No Disappointment in Christ: Oh, you who want unfailing comfort, I commend you to Christ. In Him alone there is no failure. Rich men are disappointed in their treasures. Learned men are disappointed in their books. Husbands are disappointed in their wives. Wives are disappointed in their husbands. Parents are disappointed in their children. Statesmen are disappointed when, after many a struggle, they attain place and power. They find out, to their cost, that it is more pain than pleasure, - that it is disappointment, annoyance, incessant trouble, worry, vanity, and frustration of spirit. But no man was ever disappointed in Christ. --- Bishop J.C. Ryle

True Faith is a Matter of the Heart. True faith does not depend merely on the state of man's head and understanding, but on the state of his heart. His mind may be convinced. His conscience may be pierced. But so long as there is anything the man is secretly loving more than God, there will be no true faith. The man himself may be puzzled, and wonder why he does not believe. He does not see that he is like a child sitting on the lid of his box, and wishing to open it, but not considering that his own weight keeps it shut. Let a man make sure that he honestly and really desires first the praise of God. It is the lack of an honest heart, which makes many stick fast in their false religion all their days, and die at length without peace. Those who complain that they hear, approve, assent, but make no progress, and cannot get any hold on Christ, should ask themselves this simple question - "Am I honest? Am I sincere? Do I really desire first the praise of God?" --- Bishop J.C. Ryle

The difference between ignorance and delusion is this: Ignorance means we are unable to see things as they really are. Delusion means that we are unwilling to see things as they really are.

Dear Brothers and Sisters
www.virtueonline.org
May 6, 2011

The recently released 2011 Red Book of the Episcopal Church reveals a church in dramatic decline.

Parishes and missions have declined by 69, baptized members have dropped by 50,000, communicants in good standing have declined by 42,000, Average Sunday Attendance (ASA) by 22,000 and church school pupils down by 10,000. Confirmations have declined by 600; marriages have dropped by more than 1,169 or 9%. Clergy losses continue to grow. In 2008 there were 18,002, but by 2009 it was down to 17, 868. There are more retired priests working now because parishes can no longer afford a full time priest.

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The Archbishop of Canterbury has, as we all know, embraced homosexuality, meaning persons in committed same-sex relationships. Now, we learned this week that the Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu has officially embraced fornication.

The Ugandan-born Archbishop backed Prince William and Kate Middleton's decision to live together before marriage, saying that many modern couples want to "test the milk before they buy the cow". He argued that the royal couple's public commitment to live their lives together today would be more important than their past.

Anglican traditionalists immediately criticized the Archbishop, the second most senior cleric in the Church of England, for failing to reinforce Christian teaching which prohibits sex outside marriage.

In a television interview, Dr. Sentamu was asked whether it was appropriate for the Prince, who is in line to become head of the Church of England as King, to have been living with his bride before marriage.

He said he has conducted wedding services for "many cohabiting couples" during his time as a vicar in south London.

However, the Rev David Phillips, general secretary of the Church Society, a conservative evangelical group, said the Archbishop "missed an opportunity to set out Christian teaching"

"What he said wasn't appropriate as he gave the impression it doesn't matter whether people live together before marriage. I thought he would have tried to get across Christian teaching on marriage that says it is not appropriate to have sex outside marriage."

I have posted a story from the Telegraph and a piece of satire I wrote about this in today's digest.

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Episcopalians took a cautionary note on the implications of Osama bin Laden's death this week. They viewed the celebratory mood with understanding and concern and offered notes of caution and reflection to those reactions.

"I am not sorry that Osama bin Laden is dead ... But I don't celebrate his death, either," the Rev. Jay Emerson Johnson wrote on his blog.

"That distinction, though subtle, is an important one for Christians who claim to be an 'Easter people,'" Johnson wrote, noting that the al-Qaeda founder's death came one week after Christians marked Easter. "Easter celebrates God's decisive victory over death. We taint that celebration if we find anyone's death a cause for celebration and jubilation, and perhaps especially when that death is violent." Johnson, who teaches at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California, co-chairs the theological resources subcommittee of the Episcopal Church's Standing Committee on Liturgy and Music.

