"The Church should acknowledge openly the true extent of the problem it faces. The current trajectory is unsustainable both financially and institutionally.” --- English Anglican Blog

“If Christianity goes, the whole of our culture goes. Then you must start painfully again, and you cannot put on a new culture ready made. You must wait for the grass to grow to feed the sheep to give the wool out of which your new coat will be made. You must pass through many centuries of barbarism. We should not live to see the new culture, nor would our great-great-great-grandchildren: and if we did, not one of us would be happy in it.” --- T. S. Eliot (1888–1965)

In your prayers there is no need for high flown words, for it is the simple and unsophisticated babblings of children that have more often won the heart of the Father in heaven. Try not to talk excessively in your prayer, in case your mind is distracted by the search for words. One word from the Publican sufficed to please God, and a single utterance saved the thief. Talkative prayer frequently distracts the mind and deludes it, whereas brevity makes for concentration. --- St. John Climacus, The Spiritual Ladder, 28

They constantly try to escape from the darkness outside and within by dreaming of a system so perfect that no one will need to be good. --- T.S. Eliot

Dear Brothers and Sisters
www.virtueonline.org
January 29, 2010

Some 250 Mere Anglicans gathered in one of the most historic antebellum ecclesiastical structures in South Carolina to discuss Sex and Theology. The theme for this year’s Mere Anglicanism conference, which met on Jan. 21-23, was “Human Identity: Gender, Marriage, and Sexuality — Speculation or Revelation?” The annual Charleston-based conference addressed modern culture, particularly homosexuality from the perspective of a biblically based Anglican theology and perspective.

Traditional marriage is under siege, Mike McManus told us. Statistics show that the number of cohabiting couples struggling amid a sexually permissive society has risen 600 percent since the 1970s. Gay marriage, while still disapproved of by the majority of states, has become legal in several states and is increasingly accepted by mainline churches, including the Episcopal Church.

Paul McHugh, a professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, said that scientific research has not established any genetic causation for homosexual orientation. When asked if his paper might appear in “The American Journal of Psychiatry”, he smiled and said, “No.” Americans, he said, have become such victims of the “politics of deviance” that objective scholarship is brushed aside in favor of what is deemed to be politically correct.

Robert Gagnon, an associate professor of New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and author of The Bible and Homosexual Practice, addressed the argument that St. Paul condemned only exploitative or pederastic homosexual behavior, as he knew nothing of homosexual orientation or partnerships among peers. Dr. Gagnon argued that both were well- known in ancient Greece and Rome, and — while tolerated — were often condemned even by pagan writers.

Edith Humphrey, the William F. Orr professor of New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, critiqued the writings of three theologians: Carter Heyward, Sarah Coakley and Eugene F. Rogers, Jr. Dr. Humphrey was especially critical of Dr. Rogers’ comparing human sexual intimacy to the relationship among the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The Rev. Rev. Michael Nazir-Ali, recently retired bishop of the Church of England’s Diocese of Rochester, spoke on theological differences between Christianity and Islam. The bishop cited Yale scholar Lamin Sanneh, a convert from Islam, who argues that the Bible, in contrast to the Quran, has an innate “translatability,” and therefore impels believers to shape their own cultures. The Bible’s very plasticity invites engagement with each new culture rather than retreat.

The Rev. Mario Bergner, an Anglican priest and former college drama teacher, described his journey out of homosexuality and into a new life as the married father of five. Speaking of how online porn presents a new challenge to Christians, he confessed that he has a lock on his own computer that is monitored by his wife and others to whom he is accountable.

Michael and Harriet McManus, founders of Marriage Savers, urged churches to help couples prepare for marriage. Churches in more than 200 cities have committed themselves to a common marriage preparation program.

I have posted five stories from this conference.

*****

From Charleston, I drove with Bishops C. FitzSimons Allison and Alex Dickson to the Anglican Mission in the America’s annual winter conference in Greensboro, NC to hear about the phenomenal growth over the first decade of this thriving Anglican mission.

Here the news was all good. Participants came from 37 states and nine countries to hear a variety of speakers talk about how to start a church, maintain it, grow it and keep people coming back for more.

The Anglican Mission in the Americas (TheAM) has grown from eleven churches in 2000 to nearly 160 churches in 2010 with 62 more working their way up to parish status. Their aim is to reach North America’s 130 million unchurched.

You can read several stories in today’s digest flowing from the conference. Regrettably, because of an incoming snow storm I was obliged to leave a day early. However I will have several interviews with interesting people I met there posted to the VOL website, including a new thriving Anglican Diocese in San Paulo, Brazil.

