God's church and Word. When Paul and Barnabas set out into the unknown on the first missionary journey, they found (as Abraham, Joseph and Moses had found before them) that God was with them. That is exactly what they reported on their return (Acts 14:27; 15:12). Indeed, this assurance is indispensable to mission. Change is painful to us all, especially when it affects our cherished buildings and customs, and we should not seek to change merely for the sake of change. Yet true Christian radicalism is open to change. It knows that God has bound himself to his church (promising that he will never leave it) and to this Word (promising that it will never pass away). But God's church means people not buildings, and God's Word means Scripture not traditions. So long as these essentials are preserved, the buildings and the traditions can if necessary go. We must not allow them to imprison the living God or to impede his mission in the world.--- From "The Message of Acts" (The Bible Speaks Today) by John R.W. Stott

Whoever is at peace in the material world and is not concerned about the salvation of his soul is like the senseless birds who don't make a noise from within the egg, so as to break the shell and come out to enjoy the sun - the heavenly flight in the life of Paradise - but instead remain unmoving and die inside the egg shell. ---- Elder Paisios +1994

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
9/17/2009

Despite the disdain VOL encounters every day, I, as a professional journalist, and those who write for VOL have no choice but to stay focused on our mission: Tell people what is happening in The Episcopal Church and the wider Anglican Communion to anyone else who wants to read and learn. VOL writes whole stories from an orthodox perspective. We write whole cloth stories. We do not drop bits and pieces of information and gossip for bloggers to rage endlessly about. That is not VOL's perspective or mission. For those who can tell the difference, we hope we have earned your respect. For those who believe we should expose every piece of gossip as news, we will not do that. You can find that elsewhere. VOL is committed to reporting and commenting on the news. You may not know it, but every story is read and re-read and passes through several hands before it reaches the website. Still mistakes are made and I am VERY grateful when a reader in South Africa, Australia or England writes with a correction or a change in nuance to make it more readily understandable. So too with commentary and AS EYE SEE IT pieces. For every story that VOL runs, we reject two or three as unacceptable. Sometimes we will suggest to the writer that they give it another shot with suggestions on improving the piece. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not. VOL welcomes well written stand alone pieces that focus on the issues of the day. VOL does not have to agree with them.

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*****

It might be said at this historic moment in revisionist North American Episcopalianism that The Episcopal Church now has two "holy" sacraments. One is sodomy, courtesy of Gene Robinson, and the other is abortion courtesy of Ms. Ragsdale of Episcopal Divinity School. These two sacraments are now worshipped by the leaders of our one, unholy, non catholic church in cathedrals, churches and seminaries across the nation. The "doctrine" of inclusion has taken hold like sea urchins clinging to rocks. South Carolina Bishop Mark Lawrence has yet to feel the pain, but he will. If he pulls out of TEC, he will feel the pain. If he stays in and decides not to abide by the governance of TEC, he will also feel the pain. Pain goes with the job apparently. But the absolute truth is that TEC will brook no opposition to its understanding of mission. You conform or you are history.

You may couple this with the equally unholy spending of millions of dollars (it's up to $10 million and climbing) to litigate against parishes and priests who dare to come up against the official Episcopal legal machinery designed to take you down. Should they be successful and seize your parish, be it known that Mrs. Jefferts Schori will, in all likelihood, sell it to a saloon keeper who will turn the baptistry into a place filled with cheap beer that can be scooped out by pot-bellied bikers weeping emotional tears over their Harley-Davidsons. A passing nostalgia-driven Episcopal priest with no discernible beliefs can rush in and baptize them all with a can of Foster's...the beer for men, mate.

*****

But the news is not all bad. This week a hearing in the DIOCESE OF FT. WORTH saw arguments from both sides with the Judge ruling from the bench that the original Diocese had the right to leave the Episcopal Church and take its property with it. This meant that the plaintiffs could not, in law, be the same legal entities as were associated with Bishop Iker. This is a temporary win for these faithful orthodox Anglicans, but a win nonetheless. The big question will be: how can the 2009 "Diocese" claim to be a Diocese in ECUSA when there was no resolution to admit it as such adopted by General Convention in July 2009? Will the "Diocese" now have to wait until 2012 before it can be recognized, or will the Presiding Bishop and her Chancellor once again flout the Constitution and Canons, and "recognize" the Diocese without any formal action? This decision, and what the Presiding Bishop and her Chancellor do in response to it, is bound to have significant ramifications for the other cases involving departing Dioceses.

