Bishop Johnson’s letter to the Clergy in Toronto

As you know from the media, the Essentials Network met last week in Burlington to prepare for a formal separation from the Anglican Church of Canada. Please note that this is the “Network” branch of Essentials, and it is clear to me that it is not the intention or desire of the majority of those who are involved in the mainstream of the Essentials movement itself. (ed: divide and conquer?)

I am saddened but not surprised by this development. I do understand that some people may choose to leave their denominational tradition because they feel led to a different path. I, myself, left the denomination of my birth and early development to become an Anglican ”“ and I have never regretted that decision. What I cannot countenance is a primate and province of the Anglican Communion in another part of the world claiming missionary jurisdiction here, not as another denomination but in competition as the “real” Anglican Church. A few clergy who have relinquished voluntarily their orders in the Anglican Church of Canada, or will soon do so, are actively engaged in this. This is not acceptable.

It is our standard practice, and it is clearly set out in canon law, that no cleric who voluntarily relinquishes the exercise of ministry, for whatever reason, can function in any capacity until restored by the diocesan bishop to whom he or she relinquished. No bishop, priest or deacon who is not canonically resident in this diocese is permitted to function within the Diocese without both the invitation of the parish incumbent and either my licence or informal permission.

Read it all.

Posted in * Anglican - Episcopal, Anglican Church of Canada, Anglican Provinces, Same-sex blessings, Sexuality Debate (in Anglican Communion)

9 comments on “Bishop Johnson’s letter to the Clergy in Toronto

  1. Br. Michael says:

    Not if you are in broken communion.

  2. Ian+ says:

    Our Canadian bishops are busy peeing on trees to mark off their turf!

  3. Br_er Rabbit says:

    Ian+, that is the traditional activity of wolves.

    …back in the Briar Patch,

  4. Timothy Fountain says:

    [blockquote] What I cannot countenance is a primate and province of the Anglican Communion in another part of the world claiming missionary jurisdiction here, not as another denomination but in competition as the “real” Anglican Church. [/blockquote]
    Countenance it, dude.

  5. physician without health says:

    Johnson is the Schori du Nord

  6. azusa says:

    There wasn’t a breath in that land of death, and I hurried, horror-driven,
    With a corpse half hid that I couldn’t get rid, because of a promise given;
    It was lashed to the sleigh, and it seemed to say: “You may tax your brawn and brains,
    But you promised true, and it’s up to you to cremate those last remains.”

  7. DaveG says:

    Is this a joke?

  8. Bob from Boone says:

    A good letter, no joke.

  9. Tom Roberts says:

    There is a difference between a “good letter” and a “well written” or “cogent” letter. “Good” vaguely implies that it is essentially good, which remains to be proven. In fact, the case of whether this letter is actually “evil” is entirely open at this point.