The reason for the commission, according to Duncan, is two fold: A decline in parochial giving to the diocese and a parallel decline in congregational growth.
Duncan said, "While the population continues to explode throughout the Diocese and the average household income continues to increase we have not seen proportionate increases in numbers in many of our congregations."
Read more"I loved every minute of it. The drama of the actual installation complete with a powder-wigged Nigerian judge administering instructions for ministry to American Bishop Martyn Minns with Nigerian Primate Peter Akinola looking on, overseeing the whole occasion, was both authoritative and solemn. I was deeply moved," he told VOL.
Read moreIt is hard to see how he could ignore this latest outrage. James McGreevey, a former Governor of NJ, married and divorced two women, had children by both, declared himself to be a practicing homosexual, got into a sad homosexual affair with one man, was forced to resign from office and finally settled down with another man. He now wants to become an Episcopal priest.
Read moreEach is throwing out enough chips on the table in the hope that the other will fold so they can take the pot.
The bishop tossed out the first card by demanding to see the church's financial records and declaring the parish off limits to the evangelical priest.
Read moreHis supporters view Minns as a faithful, hold-the-line orthodox priest who will not waver on sexuality issues. He is a charismatic figure, more in sync with African Anglican Christians that hold 'the faith once delivered to the saints' than with post-modern liberal Episcopalians for whom he has little use and who have abandoned historic Christianity.
Read moreIn their letter to the ABC they wrote: "We want to reassure you that we are committed to the Camp Allen principles and realize that for us, they are the way by which we intend to remain united as we move forward in these challenging days," the bishops stated in an April 26 letter. (see full text below)
Read moreMrs. Katharine Jefferts Schori, the Episcopal Church's Presiding Bishop, is complaining mightily about the arrival next week of the most powerful African Anglican on the planet, The Rt. Rev. Peter Akinola, to lay hands on a number of Anglicans in Virginia, saying "it puts a strain on the fragile relations on the Anglican Communion." This is while the TEC has done more than any other Anglican jurisdiction to aggravate and violate the wishes of the greater Anglican Communion.
Read moreThe Task Force concluded that there were two rules for determining church property disputes in the U.S. which are determined under state law rather than federal law - a deference to Hierarchical Authority Rule and Neutral Principles of Law Rule. The latter has been most effective in the State of California where a number of parishes have kept their properties in legal disputes with the Diocese of Los Angeles.
Read moreFirstly, he says Paul's letter to the Romans 1-2 was to critique the self-righteous who judge others, a point that challenges the position of persons today who judge those engaging in homosexual relations.
"It is precisely the same perversity that affects those who have received the revelation of God and persist in self-seeking and self-deceit," he wrote.
Read moreThe cathedral was built in 1969 at a cost of over $2 million and has steadily dropped in value. It is now on the market for $1,275,000, less than half of what it cost to build. The organ and other significant items will be sold separately. According to the Portage city assessor's office, the cathedral would be a good location for a hotel.
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