Feuding local Anglicans have closed the book on a four-year legal dispute over ownership of three parishes, including one in St. Catharines.
The Anglican Network of Canada and Anglican Diocese of Niagara reached a negotiated settlement that saw the three congregations that split from the diocese in 2008 turn over the keys to the parish properties.
Read it all and there is more there as well.
[blockquote]”We are faithful to the gospel as we know it and have received it,†[Michael Patterson] said.[/blockquote]
To borrow from a running SNL skit, “Really?”
[blockquote] “The congregation voted to split from the church over what members perceived as an evolving liberal interpretation of the scriptures, including the blessing of same-sex marriages. Decker said the split had to do with basic Christian doctrine.” [/blockquote]
Which seems to be the reason for all of these splits. They aren’t over church politics, or different ways of worship or different traditions. It hasn’t been low church arguing with high church, or evangelical with anglo-catholic.
Rather, these splits have arisen because the hierarchies of the official churches have abandonded Christian doctrine to the point where they are no longer Episcopalian or Anglican, and faithful Christians have no choice but to separate from them.
But the liberals always say that, don’t they? And the reality is that no-one can point out these allegedly large numbers, and the budget of the official church just keeps getting into a worse and worse state because they aren’t getting income from parishioners. Yet its “only a small number who left”…!
The splitters should have walked away from the property in the first place. Being faithful to received doctrine is important, but so is being faithful to the commands of our Lord, one of which is that when they demand your jacket, you hand over your shirt as well. Thus to take a stand on doctrine while at the same time clinging tightly to contested property is hypocritical. The same thing applies to St John’s, Shaughnessy, and the parishes in Ottawa and Falls Church, VA, and everywhere else. Why can’t they see that?
[blockquote] “Being faithful to received doctrine is important, but so is being faithful to the commands of our Lord, one of which is that when they demand your jacket, you hand over your shirt as well.” [/blockquote]
Nice try, Ian, but that command was referring to demands by unbelieving Roman soldiers – are you classifying ACoC and TEC as unbelievers?
That would be a good point, of course – the actions of ACoC and TEC have been most un-christian. They should not have commenced any law suits and should simply have agreed to let the congregations disaffiliate from them. There really was no other choice for them, was there?
[blockquote] “Thus to take a stand on doctrine while at the same time clinging tightly to contested property is hypocritical.” [/blockquote]
You don’t appear to be familiar with any of the facts so your post can be excused. They didn’t “cling tightly”, nor was the property “contested” except in the sense that ACoC tried to take it from the congregations. In any case, what is “hypocritical” about it (except that you declare it so)?
[blockquote] “The same thing applies to St John’s, Shaughnessy, and the parishes in Ottawa and Falls Church, VA, and everywhere else. Why can’t they see that?” [/blockquote]
Probably because they have spiritual discernment and understanding, and are guided by a true understanding of Scripture.
And in any case, I am sure you will agree that the attention that their stand has drawn around North America and the world to the apsotasy of ACoC and TEC has been invaluable.