The message of the New Testament is first and foremost a declaration. It is good news about God. It is the story of what God has done in and through his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. He has established his kingdom. True, the full manifestation of the kingdom is yet to come. We await the final consummation. But the kingdom of God has been inaugurated. The time has been fulfilled. The dreams of ancient visionaries have come true. God has kept his promise to Abraham. Long centuries of Old Testament expectation have at last materialized. The new age has dawned. The new covenant has been ratified through the bloodshedding of Jesus. Those who repent of their sins, renounce themselves and believe in Christ hear the covenant promise '... I will be their God, and they shall be my people ... for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more' (Je. 31:33-4). --- From "Men with a Message" by John R.W. Stott

He who is humble in his thoughts, and engaged in spiritual work, when he reads the Holy Scriptures, will apply everything to himself and not to his neighbor. --- St. Mark the Ascetic, 5th/6th century

The Kingdom of Heaven where Christ rules. The kingdom itself exists only where Christ rules by bestowing salvation and receiving homage.--- From "Evangelism, Salvation and Social Justice", by R. J. Sider with a response by John R.W. Stott

The kingdom of God in the teaching of Jesus is a spiritual conquest of men and women. It also has material benefits, since the King's subjects are the Father's children ... --- From "Men with a Message" by John R.W. Stott

Dear Brothers and Sisters
www.virtueonline.org
June 11, 2010

It was another wild ride this week in the life of the Anglican Communion.

US Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori flew to Halifax, Canada, to attend the Anglican Church of Canada Synod. She promptly ripped the Archbishop of Canterbury again for suspending a number of U.S. Episcopal ecumenists from serving on several ecumenical bodies, reducing them to observer status, because of the election of a lesbian as a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Los Angeles. She then flew to the UK where she will undoubtedly give the Archbishop of Canterbury an earful when she ascends unto the pulpit of Southwark Cathedral, right under Dr. Williams' nose (Lambeth Palace is only a few miles away), once again telling him exactly what she thinks.

The Presiding Bishop is learning the lesson of taking advantage of every opportunity to whine, complain and blast the Archbishop of Canterbury for not living up to her high standards of pansexual inclusion and, by association, to belittle and downgrade those provinces that don't get with the sexual enlightenment program of The Episcopal Church.

This is turning into a running battle with the ABC. Clearly feeling snubbed because of the consecration of Mary Glasspool in defiance of the Windsor Report, the Covenant and numerous other reports to rein in TEC, the PB is closing ranks around those primates and bishops who support her like those in Canada, Scotland and her own HOB.

One TEC revisionist bishop outdid himself in stupid statements about it all. The Bishop of Arizona, The Rt. Rev. Kirk S. Smith commented, "Apart from the fact that the ABC actually has no authority to dis-invite anyone from committees of the Anglican Consultative Council, his actions are problematic since he summarily dismisses our Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada, but asks the other two churches for a "clarification" of their actions. It is a bit like asking the fox with feathers in its mouth if it has robbed the hen-house. I think the Archbishop's actions don't really affect anything important, nor should we care about what was intended to be a minor snub to Americans and Canadians. The only reason this action is noteworthy is because it has been picked up by the media in distorted headlines such as "Episcopalians Booted" or "Schism Deepens." Nothing could be further than the truth. I would hope that the Archbishop would learn that his obsession with this topic makes the church more and more irrelevant to potential Christians and does nothing to up-build the Anglican Communion." The deeper question is who elects these people?

The Anglican Church of Canada synod meeting in Halifax this week couldn't agree on what sort of sexual behavior is appropriate between people so they produced a document that acknowledges continuing differences within the church on the issue, and says "at this time, we are not prepared to make a legislative decision." The Church failed to put the debate over gay marriage to rest once and for all. On the second to last day of the Church of Canada General Synod, a tri-annual gathering of clergy and lay leadership aimed at setting church policy, members essentially agreed to disagree on the fractious issue that's torn the church apart in recent years.

At the end of the day, the church resolved to continue to "engage in theological and scriptural study of human sexuality" and to include the "voices of gays and lesbians" in those discussions. The statement instead committed the church to more dialogue. This compromise left both sides wanting more, but there was a new and surprising level of support from both sides. A large majority within the 350-member synod made up of lay people, clergy and bishops approved the statement. Translation. The five diocese already allowing same sex blessings will continue with the blessings, more dioceses in time will sign up to allow such blessings, the Anglican Church will continue to decline and empty as people flee and the two new orthodox Anglican churches in Canada will only continue to grow.