However, Fr. Don Armstrong, an Anglican priest in Colorado Springs, took a different stance. He stated, "Certainly this well executed military action was appropriate according to the Christian doctrine of Just War, and in accordance with the 39 Articles of Religion...that includes the statement in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, that 'The Laws of the Realm may punish (even) Christian men with death, for heinous and grievous offences. It is lawful for Christian men, at the commandment of the Magistrate, to wear weapons, and serve in the wars.'

"We should be in awe of the bravely and rightly executed mission of our United States military, who with precision, right order, and the highest level of professionalism entered the compound of Bin Laden, eliminated the threat to themselves, and without any disrespect that would inflame radicals in the Middle East or within our own country, executed and properly buried this person who himself triggered world events that have led to the deaths of tens of thousands of people."

The Archbishop of Canterbury answered a question put to him about the killing of Osama Bin Laden thusly, "I think that the killing of an unarmed man is always going to leave a very uncomfortable feeling because it doesn't look as if justice is seen to be done, in those circumstances. I think it is also true that the different versions of events that have emerged in recent days have not done a great deal to help here. I don't know the full details anymore than anyone else does but I do believe that in such circumstance when we are faced with someone who was manifestly a 'war criminal' as you might say in terms of the atrocities inflicted, it is important that justice is seen to be observed."

*****

Rejection slips are coming in thick and fast for the Anglican Covenant that was designed to draw us all together in one big happy family. First Los Angeles, then Michigan and now the Episcopal Diocese of Quincy have all signaled that they reject it. They give as their reasons that they have "grave reservations" about the instruments of the Communion, the authority bestowed by the proposed covenant and the hierarchy it creates. The only hierarchy of the Communion has been a spiritual one, bonding all Anglicans to the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Anglican Consultative Council, created by the Lambeth Conference in 1968, is not widely recognized as an authoritative body in the Communion, nor does it appear to be clearly known to the average Anglican. The Primates' Meeting seems to have taken on a life of its own and, again, is not widely understood or seen as a source of authority, they said. "We only recognize the Archbishop of Canterbury as our spiritual head, and no other earthly international authority. We see no reason to change this." They also said that Section 4 is punitive. "It is a break with the history of the Communion, which has been a warm fellowship of churches in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury and who share common sources of worship and tradition."

The need or desirability of a Covenant, with or without section 4, seems to us counterproductive, sewing seeds of conflict and endangering the great productivity with which God has blessed our Communion.

They also said the Covenant is too vague, unclear and not concise. Specifically, it was called "Gobbledygook."

*****

SEWANEE: The University of the South is back in the news again. This time over the issue of drinking, serious drinking that is. It was named one of 16 universities nationally recognized for drunkenness: http://tinyurl.com/382dz6p Other universities include: University of Georgia, Ohio University, Penn State, West Virginia University, University of Mississippi, University of Texas at Austin, University of Florida, University of California - Santa Barbara, University of Iowa, DePauw University, Florida State University University of Wisconsin - Madison, University of Alabama, Sewanee - The University of the South, Indiana University - Bloomington, University of Colorado - Boulder, University of Missouri, http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2207730622&v=info

This begs the question what is it about Episcopal institutions that brings out the worst in Episcopalians. Whole dioceses embrace pansexuality, women's ordination has not made church's grow, diocesan and parish budgets are in decline, TEC bishops want to spend $15 million to give themselves a boost now and then, and now we learn that TEC's only university has a reputation for drunkenness. Why would parents want to send their kids to this university, which, incidentally, promotes homosexuality and more, at a cost of $160,000 over four years. You can read the full story in today's digest.

