Theologian Packer quits Anglican Church of Canada
by Lillian Kwon, US Correspondent
Posted: Monday, April 28, 2008, 21:56 (BST)
JI Packer, one of the world's most renowned evangelical theologians, has left the Anglican Church of Canada, citing "poisonous liberalism" in the church body.
Packer, 81, who was named one of the 25 most influential evangelicals in the world by Time magazine in 2005, quit the Canadian arm of the global Anglican Communion with 10 other BC Anglican clergy last week, he said, according to The Vancouver Sun. They joined the more conservative and orthodox Province of the Southern Cone in South America.
The Oxford-trained theologian said he can no longer serve under Vancouver-area Bishop Michael Ingham, arguing that he "appears heretical". Ingham sanctioned same-sex blessings in 2002 in the British Columbia Diocese of New Westminster, sparking international uproar.
In recent years, 28 parishes have voted to split from the Anglican Church of Canada, citing the denomination's departure from Christian orthodox values and Anglican tradition. They have realigned with overseas Anglican provinces.
St John's Shaughnessy Anglican Church in Vancouver, which Packer is a long-time member of, left the denomination in February, placing itself under the authority of the Southern Cone province.
John Stackhouse, a professor of theology and culture at Regent College in Vancouver, sees two different bodes forming in Canada with the continual departure of parishes.
"Frankly, we have not seen this sort of thing in Canadian history, and I'm not sure we've seen it in Anglican history," he said, according to The Canadian Press.
"With the significant size of these dissenting groups, and the international support for them ... we may see two different bodies in one geographical territory," he said, noting that Anglican churches traditionally have been determined through geographic, and not ideological, boundaries.
While the controversy has focused on homosexuality, Stackhouse says the issue is about more than sex.
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Added: Wednesday, April 30, 2008, 13:59 (BST)
One ancillary group of points that's largely been unmentioned:
1 J I Packer represents those who valued institutional loyalty to mainline Anglicanism.
2 He represents those who support women's ordination to holy orders.
3 He represents those who forbear Wesleyan Anglicanism within the general Anglican milieu.
Ergo, his departure signals a twilight of liberality and breadth among mainline Anglicans; it should be hailed as such to those who remain for those reasons.
Alec Ream, Ann Arbor, Michigan, US
Added: Wednesday, April 30, 2008, 12:55 (BST)
I believe it was Lenin who coined the phrase "the people have voted with their feet", and at time like this, and in situations that a stand has to be taken on belief in The Word of God, I applaud JI Packer's leaving and realigning with a more theologically sound church and denomination. Reading between the lines, I believe he has had to make a tough decision, and I wonder how many reading this report have had to make similar, or are contemplating, movement away from their churches' due to the same ethical dilemmas. May God be Glorified!
Philip Treagus, Reedy Creek, Australia
Added: Tuesday, April 29, 2008, 13:42 (BST)
This is a very grieving story, but I am glad that Packer is showing some integrity. Homosexuality is a sin. We are not to belittle or ostracise the individual but we are not supposed to accept the sin. Marrying and Blessing a same sex marriage is condoning and accepting their sin.
The greatest threat facing the church is her conversion to the spirit of the world. Do we fear God or man? Who's favour are we trying to win?
Rick, Oshawa,Canada
