The Diocese of New Westminster today (Friday) filed a brief with the Supreme Court of Canada, asking for an end to the lawsuit that involves four churches, including St. Matthew's parish in Abbotsford.
The diocese said it has asked the court to decline to hear the appeal initiated by the churches – members of the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) – so so it can stop spending money on lawyers and devote more resources to ministry.
The churches are challenging a B.C. Court of Appeal ruling which upheld a B.C. Supreme Court decision removing their right to use their church buildings and awarding the properties to the diocese.
The diocese belongs to the Anglican Church of Canada. The churches broke away from ACC to join ANiC, following a disagreement over same-sex blessings. ANiC believes the blessings are contrary to core Anglican doctrine.
The three other churches are all based in Vancouver.