Cariboo diocese makes plans to shut down
QUESNEL, BC — There were tears, there was comic relief, there was debate, and in the end, there was consensus: unless a miracle takes place, the Anglican Diocese of Cariboo will cease to exist in the next 12 months.
Eighty-five members of the 17 Cariboo parishes met in Quesnel for diocesan synod October 13-15 to make a decision unprecedented in Canadian Anglican history. Residential school lawsuits in the past few years have depleted finances, forcing the diocese into bankruptcy.
"We just simply have no money left," said a weary Jim Cruickshank, bishop of Cariboo, after the meetings.
The synod approved three resolutions: wind up the affairs of the diocese during the next year; negotiate a settlement with the government to compensate the remaining 14 victims of abuse at the former St. George's School; allow a process of binding arbitration to determine who owns parish buildings.
"We believe we hold the church buildings in trust for the worship of God," says Cruickshank. "The government maintains we [the diocese] actually own them."
The third resolution is critical in allowing the parishes, which are spread throughout the B.C. Interior from Merritt in the south to Prince George in the north, to continue ministry in the churches they occupy. But, Cruickshank insists, "the parishes will remain with or without buildings."
Who owns buildings?
"The land and the buildings are the only remaining assets in the diocese," adds diocesan chancellor (legal advisor) Bud Smith. "But before we can offer any of them in settlement, we have to be clear who owns them."
In 1998 the diocese was found jointly liable, along with the federal government, when former St. George's dormitory supervisor Derek Clarke was found guilty of sexually abusing former student Floyd Mowatt. Although Clarke was a government employee, the court said the church was 60 percent liable, the government 40 percent.
Another 14 cases are before the courts; of these, 12 were launched against the federal Department of Justice, which named the church as a third party. Since 1998, the diocese has spent an estimated $350,000 in legal fees on the cases.
On October 2, the diocese gave notice "that we cannot afford to defend ourselves" in a current case, says Cruickshank. The national synod of the Anglican Church of Canada continues to be involved, however.
Cruickshank wants to be clear that the diocese is not trying to escape its responsibility. "Our priority is to care for those who were abused," he says.
"Wonderful spirit"
Despite the grim circumstances in which synod met, "there was a wonderful spirit," says Cruickshank. The diocese is made up of "good people who love their church and love the Lord but want to be responsible. But it was painful," he added.
Delegates knew going into the meeting that they would be faced with voting to shut down the diocese. Smith, a former attorney-general of B.C., had visited every parish beforehand, explaining the situation. Every parish had an audited statement showing the diocese would not likely be able to continue. "There were no surprises," says Cruickshank.
There was a moment of levity during the weekend as delegates pondered questions from a government lawyer about how much the diocese owns in paintings and jewelry. The truth is that many of the church buildings are small and poorly equipped. Few even have washrooms. "Maybe we should ask the Sunday school kids to do a lot of paintings and send them in," quipped one delegate.
Government lawyers have assessed the diocese's assets to total $3,357,170, a figure Cruickshank says is "probably fair."
If the diocese does close down, Cruickshank and his two staff members will be out of jobs and the regional metropolitan, Archbishop David Crawley, will oversee the parishes.
Cruickshank isn't worried about his own future, though. In 38 years since ordination, he's never had to look for a job. He's only disappointed that the crisis has demanded so much more than his job description of teaching and pastoring the church.
Dear Readers:
ChristianWeek relies on your generous support. please take a minute and donate to help give voice to stories that inform, encourage and inspire.
Donations of $20 or more will receive a charitable receipt.Thank you, from Christianweek.
