Our likeness to God. Those who regard a human being as nothing but a programmed machine (behaviourists) or an absurdity (existentialists) or a naked ape (humanistic evolutionists) are all denigrating our creation in God's image. True, we are also rebels against God and deserve nothing at his hand except judgment, but our fallenness has not entirely destroyed our God-likeness. More important still, in spite of our revolt against him, God has loved, redeemed, adopted, and recreated us in Christ. --- From 'Must I Really Love Myself?' "Christianity Today".

Organised religion is always ambiguous. It can be both an instrument for good or for great evil. When I consider the history of organised religions the world over and look at the present state of our world and the countless acts of violence committed in the name of God, is it any wonder that the third commandment given to Moses on Mount Sinai was not to misuse the name of the Lord? –-- The Archbishop of York, The Most Rev. John Sentamu

Dear Brothers and Sisters
www.virtueonline.org
6/6/2008

The word came first from my source in England over SKYPE. Then a few hours later the story appeared full blown in my e-mail box. The headline told it all. The Anglican Communion Must Separate and a New Communion Formed. Archbishop of Canterbury Condemned as a "False Teacher".

A group of influential global Evangelical Anglicans believes that the Anglican Communion is fatally flawed, and that there must be a clear and decisive separation from the See of Canterbury with the formation of a new Communion that is global in scope and truly Anglican in doctrine.

"Anything less will leave faithful Anglicans throughout the world as unwilling collaborators in a counterfeit Communion which makes a virtue out of the toleration of teaching contrary to scripture, is rife and ingrained with such false teaching and is led by an Archbishop of Canterbury who himself so teaches. Freedom from the hegemony of the Anglican Communion's pretended fellowship, with all the compromises and distractions it entails, is imperative if those Churches of the Communion which have not abandoned the sovereign authority of Scripture are to be free to develop that true communion and fellowship which has at its heart the transforming power of the gospel," say the writers representing themselves under the umbrella of the The Society for the Propagation of Reformed Evangelical Anglican Doctrine (SPREAD)

They titled their paper, "COUNTERFEIT COMMUNION AND THE TRUTH THAT SETS FREE". The writers say that there are now two distinct religions in One Communion - one is a revisionist Anglicanism, which has adopted contemporary Western humanism and its keptical assumptions about the Bible while retaining a veneer of religiosity. The other is the Anglican reformed catholic faith, wrought in the Church of England during the Protestant Reformation and defined by the Church of England's Articles of Religion, 1662 Book of Common Prayer and the 1662 Ordinal.

They say that a new Anglican Communion would not compromise either being Anglican or having a faith rooted in the Anglican tradition. SPREAD is the brainchild of the Rt. Rev. Dr. John H. Rodgers, former president and Dean of Trinity School for ministry and now a bishop in the Anglican Mission in the Americas. The story can be read here http://tinyurl.com/5qx9o4 or in today's digest, lays out the future as these Evangelical Anglicans believe it should be. They are also totally convinced that the Archbishop is so theologically and morally compromised on human sexuality that his leadership is non-existent and he is no longer capable of leading the Anglican Communion.

These are the strongest words to date by a group of orthodox Anglicans. If it gathers momentum there is no saying where all this will go.

NOW it should be noted that SPREAD does not speak for GAFCON.

There are three purposes for GAFCON and they should be noted.

1. To provide an opportunity for fellowship as well as to continue to experience and proclaim the transforming love of Jesus Christ, which we in Uganda know very powerfully.

2. To develop a renewed understanding of our identity as Anglican Christians.

3. To prepare for an Anglican future in which the Gospel is uncompromised and Christ-centred mission is a top priority.

It is too soon to say where all this leads and speculation is not helpful. An orthodox North American Anglican Province is also in the works and will, over time, become a reality. Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan recently confirmed that. It is also a fact that a number of Episcopal dioceses will leave the Episcopal Church(one has already departed) with more to follow. A number of African jurisdictions are firmly rooted in the U.S. with their own constituencies and will not go away. Furthermore they are rapidly growing. Canada now has an alternative Anglican jurisdiction firmly rooted on Canadian soil with two bishops and an archbishop. Their ship has set sail.

TEC Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and her attorney, David Booth Beers, can sue everybody till the cows come home but it will not stop or reverse what has been started. Whining about crossing diocesan boundaries is a waste of time. The African and Southern Cone archbishops, who come to North America, do not care one whit what Mrs. Jefferts Schori thinks. They have made that abundantly clear. The bishops who receive them (Iker, Schofield, et al) will fight right back if she says anything.

