Faith goes beyond reason, but rests on it. Knowledge is the ladder by which faith climbs higher, the springboard from which it leaps further. --- From "The Message of Ephesians" (The Bible Speaks Today)

"We have not resolved the differences among us, but have seen the deep need to maintain relationships, even in the face of significant disagreement and discomfort," --- Katharine Jefferts Schori

"Can two walk together except they be agreed?" --- Amos 3:3

Dear Brothers and Sisters
www.virtueonline.org
9/12/2008

There is an old fable of the scorpion and the frog. The scorpion wanted to cross the river and asked the frog if he would carry him on his back to get across to the other side. The frog replied that if he tried to help him the scorpion would surely try to kill him. The scorpion replied, "If I try to kill you, then I would die too, for you see I cannot swim!" The frog agreed to carry the scorpion. Half way across the river, the scorpion began to sting the frog. The frog protested, "You promised not to sting me now we shall both die. Why did you do it?" The scorpion shrugged, "I could not help myself. It is my nature."

This is precisely what is happening in The Episcopal Church. The scorpion of liberalism has been riding the frog of orthodoxy for more than 40 years. The frog has been vainly believing that its generosity in carrying the scorpion will lead him to the belief that he has been wrong on matters of faith and morals, and that he will reform, repent and return to the faith once delivered for all to the saints.

Alas it is has not happened. As the journey of orthodoxy in The Episcopal Church is nearing its end, the scorpion sting of revisionism has pierced the shell of orthodox Anglicanism again and again, leaving them wounded without hope of carrying the scorpion to any kind of repentance.

The analogy, of course, is inadequate. Orthodoxy never dies. Jesus said his Church would prevail against any evil it might face including the revisionist sting of a scorpion. In the end only the scorpion dies. Theological and ecclesiastical revisionism, like all the other isms of the last century - Socialism, Communism, Nazism, and the newer revised forms of revisionisms - materialism, Gnosticism, Donatism, Arianism, Pelagianism et al will, in due course die. The faith will remain. Thus it ever was.

As the new century is born, we are seeing the death of the old Episcopal order and the birth of something new. Birth, like death is painful and so it must be.

*****

In a move that could have serious implications for the Common Cause Partnership, an entire diocese of the ANGLICAN PROVINCE OF AMERICA with some 22 plus churches has fled that Anglican jurisdiction and allied itself with the Reformed Episcopal Church in America (REC).

"I pray that you will understand that we are not leaving the APA out of any anger but are entering into the REC so we can fulfill what we have been working on for the past ten years. By transferring to the REC we remain in intercommunion with each other and still brothers," wrote the Rt. Rev. Richard Boyce, OCD Bishop of the Diocese of the West (DOW/ APA.) You can read the full story in today's digest.

*****

In the DIOCESE OF FT. WORTH this week, the Executive Committee urged Bishop Jack Iker to seek affiliation with Province of Southern Cone as a member diocese, on a temporary, pastoral basis, until such time as an orthodox Province of the Anglican Communion can be established in North America. A news announcement from the diocese states the recommendation (with only one dissenting vote) will be presented to clergy and delegates at the upcoming 26th Annual Convention for consideration on Nov. 14 & 15, 2008. You can read the full story in today's digest.

*****

In the DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH this past week, lawyers for Calvary Episcopal Church asked the court to appoint a "monitor" to take over the financial affairs of the diocese, prior to the annual convention to vote on realignment.

In response, lawyers for the diocese requested the appointment of a special master to inventory diocesan property so that there can be a fair and equitable distribution of the property. The court stated that a special master would be appointed. The diocesan convention will go forward as planned.

Bishop Robert Duncan has released the following statement on the results of a hearing before Judge James that took place on September 8: "On Sept. 8, there was a hearing before Judge James in the Calvary litigation.

Calvary took the position that the Realignment vote will violate the 2005 Stipulation and that Calvary was entitled to the appointment of a "monitor" to take over the financial affairs of the Diocese. Calvary first initiated this request in a July 2008 filing.

Since July, we have documented with the Court the Diocese's strong opposition to Calvary's position, and the fact that Diocese has consistently complied with the Stipulation since it was signed, and will continue to comply with the Stipulation after the Realignment vote. The Diocese always has been, and remains committed to administering Diocesan assets for the beneficial use of all parishes and institutions of the Diocese, regardless of any parish's position on Realignment.

"The relief Calvary sought -- a court-appointed monitor who would effectively run the financial affairs of the Diocese -- was not what was done yesterday. To the contrary, we proposed the appointment of an independent third-party (called a "Special Master"), who will have no role regarding the operation of the Diocese.

