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In 1995
David W. Virtue, D.D., established VIRTUEONLINE, an Episcopal/Anglican Online News Service dedicated to serving orthodox Anglicans around the globe. The service has successfully reached nearly 4 million readers across 204 countries.
Commentaries by
David W. Virtue
Please give before December 31st to ensure your gift is tax-deductible this calendar year. Thank you for your support, David.
570 Twin Lakes Rd, P.O. Box 111, Shohola, PA 18458 * Ph. 484 888 8094 December 2025 VIRTUEONLINE is preparing for our biggest and best year yet, and we need your support to make it happen. With my new Substack davidvirtue2.substack.com on the Middle East, we are expanding our coverage in 2026 to include: The rise of Anglicanism in the Global South as it separates from the Global North The decline of liberalism and progressive theology, and the growing threat of Islam to ou
Urgent Call for Stability: What the ACNA College of Bishops Must Address This Week
By Concerned Anglican www.virtueonline.org December 3, 2025 The Anglican Church in North America stands at a critical juncture. As the College of Bishops convenes for an emergency meeting, the decisions made this week will shape the province’s future for years to come. I write as someone deeply committed to our Anglican heritage and concerned for the wellbeing of clergy, laity, and the witness of the Gospel we collectively bear. The Federal Lawsuit: A Clear Path Forward The
“We are living in the midst of the biggest move of God in history…”
By David W. Virtue, DD www.virtueonline.org December 1, 2025 An exclusive interview with the Rev. Jerry Kramer of Love for the Least, a global mission to Muslims in the Middle East and East Africa. He and his wife Stacy have been actively serving as missionaries for more than 25 years. They were briefly in the US before returning overseas, where I had an opportunity to interview him. VOL: It is growing clearer by the day that the West is spiritually dying—churches are cl
Libro de Oración Común (2019)
The Official Spanish translation of the book of Common Prayer 2019
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Exclusive News and Analysis
Please give before December 31st to ensure your gift is tax-deductible this calendar year. Thank you for your support, David.
570 Twin Lakes Rd, P.O. Box 111, Shohola, PA 18458 * Ph. 484 888 8094 December 2025 VIRTUEONLINE is preparing for our biggest and best year yet, and we need your support to make it happen. With my new Substack davidvirtue2.substack.com on the Middle East, we are expanding our coverage in 2026 to include: The rise of Anglicanism in the Global South as it separates from the Global North The decline of liberalism and progressive theology, and the growing threat of Islam to ou
“We are living in the midst of the biggest move of God in history…”
By David W. Virtue, DD www.virtueonline.org December 1, 2025 An exclusive interview with the Rev. Jerry Kramer of Love for the Least, a global mission to Muslims in the Middle East and East Africa. He and his wife Stacy have been actively serving as missionaries for more than 25 years. They were briefly in the US before returning overseas, where I had an opportunity to interview him. VOL: It is growing clearer by the day that the West is spiritually dying—churches are cl
Archbishop of York Suffers from Foot in Mouth Disease
COMMENTARY By David W. Virtue, DD www.virtueonline.org November 21, 2025 The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell—an archbishop who should have resigned over failed safeguarding issues—now feels it his duty to lecture Israel on "genocidal acts" while the nation fights for its survival against Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, and Iran. Cottrell, the second-most senior bishop in the Church of England, has become the first senior CofE prelate to deploy such inflammatory language s
News From Around the World
When Repentance Sounds Like Risk Management: A Call for a Covenant of Courage from the ACNA Bishops
BY Fr Randall Graf Dec 08, 2025 (Source Material: Report from the College of Bishops Meeting in Plano, TX) The decision of the College of Bishops of the Anglican Church in North America to meet in early December was necessary, and their stated commitment to prayer and self-reflection in the midst of crisis is a welcome signal of seriousness. Our Province needed to hear from its shepherds. Yet, as a priest, I am compelled to speak. My motivation is the apostolic command that
GAFCON Chairman Archbishop Laurent Mbanda’s Feud: Retired Bishops Blast GAFCON Leader Over ‘Uncanonical’ Conduct
Archbishop of Rwanda Laurent Mbanda From:: https://alivingtext.com/gafconmbandacrisis/ December 4, 2025 The ACNA is not the only part of GAFCON experiencing problems at the moment. There is a major schism taking place in the usually opaque Rwandan Anglican Church, and it involves Archbishop Laurent Mbanda, who is also the head of GAFCON. Mbanda had the bishop of the Shyira Diocese, Samuel Mugisha, arrested. Mugisha’s wife, joined by retired Bishop Alexis Bilindabagabo, declar