*****

An announcement that the Virginia Supreme Court has ruled against nine congregations who split from the Episcopal Church was a setback for Anglican District of Virginia churches. At issue are tens of millions of dollars of church property and symbolic momentum for dueling movements in the Anglican Communion. The unanimous decision by the five-judge panel dismissing a lower court ruling that favored conservatives is not likely to end the dispute for the nine church properties. By remanding it back to the Circuit Court for further proceedings it doesn't look good for the Anglican District of Virginia, VOL was told. A journalist who knows the legal nuances now believes the diocese will prevail. Jim Oakes, chairman of the Anglican District of Virginia, believes that these properties are titled in the name of the congregations' trustees, not in the name of the Diocese or The Episcopal Church. "We continue to be confident in our legal position as we move forward and will remain steadfast in our effort to defend the historic Christian faith," he said.

Jeff Walton, Anglican Program Director for the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD), noted four things about this ruling. "At its 2009 General Convention, the Episcopal Church slashed budgets in all areas but one: the entire evangelism program was scrapped but the budget for property litigation grew. The Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Virginia have frittered away millions of dollars that could have been used for ministry and are now being thrown into the black hole of property litigation. While the Virginia Supreme Court ruled in favor of the diocese today, there are ultimately no winners in these church property disputes. It is ironic that as Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori protests against 'centralizing authority' in the Anglican Communion, she instigates lawsuits against parishes and dioceses that dare challenge her hierarchical control."

Then came the announcement from the California Supreme Court that they have agreed to hear St. James Anglican Church's appeal, that it has a constitutional right to continue its property rights battle against The Episcopal Church. By granting the St. James petition, the Court has acknowledged that this property rights dispute is far from over as the Episcopal Church has claimed, and that the Court must decide whether a defendant can be deprived of its property before it has had the opportunity to defend itself with evidence in a court of law.

St. James petitioned the California Supreme Court following a March opinion by two justices of the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Third Division, in which two of three justices interpreted a prior California Supreme Court decision called "Episcopal Church Cases" as having finally resolved the property dispute between the Episcopal Church and St. James in favor of the Episcopal Church, thus depriving St. James of any opportunity to defend its property with evidence in the Orange County Superior Court.

*****

In the Diocese of Northwest Texas, the Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd in San Angelo has filed an amended Brief with the court of appeals arguing against the diocese's argument that church property is subject to an "implied trust". The brief cites the Texas rule that a contract (the essence of an unincorporated association) does not give rise to an implied trust, and that in Texas the only implied trusts are resulting trusts and constructive trusts, and a constructive trust can only arise where there is breach of a confidential relationship and unjust enrichment. Mark Brown, an attorney for the parish, wrote VOL saying that Bishop Sam Hulsey, (who served the diocese as bishop from 1980 to 1996) actually issued a Warranty Deed to the non-profit corporation. "This case is on appeal, the trial judge issued a summary judgment against Good Shepherd, it will probably be set for oral argument and then an appellate ruling will be made, which will be appealed to the Texas Supreme Court." The diocese has a new bishop in the person of J. Scott Mayer who took over from Wallis Ohl who served from 1997 till January of this year.

*****

While the news on the legal front was mixed, the news coming out of Amesbury, Massachusetts, where the Provincial Council of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) met, was all good. They unanimously recognized the Anglican Diocese of the South at its meeting and founded a New Atlanta Area Diocese with more than 1,500 Anglicans from 20 churches in four states (AL, GA, NC, TN). They have joined together to form the new regional diocese. ACNA's College of Bishops promptly elected the Rev. Dr. Foley Beach as the first bishop of the new diocese. He is rector of Holy Cross Anglican Church in Loganville, GA. He is expected to be consecrated this Fall.

Speaking to the assembled gathering, Archbishop Robert Duncan noted that ACNA now has 811 congregations, not including all the congregations of the Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas (a Ministry Partner) that are now requesting inclusion in their church data base and online Church Finder. He acknowledged that systems and relationships continue to "shake-out." The jurisdictional approach to the integration of the Anglican Mission (a missionary outreach of Rwanda) into the Anglican Church in North America has been found to be "a bridge too far". The meeting decided that the petition of the Anglican Mission to be a Ministry Partner is a more appropriate approach to their life together in this season.