*****

From the ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH comes this word. The Allegheny Court of Common Pleas issued an order to "transition to" the The Episcopal Church Diocese "the possession, custody, and control of the real and personal property identified in the Special Master's Report" which was presented to the court on January 27, 2010. The Anglican Diocese will appeal this order.

The property identified in the Special Master's Report includes all of the diocese's bank and investment accounts as of October 4, 2008. This includes the diocese's investment accounts with Morgan Stanley that have otherwise been frozen since January 2009. The property identified in the Special Master's Report also includes all real property deeded to the Board of Trustees for the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh.

With regard to the real property covered by today's order, the court's order specifically provides that "no real property shall be sold or current occupants removed without further Order of this Court."

With regard to parish funds held in the Morgan Stanley investment accounts, the Special Master's Report provides that "parishes for whom such property is administered have the right to withdraw the cash or investment asset value … at any time…."

*****

Archbishop Peter J. Akinola's primacy of the Church of Nigeria will come to a conclusion on March 25, 2010, in Abuja when he will install Archbishop Nicholas Okoh as the new Primate. To honor his service, CANA is hosting a Festal Eucharist at Truro Church, Fairfax, VA, on February 10, 2010. This will be his final visit to the U.S. as Primate of the Church of Nigeria.

*****

The DIOCESE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA in the Anglican Church of Canada has announced a plan to close thirteen churches in a dramatic restructuring. While the plan is a response to declining church attendance, Bishop James Cowan says it goes beyond cost-cutting, asking how the church can best focus its resources to carry out its mission as well as rebuild for the future.

A source told VOL that the diocesan bishop is on a church closing rampage. “They have or are losing a full third of their strength with a multitude of church closures. And this isn't the end either”, a source told VOL. A number more are under review for closure in two years time. This is what you get when you try to be "all things to all people," and less than nothing to the Gospel.

*****

The Archbishop of Canterbury and The Episcopal Church’s Presiding Bishop meet with the UN Secretary General this past week amidst the Global crises facing Haiti and the Sudan. They were among pressing issues addressed at the United Nations headquarters Jan. 26 as Secretary General Ban Ki-moon welcomed both leaders for a 45-minute meeting. The church leaders were joined by “Anglican Observer” at the U.N., Hellen Wangusa and U.K. Representative to the U.N. Sir Mark Lyall Grant.

Williams offered his "profound condolences" for the loss of so many U.N. staff in the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that devastated Haiti Jan. 12, according to a press release from Lambeth Palace, the archbishop's London residence. He also conveyed his "deep appreciation and admiration" for the work of the U.N. in some of the poorest parts of the world.

Jefferts Schori told ENS that she welcomed the opportunity to highlight the Episcopal Church's presence in Haiti, "for more than 150 years providing education and health care," and underscore "that we would be there for centuries to come." The Episcopal Diocese of Haiti is numerically the largest diocese in the Episcopal Church.

Of course there is always somebody unhappy about such meetings. Lesbian Episcopal leader Susan Russell (The Rev.) moaned on her blog that alleged Uganda homophobia was not discussed by the participants.

*****

The Apostolic Constitution: sceptics 'are eating humble pie', according to the Church Times. A meeting of bishops who have petitioned the Pope to be received into full communion while retaining an "Anglican" identity will take place in Rome in Low Week. It would be the culmination of the response to Benedict XVI's Apostolic Constitution (Anglicanorum Coetibus) to establish personal Ordinariates for former Anglicans, Archbishop John Hepworth of the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC), a Continuing Church, said.

The ACA’s North American branch leader Bishop Louis Campese announced that he has invited the ACA HOB, the TAC Primate, and several guests from other bodies to meet in Orlando at the beginning of March.

*****

The Scottish Episcopal Church, Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church in Scotland entered into a new covenant with one another on Saturday. The partnership was sealed by the denominational leaders at a special service at St Ninian’s Episcopal Cathedral, Perth. Signing the agreement on behalf of the URC was Primus the Most Rev David Chillingworth, who welcomed the formal coming together of the Churches. He stated, “I am delighted to take part in the signing of this covenant agreement. Our General Synod has whole-heartedly affirmed this covenant and welcomed this developing relationship with our partner churches."

The covenant was also signed by the Rev Lily Twist, Superintendent of the Methodist Church in Scotland and Rev John Humphreys, Moderator of the United Reformed Church, National Synod of Scotland. The covenant reflects the work being undertaken jointly by the Churches already in areas like training and mission development.

