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'The doctrine of the Church is grounded in the Holy Scriptures and in such teachings of the ancient Fathers and Councils of the Church as are agreeable to the said Scriptures. In particular, such doctrine is to be found in the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, the Book of Common Prayer and the Ordinal.' –-- From Michael Ovey lecture at NEAC, November 2008
Baptism and regeneration. Let me cut the Gordian knot and declare that baptism and regeneration are not the same thing, that the one neither conveys nor secures the other, that there are baptized people who are not spiritually regenerate, and also, although this is (to say the least) irregular, that there are some regenerate people who are not baptized. Let me emphasize, further, that neither Bible nor Prayer Book teaches that baptism effects regeneration.
The expressions in the baptism service which have given rise to this view (for example 'seeing now ... that this child/person is regenerate') can be properly interpreted only in the light of the whole service. To isolate a text from its context is as irresponsible in the Prayer Book as it is in the Bible. We need to ask ourselves: who is this person who is declared regenerate? It is not just somebody who has been baptized in the name of the Trinity, but somebody who, before being baptized, has publicly professed his repentance, faith and submission, either with his own mouth or (in the case of a child) through the lips of his sponsors.
Whether the reformers were right to represent a child as thus speaking is another matter; the point here is that the only children baptized in the Church of England, and the only adults, are "professed believers". And this is why they are declared regenerate. They are regenerate in the same sense in which they are penitent believers in Christ. This is the hypothetical language which is proper to the administration of sacraments, and which the New Testament itself uses when it attributes to baptism what it elsewhere attributes to grace and faith. --- From "Our Guilty Silence" by John R.W. Stott
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
11/22/2008
Before this year ends, history will be made in North American Anglicanism.
On December 3, 2008, in Wheaton, Illinois, former Episcopalians will unveil a new Anglican Church Constitution and formally announce a new Anglican Church in North America. The new church constitution will unite some 100,000 disaffected former Episcopalians who now adhere to various conservative Anglican archbishops abroad. This Anglican alternative to the U.S. Episcopal Church will be led by former Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan, the leader of one of four dioceses that recently seceded from The Episcopal Church because of differences over Biblical authority, interpretation and pansexuality. For these Anglicans, the final straw was the consecration of an openly homogenital Episcopal bishop in 2003 to head the Diocese of New Hampshire, alienating Evangelicals and Anglo-Catholics from traditionalists within TEC and from orthodox Anglicans abroad.
It will be a new day for Anglicanism on these shores. The Episcopal Church's Presiding Bishop Mrs. Katharine Jefferts Schori is already meeting it with hostility.
She is arguing that unless the Archbishop of Canterbury and the fourth Instrument of Unity, the Anglican Consultative Council recognize it, it will be meaningless. She argues further that the majority of the Primates will also not go for it. She may be right. The Archbishop of Canterbury himself will say that there can only be one legitimate province in any one country and therefore won't recognize it. That is his choice. Schori should know that the Primates who will recognize this new Anglican province represent the vast majority of church-going Anglicans in the world today. That is something she cannot refute. One day perhaps in the not too distant future, all this will change yet again.
Not all orthodox Episcopalians agree with the announcement of a new orthodox province.
The Rev. Dr. Ephraim Radner, a priest formerly in the Diocese of Colorado and now teaching at Wycliffe College, Toronto, raises some very pertinent ecclesiological and theological objections to this announcement. "We can hope that slowly but surely the wisdom of a serious, wholehearted affirmation of the classic Anglican Formularies as constitutive of faithful Anglicanism will commend itself to all in the new province and to all in the wider Communion as well," writes Radner. You can read his take in today's digest.
How things will play out in the wider Communion remains to be seen, according to AMiA Bishop John H. Rodgers Jr. "That is quite a stretch, but why not hope for and work for the best. If this is to happen, the Jerusalem Declaration and all its adherents will have a significant role to play. We thank him (Radner) for the analysis, while rejecting his conclusion; we believe that the new province will be decidedly good for all in the long run."
See stories by Radner and Dr. Philip Turner in today's digest.
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The ANGLICAN NETWORK IN CANADA held their inaugural synod held November 13-15, 2008, in Burlington, Ontario. They unanimously endorsed the Jerusalem Declaration and the tenets of orthodoxy underpinning our Anglican identity. They also requested the Board of Directors of the Anglican Network in Canada to obtain membership in the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans for this Church. Finally, they expressed their gratitude to the GAFCON Primates for their support, encouragement, sacrificial labor and fellowship in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Synod also affirmed the Jerusalem Declaration of the Global Anglican Future Conference and expressed its gratitude for the ongoing work of the Common Cause Partnership in the development of a North American Province. They encouraged the Moderator and the Board to work for the implementation of this Province at the earliest possible date.
