Then it’s no secret that some Anglicans within four parishes who continue to protest the actions of the 2002 Diocesan Synod, but have stayed within the diocese, may leave the Anglican Church of Canada. We hope not. We don’t think it’s necessary. Both we and they would be impoverished by a departure. But again, change seems likely.
Churches seldom find change easy. But it seems that change they must to remain vital and alive in this world. The hard part is determining what things should be changed-and what must remain the changeless core of our faith. May God help us as we continue to try to discern the one from the other.
[blockquote]Churches seldom find change easy. But it seems that change they must to remain vital and alive in this world. [/blockquote]
Pardon me, but hasn’t the ACoC lost nearly 53% its membership over the past few decades while Canada’s population nearly doubled? Is this the sign of marketing genius?
[blockquote] The hard part is determining what things should be changed-and what must remain the changeless core of our faith. May God help us as we continue to try to discern the one from the other.
[/blockquote]
The hard part is actually agreeing on the standard. Once the standard has been mutually acknowledged, the task becomes much easier. The question of authority cannot be avoided. To simply plead for mutual discernment on the changeless core doctrines of the Faith begs the question of what should be used as the basis of discernment. That’s why any such effort between conservative and liberal is pointless. The selection of the standard determines the outcome – and the outcomes are mutually exclusive.
carl
“Some Anglicans within four parishes who continue to protest the actions of the 2002 Diocesan Synod, but have stayed within the diocese, may leave the Anglican Church of Canada. We hope not. We don’t think it’s necessary. Both we and they would be impoverished by a departure” —Diocese of New Westminster
“Some mice living within Our territory who continue to protest Our rule may leave Our domain. We hope not. We don’t think it’s necessary. Both We and they would be impoverished by a departure” —Rosie the Rattler
[blockquote]The process can lead to the merger, amalgamation, or partnering of parishes, and even closure. Our list of parishes, unchanged for several years, will not be the same at the end of 2008 that it is now.[/blockquote]
Well, this seems fairly clear cut. There’s a new way designed to deal with dissenting parishes . . . create a structure in which to absorb them into some reappraising parishes where they can then be diluted and then polluted.
Learn from the mistakes TEC made — arrange for valid episcopal oversight — that may delay the breakup a bit longer.
Alternative oversight has been in place for a while, Archbishop Terry Buckle of the Yukon.
Well one thing is clear – if Ingham is successful in taking our churches away from us, he will just turn around and sell them. He already has more buildings than he needs, and he sure could use the cash.
Whistling past the graveyard, just before they go in.
i wrote to Mike ingham a few years ago, just after he’s written ‘Mansions of the Spirit’, to ask him how he planned to reverse the decline of his diocese. With disarming candor he replied, ‘I haven’t a clue.’ Absolutely correct.
He didn’t use the words Jesus or Gospel once. Very interesting.
“Change will come from the Ministry Assessment Process (the “MAP”), currently taking place in several parishes of the diocese, and will be happening in more of them. The process can lead to the merger, amalgamation, or partnering of parishes, and even closure. Our list of parishes, unchanged for several years, will not be the same at the end of 2008 that it is now.”
Obviously a diocese in decline. I wonder if they have anything to say right now about the test of Gamaliel?
The faithful orthodox parishes in Vancouver attract the kind of disproportionate attention that the northern VA churches being sued by TEC do. They are clearly trend setters for all of Canada. But with Bishop Donald Harvey now at work under the auspices of the Southern Cone, it’s a new day for orthodox Anglicans in Canada.
May the Lord uphold David Short+ and the other faithful clergy and laity in that very hostile liberal diocese. They are heroes.
David Handy+