By Vikki Hopes - Abbotsford News
Published: December 13, 2010
St. Matthew's Anglican Church in Abbotsford is among four parishes that are filing an appeal with Canada's highest court.
Trustees from the four churches have instructed their legal counsel to file an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, in response to a B.C. Court of Appeal decision reached on Nov. 15. The application must be submitted by Jan. 14.
Last month's decision removed the parishes' rights to use their church buildings, because they are using their properties outside the jurisdiction of the Diocese of New Westminster.
The two sides have been in conflict over the issue of same-sex blessings. The churches have maintained that the blessings are contrary to core Anglican doctrine, while the diocese supports them.
The churches broke away from the Anglican Church of Canada – to which the diocese belongs – to join the Anglican Network in Canada in February 2008.
Two previous decisions ruled against the churches. The first ruling was rendered in B.C. Supreme Court in November 2009. An appeal of that decision was then heard last month, but the previous ruling was upheld.
Ownership of the church properties was awarded to the diocese.
Cheryl Chang, special legal counsel to the churches, said "much prayer and internal consultation" was undertaken in reaching the decision to file the second appeal.
"The precedent of this case will affect many faithful Christians throughout Canada, and there was a general consensus that this was not yet finished. The principles at stake are far too important to abandon," she said.
A statement from the Diocese of New Westminster said Bishop Michael Ingham has not yet received a response on his offer to meet with the leaders of the four congregations to "discuss how everyone can move forward in keeping with the decisions of the courts and appoint new clergy for these parishes."
Leadership at the diocese said they do not believe there is a need for further court challenges, due to the expense and anxiety incurred.
"However, they respect the plaintiffs' right to request the Supreme court to hear their case as the final legal option available to them," the statement read.
The Supreme Court of Canada is the last judicial resort in the nation, and both sides must abide by the decision reached there.
In addition to St. Matthew's in Abbotsford, three Vancouver churches are involved in the legal battle. They are St. John's Shaugnessy, the Church of the Good Shepherd, and St. Matthias and St. Luke's.
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