"As archbishop I have articulated four areas that I believe need to become our distinctives: 1) that we know ourselves to be the beloved of Jesus; 2) that we become a people committed to personal holiness 3) that we understand our work as fore-runners of Jesus; and 4) that we are those who sacrifice for the sake of others."

Duncan noted that the ordination of women to the presbyterate remains a matter that divides ACNA. "Despite the deep theological and ecclesiological divide we have remained committed to each other, and have honored each other as our Constitution envisions." Duncan also observed that representatives from twenty Provinces of the Global South, meeting at Singapore, declared the Anglican Church in North America to be "a faithful expression of Anglicanism," to be their "gospel partners," and expressed the hope that "all provinces will be in full communion with the clergy and people of the ACNA and Communion Partners." Even the General Synod of the Church of England has considered right relationship, he observed.

*****

On the other side of the sexual fence, Integrity USA is hosting disgraced and deposed Anglican bishop Christopher Senyonjo of Uganda on a six-week speaking tour of the United States. On Tuesday, he spoke with Gene Robinson at the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C. and later got an invitation to the White House with Robinson to meet a number of sympathetic officials of the gay cause. They met with Denis McDonough, Samantha Powers, and other foreign policy officials of President Obama's administration. Senyonjo has been touring the United States during the past month to raise awareness about Uganda's proposed "Anti-Homosexuality Bill" and the severe criminal penalties LGBT people face in Uganda.

*****

The Washington National Cathedral is sinking into deeper financial distress. The Cathedral may have to sell off part of its rare books collection even though it has slashed its budget and staff by more than half. The collection includes books donated by Queen Elizabeth II, Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie and the first Bible to be written in a modern language. Some date to the 1600s. Cathedral officials say the potential sale is separate from its budget difficulties. But they acknowledge they no longer have the staff to care for the collection. It's likely worth millions. Over the past two years, the Episcopal cathedral has slashed its budget from $27 million to $13 million. Three rounds of layoffs cut the staff from 170 to 70. Their gay vicar Steve Huber is leaving for All Saints in Hollywood, California. The detestable John L. Peterson, Canon for Global Justice and Reconciliation (and former ACC General Secretary), is out the door to Israel where he will decamp with the Diocese of Jerusalem.

*****

The historic Uniting General Council that launches the new World Communion of Reformed Churches will be held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.A., June 18-27. The World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Reformed Ecumenical Council are uniting to form a new body representing more than 80 million Reformed Christians worldwide. This united body will be called the World Communion of Reformed Churches.

*****

In a bow to the growing diversity of America's religious landscape, the Claremont School of Theology, a Christian institution with long ties to the Methodist Church, will add clerical training for Muslims and Jews to its curriculum this fall, to become, in a sense, the first truly multi-faith American seminary.

The transition, which is being formally announced Wednesday, upends centuries of tradition in which seminaries have hewn not just to single faiths, but often to single denominations within those faiths. Eventually, Claremont hopes to add clerical programs for Buddhists and Hindus.

Although there are other theological institutions that accept students of multiple faiths, or have partnerships with institutions of other religions, Claremont is believed to be the first accredited institution that will train students of multiple faiths for careers as clerics. The 275-student seminary offers masters and doctoral degrees. Sort of makes you wonder why TEC didn't think of this first.

*****

Forget gay marriage. Think traditional marriage. Then ask yourself what sort of signal does it send young Americans looking to get married when suddenly up pops Mr. and Mrs. Squeaky Clean - Al and Tipper Gore - who have announced to the world that, after 40 years of marriage, they have "grown apart." What sort of crazy adolescent, postmodern response is this from a couple that wrote a book and produced videos on the joys of their marriage? Then they tell us this.

