Response to Panel of Reference Recommendations on NW - Archbishop Gregory Venables (So. Cone)

Statement by Archbishop Gregory Venables (So. Cone)

Statement Concerning the Report of the Panel of Reference on the Conflict in New Westminster, Canada

Given that the Panel of Reference process has taken twenty painfully slow and drawnout months to do what was considered desperately urgent at the onset, it is now tragic to receive a report that fails to address the crisis in New Westminster adequately. It simply does not reflect the depth nor the severity of the crisis that has been precipitated by Michael Ingham’s actions.

While the Windsor Report had the stated aim of “a mutually agreed commitment to effecting reconciliation,” the last two years have merely and obviously seen an entrenchment of the attitudes and commitments of those whose actions have “torn the fabric of the communion.” Whilst Kingdom values call us to be open to the possibility of repentance, it is unreasonable and irresponsible to continue to wait for what has been so clearly refused. There is not the tiniest indication that Michael Ingham might have any intention of turning away from pursuing an agenda that the instruments of Unity of the Communion have already rejected as being outside the boundaries of the Christian faith.

It is unrealistic and most unwise to send Biblically committed clergy and congregations back to a synod and bishop who have so tragically abandoned the foundations of the faith. These faithful clergy and people need the jurisdiction of a bishop who is fully committed to Biblical faith and Anglican tradition and practice.

Global South Primates are committed to working with Communion structures to implement the steps and solutions that the crisis requires. Unless there is a radical revision of the Panel’s operation, it does not appear that it will offer solutions of adequate or appropriate substance.

The Most Revd Gregory J. Venables
Primate of the Southern Cone
October 13, 2006

    Comments & Responses

  1. Would The Most Revd Gregory J. Venables, Primate of the Southern Cone perhaps like to share his responsiblities as a Primate with The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church?

    It is clear that The Most Revd Gregory J. Venables supports and encourages violations of diocesan and provincal boundaries. It seems totally reasonable to allow other Primates to share the Primate of the Southern Cone’s power with another Primate. Of course, all this would be done in the true spirit of equality and love in Christ.

    Posted by  on  10/16  at  11:03 AM

  2. Thank God for Archbishops Venables and Gomez’s clarity about the tragic shortcomings of the POR report.

    We look forward to the Global South Primates speaking publicly in unity with the same conviction about this POR travesty.

    In Christ, Ed Hird+

    http://acicanada.ca/node/79
    Vancouver, BC- We feel sad for our ‘Common Cause Partner’ ACiNW/Anglican Network in Canada brothers and sisters who have been sold down the river by the Panel of Reference. The Panel of Reference has clearly dropped the ball after such a long period of procrastination.

    It has been eight years since the Diocese of New Westminster first voted to do same-sex-blessings, and since the orthodox Anglicans in the Greater Vancouver, BC area first appealed for the wider Anglican constituency to intervene. It has been four and a half years ago since the orthodox Anglicans walked out of New Westminster Synod and officially appealed for another orthodox Anglican Bishop to provided oversight.

    The Panel of Reference does not seem to realize the level of trauma that faithful Greater Vancouver Anglicans have endured during their stand for biblical truth and traditional Anglican morals. This has not been a Sunday School picnic. Many faithful Anglican congregations in Greater Vancouver have been closed, taken over, decimated, or forced to ‘move overseas’ to Africa to obtain new Anglican jurisdiction and oversight.

    The POR’s suggestion that Holy Cross Abbotsford and Church of the Resurrection, Hope should go back to the diocese, reveals that the POR does not really comprehend the level of spiritual abuse that these two congregations have been through.

    The POR is encouraging the four remaining ACiNW parishes still in the New Westminster diocese to repay their withheld assessments and go back to the very Synod they courageously walked out from four and a half years ago. In return, all they are offering is a temporary visiting bishop with no jurisdiction. No where does the POR challenge the diocese of New Westminster to repent of its apostasy and immorality. The POR has given the ACiNW a stale crust of bread.

    We agree with the deep concerns about the POR report expressed by Archbishops Greg Venables and Drexel Gomez. We hope that the rest of the Global South Primates soon speak clearly with one voice about this deeply flawed POR report.

    This unfortunate, long-delayed POR report merely reinforces our gratitude that two and a half years ago, the Anglican Coalition in Canada was rescued from this burning house by our five Global South Anglican primates. We are so grateful that they kept their promises not to leave us as orphans. This Global South solution is readily available to other Canadian Anglicans who are willing to put everything on the line.

    The Rev Ed Hird+, Communications Officer, Anglican Coalition in Canada

    Posted by The Rev Ed Hird  on  11/03  at  11:29 PM

  3. Mr. Mccabe,

    I am quite sure that your comment is in no way an expression of sarcasm and disdain.  Therefore, I assume that you must have some concern regarding doctrinal or theological or pastoral problems and failures withinr our Lord’s Church in the Southern Cone.  You must feel the need for outside Primates to provide support, and indeed perhaps correction, to balance ++Venables words in connection with the Anglican Church in Canada. 
    Perhaps you would care to share the concerns that you have regarding the Southern cone..

    Posted by  on  11/12  at  11:49 AM

  4. My brother in Christ, Bill Channon,

    It is a question of boundaries and respect for the rule of Canon Law within the respective churches making up the imaginary “Anglican Communion’ that concerns me. To me this is a classic case of the ‘victim’ in fact being the agent of aggression. For all the window dressing related to “doctrinal or theological or pastoral problems “ regarding the the diocese of New Westminster and the Episcopal Church, the Global South appears to be much more concerned with power, wealth and dominance then ‘doctrinal purity’.

    The Southern Cone would no more allow Canadian or American Bishops to define its’ practices and organization then the Church of Canada of The Episcopal Church should submit to intervention from external episcopal authority.

    As for the imaginary suffering “orthodox Anglicans” in the Churches of North America, they are free to leave those churches and practice whatever ‘faith’ they desire to practice. They are not free to disrupt or plunder the churches of North America as willing (or unknowing) agents of external predatory episcopal authorities.

    No matter what rank the external authority in the greater “Anglican Communion” holds, they have no more authority in the churches of North American then a Lutheran, Methodist or Roman bishop has to dictate internal affairs within the established “Anglican’ churches of North America.

    Posted by  on  11/13  at  10:57 PM
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