The church’s perceived obsession with homosexuality has seen an Anglican pastor break camp and lead his flock into the religious wilderness and find a new home in the city.
Reverend Michael Hewat, the vicar of West Hamilton Anglican Parish on Rifle Range Rd, was the second high profile Anglican leader to leave the Anglican Church in opposition to Motion 30 – a national declaration by the governing body to bless same sex relationships.
He said homosexuality had dominated the church’s agenda for two decades and “it amounts to an obsession”, he said in a letter to Waikato Times.
His refusal to submit to General Synod on the motion passed in May that aimed to recognise same-sex relationships meant a forfeiture his licence to practice as an Anglican pastor.
In May, former Auckland pastor Charlie Hughes walked away with his congregation and Hewat said more would come.
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A special general meeting was held earlier in the month where he received 94 per cent support from parishioners and a further postal vote brought that figure to greater than 95 per cent.
“It’s a family breakup and even though its only 5 per cent it still hurts,” he said.
There were about 250 members on the parish roll but children were too young to vote and some older members were unable to make it to the meeting.
A handful of churchgoers were expected to show up at the church next Sunday but the rest – more than 100 who voted and their families – were looking for new place to call home in Hamilton’s western suburbs. “We’re not pushing it too far and we’re not going to some promised land but we believe that our ministries will continue and that’s what is important.”
Motion 30 was an “unmitigated disaster” and illegal as it contravened the Church of England Empowering Act, he said.
Read it all and the story of the first departure is here and the Synod decision here and here
I’m so confused. According to Peter Carrell:
[blockquote]We are a church with the full spectrum of Anglican commitments on these and other matters. That spectrum is well represented at the General Synod. For our church to come to the resolution it has a most careful process of respectful listening has taken place and close study of the resolution makes it clear that the place of conservatives in our church has been recognised in ways appropriate to ourselves – please don’t read “North America†into “Down Underâ€! [/blockquote]
And:
[blockquote]Well we have lived together now as Anglicans Down Under with huge differences in theology. We are bound together by many things, including simple human relationality. Differences in theology can be over-rated. I have sometimes found that actual talking over a coffee can yield common ground I did not think existed. We are, of course, bound together by serving under our diocesan bishops. Being good Anglicans … and our bishops generally take care to hold us together. [/blockquote]
And:
[blockquote]My sense is that we will stick together because we have had good representation at the Synod. [/blockquote]
But hey—it’s two months later and that was then and this is now.
Quite.
The reported comment by bishop Ann Hartley of Waikato is also very interesting:
[blockquote] “Churches were not required to adhere to Motion 30 but all licence holders had to accept the authority of General Synod to hold a licence and there was no room to manoeuvre.
“Michael had, in fact, signed it when he became vicar so what he has done is withdrawn that assent,” she said. “If you withdraw assent then the bishop has no alternative to accept that as a forfeiture of the licence. It’s very clear”.” [/blockquote]
“…no room to manoeuvre…”, “…no alternative…”
What she is saying is that by sending the letter saying he could not accept Motion 30, the vicar is automatically booted out of the Anglican Church in New Zealand.
In other words, any dissent from the party line will result in expulsion.
Those familiar with how this issue has panned out in other jurisdictions will not be in the least surprised.