Even though the B.C. Appeal court ruled in favour of the Anglican Church of Canada, the judges hinted that pursuing an action that would further alienate parishioners was not without consequence.
“[The] Bishop and the Diocesan Synod of New Westminster have chosen to pursue the matter to the extent they have ”” despite the opposition of many of their parishioners,” the judges wrote. “Presumably [they] have chosen to take the risk that the policy allowing same-sex blessings will indeed prove to be ”˜schismatic’; or that clergy in the Diocese will for the foreseeable future find themselves ministering to vastly reduced or non-existent congregations. That, however, is their decision to make.”
Lawyer Cheryl Chang, the special counsel to the Anglican Network in Canada, the umbrella group for conservative Anglican parishes, said there has been no decision yet on whether there will be an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.
“I am disappointed that the court concluded Anglican ministry is ”˜as defined by the ACC,’ despite the evidence demonstrating the ACC, in the view of the majority of the world’s Anglicans, have erred in their definition of Anglican doctrine, and in our view, breached their own Solemn Declaration or constitution in the process,” Ms. Chang said.
“Presumably [they] have chosen to take the risk that the policy allowing same-sex blessings will indeed prove to be ‘schismatic’; or that clergy in the Diocese will for the foreseeable future find themselves ministering to vastly reduced or non-existent congregations. That, however, is their decision to make.â€
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This part of the above excerpt is the most telling for the future of the Diocese of New Westminster,
“…or that clergy in the Diocese will for the foreseeable future find themselves ministering to vastly reduced or non-existent congregations.”
So it is quite possible that the seized properties will be unsustainable and will eventually have to be sold.
If the diocese were to have acted in a Christian manner, it would have offered the properties to those departing for a fair price or gratis.
But seizing the properties throught the courts may be ‘judged’ as an act of spiteful behavior.
It seems to me that figuratively that the diocese has said, either your totally go along with our GLBT agenda or we will hurt you. What a terrible thing for a bishop and his followers to be a part of carrying out.
[blockquote]Bishop Ingham dismissed the four churches as a “fringe group.â€[/blockquote] Yes, I’d say that was a dismissive comment.
I suspect and pray that the fringe group will prosper in spite of the ruling.