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1a) http://vancouver.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=bc_anglican20050401 (...)But diocesan spokesperson Neale Adams says the disagreement has nothing to do with money or real estate. And Adams says Hird is mistaken about who owns the church, and maintains the congregation at St. Simon's is not being evicted.* "What the diocese has asked is for a priest who has left the Anglican Church of Canada to stop using the building which belongs to the Anglican Church of Canada." The St. Simon's congregation plans to move to Lions Gate Christian Academy by June 5.(...)
Note: In fact the congregation of St. Simon's, not just its Rector, at its Vestry Meetings and Special Information Meetings has voted unanimously, in agreement with the unanimous decision of its Wardens and Church Council, to leave the diocese of New Westminster and the ACC, transfer to the Anglican Province of Rwanda, and finally to evacuate the blue church building on May 31st 2005. The People of St Simon's are 'all for one and one for all', despite its ex-diocese's attempt to divide-and-conquer.
1b) http://www.mytelus.com/news/article.do?pageID=bc_home&articleID=1888460 british columbia My Telus news Friday, Apr 01, 2005 Anglican congregation moving over court fight http://vancouver.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=bc_anglican20050401 CBC British Columbia Anglican congregation moving out Last Updated Apr 1 2005 01:36 PM PST CBC News VANCOUVER - Members of a breakaway Anglican parish on the North Shore are planning to move out of their church building, saying they can't afford a court fight with the diocese.
The dispute between St. Simon's and the Diocese of New Westminster began with the fight over same-sex blessings.
And last March, they officially split from the diocese and their priest - Rev. Ed Hird - was one four Lower Mainland clergy who resigned from the Anglican Church of Canada. Hird is now affiliated with a bishop in Rwanda.
Hird argues that his congregation legally owns the church property, but has no choice but heed a notice from the diocese to vacate the building. "We looked at all the options. We could have stayed and fought but what happens, you know, B.C. Supreme Court is $10,000 a day," he says. "Even if we won at that level, as we have a good case, they'd just appeal it. They have a massive war chest. So it's a very uneven kind of situation."
But diocesan spokesperson Neale Adams says the disagreement has nothing to do with money or real estate. And Adams says Hird is mistaken about who owns the church, and maintains the congregation at St. Simon's is not being evicted. "What the diocese has asked is for a priest who has left the Anglican Church of Canada to stop using the building which belongs to the Anglican Church of Canada." The St. Simon's congregation plans to move to Lions Gate Christian Academy by June 5. LINK: St. Simon's Anglican Church
1c) http://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/Portal/Default.aspx?tabid=1&mode=Story&StoryId=137 "...Cadman said they the priests and their followers have had almost a year to make alternate arrangements..."
Last Updated: Wednesday 9 Mar, 2005, 09:17 PM (3 weeks later) Diocese of New Westminster 'Topic' Magazine Chancellor acts to restore Canadian Anglican ministry in two parishes
So that the Anglican Church of Canada can continue its work of community outreach and care of parishioners, George Cadman, the chief legal officer of the Diocese of New Westminster, has told two priests who resigned almost a year ago from the Canadian Church - and the Societies that they lead - that they must leave church buildings that historically belong to and are intended for the use of the Canadian Anglican Church in its ministry to Anglicans in this Diocese.
Cadman has sent letters to the Societies and to their directors, through their lawyer, to ask that the buildings be turned over by April 1. Notices to deliver up possession have also been posted on the premises.
Cadman said they the priests and their followers have had almost a year to make alternate arrangements(...)
1d) http://www.anglican.tk/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=747 "...the occupants of our churches at St. Simon's Deep Cove and St. Andrew's Pender Harbour were served with legal notices to leave the premises by April 1st 2005(...)"
Ingham Letter - March 10, 2005 Memorandum[also faxed]
To: All Diocesan Clergy, Members of Diocesan Council From: Bishop Michael Ingham Date: March 10, 2005 Subject: St. Simon's, Deep Cove and St. Andrew's, Pender Harbour
Dear Friends in Christ:
I write to let you know that yesterday, upon my instruction and a resolution of the Diocesan Council, the occupants of our churches at St. Simon's Deep Cove and St. Andrew's Pender Harbour were served with legal notices to leave the premises by April 1st 2005(...)