Thus while somewhat confusing for Bishop Iker and his group, the Order cannot be good news for The Episcopal Church writes attorney A.S. Haley. "It sounds as though the Court has already, in effect, ruled that they cannot prevail on their motion for summary adjudication to obtain title to the diocesan assets, since he ruled that nothing prevented Bishop Iker's Diocese from leaving the Church with its property." You can read the full text in today's digest along with Mr. Haley's commentary. All in all it was good news for the (original) Diocese of Ft. Worth and bad news for the Potemkin Diocese of Ft. Worth, but it might be too soon to break out the champagne glasses.

*****

In keeping with the moral zeitgeist of TEC, the DIOCESE OF GEORGIA elected a new bishop, The Rev. Scott Benhase as tenth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia on September 12. Benhase, 52, rector of St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. (Diocese of Washington), was elected on the second ballot out of a field of six nominees. The election took place during the diocese's 188th annual convention at the Dubose Porter Center, a business and training center in Dublin, Georgia.

VOL did an investigation of Benhase's background and past statements. We can assure you he is a TEC company man. He believes in non-celibate gay and lesbian priests in the pulpit, gay marriage rites etc. Don't expect any change in that diocese. The real question is will he continue the lawsuit against Christ Church in Savannah or will he lighten up? One thing is for sure, Benhase's gospel and Wesley/Whitfield's gospel are not the same one.

*****

The DIOCESE OF LONG ISLAND will have a new bishop come Sept. 19. In a two hour service at the C.W. Post Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, Brookville, NY, The Rev. Lawrence C. Provenzano, 54, of Longmeadow, MA, will be ordained bishop, following the disastrous 21-year reign of Orris Walker who is allegedly dying of AIDS. Mrs. Jefferts Schori will be the chief consecrator. This ends an internal battle in the Diocese with Walker taking a leave of absence and setting a retirement date of Nov. 14. Provenzano is a former Roman Catholic priest who believes in the full inclusion of gay and lesbian folk to the priesthood. He is also very ambitious.

More than 2,000 are expected to attend the ordination service, which will be part of a Holy Communion liturgy or mass. This will be the first mass celebrated by Provenzano as bishop. The preacher will be the Rev. Mpho Tutu, Founder of the Tutu Institute for Prayer and Pilgrimage, Alexandria, VA and the daughter of Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

*****

In the DIOCESE OF COLORADO, Bishop O'Neill is making good on his policy to punish the orthodox and reward the apostate. While ripping and tearing Grace & St. Stephens apart and trying to jail the Rev. Don Armstrong, he announced a new rector, a lesbian, for St. Paul's in Fort Collins. "The Coloradoan" reported on the new rector Bonnie Sarah Spencer and her partner, Catherine Anderson, who are coming to Fort Collins from Somerset, Massachusetts, where Spencer served as rector at Our Saviour Episcopal Church. She described St. Paul's styles as "an inclusive church welcoming all people." Lesbian Integrity leader (the Rev.) Susan Russell wrote at her blog, "Under Bonnie's leadership, St. Paul's will continue to be a safe haven for everyone, no matter where they are in their spiritual journey."

This is not the first time O'Neill has allowed a lesbian into the diocese. In January of this year Mary Catherine Volland, a longtime resident of Colorado and a partnered lesbian, was ordained in St. John's Cathedral in Denver as the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado ended its moratorium on ordaining gay priests. Volland had been a candidate for ordination by the Diocese of Minnesota. She will serve as an assistant priest at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Denver. Beckett Stokes, a spokeswoman for the Colorado diocese, said Bishop Robert O'Neill had originally suspended gay ordination out of sensitivity to churches that had strongly opposed it. Stokes said O'Neill will now decide the matter on a case-by-case basis. Several Colorado congregations are and have been served by gay and lesbian priests. Interpretation. If you are gay or lesbian, you are welcome into the diocese. If you are orthodox in faith and morals, don't bother applying. His philosophy of hiring closely resembles former Bishop of Washington Ronald Haines who, in eight years as bishop, never hired a straight white male in his diocese.

