Take time. It is a mistake to be in a hurry or to grow impatient with God. It took him about 2,000 years to fulfill his promise to Abraham in the birth of Christ. It took him eighty years to prepare Moses for his life work. It takes him about twenty-five years to make a mature human being. So then, if we have to make a decision by a certain deadline, we must make it. But if not, and the way forward is still uncertain, it is wiser to wait. I think God says to us what he said to Joseph and Mary when sending them into Egypt with the child Jesus: 'Stay there until I tell you' (Mt. 2:13). In my experience, more mistakes are made by precipitate action than by procrastination. --- From "The Contemporary Christian" by John R.W. Stott

"We have a large number of vital churches that have a great sense of being filled with a sense of God's presence. They're very concerned about reaching out to their communities, but on the other hand we have some significant issues in the sense that a lot of our churches aren't terribly involved in evangelism or recruitment. We have relatively few youth involved in our churches, which poses some issues for what happens in the next 20-30 years. We have a lot of congregations that are stretched financially." Kirk Hadaway, Church Consultant

No pains, no gains. Why should we expect our Christian life and service to be easy? The Bible never gives us any such expectation. Rather the reverse: the Bible says again and again, no cross, no crown; no rules, no wreath; no pains, no gains. It is this principle which took Christ through lowly birth and suffering death, to his resurrection and his reign in heaven. It is this principle that brought Paul his chains, and his prison cell, in order that the elect might obtain salvation in Jesus Christ. It is this principle which makes the soldier willing to endure hardship, the athlete discipline, the farmer toil. Do not expect Christian service to be easy. --- From 'God's Man: Studies in 2 Timothy'

Dear Brothers and sisters
www.virtueonline.org
3/21/2009

It is an example of the worst kind of reverse discrimination.

An orthodox bishop, who has served his church faithfully for more than 30 years, is railroaded out of his diocese because of the evil actions of a church that knowingly consecrates a divorced homogenital bishop. The result of that action, years later, is a divided diocese in another part of the country forcing a godly bishop out of office.

In truth, it is the consequences of sexual sin playing itself out, rupturing an already divided church, causing a dwindling faithful minority to grow more cynical at prospects for change or reform in The Episcopal Church.

This is the story of Bishop David C. Bane, the former Bishop of Southern Virginia, a good man who got caught in the culture (read sexual) wars in a diocese, that was moving slowly away from orthodoxy to heterodoxy, following the Robinson consecration. In fudgy, non-specific language, he was invited to leave with promises of future work. It never happened. He was shunned from the moment he left. As a result, Bishop Bane joined ACNA this week, living proof that if ACNA did not exist, it would have to be created just for bishops like him. You can read the full story here or in today's digest. http://tinyurl.com/c4f8he

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While The Episcopal Church keeps telling everyone that all is well and that we should not be worrying about the small handful of people fleeing TEC, the announcement came this week that a new diocese, the DIOCESE OF CASCADIA had formed in the Pacific Northwest. This reflects a growing Anglican unity that will not be stopped despite all the lawsuits, acrimony and griping about cross border violations. This is the second Anglican diocese to form outside of The Episcopal Church, but inside its ecclesiastical jurisdiction. The first Anglican diocese - the Diocese of the Southeast - was formed recently with 73 Anglican clergy and wardens in Jacksonville, Florida, under vicar general the Rev. Neil Lebhar. You can read the full story in today's digest or here: http://tinyurl.com/d5av92

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The HOUSE OF BISHOPS met in Kanuga, NC this past week and delivered a pastoral statement that, when analyzed, dodged the ecclesiastical bullets flying around the Communion. 126 active and retired members of the HofB focused their attention instead on the worsening financial crisis condemning "unparalleled corporate greed and irresponsibility, predatory lending practices, rampant consumerism amplifying domestic and global economic injustice," that has put at risk the Millennium Development Goals agenda to cut in half world poverty by 2015. However, when pressed about besetting issues plaguing TEC, the bishops dodged and weaved and were decidedly less forthcoming. You can read my analysis of this event here or on today's digest. http://tinyurl.com/c86ckc