1e) http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2203 Posted by David Virtue on 2005/3/13 17:30:00 (Virtue Online) http://www.canada.com/images/NewsPages/Province/prov_front.jpg http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/news/story.html?id=3009edd6-133f-4b03-90e6-32de2cc8e256 Vancouver Province, Sunday March 13th 2005, A1 "Hands off our Church!" by Ethan Baron, Staff Reporter According to George Cadman, legal officer for the diocese, the diocese will seek a court order to evict Mayo, Hird and their congregation if they're not out of the church by April 1. "They're part of a breakaway faction and would like to stay in premises that they have no right to occupy," Cadman says(...)
1f) St. Simon's North Vancouver Special Vestry Meeting Sunday Nov 23rd 2003 12:30pm (over 16 months ago) Motion 1 Be it resolved that the Parish of St. Simon's North Vancouver affirm our conviction that the Diocese of New Hampshire, ECUSA and any person who took part in the invalid 'consecration' of Gene Robinson, a priest living an active and open homosexual relationship, have broken fellowship and taken themselves out of communion with the Anglican Communion worldwide and with our parish.
Passed Unanimously
Motion 2. Be it resolved that with the official withdrawal of Bishop Terrence Buckle and subsequent refusal of the bishop of New Westminster to consider true episcopal oversight as requested by the Canadian House of Bishops and the Primates of the worldwide Anglican Communion, St Simon's Parish North Vancouver, in agreement with the unanimous decision of the St. Simon's Parish Council, (i) is not prepared to go back and be re-enmeshed in potentially 'endless' negotiation with the bishop of New Westminster. who has broken fellowship by both his participation in Gene Robinson's invalid consecration and by authorization of the blessing of same sex unions, and that (ii) consequently any potential contact must be conducted in light of broken communion.
Passed Unanimously
Motion 3 Be it resolved that the Parish of St. Simon's North Vancouver affirms its commitment to continue as part of the Anglican Communion which, under the Primates and the Archbishop of Canterbury, continues to uphold the standards of Christian morality, in particular the sanctity of marriage and the moral conduct of the clergy. Passed Unanimously
Motion 4. Whereas, the schismatic act of the Synod of the Diocese of New Westminster in passing Motion 7 at the 2002 Synod and the Bishop's authorization of the blessing of same sex unions, and his participation in the New Hampshire invalid consecration, has created a crisis of faith and leadership in the Diocese of New Westminster; and Whereas, said actions of the Synod and the Bishop leave no option for this congregation other than to seek alternative episcopal oversight; Be it resolved, given the withdrawal of Bishop Terrence Buckle's offer of alternative episcopal oversight and subsequent refusal of the bishop of New Westminster to consider true episcopal oversight as requested by the Canadian House of Bishops and the Primates of the worldwide Anglican Communion, that this congregation reaffirm its Feb 23rd 2003 Annual Vestry Meeting commitment to a process of discernment under the direction of Archbishops Emmanuel Kolini and Yong Ping Chung, and involving others such as the Primates of the Ekklesia Council as appropriate, with the goal of either (i) forming an association with the Anglican Mission in America, or (ii) establishing another method of providing orthodox, godly episcopal oversight for this congregation. Passed Unanimously
1g) Minutes of the St Simon's Parish AGM (Annual General Meeting) February 15, 2004, North Vancouver, B.C. (Almost 14 months ago) Motion 1. A Resolution to accept the Offer of Temporary Adequate Episcopal Oversight
Whereas, a crisis of faith and leadership has been created in the Diocese of New Westminster by the passing of a motion to bless same-sex unions, and the actual performance of the same in a church with the authorization of Bishop Michael Ingham: and
Whereas, a special October 2003 meeting of the Primates of the Anglican Communion called upon the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada to provide "temporary adequate Episcopal Oversight to those churches and clergy who, because of their refusal to accept the revisionist direction of the diocese, are now in a state of broken communion; and
Whereas, said Episcopal Oversight was to have been offered in consultation with the global Primates through the Archbishop of Canterbury; and
Whereas, to date no such Episcopal Oversight has been offered, but instead church members have been lost, leadership has been threatened, and churches have been closed and their standing threatened; and
Whereas, the clergy and congregations of New Westminster cannot be left to fend for themselves while the task force of the Canadian House of Bishops and the Communion appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury are doing their work.
