Counsel for the parishes, Geoff Cowper, QC, showed a screen shot of the ACoC website describing Anglican Identity which lists the Apostles Creed, Nicene Creed, the Articles of Religion, and the Solemn Declaration of 1893 (see: www.anglican.ca). Bishop Ingham agreed there were no references to any canons, but claimed these are only resources.
He agreed with Mr Cowper on the following statements:
Ӣ The office of the bishop is to have regard to the unity of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
”¢ The “unity of the church” includes the church beyond the boundaries of Canada.
Ӣ Generally, the structure is for the purpose of advancing the faith.
Ӣ Faith and order are equally important.
He would not agree that there is a “state of teaching” in the Anglican Communion, although he acknowledged his quote in a December 2003 interview in Maclean’s magazine where he said “[t]he official teaching of the Church everywhere, so far as I know, is that homosexual acts are sinful”. He responded “that was the teaching of some churches”.
He admitted that when he was a candidate for bishop, he made it known he would abide by the HOB guidelines until they were changed, and that to this day, the HOB has not changed it policy. In 1994, he wrote a memorandum saying “”¦I do not believe bishops have the right to act unilaterally”¦ I will be governed by these guidelines”¦ (but) I will continue to speak against them.” He said “the process of changing my mind took several years.”
Bishop Ingham is on a hotseat that the Anglican Church of Canada has never had the guts to put him on. Having his well known biases, contradictions, and political maneuvering put on public display is long overdue. The trial may look like a vindication to his supporters, but it does provide an exposure of an ecclesiastical bully.