VIEWPOINTS

By David W. Virtue
http://www.virtueonline.org

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As the Episcopal Church slowly crumbles with fleeing orthodox priests and parishes and with churches closing in revisionist dioceses (see today's Diocese of Iowa story), so the temptation to raid the coffers, as the ship slowly sinks, grows greater with each passing day.

Today's lead story revolves around the BISHOP OF FLORIDA, Samuel Johnson Howard. It is a story of high-priced real estate purchases, loans, discretionary accounts, absolute financial control, persecution of dissenters, (the Florida Seven) suppressing the truth, cutting mission and turning a once proud orthodox diocese under Bishop Stephen Jecko into a haven for liberal and pro-homosexual activists.

The purchase of a million-dollar home by the new bishop is symbolic, if not symptomatic of the disease of these ultra-liberal princes of the church. Even if they don't know the Lord God Almighty, they want to dress up like Him, play God, wield power like He does and at their time of death hopefully not hear those words, "Depart from me, I never knew you."

They should be so lucky.

But Howard is not alone. Right after I wrote this story and posted it to the Web site a VirtueOnline reader wrote to say that when Mark Hollingsworth became the new BISHOP OF OHIO, he and his wife purchased a lavish home in the Shaker Heights district of Cleveland for a cool $1,665,000! This in a diocese hemorrhaging dollars, closing Cedar Hills retreat center, marginal parishes and much more. This raised few eyebrows at the time. Hollingsworth's wife, Susan, is from the Hunt Ketchup family so there is no shortage of nickels, but what would Jesus say? They bought the home from TWR magnate, Joseph T. Gorman!

Hollingsworth, a protégé of Tom Shaw, bishop of Massachusetts and from whence he came, has clamped down on his orthodox parishes so harshly that a gaggle of retired bishops had to sweep in and offer temporary oversight to a number of them.

What is truly alarming is that these revisionist bishops have no gospel of transformation to proclaim, only inclusion, and therefore no ability to make churches grow. The truth is their dioceses are steadily declining! If they were CEOs of major (or minor) corporations their sorry backsides would be out the door. They are buying expensive homes, affording themselves high salaries with lavish benefits and retirement packages, all while their dioceses steadily decline in attendance and income. Some even raid trust funds to stay in business! If you want a business model of failure they are it! They could write the book on it. And nobody says or gives a damn. The laity are asleep and the clergy have been cowed into silence. Nobody questions whether their lifestyles reflect Jesus (who had nowhere to lay his head), and the enormous gulf between finding clean water in the Province of Nigeria (which is nearly impossible) and Dom Perignon in the bishop's liquor cabinet in Florida!

Name a single Episcopal missionary working in say Uganda who lives in the sort of opulence of Howard, Hollingsworth, Orris Walker (Long Island) or William D. Persell, the bishop of Chicago, who lives in a fancy condo on Chicago's Lake Shore Drive in the Lakeview district, just a few blocks from Wrigley Field. The property is conservatively valued at a cool million or more, so a reader told VirtueOnline. This is one of the most luxurious -- and expensive -- neighborhoods in all of the United States. Downtown Chicago is one of the top three wealthiest areas in the U.S. -- the top two being the Upper East Side of New York City and Beverly Hills, California.

And while missionaries slum it, these bishops are driving stakes through the heart of orthodoxy and doing their best to eviscerate the one true faith from their dioceses, opting instead for Griswold's diversity, pansexuality and inclusivity claims, which have yet to build a single church.

And for true obscenity and something that absolutely boggles the mind, the lesbian dean of Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland, Tracy Lind, and her "wife" took a four-month sabbatical recently to go to Italy to "explore the metaphor of the piazza." I kid you not. Here I sit scratching my head trying to figure out why the Lord almighty doesn't send me on an all expenses paid trip to England to "explore the metaphor of English country pubs!"

Or take the Rt. Rev. CRAIG ANDERSON, former bishop of South Dakota and until recently rector of St. Paul's, an elite New Hampshire boarding school, who stepped down two years early from his job which was paying him more than $500,000 a year! The New York Times reported that the school was under investigation by tax authorities and for falling short of its fund-raising goals. Anderson was roundly criticized by a vocal group of alumni over his compensation, handling of the school's money, and other matters. If you are starting to feel the slightest empathy pangs for the bishop, think on this: When he got word he was being given the heave ho he put his waterfront house in Boothbay, Maine, on the market for $2.7 million! There are no stables in Boothbay, and Anderson won't need a bale of hay to lay his head on. Pass another bottle of Dom Perignon, please. His home alone would build 50 modest churches in Africa.

What is even more hypocritical is that as the lifestyles and property values of these bishops rise, their indignation about what the church, society and government should be doing for the poor also rises. The hypocritical outrage knows no boundaries. For example, each diocese has been asked to give 0.7 percent of its income to fight global poverty. Only 48 out of 100 dioceses have agreed in principle to do anything. The Dioceses of Florida and Ohio have passed resolutions calling for diocesan giving at 0.7 percent in the 2006 budget and urging congregations to give at 0.7 percent, but to date they have given nothing.

