To deviate from the middle way is to risk being dubbed an 'extremist' or a 'fanatic'. Everybody resents being faced with the necessity of a choice. But Jesus will not allow us to escape it. --- From "The Message of the Sermon on the Mount" by John R.W. Stott

"I don't think there is any question that within the evangelical world broadly conceived there has been a disintegration of God centered, Christ honoring, truth loving piety and on the other hand there has been serious seepage of polluting cultural waters into the life of the church." ---Dr. David Wells, Professor, Gordon College Theological Seminary.

On Bishop Robert Duncan: "The (Episcopal) Church has practised heresy, and he must depart from it; it is that important." --- Peter Jensen, Archbishop of Sydney

The cost of discipleship. 'What can a man give in exchange for himself?' Nothing is valuable enough even to make an offer. Of course it costs to be a Christian; but it costs more not to be. It means losing oneself. --- From "Basic Christianity" by John R.W. Stott

Dear Brothers and Sisters
www.virtueonline.org
10/17/2008

It was another week of legal arguments and wrangling as attorneys from Virginia to California went to court to battle over church properties.

This whole unseemly business does nothing but bring disrepute on the gospel. Not that The Episcopal Church cares as it doesn't really have a gospel to proclaim that offers a life-changing message to anyone. MDG's will save no one and nothing. The Episcopal Church sees the triumph of the canons over the gospel and cares not one whit if the churches empty as long as they can keep the church for a fictional future of non-existent Episcopalians.

Justices in the California Supreme Court probed weaknesses in the legal arguments of lawyers from The Episcopal Church, the DIOCESE OF LOS ANGELES, and the majority of members at a congregation formerly affiliated with the diocese during a one-day hearing on Oct. 8.

In questions to Eric Sohlgren, the lawyer for St. James' Church, Newport Beach, Associate Justice Carol Corrigan asked about language in St. James' articles of incorporation which "forever bound" the parish to the constitution and canons of The Episcopal Church. Mr. Sohlgren responded that the documents refer to a "spiritual promise" similar to a marriage contract and were never meant to convey ownership of real estate to the diocese. A ruling in Episcopal Church Cases, S155094, is due within 90 days.

In VIRGINIA, it was different story. A Fairfax County judge ruled Tuesday that a piece of church property involved in a lawsuit pitting conservatives against liberals in the Episcopal Church belongs to the Truro Church in Fairfax, a leading traditional parish that left the denomination nearly two years ago.

Circuit Judge Randy I. Bellows spent less than three hours deciding the fate of a $1.2 million parcel of land that once belonged to Christ the Redeemer Church in Centreville, a daughter congregation of Truro. That transaction, which has been contested by the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, is valid, the judge ruled.

In yet another development, a trial is scheduled to begin in Fairfax County Circuit Court to determine which properties belong to a group of congregations whose members voted to leave the Episcopal Church. The congregations filed petitions in court reporting their votes to leave the denomination and affiliate with the Church of Nigeria through the Convocation of Anglicans in North America. They also sought to hold onto the properties that have been the congregations' homes.

But the problems are not just in the U.S. In VANCOUVER, BC, three Anglican congregations that split from the Diocese of New Westminster over its support of same-sex blessings have gone to court to avoid being kicked out of their churches. The three congregations - St. John's Shaughnessy in Vancouver, St. Matthias/St. Luke in Vancouver and St. Matthew's in Abbotsford, B.C. - argue in court documents that they should be allowed to remain because their opposition to same-sex blessings is consistent with "historic, orthodox Anglican doctrine."

Fighting back, the diocese and its bishop, Michael Ingham, argue that church doctrine evolves and there is no legal basis for congregations that leave the diocese to take church property with them. Cheryl Chang, a lawyer and spokeswoman for the breakaway churches, said it could take years before the courts make a final decision on who is the rightful owner of the property. However, she said a judge could grant an interim injunction, deciding who gets to use the buildings until then, as early as next month.

