The Anglican Church is embroiled in the most destructive debate since the re-marriage of divorcees. See timeline for the story from 1976 - 2008. However, don't be too smug if you aren't Anglican. Your time will come. If you are United Church of Canada, it already went. The front line of the battle is North America, and this page is written from a Canadian perspective. The Anglican Church of Canada is no longer recognised by the Worldwide Anglican Communion, although few Canadian Anglicans are aware of this!

This debate has no middle ground. The liberal agenda pushed through over the past two decades in the theological colleges has borne fruit indeed. Much of this has surfaced in a course called Living the Questions which should have the equivalent of a government health warning, and aims to undo what Alpha has been achieving. A majority of senior churchmen in the Canadian Anglican communion seemed set to vote for same-sex blessings at the 2004 General Synod, May 28 - June 4. In the event, the result was a muddying of the waters and an increase in tension and confusion. It is my guess that a great many congregation members, sprinkled all over the country will become very concerned as they realize what is happening. Priests are wary of taking a stand for a strict biblical reading of the issue, lest their bishops attempt to discipline them, so they are seeking other subjects for their sermons. Many parishes are financially bound to the prevailing liberal wind since they owe money on church mortgages. In New Westminster diocese a battle rages over the ownership of church properties of churches which have defected, including Ed Hird's St. Simon's, North Vancouver. For traditionalists, Hird is a leader figure. His church has now taken the initiative in founding the Anglican Coalition in Canada, with oversight from the primate of Rwanda, now formally recognised by the Worldwide Anglican Communion.

The Windsor Report from the Eames commission was published Oct 18, 2004. Both conservatives and liberals had hoped that it would support their causes, and the liberals won. In Eames' enthusiasm for unity, the fundamentals of our faith are in danger of sacrifice - but they must have judged this the lesser problem. They were wrong. Those of us who are Christian because of our fear of God - who can do anything he wants - tremble for the denomination as it seeks to pacify folk whose agendas are social and humanitarian above all else. See Eames below for plenty of comment.

The same-sex blessings issue is a symptom of the trend away from biblical teaching to liberal interpretations. It is the last straw for some however; the place where they feel they must take a stand. The recent book The Pagan Christ is an example of the kind of thinking that we are beginning to see in this climate - denying the very existence of Jesus on earth. These ideas are the logical result of the march of Gnostic liberalism. Gullible folk are being seduced by these trends, and many are looking towards the new age movement and other religions to satisfy their spiritual needs.

If this is a spiritual battle, then the body that best represents the forces of conservatism in Canada is The Anglican Network in Canada. There are groups being formed in various parts of the country with members who believe passionately that we cannot give up the tenets of faith which have guided the Anglican Church of Canada thus far. These groups are likely to coagulate under the Essentials banner in the continuing debate. The Anglican Gathering of Ottawa, an Ottawa-based group of clergy and lay people seeking to uphold the traditional beliefs of the church, has been holding prayer and praise services in Ottawa and Pembroke, and offering pastoral care and prayer for the uplifting of traditional Anglican beliefs and values. From Aug 30 - Sep 1, 2004, Anglican Essentials hosted "The Way Forward Conference" in Ottawa, providing a forum for leaders of vision to point the way out of this mire.

Throughout Judaeo/Christian history, brave prophets and teachers have often risked even life itself in speaking out against the misdoings and misunderstandings of leaders. Dr. Edith Humphrey, whose words can be found on this site, is one of the most respected Christian thinkers and teachers in North America. She is an extremely knowledgeable, and inspired, scholar and teacher on the matters that we are debating. Yet I have seen a tendency to criticise the statements of eminent people on the basis that their statements sound offensive or outrageous, or that they are attacking the defenceless. Before criticizing her we must consider who she is, her track record, and ponder very seriously the consequences that she foresees. Every point she makes has been argued logically, from a position of the strongest Christian faith, and presented in clear unambiguous language. If Edith Humphrey is wrong, then much of the teaching of the past is wrong. If she is right, we should all be fearful of the direction in which we are being forcibly led by North American leaders.

This site is an attempt to show where we have come from in this debate and to record whither we are going. My personal view: I have no antipathy toward gays and lesbians, but I do not wish to encourage homosexual practice by having it blessed by priests. Further, I am against unilateral action by the liberal western churches including the Anglican Church of Canada that might separate us from the Worldwide Anglican Communion, particularly those parts of the Communion on the frontiers of evangelism in the third world, who must present a united front for new converts to Christianity.