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The Episcopal Bishops of California and Los Angeles have called for a repeal of Proposition 8. Bishop J. Jon Bruno (Los Angeles) and Bishop Marc Andrus (California) have filed Amicus Curiae briefs in California arguing that "justice" and "equality" means that people of the same sex be permitted to marry each other. Proposition 8 (or the California Marriage Protection Act) was a ballot proposition and constitutional amendment passed in the November 2008 state elections. The measure added a new provision, Section 7.5 of the Declaration of Rights, to the California Constitution, which provides that "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

The Episcopal Church's governing body, its General Convention, resolved in 2006 to "oppose any state or federal constitutional amendment that prohibits same-sex civil marriage or civil unions." Bishop Andrus and Bishop Bruno welcomed the decision of the California Supreme Court with Bishop Andrus declaring, "All children of God should be afforded the same rights under the law, and this decision recognizes that all Californians, regardless of sexual orientation, have equal access to one of our fundamental human institutions. This decision gives our church another opportunity to partner with our state to ensure that all families have the support they need to build relationships that strengthen our communities, state and country."

Meeting last year in Anaheim, the Episcopal Church's General Convention expressly authorized "bishops, particularly in those dioceses within civil jurisdictions where same-gender marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships are legal, [to] provide generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this Church while the Episcopal Church considers formal changes to its liturgy and canon law." Under this authorization, amici curiae Bishop Andrus and Bishop Bruno, along with Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves of the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real and Bishop James Mathes of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, permit their clergy to provide liturgical blessings to same-sex couples.

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The [Episcopal Church's] College for Bishops has announced the formation of a $15 million endowment campaign to insure the future of the organization. The campaign is designed to provide education and formation for Episcopal bishops in all stages of their ministry.

The campaign, Endowing a Sustainable Future, is chaired by the Rt. Rev. F. Clayton Matthews, Bishop for Pastoral Development and Managing Director of the College for Bishops. He is joined by a group of 30+ other bishops from throughout the United States.

"Through its myriad of programs, offerings, and educational enrichment sessions, the College for Bishops has proven to be invaluable for our bishops, which in turn has greatly benefitted clergy and laity," explained Bishop Matthews. "Our goal now is to make sure that these offerings are available for future generations of Episcopalians."

The mission of the College for Bishops is to provide opportunities for education and formation that will strengthen bishops in their personal lives, as diocesan leaders in God's mission and in their vocation in service to the Episcopal Church.

On hearing the news, the evangelical former Bishop of South Carolina the Rt. Rev. C. FitzSimons Allison commented, "It is outrageous and shows some of the self indulgent priorities of some bishops."

Liberal Episcopal bloggers also went ballistic with many arguing that at a time of diminishing parish and diocesan fortunes, this is an unnecessary expenditure and indulgence bishops don't need, bearing in mind the salaries they make and their fat pensions. You can read the full story in today's digest.

*****

On the 400th anniversary of the King James Version (KJV), Bible scholar Dr. Joel M. Hoffman called the famous Bible edition the "fool's-gold standard" of translation, arguing that "the King James Version is monumentally inaccurate."

Hoffman, a published expert in Bible translation, made the claim on his popular Bible-translation blog. Hoffman admits that he likes the KJV, recognizing its "value historically, politically, [and] sentimentally." He also suggests two reasons why the KJV is inaccurate: First, English has changed over 400 years, minimizing the value of some of the translations in the KJV. Secondly, the science of translation has improved in the 400 years since the KJV was written, so modern translators are better able to understand and convey the ancient languages of the Bible. Hoffman compared the KJV to an ancient map, ending with the admonition that "those who would navigate the Bible solely with this 400-year-old translation journey in perils."

*****

Plans to lift ban on a Roman Catholic monarch have been dropped. There have been reports that the Church of England has blocked plans to lift the ban on Roman Catholics within the British monarchy.

Deputy Prime Minster Nick Clegg was considering changes to the Act of Settlement, but the Church of England is believed to have pointed out some 'insurmountable' constitutional problems.

According to reports, the Church of England says the move could lead to a loss of sovereignty, with the British monarch being ultimately answerable to the Pope in Rome. The Vatican would also insist that a Roman Catholic monarch's children be raised as Roman Catholics.

