August 27, 2008

CANADA – The Vancouver-based Diocese of New Westminster said it is taking steps under its bylaws to remove former clergy who continue to operate in diocesan parishes despite having left the Anglican Church of Canada over theological disagreements concerning the diocese's 2002 decision to adopt rites for blessing same-sex unions.

The parishes – all in British Columbia – are St. Matthew's, Abbotsford and St. Matthias and St. Luke, Vancouver. Former diocesan clergy who have continued working in the parishes are Trevor Walters, Michael Stewart and Don Gardner at St. Matthew's, and Simon Chin at St. Matthias and St. Luke.

"The diocese has invoked the provision that returns control of the parishes to the diocese, an action that was approved by the diocesan council" of New Westminster, a diocesan news release said.

In May, each of the former clergy "declared that they had voluntarily left the ordained ministry of the Anglican Church of Canada and had come under the jurisdiction of a bishop reporting to the Argentina-based Anglican Church of the Southern Cone," the news release said.

At present, no action has been taken at two other parishes – Good Shepherd, and St. John's Shaughnessy, Vancouver – where former clergy who have left the Anglican Church of Canada also remain in diocesan parishes.

In a memorandum to diocesan clergy, Dean Peter Elliott, commissary for New Westminster Bishop Michael Ingham, wrote that "implementing the canon is a time-consuming process" and therefore the diocese was only proceeding with two parishes at this time.

George Cadman, chancellor of the diocese, has written to the former clergy and wardens of the parishes informing them that "new clergy and wardens have been appointed," according to Elliott's memorandum.

Cadman said he hopes that the former clergy will now decide to leave voluntarily and that legal action will be unnecessary, even though the possibility of litigation was raised in letters from the former officials at St. Matthew's, the diocesan news release said. "No communications have been received from St. Matthias and St. Luke since its priest left the Anglican Church of Canada."

In the past few months, civil courts in British Columbia and Ontario have issued preliminary findings in similar cases upholding actions by two other Anglican Church of Canada dioceses, one on Vancouver Island and one in the Niagara area. "Attempts to appeal those rulings in both cases have been unsuccessful and costs have been awarded to the dioceses involved," the diocesan news release said.

A diocesan media release is available here.

The memorandum to clergy is available here. here.

Episcopal News Service