Diocese of Niagara and Network, message to clergy adn people

News and Resources about Diocese of Niagara (ACC) and the Anglican Network

Message to the Clergy and People of the Diocese: from the Synod Negotiating Team February 29, 2008.

It is with considerable regret that we inform you that negotiations with the representatives of the Network and former clergy and wardens of St. George’s, Lowville and St. Hilda’s, Oakville ended with no reasonable resolution of our differences. In addition, a court ruled today that The Diocese of Niagara will be denied access to these churches until a fuller hearing on this matter takes place on March 20th, 2008.

From Tuesday to Thursday morning, we entered into good faith negotiations to work out a sharing agreement that would have allowed the breakaway congregations and the diocesan worshiping community to worship on Sundays, to use the buildings at different times during the week, and to split the costs of running the parishes. We sought a fair interim solution until such time as the larger issue of the ownership of the facilities was resolved. It was a generous compromise that sought a time of reasonable accommodation, where both the breakaway congregations, and the faithful diocesan communities, could share the facilities for their respective missions. We were trying to build on the agreement of the previous week in which we agreed to work on four things, joint administration of the parishes, full disclosure of parish assets, a non disparagement agreement and shared services in the buildings at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. for diocesan and network respectively. From our point of view, this arrangement of services had worked reasonably well last Sunday.

Any sharing agreement that involves both parties having access to the buildings for services on Sunday, at different times, has been categorically rejected by the Network. Instead they seek an indefinite period during which time they continue with business as usual and we do nothing to inconvenience their sole occupancy of our church buildings. It feels like we are not really negotiating with our former brothers and sisters, with whom we may be able to find common ground, but with The Anglican Network in Canada. This organization is not only a few congregations who seek to break with the Anglican Church of Canada; it is also an organization that has a self proclaimed mission, to create a new “diocese” and religious organization in Canada with charitable tax status. This stated mission, the fact that the Network claims to have a one million dollar defence fund, and the fact that they are claiming properties belonging to legitimate dioceses within the Anglican Church of Canada, seem to be factors that make a reasonable compromise impossible.

Today Charlie Masters, listed by the Network as a “key resource”, is quoted as saying that, “they would rather abandon the buildings than share with the diocese”. This attitude that somehow our presence, even at a different time, would taint or distress them, is troubling. In all our efforts we have been mindful of those who have been left orphaned by this takeover of their churches, who do not agree with this course of action, and our wider diocesan family who rightly expect us to be good stewards of all the resources of our Diocesan Church.

In addition, we believe that a larger issue is at stake. This involves a vision of the church we are called to be. In a world where relationships are torn by conflict, where people walk away from each other and turn on each other because they disagree, the church can offer a powerful sign: that we can find a way to continue to walk with each other even when we don’t agree. We are all accountable to Scripture, but that doesn’t mean we all have to interpret it the same way. Until now the Anglican Communion and our Diocese has prided itself on unity not uniformity. We have been called to the discipline of humility in recognizing that different perspectives can be held in faithful tension within our unique polity. In this current dispute we will continue to work towards a resolution that upholds this principle as a faithful witness to the love and faith of Jesus the Christ that we proclaim as Good News.