wfn.org | ACNS3666 Canadian Anglican bishops struggle with dissent

["Anglican Communion News Service" <acnslist@anglicancommunion.org>]

ACNS 3666     |     CANADA     |     7 NOVEMBER 2003 

Canadian Anglican bishops struggle with dissent

[ACNS source: Anglican Church of Canada] Canadian Anglican bishops have
voted to strike a task force to study what the church should do to
provide spiritual care for members who dissent from church policies. The
bishops spent a good part of their four-day meeting discussing the
situation in the diocese of New Westminster, which has authorized the
blessing of same-sex unions. A group of Anglicans in the parish have
declared that they cannot accept this and have asked another bishop to
assume "Episcopal oversight" of their parishes.

Despite a prohibition by New Westminster Bishop Michael Ingham, Terry
Buckle, Bishop of the Yukon, has offered the dissenting parishes this
oversight. As a result, Archbishop David Crawley, Metropolitan of
British Columbia and Yukon, has begun disciplinary proceedings against
Bishop Buckle.

Following is the text of two motions adopted by the House of Bishops
meeting in Mississauga, Ontario, last week.

First Motion:

That in response to the "Statement by the Primates of the Anglican
Communion" (October 16, 2003) the Primate be asked to establish a task
force of the House of Bishops to draw up terms and conditions for
"adequate provision for Episcopal oversight of dissenting minorities" in
the Anglican Church of Canada, to consult through the Primate "with the
Archbishop of Canterbury on behalf of the Primates," and to report to
the April 2004 meeting of the House of Bishops.

Second Motion:

That this House, to enable the work of the Task Force on Episcopal
Oversight for Dissenting Minorities,

1. Request that the Bishop of Yukon refrain from exercising Episcopal
ministry in the Diocese of New Westminster;
2. Request that the Metropolitan of British Columbia and Yukon stay
proceedings against the Bishop of Yukon;
3. Request that the Bishop of New Westminster seek a stay of proceedings
against the priests of his diocese against whom such proceedings have
been initiated;
4. That a mediator be appointed by the Task Force to negotiate an
interim role for the person exercising Episcopal oversight mutually
acceptable to the diocesan Bishop and the dissenting parishes.

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