Rather, the Special Master will review all Diocesan financial records and make recommendations to the Court regarding which property is covered by which provisions in the 2005 Stipulation (i.e., what is Diocesan property and what is parish property).

The appointment of a Special Master has no impact on whether TEC or its representatives can make any claim to any property. These issues will be addressed at a later date. We have clearly stated our position that the minority who oppose Realignment are not entitled to seize the assets of the Diocese.

If necessary, we will vigorously pursue this position in litigation. "It is important at this juncture, however, to be mindful of the destructive effect of the all-or-nothing approach to property disputes that has characterized so much of the church property litigation across the country. Judge James has voiced his concern that all members of our Church -- regardless of where they stand on Realignment -- should be permitted to worship as they deem appropriate.

Before the conclusion of yesterday's hearing, Judge James asked counsel for both parties to confirm that nothing about the appointment of a Special Master, or the establishment of an escrow account, would negatively impact any parish's ability to continue worshiping as that parish chooses to worship. "We think appointment of the Special Master is an excellent way to begin the process of pursuing a fair and equitable distribution of property.

To repeat, this process does not determine how property will be divided, it simply identifies the property at issue so the Court has a clear picture of what property is in dispute. We will continue to seek the Court's assistance to work through these issues to maximize our opportunity to avoid a destructive (and expensive) all-or-nothing battle."

*****

Katharine Jefferts Schori lifted the inhibition of the retired BISHOP OF QUINCY, the Rt. Rev. Edward MacBurney this week because he allegedly apologized for invading San Diego Bishop Don Mathes' Diocese to confirm a number of communicants. The Episcopal News Service said he apologized. In a phone call to MacBurney, he told VOL, "I have no regret for my actions, I only apologized for upsetting Bishop Mathes". You can read the full story in today's digest.

*****

The Archbishop of the ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA Fred Hiltz wants a face-to-face meeting with Southern Cone Archbishop Greg Venables to talk about border-crossing. Hiltz has asked the Archbishop of Canterbury to facilitate a meeting to include TEC Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori and the Brazilian Primate so they can all "hear one another". Forget it, says Venables. Been there, done that. No future in any more "listening processes" or "gracious conversation" because it always turns out the same way. When asked what he would say in that meeting, Hiltz said. "Let me try and hear why it is you feel you need to continue to work to intervene in the life of the Anglican Church of Canada." Well gosh darn, how about they have different understandings of the Christian religion, two different views on what is historic Anglicanism or how human beings should behave sexually, and if the gospel of God's grace is really necessary to free people from the bondage of sin! You can read the full story in today's digest.

*****

The next TEC GENERAL CONVENTION in 2009 will have as its convention logo the symbol UBUNTU, with swirling dancing figures, coupled with the words "I in you and you in me". Ubuntu (pronounced oo-boon-too), a Zulu or Xhosa word describes humaneness, caring, sharing, and being in harmony with all of creation. There's a certain amount of irony attached to this, as the concept of Indaba (for bishops) was used to describe the alleged awesome wonder, love and unity that was supposed to make everyone feel clubby in small groups (of 40) which kept the Lambeth Conference together in Canterbury. Expanding on that theme, TEC has taken up the whole idea of Ubuntu at a time when the church is coming apart at the seams, the announcement of a new orthodox North American Anglican province, and with at least five supporting African Anglican plants on US soil! We'll have to wait and see how much Ubuntu is needed to keep it altogether. Apparently all that "humanness, caring, sharing and being in harmony with all of creation" hasn't filtered down to David Booth Beers who is being paid millions of dollars to litigate against any parish or diocese daring to suggest that the empress (Jefferts Schori) has no theological clothes and TEC is little more than a pansexual cult! Those dancing figures expressing Ubuntu might just be symbolic of a church dancing its way to a Christless eternity.

*****

Bishop Jerry Lamb, the fly-in bishop of the remnant EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF SAN JOAQUIN got his miter smacked when he was told by the local Roman Catholic bishop that he and his group of dissidents could not hold their diocesan convention at St. Joseph's Catholic chapel at the Mercy Hospital Annex here in Merced. (Yes, they can all squeeze into something that small). The RC nun was going to allow the dissidents, those wanting to remain in the Episcopal Church under the oversight of the intruded pseudo-bishop Lamb, (a former Catholic priest, by the way), to use the Catholic chapel for their sectarian assembly. The Catholic bishop vetoed down the idea. An Orthodox congregation currently uses the chapel for their Divine Liturgy. Rather than share the facility with these Episcopagans, they had begun to seek an alternative location. Now they won't have to. Sanity has prevailed. Fr. David is planning an Akathist of Thanksgiving for their deliverance.

