All Christ's teaching. Where is all the teaching of Jesus Christ to be found? The correct answer is not 'in his discourses in the gospels', but 'in the whole Bible'. Properly understood, the teaching of Jesus Christ includes the Old Testament (for he set his seal upon its truth and its authority), the gospels (in which his own words are recorded), and the rest of the New Testament (which contains the teaching of the apostles through whom, we believe, he continued to speak, in order to complete his self-revelation). --- From 'The Great Commission', in "One Race, One Gospel, One Task", ed. C. F. Henry and W. S. Mooneyham

"The word of the Lord constantly presents the Lord of the word. Coming to the word is coming to the Lord. This central truth cuts both ways. We cannot detach the word from the Lord and, like the scribes and the Pharisees, profess to cling to the Scriptures while refusing the Lord. On the other hand, neither can we profess obedience to the Lord while rejecting his word. To separate a living Lord from a 'dead' book or a divine Lord from a merely human book is to reject the apostolic gospel...Those who read the word of God, and surely those who teach it, must never forget why the word is given and whom it reveals. The word shows us that the Lord is good; his words are sweeter than honey to our taste because in them the Lord gives himself to us." --- Dr. Edmund Clowney's IVP The Bible Speaks Today Commentary on 1 Peter (ed. by John Stott).

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
2/29/2008

The focus this week, in the life of the Anglican Communion, is on the unraveling situation in the Anglican Church of Canada. Orthodox parishes from West coast to East coast, who no longer want to stay under the umbrella of liberal bishops, are now embroiled in lawsuits. Church doors are locked and bishops are threatening, as they flee their ultra-liberal ecclesiastical masters. Million dollar legal war chests are being built as they face an uncertain future. In Ontario, talks with dissident Anglican parishes ended on a sour note. Battle over the ownership of three breakaway Ontario Anglican churches is now continuing in the courts. Efforts to settle an ownership dispute between the Niagara Anglican diocese and three dissenting area congregations broke down after several days of talks. For a look at the situation in Canada, you can click on this You Tube link and watch the Rev. Dr. David Short explain the situation in Canada. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj4rxET0NOg Dr. Short is rector of the largest attended parish in Canada - St. John's Shaughnessy in Vancouver, BC. He talks lucidly about the re-alignment now taking place in Canada. Watch it. "Same-sex issues are icebergs issues," he says.

Just when you think that Bishop Michael Ingham can't get any nastier, the bully Bishop of New Westminster threatens theologian and Anglican heavyweight, the Rev. Dr. J.I. Packer, with suspension. Packer (whom VOL interviewed in Dallas http://tinyurl.com/2z2k27) is one of the global Anglican Communion's most esteemed Christian theologians. Ingham accused Dr. Packer, hailed by Time Magazine as the "doctrinal Solomon" of Christian thinkers, as "having abandoned the exercise of ministry" after the church where he is a member voted to separate from the diocese and join the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone under the oversight of Anglican Archbishop Gregory Venables. Hell hath no fury like a revisionist bishop scorned. Ingham ranks right down there with the likes of Spong, Bennison and a whole host of vicious, nasty, men and women in purple who hate the exclusive claims of Christ and His gospel. I have posted a number of stories about the situation in Canada in today's digest.

In another sign that all is not well in the Diocese of New Westminster, a VOL reader wrote to say that a friend of his who is a senior warden at one of the wealthier parishes in the diocese had their annual vestry meeting recently and were FORCED to approve an annual assessment rate of 19.5% of all their revenue to go to Ingham and the diocese. There was a minor revolt and a lot of anger expressed. Now that four of the monied parishes have left the diocese, Ingham is wringing the short fall out of his remaining parishes. People are, to quote my friend, "getting pissed off" with the bishop.

In other news, former Edmonton Bishop Victoria Matthews, who has been elected Bishop of ChristChurch, New Zealand, came in for harsh criticism from those who say that her pro homosexual views might split that province. According to a VOL source, when Canada voted to elect another primate, Matthews was assumed to be the shoe-in, but she shot herself in the foot by hesitating on the issue of same-sex blessings, and the gay/ lesbian lobby cut her off at the pass and elected Fred Hiltz instead. "Now she's gone to New Zealand to become a Kiwi bishop. The woman's eaten up with ambition."