I have a married daughter and two unmarried sons in their mid-thirties. The signal it sends to my two boys is this. Vows mean nothing. You can be married for 10, 20, 30 even 40 years and still blow up what you have. Why then get married at all? "Nothing lasts, Dad. We're glad you and mum made it through but our generation sees things differently...get used to it." Well I won't get used to it. If the Gore's had split while he was a Washington politico and she was stranded in Nashville with the four kids, that's one thing (though not excusable). But here is a couple, retired for all intents and purposes, with time and money on their hands, and they couldn't go off to the Bahamas for a romantic weekend or pay a counselor $200.00 an hour to straighten them out? The sheer lameness of the excuses is appalling..."we grew apart..." after 40 years.... Who the blazes are they kidding? Luciano Pavarotti dumped his wife of many years for a younger woman and then died. At least we knew it was about sex. Apparently that is not the case here. Read Mike McManus's "Open Letter to Al and Tipper Gore" in today's digest or click here: http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=12699 PS. As we go to press we have learned that the Gore's daughter and son-in-law are now splitting and they have three children under age 10....the sins of the parents are being visited on the children and all their millions won't salvage the emotional, psychological and spiritual havoc being wrought.

*****

There is a changing of the guard at the Church Pension Fund. Dennis Sullivan, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Church Pension Fund and its affiliate companies, is stepping down. He has asked the Board of Trustees to begin a search for his replacement. He will continue as President until his successor is elected.

*****

Strange happenings and goings on in the Anglican Church in America (ACA). The ACA is the Anglo-Catholic North American affiliate of the Australian-based Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC) led by Archbishop John Hepworth. This group is seeking union with Rome through an ordinariate, but a number of their dioceses, bishops, clergy and parishes are not remotely interested in going to Rome. A huge breakup of the American affiliate is in the wind. Several bishops have told VOL that they and their people will not cross the Tiber on any offer from the Pope and that includes the Canadian branch of the ACA, which is ready to split. The craziness got worse this week when it was learned that AngloCatholic blogger Christopher Campbell was getting the word out but not going through official channels, namely the ACA official website. The ACA House of Bishops denounced Campbell's blog, but then Hepworth popped up and said Campbell's blog spoke for him and was using it as a means of communication to the ACA world. Is there a rift coming between the ACA bishops and Hepworth? Inquiring minds want to know.

*****

A senior priest in the Anglican Province of Uganda sent VOL an unconfirmed report that Bishop-elect Bernard Bagaba's name has been cleared. Several months ago he was accused of fathering two children by his housekeeper. He denied the charges, but his consecration was delayed to allow for DNA testing. "The results arrived today and cleared Bishop-elect Bernard. Bernard is a good man, well-known and beloved of his people, and will make a fine Bishop," VOL has been told. In Early April, The Kampala Observer reported that five clergy and 23 lay members of the Diocese of Kinkiizi accused Bishop-elect Bernard Bagaba of fathering two children out of wedlock and refusing to provide for their care. Canon Bagaba, the diocesan secretary of Kinkiizi at the time of his election, denied the charges. We have yet to get final word from Archbishop Henry Orombi and the Ugandan House of Bishops.

*****

The Rev. Terry White, 50, was elected as the new Episcopal bishop of the Diocese of Kentucky last Saturday. He is Dean of Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kansas City, Mo. His will be a Jefferts Schori team player. Several people have opined that White's biggest challenge will be helping to revive many of the diocese's small, financially struggling congregations. About half its 36 churches receive financial aid from the diocese. A source has told VOL that within five years, the diocese will be forced to juncture with another diocese in order to stay alive.

*****

The Diocese of Wyoming has selected John Sheridan Smylie, 57, to be its next bishop. He has already received the required number of consents from bishops with jurisdiction and diocesan standing committees to his ordination and consecration. Smylie succeeds Bishop Bruce Caldwell, the eighth bishop of the diocese, who will retire in mid-2010 after 12 and a half years as bishop. Smylie, rector of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Casper, Wyoming, was elected on the fifth ballot out of a field of six nominees. He received 63 votes of the 103 votes cast in the lay order and 37 of 63 cast in the clergy order. An election on that ballot required 53 in the lay order and 33 in the clergy order.

*****

The Prop 8 trial in San Francisco took another bizarre twist this week as the groundwork was laid for closing arguments in the case that is scheduled for Wednesday, June 16. The Judge asked plaintiffs and proponents for responses to a series of questions that only highlight the absurdity of putting marriage and the intentions of California voters on trial. I have listed some of the questions below to demonstrate the point.

