In 2011 the 500 member congregation of St. Matthew’s Abbotsford was ejected from its building by the Diocese of New Westminster.
In 2012, the rector of the diocese of New Westminster’s version of the parish, Rev Allen Doerksen, declared that one day the church will become self-sustaining. That day has not yet arrived: the parish is still being funded by the diocese and is now going through a bumpy patch.
What’s more, the church’s furnaces need replacing so, to avoid a bumpy cold patch, the parish is asking the Diocese of New Westminster for $150,000 to fix them.
Both St. Matthew’s Abbotsford and St. John’s Shaughnessy – which is bleeding $20,000 per month – were kept on artificial life-support by Bishop Michael Ingham to demonstrate to the world that the diocese’s ersatz Christianity works. It doesn’t. The new bishop, Melissa Skelton, will have some difficult decisions to make soon; before the diocese starts going through a bumpy patch.
Thank you for this update. It is sad to hear of such ecclesiastical malevolence and incompetence. Stolen money never prospers, they used to say.
Thunderous wind, eh? 🙂
This should be a clear message to the Diocese of New Westminster and the ACoC that you cannot expect to receive any blessing from the Lord when you literally steal property to which you have made no contribution particularly when that is stolen from genuine orthodox Christians. As I have stated previously when a church abandons the truth of the Gospel and deliberately embraces apostasy it is no longer Christian and cannot expect any blessing from our Lord. Until the ACoC cleans its house from apostate bishops and clergy it will continue to go over the cliff.
I do pray for the conversion and repentance but that seems highly unlikely at this time.
Absolute malicious nonsense.
St Andrew’s Pender Harbour closed
St Mark’s W2nd & Larch closed
St Richard’s North Van closed sold now a Mosque
St Matthew’s Abbotsford would have problems drawing people in after what has happened
St John’s Shaughnessy is a Mission Church now
St Matthias & St Luke is not too different than the two above on W49th in Oakridge
John
I’m not exactly sure what you listed all of these churches. They do not really suggest anything as closures/mergers/downgrades can be both positive or negative. To emphasize my point, just look at the following ANIC churches as examples…
Christ Church, Mill Bay (Closed?)
Christ the King, Victoria (merged)
Church of our Lord, Victoria (merged)
Christ of the Redeemer, North Vancouver (Closed?)
St John’s, Surrey (Closed or merged with St John’s New Westmin?)
Good Shepherd, Sioux Lookout (Closed?)
Church of the Messiah, Norwich (Closed?)
The Way, Wasaga Beach (Closed?)
Christ the Redeemer, Miramichi (Closed?)
(I may have some of the info incorrect but my point is that church closures, weak churches or mergers does not necessarily suggest that the entire denomination is unhealthy. Every denomination has churches that go through “bumpy patches”).
Yes, you can indeed have unhealthy situations in any denomination but in the matter of St. Matthew’s the property was legally STOLEN by the diocese solely because we could not agree with their apostate bishop, Michael Ingham, who does not believe in either the authority of Scripture or the uniqueness of Jesus Christ. The ACoC is definitely going the route of apostasy with the full blessing of Fred Hiltz. Many so-called bishops including Fred Hiltz should do the honourable thing and resign.
The church will grow and remain healthy with good solid leadership and that is proven by the real Saint Mattchew’s now meeting in another building.
Hi Frank
I was responding with John’s inferred comment about closures in general (unless he meant something else by listing those churches).
As far as St Matthew’s, I don’t know all of the details. But one thing I did notice is that the current pastor at St Matthews (Allen Doerksen) is a graduate of Regent College and used to work for the Vineyard church as well as YWAM. I would hardly call these liberal organizations.
EdAnglican,
Though I know nothing of Allen Doerksen, it would seem he has left his Bible believing roots behind if he has willingly accepted a job in the Diocese of New Westminster ministering in a building from which a Bible believing congregation has been ousted.
I pray that Rev Doerkson be the catalyst for a return to the Gospel. I hope it isn’t a case of new wine in old skins.
Lois – why do you disparage minsters of the Gospel of Jesus Christ about whom you obviously know nothing. What a shame.
Steve, I don’t believe I gratuitously disparaged Rev. Doerksen. What I did was question the relevance of his evangelical credentials listed by EdAnglican, for reasons I clearly stated above.
Regent College, Vineyard Church and YWAM are certainly not liberal at all.
Considering Rev. Doerksen has willingly moved to the Diocese of New Westminster specifically to take over the parish at the request of Michael Ingham, whose teachings would be well known by him, there is only two possible reasons for his taking on this post:-
1. He has been “converted” by the apostate Michael Ingham which is quite possible considering his endorsement of the new bishop who has clearly stated that Michael Ingham did not go far enough!! — or
2. He needed work and really did not care for whom he worked.
My assessment is the first reason.
Being a member of the diocese in which Doerksen previously worked, I would posit he chose the second option moreso over the first. But I guess you’ll have to ask him yourself for the best answer … .