Full information on the synod, including an address by Dr J I Packer, is available on their website: http://anglicannetwork.ca/first_things_first_1108.htm
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IN CANADA, Archbishop Fred Hiltz blasted the possibility of a new Anglican province on his soil and berated those who cross boundaries. His misinformation and spin demanded a response. I have written one. You can read it here or in today's digest. http://tinyurl.com/6xtt3o
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On November 19, WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL announced dramatic cuts to its budget, programs and staff as the faltering economy continues to hit religious institutions nationwide. The landmark cathedral, which welcomes nearly 700,000 visitors a year and has hosted the state funerals of three presidents, will slash its budget by 40 percent next year, from $24 million to $14.4 million.
More than 40 staffers will be laid off, retail operations at the cathedral's gift shop will be outsourced and the Cathedral College's residential course offerings will cease as of March 31, 2009, according to the cathedral.
"Like many other institutions around the world," said the Very Rev. Samuel Lloyd III, the cathedral's dean, "Washington National Cathedral has been affected by the serious downturn in the financial market."
The cathedral's endowment was valued at $66 million last spring, but has since declined by about 25 percent, according to Michael Hill, executive director for external relations. In May, the cathedral cut $3.5 million from its budget by firing 33 employees and closing its greenhouse.
The huge Gothic cathedral is not supported financially by the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, the national Episcopal Church or the federal government. The endowment, private donations and revenue from events fund its budget, according to Hill.
This cathedral is going the way of all flesh because it has no gospel to proclaim. No message, no future. A large number of Episcopal cathedrals across the country are in trouble because old time Episcopalians are dying off, endowment funds are drying up and no new generations are following because they are not hearing anything that distinguishes the message of liberal deans from the local newspaper. Ultimately, sodomy will not sell.
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In the DIOCESE OF NEW YORK this week at its diocesan convention, Bishop Mark Sisk called for "moderate Christians to refuse any longer to allow those with 'strident and often simplistic' views to speak on their behalf," as a result delegates voted overwhelmingly in favor of a resolution calling on the New York State Legislature and the governor to enact homosexual marriage.
"When the delegates were considering an earlier resolution, the bishop said that what we were doing was attempting to discern the will of the Holy Spirit through the messy process of democracy," said Tina Donovan, the bishop's deputy for public affairs, "We think that that was precisely what we did with this vote."
"At a time when some religious groups are actively fighting to block same-sex couples from marrying, the Episcopal Diocese of New York is standing up for equality," said Stephen McFadden, chair of the diocesan committee on LGBT concerns, who proposed the resolution. The diocesan resolution also called on Congress and the President to support "full civil rights for all American citizens irrespective of sexual orientation."
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Both sides in California's PROPOSITION 8 issue are planning a battle in 2010. Not content with losing, opponents are fighting tooth and nail to have the vote overturned. The homosexual-marriage ban issue could be back on the ballot in two years. Regardless, backers and foes are organizing supporters now, waging a fierce public relations campaign and considering their next moves. Instead of settling the question of homosexual marriage in California, the election merely ushered in a new, and in many cases more heated, phase of the campaign, with both sides looking ahead to 2010, when the matter could be back on the ballot.
"A great number" of supporters of Proposition 8 "are being persecuted . . . mercilessly," said Andrew Pugno, lawyer for the Protect Marriage committee. He called on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to "help protect people to exercise their rights."
"Yes on 8 leaders" also pointed to rallies and vandalism outside Mormon churches and temples in California as well as an instance last week in which white powder was sent to the Mormon Temple in Los Angeles and another to the temple in Salt Lake City. Several people in the Mormon Church, whose members contributed millions to help pass Proposition 8, say they have been targeted.
"This is very frightening, to have them come back here to the back of my house . . . with scissors to boot," said Eileen Olson, 80, who said vandals took her "Yes on 8" signs from her front yard and destroyed them -- four times.
The Rev. Susan Russell, an Episcopal priest at All Saints Church in Pasadena and a lesbian, said that supporters on both sides have engaged in some "unfortunate acts" but that the "Yes on 8" side is trying to exploit those in a campaign of "disinformation." The "No on 8" campaign released its own list of incidents of harassment and violence against its supporters.
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It comes as no surprise that Katharine Jefferts Schori, TEC's Presiding Bishop, inhibited Bishop Jack Iker of the DIOCESE OF FT. WORTH this week. She sent a letter to the diocese and HOB with the signatures of three senior Episcopal bishops who stepped up to the plate and accused Bishop Iker of abandoning the Communion of the Church. They included bishops Leo Frade of Southeast Florida, Peter J. Lee of Virginia and Don A. Wimberly of Texas.
