The last of the 'last days'. The New Testament writers do not have an exact vocabulary to describe the chronology of the last time or the end, and it is not always easy to discern what eschatological period or event they are alluding. What is clear is that they regarded the first coming of Christ as having inaugurated the new age and settled the doom of the old. 'The age to come' had come, and 'the present age' was therefore drawing to a close. It was not, of course, anticipated that this period would last forever. It was a stage of transition called both the 'last days' and the 'last times'. The New Testament writers who describe its beginning are already looking forward to its consummation. The 'last days' will themselves have 'last days', a period of grievous moral and religious decadence. Similarly, the 'last times' will have a 'last time' in which ungodly scoffers will arise. Nor is this all. The 'last time' of the 'last times' will have a culminating 'last time' when our eternal inheritance will be revealed. In the same way, 'the last days' of the 'last days' will themselves have a final 'last day' when Christ raises the dead and judges the world. --- From "The Letters of John" by John R.W. Stott

"Every piece of evidence that can be culled from the text's literary and historical context confirms that the Bible's prohibition of homosexual practice, like its prohibition of adult incestuous unions, is absolute, rejecting all forms of homosexual practice regardless of consent and commitment." --- Robert Gagnon, Associate Professor of New Testament, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

The Church of England has, in the past, acted as if compromise were the 'genius' of Anglicanism. History, I suspect, will show the opposite - that far from being its genius, it was the agent of its downfall. And why should we be surprised? If the devil is the Father of Lies, then the half-truth is surely his own offspring. --- John P. Richardson (The Ugley Vicar blog)

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

The Episcopal Church is to orthodoxy what Tiger Woods is to monogamy - unfaithful and growing more unfaithful by the day. The one major difference is that Woods has accrued public shame and personal loss, perhaps even his career, for his public infidelities. The Episcopal Church wallows in spiritual and sexual adultery by ordaining divorced gay priests, making one of them a bishop and then hopes, without shame and with fingers crossed, that the rest of the church will fall in line and come around to thinking that such acts are good and right in the eyes of God.

The truth is the church never has and never will. With each passing day, Episcopal bishops are discovering that flirting with heresy, even engaging and endorsing it, brings more disrepute on a church already in free fall, causing the faithful to leave, questioning allegiances in the light of Scripture and much more.

The draconian acts of liberal and revisionist bishops continued apace this week with the rump, dare we say illegitimate, Diocese of Fort Worth "deposing" 57 priests and deacons, declaring they are no longer Episcopal priests or deacons in the Episcopal Church.

Of course this is an exercise in futility. The bishop of the remnant Episcopal diocese, Wallis Ohl did all this at the behest of his uber boss Katharine Jefferts Schori. These "deposed" priests and deacons are now members of the Episcopal Diocese of Ft. Worth under the ecclesiastical authority of the Diocese of the Southern Cone and members of the Anglican Church of North America (ACNA) which was recently recognized by the Synod of the Church of England. You can read the list here: http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=12126

This was not unexpected, but it shows the pathway TEC is on and the revisionism to which it is committed.

*****

In the Diocese of Southwest Florida Bishop Dabney Smith failed to keep the promise of their previous bishop to send tens of thousands of dollars of conscience money from some 1,000 Anglo-Catholics and Evangelicals in their sister diocese, the Dominican Republic.

Instead he has sent it to the national church in NYC, violating an agreement that started with Bishop John Lipscomb. Promises were made, and then not kept, that those orthodox clergy and laity who disagreed with the Robinson consecration could have their monies diverted to another Episcopal cause. Smith's failure brought cries of outrage from one couple and several other Anglo-Catholics in the diocese who spilled the story to VOL.

All this is reminiscent of another Bishop, Charles E. Bennison, who made promises to seven Anglo-Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Pennsylvania that he would continue the flying bishop arrangement begun under another bishop for Anglo-Catholics in that diocese. He reneged on that promise. Now he has been sentenced to be deposed.

You can read the full story here or in today's digest. http://tinyurl.com/yebg3f9

When the story broke, Jan Spangler, one of VOL's sources, got a disturbing note from her rector, an Anglo-Catholic, Fr. Fred Robinson who wrote this:

Dear Jan and Doug,

I just heard about the David Virtue piece on S.W. Fl. There are few things that could be more damaging to us and other conservative parishes in the diocese who are working with our bishop on this pastoral issue. I know you and Doug would do nothing to hurt your beloved Redeemer, but if you know who is behind this I would like to know. This is just the kind of thing a liberal would do to damage a successful parish like Redeemer that proclaims the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Any help you can give me would be appreciated.

