VICTORIA, BC: Clergy Ousted in Anglican Church Split

[david at virtueonline.org]

VICTORIA, BC: Clergy Ousted in Anglican Church Split

by Katie DeRosa 
Times Colonist 
March 2, 2009

Four clergy members at an Anglican church in Victoria say they have been forced to quit because they want to break away from the Anglican Church of Canada.

Priests and parishioners at St. Matthias Anglican Church in Fairfield want to leave the national Anglican body for the Anglican Network in Canada, which opposes same-sex blessings and other modernized church doctrines and upholds the supremacy of scripture.

Rev. Canon Ronald Corcoran, the parish's priest for the last 15 years, along with Rev. Rodney May, Rev. Glen Sim and retired priest Rev. Michael Pountney, were ousted suddenly Thursday, Corcoran said.

"To take away the keys from somebody who was a pastor of a church for 15 years ... I'm disappointed that it has come down to this," he said.

The Venerable Bruce Bryant-Scott, commissary to the Bishop of British Columbia, could not be reached for comment yesterday. In a letter to parishioners, he wrote: "All four  have indicated that they could no longer give their obedience to the authority over them, namely the Bishop of British Columbia."

Members of the church have undergone an 18-month "discernment" process, in which they hold meetings and prayer services to inform parishioners before a vote that will decide the fate of the church. Although the Diocese tried to block the vote, the congregation, about 200 people, will decide next Sunday on secession, Corcoran said.

"The Anglican Church of Canada is going through a crisis and they will do everything in their power to stop the congregation from making a choice."

The usual Sunday service was held yesterday with replacement priests, followed by a question and answer period with about 40 parishioners and Bryant-Scott, visiting from Vancouver. 

Illustrating the division, there was also a meeting in another location yesterday where members asked questions about the upcoming vote, said Robbie May, a member of St. Matthias for 37 years, and a representative of the congregation.

May said she was sad to see Corcoran ushered out so abruptly. "He has been a faithful, pastoral, loving, caring shepherd and it was sad that he would have been treated in this manner."

If the vote Sunday is in favour of separation, the church would be following the path of 18 Anglican churches across Canada. St. Mary of the Incarnation Church in Metchosin made international news last February when it voted to break away from the Anglican Church. Three Vancouverarea break-away congregations have gone to court to avoid being kicked off church property. 

END

VICTORIA B.C.: Anglican group may leave parish over same-sex marriage debate

By Sandra McCulloch, 
Victoria Times Colonist 
March 2, 2009 

A rogue* Anglican group will hold a vote Sunday on whether to split from its Victoria-area parish over its views on same-sex marriage, a church leader confirmed Monday.

Bruce Bryant-Scott, the archdeacon of the Vancouver Island Diocese of the Anglican Church of Canada, said St. Matthias parishioners will decide whether to join the breakaway Anglican Network in Canada, which opposes same-sex unions.

The vote announcement comes after the resignation of four clergy members Thursday over the contentious issue.

About 90 per cent of the 200-member congregation said they wanted to hold a vote, said Ronald Corcoran, the former parish priest.

Bryant-Scott said Monday he first heard rumours about the vote to leave the church a few months ago.

He said that such votes are prohibited under the church's rules.

The vote "is illegal and on the part of the clergy it would be a betrayal of trust that was given to them when they were licensed by the bishop," said Bryant-Scott.

An interim priest has been appointed to the parish.

While opposition to same-sex unions is often why parishioners leave, the issue isn't up for discussion in the diocese, said Bryant-Scott.

"We're not going to even consider it until a larger body above us, the Anglican Church of Canada, says we can," he said.

However, there are already several dioceses in Canada opposing the moratorium on same-sex blessings, said Corcoran, and some conservative parishes are worried.

"A parish has decided to hold a vote to see if it wants to leave the Anglican Church of Canada. The diocese has said 'No, you can't vote. We're forbidding you to hold that vote.' "

Bryant-Scott said the diocese welcomes diverse opinions within its ranks and the loss of St. Matthias parishioners would hurt.

"We will be the poorer for this group of people leaving the diocese, but they'll do it in that time-honoured fashion - voting with their feet."

END