Clearly, events are moving towards a kairos moment. Nothing and no one can stop it, least of all Episcopal liberal, pansexualists and revisionists. They may hold the reigns of ecclesiastical power, control the trust funds, and put in their so-called bishops, but they have no future. They are losing market share (parishioners). Liberals cannot make churches grow. Homosexuality is emptying churches. Gene Robinson is a sexual anomaly; so is Jack Spong. Their "reformations" will die with them. The gospel will never be compromised...never. The battle is the Lord's...

*****

Just to keep the pressure on the Anglican Communion, the PROVINCE OF UGANDA announced this week that it was sending 107 Ugandan Anglicans to Jerusalem for the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON). Thirty-four of them will be bishops from the Church of Uganda and their wives. You can probably double that number from the Province of Nigeria. Between them, they represent 34 million Anglicans (Nigeria 25 million, Uganda nine million) which is nearly 45% of the whole Anglican Communion!

To add a little more fuel to the fire Archbishop Orombi said pro-gay bishops must apologize and renounce their support for sexual perversion in order to reunite the Church. The Archbishop of Uganda made the appeal this week while addressing journalists at the provincial headquarters in Namirembe, Kampala.

An estimated 1,000 people from around the worldwide Anglican Communion, including more than 280 bishops, will participate in the GAFCON Pilgrimage. The Church of Uganda will represent more than ten percent.

To make the point, however, Dr. Peter Jensen, Sydney Archbishop, made this statement while heading out the door to GAFCON, "The old church was finished. Exploring the possibilities of this different organization is now before us."

*****

On the Episcopal Church home front, things are going from bad to worse. My lead story documents recent Episcopal church closures, cathedrals that are in trouble, seminaries restructuring, Diocesan budgets not being met and millions spent on lawsuits. The picture is not pretty and is only getting worse. The Episcopal Church is paying a heavy price for its pansexuality.

At a diocesan level, things aren't much better.

In the DIOCESE OF PENNSYLVANIA, Bishop Charles E. Bennison goes on trial this week - a truly humiliating moment and the final capstone for a family of three Bennisons, all of whom have turned out to be dismal failures. Hopefully, this will be the end of this disastrous family of losers. On the eve of his trial, John Bennison is now denying that any sexual relations took place with a 14-year old. He has written a threatening letter saying he will sue anyone who says he did. "This was an allegation only, not established fact, and contrary to written evidence that was reviewed in 1978. In 1977, the prior relationship with a minor, who was older than 14 years of age, was fully acknowledged by me before the ecclesiastical authority (the Bishop of Los Angeles). This is contrary to a statement asserted, but never proven, by subsequent ecclesiastical authorities, at the time of a second disclosure of the same matter in 1993."

In yet another nail in the coffin of this diocese, it was revealed this week that a Fr. Michael Ruk, the priest in charge at St. Paul's in Levittown and All Saints' Church in Fallingston, was allegedly selling sex on Craigslist. The priest was supposedly offering massages with an extra bit of pleasure --"sensual bodywork". NBC10 got hold of the story forcing Bishop Pro tempore Allen Bartlett to investigate it. He said it was inappropriate! Not sinful or exploitive, just inappropriate. "I was outraged," said a man who only wants to be known as Jake.

*****

In a move designed to outrage orthodox Episcopalians even further, the Archbishop of Canterbury sent an invitation to the surrogate bishop of the DIOCESE OF SAN JOAQUIN, Jerry Lamb, to attend the Lambeth Conference in July. The invitation is a major slap in the face of orthodox Episcopalians and Anglicans. The Anglican Bishop of San Joaquin, John-David Schofield has not been uninvited and will attend both the Lambeth Conference and GAFCON. He has been sent all his papers.

IN other news from that diocese, The Episcopal Church made a big show of amending their lawsuit against Bishop Schofield to include not only diocesan real estate and financial assets, but to also add Merrill Lynch and the "Anglican Diocese Holding Corporation" as defendants.

"The main reason for the amendment is that we have obtained information that John-David Schofield has actually been transferring both real property and investment accounts (the latter held by Merrill Lynch) to non-Episcopal entities, including specifically a new corporation known as the Anglican Diocese Holding Company," said Heather Anderson, an attorney with the Goodwin Procter law firm based in Washington, D.C.

The Anglican Diocese quickly responded saying they had fully complied with California State Law and clarified the "recently published misunderstandings and misstatements regarding legal claims against the Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin" saying that its governing bodies, namely, its Standing Committee and its Diocesan Council, along with Bishop Schofield's actions "were done in complete compliance with California law and were done to secure the property until a California court can rule on the issue of ownership." One of these actions was to retitle accounts held at Merrill Lynch; assets were not moved. The Anglican Diocese maintains that the Diocese and its parishes own the property in question not the Episcopal Church. The Diocese expects a favorable ruling by the California court on the issues of property ownership. Both stories can be read in today's digest.

