Knowing and reckoning. The secret of holy living is in knowing (Rom. 6:6) that our old self was crucified with Christ. It is in knowing (verse 3) that baptism into Christ is baptism into his death and resurrection. It is in reckoning, intellectually realizing (verse 11), that in Christ we have died to sin and we live to God. We are to know these things, to meditate on them, to realize that they are true. Our minds are so to grasp the fact and the significance of our death and resurrection with Christ, that a return to the old life is unthinkable. A born-again Christian should no more think of going back to the old life than an adult to his childhood, a married man to his bachelorhood, or a discharged prisoner to his prison cell. --- John R.W. Stott

Dear Brothers and Sisters
www.virtueonline.org
August 8, 2014

The news of the week is a story of betrayal, bullying and behavior unbecoming that of an Episcopal bishop. The bishop in question is the Rt. Rev. Wendell Gibbs, Bishop of Michigan, who has been exposed by VOL as a bishop who is using his ecclesiastical power to fire, denounce and coerce priests and laity to fire anybody he thinks should go, regardless of the evidence.

He is not the first and he won’t be the last. He is merely one in a continuum of bishops that recently included the former Bishop of Pennsylvania, Charles E. Bennison.

A 400-page document, signed by an Ad Hoc Committee of 23 people including three priests, says that Bishop Gibbs mistreated clergy, laity and congregations leading to financial losses at the hands of the bishop with a significant number of congregations closing, while he offered no pastoral support and censored communication.

The hard-hitting indictment accuses the Bishop of the very bullying tactics the Episcopal Church stands firmly against (Resolution D022.) The group also charges the bishop of violating National and Diocesan Canons. According to the document, he has a history of dysfunctional management skills, and demonstrates a complete lack of interpersonal relations resulting in repeated injuries and usurpations. The direct object of these behaviors is the establishment of an “absolute tyranny” over the churches of the Michigan Diocese.

They also accuse Bishop Gibbs of mistreating clergy by refusing to communicate with other dioceses to allow clergy to move to another diocese in a timely manner; that he makes arbitrary and capricious dictates in removing clergy from a congregation without any attempt at reconciliation; and he exhibits bias with respect to his chosen favorites and improperly removing clergy and senior and junior wardens in a unilateral fashion without consulting the vestry of said congregation.

The group wants an intervention from the Diocesan Standing Committee and National Church placing Gibbs on a 6 month sabbatical in order to conduct a full psychological review leading to a dissolution between the bishop and the diocese.

The committee also wants a full investigation to determine the amount of restitution to clergy who have been inappropriately removed from their clerical positions.

You can read the full story here or in today’s digest. http://tinyurl.com/p54sy74

*****

Another milestone was reached and passed this week when VOL ran down the numbers of the growing Anglican Church in North America vs the Anglican Church of Canada. Lo and behold, we learned that since its inauguration in 2009, the ACNA has almost surpassed the ACoC in average Sunday attendance, the only true barometer of diocesan and parish health.

New figures obtained by VIRTUEONLINE reveal that over the past two years, the ACNA has steadily gained in numbers, while the ACoC, which has been on a steady decline since the beginning of the 21st Century, is now rapidly declining, even as it attempts to position itself as a major global player in talks on reconciliation in the Anglican Communion.

In 2001, the ACoC claimed an annual Average Sunday Attendance of 162,138. By 2007, the last year official figures could be obtained, the ASA had dropped to 141,827 -- a drop of 19,311.

The total number of Anglicans on parish rolls in 2007 was 545, 957. The total number of Anglican parishes was 1,676. The true barometer of health is, however, Average Sunday Attendance.

Based on attrition rates in 2007, including loss of membership to the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC), death, moving to other denominations and parish closures, now estimated to be some 300, Average Sunday Attendance, based on annual losses of about 3044, (between 2007 and 2014) the estimated attendance in 2014 in all churches in all provinces would, in fact, be closer to 100,000!

By contrast, the Anglican Church in North America, which officially birthed in St. Vincent’s Cathedral, Bedford, Texas, in 2009, under the authority of the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh, Robert Duncan, reveals a missionary Anglican denomination of some 983 congregations and a membership of 112,504 with an Average Principal Service Attendance (APSA) of 80,471. That compares to 700 known congregations in June of 2009. This is a 40 per cent growth in absolute numbers of congregations. 105 new congregations were reported (in the 2013 congregational/diocesan reports) as anticipated start-ups in 2014.

