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April 11th 2005 Monday Letter to the Editor, National Post (circulation: 248,738 usual readership: 620,000)
Dear Editor,
Re: Chipping Away at Freedom of Religion, Lorne Gunter, April 4th While I greatly enjoyed Lorne Gunter's thoughtful article http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2309 , I must respectfully disagree in one area: The Diocese of New Westminster is clever enough not to 'force' churches to do same-sex blessings; instead it silences or removes those who oppose it, sometimes by using Canon 15 as a stick, sometimes by offering a compromised conscience clause as a carrot.
Secondly, in response to New Westminister Communications Officer Neale Adams' April 6th letter* about Lorne Gunter's article, the people of St. Simon's would see his claim that they and their rector were not evicted, as mere semantics. The "Notice to Quit" Commercial Tenancy Act Form addressed to "St. Simon's Church North Vancouver" with the phrase "You are hereby given notice to deliver up possession of the Premises..." sure looked like an eviction notice to the people of St. Simon's.
After fifty-five years of worshipping at 1384 Deep Cove Road, we have been thrown out at the stroke of a pen by diocesan officials threatening to intimidate and bankrupt us with endless lawsuits.
Despite our holding title deed to the property and building, despite our being legally incorporated, despite our 'beneficial ownership' through having bought, paid for, and maintained the building, we have been evicted by a draconian ecclesiastical law (Canon 15) which allows our ex-diocese to allegedly remove our top leadership, replacing them with people that don't even attend our congregation. After meeting with our gifted lawyer Bob Kuhn, we realized that our ex-diocese could drag this out for years in the courts, appealing again and again even if we won at the lower court level. Our former diocese has very deep pockets. With the BC Supreme Court cost being $10,000 a day, we decided that this would not be a good use of our resources.
Thirdly, Neale Adams keeps giving the impression that this is merely a matter of a solitary rector leaving. 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 Anglican Church of Canada (ACC), transfer to the Anglican Province of Rwanda, and finally to evacuate the blue church building on May 31st 2005. We view this unjust action by our ex-diocese as an attempt to distract Canadians from the international Anglican suspension that has just happened to the Diocese of New Westminster and the ACC. Like Jesus on the cross, we choose to pray "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."
Sincerely, The Reverend Ed Hird+ Rector, St. Simon's Church North Vancouver (Anglican Communion in Canada)
* 1b) Letter to the Editor, National Post, April 6th 2005 Wednesday (from Neale Adams, Communications Officer, Diocese of New Westminster, BC) No Church Decree on Same-sex marriages Re: Chipping Away at Freedom of Religion, Lorne Gunter, April 4th Mr Gunter was incorrect when he stated that a congregation in the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster was evicted from its building for opposing a 'decree' that Vancouver-area Anglican churches mut bless same-sex unions.
There is no such decree. Ours is a diocese that respects differences. In fact, a blessing of same-sex unions is always allowed only if: 1)The priest involved in conscience agrees with the blessing; and 2) the parish has by majority vote asked the bishop to be designated a place where such blessings are carried out.
Though a majority of the diocesean synod in 2002 voted to ask for the blessing of homosexual couples, a significant minority did not. Their rights are protected-- they aren't forced to do anything. Blessings take place in only seven of the diocese's 78 parishes.
In the case of St. Simon's North Vancouver, the priest in March 2004 resigned from the diocese and the Anglican Church of Canada, but continued to use the diocesan-owned building. That's why-- after nearly a year's attempt at reconciliation-- he was asked to leave. He was not evicted. Thankfully, he decided to leave voluntarily and a court-ordered eviction was not necessary. Neale Adams, Communications Officer, Diocese of New Westminster, BC
2) http://www3.telus.net/st_simons/cr0504.html Remembering Nana
an article for the April 2005 Deep Cove Crier
Nana Allen, my maternal grandmother, died with her prayer book and bible by her bed. I was never successful in talking her out of using the "old-fashioned" Book of Common Prayer, and 'getting with the program'. Nana to me symbolizes the deep Judeo-Christian roots of our beloved Canadian nation. She knew in her heart that I would one day become an Anglican priest, even when I was running from God on the top of Mount Seymour ski hill. Nana, while outwardly a very gentle and proper 'English' lady, was inwardly a prayer warrior who never gave up on her family or her nation(...) Click to read more: http://www3.telus.net/st_simons/cr0504.html
3) http://members.shaw.ca/bc.christian.ashram/ To open a PDF of the July 28th-31st 2005 BC Christian Ashram retreat with Bishop Sandy Greene of Colorado, click on http://www3.telus.net/st_simons/Ashram%202005%20brochure.pdf
4a) http://www.defendmarriage.ca Marriage defenders give Moore a message (Port Coquitlam BC) By Travis Trost
More than 250 Canadians representing a mosaic of religious traditions and racial origins rallied in support of traditional marriage last weekend in front of Conservative MP James Moore's office in Port Moody. The rally was organized by the Defend Marriage Coalition, which is fighting to preserve marriage as the union of one man and one woman. It focused on Moore because he has said he will be voting in favor of Paul Martin's anti-marriage Bill C-38, which is now before the House of Commons.