In another move, Bishop John-David Schofield announced that a new Anglican church will soon be formed in Lodi. Schofield, a conservative, has appointed Deacon Roger Riggsby as priest of the new Lodi church, to be called St. Anselm of Canterbury Anglican Church. He said he has talked to pastors who say they are willing to let St. Anselm of Canterbury use their buildings.

*****

Mrs. Jefferts Schori is on the move. She recently spoke at Trinity University of Asia in the Philippines. In her remarks, she called on educational institutions of the Episcopal Church to promote social transformation and help people "to see the face of Christ in every person." She said that the role of educational institutions in the Episcopal tradition was to inculcate those values that would bring about the Reign of God. She didn't mention that three of her seminaries are facing closure or restructuring. The globetrotting Mrs. Jefferts Schori is doing what U.S. presidents have typically done : When the heat is on domestically, burnish the foreign policy credentials by traveling abroad. Of what substance or import is all this travel while TEC implodes on her watch?

*****

Under the patronage of the English-Speaking Union, Honor Moore will describe and sell her biography of her father, Bishop Paul Moore, at St. John's Church, Georgetown, Washington, D. C. Honor Moore, author of "The Bishop's Daughter", will speak to the ESU on Tuesday, June 10. Reception is at 6:30, Program at 7:00 p.m. at St. John's Church, 3240 O Street NW in Georgetown. Her latest publication focuses on Bishop Paul Moore, a larger-than-life figure, the father of nine children, who had a secret sex life that has only recently become public knowledge.

*****

The DIOCESE OF ROCHESTER installed The Rt. Rev. Prince Singh as its new bishop this week. With music, South Indian dance, swooping streamers and the laying of hands, the eight-county Episcopal Diocese of Rochester consecrated Singh as their new bishop at the Eastman Theatre. Singh, 45, is a native of India, the first foreign-born bishop and the first bishop of color for the 52-congregation diocese. He was most recently the rector of St. Alban's Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Newark, N.J. "Prince is among you to be a bridge, build bridges and to teach and encourage other bridge builders," said Mrs. Jefferts Schori. No mention was made of the Episcopal Church bridge, which shows signs of severe strain.

*****

Out of the DIOCESE OF NEW WESTMINSTER came word that revisionist New Westminster Bishop Michael Ingham has threatened the Rev. David Short with charges of trespassing should he set foot on the property of St John's Shaughnessy. This could see more Canadian churches forced from their properties. The letter also advised that clergy are not only forbidden to "trespass" on church properties, but they may not exercise any ministry or remove anything from the properties, including books. Undaunted, Short said, that for the time being, it will be "business as usual" at the parish, with services and ministries running as normal.

*****

Also in Canada in the DIOCESE OF HURON, a landslide vote in favor of allowing Anglican churches in the Huron Diocese, including churches in Brant and Norfolk counties, to bless same-sex unions took many by surprise. 70 per cent of the elected Anglican delegates and lay people voted in favor of blessing same-sex unions at the annual synod this week. The decision still requires the approval of Bishop Bruce Howe, head of the Diocese of Huron. The Rev. Keith Netherly, a media relations officer, speaking on behalf of Howe, said the bishop was also taken aback by the vote.

*****

In the DIOCESE OF NORTHERN INDIANA, Bishop Edward Little and his Roman Catholic counterpart, Bishop John D'Arcy of the Diocese of Fort Wayne/South Bend, jointly sponsored an event, titled "An Introduction to the Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue." During the evening event, which began with prayer in the church, both bishops underscored the need for closer ties and better understanding of one another's churches. The Anglican presentation focuses on the importance of local clergy and laity beginning to receive and study the work of the 40-year-old Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogue and relationship. "It is time to break down the very big theological agreements into stages of reception, so that these agreements can become part of the daily life in the churches. Embittered relations have surely run their course, especially in today's world of ever more intricate networks."

*****

Episcopal property dispute continues in Fairfax, VA, Court. On May 28, Fairfax Circuit Court Judge Randy Bellows heard arguments regarding the constitutionality of a Virginia code section known as the "division statute." Members of 11 now-Anglican churches throughout the region, including the Church of the Epiphany in Oak Hill, have been sued by The Episcopal Church and Diocese of Virginia over ownership of the church property after the churches left the Episcopal Church in late 2006 and early 2007 to form the Anglican District of Virginia (ADV). On April 3, Bellows issued a ruling in which he held that there is a "division of the first magnitude" within the Diocese of Virginia, The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion at large. He ruled in favor of the 11 congregations, saying that the statute applied in the dispute and could be used to determine ownership of the property. "Once a division exists, there has to be a decision on who retains the property," Bellows reiterated last week. "What I am doing is making predicate decisions for the enforcement of the statute."