In Christ,
Fr. Fred+

Jan Spangler replied to Fr. Robinson saying this:

Fr. Robinson, I personally will take responsibility for this leaking out to Virtue. He called me on the phone Tuesday, I told the truth. I'm not his only source, only the one who isn't afraid to allow my name to be used. Sorry if your attempts to keep this outrageous thing under wraps is blown.... The Bishop has had plenty of time to keep his word. If you and other clergy will not say "Enough", then I as a lay person will. Get over it. Now we will see what happens.

Personally I don't think he EVER intended to keep this agreement and we should all at least know the truth so we can Honestly pledge without deception. You may have to kiss his xxx but I do not. I hate being lied to... and he was given plenty of time to get this done. Man up sir. Tell your people what is going on and trust them to do what their hearts tell them with their money. This is the Church of Jesus Christ, and as far as I know he's still in charge of what happens to it. The truth should never be kept from us, not by the bishop and not by you. I am not sorry for speaking the truth, only sorry I believed you and the Bishop for as long as I did. Stop accusing me of "hurting Redeemer" , its falsehoods and half truths and deceit that hurt Redeemer. She can survive the Truth if God wills it. Please, do the right thing and deal with it.

Sincerely,
Jan Spangler

*****

The Diocese of South Carolina is heating up for a royal legal battle with more lawsuits on the horizon.

A small group of Episcopalians in the rump parish of All Saints, Waccamaw, S.C., unhappy with the Dennis Canon being overthrown in the diocese, which allowed the parish to affiliate with the Anglican Mission in the Americas, has filed a Petition for a writ of certiorari asking the Supreme Court to rule on the lower court ruling.

They are hoping that the lower court decision giving the parish the right to choose its own affiliation will be overturned and the parish returned to the Diocese of South Carolina. The petition involves the consolidated cases of All Saints Parish, Waccamaw v. Protestant Episcopal Church and Green v. Campbell.

Ironically SC Bishop Mark Lawrence, who became bishop in 2008, is not a party to this dispute (though the national church wishes he was). He is wisely keeping out of it. It goes back to his predecessor Bishop Ed Salmon.

While all this is going on, the Diocese of South Carolina's former chancellor, Thomas T. Tisdale, has sent a series of letters to its current chancellor, Wade H. Logan III, regarding four other parishes, some of which have distanced themselves from the Episcopal Church with one in Mt. Pleasant ready to move out of TEC altogether. This is squarely aimed at Bishop Lawrence and Mrs. Jefferts Schori's implacable hatred of the orthodox bishop who steadfastly refuses to get involved in the governances of his ecclesiastical region. He would also like her to butt out of his diocesan affairs.

There is little doubt now that the diocese and the national church are on a collision course with more lawsuits and millions of dollars expected to be spent defending both the diocese and parishes.

This brings to five the number of dioceses now in serious litigation with the national church. The others are Pittsburgh, San Joaquin, Quincy and Ft. Worth.

One person who is making a killing on all this, regardless of whether the national church wins or loses, is attorney David Booth Beers. He must be laughing all the way to the bank.

*****

In the Diocese of Los Angeles The Rev. Canon Diane Jardine Bruce has received the necessary consents to her election as seventh bishop suffragan of the Diocese of Los Angeles, officials have confirmed.

Meanwhile, Standing Committees and bishops with jurisdiction have yet to give their consents to the election of lesbian Mary Douglas Glasspool as the diocese's eighth bishop suffragan.

The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Los Angeles reported that in the past 43 days, of the 56 total votes needed, Bruce has received 56, and Glasspool, 45.

*****

The Diocese of Central New York has a mess on its hands. A former Episcopal priest, Ralph Johnson, was arrested this week and charged with multiple counts each of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault, and corruption of a minor. The real story is why Episcopal Bishop Gladstone (Skip) Adams tried to cover it all up years earlier. A young man stepped forward and told VOL his story of sexual abuse at the hands of the priest.

