PRIMATES CONDEMN INGHAM'S ACTIONS

PRIMATES CONDEMN INGHAM'S ACTIONS Lambeth Conference will Discipline Ingham and others, say Primates

DELTA, BC--A number of world Anglican Primates condemned the actions of New Westminster Bishop Michael Ingham for his heavy handed actions against the vulnerable St. Martin's parish, at a press conference on Sunday, calling them inappropriate and offering continued pastoral oversight to the ten beleaguered ACiNW parishes.

In a statement read by the Moderator of the Church of South India, the Most Rev. K. J. Samuel, the Primate condemned the New Westminster Synod for passing same sex blessings and said the matter would be treated with great urgency when the Primates met in London next month.

"This gathering today stands together in solidarity with those parishes in the Diocese of New Westminster who remain committed to the historical faith held by the vast majority in the Anglican Communion," said Samuel.

Ten congregations are appealing to the Primates for help to remain in the communion and faithful to the faith. Bishop Terry Buckle (Yukon)has offered them pastoral oversight.

The Primates condemned the parish firings at St. Martin's, a north shore parish near Vancouver, with one Bishop the Rt. Rev. William Anderson, Bishop of Caledonia saying that he was disappointed that the bishop was out to make a political statement using a small parish in North Vancouver to do so.

"Ingham has taken an opportunity to make a political statement. It is bad tactics and not a very Christian way to resolve missions. It is the tactics of a bully."

"They were looking for pastoral care, and he came in on a Sunday service and tried to change the locks and fire their elected authorities. In response, we maintain our solidarity with the people of St. Martin's."

"They have had no pastoral oversight for a long time, so we stand with them, and encourage them to remain faithful to what they believe. We need the Anglican Communion to act, and to re-emphasize the Episcopal oversight of Bishop Buckle of the Diocese of the Yukon."

Asked what percentage of the Anglican Communion is opposed to same sex blessings, one bishop said that it was over 80 percent. "The Third World finds this act very offensive. It is misconception that the ACiNW are a fringe group in a mainstream diocese. It is the ACiNW thatis mainstream Anglicanism," said Primate Samuel.

"A province like Nigeria has over 18 million Anglicans. We don't even talk about these things," said Archbishop Malango. "For us it is a salvation issue. Salvation is belief in our Lord Jesus Christ. That is the faith given to us. There can be no debate about this."

Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan said the developments in ECUSA parallel what is happening here in the Diocese of New Westminster. "The decision to confirm a bishop in a same-sex partnership changes the teaching of the church which is contrary to the plain sense of holy scripture. The church of England is a reformation church with the revelation of Holy Scripture."

The president of the American Anglican Council, Canon David C. Anderson, said the issue of Gene Robinson's confirmation and same-sex blessings is causing a fundamental realignment and the restructuring of the ECSUA is under way. We wait in anticipation how the Primates will deal with this situation, he said. "It is going to be the most important council since the council of Whitby in 664."

(Writer's Note: The question decided at Whitby was not so much whether the church in England should use a particular paschal cycle, link her fortunes with those of the declining and loosely compacted Irish Church, or with the rising power and growing organization of Rome. The issue was over what became the Easter Controversy and the solution arrived at was one of great moment, and, though the Celtic Churches did not at once follow the example thus set, the paschal controversy in the West may be said to have ended with the Synod of Whitby.)

Questioned on how ready the Primates were to respond to the pastoral crisis, the former Primate of the Southern Cone Maurice Sinclair, said that the growing consensus among the Primates from Africa, Asia and Latin America was to act in a way that there would be a decisive result.

"There is a clear statement about what lies within and outside the limits of diversity. These limits need to be clearly set up. And these limits must be respected. There is a growing consensus to contain decisive action," he said.

"Christian obedience demands complete obedience to Holy Scripture and this sets standards for the wider society. The growing difference in the West between that way of life and a gentler way of life in society," said Archbishop Malango.

Questioned on whether these bishops wanted to drive gay members away, the bishops said no. Primate Samuel: "The total Indian church is upset and we want to stand in solidarity with this coalition and parish and the evangelical elements all over the world. We want to give them total unstinting support. We need to stand firm and be bold."

Asked how he thought the Archbishops at Lambeth will vote, Samuel said, something will be done. "It is a matter of spiritual and moral discipline. The church is a spiritual body and we should be controlled by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit...the word of Christ and the Spirit of God and word of God."

George Sinclair, chairman of the ESSENTIALS Council said the issue of homosexuality was causing embarrassment and persecution in Africa. "Canadians make up less than one percent of worldwide Anglicanism and Vancouver Anglicans are endangering the lives of African Anglicans," he said.

