Conservatives plot strategy

Toronto
Conservative bishops from the United States and Canada met here shortly before the Canadian house of bishops’ fall meeting to discuss changing views on sexuality in the Anglican churches in Canada , the U.S. and the world, and to form a coalition of conservatives across North America.

“We met to have a conversation, find out what are our common interests and make plans about the changed circumstances our church is facing,” said Bishop Ron Ferris of Algoma. 

The group, which calls itself the Conference of North American Anglican Bishops, elected two chairs, Bishop Don Harvey of the diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador and retiring Bishop Stephen Jecko of the diocese of Florida.

“We discussed working together on financial development, working with the American Anglican Council (a conservative U.S. group),” said Bishop Ferris. He said they also raised the situation in New Westminster and a recent AAC-sponsored meeting in Dallas.

The Canadian traditionalist group Essentials intends to work with AAC and develop a coalition of individuals and groups in the U.S. and Canada opposed to the more liberal views in the churches, Bishop Ferris said.

The group intends to meet again Feb. 8 in the U.S. Canadian bishops attending were, in addition to Bishop Ferris and Bishop Harvey: Anthony Burton and Charles Arthurson of Saskatchewan, Terrence Buckle of the Yukon, William Anderson of Caledonia, John Clarke of Athabasca, Andrew Atagotaaluk, Larry Robertson and Benjamin Arreak, the last three of the Arctic.

American bishops attending were, in addition to Bishop Jecko: Edward Salmon of South Carolina , John Lipscomb of Southwest Florida , Peter Beckwith of Springfield, Ill., Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh , Jack Iker of Fort Worth and James Stanton of Dallas .