VOL investigated the story and we believe that the bishop should be investigated to see if he covered it up following the arrest of the pedophile priest. After all, PA Bishop Charles E. Bennison was found guilty by an ecclesiastical jury for covering up his brother's sexual abuse of a female minor and was sentenced to be deposed. Why should this bishop not be investigated for similar behavior? Inquiring minds want to know. You can read the full story here or in today's digest. http://tinyurl.com/yh8efbj

*****

This past week in an overwhelming vote the Church of England General Synod acknowledged that there are other legitimate Anglicans in North America. The effect of that vote (309 to 67) might well see the vote on women bishops voted down next July when the historic debate comes up at the next Synod, a source has told VOL.

The overwhelming reason is the historic debate and the recognition of the Anglican Church of North America last week in London. The numbers took everybody by surprise; no one (including this writer) expected that the vote would be over 90 percent in favor.

The one person who made all this possible was a single liberal priest from the Diocese of Southwark who got up and publicly accused the Synod of being liars if they dared speak against The Episcopal Church. Invoking the 9th commandment did him and TEC in. The woman delegate who followed him was not necessarily orthodox. She was going to speak in defense of the Anglican Church of Canada, but digressed in her remarks saying she didn't like being called a liar. That settled it.

Furthermore the word was out about The Episcopal Church's extremely litigious nature (courtesy of AAC leader Phil Ashey and VOL's ongoing stream of stories about this). Suddenly, TEC was on the defensive. Word was also filtering out about Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori's pending pounce on The Diocese of South Carolina. TEC was history.

However broad-minded Brits might be, however even-handed and liberal their clergy and bishops like to be, however gracious they may be towards fellow Anglicans, the actions of TEC were over the top and they quietly said so amidst genial talk, pipes and port. TEC got its comeuppance.

*****

Sharing of Ministries Abroad (SOMA USA) announced a changing of the guard this past week. Edwina Thomas, the outgoing National Director of SOMA USA, passed the baton to Dr. Glen Petta of Fort Worth at the organization's Board at historic Christ Church in Savannah, Georgia, February 8-10. Thomas' nineteen-year leadership was celebrated for its impact on the Anglican Church around the world and the strength and dynamism she had built into the organization. Board Chairman, The Rt. Rev. John Guernsey, led the gathering in a great recall of Edwina's ministry and missions that have changed lives.

The SOMA Board commissioned Dr. Petta, a lay leader in the Diocese of Fort Worth, as Thomas's successor as National Director. He 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. Dr. Petta is also active in Alpha and discipleship programs on a diocesan and parish level.

SOMA's primary mission of equipping the leadership of the Anglican Communion is carried out by taking the gifts of the Holy Spirit around the world through short-term, cross cultural missions to bishops, clergy, and lay leaders. Expected highlights for 2010 will include missions to dioceses in Kenya, the Dominican Republic, Nigeria, and the United States.

The SOMA office is relocating from Northern Virginia to Fort Worth. Further information is available at www.somausa.org or from the office at 703-878-7667.

*****

On Ordinariate proceedings in the UK, a source told VOL the following: "There are only tiny numbers among a tiny rump of a tiny breakaway body. So far as Australia is concerned, FiF = TAC - the same people wearing different hats. Only 200 of them - and I would guess mostly clerics and bishops, wanting to be RCs, while their congregations do not.

"In the UK the RC Bishops have set up a Commission to implement the Ordinariate upon request from Rome. They are the ones who will have to decide who gets re-ordained, and they will be required to pay all the costs of training, housing and paying the convert clergy in the Ordinariate. So far they have not received any applications from anyone wanting to join the Ordinariate.

"Bishop Paul Richardson has announced that he is simply becoming a RC in the Archdiocese of Southwark - not the Ordinariate. The indications are that no Ordinariate will be set up just to please a few convert clergy. The whole principle of the thing is that it is intended to provide for Anglican communities seeking reunion with Rome - not for individual clergy.

The Latin title, Anglicanorum Coetibus, is addressed "To communities of Anglicans" - not to would-be solo convert clerics." He said the TAC in England has just a few minuscule congregations, and perhaps two or three genuine clergy, retired from the CofE. It will not qualify for an Ordinariate. "No exodus from Anglicanism - we stay to fight for the Church of our fathers."

*****

A Special General Meeting of Members of Forward in Faith Australia Inc. was held February 13 at All Saints, Kooyong in Melbourne to consider the following recommendations from the National Council regarding the future direction of the Association.

