God had concern for His reputation and Name because salvation is based on acknowledging His Name. "There is no other name given under heaven by which people must be saved." But the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they came v.21. This is certainly true among the Jews and lamentable when true among Christians. It is a guaranteed formula for judgment and change because when the people who are put in a place to get out the message right get it wrong, they must be wronged to set it right. God must veto their voice and show all how wrong they are. This is the tragedy of TEC - formerly the cradle of presidents, now a sad parody and a cautionary tale. At least, in the future there will be no question about what happens when people ignore God's word. Maybe this should become our ministry - holding up everything that happens in TEC for examination of all people and drawing the obvious conclusions - "See what happens when God's word is questioned and mocked?" Thought for the day taken from Ezekiel 36 by Phil Lewis, Mt. Pleasant, SC.

Dear Brothers and Sisters
www.virtueonline.org
November 19, 2010

When the Church of England synod meets, the problem for the Anglican Covenant debate will be the twin-pronged attack from the ultra liberals on one side and from GAFCON supporters on the other. It is going to be hard to persuade the center ground of the Church of England to give the Covenant a two-thirds majority, even though it would be good for the Church of England.

It remains to be seen how persuasive Dr. Rowan Williams can be in trying to hold the Anglican Communion together while getting the Covenant accepted at the same time. He is in deep trouble on the one hand with a group, albeit small, of fleeing CofE bishops, some clergy and several hundred parishioners who want to go to Rome. One the other hand, there is a group of thoroughly disgruntled homosexuals and their liberal allies who see the Covenant as a coercive "law" not allowing the comprehensiveness of Anglicanism to shine forth. Evangelicals are wary of the Covenant because of the lack of compliance.

Dr. Chris Sugden and Dr. Vinay Samuel sum it up like this: "The current Covenant process interminably delays judgement and leaves little hope of discipline and thus of consistency. We are left in a permanent state of dialogue and conversation. This has practical implications at parish level when churches have to decide how to relate to same-sex couples requesting blessing and bringing surrogate children for baptism. If the covenant process in the Communion becomes the state of affairs in the Church of England, its practices could be so contradictory that chaos would result. Endless appeal could be made to conviction, openness, listening and time while practices and actions continue which go against the teaching of the church whether in a parish or whole diocese."

The future of the Covenant and perhaps the future of Rowan Williams hang upon the decision of the Synod.

I have written a story based on the latest give and take about the Covenant which can be read here or in today's digest. http://tinyurl.com/23u9s2j

*****

The big news of the week took place in Vancouver, BC, where 1,200 parishioners in four orthodox Anglican parishes, including one the largest in the Anglican Church of Canada, were told by the highest court in British Columbia that they have no right to hang on to buildings and land they have claimed in a long-running dispute over same-sex blessings. They have been ordered to return the property to the Anglican Church of Canada.

As a result of the ruling, issued by the B.C. Court of Appeal, parishioners at four Vancouver-area churches will be expected to leave their historic church buildings, valued at more than $20-million. St. John's Shaughnessy, under Fr. David Short, is a 1,000-strong and the largest attended parish in the ACoC. This is a tremendous loss for this godly rector and his parish. In the end, it will be a pyrrhic victory for Bishop Michael Ingham. There will not be enough of a congregation left to minister to forcing him to sell it. That may replenish his shrinking coffers and prop up dying parishes, but that is all short term.

Ironically, the court also acknowledged that the present course of the Anglican Church of Canada is one that could ultimately see clergy ministering to "non-existent congregations." That's quite a judgment coming from a court.

The B.C. decision will have a far-reaching impact on the future of breakaway churches across Canada and their ability to keep their properties.

The question of whether or not they will appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada remains up in the air. A spokesperson for the parishes said they have 60 days to make a decision, but they will need to let their Counsel know by 30 days (Dec 15) so they can make their application to the Supreme Court of Canada.

You can read a major story on this issue in today's digest. Of course, Canada courts are following the bell curve of U.S. courts over parish litigation issues with the Dennis Canon still firmly in place when Episcopal Church parishes decide to flee TEC's grip. Some eight are in question in the Diocese of Virginia and four dioceses are in varying stages of litigation.

*****

Appellate justices reversed the summary judgment against the Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin lodged by the Episcopal Church thus allowing the diocese to have its day in court.

The appellate justices tossed out a Superior Court judge's decision that the breakaway diocese couldn't claim a right to the property in a jury trial. The judge essentially had decided that it was a church matter, not a matter for the civil courts.