*****

The LATEST ATTENDANCE FIGURES are out on The Episcopal Church and they are not good. Between 2005 and 2006 the church dropped just over 50,000 Episcopalians (a 1,000 a week). The church is also aging, parishes are shrinking and in the current economic crisis anecdotal evidence is coming in that shows many congregations are now running deficit budgets. When the figures come out for 2007 and 2008, we can expect that, with four dioceses exiting, these figures will just get bigger. Also Average Sunday Attendance (ASA) dipped from 787,000 to 765,000 in 2006. By the end of this year that figure could be well below 750,000. 63% of all congregations have 100 members or less. The median average Sunday attendance is 72.

*****

As a sign of how bad things are at the diocesan level, the DIOCESE OF MICHIGAN announced this week that its people must face stark realities. A task force said that "the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan is in steep decline." Charts included in the document reveal that average Sunday attendance has declined by 22% since 2000. During the same time period "pledge and plate revenues" for all congregations combined has decreased by approximately $2 million, when adjusted for inflation. If it is this bad in Michigan, imagine what it is like in other smaller dioceses with little or no endowments. You can read the full story on this diocese in today's digest.

*****

In the DIOCESE OF WASHINGTON things aren't much better. A State of the Diocese report revealed there has been a steady decline in attendance over 40 years with no reversal in sight. Membership and money are the biggest challenges the Diocese of Washington is facing today, according to canon to the ordinary Paul Cooney.

On a typical Sunday, Cooney said, church attendance at parishes in the diocese ranges from 14 to 1,039. In half of the diocese's parishes, fewer than 115 people attend Sunday services. And in the average parish, Church School draws just 27 children. Data from parochial reports show that over the last 20 years, the diocese's membership has remained stable in the low 40,000s. But during that same period, the number of pledging households has decreased by about 20 percent. You can read the full report in today's digest. Both the present bishop, John Chane and his predecessor hate orthodoxy.

Chane regularly slams Nigerian Primate Peter Akinola as homophobic and without a social conscience even though the Nigerian Archbishop has been openly critical of corruption in his government and much more. On the other hand, Chane has sued to prevent a gospel-driven city mission over a school property it wants to house street people in the nation's capital.

*****

In the DIOCESE OF FT. WORTH, Bishop Jack Iker sent out a letter reporting on the progress -- actually the lack -- of a committee set up to try to find some middle path as he tries to lead the diocese out of the Episcopal Church.

In late January, he asked 12 of the senior priests of the diocese to begin meeting together as a clergy discussion group to assist in addressing the tensions and conflicts involved in the life of the Diocese as they move toward a Diocesan Convention vote in November to separate from the General Convention of The Episcopal Church.

"I am sorry to report that after several meetings over the months, they have been unable to agree on any proposed remedy for the divisions that face us," said Iker. The bishop said that David Booth Beers, Jefferts Schori attorney, interfered with a proposal he had with counterparts in the Diocese of Dallas to see if a pastoral agreement could be worked out between the two dioceses, whereby parishes in Fort Worth that wanted to remain in TEC could do so as part of the Dallas Diocese, when Ft. Worth comes under the Province of the Southern Cone. Beers nixed the plan. Now it will be litigation all over again when the diocese votes to leave TEC.

*****

And in yet another move that should offer hope to orthodox Episcopalians everywhere, the BISHOP OF PENNSYLVANIA Charles E. Bennison was sentenced to be deposed by a nine-judge panel for conspiring to cover up the sexual abuse of a minor. A verdict has yet to be rendered. Even now, Bennison has "not shown that he comprehends the nature, significance and effect of his conduct and has not accepted responsibility and repented for his conduct and the substantial negative effects of that conduct," the court ruled. He is appealing.