"The persecution of Christians in many parts of the world by Muslims is causing us great harm," said Malango. "Most parts of Africa have Muslims and they are aggressive and we are becoming a laughing stock and they ask us questions that are very embarrassing. Where are you going you Anglicans ask the Muslims? We are getting weaker and weaker and weaker. We need to stand firm in our faith. We need to tell Muslims we have a strong faith."

Bishop Duncan said that there were three world faiths who were considered the people of the book - Jews, Muslims and Christians and they all speak consistently against homosexual behavior and activity.

"Churches are burnt with people inside them. Mobs kill Christians and this is what happens in extreme cases and that is why we are terribly concerned," he said.

Questioned on the impact Ingham's decision would have on Canadian dioceses, Bishop Anderson (Caledonia) said evangelism would be compromised. "People don't give their lives to that kind of duplicity. People are becoming impatient with the bishop [Ingham]. The bishop of one diocese cannot unilaterally change the faith and the rest let it happen."

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I also have to admit that while most people ignore it I think the Council of Whitby is one of those pivot points that changed the world as we know it. If you want to consider an alternative, think of England, Scotland, and Ireland holding to an Eastern Orthodox version of the Faith an thus being forced early-on to arm themselves not only against the "northmen" but also against the 'romans'....

All the big churches are getting nailed with this homosexuality thing... amazing -- who was it that suggested the large centrally controlled churches are getting targeted because if you can get the central governing body to capitulate, any congregation or part of a congregation that disagrees will forfeit their real estate to them..? I don't know that the human factor involved has this as a strategic point, but the Enemy surely does.

"The tonsures and the date of Easter were simply stalking horses for the death knell of the theretofore independent Celtic Christian church. "

Well, the argument was won by convincing the Celts of its merits, from what I've read. But, umm, yeah, I thought it was an interesting reference to establish as the most important synod in Anglican history, since one could view the Synod as having argued for unity with Rome versus the independent ("isolated" might be a better term) Celtic church.

Thanks for the ping.

I was told by our priest that the only thing voted on (re blessing the ordination of various bishops) was whether the diocese in question had followed proper order in electing that bishop.

The theory advanced was that only the general rules and guidelines have to be followed.

Does anyone know what the current specs are for qualification of bishop.

It used to be "the husband of one wife," but, obviously, that had to be modified for the women bishops.

I just wonder if the general convention had anything to consider about the bishop besides if he was properly elected according to a Roberts Rules of Order kind of thing?

Do you happen to know?

We had a meeting with a generally amicable discussion about the matter with me being the most (only) conservative there. Not sure, because no one else spoke up. Our priest does not think Bishop Stanton has the votes to move out of ECUSA.

"All the big churches are getting nailed with this homosexuality thing..."

Naahhh... When I was looking for an apartment last, I answered an ad to share a house with a guy who wound up being a Baptist minister. The guy ran a ministry to help homosexuals put themselves right with God. No problem, I first thought: That's a difficult, worthy ministry. But from the clues in the house, I realized he was hunting for confused, Christian, gay, young men to have his way with them. Needless to say, I found a different apartment. And I thank God for having the instinct to have a keen eye.

Perverts exist in any denomination. In the Catholic Church, there's a heirarchy to blame for tolerating evil goings-on. Among the baptists, this guy is simply a lone wolf not worthy of a news story. He had lost a congregation in Mississippi- he blamed it on people not being comfortable with him reaching out to gays. But found a new one in Virginia. In other words, he successfully got himself "shuffled," just like the Catholic priests.

Personally, I like a Church where there is a heirarchy that can be held accountable, even if it took WAY too long to uncover the rot. Are you SO sure nothing unseemly is going on in your denomination? Or is it just there's no-one to hold accountable, unless he's a media mogul like Jim Baker, Jerry Falwell, or Jimmy Swaggart.

With accountability comes complicity, so I can see the appeal of avoiding heirarchy. But don't oversimplify issues.

I just wonder if the general convention had anything to consider about the bishop besides if he was properly elected according to a Roberts Rules of Order kind of thing?

Do you happen to know?

I don't know. I'm not familiar with ECUSA's canons so I don't know if the GC signs off procedurally, or on the basis of the "fitness" of the person involved. Sounds like a cop out argument to me.

That was my feeling as well.

Totally cop out.

I found myself awake arguing with her in the middle of the night. Duh!

But, I like her; she's not terribly liberal, in fact, considers herself conservative. She has a big stake in this, as if things go a certain way it would be hard for her.

So I didn't want to be belligerant. I just wish the conservatives would be more like me!! (ha, ha) I wish you guys would not focus so much on women priests and the '28 prayerbook.

Why can't you be more like me?? (again, ha, ha)

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