If passed, the bill will redefine the definition of marriage to include homosexual couples. It is facing several key votes in the House of Commons and concerned Canadians are rising up to demand their MPs vote against this bill. Representatives of the Muslim community, various Sikh temples, Roman Catholic lay groups, the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, Protestant pastors, and concerned citizens from Moore's riding spoke on the issue of same-sex marriage. English was not the only language spoken as the multicultural support for traditional marriage was apparent. All speakers agreed that changing the legal definition of marriage would be a huge mistake - a message as clear in Cantonese as it was in English.
All religious faiths present attacked Paul Martin's attempt to destroy marriage in Canada because it negates religious freedom. Speakers at this rally quoted from the Koran and Bible they sought to remind Canadians that the history of all faiths and cultures confirms marriage as the union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others. Like-minded Canadians have raised their voice from Parliament Hill to Port Moody to say that the traditional definition of marriage has worked in the past and will work in the future.
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4b) http://www.igs.net/~tonyc/m4m/m4m.html The March For Marriage Photos and comment by Tony Copple
April 9, Parliament Hill, Ottawa - People of all faiths took to the streets today in a 15,000 strong gesture to Paul Martin that Bill C-38 is an affront to civilization and the sanctity of marriage.
19 speakers including Stephen Harper, Archbishop Gervais, David Mainse, Liberal MP Pat O'Brien, Senator Anne Cools, Revs Dominic Tse and Tristan Emmanuel, Pierre Poilievre MP, and Stockwell Day MP. punched home the message that Bill C-38 will fracture our society, damage our children, and take away from us something that this mainly under-40 crowd clearly values as a seminal element in our lives: the uniqueness of marriage as between one man and one woman. Notably absent on the platform were representatives of the United Church and the Anglican Church. Powerful addresses were made by leaders of the Chinese church, Coptic Christian church and the Greek Orthodox church, as well as Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh leaders. Thank God for immigrant Christians. Click for great photos of the Marriage Rally: http://www.igs.net/~tonyc/m4m/m4m.html
4c) http://www.march4marriage.ca/ (Click for a picture of the 15,000-strong crowd) Ottawa Sun, April 10, 2005 Gay-nuptial foes unite 15,000 of all creeds and colours protest Grit plans to legalize same-sex marriage during protest on Hill By MEGAN GILLIS, Ottawa Sun
UNITED against gay marriage, thousands of multicultural voices prayed, chanted and sang together on Parliament Hill yesterday. From Muslims to Sikhs, Coptic Christians to Chinese Catholics, an estimated 15,000 people cheered speakers who vowed to fight the Liberal government's redefinition of what they call a God-given union no secular government has the right to change.
"We ask Paul Martin to look at all of us gathered here this afternoon," said Father Peter Chin of the Toronto Chinese Catholic Task Force on Marriage, who brought 10 busloads of people.
"Look at our faces. He said the ethnic vote is silent on this issue. It is not. I say to Stephen Harper: If you defeat this bill in Parliament, you will have the ethnic vote behind you."
'DECLARED WAR' The crowd cheered Harper, the Leader of the Conservative opposition, who vowed to defeat Bill C-38, which would extend civil marriage to same-sex couples.
"The Liberal Party of Paul Martin has declared war on the values of New Canadians," Harper said.
"Liberals may talk about protecting minorities but undermining the traditional definition of marriage is an assault on the beliefs of all cultural and religious communities who have come to this country."
