St. Aidan’s Anglican loses its building
WINDSOR, ON—If the congregation of St. Aidan's Anglican Church want to leave the Anglican Church of Canada they have to leave their building and charitable trust behind. Thus ruled the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in August.
More than 100 members of St. Aidan's voted to join the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) in 2008, due to concern regarding the Anglican Church's position on homosexuality. The diocese of Huron is one of eight Anglican dioceses that bless the civil marriages of same-sex couples.
The congregation initially shared the church building with the diocese, before suing the diocese for ownership.
In the ruling, Justice T.D. Little said, "Members can come and go in a parish at any time, but the parish itself remains…The parish could not sever itself from the diocese."
The ANiC congregation is now planning an appeal. It is also looking for other meeting space. Since the ruling, the diocese has barred them from holding services in the building.
"We felt we had an extremely strong case," says Cathy Knight, rector's warden for the ANiC church. "People pursued this out of an absolute faith conviction. It's not just about same-sex blessings. Our feeling is that if [the diocese] is going to be in defiance of the Anglican Communion over that, what's to stop them from anything they want to do?
"We've been concerned about the general direction the Anglican Church diocese has been taking for a long time. It's a direction we cannot follow, and we're willing to lose our money and our building for it."
Robert Bennett, bishop of the Diocese of Huron, called the situation "sad and unfortunate." He hopes the move won't discourage Christians of different theological perspectives from continued dialogue.
"When we get together as a church community we don't all agree," he says. "But we have liberal and conservative congregations sitting down together, worshipping together and having Bible study and Eucharist together. If you chose to leave, your voice won't be heard.
"The people who meet at ANiC are welcome to come back to the Anglican Church of Canada any time. I hope that the folks who feel they can't live within the Anglican Church of Canada anymore will find the place where God is calling them."
The ANiC congregation has been offered space by several other churches, although they are still hoping to find something within their own parish boundaries, in order to help facilitate their ongoing involvement in the community.
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.
