December 01, 1999
December 1999 NACC News Briefs
Special Distribution News Briefs usually goes only to Regional Presidents and Newsletter Editors, but this particular issue is also being sent to our much valued Legal Defence Fund donors. This is partly to bring them up-to-date on how matters stand with Ted Wigglesworth, whose case is being maintained through their generous support, and partly to give them some idea of what other issues the NACC has before it at this time.Since my hope is that you wift receive this issue during the Christmas-New Years season, may I wish you all a truly blessed Christmas-tide and [contra Y2K concerns] a safe transition into the 2000's.
God bless -- Geoff Wilkins
489 E. Osborne Road
Northvancouver BC V7N1M4
Phone: [604] 987-9876
Fax: [604] 987-9835
E-mail: Geoff_Wilkins@telus.net
Please note the changed e-mall address.
WIGGLESWORTH STRUCK FROM UNITED CHURCH MINISTRY
Ted Wigglesworth. has just been notified by the Conference Executive that they have removed his name from the rolls of Coronation Presbytery and Alberta and Northwest Conference and that his name has been placed on the Discontinued Service List of the United Church of Canada effective immediately. By way of explanation, the Alberta Conference Secretary adds, "Placement on the Discontinued Service List means you may no longer present yourself as an ordained minister of the United Church of Canada or perform the functions of the of the ordained ministry of this denomination."
This means Ted has been fired. It now absolutely clear that his only hope of redress lies outside the church courts. Bob Blackburn prepared the following summary of Ted's struggle in the UCC before we got this latest sad news.
- GW
It is now nearly three years since the executive of Coronation Presbytery, in the Alberta and Northwest Conference of the United Church, dismissed the Rev. Ted Wigglesworfh from his Bashaw~Mirror pastoral charge They did so without warning, on one day's notice, without laying any charge or suggesting any misbehaviour, and without giving him any chance to object. Further, he was forbidden to seek a call anywhere in the United Church. At the time, Ted was Chairman of the National Alliance of Covenanting congregations.
He appealed to Alberta Conference that his dismissal was improper. His appeal was rejected by the Conference, and about a year ago it was again rejected by the Judical Committee of General Council, which ruled that a presbytery wishing to do so has the right to dismiss a minister without cause. Having been turned down by the Church courts, Ted then entered a civil suit in the Court of Queen's Bench in Alberta, charging improper dismissal and breach of contract. So far, no hearing date has been set.
This past summer Alberta Conference received a presbytery recommendation that Ted's name be placed on "The Discontinued Service List", which would permanently bar him from ministry in the United Church The Conference Executive appointed a panel to consider the Recommendation, while Ted applied to the civil court for an injunction to stop this, on the grounds that his last appeal [to General Council] was still pending. However, the judge there refused to hear the application at that time, declaring it to be an internal Church matter. So the panel went ahead with its hearing.
After receiving the panel's report this November, the Conference executive gave notice of motion to place Ted on The Discontinued Service List and said it would vote on this at its next meeting.
Meanwhile Ted has been without salary for 29 months. He and his wife have survived on her salary as Bashaw town manager and led's working on call as a "substitute teacher". That has been supplemented by what has come in from posting a "bed and breakfast" sign at their gate.
Forbidden to seek a call as a minister, for the past eighteen months Ted has been driving 300 miles three or four weekends a month, to serve as "weekend supply" at Lac La Biche United Church. During that time, the congregation has grown steadily [attendance has actually quadrupled] and financially it is in the black for the first time in six years.
However, St. Paul Presbytery has now been asked to examine the ministry situation at Lac La Biche, and it has announced its intention to send "a visitor". The congregation has voted to resist any pressure for Ted's termination as weekend supply. [Ordinarily a congregation may arrange its own weekend supply without any reference to presbytery.]
In the meantime, we remain optimistic that Ted will eventually receive justice through the civil courts. His suit against improper dismissal is based on the provisions of the United Church Manual in force when he was removed from his charge, as well as on the provisions of civil employment law.
Ted's suit alleging breach of contract could have far-reaching effect within the Church. The argument is that the vow he took on entering the ministry of the United Church -a vow based upon our commonly held faith as defined in the Basis of Union - constitutes a contract between him and the Church. He argues that he has kept the contract, but that the Church has abandoned it in a variety of ways. A parallel argument supported by expert testimony from the Rev Dr. Victor Shepherd, was successful last year in the Supreme Court of Bermuda, when it was ruled that the United Church, by abandoning its official principles had lost its claim to the property of a local congregation. If the same kind of argument carries in this case, the whole structure and operation of the United Church could be changed.
