Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
5/31/2007

Imagine Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola saying something about the horrific state of The Episcopal Church, installing one of his own bishop's on these shores, and then saying, "I did, and accidentally said exactly what I meant, and I'd like to take it back because I didn't anticipate the controversy and I don't need the headache." Of course it will never happen. The plainspoken Archbishop has never minced his words. Nor did he this week, when he announced that he and his province's 122 bishops and archbishops might not attend Lambeth 2008 because his American bishop, Martyn Minns had been excluded from the upcoming gathering.

The truth is, Archbishop Akinola might be the Anglican Communion's last best hope in checking its lemming rush toward the abyss.

Since Dr. Rowan Williams announced who could and could not attend Lambeth 2008, the wires, blogs and pronouncements from within The Episcopal Church and from overseas provinces have been running hot.

Not only has Archbishop Akinola hinted darkly that his bishops may not attend Lambeth, the Ugandan Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi and his House of Bishops have now said that they will definitely not attend any Lambeth Conference to which the violators of the Lambeth Resolution are also invited as participants or observers.

For him the issue is not merely V. Gene Robinson, it is "all the American Bishops who consented to, participated in, and have continued to support the consecration as bishop of a man living in a homosexual relationship have been invited to the Lambeth Conference."

This notches up the pain considerably. Will the CAPA bishops as a bloc decide they won't go to Lambeth? We have yet to hear from them, but don't be surprised if they don't. Southern Cone Archbishop Greg Venables is also weighing his options. He is an outspoken Evangelical and is very upset that his bishop, Robinson Cavilcanti of Recife, Brazil, has not been extended an invitation. Venables told The Daily Telegraph: "It is a mess. Unless there is a major shift there are going to be significant absences from Lambeth."

The conservative "Global South" primates, who are mostly from Africa and Asia, are furious because they believe Dr Williams has been unduly lenient with the liberal leadership of the American branch of Anglicanism.

Archbishop Kolini and the House of Bishops in Rwanda are expected to meet soon to respond officially to Archbishop William's decisions not to invite their four American bishops to the 2008 Lambeth Conference, VOL was told. "It is anticipated that they will address the fact that some of the members of their body have not been invited," said Bishop Chuck Murphy, AMiA leader. The Anglican Mission in America has four bishops: Bishop Chuck Murphy, Bishop TJ Johnston, Bishop Thad Barnum and Bishop Sandy Greene. None has received invitations.

Fr. David Moyer and Fr. David Chislett, bishops with the Traditional Anglican Communion, had hands laid on them by the Australia Anglican Bishop of The Murray. Technically both men should have gotten invitations. Both hold licenses in the Diocese of The Murray. Fr. Moyer is Bishop Ross Davies' offshore bishop. Both men were snubbed.

All in all, if orthodox archbishops and bishops around the communion decide not to attend Lambeth the figure could well reach over 250 non-attendees, about a third of all bishops in the Anglican Communion!

The notion of no Lambeth or two separate Lambeths - one in Canterbury and the other in Lagos - is a journalist's worst nightmare.

It is not simply the attendees and non-attendees who are the story of Lambeth, it is the agenda and what's on it. The Lambeth Conference faces a conflict over mission and how that is to be understood. The agenda says nothing about the Great Commission focusing more on a worldly approach to human salvation through Millennium Development Goals and other assorted social amelioration programs. The design for Lambeth 2008 "is not driven by production of reports and enabling resolutions building out of the reports, and that's a significant departure from previous designs," says Dr. Ian Douglas, a member of the Episcopal Church's Executive Council and of its delegation to the Anglican Consultative Council. INTERPRETATION. Never again will Anglican bishops be allowed to present a resolution like 1:10 affirming the sacredness of heterosexual marriage. Pro gay forces led by the Anglican Consultative Council and its leader Canon Kenneth Kearon are seeing to that. You can read my story on this here or in today's digest. http://tinyurl.com/2lmkmb

Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, has weighed in saying the advice given Dr. Williams was not fixed and that Canon Kenneth Kearon (ACC) does not have the last word. Dr. Williams could still change his mind, he wrote. You can read what he says here or in today's digest. http://tinyurl.com/yr5rw6

Robinson's friends are truly coming out in force. SOULFORCE, an organization that calls itself "a national civil rights and social justice organization whose vision is freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance," has launched a petition to the Archbishop of Canterbury asking that Bishop Robinson not be excluded from Lambeth in 2008. This group is not Episcopalian but they have taken up Robinson's cause as their own. The leader of this group is Mel White a former evangelical and ghostwriter for such evangelicals as Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell and Jimmy Baker. The Metropolitan Community Church, America's first and only fully homosexually driven church also ripped the Archbishop of Canterbury for not inviting Robinson. Truly Robinson doth have high friends in low places.