Ottawa Archbishop Marcel Gervais drew raucous cheers when he told the crowd that they should speak out loudly because their voices are the only ones the government will hear.
"Our government wants sodomy to be accepted as part of the norm and we refuse that," Gervais said. "What the government proposes would change life, change family, change the care of children in ways we can barely imagine.
"If the bill passes, we will no longer be able to tell our children that homosexual practises are not acceptable."
Parliament Hill was a sea of identical blue and white "Defend marriage" placards but the people holding them came from every walk of life.
Those assembled ranged from nuns to Sikh men in colourful turbans to young parents pushing strollers to seniors.
UNIVERSAL ISSUE Theresa Hum, a Chinese Catholic, had never been to a demonstration before but said the same-sex marriage issue has mobilized new Canadians because of its universality, she said.
"It's very simple, marriage has been in existence from time immemorial in all nations, all tribes," she said.
"It's a given and no parliament should change it. It crosses nations and religions and cultures."(...)
4d) http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/04/09/same-sex-050409.html Thousands protest same-sex marriage bill Last Updated Sun, 10 Apr 2005 08:40:51 EDT CBC News
OTTAWA - Thousands of people who oppose same-sex marriage rallied on Parliament Hill Saturday, cheering as Conservative Leader Stephen Harper pledged to support the traditional definition of the union.
Thousands of people march against same-sex marriage legislation at Parliament Hill on Saturday. (CP Photo)
"I am committed, when I am elected prime minister - at the next election, whenever that may be - to bring in legislation that will define marriage as the union of one man and one woman," Harper said.
About 15,000 demonstrators, including many people who travelled from Toronto and Montreal, gathered to protest against Bill C-38, federal legislation that would extend civil marriage to same-sex couples.
The Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin drafted the bill after courts in many provinces ruled that keeping gay couples from marrying violated their equality rights under the Charter.
But the proposed law hasn't gone over well with a number of Canadians - including most of the people who gathered Saturday in a demonstration that was part protest, part parade and part prayer service.
Some carried signs with the image of the late Roman Catholic leader Pope John Paul II, while others carried signs with slogans such as "God defined marriage, the government defies God."
"I'm here because I agree with the normal definition of marriage," said protester Oliver Locke.
Fay Chow, who came with hundreds of Chinese-Canadians from Toronto, agreed. "We want all the members of Parliament to know how the majority of Canadians feel about marriage."
Harper told the crowd that all but four Conservative MPs support the traditional definition of marriage.
"Marriage belongs to us, not Paul Martin, and we will defend it," said Conservative MP Jason Kenney.
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper spoke at the rally, promising to enshrine the traditional definition of marriage if made prime minister. (CP Photo)
A small but vocal group at the rally supported same-sex unions.
"This is an issue for all Canadians about equality according to the Charter," said Prudence Craib.
Harper has introduced an amendment to Bill C-38 that would reverse the intent of the act by specifying that marriage must continue to be defined as a union between one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.
Parliament is to vote on the amendment on Tuesday.
A number of rallies, both in support of and in opposition to same-sex marriage, are planned in cities across the country before that vote.
4e) http://www.smalldeadanimals.com/archives/001679.html April 11, 2005 Where Were The Cameras? Tarantino: Apparently, 15,000 people rallied in Ottawa yesterday to voice their opposition to same-sex marriage. As of 7:46pm on Sunday evening, as near as I can tell, neither the Toronto Star nor the Globe and Mail have reported one. single. word. about them. In fifty words or less, compare and contrast with the breathless, drooling coverage afforded by both outlets to protests involving equal or smaller numbers of people when the subject of the protest is, oh, to pick one random example, opposition to the war to liberate Iraq.