Be it resolved, that the parish of St Simon's Deep Cove does hereby accept the offer from the Primates of the Provinces of Congo, Central Africa, Rwanda and South East Asia of temporary Adequate Episcopal Oversight made available to the clergy and congregations of New Westminster, and to other Canadian clergy and congregations who seek such covering, on the following basis: 1. The temporary Adequate Episcopal Oversight, as contemplated by the Primates Meeting of October 2003, will be offered in consultation with the Primates and the Archbishop of Canterbury. 2. The Most Rev. Datuk Yong Ping Chung has been requested and will serve as Chairman of the sponsoring group of Primates. 3. The Rt. Rev. Thomas Johnston, with the support of the administrative resources of the Anglican Mission in America, will coordinate the provision of this oversight on behalf of the undersigned. 4. Representatives of the Canadian clergy and congregations seeking oversight will meet with Archbishop Yong and/or Bishop Johnston to work out the administrative details of this offer.
Passed unanimously
Motion 2.
Whereas the Diocese of New Westminster and Bishop Michael Ingham have continued to defy God by teaching and promoting practices that are expressly forbidden by Holy Scripture, and
Whereas, they have repeatedly ignored and intentionally misinterpreted the clear call of the leadership of the world-wide Anglican Communion for the Diocese and Bishop to cease their approval and promotion of same-sex blessings, and
Whereas, the Bishop and Diocesan leadership have willfully and unrepentantly disobeyed Article 1 of the Constitution of the Synod of the Diocese of New Westminster, in that they no longer hold and maintain the Doctrine of Christ as the Lord has commanded and the Anglican Church has received them, and have changed, without the authority or approval of the Anglican Church of Canada…the formularies of the church, and
Whereas Bishop Michael Ingham has not guarded the faith of the church, and has therefore set aside his ordination and consecration vows, and finally,
In response to Bishop Michael Ingham's defiant participation in the invalid and desecrating consecration of Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire,
Therefore, be is resolved that this congregation of St Simon's Deep Cove, including its rector, The Rev. Ed Hird and assistant clergy, declare that communion with the Diocese of New Westminster, its Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Michael Ingham and all who agree with him and support their position, has been hereby broken by their actions. We also declare that these relationships must remain severed until and unless there is an equally deliberate repentance and return to the orthodox faith of Christ as the world-wide Anglican church has received and continues to declare it.
Passed unanimously
1h) Motions Passed by a unanimous or overwhelming majority at a Special Vestry Meeting held June 15th 2002 (Almost 3 years ago) By St. Simon's Anglican Church, North Vancouver BC pertaining to the events the previous day at the Synod of the Diocese of New Westminster.
Motion 1: Be it resolved that the Anglican parish of St. Simon's North Vancouver proceed to rebuild on our current property, and surrounding area if possible, once the buildings and assets have been deemed to be reliably secure from dispossession or interference.
Motion 2: Be it resolved that the Anglican parish of St. Simon's North Vancouver express its clear disagreement with the passage of Motion 7 implementing the blessings of same-sex union, and that our parish views the approval of Motion 7 as causing the Synod to schismatically break communion with the Anglican faith and practice of our Diocese of New Westminster, the Anglican Church of Canada, and the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Motion 3: Be it resolved, in agreement with Holy Scripture, that the Anglican parish of St. Simon's North Vancouver express its full support for the courage and wisdom of the 129 Synod delegates who voted against the implementation of same-sex union blessings, and the Synod delegates from nine+ parishes who withdrew from the schismatic Synod in order to remain as the Anglican Communion in New Westminster, in communion with the Anglican Church of Canada, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Motion 5: Be it resolved that the Anglican parish of St. Simon's North Vancouver express its full support for the motions passed by parish council and the trustees regarding alternative episcopal oversight and withholding of assessment, in the event that the blessing of same-sex unions was passed by Synod.