But Bennison is not out of the woods. His legal woes are far from over. On Oct. 20 a trial begins in a civil court case brought by the former president of Forward in Faith USA, the Rt. Rev. David Moyer. In a legal first, a Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, court has permitted Fr Moyer --- now a bishop in the Traditional Anglican Communion --- to pursue a trial for damages from having "fraudulently" been defrocked by Bennison without benefit of a church trial.

Should he lose the Moyer case, Bishop Bennison will be liable for substantial damages. While the national church finally acted to get rid of Bennison, their hatred of the orthodox overrides their contempt for Bennison. It is likely that David Booth Beers will testify for Bennison in the trial. VOL will be there to record it all for its readers.

*****

In the DIOCESE OF RHODE ISLAND, Bishop Geralyn Wolf has inhibited the Rev. Ann Holmes Redding for publicly professing her adherence to the Muslim faith. The notice states that the diocesan "Standing Committee has determined that Dr. Redding abandoned the Communion of the Episcopal Church by formal admission into a religious body not in communion with the Episcopal Church. The bishop has affirmed that determination."

The inhibition prevents Redding from "exercising the gifts and spiritual authority conferred on her by ordination and from public ministry" and is in force until March 31, 2009. In accordance with Episcopal canons, unless Redding "reclaims" her Christian faith, said Wolf in an interview, the inhibition will automatically lead to a deposition, ending Redding's priesthood.

*****

The DIOCESE OF IDAHO has a new bishop. The Rev. Brian Thom was consecrated fifteenth bishop recently. He is not known for being orthodox. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori called the celebration "a reunion for members of the Canterbury House community" where she and Thom were classmates while attending Oregon State University in the 1980s. Her appearance and endorsement speaks volumes. Expect no change in this diocese. Thom has been a rector in the diocese for 15 years. The Diocese of Idaho has 29 congregations and about 6,800 Episcopalians, says an ENS report. However, the Red Book says that less than 2,000 attend church on a regular basis.

*****

In the DIOCESE OF WESTERN LOUISIANA, Bishop D. Bruce MacPherson said that his diocese fully agrees with the Statement of the Primates' Council of GAFCON on the alleged disposition of the Bishop of Pittsburgh last month by the House of Bishops. "It is now impossible to believe that the exhortations of the Lambeth Conference and the Windsor Consultation Group will be heeded...We remain convinced that the faithful Anglicans of North America need to have their own Province recognized by the Communion as a whole."

The diocese also reaffirmed its commitment to the Windsor principles and included in principle, the adoption of an Anglican Covenant. They also affirmed the Network Communion Partners as a way to provide a visible link to the Anglican Communion for those concerned. The Diocese also passed a resolution rejecting the deposition of Bishops Schofield and Cox. They finally rejected the unlawful deposition of Bishop Duncan of Pittsburgh and called upon all in authority in the Church to follow the Constitution and Canons in decision making.

*****

In the DIOCESE OF NEWARK The City Council put off a vote to grant landmark status to St. John Episcopal Church in the Bergen-Lafayette section of Jersey City, which would protect it from proposed demolition by the Episcopal Diocese of Newark. A famed former pastor of St. John's, Robert Castle, gave an impassioned speech about landmarking the building. Castle criticized the Episcopal Diocese for allowing the church's stained-glass windows and other valuable items like the altar to be taken out. "I feel in some ways that the church is a chicken; when I came back after some years, it looked like it had been plucked clean," he said.

The Diocese plans to save the façade of the church for a future senior housing project to be built on the site. The church was erected in 1870 at its current location of 120 Summit Ave. It went on to achieve a distinction as the largest and wealthiest Episcopal parish in New Jersey, earning its nickname "The Millionaires' Church" for its prestigious clientele. But by the 1960s, those parishioners moved away, replaced by working-class residents. The Episcopal Diocese eventually closed the church in 1994 after it had served the community for more than 100 years, complaining of a declining congregation.

*****

The CHURCH OF ENGLAND faces schism over gays. Recently 25 parishes were urged to seek alternative oversight from another bishop if their own diocesan bishop expounded "unbiblical" teaching. Evangelicals at a conference in London were told that the Church of England now consists of "two religions", one liberal and pro-gay and the other, conservative and strictly biblical.