The figures for last year (2013) do not include some 230 congregations which did not get reports in, therefore these figures are actually higher.

You can read the full story here or in today’s digest: http://tinyurl.com/l2zbpo5

*****

For those watching closely and can perceive the differences, there is a parallel in the war taking place between Hamas and the Israelis in Gaza and what is taking place in the Anglican Communion.

It goes like this: “ceasefire” and talk of “reconciliation” are much the same thing.

Cease-fire is just the peace process stripped as naked as the fairy tale emperor. It works exactly the same way. Terrorists attack Israel. Israel fights back. The photographers snap staged photos of Israeli atrocities, complete with painstakingly posed brand new teddy bears. The diplomats show up and demand that Israel make concessions to the terrorists in exchange for not being shot at. The concessions are made and the terrorists go on shooting anyway. No new Middle East. Just Lucy in a Burka holding out an exploding football, as one commentator put it.

So it is, too, with talk of reconciliation. It is a process designed to wear down orthodox Anglicans into believing that you can square the circle over sodomy or gay marriage or women bishops, or feminist/womanist theology or whatever other crazy piece of theological, liturgical, ecclesiastical nonsense that some aging bishop with prostate problems invents to keep himself busy when he’s not heading to the nearest loo.

The deeper truth is that talk of reconciliation will only and, inevitably, lead to further widening in the Anglican Communion as the Global South dig their toes in against Western Anglican innovations and the imperial attitudes that go with it. Stay tuned.

*****

The Chairman of GAFCON and Archbishop of Kenya, the Most Rev. Eliud Wabukala said he wanted to join with other Christian leaders who have called for an immediate end to the fighting between Hamas and Israel, in which there has been so much unacceptable civilian suffering:

“I also strongly support the call of my brother Primate Mouneer Anis, Presiding Bishop of the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, for urgent action by the international community to stop terrorist attacks by ISIS aimed at the destruction of the ancient Christian communities of Iraq.

“Confronted with these tragedies, and with the destruction of a civilian airliner over the Ukraine still fresh in our minds along with many other examples of the human capacity for folly, hatred and evil, there comes the temptation to doubt the goodness of God’s providence in the world.

“However, this is not a new problem. As August begins, we mark the centenary of the outbreak of the first global war, the First World War. This catastrophe arose out of rivalry between supposedly Christian powers and many subsequently abandoned a form of Christianity which had tied itself too closely to late nineteenth century optimism about human progress and civilisation. Perhaps the empty churches in much of Europe are a continuing legacy of that deep spiritual wound.

“The lesson of history is that our hope must be built on something more solid than the morality of our day with an added religious flavour. As confessing Anglicans we cannot see Christianity as just the servant of a society’s moral programme. The gospel message is much richer than that. It is very tough, yet wonderfully tender. It draws us back to the cross of Jesus where we see so clearly the stark reality of human sin and the amazing grace of God’s love. Human wickedness is not denied, but is overcome as Jesus, the sinless Son of God, bears the weight of our sin that we might be forgiven and become sons and daughters of God.

“Here, the Anglican Church is very active in Kenyan society to promote justice and economic empowerment, to break down tribal prejudices and to establish a culture of integrity in public life, but the greatest service we can do is to proclaim the gospel of God’s saving love in Jesus Christ which is our motivation in all these areas. Next month, 18-21 September, All Saints’ Cathedral in Nairobi will be holding a ‘Divine Conference’ in the tradition of the East African Revival conventions and we will build on the encouragement we received as hosts of GAFCON 2013 to ‘make disciples of all nations’. We are expecting up to 2,000 people to attend and speakers will include GAFCON partners from the Church of Uganda and the Anglican Church of North America. Please pray for us.

“So as we work and pray continually for peace, let us not stumble when confronted with the appalling consequences of human sin, but recommit ourselves to the proclamation of the biblical gospel in the societies where God has set us. This alone has the power to conquer sin and by the resurrection of Jesus assures that the light of God’s love will never be quenched.”

*****

If you really think Islam is a religion of peace, consider this. Up to a quarter of Iraq's Christians are reported to be fleeing after Islamic militants seized the minority's biggest town. The Islamic State (IS) group captured Qaraqosh in Nineveh province overnight after the withdrawal of Kurdish forces. Hundreds have been slaughtered. IS controls parts of Iraq and Syria and says it has created an Islamic state.