Motion 6: Be it resolved that the Anglican parish of St. Simon's North Vancouver reaffirm its love for all people and its commitment to standing with hurting people in their recovery processes from various bondages, including drug addiction, alcohol abuse, adultery, and homosexual activity through the transforming power of Jesus Christ's love.
1i) http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1938 Posted by David Virtue on 2005/1/16 11:07:00 (1501 reads) To the congregations of the Anglican Communion in Canada,
January 15, 2005 (2 ½ months ago)
Dear brothers and sisters, greetings in the name of Christ,
We, Primates of the Anglican Communion, gathered for the 5th annual AMiA Winter Conference, give thanks for the faithful and fruitful ministry of the congregations of the Anglican Communion in Canada (ACiC) for whom we have provided Episcopal oversight since its formation in January 2004.
We are deeply concerned to hear about the recent actions of the Bishop of New Westminster, Michael Ingham. He has deliberately disregarded the recommendations of the Windsor Report, and pre-empted the decisions of our February 2005 Primatial meeting, by his unwarranted attack on our congregations and priests in Canada. We assure you that we will address these issues when we meet in February.
Contrary to the claim that your priests' ministry has been abandoned, we affirm and rejoice that the gospel has not only continued to be preached, but that the mission of your churches has grown. Our congregations and clergy in Canada have indeed been faithful and fruitful. We are grateful for all that you have achieved over the last 12 months and pray for more growth in the future.
We encourage you to be strong and courageous as you stand firm for the truth of the Gospel and the faith once delivered to the saints. We will continue to stand with you in your hour of need as your Archbishops and your brothers in Christ.
Sincerely in Christ,
The Most Rev. Fidele Dirokpa, Archbishop of Congo The Most Rev. Immanuel Kolini, Archbishop of Rwanda The Most Rev, Bernard Malango, Archbishop of Central Africa The Most Rev. Benjamin Nzimbi, Archbishop of Kenya The Most Rev. Datuk Yong Ping Chung, Archbishop of South East Asia The Rt. Rev. Thomas W. Johnston, Missionary Bishop of Rwanda
Griswold rounds on 'evil' detractors by Bill Bowder, Church Times, UK
TACTICS used by conservatives to influence the Primates' Meeting in Newry in February have been branded as "evil" by the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States (ECUSA), the Most Revd Frank Griswold(...)
- CANUCKISTAN: "Intolerant land" … (canoe.ca) http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/Columnists/Calgary/Link_Byfield/2005/03/25/971632.html COLUMNIST Fri, March 25, 2005 Intolerant land By LINK BYFIELD -- Calgary Sun
It would be fascinating to ask a large random sample of Canadians what their highest civic ideal is.
I suspect most would say: "To me, Canada is about tolerance."
And they would be kidding themselves. This country believes no more in "tolerance" than it does in freedom.
People who are "tolerant" defend the rights of everyone to free speech, freedom of belief, and freedom of peaceful assembly -- even for those they disagree with.
The word "tolerance" comes from the Latin word "to endure."
Two things in Alberta this week make me wonder how much we are willing to "endure" ideas and opinions we don't like.
The first was a United Church minister in Edmonton writing to the federal government to formally accuse Edmonton East MP Peter Goldring of "promoting hatred against a minority group."
Note that this is a Criminal Code offence punishable by two years in jail.
Goldring had convened a townhall meeting on March 9 to seek instructions from his constituents.
Most have already told him they want him to oppose same sex marriage in Parliament.
Now he wanted to know if he should push for a national referendum. (I had been asked to give the case for a referendum.)