ACNA Diocese of the South cathedral dean Michael Guernsey steps down after investigation
Source: ACNA Bishop Foley Beach December 7, 2025 Dear Friends and Members of Holy Cross Cathedral, We are saddened to share that Dean Michael Guernsey has submitted his resignation as Dean of Holy Cross Cathedral. This was a difficult decision for him, made only after much prayer and consideration. At this time, he believes it is best for both his family and the Cathedral to bring his ministry to a close and to allow all involved to move forward. Over the past several mon
Church of England
The quiet revival passes the Church of England by
by John Sandeman Thedothercheek.com November 5, 2025 New attendance stats released by the Church of England are in marked contrast to the Bible Society’s report of a quiet revival in the UK. The Bible Society “Quiet Revival” report claimed that “Church attendance has risen by 50 per cent over the last six years,” according to stats from a You Gov survey in England and Wales conducted for the Bible Society. “In 2018, just 4 per cent of 18–24-year-olds said that they att
EFAC calls on bishops to restore confidence in their leadership
PRESS RELEASE October 28, 2025 On Wednesday 15 October, an update was released by the Church of England on the Living in Love and Faith process, following a House of Bishops' residential meeting the previous week. The House of Bishops reviewed documents produced by the Church of England's Legal Office and the Faith and Order Commission (FAOC) addressing outstanding questions following the 2023 General Synod's commendation of the Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF). Remainin
CofE clergy vow to offer same-sex blessing services despite bishops’ decision
Religion Media Centre October 20, 2025 A number of clergy in the Church of England are resisting a decision by the House of Bishops which put the brakes on moves to allow stand-alone services for same-sex blessings and to allow clergy to be in same-sex marriages. Canon Simon Butler, an influential vicar in “Inclusive Evangelicals”, says the Canons of the Church of England do, in fact, permit stand-alone services. He has officiated at two in his church, Holy Trinity & St M
Viewpoints by David Virtue
Biblical Illiteracy Rampant in US // ACNA in Free Fall // TEC Faces Title IV Reform // JAFC Wins Legal Round Against ACNA // Persecution of Christians in Nigeria //
Welsh Lesbian Archbishop Calls for Unity // TEC AWA Figures Show Decline in Church Attendance Dear Brothers and Sisters, www.virtueonline.org November 14, 2025 BIBLICAL illiteracy is growing in America. In 2022, a comprehensive survey found that 26 percent of evangelicals think the Bible is more made-up than historical (up 9 percent since 2016); 56 percent think God accepts the worship of every religion (up 8 percent since 2016); and from 2020 to 2022, 13 percent more ev
TEC Figures Reveal Continued Decline // ACNA Archbishop Caught in Alleged Sex Scandal and Abuse of Power // TEC Presiding Bishop Blasts Israel //
CofE Vicars will Exercise Local Option to Bless SS Marriage At every step of our Christian development and in every sphere of our Christian discipleship, pride is the greatest enemy and humility our greatest friend. --- John Stott Why is so much modern discipleship so shallow. It emphasizes “growth” without repentance, “authenticity” without holiness, “belonging” without sacrifice. The call of Jesus — “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up
GAFCON Declares Formation of Global Anglican Communion// GAFCON Separates from Traditional Communion Structure // GSFA Withholds Endorsement // Mullally Appointment Sparks International Response //
"God intends us to penetrate the world. Christian salt has no business to remain snugly in elegant little ecclesiastical salt cellars; our place is to be rubbed into the secular community, as salt is rubbed into meat, to stop it going bad." – John Stott Dear Brothers and Sisters, www.virtueonline.org October 17, 2025 Historic Shift: GAFCON Announces Separation The long-anticipated moment arrived Thursday morning. At 5am, my inbox contained a headline that will reshape An
Culture Wars
8 Global Trends That Will Transform the Future Church
By Joseph Mattera THE STREAM November 22, 2025 As we cross the threshold of a rapidly shifting global landscape, the Church must prepare itself for tectonic changes that will redefine its mission, methods, and missiology. We are living in a kairos moment—a window of divine opportunity—where crises and breakthroughs collide, giving birth to movements that will reshape how the body of Christ engages culture, makes disciples, and stewards the kingdom. The following are ei