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In the DIOCESE OF COLORADO, where a pitched legal battle is going on between Bishop Rob O'Neill and the rector of Grace and St. Stephen's Church, Don Armstrong, over parish ownership, the diocese is showing its true gay and lesbian colors. The new rector of St. Paul's in Fort Collins, CO, is a partnered lesbian. Here is the announcement: http://www.stpauls-fc.org/vision_newsletter/vision_200812.pdf complete with pictures of the new partnered lesbian rector at St. Paul's. O'Neill apparently has a huge problem on his hands up there. Catherine, the rector's partner, used to be married to a male Episcopal priest, Jerry Anderson. Ah the tangled web of Episcopal sexual politics. In other news, a source told VOL that the four lay deputies to general convention are a partnered gay, a partnered lesbian, a gay wanna-be and an idiot.

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In the DIOCESE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, their diocesan convention passed by majority vote to withhold consents to the consecration of the Reverend Kevin Thew Forrester to the office of Bishop in the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northern Michigan because of his Buddhist leanings. The convention also strongly encouraged the Bishops and Standing Committees of all other Episcopal Dioceses to carefully and thoroughly study Forrester, especially his writings, statements, and sermons pertaining to the Doctrine of the Trinity and the nature of God. The diocese believes significant questions have been raised regarding Thew Forester's "faithfulness to the Doctrine of the Trinity as this Church has received it and as it is defined and articulated in the Nicene Creed and therefore recommends that the Bishop and Standing Committee of the Diocese of South Carolina withhold its consent."

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A growing coalition of Episcopal leaders, including at least two sitting diocesan bishops, announced that they intend to file a "friend of the court" brief in the litigation between the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh and the Episcopal Presiding Bishop and her allies. Bishop Bruce MacPherson of Western Louisiana and Bishop John W. Howe of Central Florida, have pledged to oppose the Presiding Bishop in court for "acting beyond her constitutional authority" in Pittsburgh. "Should the efforts by the Presiding Bishop in the civil courts be successful," they warn in their statement "the result may very well be to subvert forever the polity of The Episcopal Church." Included in the brief is the Anglican Communion Institute, a group of Episcopal orthodox theologians including Dr. Ephraim Radner, Dr. Christopher Seitz and Dr. Philip Turner. You can read the full story in today's digest.

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The DIOCESE OF MILWAUKEE announced this week that it had sold off its Camp Webb property for $1.7 million. The new owners intend to continue to run a summer camp on the property. The camp has indebtedness to the Diocese of Milwaukee Foundation and expects to realize between $1.1 and $1.2 million after the sale is complete. The interest will "provide a steady income stream to help support a vital and vibrant ministry of Christian formation in our diocese," said the Rt. Rev. Steven A. Miller, Bishop of Milwaukee, in a letter to the diocese. The diocese will continue to offer a summer camp program during July at a nearby Boy Scout facility. Bishop Miller might also need the money for his lawsuit battle with at least one parish and perhaps more in the coming months.

In other property news, the DIOCESE OF PENNSYLVANIA has the Camp Wapiti property in Maryland listed for $15 million, not $10 million that VOL first reported. In this economic climate, they will be lucky to get their asking price. Meanwhile Bishop Charles E. Bennison is still fighting his deposition. A nine-person panel of judges will decide his final fate. Mrs. Jefferts Schori has made it abundantly clear she doesn't want him around and the diocese must "move on." They have hired an interim bishop for three years.

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Vermont's religious leaders espoused views on same-sex marriage at a Senate committee hearing recently. It probably comes as no surprise that the man who drew the largest crowd to witness his testimony was Salvatore R. Matano, the Bishop of the Burlington Roman Catholic Diocese, who told lawmakers that God created marriage as the union between one man and one woman - no exceptions. "Please preserve the definition of marriage as the union of a man and woman, of husband and wife," Matano said. "Please preserve the sanctity of marriage."

Of course, it also should come as no surprise that the Rt. Rev. Thomas C. Ely, the Episcopal BISHOP OF VERMONT, acknowledged that acceptance of gays and lesbians has split his church in recent years, but said he strongly supports extending marriage rights to same-sex couples. There you have it. Night and day. Light and dark.