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In the Episcopal Church this week, two retired orthodox bishops, the Rt. Rev. William Wantland and Maurice M. Benitez again asked, in an open letter to the Members of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, just where is the money coming from to fight the mounting litigation costs against orthodox parishes fleeing TEC. They never got answers the first time round, so they have written again. "This letter constitutes our final effort to obtain information from you as representing the leadership of the Episcopal Church about the amount currently being expended in the extensive litigation in which the Episcopal Church is engaged." They accused the Executive Council of secrecy. You can read the full story here or in today's digest. http://tinyurl.com/26jdm9

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In the DIOCESE OF SAN JOAQUIN, Bishop John-David Schofield laid down the law to Intruding "Reconcilers". You can read my exclusive take on this here or in today's digest. http://tinyurl.com/27onfx

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In the DIOCESE OF PENNSYLVANIA, Bishop Charles Bennison faces 155 charges in a civil court action brought by Fr. David L. Moyer. This case will now be heard in Norristown, PA in May. The inhibited bishop and those who assisted him will be confronted by hard questions that they can no longer hide from or spin. A jury of his peers will then determine Bennison's guilt or innocence. The vacuous smile that plays so easily on Charles Bennison's face will vanish in the harsh light of a courtroom drama that will play out his ecclesiastical life. The outcome could see the revisionist bishop forced to pay millions of dollars for behavior so egregious, that only his present inhibition by the church's Presiding Bishop for failing to stop his brother (a former priest), from engaging in sex with a minor, can top it. You can read my exclusive story on Bennison in today's digest.

BREAKING NEWS:

The Standing Committee has been advised by the Episcopal Church Attorney that the Ecclesiastical Trial of the Right Reverend Charles E. Bennison, Jr., on the Presentment dated October 29, 2007 on charges filed by the then Presiding Bishop, Frank Griswold, has been scheduled for June 9, 2008. The trial will be conducted in Philadelphia and will be open to the public. The exact location of the trial has not yet been determined.

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Is AMERICA coming unraveled? Recent surveys of America's religious habits indicate we are a nation in spiritual free fall and decline. The America that is, is no longer the nation that was, at least in terms of religious practice. According to recent public surveys of America's worshipping habits, denominational loyalty is out the window and so is worship of orthodox Christianity, in general. Americans are switching religious affiliation in ever-greater numbers or abandoning ties to organized denominations altogether, and Protestants are on the cusp of becoming a minority, according to a survey released Monday. One thing is for sure, those leaving are not joining The Episcopal Church, which is losing more members than any other Protestant denomination. Perhaps we are seeing a nation - under the judgment of God, with government tyranny, the largest Internet pornography business, the country owned by others, pansexuality proclaimed from its pulpits, and divorce rates among Christians as high as those who proclaim no religious faith - fast becoming, in the words of one columnist, "impotent and irrelevant." You can read my exclusive report on these surveys and what they portend for a nation under judgment. http://tinyurl.com/yomy2l

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FOUR orthodox Episcopal Bishops approached Mrs. Katherine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, with a "communion partners" offer from five Anglican Primates to oversee evangelical and Anglo-Catholic parishes in conflict with liberal and revisionist bishops in The Episcopal Church. The four American Bishops are John W. Howe, Central Florida; Bruce MacPherson, Western Louisiana; Michael Smith, North Dakota; and James Stanton of Dallas. Bishop MacPherson arranged the meeting with the Presiding Bishop, according to one conservative Episcopal blogger. PLEASE NOTE there has been much misinformation by bloggers concerning what took place. The notion of "Primatial pastoral oversight" was not contained in the plan, nor did Mrs. Jefferts Schori accept the offer as asserted by one conservative blogger, nor did the Archbishop of Canterbury back a secret plan to create a "parallel" Church for American conservatives to avert fresh splits over homosexuality as the London Telegraph screamed in a headline. Furthermore, Dr. Rowan Williams did not hold confidential talks with senior American bishops and theologians who oppose the pro-gay policies of their liberal leaders. Read the story here or in today's digest. http://tinyurl.com/2af29y

