At the height of the controversy over same-sex blessings, which led to the departure of some clergy and laypeople \u201d\u201c including the former bishop \u201d\u201c the quiet and soft-spoken Pitman surprised many when he asked clergy in his diocese to declare their loyalty to the Anglican Church of Canada as they renewed their ordination vows and renewed their licences.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday, my friends, is a fresh start,\u201d\u009d he had said in his sermon at a mandatory gathering held Jan. 21, 2008 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in St. John\u2019s, Nfld. \u201cIt\u2019s not a power grab as has been suggested by some. Whether someone is of a conservative bent or a liberal bent or some other bent, whatever these labels mean, I will support you\u201d\u00a6 But let\u2019s not make any mistake about it. There are boundaries.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n