A spokesman for the Church of England said while the Church remains the established religion, the monarch and Supreme Governor would not owe a higher loyalty elsewhere.

*****

Cathedral congregations continue to grow. Attendance levels at regular weekly services in Church of England cathedrals have increased significantly again this year, by 7%, say the latest statistics from the Archbishops' Council's Research and Statistics Unit.

Since the turn of the millennium, they have steadily grown by a total of 37%, which is about 4% on average each year. At Sunday services alone, 15,800 adults and 3,100 children and young people are usually present while over the whole week the figures rise (by 73%) to 27,400 and 7,600 respectively. Westminster Abbey adds, on average, 1,800 people each week to these numbers.

The Rev. Lynda Barley, Head of Research and Statistics, said: "The ministry of cathedrals is valued by many people. They have a treasured place in the heart of the nation and are actively used at key moments in individual lives and on public occasions."

Midweek attendance has more than doubled since the turn of the millennium and is approaching the same level as Sunday attendance. In 2010, for example, it added 85% to Sunday congregations (slightly higher than previous years). Cathedrals are key places of daily Christian worship outside Sundays adding an additional 73% to the number of adult attendees and more than doubling the number of children over the whole week.

*****

iPray, an iPhone application for the Book of Common Prayer has been launched by the Anglican Foundation of All Souls' Church, in Oklahoma City. iPray was designed with the user in mind, placing the day's lessons at the user's fingertips. Four daily prayer offices are brought to you based on the liturgical calendar and the time of day: Morning Prayer, Midday Prayers, Evening Prayer and Compline. The app was developed by users of the traditional Book of Common Prayer who desired an easy-to-use application of prayer book worship. iPray was recently launched and is available for those who can appreciate a simplified method of negotiating Scripture readings and the appropriate daily prayers following the liturgical calendar of the church, including feasts and fasts, into one, easy-to-understand app. iPray is also a good resource for those who are unaccustomed to this kind of spiritual discipline and provides an easy introduction to structured daily prayer and Bible reading, based on the ancient practice of the Church as refined by the English Reformation. You are encouraged to download iPray and share this information with your family and friends. Here are some important links related to iPray BCP

* You can download iPray from the iTunes Store here. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ipray-bcp/id431349318?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D2
* Here is a video about the application http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm_sZjM9qWY
* Twitter http://twitter.com/#./ipraybcp
* Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/IPray-BCP/181789365202801

The Rev. Jason S. Patterson, Executive Director of The Prayer Book Society wrote to VOL enthusiastically endorsing and commending this new app. www.pbsusa.org

*****

From the Anglican Network in Canada newsletter comes this word. The ANiC welcomed its first parish in Calgary. The congregation of about 80 families held their first service May 1 in rented premises, leaving behind their former building. They will be taking some time to recalibrate their vision for ministry in their community and consider a name for the church. For now, they will be known as the ANiC Calgary Project and will meet at 1pm in the facilities of New Life Community Church at 7642 22 Street SE, Calgary. On May 6-8, Bishop Trevor Walters will be in Calgary to officially welcome the congregation into ANiC. Then, on May 15, an 8:30am Book of Common Prayer service will be added to the 1pm Eucharist.

The ANiC also welcomed three new priests. Bishop Donald Harvey welcomed the Rev Jonathan Gibson (Calgary, AB), the Rev Ruth Lillington (Calgary, AB) and the Rev Jonathan Wong (Toronto, ON) as priests in ANiC. The Rev Gibson was the long-time rector of the Anglican Church of Canada's St Augustine (Calgary, AB) and is now rector of ANiC's newest congregation, the ANiC Calgary Project. The Rev. Lillington is honorary assistant to the Rev. Gibson in the new ANiC Calgary Project. The Rev Jonathan Wong was ordained and served in the Diocese of Singapore before coming to Toronto in 2009 to study at Wycliffe. He is active in Christ The King Toronto.

