|
Anglican Essentials Canada NEWS RELEASE Anglican Church of Canada’s Suspension Upheld by Anglican Consultative Council in Nottingham Canadian and American Churches failed to affirm the Anglican Communion teaching and doctrine and did not justify their actions theologically FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 22 June 2005
TORONTO – For orthodox Canadian Anglicans who gathered at the Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto from June 16-18, it was encouraging to hear today that the faith and doctrine they teach and practice in Canada is in fact, the official teaching of the global Anglican Communion.
Anglican Essentials Canada (AEC) sent observers to the Anglican Consultative Council in Nottingham to hear the presentations of the Anglican Church of Canada and the Episcopal Church of U.S.A. (ECUSA) over the last two days. Today, a motion prohibiting the Canadian Church and ECUSA from participating in two key committees, the Standing Committee and Anglican Finance Committee, passed by a narrow margin (30-28, with 4 abstentions). This motion effectively upholds and strengthens the suspension of the Canadian Church from Communion activities until the next Lambeth Conference in 2008.
At the February 2005 Primates’ meeting in Newry, Ireland, the Primates (leaders of the 38 Anglican provinces) issued a Communiqué unanimously requested the Anglican Church of Canada and the Episcopal Church in the United States of America (ECUSA) withdraw their representatives from the Anglican Consultative Council until the 2008 Lambeth Conference (the decennial meeting of Anglican bishops from around the world), effectively suspending the ACC and ECUSA from the Communion. Both the ACC and ECUSA were directed to take the time until 2008 to consider whether they wish to remain part of the global church. In the meantime, they were also directed to appear at this hearing before the Council to theologically justify their actions.
Anglican Essentials Canada hopes and prays the Anglican Church of Canada will seriously consider the implications of this suspension and will use this time until 2008 to reverse the direction of the national church which is leading to separation from the global Anglican Communion. In the meantime, Essentials will continue to help Canadian Anglicans understand the importance of remaining in full communion with the global Anglican Communion and promote our traditional Anglican orthodox heritage in Canada.
-30-
Michael Daley (+1-647-722-3336) For more information and backgrounders, please point your browser to: |