Evangelicals consider AI’s role in the Great Commission
By Obianuju Mbah Christian Today Nov. 11, 2025 The Lausanne Movement is weighing in on how artificial intelligence might shape the future of Christian mission. Under its new research division, LIGHT, the movement is examining both the opportunities, challenges and responsibilities presented by the rapid rise of AI in the Church and everyday life — from communication and learning, to ministry, theology and pastoral care. “AI is neither savior nor threat in itself,” said
‘Roe v. Wade’ Eroded the Church’s Historic Pro-Life Consensus
Abortion and America's Churches: A Religious History of "Roe v. Wade" (Faith, Governance, and Civil Society in American History) By Daniel K. Williams (Author) 384 pages $33.54 BOOK REVIEW By Gillis J. Harp Christianity Today October 9, 2025 It was already unraveling by 1973. Repairing it today won’t be easy. After the Supreme Court’s polarizing Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, the liberal Protestant organ, The Christian Century, sometimes expressed deep ethical concerns
As Eye See It
Should we Support Gay Marriage? NO
By Wolfhart Pannenberg Good News Magazine Can love ever be sinful? The entire tradition of Christian doctrine teaches that there is such a thing as inverted, perverted love. Human beings are created for love, as creatures of the God who is Love. And yet that divine appointment is corrupted whenever people turn away from God or love other things more than God. Jesus said, "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me..." (Matt. 10:37, NRSV). Love for God
Christian Zionism Came Long Before Dispensationalism
By Gerald R. McDermott https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/ December 8, 2025 It would be perverse to charge all fulfillment theology with antisemitism. Many reject Christian Zionism for the plausible (but unfounded) reasons described in Mattson’s piece, and many are clearly philo-Semitic. But it might not be a bad idea for some of them to ask what W. D. Davies and other theologians started asking in the 1970s: “How did Christian Europe come to hate Jews?” I will never forg
ANGLO-CATHOLICISM: ANGLICAN HICCUP AS HISTORY
Rev. Dr. Donald P. Richmond www.virtueonline.org December 7, 2025 As I have gotten older, I have noted that my body needs to make adjustments. One of the many adjustments that I have had to make relates to foods, what I eat and how I eat. Certain foods now need to be avoided and, along with this, I must also be far more mindful and moderate about what I ingest and how quickly I ingest it. Wisdom suggests moderation, and, if I am not wise, I develop a case of the hiccups.
Devotionals
Stand Fast in Freedom: Galatians 5:1 and the Modern Yokes of Bondage
By the Rev. Dr. Ronald Moore www.virtueonline.org August 20, 2025 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us...
Sola Gratia: The Unmerited Favor That Rescued the World
Grace is not a suggestion, a boost, or a cooperative handshake—it is the sovereign act of God upon undeserving sinners. The Rev. Dr....
Soli Deo Gloria: Glory to God Alone
By the Rev. Dr. Ronald Moore www.virtueonline.org August 12, 2025 There is a Latin phrase that thundered through the Reformation like a...
Theology, History and Science
Revival Outside the Walls
The Rev. Dr. Ronald Moore Dec 08, 2025 It is tempting to believe that the decline of the Church means the decline of Christianity. That is the mistake the Church of England’s recent statistics make—and the same illusion many American denominations are beginning to share. A reduction in attendance is not always evidence of a waning faith; sometimes, it signals that the Spirit has moved elsewhere. According to the Bible Society’s new report The Quiet Revival, church attenda
The Blood of the Martyrs: How Suffering Revives the Church
The Rev. Dr. Ronald Moore www.virtueonline.org Dec 07, 2025 Tertullian’s immortal line—“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church”—was not rhetorical flourish but sober theology. Writing in the late second century, amid the savage persecutions of the Roman Empire, the African apologist observed something that history would repeat again and again: every time the world tried to silence the Church, it made her louder. Every attempt to destroy the faith only deepened i
The Future Has Arrived: A Response to GAFCON's Vision for Global Anglicanism
By the Venerable Canon Dr. Kenneth D. Gillespie, OSC www.virtueonline.org November 12, 2025 On October 16, 2025, the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) issued a bold statement declaring "the future has arrived." In this declaration, GAFCON announced it had single handedly reordered the Anglican Communion, rejecting the traditional Instruments of Communion and establishing itself as the authentic expression of global Anglicanism. The statement claims to represent up
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