Of the 250 people present, more than nine out of 10 wanted a referendum. A handful of dissenters, however, spoke out forcefully (and impressively) in favour of gay marriage.
Tensions ran high and resentments on both sides flared, but moderator Doug Main kept order. Afterward, several of the dissenters wrote scathing letters in the Edmonton Journal.
It all seemed like a textbook example of grassroots democracy at work.
Until, that is, "Reverend Doctor Ted Kolber" of the United Church weighed in with his hate charge against Goldring to the federal minister of justice.
Having not been at the meeting himself, his evidence consisted of two letters in the newspaper, neither of which provided legal specifics.
I doubt that anything will come of it, though these days one never knows. And that's my point. An apparently educated man thinks that because he disagrees with an MP's political position on gay rights, the MP has committed a crime by speaking it.
The second story is much worse. It happened at the University of Calgary -- which one would have assumed is a bastion of political free speech.
One of the student clubs, Campus Pro-Life, wanted to mount a large, graphic display equating Canada's policy of unrestricted, on-demand, government-funded abortion with other atrocities in human history such as slavery in the U.S. and systematic slaughter of Jews under the Nazis(...)
4a) http://titusonenine.classicalanglican.net/index.php?p=5748 As reported, there is a divide-and-conquer assault against the rectors of six parishes in Connecticut, including the famous St. Paul's Darien congregation.
Bristol, St. John's - Mark Hansen, Rector
Bristol, Trinity - Don Helmandollar, Rector
Darien, St. Paul's - Christopher Leighton, Rector
East Haven, Christ and the Epiphany - Gil Wilkes, Rector
Groton, Bishop Seabury Church - Ron Gauss, Rector
I was inspired to go to the St. Paul's web site. There I found a transcript of Bishop Smith's visit in Dec 2003 to discuss GC2003 with the parishioners (good idea to get a transcript.)
I was struck by one commenter. Regardless of all that bishops like Smith may say, their actions speak much more clearly their words. The witness speaks for itself.
------------- T.: …I am 41 years old and I think I have been through a lot in my 41 years. In the last two years, I found a beautiful place [St. Paul's, Darien] and beautiful things have been coming from here. And now I hear this and I…this is my manual for my life now! And you are telling me to read what I want to read, to hear what I want to hear, to change things. I am not going to read it to you because you know what is in the Bible, you know more than I do, but you are telling me not to take what it says seriously. I don't understand what you are saying.
Bishop Smith: Oh, please! I am hurt by this. I am NOT saying that. Oh, I am not saying that.
T: Then what ARE you saying? I can read right here where it says - and this has been here for 2000 years, I guess - I'm not a professor like you, but - it says, "And among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality or any kind of impurity or greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. That's under the Rules that God gave us to go by, and you are saying things have to change. Do I allow my kids to tell me, "change the rules, Dad"?
Bishop Smith: No. No, you don't. And as we meet and pray and read and share together what the scripture says comes alive and has depth and meaning. There is no question that the situation with Bishop Robinson is novel, is new. There is no question.
[Congregation: No.]
Bishop Smith: In terms of the church, in terms of the church, and its acceptance. And we would have to spend more time than we have tonight to think further about that.
T.: All I ask is that YOU think about it. This is your flock and you are going to just - you are definitely pushing me! I can't speak for everyone else. I can't believe you.
#
In one of the comments to an AAC-blog post which I linked above, someone provided the e-mail addresses of five of the six threatened CT parishes. Here they are for those that want to send words of prayer and encouragement:
St John in Bristol stjohnsbristol@sbcglobal.net
Bishop Seabury in Groton BishopSeaburych@aol.com
Christ in Watertown christ.church.parish@snet.net
St Paul in Darien info@stpaulsdarien.org
Christ and Epiphany in E Haven christ.epiphany@juno.com
- FEEL THE LOVE: Episcopal Minister Faces Loss Of Ordination. Gauss' Opposition To Gay Bishop Leads To Diocese's Letter … (theday.com) http://www.theday.com/eng/web/news/re.aspx?re=0B204940-1B0D-4963-AA7D-A133147FA07F Episcopal Minister Faces Loss Of Ordination Gauss' Opposition To Gay Bishop Leads To Diocese's Letter By BETHE DUFRESNE, The Day Newspaper, New London, Connecticut General Assignment Reporter/Columnist Published on 4/2/2005
Groton -- A conflict in the Episcopal Church that began over the ordination of an openly gay bishop has escalated to the point that a local minister could be deposed from the church's priesthood.