In the DIOCESE OF CONNECTICUT this week, Trinity Episcopal Church in Bristol departed the diocese and The Episcopal Church declaring itself a member of the Anglican Church of Nigeria. The Rev. Donald Helmandollar, Trinity's rector, confirmed Tuesday that as of Sunday the parish had joined the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, (CANA) and will come under Bishop Martyn Minns. "We have remained with the Anglican Communion. The Episcopal Church has demonstrated, continues to demonstrate, that they are walking apart from the communion," he said. The presenting issues are, of course, the openly homosexual Bishop of New Hampshire and TEC's abandonment of "the orthodox tenets" of Christian belief. None of the 'Connecticut 6' is involved in this flight. One of the priests told VOL, "We are waiting on Sept. 30." According to a local reporter, Bishop Andrew Smith said he did not want to comment because he hadn't received the letter yet. Based on his past record, he will do unto Helmandollar what he did to Fr. Mark Hansen of St. John's, Bristol who was humiliatingly dumped by Smith. He sent in a squad of thugs who took his personal computer, locked the doors, placed guards around the perimeter of the church and put in a revisionist woman priest. You can read my story here or in today's digest. http://tinyurl.com/2l7kjt

Also in the DIOCESE OF CONNECTICUT it was announced that Mrs. Katharine Jefferts Schori has accepted and invitation from the Rev. Audrey Murdock, vicar, and will preach at St. John's, Bristol. The first woman rector of St. John's, Susan McCone, apparently didn't last for very long. When I spoke to a former member of the parish he said it only drew between 20 and 30 people on any given Sunday but will probably double when Mrs. Schori and her camp followers show up. They are still considered a mission, and have a vicar. Smith still owns them.

LIBERAL EPISCOPAL BISHOPS continue to whine big time about Robinson's exclusion from Lambeth. Typical is the response from the DIOCESE OF UTAH. The bishop there, one Carolyn Tanner Irish is a strong supporter of Robinson. She called Robinson's shunning "an extremely rare historic occurrence" and "deeply hurtful." "To single him out because of his sexuality shows a regrettable lack of respect for his diocese," the statement read. Much the same sentiments are being sounded abroad...all of them feeling Robinson's pain.

V. Gene Robinson was back in the news this week (is he ever out of it?). The Governor of NEW HAMPSHIRE signed a civil unions law this week with Robinson standing right there and hailing it as a victory for civil rights. He did say that he will not force his priests to perform gay marriages. You can read that story here or in today's digest. http://tinyurl.com/2po4oj For a video of what happened in New Hampshire click here: http://www.wmur.com/news/13418489/detail.html

In the DIOCESE OF NEW WESTMINSTER, BC Canada, the revisionist bishop Michael Ingham along with the Synod passed a resolution saying that it regrets Archbishop Williams' decision not to include Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, USA, in invitations to attend the 2008 Lambeth Conference. They also instructed the Secretaries of this Synod on their behalf to write to the Archbishop and respectfully request that he reconsider that decision and include Bishop Robinson in the invitations. Robinson will be invited to the conference as a guest, but not as a full participant like other bishops. He'll undoubtedly hang with sympathetic media types where he'll probably get more press coverage than if he were sitting with the other 799.

In the DIOCESE OF THE RIO GRANDE, the bishop and diocese passed two resolutions recently asking the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church for alternative oversight for those parishes wanting to leave the diocese and the national Episcopal Church. In a letter to the diocese, the Rt. Rev. Jeffrey N. Steenson, said that The Standing Committee, Property Trustees and Diocesan Council met recently in El Paso and unanimously requested alternative pastoral care as recommended by the Primates, arguing that it is the best available option to keep its congregations together. You can read the full story here or in today's digest. http://tinyurl.com/2hb88k

TRINITY EPISCOPAL SCHOOL FOR MINISTRY announced the appointment of The Right Rev. Dr. John Rodgers as Interim Dean and President, following the resignation of the Rev. Dr. Paul Zahl. The board and faculty chose him. Dr. Rodgers was the first professor of systematic theology at Trinity and he was the school's second Dean and President. He is a gifted scholar, writer, teacher, preacher, and an internationally respected Anglican theologian. What is most interesting about this appointment is that he is a bishop in the Anglican Mission in America, and thus a no-no to the powers that be in New York. A statement by the school says TESM is in the business of forming Christian leaders for mission and ministry. The board will appoint a search committee to find a new Dean and President. VOL has an interview with Dr. Rodgers in the pipeline, which will shortly be made available on the website.