As an interesting aside about the DIOCESE OF FLORIDA and where it is heading, VirtueOnline was told that when the non-celibate homosexual V. Gene Robinson was consecrated bishop of New Hampshire the Very Rev. Edward Harrison, president of the Florida Standing Committee, sent him a congratulatory telegram! That would never have happened under Bishop Stephen Jecko.

A "Letter of Agreement" floating around the Internet by Bishop Howard demanding allegiance to the Episcopal Church from his clergy is old news. It first appeared in April of this year. When I asked three orthodox clergy about it, they said they saw it and tossed in the garbage can five months ago ... unsigned.

NINETEEN Episcopal lay leaders and priests in the DIOCESE OF CONNECTICUT who officially charged Bishop Andrew Smith with violating the canon laws of the Episcopal Church have naturally roused the indignation of the left.

The biggest screamer is, predictably, Walter Righter, the former bishop of Iowa who faced charges that he wrongfully ordained a known sodomite to the priesthood. Here is what he said on the House of Bishops/Deputies listserv. "I am not going to engage in an argument about canons etc. It is now a part of church process - and I hope that process recognizes it for what will serve no useful purpose, and has no real basis, and makes recommendation to the PB that it be dropped. We have had great restraint in not filing presentments over canonical violations since my case was dismissed. The ECW and others did not file against those who were in violation of canons. At the GC [1997] in Philadelphia, behind the scenes there was an attempt to pass something that exempted the Bishops of the Dioceses that did not ordain women (attempt made by them) and it did not work. I note particularly that charges against me and against Drew Smith came out of the same right wing matrix that was seeking such exemption for their own point of view. This is really a messy situation and I believe it will get messier now."

Righter is right about the latter. It is going to get messier and messier with legal bills running into the tens of millions of dollars. Said Stanley Hauerwas, a theological ethicist at Duke University Divinity School, "God is killing the church, and we goddamn well deserve it."

EPISCOPAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF THE SOUTHWEST'S new dean, Dr. Philip Turner, got a letter from an alumnus the Rev. Gene Bogan (with two degrees from ETSS) asking him how he would deal with the "embedded evil" at the seminary which allows same-sex cohabiting. Bogan had written the new theologically orthodox dean to find out what he would do about this issue and got back the following response: "Thank you for your letter. I am, of course, very new here and am unaware of all the things you might be referring to. However, please be assured that I will make every effort to exercise godly leadership in this place that will produce peace and order so that the seminary can move forward in the years ahead." Bogan, 70, an orthodox Episcopal priest, got fired in the 60's by his liberal bishop for taking up the civil rights cause and never got reinstated. And he was on the RIGHT side of the issue. Go figure.

The DIOCESE OF IOWA is in trouble with closing parishes. The story in today's digest mentions the Lilly Foundation, which reports in a recent study of 2,500 Episcopalians that only 8/10 of 1 percent were young people school-age through college.

The Diocese of Iowa folk don't have a clue how to grow -- or even maintain -- a diocese, or even a congregation. Programs like cluster ministries and "shared ministry," though stop-gaps in a difficult situation, are a sure indication of inevitable decline and death. As one wag observed, "Imagine the fate of any sales-based company which inexorably cut sales staff and maintained, or grew, its management section." A diocesan spokesman noted that although the 11 Episcopal seminaries in the country are currently full, there will be a priest shortage for some time.

NEWS FROM SEWANEE "The Episcopal University" shows that you might want to consider what sort of education your son or daughter is getting for your dollar investment. The cost of a Sewanee Education 2005-2006 for the two semesters Advent and Easter total $34,645.00! The new feminist dean Rita Kipp offers the following course which should bring fear into every parent's heart.

300. Cross-Dressing Cross-Culturally: Gender in Reverse (also Women's Studies 300) http://www2.sewanee.edu/academics/catalog/departments/anthropology. Here is what the puff says: "The phenomenon of cross-dressing in theatrical, ritual, or everyday settings implies a gender division and reveals how gender is culturally constructed. Readings and films explore cross-dressing and gender in a variety of cultures, including one's own. Two related goals animate the course: to examine cross-dressing itself as an interesting phenomenon that appears in many cultural settings; and to see what cross-dressing reveals about gender systems. Prerequisite: None. (Credit, full course.) Kipp.

MY observation that mega church guru Rick Warren's methodology would not go down well with Anglicanism got a personal response from Mr. Warren himself. He graciously wrote me the following note: "Hello David, I have accepted the invitation to meet with leaders of the Anglican Communion network this fall because I have been so impressed with the godliness, commitment to Truth, and spiritual maturity of several of the Anglican archbishops and bishops of Africa, where I am heavily involved. I believe they are the future of the Anglican future and I have deep respect for their stand for righteousness. I would value your insight and wisdom about this meeting. Please help me. E-mail me. FYI- John Stott will be preaching at Saddleback in November." I did respond to Mr. Warren and he said he will use the information when he speaks in Pittsburgh.

