New Westminster Synod Rejects Offer for Partial Re-installment of withheld Funds

[David Virtue]

New Westminster Synod Rejects Offer for Partial Re-installment of
Withheld Funds

Motion to send funds directly to National Church voted down at Synod

VANCOUVER - The governing body of the New Westminster Anglican diocese
Who last summer voted to become the first diocese in the world to
officially sanction the blessing of same-sex unions, has voted against
an offer by orthodox Anglican parishes to restore proportional payments
to the national Anglican Church.

At a Special Synod meeting on Saturday, a motion was presented from the
floor by representatives of eight parishes that would allow them to
provide proportional payment directly to the National Anglican Church,
or in trust through the diocese.  Parishes normally pay monthly
assessments to the local diocese, which in turn send a portion to the
national church.  But the parishes, known as the Anglican Communion in
New Westminster (ACiNW), have been withholding their monthly
assessments from the diocese in response to the June diocesan decision
to depart from Canadian and worldwide Anglican teaching by voting to
develop a marriage-like rite to bless same-sex unions.

"Our parishes have not left this diocese or the Anglican Church of
Canada. We want to see the ministry of the national church continue in
spite of this local decision," said Cheryl Chang, spokesperson for the
Anglican Communion in New Westminster (ACiNW).  "This motion was about
restoring funding to the national church, which has had no part in this
decision or this controversy."

Although the protesting parishes have continued to send proportional
monthly payments directly to the national church body, the New
Westminster diocese has asked the National church to refuse to cash the
checks.

During a lively debate from the floor, some delegates said they opposed
the motion because parishes making payments directly to the national
church failed to respect the structures of the Anglican Church.  But
Rev. Dr. Trevor Walters, rector of St. Matthews Abbotsford and a member
of the ACiNW, stepped to the microphone to say that was a double-
standard.  "The diocese is accepting cheques from two or three of our
parishioners who do not agree with us.  Why is that acceptable but our
proposal is not?"

A number of delegates questioned the dioceses' decision not to renew a
chaplaincy position at Vancouver General Hospital, instead of first
trimming administrative and discretionary expenses to account for the
shortfall. Several delegates also said their parishes have felt the
financial squeeze since the decision to bless same-sex unions passed in
July.

English media Chris Hawley, (604) 729-7557 Chinese media Rev. Stephen
Leung, (604) 872-1884


Motion 4 Text:

THAT in order to minimize the financial impact on the national
Anglican Church of Canada from the protest which arose out of the
passing of and consent to Motion 7 at the June 2002 Diocesan Synod,
this Synod requests the Bishop to ask the Anglican Church of Canada to
accept and cash all past and future payments from the parishes who call
themselves the Anglican Communion in New Westminster.

Moved by Michael Bentley (St. John's Shaughnessy) Seconded by Joyce
Lee (Church of the Good Shepherd)

Comments from the Mover:

 Members of Synod, my name is Michael Bentley, and I'd like to thank
the Motions Committee for accepting this motion for consideration and
their help in making it more concise. It is presented with co-operative
intentions.  In June 2002, our Diocese made a decision to bless same
sex unions. We agree that some saw that as a progressive step to better
and more fully include same sex couples in our church.  Some, including
the representatives of the coalition referred to as the Anglican
Communion in New Westminster (or ACIWN) saw the decision as unloving,
in an unintentional way, because it contradicts the Bible.  And
naturally there are other views.

With this motion, we are not trying to re-debate that issue.  This
motion is about stewardship. My comments on the June decision are only
to put the protest, which is perhaps quite misunderstood, into context.

A number of  parishes have chosen to protest our local decision, a
decision not yet endorsed by our National House of Bishops or our
National Synod or any other national or international body of the
Anglican Church.  Our Diocese is very much alone in giving synodical
approval. Fellow Synod delegates, progressive or not, our Diocese has
broken unity with mainstream Anglicanism. Rowan Williams has said that
the action of our diocese poses a substantial problem for sacramental
unity of communion!  This is a serious issue with significant
implications.

But it was a local decision to break unity, so the ACiNW parishes have
continued to remit assessments for the national church.  But at the
request of our Diocese, the national church has not yet cashed the
individual cheques, collectively amounting to about $40,000 to date.

Supporting this motion is only, and I repeat only, a way of saying yes
to finding a way to maintain the national contributions.  We are happy
for the contributions to go in trust through the office of our Diocese
or directly to the Anglican Church of Canada.  Our Bishop and our
diocese is welcome to choose.  This is not a vote for or against our
Diocese.  It is a vote of stewardship and letting the national church
benefit from all contributions made by its members.

Saying no to this motion would be inconsistent with our shared desires
of fully supporting ministries to the north and to marginalized
communities, especially First Nations People.  Besides, who are we as a
local Diocese, to ask the national church not to accept the offerings
of some parishes?

In the October issue of Topic, David Rushton, chair of the Stewardship
Development Committee suggested that it would be classy to maintain the
national contributions. Another member of the council added "it would
reflect better on the Diocese to take the high road and not cut back".

Members of Synod, supporting this motion makes that painlessly
possible. Supporting this motion is the right thing to do. There is no
practical cost of saying yes.  Please let our national church use the
offerings in question. It is a matter of stewardship. I strongly urge
all of us here to support this motion.

END