Following on that theme, Albert Mohler wrote a column on America's Most Sinful Cities based on research done by Forbes magazine. The magazine recently offered rankings on the traditional seven deadly sins -- and ranked America's "top ten" on each sin. Ironically, the most flagrant sinners are cities in the Bible Belt! "Forbes sin listings should remind Christians of the great challenge of evangelizing the cities -- a task that demonstrates Christian failure to date." You can read that story in today's digest or at Dr. Mohler's Blog www.AlbertMohler.com.

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The homoerotic Bishop of the DIOCESE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, Gene Robinson is just a little bit miffed these days. He got a "Dear New Hampshire," letter from Lambeth Palace requesting $7,000 to support the Lambeth Conference, according to Washington Diocesan flak Jim Naughton. As you all know, Robinson has not been invited to Lambeth in any official capacity, but plans to show up with Mark Andrew (his spouse), who has also not received any of the correspondence sent to spouses, to make a lot of noise about sodomite acceptance. No word on whether he will write out a check for the $7,000. If he does, we will no doubt hear about it.

The pansexual organization INTEGRITY is planning a major stage production at the Lambeth Conference. They have put out the word looking for funds to staff a frontal attack on any orthodox archbishops and bishops who still think that homoerotic behavior is unacceptable to God. They are calling it "Integrity's Canterbury Campaign" and they want your money to make it happen. They see it as a "threat and an opportunity". It will, of course, be an attempt, perhaps their final, to persuade and blast any allegedly guilt-ridden, homophobic bishops, who still remain in The Anglican Communion, that all God's children should be free to sodomize and be sodomized with God's approval. Fortunately, most of the orthodox bishops won't be there as they plan to attend GAFCON in the Holy Land.

CANA Bishop Martyn Minns said he advertently received an invitation to the Lambeth Conference, but said it was a mistake, simply a matter of failure to scrub their database."I didn't 
take it very seriously," he told VOL. Minns will be going to GAFCON.

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PAUL MOORE'S MORALS. The late Bishop of New York was married, had nine children, but that did not stop him engaging in homoerotic behavior with a man called Andrew Verver whom he met on a trip to the island of Patmos. "I was his sexual life," Verver told Honor Moore in a new book about his life that will shortly hit the bookstands. The Confessions appear in the March 3, 2008 issue of the New Yorker magazine. In an excerpt from her book "The Bishop's Daughter," Honor Moore writes about her father, his faith, and his secret. VOL will have more to say about this.

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In the DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH, support for Bishop Bob Duncan continues to grow. Edith M. Humphrey, William F. Orr Professor of New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and a vigorous supporter of Duncan, whose vision jump started the laity to give their support to him against the dozen or so clergy who say they don't want to leave The Episcopal, wrote VOL saying that nearly 300 laity and clergy in the Diocese now support the bishop with 12 supporters from outside.

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A SECOND EPISCOPAL SEMINARY is closing, according to a report in TLC. Seminary students graduating in May will be the last for Bexley Hall Seminary's Rochester, N.Y., campus. They will move their three-year residential seminary program to its Columbus, Ohio campus, according to the Very Rev. John R. Kevern, dean of Bexley Hall. VOL reported on this issue a few years back saying the seminary was in trouble. The seminary blamed local fundamentalist attitudes, but that was a myth. Now the decision to close the Rochester campus is being based, in part, on changing demographics, according to Dean Kevern. Another factor is the more stringent standards the Rochester campus would have to meet when its accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools came up for renewal in 2012. There are only 13 students enrolled at the Rochester campus for the 2007-2008 seminary term. Recently, The Trustees and the Dean of Seabury-Western Theological Seminary announced that it was facing "real economic and missional challenges," and will stop offering a residential Masters of Divinity degree. It will enter a period of discernment about its future.

