wfn.org | ACNS3668 Bishop Buckle withdraws offer to New Westminster

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

ACNS 3668     |     CANADA     |     10 NOVEMBER 2003 

Bishop Buckle withdraws offer to New Westminster parishes

by Solange De Santis
Anglican Journal

[ACNS source: Anglican Church of Canada] Bishop Terrence Buckle of the
Yukon is withdrawing his offer of episcopal oversight to parishes in the
diocese of New Westminster that do not agree with the blessing of
same-sex unions.

"It is apparent to me that the way ahead in this regard is to allow a
new process and . it is necessary for me to now withdraw," he wrote in a
letter to the coalition of parishes called the Anglican Communion in New
Westminster.

The "process" refers to a task force set up on October 31 by the house
of bishops that will examine how to care for minorities who disagree
with church policies. The task force, whose members have not yet been
named, will report back to the spring bishops' meeting.

The letter, dated November 7, said that Bishop Buckle, who was not
immediately available for comment, reached his decision "after much
prayerful thought and reflection". He also wrote to the parishes that he
had "attempted prayerfully to lead you this far, assisting you to remain
in the Anglican Church of Canada, as requested". And he added, "I
encourage you to stand strong together as you work through your response
to the Canadian house of bishops."

Bishop Buckle's letter was released by Archbishop David Crawley,
metropolitan of the ecclesiastical province of British Columbia and the
Yukon, at the regular fall meeting of the Council of General Synod
(CoGS).

"I was just delighted" to receive the letter, said Archbishop Crawley in
an interview. He said he left a telephone message for Bishop Buckle
promising "to ensure the disaffected parishes are treated fairly." 

Archbishop Crawley told the CoGS meeting that he will suspend
disciplinary proceedings against Bishop Buckle, whose offer to parishes
in New Westminster contravened Bishop Michael Ingham's authority and is
illegal under church law.

The archbishop also said he had spoken with Bishop Ingham, who promised
to seek a suspension of disciplinary proceedings against seven clergy in
the diocese. Bishop Ingham recently announced that the diocesan
chancellor had laid charges alleging disobedient conduct on the part of
clergy and that he was investigating the charges.

Conservative bishop Donald Harvey of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador
said he was "thankful" for the news. "It enables the task force of the
house of bishops to do its work," and said that Bishop Buckle had not,
to his knowledge, consulted with other conservative bishops before his
decision.

A response from the Rt Revd Michael Ingham, Bishop of New Westminster,
can be found at
http://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/default.asp?Menu=0&SubMenu=0&Item=0&Con
tent=NEWS&Mode=NEW&Article=539.

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