Conger

Bishop Donald Harvey has quit the Canadian Church for the Church of the Province of the Southern Cone.

On Nov 16 the retired Bishop of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador, and moderator of the traditionalist Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) announced he was “resuming full-time Episcopal ministry” on behalf of “biblically faithful Canadian Anglicans who are distressed and feel they no longer have a home in the Anglican Church of Canada.”

Bishop Harvey’s secession has prompted howls of protest from the Canadian Church, which has demanded that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams denounce him.

The secession also comes one week before ANiC’s annual conference, and may presage a wholesale defection of Canadian traditionalist congregations and clergy to the South American Church.

On Nov 8 the Canadian primate, Archbishop Fred Hiltz told the National Post conservatives may bolt over Canada’s swing to the left on gay blessings.  “There may come a point we have to acknowledge that and respect their decision.”

“If they feel they cannot stay and withdraw other parishes with them, obviously it’s a sad moment for the Church. But I also think at that point you don’t fight. You don’t fight. You have to acknowledge the situation, acknowledge the pain, acknowledge the brokenness,” Archbishop Hiltz said.