*****

The litigation continues despite pleas by the Archbishop of Canterbury that they cease. New York's top court is set to hear arguments over whether the Episcopal DIOCESE OF ROCHESTER owns the property of the former All Saints Episcopal Church, which quit supporting the diocese and the Episcopal Church of the USA after the 2003 ordination of a gay bishop in New Hampshire. In November 2005, a majority of delegates, at a Rochester diocesan convention, voted to end their relationship with All Saints in suburban Irondequoit. The diocese has since sold the building to another denomination. The All Saints congregation has been meeting at a Lutheran church in Rochester. Arguments were scheduled Tuesday at the Court of Appeals. Trial and midlevel appeals courts sided with the diocese, concluding it was entitled to the property under rules adopted by the National Church in 1979. Ah, the sounds of inclusivity, love and justice.

*****

Rectors of some of the largest parishes in the Episcopal Church will meet with Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori for a private reception and dinner. Apparently there was no agenda. One "lucky" rector was the Rev. Steve Wood, rector of St. Andrew's, Mt Pleasant, SC (a conservative diocese). Oddly enough, my own rector of a parish outside Philadelphia of over 800 faithful never got the call, which makes one wonder what the definition of "large" is. Outlined was an afternoon of discussion over issues that emerged from the Lambeth Conference, said Wood. Is this a post Lambeth Indaba group? It would surprise no one if the agenda included the Lambeth Conference and money. Neva Rae Fox, program officer for public affairs at the Episcopal Church Center, said she did not know how many rectors had been invited or how many had attended since it was meant to be a private gathering. "There is no 'agenda' for the meeting," she said. "I believe the Presiding Bishop wanted to reach out as she has done with many groups and just talk." Lots of talk, of course, and a gentle reminder that income to the national church is slipping and don't think for a moment about leaving TEC or David Booth Beers will be all over you. Would it surprise anyone to learn that the main course was fried squid with a wedge of lemon? Appropriate.

*****

The third COMMON CAUSE PARTNERS-North Texas gathering is scheduled for Sunday, September 21 beginning at 5:00 p.m. at St. Vincent's Cathedral in Bedford, Texas. The evening will begin with Evensong at 5:00 p.m., and will feature speakers Bishops Jack Leo Iker, Diocese of Fort Worth, and Bishop Ray Sutton, Reformed Episcopal Church, and Bill Atwood Bishop Suffragan of the Anglican Church of Kenya in the USA and a member of the International Conference of the Anglican Communion Network. The bishops will offer their reflections and guidance on GAFCON, the Lambeth Conference, and the future of Anglicanism, followed by a Q&A session. St. Vincent's Cathedral is located at 1300 Forest Ridge Drive Bedford, TX 76022. (For any additional updates about this event, please see the CCP-NTX message board at http://ccpntx.forumco.com Registration is required.)

*****

Are we seeing a change of heart and mind within the academic ranks of the ANGLICAN COMMUNION INSTITUTE? This group, up until now, has been very supportive of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Instruments of Unity to hold the communion together, but in an article "Truthful Language and Orderly Separation" by Dr. Ephraim Radner, there would appear to be a cooling off and recognition that perhaps things might be over. The following two paragraphs speak volumes.

"The Anglican Communion is currently pursuing a number of activities in response to the acrimonious struggle over sexual teaching and discipline within our churches. These activities have been encouraged by the Communion's leadership, including at the recent Lambeth Conference.

I have, to various degrees, been a supporter of these activities, not least because I have trusted those who have promoted these means towards ecclesial healing. I am increasingly skeptical, however, that the way these activities have been framed - descriptively and practically - represents the true nature of our disputes...

"The alternatives of doing nothing or of positively encouraging the current of spontaneous disintegration and dissolution continue to move in the same direction: profound Christian incoherence. And in Scriptural language this is described in terms of 'double-mindedness', as James puts it, or finally, of the duplicity that comes from the failure to say 'yes, yes' and 'no, no'. It is a failure, as Jesus says, that 'comes from the evil one' (Matthew 5:37)."

*****

The outrage continues. EPISCOPAL BISHOPS IN CALIFORNIA have come out in support of homosexual "Marriage". The California Episcopal Church's unified effort to hoist the banner of homosexual "rights" further marks the dissolution of the worldwide Anglican Communion. All six bishops in the state will officially protest the traditional marriage amendment, according to the Sacramento Bee. The Episcopal bishops are taking up arms against Proposition 8, an amendment that would change the California constitution to preserve the integrity of marriage as being between one man and one woman. In the process, the U.S. branch of the Anglican Communion is clashing with a huge interfaith coalition, including Christians, Jews, Muslims, Mormons, Hindus and Sikhs, which is simultaneously launching a campaign to promote the proposition.