AN OPEN LETTER on theological education to Network Bishops and Common Cause Partners by Dr. Stephen Noll is must reading. "I write you about an issue close to my heart: the sustenance of orthodox Anglican theological education in the USA. As many of you know, I worked for 21 years at Trinity School for Ministry to fulfill its vision to reform and renew the Episcopal Church. Sadly, we failed. Any failure has multiple explanations, but I am convinced that one of them is the failure of conservative bishops to see the urgent need to send ALL orthodox and evangelical students to Trinity. Instead many naively accepted a pluralistic approach to theological formation. Trinity was seen as a nice new dish at the Episcopal smorgasbord, catering to certain renewal people, not the necessary remedy to a radically sick denomination." You can read it here or in today's digest http://tinyurl.com/yrzc53.

The Rev. Michael Lessard Lord of the Nations in Glendale Arizona, part of the AMiA network, wrote to say that Dr. Noll's "open letter" did not include one other option for theological education. "The Lord of the Nations AMiA network is establishing an online school of theology." Their website can be found at anglicanschool.org

A STORY last week about Redeemer Anglican Church having left the DIOCESE OF FLORIDA brought this note from the Rev. Neil Lebhar. He wrote: "This story is accurate except that Redeemer Anglican Church has now decided to use the earlier name of '"Church of the Redeemer'". Our Anglican identity will remain clear." The original Church of the Redeemer has only an interim rector in the person of Davette Turk. MY STORY on Charles Bennison's sex abuse scandal being edited out of Wikipedia by order of Mrs. Schori brought an interesting response from one reader. There were apparently three attempts to remove the abuse material in three days. A techno buff allegedly traced the attempts to erase Bennison's on line past to a law firm in Philadelphia - Caesar, Rivise, Bernstein & Cohen. When last observed, the abuse information had been restored to Wikipedia.

IN SEATTLE layoffs at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral continues to stir anguish leaving many parishioners divided and in turmoil, with some saying they are leaving the church. The Very (homosexual) Rev. Robert Taylor, dean of the cathedral, informed parishioners that the church fell short of its annual fundraising goal and would lay off three women, two of them priests. He did this while upping his own salary to $175,000!!! His being a homosexual is not exactly a big draw card these days either.

The NEW YORK TIMES wedding pages announced the nuptials of two homoerotic Episcopal priests this past weekend. The Revs. Mark Lewis and Dennis Winslow tied the knot in a civil union, courtesy of The Rev. Tim S. Hall, also an Episcopal priest, who officiated at the couple's home in Union City, N.J., He was assisted by his wife, the Rev. Jacqueline Schmidt. Quoth The Times: The couple met 15 years ago this week, shortly after Mr. Lewis moved to New Jersey. "Our eyes met from across the apartment, I did a complete thunderbolt thing," Mr. Lewis said. "We have been together since that day", said Mr. Winslow. The happy couple will not be honeymooning in Nigeria.

Where in London will you soon be able to hear the names of Allah, sung to solemn music? Why, Westminster Cathedral, of course! If you thought the mother church of England's Catholics was entirely given over to Christian worship, then think again. Will the names of Allah offend or inspire? On June 1, Sir John Tavener's The Beautiful Names, will sound forth with a text "culled from the Koran", and will be premiered in the cathedral by the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. The "Prince of Wales, who it is hoped will enjoy listening to the "magisterial calling out of Allah", has commissioned the work that punctuates the 70-minute work. Some commentators are pretty furious. They point out that, not long ago, Westminster Cathedral encountered a rather different face of Islam.

If you think that sexual wackiness is just an Episcopal Church thing, think again. It was announced at the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, recently, that one of its ministers who underwent a surgical change of gender identity has been reappointed. The former Rev. Ann Gordon, now known as the Rev. Drew Phoenix, told the annual conference of a "spiritual transformation" since the sex change procedure. The Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma has its very own trans gendered deacon, a true sign that sexual craziness can be transmitted across denominational lines.

This, of course, raises the question that the Archbishop of Canterbury must one day answer. If you open the sexual Pandora's box to included homosexuals and lesbians, where does it all end? By what authority can he say that a bi-sexual or trans gendered person cannot and should not be a priest, and what sort of commitment does one have in a bi-sexual arrangement that is God honoring?

ON A HAPPIER NOTE, The Lord Archbishop of the West Indies, Primate and Metropolitan, and The Bishop of Nassau and The Bahamas including the Turks and Caicos Islands, The Most Rev'd. Drexel Wellington Gomez will be leading a FESTIVAL OF FAITH to be held at St. Luke's Parish, Bladensburg, Maryland on Saturday, July 28, 2007. The archbishop will discuss the Anglican Covenant and the future of the worldwide Anglican Communion. He will also celebrate the Eucharist. The Rt. Rev. Donald J. Parsons, Former Dean of Nashotah House and retired Bishop of Quincy, will also be present for the occasion. "The presence of these two men of God is a blessing. This time in our Church family is a difficult one. But God, in His word, has promised to be faithful to His children, Anglicans included. This is a time of spiritual reflection and renewal. Your presence here would make a tremendous statement about your faith in God's ability to bestow His blessing at this moment in our lives," a press release said. Those wishing to attend can write to: St. Luke's Parish, 4002 53rd Street, Bladensburg, Maryland 20710.

