Division within the Anglican Church of Canada over same-sex marriage has come to the fore in Newfoundland, with speculation mounting that a splinter organization is forming to appeal to conservative members.

On Sunday, Bishop Cyrus Pittman made a letter required reading at every Anglican church in eastern Newfoundland.

Some Anglican church leaders in eastern Newfoundland are bracing for upheaval.
Some Anglican church leaders in eastern Newfoundland are bracing for upheaval.

His letter advised Anglicans that a meeting that day involving a group called Anglican Essentials was "in no way, shape, or form … sponsored by me as your bishop or by the Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador."

The meeting brought out dozens of Anglicans, including retired bishop Donald Harvey, who declined an interview but is heavily involved in Anglican Essentials.

  • EXTERNAL: Anglican Essentials Canada

    • Charlie Masters
    Charlie Masters

    Formed in 1994, Anglican Essentials has become more vocal in recent years because of the debate over blessing same-sex unions.

    "In terms of affirming or celebrating or blessing something that the Bible says can't be blessed, we just can't go there," says Canon Charlie Masters, the national director of Anglican Essentials, who came to St. John's for the meeting.

    Anglican Essentials says it is not mobilizing to form a new church.

    However, sources tell CBC that half a dozen clergy within eastern Newfoundland are prepared to form a new church with a more conservative view. The sources said they feel it is not question of if there will be a new church, but when.

    St. John's rector Sandra Tilley attended the meeting, although she was not invited. She fears the group has a hidden agenda.

    Sandra Tilley

    Sandra Tilley

    "As an Anglican Church of Canada, through our structure and through our synods, we have spoken as the body of Christ and what we have said is that we accept the ordination of women and we accept the remarriage of divorced people," she says.

    "I guess it leaves me with the question: so is it the issue of homosexuality today, and the issue of women the next one, and divorced people [the] next one?"

    John Dinn, rector in St. Philip's, says he is bracing for upheaval.

    "If people need to leave, they need to leave," he says.

    "For those of us prepared to stay within the Anglican Church of Canada we'll have to regroup, reform, look at what it means for the long term," Dinn says.

    "Certainly, there'll be some financial loss. We'll have to regroup and come back stronger quite possibly."