To both the plaintiffs and proponents of Prop 8, Chief Federal District Court Judge Vaughn Walker asked:

"What purpose does a law requiring that a marital partnership consist of one man and one woman serve?" Specifically to proponents he asked, "What does evidence show the difference to be between gays and lesbians, on the one hand, and heterosexuals on the other?"

If it pleases the court, there is ample evidence to suggest that relationships between heterosexuals commonly result in new citizens, not always, but sometimes unintentionally. There also seems to be ample evidence that relationships between people of the same-sex have no possibility of creating new citizens (hereinafter referred to as "children"). Your honor, it seems this difference is very significant and important to the state when considering the definition of marriage and considering that children and their welfare are important to the future of society. Marriage between a man and a woman who are committed to each other and to the children that come from the relationship is of immeasurable value to those children who cannot testify and represent their interests. They depend on grownups to do if for them.

To the plaintiffs he asked:

"Assume the evidence shows that Proposition 8 [defining marriage as between a man and a woman] is not in fact rationally related to a legitimate state interest. Do the voters' honest beliefs in the absence of supporting evidence have any bearing on the constitutionality of Proposition 8?" Interestingly, to put this in context he referred to the New York Supreme Court opinion upholding traditional marriage in which they stated, "In absence of conclusive scientific evidence, the Legislature could rationally proceed on the common-sense premise that children will do best with a mother and a father in the home."

Yes, your honor, the voters honestly believe, based on their own experience, their common desire for connection with the man and woman from whom they originated, a man and a woman committed to each other and committed to them in a relationship of love - something known as a family with a married mother and father - yes your honor, that experience is relevant in making public policy even if you were to conclude there is no legitimate state interest in protecting and promoting that primordial relationship.

Prop 8 proponents were asked:

"Why is legislating based on moral disapproval of homosexuality not tantamount to discrimination?" The question itself is an indictment of the voters of California. That is like asking, "When you beat your wife why is that not tantamount to spousal abuse?" Your honor, homosexuality has nothing to do with protecting and promoting marriage between a man and a woman for our children and their future. People are free to adopt any lifestyle they like, but there is no justification for any special interest to redefine and undermine the very foundation on which the family and society are built.

To our attorneys:

"The court has reserved ruling on plaintiffs' motion to exclude Mr. Blankenhorn's testimony. If the motion is granted, is there any other evidence to support a finding that Proposition 8 advances a legitimate governmental interest?"

Blankenhorn was the main witness on our side testifying to the reality of marriage and its value to society. Again, this underscores the absurdity of determining the future of marriage for California and the country in any courtroom based on testimony of witnesses and presentation of evidence. Only the voters, drawing on their own experience, acting in the best interest of children and future generations, are qualified to make this decision. The voters of California and Maine and 40 other states have spoken. Marriage can only be between a man and a woman.

The outcome of this trial could go either way. Whatever the decision, the case is likely destined for the U.S. Supreme Court. Your prayers are needed.

*****

Nashotah House Announces New Full-Tuition Scholarships Nashotah House Theological Seminary announces that new scholarships are available for residential seminary students, beginning with the Fall Semester 2010. Up to 10 full-tuition merit scholarships ($12,000 annually) will be awarded to entering Master of Divinity students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, promise for ministerial leadership, and financial need. In addition, 75%-tuition scholarships ($9,000 annually) are available for other qualified applicants to the Master of Divinity (MDiv) and Master of Theological Studies (MTS) degree programs. The new scholarship funds are now available by action of the Nashotah House Board of Trustees at its May 2010 meeting. The funds will also provide increased scholarship awards for continuing Nashotah House students. Prospective residential students should contact Carol Klukas, Director of Admissions by email (admissions@nashotah.edu) or phone 262-646-6500.

*****

Among today's exclusive stories is a piece I have written on why I think the Global South will win the Culture Wars in the Anglican Communion. I have also taken apart Diana Butler Bass's recent commentary on why she thinks TEC and Mrs. Jefferts Schori are on the right track and the rest of the Anglican Communion is not and finally a piece on why the Presiding Bishop is so angry with the Archbishop of Canterbury's decision to withdraw TEC leaders from various ecumenical councils of the church.

*****

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In Christ,

David

LATE BREAKING NEWS. A group of London clergy have protested the appearance and preaching of PB Jefferts Schori in Southwark Cathedral.