wfn.org | Title: [ENS] Diocese of New Westminster in Canada still seeking

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[ENS] Diocese of New Westminster in Canada still seeking reconciliation

11/14/2003  

by James Solheim 

[Episcopal News Service] In June 2002 the Diocese of New Westminster in the
Anglican Church of Canada voted by a substantial majority to authorize the
blessing of same-gender relationships, launching an international firestorm
that is still smoldering. 

Eight parishes out of 80 walked out of the synod meeting in protest and
formed what they called the Anglican Communion in New Westminster (ACiNW),
drawing substantial support from conservatives around the world.

Priests in those parishes directly challenged the authority of Bishop
Michael Ingham who in turn filed disciplinary charges against them for
disobeying the bishop. Ingham appointed a Commission of Enquiry to consider
charges under canon law for "disobedient and disrespectful conduct" by the
clergy. 

"I think it's a last resort really after we've exhausted every avenue of
reconciliation," said Ingham in October. "What has happened is the clergy
have broken away from the diocese and the bishop. They've illegally asserted
the powers of another bishop and that fundamentally attacks the structures
of the church which actually have protected them."

That bishop was Terry Buckle of the Yukon who last March offered his
episcopal oversight of the New Westminster parishes. At a September 7
service held in Delta, British Columbia, eight Canadian bishops and two
primates from abroad "commissioned" him to provide oversight for the
parishes. As a result, he was also threatened with disciplinary action by
Archbishop David Crawley, the metropolitan for British Columbia and was
formally inhibited from functioning in the diocese by Ingham.

Crawley said that "parishes cannot remove themselves from the authority of
their diocesan bishop and place themselves under the authority of another
bishop" and any parishes that accept that kind of oversight "are acting
unlawfully and contrary to the canons of the Anglican Church of Canada." Any
bishop claiming that authority "can be suspended, deprived of his or her
position as bishop, or be deposed from the order of bishops."

Restoring order

At its November meeting, the Canadian bishops asked the primate, Archbishop
Michael Peers, to establish a task force to draw up terms and conditions for
"adequate provision for episcopal oversight of dissenting minorities," as
strongly urged by the meeting of Anglican Primates in mid-October. The
bishops also called on Buckle to "refrain from exercising episcopal
ministry" in New Westminster and for Crawley not to proceed with action
against Buckle. 

At the same time it asked Ingham not to proceed with disciplinary action
against the dissenting priests in his diocese and said a mediator appointed
by the task force should "negotiate an interim role for the person
exercising episcopal oversight mutually acceptable to the diocesan and the
dissenting parishes." The mid-October Primates' Meeting at Lambeth Palace in
London had asked the Canadians and the Episcopal Church for such a
provision. 

In response, Buckle withdrew his offer to provide episcopal oversight in New
Westminster. "After much prayerful thought and reflection I have reached the
conclusion that it necessary at this point in time for me to withdraw my
offer of Alternate Episcopal Oversight to the parishes of the ACiNW," he
said. 

In a November 11 statement, Ingham said, "Since March this year the illegal
interference of the Bishop of Yukon in the Diocese of New Westminster has
been the principal obstacle to reconciliation between the large majority of
Anglicans here and those in parishes disaffected with the Diocese's decision
to offer pastoral support to people in same-sex committed relationships."

He said that the withdrawal was "a step forward in restoring the order of
the church," adding that he would "now seek a stay of proceedings against
those clergy in this diocese who have placed themselves under his
leadership."

Ingham added, "Let me repeat that no priest or lay person in this diocese
has been compelled to act against their beliefs in the matter of same-sex
unions. From the beginning, we have asked only that those on all sides of
this question respect each other's integrity and beliefs. The failure by
some clergy and parishes to do this has created the unhappy situation that
has attracted the attention of people around the world."

Unity damaged

Bishop William Hockin of Fredricton, a conservative appointed by Ingham last
May as an "episcopal visitor" for the dissenting parishes was not acceptable
to them. In a November 12 statement he pointed out that the issue at stake
had become "a national and international debate with serious consequences
for the unity of the church. New Westminster, because of its unilateral
action without the consent of the national church, is a test-case, a
demonstration of what can happen to a church that moves quickly to implement
this kind of 'blessing" when a sizable minority is in clear opposition."

Hockin said that in his visit to the diocese he found "deep currents of
anger, distrust and sadness, all of which are seriously damaging the unity
and community of that diocese." And he concluded by expressing his fears
that the example set by New Westminster led to "serious fears for the unity
and peace of our church." Even though the New Westminster synod vote was 60
percent, that "is not sufficient to change church policy on such an
important and passionate issue. It only leaves a sizable and significant
minority feeling marginalized, abandoned and without a place."

-- James Solheim is director of Episcopal News Service.