You can see the full letter at this link: http://wildernessgarden.blogspot.com/2008/11/jack-iker-is-inhibited.html
In another move that will undoubtedly be seen as controversial, SEWANEE, the University of the South, Chancellor the Rt. Rev. Henry Parsley said he was "concerned" by the news that a majority of the delegates to the 26th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Fort Worth, one of the 28 owning dioceses of the University of the South, voted to withdraw from the Episcopal Church and to align with the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone. "We will be communicating with our elected trustees from Ft. Worth and with the continuing members of the Episcopal Church there as we work to discern the implications of this action. The Board of Trustees will work through its committee structure to respond to these issues, most likely by the Board's annual meeting in October 2009."
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WESTERN KANSAS BISHOP BLASTS EPISCOPAL PRESIDING BISHOP. The evangelical Bishop of Western Kansas, the Rt. Rev. James M. Adams, Jr., blasted Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori over her theology, abuse of the Church's Canons, and what she calls "dissidents" and "trouble makers."
In a fiery letter to the editor of "The Living Church", (Nov. 23), Bishop Adams excoriates Jefferts Schori and cynically says, "So the acceptance begins" (does it?). Adams quotes the Presiding Bishop saying "The worst is over." (Really.) Adams mimics Jefferts Schori, "We have a diverse church and all are welcome with any theological perspective you wish. Believe Jesus is the savior of the world or just for the ones who choose to believe he is the truth? It matters not. What is an indefinite article among friends? 'The' or 'a,' it really does not matter. Jesus can be both at the same time and you can choose what to believe." You can read the full story in today's digest.
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TWO WISCONSIN DIOCESES could "juncture" to form a new diocese in order to do mission better and to alleviate the financial stress now being felt by one of the dioceses that is presently without a bishop, VOL revealed this week. The dioceses of Eau Claire and Fond du Lac are in talks about their future. "It is not a merger, it is not one diocese taking over from another, it would be a new diocese," the Rt. Rev. Russell Jacobus, Bishop of Fond du Lac, told VirtueOnline. The Diocese of Eau Claire is presently without a bishop. You can read the full story in today's digest.
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The DIOCESE OF EL CAMINO REAL is sending a resolution to General Convention in 2009 asking the HOB/HOD to reverse what they call "the unjust and discriminatory effect of B033" enacted at GC2006. Naturally, it was the Integrity people in the diocese who spearheaded the resolution, which should come as no surprise to anyone. B033 was shoved through by Frank Griswold in 2006 to placate the wider Anglican Communion which had called for a moratorium on the election, consent and consecration of further gay and lesbian bishops. This infuriated the pansexualists who now want revenge and a reversal of this resolution. With most of the orthodox having fled TEC, they will probably get it passed.
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In a very shrewd move by the retired Bishop of Eau Claire and assisting bishop of Ft. Worth, the Rt. Rev. WILLIAM WANTLAND has asked the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts Schori, to make him an honorary member of the House of Bishops. In a letter to the Presiding Bishop, obtained by VirtueOnline, the Assisting Bishop of the Diocese of Ft. Worth said that because the Diocese of Ft. Worth has voted to affiliate with the Province of the Southern Cone of America, severing its connection with The Episcopal Church, he is now canonically affiliated with the Southern Cone and its Primate, The Most Rev. Gregory Venables. Bishop Wantland, a canon lawyer, said that he has a right to be an honorary member of the HOB, in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXIV of the House of Bishops, as provided in paragraph three of said Rule, as a "Bishop of this Church who removed from the jurisdiction of this Church to a jurisdiction of a Church in the Anglican Communion".
"I am not resigning my Orders, nor am I abandoning the communion of The Episcopal Church, being a member of a sister Province of the Anglican Communion, in compliance with the provisions of Canon IV.9. However, because I am no longer a member of The Episcopal Church, although residing within its jurisdiction in Oklahoma, I am no longer eligible to be a regular member of its House of Bishops. I therefore request that I be admitted as an honorary member of the (TEC) House of Bishops."
As at this time of posting, no response had been forthcoming from the Presiding Bishop.
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If you want to see just how much The Episcopal Church has declined click here for full details: http://www.fwepiscopal.org/downloads/ets3_pg2.pdf
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In England, ACCUSATIONS of bullying, blackmail, and condemnation were directed at Anglican evangelical leaders, after a revolt by attendees at the National Evangelical Anglican Consultation in London, last Saturday. Evangelicals turned up to the meeting to find a draft resolution asking them to express their support for the GAFCON movement and its Jerusalem Declaration. This shocked many of those attending. The meeting fell into disorder as members of the floor railed against the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC), in particular the chair, the Rev. Dr Richard Turnbull.
