Diocese told that parish properties will be returned

Anglican Church of Canada ministry this summer should be returned to Pender Harbour on the Sunshine Coast, and to Deep Cove in North Vancouver.

Two former diocesan priests and their followers say that at the end of May they will vacate the church buildings which they have been occupying.

Plans for a restored Anglican Church of Canada ministry in the two parishes are currently being reviewed by the Regional Dean of Capilano, the Rev. Mark Lemon, and the Regional Dean of North Vancouver, the Rev. Sarah Tweedale, in consultation with Bishop Michael Ingham and wardens appointed for each of the two parishes.

Diocesan Chancellor (chief legal officer) George Cadman in March informed the former diocesan rectors of the parishes of St. Andrew's, Pender Harbour, and St. Simon's, Deep Cove in North Vancouver, that by April 1 the diocese wanted its church buildings back, or it might be forced to go to court to regain possession.

The two priests had resigned from the Anglican Church of Canada in March of 2004. All efforts to resolve matters outstanding between them, their congregations and the Diocese were not successful.

Cadman said that the churches have historically belonged to the diocese, and were intended for the use of the Anglican Church of Canada in its ministry to local Anglicans.

A lawyer representing the two priests and their congregations replied that in order to avoid litigation his clients would leave the church buildings on or before May 31. He stated that differences with the diocese centered on "principles, not real estate." The diocese has accepted the later date.

In January, the Diocesan Council approved an order that under the Anglican Canon law (the church's bylaws) replaced the two priests and local parish officials with the bishop's appointees, Lemon and Tweedale. In March the 40-member council again approved another motion to regain possession.

The priests involved resigned from the Canadian Church to apparently join the Anglican Church of Rwanda, Africa. The Societies led by the two priests that continued to occupy the churches and have agreed to leave were also incorporated in 2004.Their articles of incorporation say they are affiliated with the Anglican Mission in America (AMiA), a breakaway church in the U.S.