Evangelical theologian faces expulsion: CEN 3.07.08 p 1. March 7, 2008
Posted by geoconger in Anglican Church of Canada, Church of England Newspaper.trackback
The Bishop of New Westminster has charged theologian JI Packer with abandoning the doctrine and discipline of the Anglican Church of Canada.
Dr. Packer, along with the other clergy of St. John’s Shaughnessy Anglican Church in Vancouver, was served with a “Notice of Presumption of Abandonment of the Exercise of the Ministry” by Bishop Michael Ingham on Feb 21.
They were accused of having “publicly renounced the doctrine and discipline of the Anglican Church of Canada,” and for having sought admission “into another religious body.”
Dr. Packer has been a critic of the innovations of doctrine and discipline within the Anglican Church of Canada and has lent his support to the secession vote. Unless he recants or disputes these actions, Bishop Ingham will depose him from the ministry of the Anglican Church on April 21.
The threat from Bishop Ingham comes in the wake of the Feb 13 vote by the parish to quit the Anglican Church of Canada and to affiliate with the Anglican Network in Canada under the oversight of the Province of the Southern Cone.
An honorary assistant at St. John’s for the past 20 years, the 82-year old theologian is generally held to be one of the leading evangelical scholars within the Anglican tradition and was labeled a “doctrinal Solomon” by Time Magazine.
Author of “Knowing God,” Dr Packer was educated at Wycliffe Hall and served his curacy at Harborne Heath in Birmingham. From 1955-1961 he served as a lecturer at Tyndale Hall, Bristol, as Librarian then Principal at Latimer House, Oxford, from 1961-1969, Principal of Tyndale Hall in 1970, and Assoc. Principal of Trinity College, Bristol from 1971 to 1979 before joining the faculty of Regent College, Vancouver where he currently serves as Professor of Theology.
Lawyers for ANiC are viewing the notice of presumption of abandonment of communion and are preparing a response, a spokesman said.
Under Canadian Canon XIX, if Bishop Ingham deposes him for abandonment, Dr. Packer may appeal the ruling to the Metropolitan of British Columbia and the Yukon, Archbishop Terry Buckle, who “shall attempt to mediate between the parties” and if unsuccessful refer the matter to the provincial ecclesiastical court for review.
“Dr. Packer has been a critic of the innovations of doctrine and discipline within the Anglican Church of Canada and has lent his support to the secession vote.” Why don’t you just come out and say it, Dr. Packer disagrees with the church’s position on homosexuality? Your political correctness (or deceit), absolutely reeks.