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The Anglican Church of Nigeria declared itself in full and complete communion with the ACNA province. The Standing Committee of the Church of Nigeria resolved unanimously to be "in abiding and full communion" with the emerging Anglican Church in North America. The Church of Nigeria, which counts more than a quarter of the world's Anglican Christians as members, is the first Anglican province to formally accept the Anglican Church in North America as its North American partner within the Anglican Communion.

In making their decision, the leaders of the Church of Nigeria's more than 140 dioceses also recommended that their province send a delegation to the Anglican Church in North America's inaugural Provincial Assembly, to be held June 22-25 in Bedford, TX, "to demonstrate our enduring partnership in the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." More heartburn from Jefferts Schori.

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In the DIOCESE OF CENTRAL NEW YORK, Bishop Skip Adams is trying to seize a trust set up through the will of a now-deceased member of the Church of the Good Shepherd. The diocese is about to seize the property and wants the money left in a trust for the parish as well. Adams claims that when Good Shepherd left the Episcopal Church it "ceased to exist" and therefore the Diocese of CNY and Christ Episcopal Church in Binghamton, who are alternative beneficiaries, should have the money. The parish, through its attorney Raymond Dague says otherwise. The parish, meanwhile, having lost use of their own church building, is now holding services in a former Roman Catholic Church just over a mile from their former site, and is experiencing increased attendance and growth.

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Is SEWANEE: UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH dumbing down its admission standards? The university says it now offers standardized test option for admissions in an effort to broaden its applicant pool to students across a range of backgrounds. College entrance examinations are optional for admission beginning with the freshman class entering in 2010, the Dean of Admission David Lesesne announced recently. Prospective students, who in the past were required to submit SAT or ACT test scores as part of the admission process, may now decide not to submit the standardized test scores. Those who make that choice must instead submit a graded academic paper and complete an evaluative interview with a representative of the University, Lesesne said. Said a source who knows the university well, "Sewanee continues its slide into mediocrity - in an effort to broaden its applicant pool to include those who refuse to show their SAT scores - how will that make Sewanee a better place?" If any TEC priests and staff have academically challenged kids, they can now go to Sewanee and feel welcomed. Ah inclusion. http://news.sewanee.edu/news/2009/03/16/sewanee-offers-standardized-test-option-for-admissions.190

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Most mainline Protestants say society should accept HOMOSEXUALITY. Members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, two mainline Protestant denominations, are considering whether to allow the ordination of non-celibate gays and lesbians as members of their clergy. The U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, conducted by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life, finds that majorities of both denominations say that homosexuality is a way of life that should be accepted by society. Among mainline Protestants overall, 56% say homosexuality should be accepted, compared with only about one-in-four evangelical Protestants and four-in-ten members of historically black Protestant churches.

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According to a report in USA TODAY, sagging endowments and other shrinking revenue streams are challenging the status quo at the nation's seminaries, most of which aren't cushioned by a link to an endowed university. Among the 175 "free-standing" institutions in the Association of Theological Schools, 39% were "financially stressed," with less than a year's worth of spendable assets, a fall 2008 report says. That's up from 26% a year earlier, and the data don't reflect fallout from the stock market crash in the fall. Making matters worse, enrollments at ATS schools have dropped 4% since 2006, marking the first consecutive-year decline in more than 20years. The Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) says enrollments are also down at 60% of Bible colleges, which train undergraduates for ministry.

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In the DIOCESE OF LONG ISLAND, delegates elected the Rev. Lawrence Provansdano as their next Bishop Coadjutor succeeding Orris Walker. He is from the diocese of Western Massachusetts. He was elected on the second ballot. Wrote one layman; "This has to be better than before." Indeed. A dog catcher would have been less fatal to that diocese than Walker who spent most of his apostolic career getting rid of the Anglo Catholics and Evangelicals on the island, selling properties, firing his dean and running the diocese into the ground. He will leave never answering the question as to whether or not he has AIDS. The diocese has loads of money from all the sales, but a rapidly declining church.

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The DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD has called for the election of a new bishop coadjutor. The orthodox Rt. Rev. Peter H. Beckwith who has been bishop since 1992 is turning 70 in September. He is required by church law to step down as diocesan bishop after turning 72. According to the canons and constitution of the General Convention of The Episcopal Church, dioceses cannot begin the process to elect a bishop without first receiving consent from a majority of standing committees and bishops with jurisdiction. This diocese is pretty evenly split, with the laity more orthodox than the clergy. They will have a hard time getting the two-thirds majority required for a new bishop.