You can read the judge's ruling here: http://dioceseofsanjoaquin.net/latest/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/F058298.pdf

*****

While liberal Episcopal seminaries are in financial trouble, losing market share and failing to draw a new younger generation with their deconstructionist gospel, that is not the case with the Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, PA, which is growing and thriving. Dean and president, the Very Rev. Dr. Justyn Terry writes in a newsletter that forty new full-time students are on the campus this semester. The students are mostly in their twenties, and bring a deep yearning to be formed as Christian leaders for Christ's mission in the world, he writes. "That is a result of scholarship aid, low-cost housing and, most significantly, our annual fund, which is $2 million." These grads will be fed into the Anglican Church of North America if places for them cannot be found in liberal Episcopal dioceses and the small handful of remaining orthodox dioceses in TEC.

*****

So the question is this, can a diocese declare a See vacant, say in the case of Pennsylvania, in order to get rid of Charles Bennison? VOL asked Canon Law attorney Allan S. Haley what he thought. He replied thuslly, "There is no such Canon currently, unless the Diocese can find two reputable psychologists, psychiatrists or physicians to certify Bennison's incapacity. Canon III.12.8 (p) provides: When it is certified to the Presiding Bishop, by at least two licensed medical doctors, psychologists or psychiatrists, who have examined the case, that a Bishop Diocesan is incapable of authorizing the Bishop Coadjutor, if there is one, or a Bishop Suffragan, if there is one, or the Standing Committee to act as the Ecclesiastical Authority, then, upon the advice of five Bishops of neighboring Dioceses selected by the Presiding Bishop, the Presiding Bishop shall declare the Bishop Coadjutor, or a Bishop Suffragan, if the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese so provide, or the Standing Committee to be the Ecclesiastical Authority for all purposes set forth in these Canons and to retain such canonical authority until the Presiding Bishop, acting upon a like certificate, declares the Bishop Diocesan competent to resume official duties."

After next July, Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori can be asked to inhibit Bishop Bennison, pending the resolution of charges under the new canons, which go into effect on July 1, 2011.

I wonder how many shrinks it would take and how long it would take to declare Bennison a sociopath and thus order him off the property. Ten minutes perhaps.

*****

Official Episcopal Church cataloguing the latest declines only confirms VOL's stories on this. An interesting take came from one liberal blogger, Joan Gundersen, "We should be concerned by any loss of membership. The losses of 2009 should be put in perspective, however. Overall the domestic dioceses lost a total of 50,949 members. However, 10,504 of those members were from a single diocese - Pittsburgh. Fort Worth reported a loss of 3,693 members. These two dioceses alone account for 27.8% of the membership loss for all domestic dioceses. This overlooks the fact that some 73% came from the rest of TEC dioceses as whole parishes and individuals quietly slipped out the door to ACNA, the Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and independent charismatic congregations."

*****

From the Diocese of SW Florida and its Bishop Dabney Smith comes word that once a survey has been completed, the diocese will permit liturgies for same-sex blessings. Bishop Smith voted "yes" on the 2009 GC resolution to explore the development of same-sex liturgies. This should come as no surprise really, but it should signal the beginning of the end for Anglo-Catholics and Evangelicals still in the diocese. Quoth Smith, "The GC resolution asks us to look at material for the blessing of same-gender couples. Thus, that is the language all of our materials will use. We also recognize that there are places where same-gender couples can be married or have a civil-union; and that there are broad concerns throughout the church about blessing same-gender couples."

*****

In Utah this past week PB Jefferts Schori, and a number of the most revisionist bishops she could muster, laid hands on Scott B. Hayashi, the new Bishop for Utah. In an interview, the PB expressed confidence that the Episcopal Church will grow by attracting those drawn by its "transcendent worship," sense of social justice and diversity.

"Research indicates that women in transition and Latinas are two groups especially attracted to the Episcopal Church," Schori said. "They find us appealing because we invite people to ask questions. We don't just provide answers."

One can imagine that to the jailer of the Apostle Paul who cried out "Sirs, What must I do to be saved? Mrs. Jefferts Schori would reply, "What the hell sort of question is that? Saved, SAVED. We don't talk like that in the Episcopal Church. Join Rick Warren's church...we are always questioning, but never really coming up with any real answers, but our first choices if you come are gay, lesbian, bi-sexual transgendered, other trannies, womanist, black, Hispanic, android. We haven't much use for Dead White Males except of course for their check books...."

