March 26, 1999
Suit Against the United Church
PRESS RELEASE
March 26, 1999
A multi-million dollar lawsuit was filed in Calgary today naming Bill Phipps, the Moderator of the United Church of Canada, the United Church of Canada, and others. The lawsuit alleges in part that Bill Phipps and other members of the United Church hierarchy took part in a conspiracy to drive Ted Wigglesworth, the former head of the National Alliance of Covenanting Congregations, a conservative reform group within the United Church of Canada, from Ministry within the United Church.
The suit further alleges in part that Bill Phipps and the other named Defendants were motivated by profound theological differences, including Bill Phipp’s denial of the full divinity of Jesus Christ, the devaluation of the role of the Holy Trinity, and the controversial ordination of practising homosexuals as Ministers in the United Church of Canada.
A lawsuit of similar nature in Bermuda resulted in property being removed from the control of the United Church of Canada further to the Bermuda court finding that such theological divergences by the United Church of Canada amounted to a breach of trust.
If successful, the lawsuit could lead to hundreds of similar lawsuits across the country and the eventual stripping of all church property from the control of the current hierarchy of the United Church of Canada in favour of the conservative Christians remaining within the church.
Ted Wigglesworth, the Plaintiff, stated, "Canadians will finally understand the level of abuse that United Church clergy have suffered at the hands of those in the United Church who have steered the Church away from traditional values".
All those wishing to support Ted Wiggleworth can send donations to the National Alliance of Covenanting Congregations, c/o Geoff Wilkins, Secretary-Treasurer, 489 East Osborne Road, North Vancouver, BC V7N 1M4, for payment into the account of the Legal Defence Fund.
For further information, contact Jeffrey R.W. Rath, Rath and Company, Barristers & Solicitors, Box 44, Site 8, R.R. 1, Priddis, Alberta T0L 1W0 [phone 403-931-4047].
Posted at March 26, 1999 04:05 PM