4f) http://www.fotf.ca/familyfacts/tfn/2005/041305.htmlApril 13th 2005 MARRIAGE MARCH A HUGE SUCCESS (Focus on the Family) To the "delight" of its organizers, over 15,000 people rallied Saturday on Parliament Hill to voice their support for keeping the definition of marriage the way it is. As the Ottawa Sun reported, those who showed up at the March4Marriage to protest Bill C-38 "came from every walk of life . . . from nuns to Sikh men in colourful turbans to young parents pushing strollers to seniors." Many came from Toronto and Montreal. "We want all the Members of Parliament to know how the majority of Canadians feel about marriage," participant Fay Chow told the CBC. "It's very simple," said Theresa Hum, who had never attended such an event before. "Marriage has been in existence from time immemorial in all nations, all tribes. It's a given and no Parliament should change it. It crosses nations and religions and cultures." "What the government proposes would change life, change family, change the care of children in ways we can barely imagine," said Ottawa Roman Catholic Archbishop Marcel Gervais. "If the bill passes, we will no longer be able to tell our children that homosexual practices are not acceptable." Other religious leaders who spoke included 100 Huntley Street founder David Mainse, Imam Dr. Gamal Soleiman of the Ottawa Islamic Community, Sikh leader Amarjit Singh Mann of the Ontario Gurdwaras Committee, Father Rueiss Awad of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and Rev. Tristan Emmanuel of Equipping Christians for the Public Square. Politicans who spoke included Official Opposition Leader Stephen Harper, Conservative MP Jason Kenney, Liberal MP Pat O'Brien, and Conservative Senator Anne Cools. "We are delighted with the turnout," said Charles McVety, president of the Defend Marriage Coalition. He said in a news release that the numbers - as confirmed by the RCMP
5) http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2322 http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/NEWSV5/storyV5church411w.htm April 11, 2005 Gay bishop divides city church By Erica Pippins Montgomery Advertiser More than half of the 1,600-member Church of the Ascension broke away from the Episcopal Church on Sunday and announced they would form their own parish:
Why are they leaving? In 2003, leaders of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America appointed an ordained V. Gene Robinson as a bishop. Robinson is openly gay and the first homosexual to be ordained as a bishop in the Episcopal Church.
Who's going? The Rev. John- Michael van Dyke and the associate rector for discipleship, the Rev. Robert L. DeMoss II. Others making the move are: Jeanne Dean, director of parish ministries; Madeliene Wilder, director of the children's ministry; Mara Holden, assistant director of children's ministries; D.J. Holden, youth minister; and, at the latest count, 11 of the 15 vestry members. More than half of the congregation also is leaving.
Where will they worship? The new parish is called Christchurch. The first service will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 1728 S. Hull St. in Montgomery. A permanent location is being sought.
For the second time in less than six months, a local Montgomery Episcopal church has split with the national church over its appointment of an openly gay bishop.
On Sunday, nearly 80 percent of the Church of the Ascension's 1,600-member congregation, two of its three priests and more than a dozen church leaders decided that the morning worship service would be their last. Those who left the church in Montgomery's historic Garden District are forming a new parish in the Anglican Communion called "Christchurch" and plan to hold services at Trinity Presbyterian Church until a permanent location is found.
Mark Wilkerson had been a member of Church of the Ascension -- the third-largest Episcopal church in the Alabama Diocese -- since 1984.
"This is one of the most difficult decisions my family has ever had to make. There is hardly a person in the parish, including those staying behind, who has not touched our lives in some respect," Wilkerson said, adding that the decision to split from the church largely was made by the laity.
"It was a very recent development, but I think the culmination of a number of events nationally and within our own diocese brought a number of people to come to the same conclusion at the same time," said Wilkerson, who was a senior warden of the Church of the Ascension and is a member of the Christchurch executive committee.
There has been a wide rift in the Episcopal church since 2003, when the Episcopal Church of the United States of America, or ECUSA, ordained V. Gene Robinson as a bishop in New Hampshire. Robinson is openly gay -- the first homosexual to be ordained a bishop in the Episcopal church.
During that same meeting, the ECUSA also approved a resolution recognizing the blessing of same-sex unions as "within the bounds of common life." Many believe it did so in what has been called a disregard for what the Anglican Communion, or parent church, advised.
In January, the Rev. Doug McCurry resigned from Christ the Redeemer Episcopal Church in east Montgomery in response to the church's appointment of Robinson. Nearly 90 percent of the congregation left with him.
The Rev. Henry Nutt Parsley, Episcopal bishop of Alabama, said the decision by several Church of the Ascension leaders to follow suit is disappointing.
"The Church of the Ascension is a very fine Episcopal parish, and I believe that they will move forward from this with faithfulness and grace," Parsley said in a written statement. "Christ calls for us to be reconciled and one, even when we disagree at times. The Church of the Ascension and its great people will have all my support and that of our diocese in the days to come."