The Special General Meeting of FiFA received with great gratitude the Apostolic Constitution "Anglicanorum Coetibus" of Pope Benedict XV1 and directed the National Council to foster by every means the establishing of an Ordinariate in Australia. The Special General Meeting reaffirmed its commitment to provide care and support for those who at this time feel unable to be received into the Ordinariate. Bishop Peter Elliott was appointed delegate of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference in the project to establish a Personal Ordinariate in Australia.

Following publication of the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus, Forward in Faith commended to all its members the call from the Bishops of Ebbsfleet and Richborough for a Day of Prayer and Discernment on Monday 22nd February, the Chair of Peter.

*****

The Anglican Bishop of Rwenzori Diocese, the late Rt. Rev. Patrick Kyaligonza, 46, was buried at St. John's Cathedral in Kabarole this week. Uganda Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi took the funeral. His death was caused by a boda-boda cyclist on the Fort Portal-Kyenjojo road, the chaplain of the diocese and survivor of the accident, Moses Thembo, said.

"A boda-boda cyclist came our way and the bishop ordered the driver of our vehicle to save his life. This caused the driver to lose control, hence the accident," Thembo said during the burial ceremony. The bishop died when his car overturned in Miranga, Kyenjojo district.

The bishop was travelling to Kaihura for a pastoral function and was to attend a funeral ceremony of a relative.

*****

Marriage Savers president Mike McManus reports that CBN-TV recently highlighted his Marriage Savers plan which spotlighted three ways to cut the divorce rate in half in America.

1. Create a Community Marriage Policy (which we are trying to do in Metro Detroit). The CBN story is of our most successful effort, that of Rev. Jeff Meyers and Pastor LeRoy Sullivan. The divorce rate in Kansas City, KS is down 70% in ten years, and suburban Johnson County, 50%.

2. Replace No Fault Divorce with Mutual Consent, in cases involving children. Why shouldn't state government encourage marriage preservation, rather than its destruction? All that is needed is to give both spouses of minor children a voice on whether there is to be a divorce, except in cases of provable adultery, physical abuse, etc.

3. Require divorcing couples to live apart for a year, at minimum, and two years if contested. MD, PA & IL, which have that standard, have divorce rates half that of Hot Head States like MI, MS, TN. FL, OK, TX, WY, ID which have no waiting period.

CBN reports all three solutions in five minutes.

Here is the link. Click on the picture to the left, where you will see an arrow.

http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2010/February/As-Pastors-Unite-for-Marriage-Divorce-Rate-Plunges-/

*****

More outrage from the celeb community. This time Elton John, 60, claimed Jesus was gay. He called Jesus a "compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems. On the cross, he forgave the people who crucified him. Jesus wanted us to be loving and forgiving. I don't know what makes people so cruel," he continued. "Try being a gay woman in the Middle East -- you're as good as dead."

His comments, published in "Parade" magazine on Friday, sparked immediate outrage from Christian Groups.

Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, issued a statement on the organization's Web site, saying, "Jesus was certainly compassionate, but to say He was 'super-intelligent' is to compare the Son of God to a successful game-show contestant."

"More seriously, to call Jesus a homosexual is to label Him a sexual deviant," the statement continued.

A spokesman for the Church of England told the BBC, "Sir Elton's reflection that Jesus calls us all to love and forgive is one shared by all Christians. But insights into aspects of the historic person of Jesus are perhaps best left to the academics."

*****

RENEWAL MISSION and CHRIST AWAKENING 2010. Anglican leaders in Vancouver, BC are looking forward to welcoming Dr. David Demian, Dr. George Johnson, Pastor David Carson, & Rev. William Beasley to Renewal Mission 2010, March 5-7. If you think you can attend drop a line to the Rev. Ed Hird: ed_hird@telus.net and he will sign you up.

*****

If you want to read any of the 30 stories written by myself or writers who were present at the recent General Synod of the Church of England you can see them all here: http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/synod2010.php

*****

In this media climate, where so many newspapers and blogs are celebrity-obsessed with television media, staying informed about current events and policy issues through alternative means, such as the Internet, is absolutely vital especially when it comes to religion.

We believe VOL is one such reliable source when it comes to the Anglican Communion, The Episcopal Church and the Culture Wars. We are NOT celebrity driven. We don't care much about the lives of individual bishops unless what they do and say impacts the Faith itself and therefore impacts the lives of ordinary Episcopalians and Anglicans. When bishops and clergy by their lives and witness rip the faith apart we WILL tell you, and we will tell you to avoid such persons, as they bring shame on the gospel, and in the spirit of Titus 3:10.

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In Christ,

David