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"Jewish fury at visit by Iran leader", ran a dramatic headline in the Australian newspaper "The Age." The Jewish Community Council of Victoria is disappointed at the support for former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami's Australian visit given by the Anglican diocese and LaTrobe University's Centre for Dialogue and they are concerned they have been duped. "Our belief, shared by Iranian dissidents, most Western and, indeed, Middle East governments, members of the Baha'i and other minority faiths in Iran and others, is that Iran is currently the greatest danger to world peace, and representatives such as Khatami are part of its strategy of ill intent. Nevertheless, we continue our honest and friendly relationship with the Anglican diocese and the Centre for Dialogue as part of our long-standing commitment to interfaith relations."

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The Methodist Church, the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, Quaker Action on Alcohol and Drugs, the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the United Reformed Church, the Evangelical Alliance, CARE and The Salvation Army have launched a campaign accusing the Government of gambling with lives in a response to plans from the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) to increase stakes and prizes for the most widely available slot machines in Britain. Under new proposals, stakes and prizes for Category C machines would double with maximum stakes going up to £1 and maximum prizes rising to £70. At a time of increasing poverty and unemployment, the maximum prize for a pub fruit machine will be higher than the Job Seeker's Allowance for a single person.

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Anglicans are struggling with visa restrictions. It has been revealed that two women theologians from Pakistan and Tanzania were unable to gain entry to the UK for the first conference for Anglican women theological educators held earlier this year. According to "The Church Times", the decision not to admit the women is merely part of an ever-increasing trend of people being unable to attend international Anglican meetings because of visa restrictions. Last year, a number of bishop's wives were unable to attend the Lambeth Conference after being refused visas. Acquiring visas, especially in African countries, is becoming increasingly difficult. Visas from Tanzania are now being processed in Nairobi, which is causing delays. In Egypt, visas are now issued by commercial enterprises rather than the British embassy, meaning the name of the Archbishop of Canterbury carries less clout when applying. In response, the Anglican Communion Office (ACO) said that it was now issuing letters signed by the secretary general, Canon Kenneth Kearon, which could be given to UK embassies across the globe. Colorado-based singer Don Francisco was refused entry to the UK in March this year on the grounds that the Christian musical he was due to take part in constituted work. A team of missionaries from Arkansas were denied entry in Scotland on similar grounds after telling immigration they would be volunteering at soup kitchens in the community during their stay.

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Contrary to widely circulated anecdotal evidence, the economic downturn is not creating a corresponding jump in church attendance. Several evangelical mega-churches nationwide have reported a spike in attendance that correlates with the drop in the Dow Jones Average, a phenomenon that religious bloggers picked up and ran with all over the Internet. But it turns out that the numbers don't support the hype. The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, an organization that monitors religious trends, conducted a quick survey and discovered that church attendance is exactly the same as it was two years ago when the Dow was nearly twice as high as it is now. The best explanation that the Pew analysts can come up with for the reports from the mega-churches -- assuming that their observations about increased attendance are correct -- is that they're drawing worshipers from other churches. That theory fits with a recent report that membership in the biggest mainstream faiths, including Roman Catholic, Southern Baptist and United Methodist, is dropping.

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Chelmsford Anglican Mainstream in England reports that parents who pulled their children out of school in protest over lessons about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history fear they will be prosecuted after education bosses pledged to take 'action' against them. Some 30 primary pupils are thought to have missed school during the week of special lessons which included secondary school pupils performing Romeo and Julian, an adapted version of the Shakespearian classic love story.

Council bosses said the protest resulted in "unauthorised absences" and had "taken action" against parents who pulled their youngsters out of George Tomlinson School in Leytonstone, east London, but refused to state what sanctions are being taken. Pervez Latif, a 41-year-old accountant whose children Saleh, 10, and Abdurrahin, nine, attend the school, said his wife Shaheen, 38, was worried they could be taken to court. He said, "My wife is very concerned she might be prosecuted." Schools across the country took part in events to mark LGBT History week, including a performance of Romeo and Julian by secondary school pupils at Leytonstone School.