Three years ago the National Alliance of Covenanting Congregations established the Legal Defence Fund, to help cover the legal costs of ministers or congregations persecuted by the Church. Ted Wigglesworth is the first to receive help, and when his case is won we hope the damages awarded by the court will be sufficient to reimburse the fund fully thus allowing it to underwrite legal costs in future cases.
Ted himself receives no money from the Legal Defence Fund, but so far we have been able to pay nearly $100,000 toward the out-of-pocket expenses of the lawyers appearing on his behalf. [In point of fact, Ted's total legal fees to date would come to more than twice the above amount.] More help will be sorely needed when the civil suit in Alberta eventually comes to court.
The just resolution of Ted's situation is of critical importance to the well being of
UCC congregations and ministers everywhere, and every donation thus
far received has been deeply appreciated. However, the Fund is
once again severely depleted, and anyone who is able to help at this time
can send a cheque to:
NACC Legal Defence Fund,
489 East Osborne Road,
North Vancouver, BC V7N 1M4.
Tax receipts will be issued. Thank you for your support
Bob Blackburn, Chair
BRIEFLY...
- The 2000 Annual General Meeting of the Alliance will be held in Cranbrook, BC, on April 28-30. Inspirational preacher Gervis Black, now retired from his ministry at Metropolitan UC, London, will be the theme speaker at the associated rally. His theme will be "The World Is Not Enough".
- Please keep the good Alberta folk of Lac La Biche United Church in your prayers. Bob Blackburn's account above will suggest why they have reason to expect stormy weather over their championship of Ted Wiggleworth.
- Good reading for renewal-minded
United Church members:
a. Theological Digest and Outlook, published twice yearly. The subscription rate is $15. Write CHURCH ALIVE, 403 WILSON AVE., BURLINGTON ON L7L 2N2b. Concern, the quarterty newsletter for members of the Community of Concern To join, write BOX 79013, GARTH POSTAL OUTLET, HAMILTON ON L9C 7N6
c. Fellowship Maaazine, published quarterly. Those receiving the publication are asked to contribute $25 yearly. Write BOX 237, BARRIE ON L4M 4T3
We are puzzled about why our website disappeared from the Net. The server has not responded to our queries, but at least for the moment you can track us down at www.nluc.org/unitedenewal/ [Web Ed. - Our new home is now www.unitedrenewal.org ]
We periodically get requests for the NACC video "Keeping the Dream Alive". If regions [or congregations] have extra copies; Geoff Wilkins [see address page 1] will happily take thern off your hands.
OTHER NEWS
NEW UCC SERVICE BOOKSome months ago, the NACC received copies of worship materials to be adopted by General Council in 2000; They contained a good deal to cause Concern - the God-language, the erosion of the traditional concept of marriage, offensive new baptismal formulae, etc. NACC regions and congregations sent in their criticisms to the editorial team and to the Executive of General Council, which was overseeing the process. Concerns were also directed to the Judiciat Committee of General Council, asking whether such major changes to the liturgy of the church are proper without approval from a church-wide vote.
The baptismal formulae have probably generated the most heat: one of them reads,
We baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit - one God,Mother of us all. AMENThe pressure seems to have had some effect, with GC Executive reportedly shelving the baptismal formulae for the moment. However, there is no word that the other objectionable elements have been altered or removed.
MANUAL CHANGES
When NACC reps. met for this summer's AGM in Newfoundland, one item of discussion was what to do about some troubling changes in the new UCC Manual. Of particular worry were a series of new sections enabling a heavy- handed process of top-down control within the church. Using remarkably similar phrasing, these sections permit General Council unrestricted intervention in the lives of Conferences, Conferences in the lives of Presbyteries, and Presbyteries in the lives of Pastoral Charges. The language of particular interest to thelocal pastoral charges reads -
Where in the opinion of the Presbytery, the functioning of a Pastoral Charge is ineffectual or the Pastoral Charge fails to take appropriate action, . .. the Presbytery shall adopt such measures as it may deem necessary. [Manual 107, 337]
One wonders why, after 75 years without such language, the UCC would feel the need to introduce it now. One possibility: it might well make it easier to undertake other actions like that Ted Wigglesworth has been struggling against. Through "Petitions", several NACC congregations are formally requesting their Presbyteries' support for a church-wide vote on the matter.
It looks as if 2000 will be an interesting year in the United Church. Please hold these issues in your prayers.
Posted at December 1, 1999 04:10 PM