Meanwhile the UN says some of the Yazidi community, another religious minority in the area targeted by IS, have been rescued.

About 50,000 Yazidis are thought to have been trapped in the mountains after fleeing the town of Sinjar.

ISIS says it has created an “Islamic State”. The result is tens of thousands of Christians dying of thirst, a Christian family of eight shot in the face because they would not convert, and Christians beheaded, mutilated, raped, stoned and crucified – just for being Christians.

Is this what an “Islamic State” is supposed to look like? If not, I expect we’ll soon be seeing intervention from the real Islamic States.

You can read all about this in today’s digest. If you don’t have time and want a see a realistic hard hitting view of the truth about Islam then watch this:

http://www.israellycool.com/2014/08/05/bolt-hits-the-nail-on-the-head/

*****

'Vicar Of Baghdad' Canon Andrew White is refusing to leave Iraq despite Christian persecution By ISIS.

Iraq's Christians have perhaps suffered more than any other group since the Islamic State formerly known as ISIS rose to power, but Christianity is in decline all over the Middle East. Just 5% of the region's population identifies as Christian, and that figure is dropping still.

The Christian residents of Mosul, Iraq, are under blatant attack, as the Islamic State distributed flyers in July giving them three options: convert to Islam, pay a fine, or be killed. Many of their abandoned homes now say in black lettering, "Property of the Islamic State."

Canon Andrew White, also known as the "Vicar of Baghdad," is the Chaplain of St George’s Anglican Church in Baghdad, Iraq. He estimates that his flock used to number around 6,000 people, but in the last decade over 1,200 have been killed, according to CNN's Arwa Damon.

"One of things that really hurt was when one of the Christians came and said, 'For the first time in 1,600 years, we had no church in Nineveh,'" he told Damon. White refuses to leave Baghdad, despite the danger, as St. George's is Iraq's last Anglican Church.

See their conversation in the video above. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/06/vicar-of-baghdad-andrew-white_n_5655426.html?utm_hp_ref=religion

*****

Uganda’s top Anglican leader criticized the constitutional court for striking down the country’s controversial anti-gay law on a technicality, saying the law is still needed to protect children and families from Western-imported homosexuality.

A five-judge panel on Aug. 1 declared the Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2014, null and void since it was passed by parliament without the required quorum. Dismissing the law on a technicality maintains the possibility that it could be revived in a different form.

The law punishes homosexual acts with life imprisonment. President Yoweri Museveni signed the measure in February, drawing harsh criticism from Western nations and cuts in foreign aid.

Anglican Archbishop Stanley Ntagali called the decision a disappointment for the Church of Uganda, religious leaders and many Ugandans.

“The ‘court of public opinion’ has clearly indicated its support for the Act, and we urge Parliament to consider voting again on the Bill with the proper quorum in place,” Ntagali said on Aug. 4.

*****

From a member of the legal team of The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth comes this news: “The U.S. Supreme Court has requested a response from the Diocese to TEC’s petition for writ of certiorari, filed on June 19. This is an unfortunate development due to the time and money it will take to respond. It does however give us a chance to set the record straight about the case, and I am still convinced that the odds are very small that the Court will want to review the case after reading our response,” said Bishop Jack Iker. The response is due August 27th. After that TEC parties will have 14 days to reply.”

*****

A Growing Movement To Spread Faith, Love — And Clean Laundry. The Laundry Love initiative raises money to help the poor pay for the cost of laundry.

People who have come to do laundry mingle with volunteers at a laundromat in East Hollywood, Calif. The Laundry Love initiative raises money to help the poor pay for the cost of laundry.

It's 7 p.m. on a weeknight at a strip mall in Huntington Beach, Calif., and people have been lined up for hours outside a laundromat here. They've been waiting for a chance to do their wash for free. As they file in, volunteers direct them to the machines and help them to supplies.

This is "Laundry Love" at work — a ministry that raises money to pay for detergent, dryer sheets and quarters for machines.

The idea for Laundry Love began at an Episcopal congregation in Ventura, Calif., and slowly but surely, it's spreading. Now, more than 70 churches, mosques and synagogues around the country have adopted the practice.

For Giovanna Cortez, Laundry Love has become a necessity. With three kids, she has lots of laundry — and she lost her job in March.

"I have to come because I have no money for laundry," Cortez says. She says she probably saved $50 last month by using the Laundry Love service.

