Third Bishop Quits Anglican Church of Canada

From The Living Church:

Posted on: January 26, 2009

The Rt. Rev. Ronald Ferris, Bishop of the northern Ontario Diocese of Algoma in the Anglican Church of Canada from 1995 to 2008 and the Diocese of Yukon from 1981 to 1995, has left the Anglican Church of Canada and transferred his canonical residence to the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone, based in Argentina.

Bishop Ferris is the third bishop within the past 14 months to leave the Anglican Church of Canada for the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC), part of the Common Cause Partnership seeking status as a new Anglican province in North America. In a statement released Jan. 23, Bishop Ferris said in his new position he will focus on church planting in the Lower Mainland region of southwest British Columbia. He will assist the Rt. Rev. Donald Harvey, moderator of the ANiC.

“Bishop Ferris has been an unwavering advocate of orthodox Anglican and Christian beliefs and practices within the Anglican Church of Canada’s House of Bishops,” said Bishop Harvey. “He has always supported the stand taken by the Anglican Network in Canada, even when the vast majority of his peers opposed us.”

In 2004, Bishop Ferris was one of four nominated for the election as Archbishop and Primate of Canada. In a statement released through his secretary, Archbishop Fred Hiltz said he received news of Bishop Ferris’ departure with regret.

“Bishop Ferris has served the Anglican Church of Canada well,” Archdeacon Paul Feheley, principal secretary to the primate, said as quoted by Anglican Journal of Canada. “He has a long-standing service and dedication as a bishop.”