VANCOUVER, BC: New Canadian Anglican Bishops Poised To Lead Church & Country Back to Christ By David W. Virtue in Vancouver www.virtueonline.org New Canadian Anglican Bishops Poised To Lead Church & Country Back to Christ

By David W. Virtue in Vancouver
www.virtueonline.org
4/27/2008

After a 6-year struggle, two newly licensed Canadian Anglican bishops, along with 30 licensed priests and four deacons, are poised to win souls for Christ in a country that is fast becoming secularized and post Christian. They would also like to see their old denomination, the Anglican Church of Canada, won back to the gospel even as theological liberalism falters and fails and their churches close.

The Rt. Rev. Donald Harvey, Moderator of the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC), and the Rt. Rev. Malcolm Harding, Suffragan bishop for the Network, both made solemn promises to uphold the doctrine and discipline of the church and to defend the faith of the church to Archbishop Gregory Venables, Primate of the Southern Cone, in an emotionally and spiritually charged ceremony before some 400 former members of the Anglican Church of Canada.

In an interview with VOL, Bishop Harvey said that while he was saddened by what is happening to his former church, the course of their reaction in the past few days is not entirely unpredictable. "We are no longer members of the Anglican Church of Canada. I am moderator of the Anglican Network in Canada, an ecclesial body under the jurisdiction of the Province of the Southern Cone and thus in communion with the rest of the Anglican world."

Asked about reactions from the Anglican Church of Canada, Harvey said the event (today) really does not require any response from them. "If they cannot be here to support us in our efforts why did they find it necessary to condemn us?"

Bishop Harvey said that the licensing was an historic moment in the life of the Anglican people in Canada who were unable to follow where the Anglican Church of Canada was leading them. "We want to remain a part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. I believe that was accomplished by this Spirit filled service today."

"We gave licenses to 30 priests and 4 deacons and two bishops were commissioned by the Primate of the Southern Cone to go out and preach the gospel. We will do that unhampered by a denomination that no longer believes in the biblical message."

Harvey said that what took place in Delta was the culmination of six hard years of trying to find a way forward that would meet the two criteria of being biblically faithful and still be part of the Anglican Communion. "It is also the beginning of being able to offer similar hope to Anglicans across the country."

Asked if he had received any support from those orthodox Anglican bishops who still remained the Anglican Church, Harvey said he had not received any condemnation, but no support either from those orthodox bishops.

"It has been an overwhelming joy and very rewarding to bear the burden and heat of the day. There is both a sense of relief and a coming to fruition. As Archbishop Venables said, it is a strange combination of bitter sweet sadness and joy because we are deeply grieved that we have to take this action.

"I have received much comfort from reading John Henry Newman's on the 'Parting of Friends.' I realize the mixed emotions I have of joy and pain in this necessary but painful action."

Asked what personal reaction he has had from the official Anglican Church, Harvey said it was difficult to say. "I relinquished my license, so I have not had any official contact from anyone at the national level."

Questioned about property disputes and the litigation that has followed, Harvey said he is dismayed that they are not willing to even discuss the possibility of settling this in an amicable and biblical manner.

Bishop Malcolm Harding

Asked how he felt about his third career since he officially retired, the 71-year old Manitoba bishop said his gut reaction is one of excitement. "It is exciting to see a new birth. It is like First Century Christianity. There is no heavy superstructure to contend with, it is fresh people who are excited about doing new things of making Jesus known to a new generation."

Harding said the Network just planted two new churches, one in the city of Brandon and the other in North Dauphin. "In one place we have some 70 people meeting in a World War II canteen at Brandon airport. The other is meeting in a Seventh-day Adventist Church. Both churches hold mid-week Bible studies. "I am the interim pastor and Suffragan bishop for both churches."

"I love this new work, it is exciting. I couldn't sit back. I feel I am part of the much needed reform movement. I have been reading Wesley's Chronicles and I realize what he suffered and I have not suffered nearly as badly. I have been encouraged by that."

Harding said he and his wife made a leap of faith and are on a new journey. "I see great enthusiasm in this new journey for the gospel. The laity is enthusiastic and ready to go and plant churches. Another church plant in Manitoba is now just unfolding step by step."

The Anglican Church of Canada has described the actions of the ANiC as evil, polarizing and wrong.

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