Interview with David Short

IN THE EARLY 1990s, the Rev’d David Short came to Canada to study under J.I. Packer at Regent College in Vancouver. He and his wife Bronwyn planned to return to Australia with their two young sons after David received his masters. Instead, in 1993 he accepted the role of rector of St John’s Shaughnessy in Vancouver, following in the footsteps of the remarkable evangelical preacher, the Rev’d Harry Robinson. But 2002 proved to be a momentous year as the Diocese of New Westminster and the St John’s Shaughnessy congregation were at the epicentre of some tectonic shifts in the Anglican Communion. Their diocese, which was theologically liberal, became the first Anglican diocese in the world to formally authorize the blessing of same-sex unions

Posted Date : 2025-04-02 19:25:00

Photo: St. John’s Vancouver

IN THE EARLY 1990s, the Rev’d David Short came to Canada to study under J.I. Packer at Regent College in Vancouver. He and his wife Bronwyn planned to return to Australia with their two young sons after David received his masters. Instead, in 1993 he accepted the role of rector of St John’s Shaughnessy in Vancouver, following in the footsteps of the remarkable evangelical preacher, the Rev’d Harry Robinson. But 2002 proved to be a momentous year as the Diocese of New Westminster and the St John’s Shaughnessy congregation were at the epicentre of some tectonic shifts in the Anglican Communion. Their diocese, which was theologically liberal, became the first Anglican diocese in the world to formally authorize the blessing of same-sex unions.

When Bishop Michael Ingham announced he would proceed with such unbiblical blessings, Packer and Short, along with clergy and lay delegates f-rom several other churches, walked out of Synod and appealed for alternative episcopal oversight f-rom the Canadian House of Bishops. Ingham brought charges against Packer and Short and several other theologically orthodox clergy and congregations. Then began a decade of legal proceedings and ecclesiastical restructuring that involved both the national church and the Anglican Communion.

In 2008, Short’s congregation voted to leave the Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC) and with several others accept episcopal oversight under the Southern cone. They formed the Anglican Network in Canda, now known as the Anglican Diocese of Canada (ADC). “It was our view that we had not left anything,” said Short, “but it was in fact the diocese which had abandoned biblical historical orthodoxy.”

By court order, the congregation had to leave their church building (and the Shorts the rectory), but they found a new home and are now known simply as St John’s, Vancouver. The congregation is still one of the largest Anglican congregations in Canada and this year will celebrate its 100th anniversary. On May 31, Canon Short is retiring f-rom parish ministry but he plans to mentor other preachers. This seemed a good time to catch up with him so Sue Careless did.

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TAP: You were born in Tanzania where your parents were missionaries and grew up in Australia where your father became a bishop. This gave you an insider’s view on the challenges of being a priest, yet you still sought ordination. Why?

DS: I was pretty determined to do anything other than enter the ministry. When I taught the Bible in my youth group, my friends encouraged me saying that the Holy Spirit was doing things in them. I very much wanted to understand more of the faith, so I went to seminary. It was there God gave me clarity that I should enter ministry.

TAP: How different is Christianity in Australia f-rom in Canada?

DS: Our two countries have very different histories. The gospel came to Australia on convict ships through Anglican chaplains who were sponsored and paid for by the Clapham Sect (John Newton, William Wilberforce, Henry Venn etc). They were evangelical Anglicans and it was hard going. The roots of British evangelicalism were evident in the nineteenth century as the Anglican church was at the forefront of social action and care for the poor, and in the twentieth century sending many missionaries overseas. Australia is now multicultural and abrasively secular, and the churches have responded with enterprising evangelism.

TAP: What is particularly challenging about sharing the gospel in Vancouver?

DS: Vancouver has the lowest church-going population of any city in North America: only 3% attend regularly, and 52% have no religious affiliation. Yet British Columbians regard themselves as very spiritual, seekers even. Most imagine the Christian faith has nothing fresh or surprising to offer, and in a beautiful city like Vancouver, there is so much else to do. Increasing property prices are hard on young families, and the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity curriculum in schools aggressively challenges Christian norms. However, with the growing influx of immigrants and the vacuum left by the death of postmodernism there is increasing openness to the gospel. Like other churches in Vancouver, we are seeing Chinese immigrants and young men come to faith in Christ.

TAP: Harry Robinson and J.I. Packer were both huge mentors to you. Can you tell us a little about how each man influenced you?

DS: Harry was like a father to me. A gentle giant, entirely unafraid. His preaching was creative, fiery, always centred on Christ – a remarkable pastor whom God used widely.

Jim represented the evangelicalism I came f-rom. He was a churchman and would do whatever his Rector asked. During the crisis he was a great strength and encouragement. I think the lasting favourite memory for me is praying with Jim – his prayers were deep, humble, childlike and filled with a sense of heaven.

TAP: You have been a key leader in ADC but you never let your name stand for election as bishop. Why was that?

DS: I am convinced that the real work of God takes place in the parish, in the regular preaching, pastoring and praying with people across different generations. And the Lord has wired me more for preaching and training rather than the role of a bishop.

TAP: A good priest has to be both a preacher and a pastor. You are arguably one of the best preachers in Canada. And St John’s has enough clergy on staff that pastoral care can be done by others. Did you feel relieved that you could focus on preaching or do you feel every priest should be involved in some pastoring to keep them honest?