*****

The VATICAN announced this week that any Catholic bishop who attempts the ordination of a woman to the priesthood, and any woman who participates in such a ceremony, is subject to automatic excommunication. The decree came from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, published in the May 30 issue of "L'Osservatore Romano." It takes effect immediately and applies throughout the universal Church. The document was signed by Cardinal William Levada and Archbishop Angelo Amato, the prefect and secretary, respectively, of the Congregation.

*****

"Good News" reports a parishioner from Our Saviour Anglican Church, in Modesto, CA. Their first service recently drew 35 adults and 5 children. Having moved twice, they now have 67 members of record + children (approx. 16). "We were given vestments by St. Mary's Manteca, have an altar, cross, seats with kneelers, new BCPs and 1982 Hymnals bought and paid for by new members." The church is being led by the Rev. Canon Thomas M. Foster, who is assisted by the Rev. William Eastman. "We all feel so blessed that Bishop John-David gave us permission to start this mission church." The parishioner noted that the Daughters of the King (Province VIII) president had instigated an "Episcopal" Assembly here, but denied that this is happening. "They do not own the Order -- it is a non-profit corporation and a prayer-service-evangelism Order."

*****

The Rt. Rev. Keith B. Whitmore, assistant bishop for the DIOCESE OF ATLANTA, will serve as celebrant for an Integrity Eucharist service. The Rev. Jan Nunley, deputy director of the Episcopal News Service, will be the guest preacher at a gay pride festival. An "Episcopal Church Welcomes You" booth will be in place at the Boisfeuillet Jones Civic Center, where the festival will be held. Homosexuality is not only accepted in The Episcopal Church, but is shamelessly promoted and identified with in the public square!

*****

The bishop of the DIOCESE OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, the Rt. Rev. Barry L. Beisner, has emerged as a latecomer on the Supreme Court decision on marriage for same-sex partners (or a statement that same week on the Farm Bill, or on the Governor's budget proposals). While not making a formal judgment, he has spoken with the head of his General Convention Deputation, Cookie Clark. With her, he will be forming a diocesan study group on same-sex blessings. (Issues of the nature of Christian marriage, and the relationship of Church and State with regard to marriage, will be explored as well.) This group will not be expected to make a report to Diocesan Convention, or present him with a proposal for action. "I see this group as doing the work we all need to be doing, in order to prepare for the debate which our Convention has asked to have happen next summer in Anaheim. I hope that, by doing that work, they will become a resource for all of us."

****

Bishop says collapse of Christianity is wrecking BRITISH SOCIETY. The Daily Telegraph reported this week that the Bishop of Rochester, the Rt. Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, has written a comprehensive article on the impact the collapse of Christianity is having on the nation. He says that the decline of Christian values is destroying "'Britishness"' and has created a "moral vacuum" which radical Islam is filling. His claims came in an article published in the new political magazine "Standpoint," published by the Social Affairs Unit (Click here for article). In the article, Michael Nazir-Ali, claims that the "social and sexual" revolution of the 1960s has led to a steep decline in the influence of Christianity over society which church leaders had failed to resist. The full article can be read in today's digest.

*****

Traditionalists wait for Vatican ruling. According to The Church of England Newspaper, the Vatican 's relationship with the TRADITIONAL ANGLICAN COMMUNION (TAC) may be made known following the July 16-Aug 3 Lambeth Conference. Leaders of TAC, home to over 400,000 Anglo-Catholics who have left the Episcopal and Anglican churches over the past thirty years, have been in talks with the Vatican over creating an Anglican-rite enclave under the authority of the Bishop of Rome. While the curia under Pope John Paul II had opposed attempts to bring Anglicans en masse into the Roman Catholic fold, under Benedict XVI, the Vatican appears to have adopted a different line. Anglicans wishing to be received into the Catholic Church are welcome to do so, as individuals, rather than as part of a larger ecclesial body. The talks between TAC and the Vatican, however, have focused on allowing whole groups to enter the Catholic Church while maintaining their own orders and liturgy.

*****

TRAGICALLY, we announce the death this week of Christopher Morgan, former Religious Affairs Correspondent for "The Sunday Times." He took his life following an extended bout with depression. He was 55, and single. He was from South Wales and had been a devout Anglo-Catholic for all his religious life and was a close friend to Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury. He was best man at the Archbishop's daughter Jane's wedding. Morgan's mother recently died. This was said to be a major factor in his death.

*****

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