"The Diocese of Colorado is perhaps the most politically and theologically diverse diocese in The Episcopal Church. I am grateful to all in this diocese who faithfully come to the table to offer their many gifts to God's service, including the gay and lesbian Christians among us who so generously contribute to our common life and ministry," said O'Neill.

*****

The DIOCESE OF EAST CAROLINA has invited the Rt. Rev. Santosh K. Marray, former Bishop of Seychelles, to begin assisting the Rt. Rev. Clifton Daniel III in October. Bishop Marray, who was born in Guyana in the West Indies, has served as a priest in the dioceses of Florida, Guyana and the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands. He was bishop of the Seychelles from 2005 to 2008, and helped prepare that diocese to elect a long-term bishop. The Archbishop of Canterbury appointed Bishop Marray to the Anglican Covenant Design Group in January 2007.

*****

The DIOCESE OF SPOKANE is taking a lead from GC2009 on water bottles. Participants in thier 2009 Convention are asked to supply their own water bottles and coffee mugs for the duration of the Convention. Coffee and water will be made available at all Convention breaks. Participants are invited to cut down on waste by bringing their own bottles and mugs. There has been no mention of the gospel, which is definitely in short supply, but no one is asking to bring that along as the forces of inclusion are well established in this diocese.

*****

Over 500 people turned up at Richmond Emmanuel Church near Vancouver, BC, last week, to witness the consecration of the Rev. Silas Tak-Yin Ng, 55 as a new Missionary Bishop of the Province of Rwanda. He will preside over the ANGLICAN COALITION IN CANADA AND ASIAN INITIATIVE Networks. He will have oversight of around 17 parishes. He will continue as pastor of his church.

Archbishop Yong Ping Chung, retired Primate of Southeast Asia attended the installation. AMiA Bishop T.J. Johnston, Bishop Charles Dorrington Reformed Episcopal Church, and Bishop Ron Ferris, ANiC, also laid hands on him. While Bishop Ng is not the first Chinese Canadian bishop in Canada, (there is a Chinese bishop in the Anglican Church of Canada in the diocese of Toronto), he is the first one in the new alignment.

*****

The Rt. Rev. Keith L. Ackerman's Representative instituted The ORDER OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE HOLY CROSS, admitted 90+ members and installed the elected officers of the National Board.

The vision of The Order of the Daughters of the Holy Cross is to gather Anglican women and girls into a nurturing and empowering community called to be servants of Jesus as He unites and builds up His Body, the Church.

The joyous service was held at Holy Cross Anglican Church in Loganville, GA. The Rev. Dr. Foley Beach, Rector, celebrated the Eucharist. The Rev. Dr. Gilbert Crosby represented Bishop Ackerman, the Order's National Chaplain, and the Rev. Steven Saul, Chaplain to the Formation Committee, presented the Order's Charter and prospective members and gave the sermon. You can read the full story in today's digest.

*****

The BISHOP OF ROCHESTER warned of the moral crisis facing Britain at his farewell service on Saturday. The Rt. Rev Michael Nazir-Ali has stepped down from the post after 15 years to concentrate on supporting persecuted Christians in majority-Muslim countries. In his sermon, he said the Christian faith is "necessary" for the life of the country and expressed his concern over the confusion regarding the dignity of life. "We are facing a crisis about affirming the dignity of human purpose," he said. "It may be at the earliest stage of life or, as we are hearing more and more, at the later stages of life." Dr Nazir-Ali attributed many of society's ills to the breakdown of the family. "It is obvious to many people that the weakening of family life is responsible for what we face on our streets, in our classrooms and in homes," he said. "It would be irresponsible for a Christian leader not to point this out." Dr Nazir-Ali was born in Pakistan and became the Church of England's first non-white bishop in 1994. He courted controversy last year when he claimed that some parts of Britain have become no-go areas for non-Muslims.

*****

Sharing of Ministries Abroad (SOMA USA) has selected Dr. Glen Petta to succeed its long-term National Director, Mrs. Edwina Thomas, who will retire early next year. Dr. Petta, a lay leader in the Diocese of Fort Worth, has been on SOMA's Board and active in missions since 1996. In addition to a long career in dentistry, he has been significantly involved in missions to the Diocese of Northern Malawi through its companion relationship with the Diocese of Fort Worth. He is also active in Alpha and discipleship programs on a diocesan and parish level. The Rt. Rev. John Guernsey, chairman of SOMA Board of Directors, rejoiced at the Board's decision, commenting, "Glen has a passion for mission, a heart for prayer and love for God's people. He brings a wealth of experience to this new role as National Director and I know that the Lord will use him in exciting ways for the future of SOMA." SOMA USA is a member of the Anglican Global Mission Partners and an affiliate of the American Anglican Council. More information is available at its website www.somausa.org or from office@somausa.org.