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BRAZIL is coming in for its share of gay agit prop. It's not just the Diocese of Recife that is being sued by the Episcopal Church of Brazil for its properties. A Brazilian Christian was censored and fined by a judge for making "homophobic" remarks in a book he wrote. The Judge ordered the book be pulled from bookstores after three hundred of a total of 600 printed had been sold. The Christian was fined 2,000 reales ($834.00), and his book confiscated for publishing his belief that God condemns and punishes homosexual acts. Naurio Martins Franca, a resident of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, is the author of "The Curse of God on the Homosexual: The Homosexual Needs to Know the Divine Curse that is Upon Him". The book reportedly states the Christian belief that homosexual behavior is sinful, and even "demonic", and warns those who do not repent that "he who continues being a homosexual is defying the power of God and runs a great risk."
"The book is based on the Bible, on the word of God. The law regards it as homophobia, etc.," said Pastor Franca after charges were filed. "What can I do? The Bible is being usurped through the law of man. The Bible is the law of God."
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The numbers of German Protestants is falling faster than Catholics, according to the Ecumenical News International. The membership of Germany's two largest churches is shrinking, but the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), the country's biggest Protestant grouping, has dropped below 25 million members for the first time since the unification of Germany in 1990.
At the end of 2007, EKD members accounted for 24.83 million of Germany's 82-million people, the German Protestant news agency epd reported on 17 November. The EKD now has more than a million fewer adherents than it did five years ago.
There were about 268 000 fewer Protestants in Germany in 2007 than in the previous year.
The membership of the Roman Catholic Church also fell in 2007, but by less than the EKD. In all, there were 25.46 million Catholics, about 224 000 fewer than in 2006.
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FIVE TALENTS has a unique ministry making prayer shawls. Ginna Vickory of St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church Prayer Shawl Guild in Portland, Ore. came up with the idea. Now, it's the gift of prayer that has led her to merge this ministry with the work of Five Talents.
A prayer shawl is hand-crocheted using a pattern of three to symbolize the Holy Trinity. As members crochet the shawls, they pray for the recipients with the desire that each shawl is a blend of prayers, talents, gifts and grace. It is a tangible way for them to show God's love to all of his people.
To date, the St. Gabriel's prayer shawl guild, which has 30 members, has given out more than 200 shawls. Recipients have been individuals who are ill, have recently lost a loved one, or are heading into war. The guild has also given shawls to celebrate graduations and to honor new mothers.
Vickory estimates that she personally makes two to four prayer shawls a month, investing about 15 hours of her time in each one. "I see prayer shawls as an opportunity to give someone a hug," Vickory said. "The person doesn't need to talk, or explain anything. It is just there, warm and soft, whenever he or she needs it."
Established in 1999, Five Talents International has provided funding for business training and thousands of loans, ranging from $50 to $300, in 15 countries across Africa, Asia, and Central and South America. Each loan finances a microbusiness that, in turn, supports up to six other people. A majority of the loan recipients are women. For more information and to donate, visit www.fivetalents.org.
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A CHRISTMAS NATIVITY scene was set-up on the sidewalk in front of the US Supreme Court this week. The rare exhibit is part of a news conference announcing this year's launch of Operation Nativity, an annual effort to promote the display of nativity scenes across the country on private and public property. The event is jointly sponsored by the National Clergy Council and the Christian Defense Coalition, and features the Reverend Rob Schenck, president of the Council, the Reverend Dr. Charles Nestor, Senior Fellow for Public Policy for the Council and the Reverend Patrick J. Mahoney, National Director of the Christian Defense Coalition.
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If you haven't purchased a copy of the new THE NORTH AMERICAN ANGLICAN, I urge you to do so. There are a number of first- rate pieces on The 39 Articles in the first volume. It is beautifully bound and a keepsake edition for years to come. This First Edition is a blockbuster of fine stories and even comes with a CD of Anglican music. You can buy the 240-page edition by e-mailing Fr. Joseph Gleason at editor@39articles.com You can also purchase an individual subscription for as low as $19.00
Write to Fr Joseph Gleason at: The North American Anglican 679 2nd Street, Omaha, IL 62871
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IF you are planning your end of year giving, we at Virtueonline hope you will consider a tax- deductible donation to this ministry.
This past week, VOL was honorably mentioned in USA TODAY, Mike McManus's column on the Anglican Communion and by the good Bishop of the Diocese of Ft. Worth, the Rt. Rev. Jack Iker.
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David W. Virtue
VIRTUEONLINE
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In His Service,
David
