that even a favourable court judgment 
would not likely prompt the diocese to allow the parish to govern itself entirely.

In September 2003 the Bishop of New Westminster, the Rt. Rev. Michael Ingham, fired the elected 
leadership of the parish after the vestry (membership) voted to seek an alternative bishop to 
lead them.  The Bishop acted under Canon 15, an obscure church law that gives the local bishop 
extraordinary powers over the parish.

The bishop subsequently appointed parish leaders loyal to him, who immediately fired the church's 
youth pastor, scuttled the parish website, and removed volunteers from key positions in the church.  

But in a lawsuit launched March 1, 2004, parishioners argued that the removal of two of the 
trustees was in violation of B.C. corporate law.

But according to parishioner Ronald Edward, while the court action would have given hope that 
the two trustees could be reinstated, it would not have completely restored democracy at the 
church.

"But we look forward to a time when democratic processes are restored at St. Martin's and we 
can return to worship there," he said. "In the meantime, we're getting on with ministry."

Conservative St. Martin's parishioners now worship each Sunday in rented premises and are seeking 
to hire a new youth pastor. Since January 2004, the group has grown by more than 30%. 

St. Martin's is one of two congregations in which diocesan authorities have intervened in the 
past year. In December 2003, the diocese terminated Holy Cross, a mission congregation in 
Abbotsford, when it voted to join the Anglican Communion in New Westminster (ACiNW). Members 
of Holy Cross also continue to worship each Sunday in rented premises.  

The Anglican Communion in New Westminster (ACiNW) is a coalition of eleven congregations 
representing almost a quarter of the Diocese's attending population.  The coalition formed 
in June 2002 following the Diocese of New Westminster's decision to move away from the teachings 
of mainstream Anglicanism.