*****

The transition from the old order to the new order in North American Anglicanism is kicking into high gear. A group of CURSILLO leaders from the Anglican Church in North America created a new organization, known as Anglican 4thDay, to continue the Cursillo training and traditions. Articles of Incorporation have been approved and signed, board members elected, bylaws adopted, and a first draft of the Anglican 4thDay handbook prepared and reviewed. By early 2010, it will be possible to form Anglican 4thDay branches and become full members of Cursillo through a new secretariat. "The name "Anglican 4thDay" was selected as it best symbolizes the Cursillo experience, which begins with small group interactions and leads to a three-day retreat," says a news release from ACNA. "The emphasis on Piety, Study, and Action provides pilgrims with a pattern to living a meaningful and robust Christian life. The evangelical teaching and experience offered by Cursillo has been formative in the spiritual development of many within ANiC."

"I am delighted with this welcome news from ACNA of the formation of Anglican 4th Day," said Bishop Don Harvey. "The exclusionary decision of the existing Canadian Cursillo leadership has caused great distress for many within ANiC," he said.

*****

ENGLAND. As half a million people across the U.K. are set to receive personal invitations "back to church" in the next few days, thousands more will be hearing their invitation over the breakfast table or on their drive home, thanks to a "time share" scheme being used to help churches spread their message on commercial radio.

A professionally produced syndicated radio advertisement has been created by Bradford-based Christian media production house, "Whistling Frog Productions", as a way of highlighting the warm welcome awaiting those who return to services on "Back to Church Sunday," set for September 27.

With the big day fast approaching, parishes are being encouraged to "club together" with other participating churches to buy airtime on their local commercial station. For instance, in West Yorkshire, nearly 200,000 listeners will hear the ads from next Monday as part of a deal struck with Real Radio by Whistling Frog Productions, supported by the Jerusalem Trust.

Reflecting this year's theme of "Come as you are," the 40-second ad features a variety of voices reading a rap-style poem that counsels listeners: "You might have left for so many reasons, but am I wrong to sense that now's the season, to stop, turn around, walk back? Don't look to make no airs and graces. Faked up smiles and masked up faces. No need to make no innovation. Please accept this as your invitation."

*****

The ASSOCIATION OF CHURCH RENEWAL will hold a conference August 5-7, 2010 at Elmhurst College (Chicago, Illinois) titled Answering the Call: New Life in the Mainline Church. They will issue the call for a new generation of ECOT (evangelical, conservative, orthodox, traditional) pastors and leaders in historic mainline churches. Speakers include Robert Gagnon, John Armstrong, Jim Tomberlin, Bob Thompson, and a growing list of Evangelical Congregational Orthodox and Traditional (ECOT) scholars and pastors in mainline settings. College and seminary students, pastors serving in or interested in mainline ministry, laity interested in mainline renewal are warmly welcomed.

*****

The Primus [Senior Bishop] of the SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH, Bishop David Chillingworth, has expressed surprise at the US reaction to the recent release of Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi. Bishop Chillingworth made his comments in the course of a wide-ranging interview with Church of Ireland Gazette editor, Canon Ian Ellis. A report on the interview appears on page one of the attached PDF of this week's Gazette. There is a link to a full audio of the interview at: www.gazette.ireland.anglican.org/audio/audio.html

*****

Is Catholic-Orthodox Unity in Sight? The Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches are talking unity after a 1,000-year hiatus. It is a fascinating development if it comes off - and I think it will, says a UK Anglo-Catholic cleric. "It will polarize the world between Orthodox Christianity and the divided remainder, such as Anglicans.