The Rev. Rod Thomas, chairman of Reform, the conservative evangelical grouping that represents dozens of Anglican congregations, told parishes they should go ahead and seek alternative oversight, even if the Church of England fails to "accommodate" this solution through its General Synod. A new structure would also bring these congregations into the fold. It would be run under the auspices of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans.

The aim is to find an "English" solution to the problem of splits in the Church caused by the growing divergence between conservative and liberal teachings, in particular on homosexuality but also on women bishops. Thomas told the Reform conference, in Holborn in central London, "Taking alternative oversight first: the reason we're interested in Episcopal oversight at all is that we believe in being part of an Episcopal church for good theological and pragmatic reasons." He urged evangelicals to mobilize to take over the General Synod by making sure that evangelicals stood for election whenever possible.

The Reform Assembly also welcomed the outcome of GAFCON, and pledged the support of Reform for the resulting initiatives and called on evangelicals in the Church of England to show more courage in promoting the gospel and resisting heretical teaching.

This conference recognizes that when bishops accommodate themselves to heretical teaching, they deny the faith and therefore abandon their sees. In these circumstances, it is vital that alternative oversight should be provided.

The conference called on the House of Bishops to recognize that pursuing the General Synod resolution on the preparation of legislation to allow the consecration of women bishops will permanently damage and narrow the Church of England. "We urge the house to prevent this by presenting alternative proposals to the General Synod to preserve the ministry of those who maintain a biblically orthodox position."

*****

The Office of Strategic Services Sabotage (OSS) Manual has an interesting take on things. A VOL reader came across a declassified manual on sabotage. In this manual, there is a section called "General Interference with Organizations and Production". It looks as though it could have been written by a flunky at TEC HQ.

Among the items cited in the section:
(1) Insist on doing everything through "channels." Never permit short-cuts to be taken in order to expedite decisions.
(2) Make "speeches." Talk as frequently as possible and at great length. Illustrate your "points" by long anecdotes and accounts of personal experiences. Never hesitate to make a few appropriate "patriotic" comments.
(3) When possible, refer all matters to committees, for "further study and consideration." Attempt to make the committees as large as possible - never less than five.
(4) Bring up irrelevant issues as frequently as possible.
(5) Haggle over precise wordings of communications, minutes, resolutions.
(6) Refer back to matters decided upon at the last meeting and attempt to re-open the question of the advisability of that decision.
(7) Advocate "caution." Be "reasonable" and urge your fellow-conferees to be "reason­able" and avoid haste, which might result in embarrassments or difficulties later on.

*****

A representative of the ORTHODOX CHURCH while addressing the world Synod of Bishops spoke of the Bishop of Rome as a sign of unity among Christians. Archimandrite Ignatios Sotiriadis, fraternal delegate from the Orthodox Church of Greece, spoke recently to the synod, which is focusing on the Word of God in the life and mission of the Church. "Your Holiness," he said, "our society is tired and sick. It seeks but does not find. It drinks but its thirst is not quenched. Our society demands of us Christians -- Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, Anglicans -- a common witness, a unified voice. Here lies our responsibility as pastors of the Churches in the 21st Century."

"This is the profound desire of those who have the painful longing in their heart for the undivided Church, 'Una, Sancta, Catholica et Apostolica,'" he concluded. "But it is also the desire of those who, again today, in a world without Christ, fervently, but also with filial trust and faith, repeat the words of the apostles: 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.'"

*****

It was a grand day for the AMERICAN PROTO-SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM, a VOL reader wrote. There were priests from as far away as Pittsburgh. My reader was able to swipe a 3-inch wide lapel button with Bishop Duncan's picture on it that said, "He is STILL my Bishop." On another note, a bishop told him that the HOB is "fundamentally dysfunctional", and that he feels he will be making a lot more "abstain" votes in the future, as long as such a vote will likely be interpreted as a conservative/traditional vote.

