Victoria parish votes to join the Anglican Network

http://www.anglicannetwork.ca/nr_030809.htm

[Anglican Network in Canada] 9 Mar 2009--The congregation of St Matthias Anglican Church, in Victoria, British Columbia voted decisively on Sunday, March 8, to come under the episcopal oversight of Bishop Donald Harvey, Moderator of the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC), and under the Primatial authority of Archbishop Gregory Venables of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone.

St Matthias, which is one of the largest Anglican parishes on Vancouver Island, is the 16th former Anglican Church of Canada parish and the third on Vancouver Island to join ANiC in the past 13 months. The official vote taken in the special vestry meeting today – which was called in careful compliance with diocesan canons (bylaws) – was 94.4 per cent in favour of realigning with ANiC, excluding spoiled ballots. Of the ballots cast, 170 were in favour and ten opposed. Seven ballots were spoilt.

In addition, a declaration with 32 signatures was received which expressed opposition to the meeting and the vote. Letters of support were received from 20 members who were unable to attend, but affirmed their support for realigning with ANiC.