(Staff) In a statement that he had wanted read on Dec. 2 in all Anglican churches across the country, Primate Fred Hiltz condemned the actions of a group putting in place a church structure parallel to the Anglican Church of Canada.

He called the Anglican Network in Canada’s plan "inappropriate, unwelcome and invalid." He also wrote that he "deplores" efforts by a South American archbishop to extend his influence into Canada. 

The pastoral statement said: "We deplore recent actions on the part of the primate and general synod of the Province of the Southern Cone to extend its jurisdiction into Canada."

On Nov. 22 Archbishop Gregory Venables had extended an invitation to conservative Canadian Anglicans who no longer felt at home or safe in the Anglican Church of Canada to realign with his South American Province.

The invitation by Venables, who is based in Argentina, was made at a meeting of conservative Anglicans Nov. 22-23 in Burlington, Ont. Over 280 people were in attendance, 66 of them clergy. They represented 70 churches, although only two who were not ACC churches have joined the new structure thus far. Congregations are being encouraged to wait 90 days before holding a congregational vote. 

Photo: ANiC   

Two retired bishops, the Rt. Rev. Don Harvey of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador (left) and the Rt. Rev. Malcolm Harding of Brandon (right), have relinquished their licences to exercise ministry in the ACC and have been accepted as active bishops in the Southern Cone under Venables.   

Bishop Harvey who served in ordained ministry in the ACC for 44 years, twelve as a bishop, issued a statement upon leaving saying: “Because of the unabated theological decay in the Anglican Church of Canada, many long-time Anglicans have already left their church and left Anglicanism. We want to provide a fully Anglican option--a safety net--for others who feel their church has abandoned them and who are contemplating taking the same action.”

Archbishop Venables said, "By receiving Bishop Harvey upon his departure from the Anglican Church of Canada, the Province of the Southern Cone is responding to the ongoing crisis and brokenness in the Anglican Communion.” 

Hiltz, however, says Venables’ move contravenes "ancient canons of the church going as far back as the 4th century" and church tradition. "This action breaks fellowship within the Anglican Church of Canada and the Anglican Communion," he wrote.

Although the primate is the head of the national church he has only limited jurisdiction in any parish in Canada. Parish priests are answerable first to their diocesan bishops, many of whom, even the liberal ones, did not insist on the letter being read aloud in their churches. Many priests simply announced copies were available at the back of the church. Even some liberal clergy said they were embarrassed by what they called its “aggressive” tone.

Hiltz’s statement called on the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, to condemn Venables' actions. However, at press time Williams was still silent.

"We, too, appeal to him in his capacity as one of the instruments of communion and as chair of the primates' meeting to address the very serious issues raised by this intervention," the statement read.

The letter was also signed by archbishops Terry Buckle of British Columbia and Yukon, John Clarke of Rupert's Land, Caleb Lawrence of Ontario and Bruce Stavert, the senior bishop for Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. Bishop Stavert--along with the bishop of New Westminster, Michael Ingham--took part in the controversial consecration of an actively gay man, Gene Robinson, as the Bishop of New Hampshire in 2003, which is another point of contention.    

Last fall the dioceses of Montreal, Ottawa and Niagara voted to approve same-sex blessings; as did the Vancouver-based diocese of New Westminster in 2002.

Primate Hiltz claimed in his letter that conservative Anglicans already receive sufficient care and protection: "Our bishops have made adequate and appropriate provision for the pastoral care and episcopal support of all members of the Anglican Church of Canada."

Venables’ reply

To this Archbishop Venables replied in a letter of his own, “Surely this would require agreement from the recipients as well as those in power.”

As to the contravening of agreements by interventions, Venables wrote: “In the Dar es Salaam communiqué we said, ‘Furthermore, those Primates who have undertaken interventions do not feel that it is right to end those interventions until it becomes clear that sufficient provision has been made for the life of those persons.’”

Last April the Primates of the global Anglican Communion had recommended a Pastoral Council to oversee distressed Anglicans and Episcopalians in North America but the scheme was never put in place by either Hiltz or the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts Schori.

Ordinations

On the same Sunday as Primate Hiltz’s letter was to be read, Bishop Harvey presided and Bishop Harding preached at the first Anglican Network in Canada ordinations under the jurisdiction of the Southern Cone. On the 1^st Sunday in Advent Dr Ken Deeks and Gary Stobbs were ordained to the deaconate in the ANiC. The two deacons will minister under the direction of the Rev Dr Archie Pell of the Church of the Resurrection in Hope, the first rector and parish to come under the jurisdiction of Bishop Harvey and Archbishop Venables. The service took place in a Pentecostal Assemblies building in Abbotsford, BC. None of the clergy participating in the ordination were under the jurisdiction of the Anglican Church of Canada.

See also Distressed Cdn Anglicans turn to Archbp Venables.