Preaching and pastoring must never be separated. We do not preach because we might have the gift of preaching, but out of love for Christ and love for people. It is true in a multi-staff church that pastoral care can be shared more widely. But without being directly involved in pastoral care, preaching becomes disconnected and unreal.

TAP: Ten years of struggle with the diocese and the national church resulted in a new Canadian denomination and a realignment across the Anglican Communion. But it took its toll on your health and you took a year-long medical leave. Do you think when you eventually came back that you had insights into pastoring you might not have had before?

DS: Yes. It is God’s kindness that he takes us aside for a season when we inflict self-wounds, not just to bind us up, but to enable us to trust him in a fresh way. It is difficult to learn that Christ’s grace is sufficient and that his power is made perfect in weakness without deeply feeling your own wounded weakness.

TAP: My guess is that you could never have gotten through all you did without your wife Bronwyn by your side. Yet she too suffered. How did you both pull through such dark times?

DS: It was the grace of God in the most painful circumstances. We also had the prayers and good counsel of many people.

TAP: With 74 congregations across the country, ADC is no longer a tiny lifeboat in a sea of theological liberalism. But it has not grown as quickly as it had hoped. Yet is growing too quickly also a danger? What advice or words of encouragement do you have for ADC?

DS: It’s great to belong to a diocese you are proud of. The Annual Synod gatherings are like homecoming each year. The finances are in good shape and the Lord is bringing pastors f-rom other denominations as well as a steady stream of Artizo grads becoming ordained. We are seeing new church plants in key areas. But most importantly, there is a desire to keep the main thing the main thing: to proclaim God’s word with clarity and grace, to lead and pastor in the footsteps of Jesus, to treasure the tradition we have and to pray with thanks to God for the future.

TAP: Many theologically orthodox clergy and laity have remained in the Anglican Church of Canada. What advice would you have for them?

DS: While I am thankful to be part of the new Anglican alignment, most of us are deeply saddened that it had to happen. The scandal of false teaching and decisions by leaders in the Anglican Church of Canada have torn the fabric of the Anglican Communion, and so all the effort toward realigning is a mixed blessing. Though it was abundantly clear for us, each person and each church have to make their own discernment around these issues. I am conscious that there are many who love the same Christ, and preach the same gospel who remain in the ACoC and many of us on both sides of the alignment pray for the time to come when we may be able to rejoin each other. Until then, I would urge those who remain in the ACoC, as I urge those in the ADC to keep the main thing the main thing, as I said earlier.

TAP: What do you wish you had known about ministry when you were first ordained? What do you think seminaries should be emphasizing?

DS: When I was inducted as Rector of St. John’s, Bishop Paul Barnett preached a three-point sermon: feed the flock, pastor the flock, guard the flock. I saw the vital need for the first two but not the third. However, the middle ten years of my time as Rector were taken up with precisely this, and if we are going to teach all that Jesus commanded us it will mean strengthening and guarding our congregations f-rom what is deceptive, untrue and harmful. Seminaries are strategic for the long-term health of the churches, and should teach the tools for pastors to be able to understand their faith and God’s word, and how to think theologically.

TAP: Besides praying for them, how can the laity best help their priest?

By being committed to their own growth and discipleship and taking responsibility for others in the congregation. I am very fortunate to have many in the congregation who have the gift of encouragement, and they say things that are specific, not general, which is helpful.

TAP: How will you coach other preachers – through online or seminary courses or in-person at conferences or privately one-on-one?

DS: I hope to remain engaged with the work of the ADC in training and mentoring clergy. I am also involved with the Timothy Trust* in leading pastor’s refreshers – on the basics of teaching. And Artizo** is a key training opportunity still.

TAP: You know that much teaching happens beyond the pulpit. Is that why you value catechesis and Bible studies?

DS: Richard Baxter saw remarkable fruit for his ministry in the seventeenth century by personal catechesis of every household in his parish. His view was that an hour spent personally teaching congregation members face-to-face was worth more than six sermons. Sitting in church and listening to one sermon a week cannot deal with all the questions, challenges and other voices in our lives. We need other contexts where we are able to pastor each other, pray for one another and go deeper into God’s Word together.

TAP: It was Anglican leaders f-rom the Global South who supported you the most during your ten-year struggle with the Anglican Church of Canada. The Anglican Communion is in the process of selecting a new Archbishop of Canterbury. Do you think GAFCON, which represents millions of biblically orthodox Anglicans worldwide, can have any influence on the election of the new Archbishop?

DS: The election of a new Archbishop of Canterbury is an affair internal to the Church of England. Most leaders of the Global South would agree that whatever moral authority the role of the Archbishop of Canterbury used to exercise is now a thing of the past. Since 2023 GAFCON does not recognize the Archbishop of Canterbury. The failure of all the so-called instruments of unity to deal with the doctrinal and ethical deviance, particularly in Canada and the United States, has exposed them as fundamentally insignificant. Repeated calls for repentance to the Archbishop of Canterbury have gone unanswered so the Primates of the Global South believe it is time for them to choose their own “first among equals.”

* Established in 2019, the Timothy Trust exists “to equip expository Bible teachers for the revitalization of the Canadian church.”

** Founded in 1998, the Artizo Institute has mentored and trained about 150 ministers, a large number of whom are in paid ministry. The curriculum provides an intensive hands-on 2-year apprenticeship program. Currently the Institute has apprentices in five training churches.

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