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From the DIOCESE OF FT. WORTH comes word that Archbishop Gregory Venables, Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone, has accepted an invitation from Bishop Iker to make a pastoral visit to the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth during the first weekend of May. His wife Sylvia will accompany him. He will address a specially-called Convocation of the 2008 convention delegates at St. Vincent's Cathedral. The liberals in the diocese will undoubtedly see this as an intrusion into the Episcopal Church.

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PACIFIC COAST ANGLICAN AWAKENING. While things are deteriorating in the official Anglican Church of Canada, a new spiritual awakening is occurring against the revisionism of Bishop Michael Ingham. In the spirit of John 17, people are being invited to attend the first "Anglican Awakening" on March 2nd Sunday 7pm at Fraserview MB Church at 11295 Mellis Drive, Richmond, BC. Bishop Bill Murdoch of the Anglican Province of Kenya and Anglican Communion Network Dean for New England will be preaching. The Rev William Beasley, AMiA Midwest Network Leader, will also be taking part. Among the Canadians organizing this event are the Rev"s Barclay Mayo, Trevor Walters, Charles Dorrington and John Roddam. The event is being sponsored by the ACiC Network, ANiC Network Dean and REC Bishop of Western Canada & Alaska and the Anglican Communion Network (USA). For more information click here: http://www.anglicannetwork.ca/pdf/awakening_030208.pdf.

In more good news, the annual REC Diocese of Western Canada synod met in Victoria recently. Bishop Royal Grote of the REC Diocese of Mid America was their visitor and guest speaker. "Things are happening for the REC in Western Canada. We are seeing growth through church planting and new missions," said a VOL reader.

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OVERSEAS, The Anglican Church of Tanzania has elected Bishop Valentino L. Mokiwa of the Diocese of Dar es Salaam to serve as its next primate. He will succeed Archbishop Donald Leo Mtetemela, who has served as primate since 1998 and will retire on May 25. The election took place in Dodoma on February 28 during a special session of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Tanzania. Archbishop-elect Mokiwa will be installed in Dodoma on May 25. A source told VOL that Mokiwa is solidly evangelical and will hold the line against sodomy - same sex blessings and the ordination of homosexual priests and bishops. He will not be bought by The Episcopal Church's money, VOL was told.

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A book, The Identity of Anglicanism by Paul Avis on Anglican Identity has just been published in the UK (date for the US is March 2008). It has gained the praise of many scholars. The publication of The Identity of Anglicanism - Essentials of Anglican Ecclesiology occurs at a most propitious moment as the Anglican Communion prepares for the 2008 Lambeth Conference. Avis draws attention to the essentials of Anglican ecclesiology amid the inter-Anglican search for consensus on Anglican identity and integrity, coupled with a growing concern in the ecumenical domain for the future of Anglicanism. Avis provides a confident and robust scholarly presentation of Anglicanism as a family of autonomous and interdependent churches, forming one part of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, with a rich tradition of theology, spirituality and liturgy. He presents ample evidence to support Anglicanism's self definition as Catholic and reformed, along with a refreshing treatment of traditional elements - for example, Anglican distinctiveness, provisionality, conciliarity and the threefold emphasis on Bible, tradition and reason.

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Archbishop Peter Akinola (Nigeria) met with Archbishop John Chew (Southeast Asia) in Dubai recently. In spite of their busy travelling schedules, both Chew and Akinola found time to communicate in the way they know best - face to face. Given the recent tensions and reports in the media about Gafcon, Global South and Lambeth or Communion-wide issues, both these brothers in ministry met to renew again their commitment to each other, Global South work and "our beloved Church. It is a friendship that has grown through the years, with extra effort often taken to support and honor each other's ministry."

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The Synod of the Province of Southeast Asia will be meeting this week. They hope to hear some news which can encourage Anglicans in many areas of our Communion, VOL was told.