*****

Prop 8 Trial. Albert Mohler writes that both sides in the federal trial over same-sex marriage have now rested, and the nation awaits the decision of U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker. Nevertheless, the judge's decision will not put the matter to rest, no matter his ruling. Both sides have pledged, if they lose, to appeal his ruling all the way to the Supreme Court. To that, Michael Lindenberger of “Time” magazine adds, "What's equally clear now, after nearly three weeks of evidence, is that no matter what happens, the debate over gay marriage will never again be the same."

As Lindenberger argues, the case has finally put the issue of same-sex marriage before the federal courts, setting the stage for a landmark decision, no matter how the judge rules and however the case is finally decided upon appeals. "Both sides see it as a crucial test of whether society can insist that heterosexual unions are worthy of the full sanction of the law in a way that other unions are not," he reports.

*****

From Haiti and Mgr. Jean Zaché Duracin of Evêque d'Haïti comes this, “I am writing to you from the tent city we have set up behind the rubble of College Ste. Pierre, our marvelous senior secondary school that is no more. As you know, we have gathered approximately 3,000 people here alone. Across the land, the Diocese of Haiti has set up at least 21 refugee camps, caring for more than 23,000 people.

“We in the Diocese of Haiti have a vision and a plan for this relief and recovery effort. We know the situation on the ground, we are directing emergency relief to those who need it most, and we already are making plans and moving forward to help our people. I wish to make it plain: I know that many of our partners wish to come to Haiti right now to help. Please tell them that unless they are certified professionals in relief and recovery, they must wait. We will need them in the months and years to come, but at this point, it is too dangerous and too much of a burden for our people to have mission teams here.”

The Episcopal Diocese of Haiti caring for 23,000 quake survivors in at least 21 encampments around the earthquake-devastated country.

*****

VANCOUVER, BC—Four churches that have severed ties with the Anglican Church of Canada seem resolved to continue a legal battle over the ownership of their property and assets, possibly all the way to the Supreme Court.

"There is a sense in which it would be nice to put this whole thing behind us," says Mike Stewart, rector of St. Matthew's Anglican Church in Abbotsford. "But there is also a sense that we believe God called us into this to stand as witnesses for the truth of the gospel and our love for the Lord Jesus. So we're not wanting to escape from that…too soon, but when God tells us so."

The four churches are now members of the theologically conservative Anglican Network in Canada. The other three—St. Matthias and St Luke's, St. John's Shaughnessy and Church of the Good Shepherd—are in Vancouver. They went to court seeking "clarification" after the Diocese of New Westminster laid claim to their property.

On November 25, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Kelleher ruled the properties did belong to the diocese. The churches had 30 days to decide whether to appeal. On Christmas Eve, they announced that they would appeal, but more as a way to keep their options open while their congregations prayed and discussed what they should do.

*****

CS Lewis College Announcement. The C.S. Lewis Foundation has long envisioned establishing a C.S. Lewis College in the U.S. as a fully accredited Christian institution of Great Books and Visual and Performing Arts. That vision is now about to become a reality as plans move forward to launch C.S. Lewis College on the beautiful campus in Northfield, Massachusetts, recently acquired for this purpose from Northfield Mount Hermon School. This property has been purchased for the use of C.S. Lewis College by Hobby Lobby, a privately held retail chain of arts and crafts stores based in Oklahoma City, OK.

Subject to securing all appropriate approvals, C.S. Lewis College currently plans to commence instruction in Fall 2012.

*****

The Standing Committee of the Episcopal DIOCESE OF KENTUCKY announced a slate of four men, including three cathedral deans, as nominees for the diocese's next bishop.

The nominees are:

* The Rev. David Allen Boyd, 54, rector, St. David's Episcopal Church in Austin (Diocese of Texas);
* The Very Rev. John P. Downey, 56, dean, Cathedral of St. Paul in Erie (Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania);
* The Very Rev. William Nicholas Knisely Jr., 49, dean, Trinity Cathedral in Phoenix (Diocese of Arizona);
* The Very Rev. Terry Allan White, 50, dean, Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kansas City (Diocese of West Missouri).

Now it is interesting to note that three are cathedral deans who are running for the highest office in the church. Why? Well inner city cathedrals are falling on hard times. People are not showing up any more. More and more cathedrals are looking like mausoleums. Without endowments, many will have to be sold off. Even with money and dwindling congregations, they have a limited future. Is it any wonder then that deans want out for better ecclesiastical pastures?