Voters will have an opportunity on the 2008 California General Election ballot in November to support Proposition 8, which will reinforce the wishes of 61% of California voters who supported true marriage in 2000. The California State Supreme Court overturned the popular vote earlier this year by legalizing same-sex "marriage," outraging Californians who complained that a handful of activist judges managed to hijack the democratic process.

The Right Rev. Marc Handley Andrus, Episcopal Bishop of California, held a press conference at San Francisco's Grace Cathedral "calling for compassion, love and equal protections" for homosexual couples. Andrus will be joined by the Right Rev. Steven Charleston, Assisting Bishop of California, J. Jon Bruno, Bishop of Los Angeles, the Right Rev. Barry Beisner, Episcopal Bishop of Northern California, as well as other California Episcopal bishops, clerics and laypeople. Rt. Rev. Charleston, when asked whether he would yield to a call from the leaders of the worldwide Anglican Communion to return to traditional marriage values, said that he "would accept schism" rather than abandon the homosexual agenda.

Wrote a priest from Grass Valley to VOL, "It's a scandal that the bishops in California are united in public opposition to this Proposition. The teaching of this Church, as clearly stated in the Book of Common Prayer marriage service and Catechism (BCP p. 861) is that marriage is between a man and woman. Can't we find 10 bishops who will bring a presentment against these California bishops in accordance with Title IV Canon 1 Sec 1 (c), which lists as an offense '"holding and teaching publicly or privately, and advisedly, any doctrine contrary to that held by this Church.'"

When Virtueonline called the office of the ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF SAN JOAQUIN, we were told that Bishop John-David Schofield had called the local ABC affiliate volunteering to speak for Proposition 8, and against the position of the TEC Bishops. When VOL obtains that broadcast, we will float it at the website. A Diocesan spokesman said Bishop John-David definitely wants to be vocal as a pro-traditional marriage person.

*****

From Ruth Gledhill of the London Times comes word that Jeffrey John, the partnered homosexual Dean of St. Alban's, is not in the running to be the next BISHOP OF BANGOR, WALES. The electors for the new bishop had a preliminary meeting to choose a new bishop. Despite a large lobby for Jeffrey John within the diocese, they decided he would not be on the short list "in order not to cause further difficulties within the Anglican Communion." So it looks as if Dean Jeffrey will not be moving to Wales after all. Some see this as a ray of sanity. Others see it as just another delay on the road to the next openly homogenital Anglican bishop after Gene Robinson.

*****

British pop singer SIR CLIFF RICHARD, famously unbetrothed after six decades in show business, claims same-sex marriages are a modern example of how the world has moved on. "I think the Church must come round and see people as they are now," he says. "Gone are the days when we assumed loving relationships would be solely between men and women." The singer, who is a well-known pin-up for the Christian faith, has long been dogged by speculation about his sexuality. In his book, he says he is sick of such rumors and defends homosexuality as a way of life. Richard calls on the church to bless gay marriage.

*****

The wife of the Anglican Primate of the CHURCH OF NIGERIA, Susan Akinola called on parents all over the world to be more committed in the up-bringing of their children. Speaking as president of the Anglican Communion Women's Conference in Abuja, Akinola implored parents, especially women, to always cover the vital portions of their bodies and teach their children, especially the girls to do the same. She lamented the way young ladies in higher institutions of learning dress half naked and walk on streets without shame, a situation she described as "improper up-bringing." Akinola said women should speak up when their fundamental human rights are being violated and should avail themselves of existing avenues for redress. She called on Christian women to practice the virtuous qualities exhibited by Ruth in the Bible, saying that Ruth was humble, chaste, loving and above all industrious. She said parents should allow their children to participate in Christian activities that could empower them to face the challenges of adulthood while encouraging families to eat right in order to avoid hypertension, diabetes and cancer. Akinola further commended the leadership of President Umaru Yar'Adua and called on Nigerians to always pray for him.

*****

The PERSECUTION of Christians in India continues. The Video of Violence in Orissa shows the gruesome violence and burnings in that state. Christians fear this will spread across India. View here www.ibnlive.com/videos/73064/30-minutes-orissa-asks-your-god-or-mine.html

*****

Former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. George Carey joined a coalition of public figures calling for a limit on migrant numbers settling in the UK. The all-party called for 20,000-a-year cap on migrants arriving in UK. The group of MPs and peers, including Carey, want a policy of "balanced migration".

*****

Tis the Silly Season for news (starting in mid-to late summer) in the United States, usually typified by the emergence of frivolous news stories in the media. Not so in The Episcopal Church where the crisis is ongoing with no let up in sight. Upcoming diocesan conventions in October and November will see as many as three dioceses move to leave TEC because of its apostate, post-Christian theology and morality. VOL will attend each one to bring you on the spot stories.

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