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Welcome to Christianity Explored. Developed over 10 years, Christianity Explored is an informal course for people who'd like to investigate Christianity, or just brush up on the basics. It explores who Jesus was, what his aims were, and what it means to follow him. You won't be asked to pray, sing or read aloud, and you can ask any questions you like. Or, if you prefer, you can just come along and listen. Chances are, there's a course running near you. Check out this web link. VOL heartily commends this ministry. It will take you deeper than ALPHA. You will be a true and full disciple of Jesus if you take this course. http://www.christianityexplored.org/

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The lesbian Dean of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Cleveland, the Very Rev. Tracey Lind gave the invocation at the February 26 debate between Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Lind, who ran for Bishop of Chicago managing to summon only single digit support for her candidacy, lives in an open and partnered lesbian relationship. Here is what she prayed: "We pray especially this night for Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. We give thanks for their willingness to stand before us and offer themselves to serve as our nation's president. We pray that as they debate, they will exhibit the courage of their convictions, hunger for the truth, a vision of compassion, justice for all people, and civility toward one another." It is ironic, that at a time the Democratic Party is courting the Evangelical Left to fight back support for John McCain, an avowed lesbian should be permitted to make this invocation. The religious right is fragmented because of George Bush and the War in Iraq, but this only acerbates the problem and might well galvanize many to think about how they will now vote.

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"Courage" is the theme of the Annual Anglican Men's Retreat. As many as 300 Anglican men from around the nation are expected to gather in mid-May in California for a spirit-filled retreat rich in world-class teaching, led by Henry Luke Orombi, Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Uganda. The weekend, set for May 16–18, is being planned and convened again this year by the Men's Commission of St. James Anglican Church, Newport Beach, California. John McLaughlin says the retreat seeks to fill men with the "courage to weather the storm" that swirls around the movement for orthodoxy." He emphasized the pan-Anglican nature of the retreat, which attracts members from a variety of Anglican Common Cause groups within the United States. Presenters for the retreat, in addition to the Ugandan Primate, will be the Rt. Rev. John A. M. Guernsey, Bishop for Congregations in America, The Anglican Province of Uganda, the Rt. Rev. David C. Anderson, Bishop, Convocation of Anglicans in North America, and the Rt. Rev. Robinson Cavalcanti, Bishop, Diocese of Recife, Province of the Southern Cone. Planners say the retreat affords a rare opportunity for participants to share personal time "with leaders of such quality."

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WILLIAM BUCKLEY DIES. On one of the few occasions we met over the years, William F. Buckley Jr. was the epitome of courteousness and, of course, brilliance. He was a scholar and a gentleman. Few defeated him in public debate. He almost single-handedly launched the conservative revolution and the career of Ronald Reagan to the White House. The last time I met Buckley was at Wheaton College, Illinois (I have a photo of us together) on the occasion of a conference on the life and writings of the British journalist Malcolm Muggeridge (1903-1990). I lived off and on with Malcolm and Kitty at their home in Robertsbridge, England when I was a theological student in London in the 60's. Muggeridge had done a TV show with Buckley for the "Why..." series he was doing for the BBC in London. Of all the interviews he gave over the years, it was quite possibly the best single half hour Buckley ever did. It is a conversation I will never forget. It is spell-binding. It shows Muggeridge and Buckley at the top of their form. On the occasion in Wheaton, Buckley and I reminisced about the man we both knew and loved. Buckley did not need a mentor, I did. Muggeridge was probably the greatest journalist of the 20th Century and a model for my own life as a writer. But the servant is not greater than his master, and my own scribblings will never reach the height of a Muggeridge or Buckley. But I am glad to have known both men; men who in the course of their lives and writings deeply influenced my own life, and for that I will always be grateful.

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In the last 30 days, VirtueOnline's website www.virtueonline.org drew more than 180,000 unique visitors came from 167 countries/territories. They include readers from Iran, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Ethiopia, Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Belarus, Yemen, Oman and Madagascar to name but a few. We welcome you all and hope you find our stories both informative and uplifting. VirtueOnline's goal is to present the gospel in its fullness, within the framework of Holy Scripture as it pertains to the Anglican Communion. Please feel free to write to us with suggestions and story ideas and leads. There has been a change to the website. We have made the Satirical Essays a new block of its own. Many of you have asked for them and we have obliged. Read and enjoy.

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