Nine priests, two deacons, hand in their licences from the Bishop

Bishop Michael Ingham has received the relinquishment of licences from nine priests and two deacons.

“While it is always sad when anyone leaves the Anglican Church of Canada, I appreciate that they have made their position clear,” said the bishop.

He said that in order that the mission, work, and worship of the Anglican Church of Canada be continued, he will be consulting with parish leaders to consider the next appropriate steps.

“While people may leave parishes in our diocese, the parishes and mission of the diocese, and of the Anglican Church of Canada, continue,” he said.

The priests who relinquished their licences are from four parishes, and include the following:

The Rev. David Short, the Rev. Dan Gifford , and the Rev. James I. Packer (honorary assistant), formerly licensed to St. John’s Shaughnessy, Vancouver; the Rev. Trevor Walters and the Rev. Mike Stewart, formerly of St. Matthew’s Abbotsford; the Rev. Simon Chin, formerly of St Matthias and St. Luke, Vancouver; the Rev. Stephen Leung, formerly of Good Shepherd, Vancouver.

Also resigning from the bishop’s jurisdiction are the Rev. Archie Pell, once the priest at Christ Church, Hope; and the Rev. James Wagner, who once headed a diocesan mission in Abbotsford. Deacons relinquishing their licences are the Rev. Richard Roberts and the Rev. Donald Gardner.

In each case, notices of presumption of abandonment of ministry had been sent in March to the clergy following votes by four congregations to leave the Diocese of New Westminster and to request to come under the jurisdiction of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone.

The formal notices were sent to find out if the clergy were also intending to leave the diocese, since until a statement by the clergy came to the bishop on Monday (which was the next day posted on a website), the clergy involved had not spoken with or written to the bishop.