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The Lambeth Conference Funding Review Group has published its report. They are still short money for the gabfest. The Board of Governors of the Church Commissioners and the Archbishops' Council each agreed, last August, to make available to the Lambeth Conference Company up to £600,000 as required to enable the Company to honor its commitments while fundraising efforts continued. Both bodies regarded these amounts as interest free loan facilities. Of the £388,000 actually borrowed by the Company, £124,000 has now been repaid, leaving £132,000 owing to each organization as fundraising continues. By the end of 2008, the review reports, the projected deficit had reduced from an estimate of over £1 million in August 2008 to £288,000, in part as a result of further fundraising efforts and in part due to actual costs proving lower than had been cautiously projected earlier in the year. The total cost of the event was £5.2million, as against the budget of £6.1million. Liberalism comes with a heavy price tag. By contrast, GAFCON left Jerusalem debt free.

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These eye witness pictures of the demise of the Christian Community in Khandamal, Orissa, India, are a striking testimony to the sorrows of fellow believers. These were forwarded to VOL and can be viewed here: http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/content/Kandhamal_finals.pdf

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A Christian minister who has had heated arguments with Muslims on his TV Gospel show was brutally attacked by three men who ripped off his cross and warned, "If you go back to the studio, we'll break your legs." The Reverend Noble Samuel was driving to the studio when a car pulled over in front of him. A man got out and came over to ask him directions in Urdu. Samuel, based at Heston United Reformed Church, West London, said, "He put his hand into my window, which was half open, and grabbed my hair and opened the door." You can read the full story here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1162039/Minister-beaten-clashing-Muslims-TV-show.html#

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Churches in Britain are working with Christians throughout Europe to lobby government ministers on the European Union's position at a United Nations summit on climate change in December this year. "The world needs to reduce its emissions of carbon dioxide at the same time as dealing with a crisis in our debt-based economies," Anglican Bishop Christopher Hill of Guildford wrote in a letter to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on behalf of Church of England bishops. He continued, "This is an opportunity for human society to build a new kind of low carbon economy which is more fulfilling, more sustainable and more equitable." The Anglican bishops have also asked church leaders and congregations throughout Europe to lobby their governments to support sharp EU cuts in carbon dioxide emissions. In a speech in Cardiff recently, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams also urged that environmental cost be factored into economic calculations, "in terms of doing justice to future generations. There needs to be a robust rebuttal of any idea that environmental concerns are somehow a side issue or even a luxury in a time of economic pressure; the questions are inseparably connected."

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The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have launched a joint appeal for Zimbabwe. Writing in the "Times", they talked of a country witnessing the slow death of a people. "And slow death is only intermittently newsworthy; nothing to report except more of the same, so that the temptation is to switch off. But this doesn't mean that the need for hope is any less urgent on the ground," they wrote.

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Watch this for an uplifting moment. DIVO - Amazing Grace: http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid271552717?bctid=19133130

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A new Anglican radio broadcast is underway in the Midwest. You can hear it here: http://www.biblelighthouse.com/ The person behind this is the Rev. Joseph M. Gleason His new half-hour Anglican radio show, The Bible Lighthouse, is scheduled to air every Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 CST, beginning on Wednesday, April 1. It will be broadcast internationally via the Internet, on www.wggh.net. It will also be broadcast on WGGH 1150 AM over a large section of Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, and Indiana. In a note to VOL, Gleason says he will read various vignettes regarding Holy Scripture and the Christian life, and will play some of the best new Christian music. Conservative Anglicans across the world are invited to tune in online for the weekly broadcast.

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CHRIST CHURCH ANGLICAN in Highlands, North Carolina, is looking for a rector. They are a member of the Anglican Province of America. Their Presiding Bishop, Walter Grundorf, has indicated his willingness to license a priest who is not a part of the APA. Christ Anglican Church serves the communities of Highlands and Cashiers. A detailed copy of the profile may be viewed at their website: www.christanglicanchurch.com or obtained by contacting their Parish Administrator at office@christanglicanchurch.com

This information should be e-mailed to William A. Bugg, Jr. at wabuggjr@aol.com, or mailed to: Chairman, Search Committee, Christ Anglican Church, 248 South Fifth Street, Highlands, North Carolina 28741. Mr. Bugg may be reached at (828) 526-4042.

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