It was what Rev. Mike Stewart, rector of St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, had referred to, in the service that preceded the march, as an “historic occasion.”
The event was the culmination of a years-long battle between St. Matthew’s ”“ as well as three other Vancouver churches ”“ and the Diocese of New Westminster, stemming from the issue of same-sex blessings.
St. Matthew’s broke away from the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) to join the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) in 2008, maintaining that allowing the blessings is contrary to core Anglican doctrine.
The secular media obviously gets it:
[blockquote] “The event was the culmination of a years-long battle between St. Matthew’s – as well as three other Vancouver churches – and the Diocese of New Westminster, stemming from the issue of same-sex blessings.” [/blockquote]
At least that is good for their witness – a reminder to everyone that this spat between Christians has really been over an issue of fundamental Christian doctrine: whether it is right for the church to consecrate practicing homosexuals to the episcopacy. It has been a battle between right and wrong, with the property only incidental.
The rector’s witness is clear:
[blockquote] “Our love for this building is great, but our love for Jesus Christ … and our desire to maintain and uphold the great tradition of the Christian Church is greater,” he said. [/blockquote]
A parishioner also gives a strong witness as to what this is really all about:
[blockquote] Geoff, who began attending St. Matthew’s as a teenager before he met Judy, said it was difficult to leave behind the building, which the parishioners had raised the money to construct and later expand.
But it was more important for the congregation to stand behind their principles, he said.
“We’re not against homosexuality in the slightest, but we won’t bless their union and call it a marriage.” [/blockquote]
Fortunately, things only get better for the orthodox from here. They will grow in their new home, as many congregations before them have done. In contrast, it is arguable whether ACC will be able to re-establish any congregation at all in the vacated property, and if they do, highly likely that they will fold after a year or two.
By its foolish endorsement of the “rights” of practicing homosexuals, ACC is condemning itself to eventual oblivion.
[blockquote] St. Matthew’s is among about 25 Anglican parishes in B.C. and 50 across Canada that have left ACC to join ANiC. [/blockquote]