Canada-Anglicans lock rebel clergy out of church

Metchosin congregation voted to align with group opposing same-sex unions
Jeff Bell, Times Colonist
Sunday, April 06, 2008

Rebel clergy have been locked out of St. Mary of the Incarnation Anglican Church in Metchosin.

The church will have new leadership at today's services, as it moves on from a February vote that saw the majority of parishioners choose to separate from the national church body over the issue of same-sex marriage.

After a period of transition in which the breakaway group continued to use the church, the Anglican Diocese of B.C. yesterday "asserted our ownership of the property," said Bishop of B.C. James Cowan.

Cowan also said the Venerable Sharon Hayton and Rev. Andrew Hewlett, who led St. Mary at the time of the vote, are no longer at the church.

"They relinquished the exercise of ministry in the Anglican Church of Canada in early March."

Cowan held a news conference yesterday to explain the diocese's decision. He said the action was the inevitable result of the February vote in which 86 per cent of parishioners cast ballots to align with the parallel Anglican Network in Canada, which is opposed to same-sex unions. the rest

Added 11:55 am: COURT INJUNCTION HALTS ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF BC’S ATTEMPT TO RECLAIM METCHOSIN CHURCH

Added 6:30 pm: B.C. Supreme Court judge orders Anglican diocese to let parishioners use church