Posted on 02/24/2008 3:56:02 AM PST by Clive
'End of an era' for Anglicans
St. Hilda's Anglican Church isn't just in a theological battle, it's in a legal one
OAKVILLE -- The first sign that St. Hilda's Anglican Church is under siege is a posting on its front door warning locksmiths who may arrive to change the locks to think twice. The posting said they are walking into the middle of a "legal dispute" between the parish and the Diocese of Niagara and anyone who fools with church property could be liable.
In the six days since the unanimous vote to remove itself from the Anglican Church of Canada, St. Hilda's has been visited by a delegation from the diocese demanding the keys to the building, their senior minister, Paul Charbonneau, has been suspended with pay, and the parish bank account has been frozen. The diocese has already appointed a new minister and he is expected to show up Sunday.
"I'm not supposed to be on the church property, I'm not allowed to minister in Canada, and I am not to speak disparagingly against the bishops, other priests, or the Anglican Church of Canada," Rev. Charbonneau explained.
But on this frigid morning in Oakville, Ont., just one hour west of Toronto, Rev. Charbonneau -- in good spirits but obviously wearing the strain of current circumstances -- is where he has been nearly every day for the past 14 years: behind his desk conducting parish business. But instead of helping with the weekly food drive or writing a sermon, he is in deep discussion on the phone with a lawyer about what the next move will be.
The scene at St. Hilda's will likely be repeated across the country as a handful of orthodox churches vote to leave the Canadian Church and align themselves with more conservative forces. At its most basic level, it is about the issue of same-sex blessings. At its broader theological base, it is about orthodoxy versus liberalism. But now it is also about control, money and property -- the elements that turn a theological debate into a legal one.
And for Rev. Charbonneau, it is also about his career and the home that he shares with his wife and children.
"This has been tough. We're anxious about it, for sure," said Rev. Charbonneau, a soft-spoken and thoughtful man. "It's not nice to feel like you're on the outside of something that you've been on the inside of for 27 years and now looked at as a schismatic, a fundamentalist, a radical -- when simply all I was trying to do was honour my ordination vows.
"We've lived in rectories for all of our ministry. We never built up any equity. And we put all of our eggs in the Anglican Church basket. [My family's view] is we don't own anything anyway -- we are given things in trust by God. We hold on to things very lightly. We don't feel this heavy burden we're losing a lot of things. I believe when you can look yourself in the mirror, when you've done the right thing, nothing compares to that."
Paula Valentine, a parishioner for 28 years, and a life-long Anglican, said last Sunday's vote by the parish's 100 members was deeply emotional. The mood was sombre, but there was also a sense of excitement that after pondering this move for six years they had actually done it.
She said the parish will do whatever it takes to defend the church and support their minister -- even opening their homes to him and his family if they should be kicked out of the rectory and continuing to pay his salary: "We're prepared to put our money where are mouths are at this point," she said.
For now, the lion's share of the legal bills are being paid out of a $1-million fund set up by the Anglican Network in Canada -- the conservative umbrella group whose members are voting to leave the national Church and put themselves under South American Archbishop Gregory Venables, who shares the conservative beliefs of the dissident congregations.
Archbishop Venables said this week from Buenos Aires it is possible that the courts will decide that the Anglican Church of Canada owns the buildings and the worshippers will have to walk away.
"There is an enormous price to be paid, which is an indication about how strong these convictions are," said Archbishop Venables.
On Wednesday, the diocese sent a delegation of four priests to St. Hilda's, asking for the keys. Rev. Charbonneau and Ms. Valentine said they were photographed by the delegation, but they are not sure why. The four were turned away, but this will not be the end of it. Ms. Valentine argues that canon law is on their side, and that the parish owns the church because they paid off the mortgage and have done the maintenance all these years. The diocese also points to canon law as proof it owns the building and property.
"I know for me it is like the end of an era," said Rev. Charbonneau. "I'm 50 years old. And it feels like in some way I'm starting over again. It's sad that it has moved so far away from my ordination day. I never thought it would come to the day that I would have to leave the Anglican Church of Canada, which I love. On the other hand, I feel like I want look at this as another opportunity, another beginning."
Rev. Charbonneau was raised a Roman Catholic but said he had a born-again experience in 1978 through an Anglican church in Montreal. "I thought these people really believe this stuff. I saw a connect between their faith and their everyday life. That really impressed me. I had an experience where I gave my life to the Lord and I haven't looked back since."
He entered the seminary in 1981 and by the time he left school four years later he and his wife had two children and another on the way. He was at a parish near Oka in 1990 when the famous battle between the police and natives broke out over the construction of a golf course on a native burial ground. He said he spent time behind the barricades with the natives. He came to St. Hilda's in 1994 and found a church much to his liking: not your typical Anglican church, but one that resembled the enthusiasm and feel of Pentecostal house of worship.
All this trouble is not a great way for the church to be preparing for next year's 50th anniversary. St. Hilda's sits just off a wide thoroughfare amidst rows of mainly low brick single homes. The interior seems avant-garde, but in a distinctly late 1950s way. "It's retro, man," Rev. Charbonneau said with grin. The building is two storeys and sprawling. The chapel is carpeted in orange and so are the pews. An enormous cross constructed of logs sits to one side of the sanctuary. There are banners around the nave with such sayings as "Jesus Gives Us Peace" and "Jesus Gives Us Love."
Each week volunteers, along with Rev. Charbonneau, deliver food hampers to the area's neediest. They also run a lunch program for students from the local high school and do fund raising for overseas charities.
They have already discussed what they will do if things turn out for the worst. Other churches, though not Anglican churches in Oakville, have offered them room to conduct services. Rev. Charbonneau and Ms. Valentine said that whatever happens the goal is to stick together as a church family. "We will land on our feet," said Rev. Charbonneau.
On Friday, St. Hilda's reached a temporary truce with the diocese. The new priest will conduct a service Sunday and Rev. Charbonneau will be allowed to do a service too. But the diocese was clear: eventually the dissidents will have to go if they do not come back to the fold.
When asked what they will do when the new priest shows up, Ms. Valentine said: "You hate a confrontation. It's not a good witness to the community when you see the church behaving badly. That's not a good witness to Christianity."
"We'll be gracious," added Rev. Charbonneau. "We'll offer him a coffee."
National Post
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Prayers for St. Hildas and the good reverend.
This scene has happened before as Christians in various mainline denominations sought to “keep the faith” in response to liberalism.
Many churches in the United States went through this same kind of conflict during the last century like the Presbyterian churches did in the 1930’s.
Thank God there are those who want to remain faithful in the face of those who would pervert the name of Jesus Christ.
I wonder what Jesus thinks about this?
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