*****

In Victoria, British Columbia, an historic church was put on the chopping block this week. The 98-year-old St. Columba is being forced to close by the bishop and his council. Some 19 churches in the diocese are being forced out of business.

Treasurer Leslie Freeman argued, "We're doing well financially, our building is in good shape, there's no reason to close it." A savvy VOL reader gave a reason for the closure writing that he could confirm that money gained from the sale of discontinued church buildings will very likely be used to fund badly needed and expensive repairs to Christ Church Cathedral. "When the east end of the chancel was built the numpties in charge went 'cheap,' and the whole structure is falling into ruin." Members of St. Columba's were shocked to see their church on the chopping block.

*****

Immanuel Chapel on the campus of Virginia Theological Seminary have said that the 129-year-old chapel, which was destroyed by a two-alarm fire Oct. 22, will come back to life in some form.

The estimated cost of damage is $2.5 million, fire officials said, although seminary officials are seeking an independent assessment. Officials ruled the fire as accidental. The school's board of trustees is scheduled to meet this month to discuss the chapel's future, she said.

*****

The Episcopal Diocese of New York Bishop Mark S. Sisk is out the door and has called for the election of a bishop coadjutor who will eventually succeed him. Speaking during the New York diocese's 234th annual convention at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Sisk said the election will take place Oct 29, 2011.

New York Bishop Suffragan Catherine Roskam also told the convention that she will retire on Jan. 1, 2012. Sisk served as bishop coadjutor from 1998 until Sept. 29, 2001, when he succeeded Bishop Richard F. Grein.

*****

United Thank Offering (UTO) offering recipients who want money can now do so online says The Episcopal Church. But one province that won't be asking or accepting their gift if it is offered by The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem & The Middle East. Presiding Bishop Mouneer Anis told VOL that he turned down the $50,000 "offering" from TEC last year because it comes with too much ecclesiastical blood on it. Such integrity.

*****

As expected, the Diocese of New York passed a resolution at its annual convention calling upon the General Convention of the Episcopal Church to authorize the creation of a joint task force of affected denominations to:

1) Assess the threat to religious freedom posed by the activities of the IRD and related groups
2) Develop recommendations to mitigate such threats, and
3) Ascertain the cost to the three denominations to date of litigation to prevent the alienation of church property and other assets

This will probably go into the bottomless pit of forgotten resolutions, but Mark Tooley, President of the URD, has weighed in on the resolution. His statement can be read in today's digest.

*****

From Harry Covert, chairman of World Emergency Relief comes word that his ministry is working vigorously in Haiti doing good things in Cite Soleil and Port au Prince, Haiti. "The rebuilding of Haiti will take decades and perhaps centuries. Obviously, educating the young people is going to be the key for the future. We are educating and feeding more than 150 children daily, from kindergarten to high school. We have some 3,000 people living in makeshift tents on our school property. They have nowhere else to go. Our staff is good and we've taken on 25 orphans recently." He writes that his ministry has helped the Anglican Cathedral in what was downtown Port au Prince with some building supplies, food and other things.

*****

The latest word on who and how many will join the English Ordinariate is still below 500. The clergy concerned will mostly be financially independent and retired priests and bishops. [UK source]

The English Ordinariate is exciting so much interest that they have started a new blog site. Br. Stephen Treat, O.Cist, says the new site for info on the UK Ordinariate can be found here: http://ordinariateportal.wordpress.com/

You can read a statement from Forward in Faith about the latest moves in today's digest.

*****

On EXORCISM Southern Baptist theologian and columnist Albert Mohler commented: "The New Testament is clear that very real cases of demonic possession were encountered by Jesus and his followers. Jesus liberated afflicted individuals as he commanded the demons to flee, and they obeyed him. Likewise, the Apostle Paul performed exorcisms as he confronted the powers of evil and darkness in his ministry.

"A closer look at the crucial passages involved reveals no rite of exorcism, however, just the name of Jesus and the proclamation of the Gospel. Likewise, there is no notion of a priestly ministry of ordained exorcists in the New Testament.

"The weapons of our warfare are spiritual, and the powers that the forces of darkness most fear are the name of Jesus, the authority of the Bible, and the power of his Gospel.

"Evangelicals do not need a rite of exorcism, because to adopt such an invention would be to surrender the high ground of the Gospel. We are engaged in spiritual warfare every minute of every day, whether we recognize it or not. There is nothing the demons fear or hate more than evangelism and missions, where the Gospel pushes back with supernatural power against their possessions, rendering them impotent and powerless. Every time a believer shares the Gospel and declares the name of Jesus, the demons and the Devil lose their power.