*****

NASHOTAH HOUSE has a wonderful program entitled "What is World Missions?" that will be conducted by The Rt. Rev. William Godfrey, Bishop of Peru. The program begins on Friday evening, October 31st, with the keynote address by Bishop Godfrey, and continues on Saturday, November 1st with a Holy Eucharist, and a plenary session on "What is your role in World Missions?" The deadline for registration is October 25th. Please contact Lisa Anderas at 1-262-646-6510 for further information.

*****

Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX) is suing the Washington DC Office of Human Rights for failing to protect former homosexuals under its sexual orientation anti-discrimination law. "The ex-gay community is the most bullied and maligned group in America, yet they are not protected by sexual orientation non-discrimination laws," said Regina Griggs, PFOX executive director.

The DC Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on "sexual preference," "sexual orientation," "gender identity," and "gender expression." The Office of Human Rights maintains that homosexuals, bisexuals, transgenders, and cross-dressers qualify for protection under this Act, but ex-gays do not. PFOX's lawsuit asks the DC Superior Court to direct the Office to include former homosexuals under the sexual orientation law. "Shouldn't ex-gays enjoy the same legal protections that gays enjoy?" asked Griggs.

"Former homosexuals and their friends have been fired from their jobs, repeatedly ridiculed, assaulted, and intimidated. This harassment is most often perpetrated by the same groups who demand protection under sexual orientation laws but work to deny ex-gays the same respect."

*****

An evangelist priest says Christians should transcend the FINANCIAL CRISIS and place their hope in God. The financial turmoil our country and the world is experiencing has shaken many, not only on a practical level, but a spiritual level as well. For many, their faith has been rocked by the uncertain economy and many are looking for direction from the Church. Fr. Robert Barron, a Chicago priest and theologian, reminds Christians that their ultimate goal should be heaven. "Occasionally it's good when our confidence in pleasure, power or wealth is shaken because it reminds us that there is a transcendent good beyond those things," says Barron.

"Christians should not look to earthly pleasures for ultimate happiness, but to orient their lives toward God. Financial wealth, power and pleasure - while not inherently wrong - should not be a substitute for God in our lives. "Those things pass away, but what remains is the love, the Grace and the power of God. Our lives should always be leaning to that great goal."

*****

HOW TO CUT AMERICA'S DIVORCE RATE IN HALF. It's possible, writes Mike McManus who with his wife Harriet co-founded Marriage Savers, a non-profit organization that has helped 10,000 clergy to adopt Community Marriage Policies in 200+ cities that have reduced divorce and cohabitation rates, and raised the marriage rate. McManus has written a page-turner book (only 100 pages) which you can purchase with a phone call to (301) 469 5873.

*****

My lead story today brings together the FOUR GROUPS THAT NOW CONTROL THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH. For those who want a comprehensive picture of the current state of affairs this story hopefully will offer it. You can read it here: http://tinyurl.com/53blfe There are a number of fine stories from around the globe in today's VOL digest. I hope you will take the time to read them.

*****

VirtueOnline welcomes visitors this week from Libya, Algeria and Saudi Arabia. We hope the website is both informative and inspirational.

*****

VIRTUEONLINE welcomes your support for this ministry which keeps hundreds of thousands of Anglicans around the world informed about what is going on every day at the website www.virtueonline.org and with a weekly digest of stories. No other news service of any denomination offers such a service. We break through the spin and tell it like it is.

Please consider a tax-deductible donation to keep this ministry alive. We know many of you are facing financial hardship at this point in your lives. We truly understand if you can't give. For those who can, please make a PAYPAL donation at www.virtueonline.org or you can send a snail mail donation to:

VIRTUEONLINE
1236 Waterford Rd.,
West Chester, PA 19380

Thank you for your support.

All Blessings,

David W. Virtue DD