There is an aura of stripped down, straightforward African directness about Rev. Ed Hird.
Sitting in short pants on this humid day in the spartan hallways of a former North Vancouver public elementary school that now houses his congregation, the Canadian leader of a breakaway Anglican faction talks about how liberating it feels to serve under the authority of the conservative Archbishop of Rwanda, Emmanuel Kolini.
After endless emotional battles within the Vancouver-area diocese of New Westminster over what Hird considers its appalling and sinful decision in 2002 to sanction the blessing of homosexual relationships, the spunky priest and his congregation said goodbye two years ago to the Deep Cove Anglican sanctuary in which they’d worshipped.
Interesting title, given that yesterday was the anniversary of Lincoln’s famous speech arguing that a house divided against itself cannot stand.