Shannon Kassoff, one of the organizers of Laundry Love in Huntington Beach, says it's about more than just free laundry. This group was formed by people who became disillusioned with traditional church, and started taking over this laundromat once a month.

"This is our church," Kassoff says. "It is probably the best way to be involved in other people's lives, not just handing out food in a soup kitchen, or whatever. We get to know them very well, and that's probably the best part of this whole deal."

Practicing the Biblical commandment to serve your neighbor can seem daunting at times, says volunteer Shannon Kassoff — until you see the laundromat in action.

"This is probably the most meaningful thing that we do, because we're taking our love outside of the walls of church," Kassoff says. "Bringing it to the people and sharing what we think is an amazing experience, and that's just love."

*****

Therapy Equality Comes to Massachusetts, Gay Activists Getting Desperate, ran a headline this week.

In a February 16, 2014 article titled: “More States Likely to Ban Sexual Orientation Change Therapy.” Washington Times reporter Cheryl Wetzstein quoted anti-ex-gay extremist Wayne Besen as saying the following:

“The bans on sexual-orientation change efforts are likely to follow the path of marriage equality, with Maryland and Massachusetts the most likely states to approve bills this year.”

But that ban in Maryland didn’t happen. On July 31, 2014 the legislative session in Massachusetts ended for the year and with it died another bill that would ban therapy for minors with unwanted same-sex attractions (SSA) who seek help from licensed mental health practitioners to reduce and eliminate unwanted homosexual feelings.

H3907, titled “An Act relative to abusive practices to change sexual orientation and gender identity in minors” was authored and sponsored by openly gay Rep. Carl Sciortino, who this year announced that he had contracted HIV and subsequently left his seat in the legislature.

After legislation to ban therapy for minors in California and New Jersey became law in 2013, gay activists just assumed other states would follow. But thanks to the hard work of ex-gays and their allies, both locally and nationally, the #TherapyEquality campaign by Voice of the Voiceless, Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays, and Equality And Justice For All, has been working!

*****

The Anglican Church in North America’s new Archbishop Foley Beach has come out denouncing Christian persecution in Syria and Iraq and has issued a call for prayer and support for Christians in that region.

In a letter to his constituency he wrote, “If you have been paying attention to what is happening in the Middle East in recent months, you will note that those who are Christians are being brutally murdered, women and girls raped and forced into marriage, experiencing all kinds of torture, and hundreds of thousands have been forced out of their homes and countries. We are seeing communities who date to the 1st Century with their Christian presence being totally annihilated and killed. Historic churches, holy sites, and tombs are being completely destroyed – all in the name of Allah.

“In Syria many of our brothers and sisters are engulfed by an ongoing humanitarian crisis. Areas of Aleppo that are home to around 400,000 Christians have been besieged and surrounded by the rebels for months. Many Christians have become malnourished owing to shortages and skyrocketing prices of food and other essentials. Access to water, electricity and communications is very limited. Hundreds of thousands of other Syrians have fled to Jordan where they are living in poverty and confined in tent cities and cardboard homes.

“In Iraq hundreds of thousands of believers have fled their homes, reducing the Christian population to a quarter of the size it was in 1990. Many took refuge in Syria or Lebanon, while others are internally displaced in the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan, which once provided relative peace and stability. But Iraqi Christian refugees are no longer safe in Syria, as anti-Christian violence threatens all Christians in the country, while Iraqi Kurdistan is now also seeing escalating tensions; Christians also struggle to find work to support themselves there. Recent events in Mosul have seen the city’s Christian population totally exterminated by murder or the evacuation of Christians. Pictures of heads of Christians hanging from telephone wires, crucifixions, and other acts of brutality are heart-wrenching.”

Archbishop Beach urges Anglicans to support organizations like Barnabas Fund and others who are on the ground working to fight this persecution of our brothers and sisters.

*****

It’s a long hot summer made so by the weather and the heat of the news. There was no ‘silly season’ for news this year. For those not acquainted with this time, the “silly season” is the period lasting for a few summer months typified by the emergence of frivolous news stories in the media. Not so this year. The news on both the secular and religious front has been relentless. VOL is busier than ever. We are also not exempt from the summer blues when it comes to funding. We URGENTLY need your support to keep the one-of-a-kind stories coming into your email with weekly digests and, more importantly, make this information available to the wider Anglican Communion who cannot contribute to VOL’s global coverage of the Anglican world.

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In Christ,

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