"Furthermore, there is absolutely no New Testament evidence that a believer in Christ can be possessed by demons. Tormented and tempted? Sure. But never possessed. Once we are united with Christ by faith and given the gift of the indwelling Spirit, there is no way a demon can possess us. As the Apostle John reminds us, "Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." [1 John 4:4]

"So, we should respect the power of the Devil and his demons, but never fear them. We do not need a rite of exorcism, only the name of Jesus. We are not given a priesthood of exorcists - for every believer is armed with the full promise of the Gospel, united with Christ by faith, and indwelt by the Holy Spirit."

*****

VOL correspondent Mary Ann Mueller ran into the priest of Mount Calvary, Baltimore, Fr. Jason Cantania, at the the Anglican Use Rite conference in San Antonio, TX. He noted that TEC is no longer sending a gay priest to conduct a service between the 8am and 10am services. However, TEC is still sending a priest to do an extra Sunday Mass. Numbers have fallen from 12 to 7 to 4, she said.

The priest, who is taking his parish to Rome, thinks that TEC will eventually give up and stop sending a priest when no one shows up. He thinks the VOL story was the reason the TEC diocese stopped sending in the gay priest.

*****

Proponents of orthodox Episcopalians staying in TEC met in Orlando, Florida last week. The Communion Partners, a mixture of bishops, clergy and laity met to discuss their place and role in TEC. Canon Gary L'Hommedieu of St. Luke's cathedral covered the story. His three articles can be read in today's digest.

*****

On the good news front, a new birth occurred in Denver for the Church of the Advent, a church plant from Wellspring Anglican Church in Englewood, Colorado. They held their first preview service recently with 49 in attendance. Contemporary music, candles, soft lighting and artistic expression created an intentional, reflective atmosphere that drew predominantly 20 and 30 somethings to the new church. They plan to move to Mi Casa in the established neighborhood of Baker on February 13, 2011. Baker is a diverse, urban environment where middle class professionals live in restored Victorian homes alongside poor Hispanic families. The church hopes to be a source of healing and unity in the historic community.

*****

The Rwanda House of Bishops held a number of elections recently and unanimously elected the Rev. Emmanuel Ngendahayo as the Bishop Elect for Byumba Diocese. He will be consecrated on January 9, 2011. Bishop Elect Louis Muvunyi will be installed on December 12 as the new Bishop of Kigali Diocese and Bishop Laurent Mbanda was installed November 14 as the new Bishop of Shyira, succeeding the popular international speaker and Bishop John Rucyahana.

*****

For sheer nuttiness and absurdity, it is TransGender Awareness Week while Saturday is the Day of Remembrance for all killed for being transgender, according to the Rev. Ann Fontaine, an Episcopal priest in Lander, Wyoming. Really. We at VOL are trying to find a transgendered person who has been killed to report back where he/she found him/herself after death and how anybody knew him/her was transgendered to begin with. One does not exactly see transgendered folk waving flags about it in the street. The only one I ever met, who went from being a him to a her, never felt threatened. In fact, I would never have known she was a he before he became a her.

*****

650 singers burst into the Hallelujah Chorus in a random act of culture at downtown Macy's in Philadelphia. This is a must see for a joyful pick me up. http://www.knightarts.org/uncategorized/what-a-joyful-noise-650-singers-burst-into-hallelujah-as-part-of-random-act-of-culture%E2%80%A8%E2%80%A8%E2%80%A8=

*****

VOL welcomes readers this week from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.

*****

We are approaching the end of the year and making our final appeal for funds to keep VOL going into 2011. We will be attending at least three conferences in January and February. We need funding for all of them. We have said repeatedly that no one is getting rich off of VOL. Our staff works long and crazy hours to keep you abreast and fully informed.

Even as I write, we have reporters covering the Anglican Use Conference on the Ordinariate possibilities for Anglicans in San Antonio, Texas. At the same time, a Communion Partners Conference of TEC bishops and clergy is meeting in Orlando, Florida. One group believes it is time to flee to Rome; the other group believes it the right thing to do is stay in TEC and fight.

A third group of ACNA bishops, clergy and laity will meet shortly in Virginia to figure out how to plant 1000 new orthodox Anglican churches in North America by 2015.

The polarities could not be more obvious. VOL believes in covering all the news regardless of what position you take. Information is power. These stories are THE news and I am personally grateful that we can find good people to write them for VOL.

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All blessings,

David