World-renowned evangelical theologian Dr JI Packer has given a stirring speech to the Anglican Network in Canada in which he spoke of “joy in my heart” but also declared “God is toughening us for mission”.

Dr Packer and the pastor of St John’s, Shaughnessy in Vancouver, the Rev David Short resigned from the Anglican Church in Canada last week and are now under the authority of a South American Anglican archbishop, the Most Rev Gregory Venables of the Southern Cone.

The pair voluntarily surrendered their licenses, one day before the official ‘deadline’ which the Bishop of New Westminster Michael Ingham had set.

Bishop Ingham had also publicised a letter in which he told Archbishop Venables that he was not welcome in Canada, because clergy protesting against unbiblical actions in the church were ‘adequately cared for pastorally’.

Dr Packer put the opposite view, quoted in the Vancouver Sun as saying they were being “starved out and worn down.”

Dr Packer spoke at the national conference of the Anglican Network in Canada, set up to care for theologically orthodox clergy and congregations who had been unable to remain in the theologically liberal Anglican Church in Canada.

In the face of what he called “poisonous liberalism” which was weakening and shrinking churches, Dr Packer said, ” In our call to mission, I suspect that over the next generations it is going to be exceedingly tough…”.

The English-born academic, who was recently named on Time Magazine’s list of the top 25 evangelicals in the world, was firm in his view that “.. in our Anglican Communion the principle of geographical exclusiveness for the diocese and its bishop has been breached in a way that cannot be restored.

“We are realigning within the province of Canada. It seems to me that in a situation where arguably, elected bishops become heretical, what is the divine answer to that, there must be possibility for realignment for the faithful where heresy, doctrinal and moral, is approved.”

The full text of the talk is here and also the sermon of Archbishop Venables as he ordained Short and Packer for ministry under the auspices of the Diocese of the Southern Cone.

Amid stern words, the 81-year-old preacher said that despite the troubles, he had a joyful heart.

“One cannot be seeking to live under the leading and power of the Holy Spirit without joy in one's heart” he said.

As for the future, the Oxford-educated theologian had no doubt of what was required.

“The situation we are now in, calls us to dwell deep in the Lord, to be strong in the Lord and the power of his might.”