The fallout from the legal battle for control of Grace Methodist Church has expanded with a sacked Canadian minister suing the United Church of Canada.

The Canadian National Post reported on March 27 that Edward Wigglesworth is suing the UCC for Cda$3.5 million in damages and his reinstatement.

The court battle between much of Grace Methodist's congregation and the Synod of the Wesleyan Methodist Church culminated last year with a ruling by Puisne Judge Norma Wade Miller giving rights to hold services to lay preacher Willard Lightbourne.

The congregation split with the Synod in protest of affiliation with the UCC which supports the ordination of homosexuals and other liberal policies.

After three years of friction, a court ordered the groups to share the church premises, which failed with rival ministers arriving at the same time to hold services.

The factions then sued and counter-sued for control. The Synod have appealed Mrs. Wade-Miller's decision, but there has been no movement in the case.

Mr. Wigglesworth was dismissed in June 1997 as minister for congregations in Bashaw and Mirror, two small central Alberta towns about 120 kilometres south of Edmonton.

The lawsuit was filed in the Court of Queen's Bench in Calgary in March and alleges Mr. Wigglesworth was dismissed from his positions for advocating theological principles no longer favoured by the current UCC leadership.

He is a past chairman of the conservative National Alliance of Covenanting Congregations, and also opposes the UCC's ordination of practising homosexuals.

"The gay and lesbian and feminist movements have led the United Church to try to force its ministers and members to toe the line on these political issues,'' Mr. Wigglesworth said after his lawyer filed the writ.

He added: "We want the United Church to follow its own rules and regulations.'' Mr. Wigglesworth has claimed that despite the support of his congregation of 150, he was forced to undergo repeated psychiatric assessments before being fired.

Most of his former congregation are no longer attending the United Church.

The lawsuit alleges the church hierarchy broke established UCC doctrine without due process, and either negligently or maliciously breached their duties to the church and violated their employment contract with Mr.

Wigglesworth.

Mr. Wigglesworth is seeking $3.5 million Canadian in damages, his reinstatement, cessation of alleged defamation against him, and a public apology.

An order preventing the UCC from imposing liberal doctrine without due process is also being sought.

The Canadian Post article quotes Toronto lawyer Gordon Ross who acted for the Grace Methodist congregation as saying: "Our view is that the Bermuda case could serve as a precedent in Canada.'' Mr. Wigglesworth's lawyer, Jeffrey Rath, is quoted as saying conservative ministers, lay workers, and ordinary members of the United Church will watch the lawsuit "keenly'' and see it as a potential weapon against the liberal shift of the UCC.