OTTAWA: CANADIAN ANGLICANS LAUNCH NEW ORGANIZATIONS FOR PERSECUTED FAITHFUL

By David W. Virtue, in Ottawa

OTTAWA, ON (8/31/2004)

Leaders of 700 orthodox Canadian Anglicans meeting under the banner of ESSENTIALS, announced yesterday the formation of two new organizations - a Federation and a Network - to allow beleaguered Anglicans a safe place from revisionist diocesan bishops.

The formation of these organizations arose as a result of recent actions of the General Synod in its passing of an amendment declaring the integrity and sanctity of committed, adult, same-sex relationships.

The Federation will act as an umbrella for all orthodox Canadian Anglicans, bishops, clergy and laity in the Anglican Church of Canada who see themselves as being in impaired communion with their diocese and the national church, said the Rev. Dr. Brett Cane, who sits on the council of ESSENTIALS, a national organization for orthodox Canadian Anglicans.

A second organization, The Network, modeled along the lines of the Anglican Communion Network in the U.S. was also launched to provide an alternative structure with a national task force for parishes and their clergy but not for individuals. Bishop Don Harvey of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador will act as Episcopal Moderator for the new Network.

"The Federation is for those who want to stand firm in the gospel and remain in the Anglican Church of Canada, at least for the moment until a report comes out of the Lambeth/Eames Commission," said Dr. Cane.

"The Federation is a first step," said Cane. "We want to be prepared in the eventuality that the Primates act against the Anglican Church of Canada over its voting for the blessing of same sex relationships at the recent General Synod."

The Anglican Communion Network in Canada (ACNC) was the name chosen to identify with Anglican Communion worldwide. "We also want to identify with The Network in the Episcopal Church USA who have similarly been abandoned by the church over matters of catholic faith and order."

The Network will hopefully embrace such organizations as the Anglican Communion in New Westminster (ACiNW) consisting of six parishes and the Anglican Communion in Canada (ACIC) of four parishes who recently broke away from Bishop Michael Ingham and the Diocese of New Westminster as well as other orthodox affiliates who may want to distance themselves from the decision of the ACC and from their present episcopal oversight.

"The Federation is an umbrella. The network is to be a thoroughly Anglican expression of First Century Christianity. The way forward is a church that thinks with an apostolic mind, a church in submission to the Holy Scriptures and to the ancient formularies. The way forward pulsates with an apostolic heart; it is a church that reaches beyond its own walls," said Cane.

"The way forward is a church that has apostolic focus whose first love must be Jesus. He alone is seen as our outward focus. Whether Anglicans choose the pathway of the Federation or the Network, it all flows out from the Federation. We are one great company of believers."

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