In order to redeem myself and the swift kicks I got from sundry readers, I invited the Rev. Canon David Roseberry, rector of Christ Church in Plano, Texas, the largest attended Episcopal Church in America, to write an article on The Purpose Driven Church. It is published in full in today's digest. VirtueOnline allows true diversity within orthodoxy.

THE KAIROS JOURNAL is pleased to announce that the 2005 recipients of its 2005 award are four leading Anglican archbishops who have boldly and consistently stood for historic orthodoxy in light of theological decline in the Episcopal Church (USA) and the Anglican Church of Canada. They are The Most Rev. Peter Jasper Akinola, primate of All Nigeria; The Most Rev. Datuk Yong Ping Chung, archbishop of the Province of South East Asia, The Most Rev. Henry Luke Orombi, archbishop of the Province of Uganda; and The Most Rev. Gregory James Venables, archbishop of the Southern Cone of South America. The Kairos Journal Award is given to individuals who demonstrate exemplary fidelity to the authority of Scripture and exceptional pastoral courage. The awards will be made at the New York Hilton, September 8 at 3p.m.

IN THE DIOCESE OF RECIFE, BRAZIL, 32 clergy were excommunicated by the Province of Brazil last week. VirtueOnline received the announcement from the diocese issued as a "diocesan decree" by the Suffragan Bishop Filadelfo Oliveira Neto, the so-called "diocesan authority." But the orthodox diocese fought back, saying that the 32 clergy had not received any canonical disciplinary process and that the actions of the province were "illegal, immoral, illegitimate and authoritarian." What the revisionist province is trying to do is marginalize the orthodox diocese in order to "re-create" a new "diocese" by destroying the existing orthodox one. "It is part of a plot to have a quorum for an irregular 'diocesan synod' called by the dissident liberal minority to next September 9-10th," wrote Bishop Cavalcanti and the Rev. Mauricio Coelho, chairman of the Diocesan Standing Committee. The diocese has repeatedly written to the archbishop of Canterbury, the Panel of Reference and Primates of the Anglican Communion, demanding help. None has yet been forthcoming.

Globetrotter EKKLESIA head Dr. Bill Atwood says the people are safe, the depositions have been rejected by key primates, and the property is secure. Realignment of provinces takes action by the whole leadership of provinces, not just the decision of a primate. "There is no shame in being deposed by leaders who are not faithful," Atwood said. "The situation has put great pressure on the POR, Lambeth, and the ABC and is actually helping the dynamic greatly."

IN VANCOUVER, the Anglican Communion in Canada (ACiC) is forging ahead despite the bullying tactics of New Westminster Anglican Bishop Michael Ingham. Two ACiC priests were priested this past week -- the Rev. Ken Bell and Rev. Dr. David Bowler. They are the first Canadian ordinations with the Anglican Communion in Canada (ACiC) http://www.acicanada.ca. The ordinations were performed by Bishop T.J. Johnston, a Rwandan bishop on behalf of the five international Anglican primates. God will not be mocked, even by the likes of Michael Ingham. The photos of Ken and David's ordination can be found here at www.st-timothy.com/calendar/ordination.php

The Reverend Pat Robertson -- America's No. 1 "born again" assassin -- got pilloried in the press, with the Rev. fighting back and then issuing an apology after he had called for Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela, to be killed. He said the Associated Press had misinterpreted his remarks. "I didn't say 'assassination.' I said our special forces should "take him out," he said on his show. Nonsense. He did call for Chavez's assassination and ethics columnist Mike McManus has called on Robertson to resign. What part of "Thou shalt not kill" does Robertson not understand? Undoubtedly the oil exception clause, stupid. McManus' story is posted here today.

ANONYMOUS LETTERS. Dear readers. From time to time VirtueOnline receives anonymous letters with tips and leads for stories. If they are unsigned they go straight to the shredder. However a recent letter inspired more than the usual interest and I followed up on it by calling the rector in question and a number of his colleagues. What I discovered was a situation that was marked with a high degree of ambiguity. The long and short of it is that orthodox priests react in different ways to revisionist bishops. There is no perfect way. I will monitor this priest and his situation and if there is a significant change I will write about it.

CORRECTION: The Righter Trial. While it was dubbed the Righter Trial, the Righter actions actually never went to trial. The Court of Review held hearings –- the big event was in Wilmington, Delaware (this writer was there) -- that got all the publicity, but it decided then that ECUSA (surprise) had no "core doctrine" concerning sexuality and thus there were no grounds to go to trial. It was an opinion of the court, and it never actually went to trial. My apologies for any misunderstanding on that issue.

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All blessings,

David W. Virtue, DD