The Rev. Ronald A. Gauss of Bishop Seabury Church, who opposed the 2004 ordination of V. Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire, has been told by the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Connecticut that he has "abandoned the communion of this church."
Gauss is one of six Episcopal priests in the state, and the only one in southeastern Connecticut, who asked for alternative pastoral oversight after the Rt. Rev. Andrew D. Smith, diocesan bishop of Connecticut, supported Robinson's ordination(...)
4c) http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2298 CONNECTICUT: SIX PRIESTS FACE INHIBITION AND DEPOSITION Posted by David Virtue on 2005/4/2 10:20:00 By David W. Virtue HARTFORD, CT: (4/2/2005)--Six orthodox priests in the Diocese of Connecticut face being tossed out of their parishes and the Episcopal Church USA by Bishop Andrew D. Smith on charges that they have "abandoned the communion of the church", though the priests deny they have done so and are seeking legal advice as to their future.
In identical letters to all six clergy, Bishop Smith wrote that "in accordance with Title IV, Canon 10 of the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church, you have abandoned the communion of this Church." The bishop has given the six till April 15 to reach what he called "sacramental, pastoral and ecclesial reconciliation with the church." If none is forthcoming the first step - inhibition - will take place leading to the second and final step - deposition.
The Rev. Gil Wilkes, rector of Christ and Epiphany in East Haven said the central issue was their disagreement with the diocese and the Episcopal Church over Scriptural authority and their departure from it.
"We have each independently and together maintained throughout that we have not broken communion and we have asked on repeated occasions for the bishop to specify the offenses against us, and he has not done so," said Wilkes. The Rev. Don Helmandollar rector of Trinity Church, Bristol, echoed that the issue was one of Scriptural authority.
"The Standing Committee has decided we are out of communion but have done so without speaking to any of us. We have had no input on the canonical responsibility that the Standing Committee has to ascertain and consider the facts. They have not seen fit to consult with any one of us, only the bishop has been in touch with us by letter and he has not addressed the issues we have raised with him," said Wilkes.
"We have been talking directly to the issues of adequate episcopal oversight. The Bishop, on the other hand, has demanded absolute fealty to himself without addressing any of our issues and needs."
The six rectors say they have requested, on multiple occasions, adequate episcopal oversight because of the actions of General Convention 2003 to allow an openly homoerotic priest to be ordained to the episcopacy and by Bishop Smith's participation in that controversial consecration. The six say he has broken communion with them by his actions in defying the Primates of the Anglican Communion which told The Episcopal Church that it should not proceed with the ordination of an avowed homosexual to the episcopacy.
Bishop Smith had offered the priests Delegated Episcopal Pastoral Oversight (DEPO), or return to oversight by the diocesan bishops. He has also demanded they pay their full assessment.
The six clergy say they have not been informed of the grounds for inhibition and they have demanded, through their attorneys, the nature of their status and grounds for the charges made by the bishop. All six deny they have abandoned the communion of the church. "The Canons require that such charges be stated and he has not done so," said the Rev. Mark Hansen of St. John's, Bristol.
He has given us two weeks or he will decapitate the parish priests allowing him to put his own people in to run the parishes, said Hansen(...)
5a) http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/ http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/aroundtheweb/ Sunday 3rd April 2005 Statement from Dr. Peter Jensen, Archbishop of Sydney, Australia, on the death of Pope John Paul II
5b) http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2005/4/2/185720.shtml Saturday, April 2, 2005 6:55 p.m. EST Billy Graham: Pope Was 'Evangelist'
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