In a move to protect its Christian beliefs, St. John’s Vancouver Anglican Church, the largest Anglican congregation in Canada, chose to walk away from its historic church property instead of compromising its orthodox Anglican heritage and faith. After many years of litigation with the local Diocese of New Westminster, the large congregation will continue with its ministries, preaching and teaching of the Gospel from a new area location. More on the congregation’s plight here. J.I. Packer, the prominent Canadian Christian theologian, author and public speaker, is a leading member of the congregation of St. John’s.
Archbishop Duncan offered the following prayer for St. John’s, as well as all congregations who are in the position of walking away from their physical houses of worship for the sake of protecting the faith:
“O God of unchangeable power and eternal light, look favorably upon your whole Church, and especially on the Clergy and People of St. John’s Shaughnessey in this hour of great witness. By the effectual working of your Providence carry out the plan of Salvation in tranquility. Let people everywhere see and know that things which had been cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by Him through whom all things were made, even Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord; to whom with You and the Holy Spirit be all Honor and Glory, forever and ever. Amen.”
Photo caption: St. John’s Shaughnessy Anglican Church in Vancouver, now the property of the Diocese of New Westminster. (Photo credit: The Vancouver Sun)
