The ABC's comments are also quite encouraging at: http://www.anglicanessentials.ca/readarticle.php?article_id=101

During the Q&A session the ABC was asked (as reported in the above item and as I heard directly from someone who was present): "When are you going to recognize the Networks in the US and in Canada as part of the Anglican Communion?" to which he responded by looking at his watch and saying, "Oh, I'd say at about 5 to twelve - there is no doubt in my mind that these Networks are full members of the Anglican Communion".

He went on to say that formal recognition as Provinces was not his to give but would have to be determined at the next Lambeth Conference of all Anglican bishops in 2008. He also said that a committee had recently been struck to consider who should be invited there, "with input from the Provinces". Pray that this input will appropriately reflect the influence of the 2/3 of the Communion that is conservative in interpretation and in commitment to Scripture.

The event in Egypt happened only a few days after Michael Ingham, false bishop of New Westminster in Vancouver and his Diocesan council banned participation in the Network - the direct opposite of the affirmation subsequently expressed by the ABC. (http://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/Default.aspx?tabid=1&mode=Story&StoryId=237&)

The Network parishes in BC are not, however, dismayed by Ingham's stance: less than two weeks later, conservative Bishop Terry Buckle was elected Metropolitan Archbishop of BC & Yukon, thus Ingham's superior. Although his direct powers are limited, ++Buckle is now the immediate point of appeal for any action that Ingham might take against conservative parishes and in particular their assets, possibly his main point of interest.

Ingham's "banning" move was matched by other liberal bishops. The Bishop of the Diocese of BC (i.e. Vancouver Island - a much smaller jurisdiction within the "ecclesiastical province of BC & Yukon" which ++Buckle now heads) allegedly stated recently that clergy associating with the Network would be fired. Bishop Jim Njegovan of the Diocese of Brandon, Manitoba made it clear that neither Anglican Essentials literature nor The Anglican Planet, Canada's alternative to the officially-sponsored Anglican Journal newspaper would be tolerated in his diocese. (http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/10/24/anglican_051024.html)

It is reported that there was a move at the Canadian House of Bishops two weeks ago to make these sanctions national - however, after the minority intervention of three God-fearing Bishops, no motions regarding Essentials were passed, praise God.

"On the ground" around the country I hear that there is a great deal less focus in conservative parishes on the same-sex issue or even on the theological apostasy of so many Canadian Anglican leaders. This is not a question of relenting nor of accommodating, but rather a feeling that the debate is over, positions are clear and it's time to concentrate on the work of the Gospel. This is certainly my observation in several Ottawa churches with strong Alpha programs, Biblical preaching, house groups, and other evangelistic and discipleship programs under-girded by a culture of prayer. Yet there is no doubt that if and when the time comes that the Diocese of Ottawa stops vacillating and finally "walks apart" from the Anglican Communion (with our national primate, New Westminster, Niagara, Toronto and others) those that are faithful to Scripture will choose to remain in the Communion and in the church universal.

I was encouraged by the message Sunday at St. John's (Shaughnessy) Anglican Church in Vancouver - in many ways the nexus of the Anglican controversy in Canada - where the youth director preached on 2 Tim. 2:22 and recounted how in the past two years he has cancelled most of the youth activities: young people are already too busy and distracted by too many choices. Instead he now has 50 high school students participating in 9 weekly Bible study groups as their principal thrust for this age group. This reminded me of a summer I spent as a teenager in 1970, with a few friends and a bible college student who led us in a series of Saturday afternoons studying the Bible outdoors in High Park, Toronto. That was then - and is now - really exciting stuff!

---Norman Henderson is an Anglican layman living in Ottawa, Canada. Despite a childhood commitment to Christ, missionary parents and a godly wife, he spent many years far from God. Business reverses in the "dot com" meltdown made it clear that success is only possible through repentance and renewal under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and he is now engaged in "Business as Ministry" as servant leader of The IT Department, Inc.