Episcopal Press and News

Dissenting Canadian Clergy Asked to Clarify Their Intentions

Episcopal News Service. July 18, 2002 [2002-180-4]

[Episcopal News Service] What began as a disagreement over theology, sexuality and its biblical interpretation may end up as a dispute on stacks of legal-sized paper as the Diocese of New Westminster in the Anglican Church of Canada asks dissident clergy a second time whether they are 'in' or 'out.'

The controversy stems from a recent decision by the Diocesan Synod to permit the blessing of same-sex relationships, which prompted a walkout at the gathering by several clergy and parishes and statements of disassociation from the action. New Westminster Bishop Michael Ingham said in an interview that chancellor George Cadman has written to the 12 clergy asking them to clarify "whether they remain under my jurisdiction and authority."

Priests pledge obedience to their bishop in their ordination vows. If the dissenting clergy do not pledge their obedience to their bishop, their licenses could be pulled. Disputes over land and buildings are also looming on the horizon, since some of the parishes have cut off their funding to the diocese.

It is the second time the diocese has sought clarification of the clergy's intentions. Ingham wrote the 12 individually in June asking whether their withdrawal from the diocesan synod was an act of protest or a resignation. If the clergy had resigned from the diocese, Ingham said, he would need to declare vacancies in those parishes affected. Clergy and members of parishes are free to leave the church at any time, he said, but the land and buildings are property of the diocese.

The clergy responded in a joint letter at the beginning of July that they still considered themselves "part of this diocese, but that relationship has been seriously strained by the passage" of the motion approving same-sex blessings. That, said Cadman in his advice to the bishop, is not a response. "They've merely said they wish to be part of the diocese," said Ingham. "It was highly ambiguous." The new deadline for clergy to respond individually was set for July 19.

Meanwhile, four parishes have withdrawn their financial support from the diocese and another four say they may do the same. The eight parishes involved (out of the diocese's total of 79 parishes) account for nearly a quarter of the diocesan budget.

While there has been talk that the eight parishes might secede from the diocese and try to retain their buildings and properties, the diocese's position is that it owns parish properties and buildings. The diocese was formed by the British Columbia legislature's act of incorporation of 1893 and parishes are subunits of the diocese, said Mike Wellwood, business administrator of New Westminster. The diocesan chancellor has also prepared a written opinion on what happens to the property of parishes that wish to leave the Anglican Church of Canada. That opinion reads, in part, "Parishes have no separate corporate status except as part of the diocese ... Property can only be transferred or sold with the approval from diocesan council and the bishop."