FRANK GRISWOLD, former Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, will be at St. Paul's K Street, the leading Anglo-Catholic parish in the Diocese of Washington to preach and preside at Pentecost Masses including commissioning. The rector Fr. Andrew L. Sloane who is out of the country apparently invited Griswold to fill the pulpit and also do the services in his absence. An interesting choice when you think about it. Griswold is an Affirming Catholic (not an Anglo-Catholic) who does not believe in the Real Presence, so how did he get the invitation then? Interesting question. One wonders if the parish knows or cares.

SNOOPY SILLINESS. The Episcopal News Service reports that the St. Mary's Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Los Angeles may be the only church in Los Angeles or the nation to include a likeness of Snoopy, cartoonist Charles Schulz's light-hearted beagle, in a stained glass window. What next? Robinson and his partner...with the inscription "Blessed are the Peacemakers."

THE LIVING CHURCH magazine has seen the Episcopal light and the realization has dawned that the TEC light bulb has grown very dim and flickering. The drift towards Unitarianism has forced its Board of Directors to return to its roots and re-emphasize its historic mission. Gone is the familiar "An independent weekly serving Episcopalians." In its place is, "An independent weekly supporting catholic Anglicanism." Ironically The Christian Challenge magazine calls itself, "The only worldwide voice of traditional Anglicanism." It'll be interesting to see how all this plays out as TEC comes slowly unglued, and has more pressure to conform is placed on it by the ABC and Global South to conform. The only voice supporting TEC is "Episcopal Life", unaffectionately known as "Episcopal Death" for its total support of all things Episcopalian.

THE ANGLICAN PROVINCE OF CHRIST THE KING announced this week that on St. Peter's Day, June 29th, at 11:00 a.m. the College of Bishops will meet at St. Peter's Pro-Cathedral, Oakland, California, for the Liturgy of St. Peter. The bishops will elect a new Archbishop for the Province of Christ the King as the octogenarian Robert Morse is now stepping down. It is significant that the election takes place at the Pro-Cathedral on St. Peter's Feast Day as the Province was first established in that church.

STEPHEN BATES, religion writer for The Guardian newspaper, is on a campaign to rid the Church of England of nasty, homophobic conservatives. Writing in The Record, the Trade paper for Anglican Clergy and Church Workers, he excoriated what he calls a fundamentalist takeover of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He also took a swipe at Oak Hill College in London.

DEATH OBSERVED. The Rev. Professor John Macquarrie, who died on Monday at age 87, was one of the best-known and most influential theologians of his time.; Hhe began life as a Scottish Presbyterian and taught for some years at Glasgow University. During his time as Professor of Systematic Theology at the Union Theology Seminary in New York, he became an Anglican. For 16 years, he was Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity at Oxford. A prolific writer with more than 20 books to his credit, Macquarrie was a very successful mediator between the academic world and the parishes. Although his theology was by no means conservative, he retained a deep commitment to the traditional practices of the church. This inspired confidence among many who feared that modern theology was undermining the basis of the Christian faith itself.

ANGLICAN FRONTIER MISSIONS has a new Executive Director. AFM founder the Rev. Tad de Bordenave is stepping down and being replaced by the Rev. Julian Linnell, Ph.D. His doctorate is in applied linguistics making him an A1 candidate for the job. AFM's main thrust is church planting among the 25 largest and least evangelized peoples of the world. Tad will concentrate on the study of missions in the writings of St. Paul.

IF YOU haven't signed up, then please consider this an invitation to attend The BARNABAS FUND'S breakfast. The Reverend Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo, President of the Barnabas Fund, invites you to a Breakfast and Presentation of the world's leading ministry to aid Christians facing persecution in Islamic countries. This event will be held in Washington, D.C. on June 7th. Please RSVP by May 30th. This meeting is primarily for pastors and church leaders and there is no charge. Send an e-mail to bfusa@barnabasfund.org and let them know.

Also visit their website at VOL: www.virtueonline.org and scroll down to the bottom of the front page. There are first hand accounts of Christians being persecuted around the world, many at the hands of Muslims. If you want to see and read how some people are prepared to lay down their lives for the gospel, this is MUST reading.

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All blessings,

David W. Virtue DD