St Aidan's (Windsor, ON) will be in court beginning May 9 in London. Pastor Tom Carman says, "It is unfortunate that the diocese was unwilling to wait for the outcome of the case currently under consideration by the Supreme Court of Canada, avoiding this unnecessary expense. But God is good and we are confident He will provide for all our needs."

*****

Study: gay teens five times more likely to attempt suicide. Teens who self-identify as homosexual are five times more likely than their heterosexual counterparts to attempt suicide, according to a study released last week.

The study, published in the journal Pediatrics online on April 18, was conducted in order to determine whether living in a gay friendly social environment affected the risk of a teen identifying as homosexual committing suicide. It found that teens in "unsupportive" social environments were 20 percent more at risk of attempting suicide than those in "supportive" environments. "This study documents an association between an objective measure of the social environment and suicide attempts among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth," concludes the study abstract, adding that the results "have important implications for the development of policies and interventions to reduce sexual orientation–related disparities in suicide attempts." Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council pointed out that the takeaway finding from the study is not that gay teens are marginally less likely to commit suicide in a "supportive" environment, but that overall gay teens are so many times more likely to commit suicide than their non-gay peers - "a difference that far overwhelms any difference caused by the 'social environment.'"

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Christianity Today International has announced the launch of ChurchLawAndTax.com, a completely redesigned website that helps church leaders with critical church legal and tax matters.

The new site, which features noted legal authority Richard R. Hammar and 14 other editorial advisors recognized for their qualified church law and tax knowledge, offers visitors an inviting and sophisticated experience with easy-to-navigate church training resources, including:

* A Q&A section featuring questions from church leaders answered by legal and tax experts;

* A Recent Developments section, where church leaders can stay abreast of recent court cases and legal rulings affecting churches;

* Regularly added Feature Articles on a variety of law, tax, finance, and risk management topics of interest to churches;

* A revolutionized Weekly Lesson section, which provides background and education on critical topics for church leaders, plus an interactive quiz feature aimed at improving their learning experience and testing their knowledge.

Members of the site also enjoy special features, including a Legal Library where users can find extensive archives of the Church Law & Tax Report, weekly newsletters, the Pastor, Church & Law book series, and other legal resources for their churches.

In addition to individual memberships, membership discounts for parent organizations, such as denominations, dioceses, or law firms, are available. For more information, click here: www.churchlawandtax.com.

*****

The cause of the collapse of civilized society in Germany in the 1930s was the abandonment of ethics and the failure of the Church-except for a brave few-to stand for truth. Dr. Timothy George makes the case brilliantly in a half-hour talk comparing the Manhattan Declaration and the Barmen Declaration crafted by the confessing Church after the Nazis took power. You'll be struck by the incredible parallels between the documents, which simply underscore the urgency of the moment for Christians to rally behind the orthodox faith and defend the most foundational truths. I urge you to watch Dr. George's presentation from the VALS Conference in March at Colorado Christian University at at http://www.ccu.edu/vals/video/.

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VOL is in the midst of its spring drive for funds to stay in business. Most of you will have received an online appeal for help and many of you have come through. A smaller group will have received a snail mail request. We hope you will take a few moments to pop a check in the mail to keep the news coming to you each week. VOL has no corporate sugar daddy or mommy. Every fund-raising appeal is the one that determines what we can or cannot do going forward. We run a lean (some say mean) ministry. So be it. We write the stories no one else will write. We are politically incorrect and we take risks no other Anglican news service or blog will take or touch...sometimes with a 50 foot barge pole. We go where others will not go.

If you are on a tight budget, please just forward VOL's articles to your friends and invite them to join VOL's growing worldwide family of readers. You can do so by going here: www.virtueonline.org or dropping a personal request here: david@virtueonline.org

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If you are one of VOL's readers in 160 countries and want to learn more about what Anglicans believe, please check in with our Global Anglican Theological Institute (GATI) website run by the able Rev. Dr. Robert Sanders. http://www.globalanglican.org/

Warmly in Christ,

David