*****

The Rt Rev. Jack Leo Iker, bishop of the diocese of FORT WORTH, attended worship services in Waco with the people of King of Glory Anglican Church, their newest diocesan mission station. This group, started on the initiative of faithful lay people, primarily serves the Baylor University community. They are now meeting at 4PM on Sunday afternoons in a chapel graciously offered by the First Baptist Church of Waco on Fifth Street between the university's campus and downtown.

Four were confirmed by the bishop and several more reaffirmed their commitments to follow Christ as part of this mission station.

This community has grown quickly, drawing both upon people with a background in the Episcopal Church and others who are "evangelicals on the Canterbury trail." There may even be a few who have not previously had a commitment to Christ as Savior. The fledgling church has thirty-nine communicants at Eucharist.

*****

CUBA appointed its first woman bishop coadjutor. The Anglican Church of Canada’s Archbishop Fred J. Hiltz announced Jan. 22 that the Metropolitan Council of Cuba, which he chairs, has appointed the Rev. Griselda Delgado Del Carpio as bishop coadjutor of the Episcopal Church of Cuba.

Currently the rector of Santa Maria Virger in Itabo, Cuba, Delgado will be ordained and consecrated on Feb. 7 at the closing service for Cuba's synod meeting at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Havana, Hiltz said in a letter to the Cuban church.

Delgado will work with Bishop Miguel Tamayo of the Anglican Church of Uruguay as he completes his work as Cuba's interim bishop, Hiltz said, and a date will be set for her installation as diocesan bishop. Tamayo has served as interim bishop of Cuba for six years and plans to retire.

*****

Ann Holmes Redding, the deposed former Episcopal priest turned Muslim convert, has landed a teaching job at Pacific Lutheran University in Seattle which goes to show that anything is possible in this world including the blatantly stupid.

*****

Several Arizona religious leaders invoked Scripture in calling on President Obama and Congress to pass humane immigration reform based on principles of fairness, family unity and due process.

"In our holy writings, we are called to love sojourners and to integrate them into our communities," said Bishop Minerva Carcaño, who leads the Desert Southwest Conference of the United Methodist Church.

A recent Zogby poll suggested that religious leaders are often at odds with their members over the issue of immigration reform. Commissioned by the Center for Immigration Studies, a think tank in Washington, D.C. that favors less immigration, the poll said 64 percent of Catholics and Protestants favor cracking down on illegal immigrants, compared with 23 percent of Catholics and 24 percent of Protestants who support a legalization program for undocumented immigrants.

President Obama pledged on the campaign trail to push for reform during his first year in office, but the plan stalled while he focused on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the economy and health-care reform.

Immigration reform now faces a tough political battle in an election year.

The conference in Casa Grande was attended by Bishop Kirk Smith of the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona, Bishop Steve Talmage of the Grand Canyon Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and Conference Minister John Dorhauer of the Southwest Conference of the United Church of Christ. About 180 clergy and religious leaders from other faiths also attended.

*****

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI has a new commandment for priests struggling to get their message across: Go forth and blog. The pope, whose own presence on the Web has heavily grown in recent years, urged priests recently to use all multimedia tools at their disposal to preach the Gospel and engage in dialogue with people of other religions and cultures.

Just using e-mail or surfing the Web is often not enough: Priests should use cutting-edge technologies to express themselves and lead their communities, Benedict said in a message released by the Vatican.

"The spread of multimedia communications and its rich 'menu of options' might make us think it sufficient simply to be present on the Web," but priests are "challenged to proclaim the Gospel by employing the latest generation of audiovisual resources," he said. Benedict said young priests should become familiar with new media while still in seminary, though he stressed that the use of new technologies must reflect theological and spiritual principles.

*****

Next week I fly to London to cover the Church of England Synod. Some important decisions made there could affect the future of North American Anglicanism. Your prayers are sought. A private member’s motion is on the floor to discuss recognizing the new Anglican Church of North America (ACNA), which, if it happens, could seriously affect the landscape of American Anglicanism.

We do need funds to make all this travel possible. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to keep us going to bring you all the news from around the globe. Small donations are welcome.

You can send a check to:

VIRTUEONLINE
1236 Waterford Rd.,
West Chester, PA 19380

If you would like to make a PAYPAL donation you may go to VOL's website: www.virtueonline.org and click on the PAYPAL button. Thank you for your support.

VOL's website is available in 34 languages. Our Global Anglican Theological Institute is available in 40 languages. We boldly go where others will not go. So please consider a donation as the year begins.

In Christ,

David