Bishop Michael Ingham has formally accepted the relinquishment of licenses from 11 clergy who have left the Anglican Church of Canada.

“I regret that you have found it necessary to leave the ministry of the Church,” he wrote to the nine priests and two deacons on May 1. “However, I accept your decision to relinquish my license and to leave all appointments under my jurisdiction.”

The Bishop wrote that he was sending a notice of abandonment of ordained ministry in the Anglican Church of Canada to other bishops in the Church and to diocesan clergy, as provided for in the Anglican Church of Canada’s Canons (bylaws).

The former Diocese of New Westminster clergy who relinquished licenses by letter dated April 21 were the Rev. David Short, the Rev. Dan Gifford, and the Rev. James I. Packer (honorary assistant), formerly licensed to St. John’s Shaughnessy, Vancouver; the Rev. Trevor Walters and the Rev. Mike Stewart, formerly of St. Matthew’s Abbotsford; the Rev. Simon Chin, formerly of St Matthias and St. Luke, Vancouver; the Rev. Stephen Leung, formerly of Good Shepherd, Vancouver.  

Also resigning from the bishop’s jurisdiction were the Rev. Archie Pell, once the priest at Christ Church, Hope; and the Rev. James Wagner, who once headed a diocesan mission in Abbotsford. Deacons relinquishing their licenses were the Rev. Richard Roberts and the Rev. Donald Gardner.

At that time he received letters from the clergy, Bishop Ingham said: “While it is always sad when anyone leaves the Anglican Church of Canada, I appreciate that they have made their position clear.” said the bishop.

“While people may leave parishes in our diocese, the parishes and mission of the diocese, and of the Anglican Church of Canada, continue,” he said.

He said that in order that the mission, work, and worship of the Anglican Church of Canada be continued, he will be consulting with diocesan leaders to consider the next appropriate steps.