[Canada] Four Priests Resign

apostate diocese of New Westminster website ^ | 6 June 2004 | staff writer

[ahadams2]

Four Priests Resign

Bishop Michael Ingham has accepted the resignation of four clergy who no longer consider themselves members of the Anglican Church of Canada.

The priests involved are the Rev. Barclay Mayo, former rector of St. Andrew's, Pender Harbour, the Rev. Silas Ng, former rector of the Church of Emmanuel, Richmond, the Rev. Ed Hird, former rector of St. Simon's, North Vancouver, and the Rev. Paul Carter, a priest on leave from the diocese.

"While a parting of the ways is always sad, I am glad that they have finally clarified the situation and made it clear they are leaving the Anglican Church of Canada of their own volition," said the bishop. "I have been trying unsuccessfully to obtain clarification for the last two years," he added.

Bishop Ingham said that the parishes previously served by three of the priests remain parishes of the Anglican Church in the Lower Mainland, and parishioners who wish to remain Anglicans in the Canadian Church will be provided with pastoral care.

The four priests stated in letters to Bishop Ingham that having left the Anglican Church of Canada, they now consider themselves missionaries in North America for the Archbishop of Rwanda, Emmanuel Kolini. In so doing, they are taking a parallel course with an American group based in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, the Anglican Mission in America (AMiA).

The AMiA broke away from the Episcopal Church, USA, in August, 2000 - an action identified as being illegal under church law both by US Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold, head of the Episcopal Church, USA, and by Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, then the head of the world-wide Anglican Communion.

A statement received after the diocese received the resignation letters says that the former diocesan priests are not actually joining the American organization, but forming a separate Canadian group, the "Anglican Communion in Canada (ACiC)." The statement was posted on the AMiA website.

Chancellor George Cadman said that in February this year, the Canada Gazette announced the federal government had allowed a change of name of the North American Missionary Society, Canada. It is now called the "Anglican Communion in Canada", though records would indicate that no consent to the use of the designation "Anglican" was given.

The North American Missionary Society, Canada, was federally incorporated in July, 2002, as a not-for-profit corporation with a head office in Comox, B.C. The founding directors are from Comox and Victoria.

Cadman said the records indicate that Mayo and Carter became directors of the society in February, 2004. One of the stated objects of the society is "to promote the concept of home-based cell-celebration Churches." There is no apparent link to any diocese, province or bishop in the Anglican Communion. The president is a layperson from Comox, according to the most recent records available.

The parent North American Missionary Society in the U.S. began in 1994 to plant churches throughout the continent, sometimes without the consent of the local Anglican bishops. It is aligned with the AMiA.

Chancellor Cadman said that the properties of all parishes in the diocese are held for the benefit of Anglicans within the diocese.

The four priests who resigned have been unable to accept the Anglican Church in New Westminster's 2002 decision of authorize the blessing to same sex couples in faithful relationships. They were unsatisfied with the assurance both of Bishop Ingham and the Diocesan Synod that no priest or parish within the diocese would be required to perform such a blessing if in conscience they objected to it.

None of the priests involved nor the parishes from which they have resigned were asked to perform such blessings.

[ahadams2]

Interesting how there's no mention of the parish membership which has gone with these faithful priests...

[ahadams2]

Ping.

[Lumen Christie]

Ingham says: "While a parting of the ways is always sad, I am glad that they have finally clarified the situation and made it clear they are leaving the Anglican Church of Canada of their own volition," said the bishop. "I have been trying unsuccessfully to obtain clarification for the last two years," he added.

Translated into honest English, what he really said was: "I am so relieved to be rid of these guys. I couldn't get away with deposing them, but I just wanted them out of my diocese so bad. So now they are gone, and I couldn't be happier."

"Obtain clarification" --> "Exclude anyone who doesn't knuckle under to me and bow his knee to my Baal."

Notice that they are promoting "House Churches." This is a good thing in itself, but it shows that Ingham just wanted to keep the property.

There was a book written a few years ago about the Roman Catholic Church called, "Bare Ruined Choirs". Take a page, Bp. Ingham.

[ahadams2]

hmm...have you ever thought of getting a temporary job as an interpreter with the Lambeth Commission? :-)

[plushaye]

There will be many clergy resignations and "retirements" across Canada due to the results of last week's Synod. The "retirements" are not just normal retirements of priests but a way of leaving the Anglican Church of Canada to start up other continuous Anglican congregations or join other denominations. I've heard there is a major priest shortage, so it's been very difficult to replace priests who have left. The parishioner numbers are dropping to dangerous levels in many parishes. Bottomline: the ACC is bleeding to death because of its embrace of heretical liberal doctrines. It may not last until its next Synod in 2007.