But those who leave the church say they don't feel the Diocese of Alabama will be a forceful advocate for reform within ECUSA. They point to February's Diocesan Convention, where delegates rejected language in a resolution that would have called ECUSA to repent of its rejection of biblical standards in marriage and sexuality.
The Rev. John-Michael van Dyke and the associate rector for discipleship, the Rev. Robert L. DeMoss II, turned in their resignations to Church of the Ascension officials earlier this week. They will lead services at the new parish, which will be under the jurisdiction of an international Anglican archbishop, at the direction of an American bishop.
The church will embrace the same sacraments and traditions, Wilkerson said. Those leaving Church of the Ascension also will not fight over the property.
The Church of the Ascension offered approximately 30 ministries, from prison outreach, to support of missions in Uganda and Honduras, to a prayer-quilt ministry and a national award-winning puppet team. Many of the people supporting those activities, such as Wilkerson, left Sunday, church leaders say.
"I am looking forward to worshipping without the internal politics of the Episcopal church, and I suspect that everybody is looking forward to concentrating on the Great Commission," Wilkerson said. "God loves those who feel like in good conscious that they must leave, and God loves those who choose to stay."
April 11, 2005 6:20 PM, Toronto Star "Breathtaking" poll sees defeat for Canada Liberals By Randall Palmer and David Ljunggren
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's minority Liberal government is heading for defeat at the hands of the Conservatives after more than 11 years in power, a dramatic new poll is predicting.
The EKOS poll, commissioned by the Toronto Star, was taken after an advertising executive raised the stakesin a scandal about misuse of government cash by testifying he had paid large kickbacks to the Liberals inFrench-speaking Quebec.
The poll published on Monday showed support for the Conservatives rose seven points to 36.2 percent while the Liberals fell by nine points to just 25 percent(...)
6b) http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050413.wharper13/BNStory/National/ Harper opens way to spring Election He sees no need to wait for Gomery report; Tories and Liberals gear up for June vote By BRIAN LAGHI AND GLORIA GALLOWAY Wednesday, April 13, 2005 Updated at 1:47 AM EST From Wednesday's Globe and Mail The Conservative Leader said yesterday that voters don't need to hear the conclusions of the Gomery inquiry to make up their minds about the Liberals. His comments came as sources told The Globe and Mail that the party has appointed several campaign staff in time for a possible May election call that would lead to a late June vote(...)
However, toppling the minority government will also mean the death of the same-sex law, and the certainty that Mr. Harper will again face questions on the campaign trail over whether he would use the notwithstanding clause to deny gays the right to marry(...)
6c) http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=0401e08d-62fd-481f-997c-c63862d59a68 Ottawa in grip of ... election fever Harper hints at June vote; Liberal MP quits party Allan Woods CanWest News Service
Wednesday, April 13, 2005 Conservative Leader Stephen Harper says Canadians don't need to wait for Justice John Gomery's report.
OTTAWA - Conservative leader Stephen Harper yesterday rejected a Liberal challenge to let the sponsorship inquiry run its course into the fall before toppling the government, saying Canadians do not need Justice John Gomery's final report before going to the polls(...) As expected, the Liberals handily defeated a Conservative motion that would have blocked their same-sex marriage legislation proceeding to committee and second reading, but not without a sizeable backbench revolt. With support from the Bloc Quebecois and NDP, the Liberals defeated the motion 164-132. However, 34 Liberals stood to cast their votes with the 95 Tories who voted to block the bill. An Ipsos-Reid survey published yesterday found Conservative support at 30% across the country compared with 27% for the Liberals. A Decima poll gave the Tories 32% to the Grits' 31%(...)
6d) http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=d9399d44-213b-4b9f-aec0-22eb509d6697 Conservatives look at forcing June election as Liberals drop in polls Martin O?Hanlon And Terry Pedwell Canadian Press Wednesday, April 13, 2005 OTTAWA (CP) - Get ready for another June election(...)
7) http://www.bcchristianacademy.ca/ (76 Trombones Led the Big Parade) You are all invited to BCCA's 'Music Man' performances on May 26th-28th 2005 at 7:30pm (Evergreen Theatre, Coquitlam)
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