Revenue Canada is "way out of line" says Bishop Henry

OTTAWA - Revenue Canada is “way out of line” and could be setting a worrisome precedent by revoking the charitable status of a church run by an activist lay pastor, said Calgary Bishop Fred Henry.

The Glory Christian Fellowship ran afoul of Revenue Canada due to the activities of its lay pastor, Artur Pawlowski. In December, the church received a letter from Dian Prodenov of Revenue Canada informing the fellowship its charitable status was revoked because “members of the Board of Directors espouse strong negative views about sensitive and controversial issues, which may also be viewed as political, such as abortion, homosexuality, divorce, etc.”

Revenue Canada had taken information off StreetChurch.ca, a web site for the entirely separate Street Church Ministries that Pawlowski, 37, also runs as part of his ministry to feed the poor and evangelize the homeless.