You can read the story here: http://www.ncregister.com/daily/catholic-orthodox_unity_in_sight/

*****

A group of Episcopal bishops traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to lobby on Capitol Hill in support of health-care reform. The group, "Bishops Working for a Just World," seeks universal health-care coverage and solutions to domestic and global poverty and the environmental crisis. Bishops make annual trips to the nation's capital to advocate for specific legislation or changes to legislation. "The issues that we lobby are the issues voted on by General Convention," said Diocese of Newark Bishop Mark Beckwith. The Office of Government Relations (OGR), based in Washington, D.C., organized the trip and prepared the bishops for meetings with elected officials and administrators. Created by Executive Council in 1979, OGR's mandate is to lobby Congress and the president in response to legislation passed at General Convention.

*****

Who's Afraid of Witches? "Among African Christians, too many of us are," writes Sunday Agang in an article in "Christianity Today".

"A seminary student told me a story that has been circulating in his church: A member of his congregation sold his wife's life, so she died in an automobile accident. The church member remarried, but kept a room in his house where he allowed nobody, including his new wife. One day, he forgot to lock the door. His new wife snuck in and discovered the first wife's corpse spitting new Nigerian money on the floor.

"Elisha Telena, a Neo-Pentecostal pastor in Jos, told me another story about witchcraft. He said he had discovered witches in his congregation. One member had come to him because her husband lay ill. According to Telena, she and her son pretended to be concerned about the man's illness and wanted him 'delivered.' But Telena told his congregation that while he was trying to deliver the sick man, God revealed to him that the woman and her son were the culprits. They had used witchcraft to bind him in the spirit world.

"The fear of evil spiritual forces hovers like a cloud over African Christianity. Dealing with (and in) witchcraft isn't foreign to the church. In fact, the Yoruba people of southwest Nigeria say, 'Olorun ko ko aafo,' i.e., 'God is not opposed to native remedies.' In times of crisis, even Christians may consult medicine men.

"But when Pope Benedict brought it up during his African pilgrimage, he was addressing not just syncretistic practices, but also the belief in them. 'Who can go to [Angolans] to proclaim that Christ has triumphed over death and all those occult powers?' he asked."

You can read the full story here: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/septemberweb-only/137-21.0.html

*****

The LIVING CHURCH magazine is in transition, but editors were caught off guard when they ran a front page story last week on allegations that Trinity Cathedral in Miami was dumping its feeding program to the poor. VOL heard about this more than a year ago and investigated it. We learned then that the program was being discontinued because the homeless are no longer in the area as gentrification had taken over the neighborhood. Vacant lots, where the homeless once slept, are now high rises. A grant from the city was not a quid pro quo for letting go its feeding program, wrote Bishop Leo Frade to TLC. Cathedral folk have now joined with a downtown Methodist Church to continue its program to feed the poor. A front-page story like this will not help TLC's chances of growth.

*****

Tired of CHRISTIAN BASHING? It's become the popular thing to do these days. A Christian motorist saw a bumper sticker that read "So many Christians, So few lions." Such a homicidal sentiment apparently went unchecked by the authorities. What if I put a bumper sticker on my car that read, "So many Jews, so few gas chambers" or "So many blacks, so few nooses." How long would it take for my car with that sticker to be pulled over? Twenty minutes?

Trust me, I could easily write a 5,000-word article on Jews who have betrayed America starting with the Rosenbergs who sold the nation's atomic bomb secrets to the Soviets, right up to cultural slime balls like Jerry Springer and shock jock Howard Stern. Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme was the single worst financial rip off of ordinary Americans in the history of the world. Dare one breathe that they were all Jewish? Cries of anti-Semitism would be heard all over the planet, but Christian bashing is now acceptable apparently.

*****

A true story.

One day a son asks his father: "Dad, will you run the marathon with me?" The father answers yes and both run their first marathon together. One day, the son asks his father if he wants to run the marathon with him again and the father answers yes. They both run the marathon together again. Then one day the son asks his father: "Dad, will you run the Ironman with me?" (the Ironman is the toughest...it requires a 4km swim, 180km biking and 42km running). The father says yes again.

This all sounds easy...but check this video...amazing.

Click here: Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJMbk9dtpdY

*****

Today's stories include VOL's coverage of the Evangelical Episcopal Seminary, and the announcement of the formation of the American Anglican Council's Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans-NA. There are stories from the UK and commentary pieces an excellent piece by the Rev. Dr. Charles Alley, OF BABIES AND BATH WATER, What does it mean to be an Anglican evangelical in America? I hope you will take the time to read some of these fine stand alone articles. Those stories, by reason of length that we do not include in the digest, we post as hyper links to the website.

*****

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In Christ,

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