The Blessedness of Christ's Return. True Christians shall alone be found ready at the second advent. Washed in the blood of atonement, clothed in Christ's righteousness, renewed by the Spirit, they shall meet their Lord with boldness, and sit down at the marriage supper of the Lamb, to go out no more. They shall be with their Lord–with Him who loved them and gave Himself for them–with Him who bore with them, and carried them through their earthly pilgrimage–with Him, whom they loved truly and followed faithfully on earth, though with much weakness, and many a tear. Surely this also is a blessed prospect. ---- J.C. Ryle

Self-Love. Self-deification. Pride is more than the first of the seven deadly sins; it is itself the essence of all sin. For it is the stubborn refusal to let God be God, with the corresponding ambition to take his place. It is the attempt to dethrone God and enthrone ourselves. Sin is self-deification. --- From "The Contemporary Christian" by John R.W. Stott

Glory Only in the Cross of Christ. Let us look well to our own hearts. We live in a day when false doctrines about Christ's death abound on every side. Let us see that Christ crucified is really the foundation of our own hopes, and that Christ's atoning death for sin is indeed the whole life of our souls. Let us beware of adding to Christ's sacrifice on the cross, as the Roman Catholic does. Its value was infinite. It admits of no addition. –-- Bishop J.C. Ryle

Dear Brothers and Sisters
www.virtueonline.org
March 18, 2011

Each week, almost on schedule, the notes come into my e-mail. Sometimes, it's one note. Sometimes, they come in small batches. They all say much the same thing: "My wife and I, lifelong Episcopalians, will be confirmed in the Roman Catholic Church (or another branch of Christendom) at this Easter vigil...we hope to be able to bring a little Anglicanism into our local parish yet I must say the experience has been spiritually fulfilling and we are excited at last to feel members of a Faith that respects the Gospel, and it's own Traditions and Doctrine. God has taught us much on this journey...and we are excited to continue on our current path. God Bless you...We go in peace and with full hearts..."

Of course, I am saddened when I read these notes, but well understand why people make the choices they do. This week, my office associate informed me that she and her husband and their three daughters were leaving the Roman Catholic Church because of the priestly sexual abuse scandals in Philadelphia that has spilled over into the suburbs, though you would never know it reading the newspapers. They make it sound like all the priests involved were downtown. Not true. I could not find her a godly Episcopal parish near where she and her family live. When I called a couple of Episcopal parishes, I got the brush off. One irate woman priest even accused me of scamming her with some subtle attempt to find out what she believed about gay issues. As I was very upfront about why I was calling and I also happen to know what the entire Diocese of Delaware priestly caste believes, what was there to tell me? She sent me a nasty e-mail to make her point. Thank God, I was able to find them a spiritually sound Lutheran parish in her neighborhood after that priest returned my call.

These days it doesn't take much for people to leave their local parish. People are sensitive to almost any sort of slight and it is out the door they go. I once heard a priest (he is now a bishop) casually uphold Lambeth 1:10 in his parish during a sermon resulting in his warden and lifelong friend leaving the parish never to return.

In these days of political correctness coupled with real and imagined sins and bad theology and morals, we will see more and more people leaving their parishes, moving to other denominations or just staying at home, fed up with the whole business of church. "Putting those things which are behind and pressing on..." as St. Paul urges us to do, takes on a whole new meaning.

*****

A portion of the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church's official biography was deleted from Wikipedia. An 815 staff person with the e-mail handle "Matisse412" who made the changes did the dirty at Jefferts Schori's request. When VOL inquired as to why the changes were made, a spokesperson in the communications office responded, "Yes it was changed. The information was incorrect and it was changed. We were not about to have inaccurate info there."

The offending section of the Presiding Bishop's resume included a paragraph about her career as the so-called of Dean of the "Good Samaritan School of Theology" in Corvallis, Oregon. The truth is there is no "School of Theology". It was an adult education program, so the paragraph was removed. You can read the full story in today's digest.

*****

In the Diocese of Western Michigan we are seeing the ineptitude of yet another bishop playing out against a backdrop of draining money to diocesan headquarters. Bishop Robert Gepert is turning out to be as disastrous a bishop in The Episcopal Church as are Jo Mo Doss, Orris Walker, Charles Bennison, Jack Spong, Michael Garrison, Otis Charles, and Rob O'Neill, to name but a few. He has interfered in two parishes - St. Luke's and Grace Episcopal - with disastrous results. Both parishes have been withholding funds to the diocese. He jumped in firing the vestries and putting in his own people. The long term effect is that parishes retrench around their own people and even less money flows in. Often though, if there is a healthy Trust Fund with several million dollars in it, the bishop will move to take over the parish by reducing it to mission status so he can get his hands on those funds...the people be damned. You can read a story about Gepert's interference in the life of St. Luke's in today's digest.

*****

The Third Court of Appeals in Austin, Texas, ruled in favor of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas and associated Episcopalians who had sued to recover the parish property of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. In 2007, the non-profit corporation terminated its membership in the Diocese and in the Episcopal Church. It changed its name to Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd.

The parish property had been deeded by the Diocese in 1982 to the parish, a non-profit corporation. The Third Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's summary judgment that awarded the parish property to the Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas.

A spokesman for the parish said the Anglicans' options include filing a motion for rehearing or a motion for en banc consideration with the Third Court of Appeals in Austin, or accepting the court of appeals' decision and filing a petition for discretionary review with the Texas Supreme Court. The rector and vestry of Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd will discuss the matter at their regular monthly vestry meeting on March 21.

The Episcopal plaintiffs and the Anglican defendants in the lawsuit agreed in 2010 that the Anglicans would remain in possession of and would maintain the parish property until the lawsuit is concluded.

*****

Hardly a single old guard liberal bishop is making it to the compulsory retirement age of 72. They are pushing the eject button in their mid to late 60s, not wishing to be around when their dioceses finally sink into oblivion. How much money from dwindling mission budgets and trust funds are they willing to spend before they notice there is nothing left, obliging them to cut deals (as they have in Pittsburgh and New Jersey over property disputes) despite fierce opposition from Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori. The Bishop of New York, Mark Sisk is one example, Jerry Lamb is another and so is the departure of Michael Garrison and Ted Gulick. The list is endless. All the rump dioceses from San Joaquin to Ft. Worth are seeing changeovers of bishops, as well. Even Gene Robinson is tossing in his miter for the lecture circuit where the checks are bigger and the responsibility is zero. The endless lawsuits are taking their toll apparently. Ironically, as change and decay hits TEC, the Anglican Church of North America and the Anglican Mission in the Americas are ordaining new bishopsand creating new dioceses as fast as they can plant new churches.

*****

In the Diocese of Fond Du Lac this week, seven parishes that are basically unsustainable alone are finding creative ways of doing ministry to stay afloat. It is what is euphemistically called "sharing resources" or, more loftily, forming a "new covenant." Bishop Russell Jacobus is hedging his bets. In his "bishop's chat", a blurb on the diocesan website, he says he may or may not respond to all questions and concerns. "He'll try to answer personal questions about himself, but will not discuss individual clergy of the diocese. He will answer generic questions about congregations, but will not debate issues or struggles that a particular place might be going through. He may respond to these by talking in general terms about what a healthy congregation ought to do and be." One thing he won't do is say that his parishes are withering and dying and, in time, God might be calling him to a golf course in Florida.

The truth is as smaller churches are dying and can no longer support a full time priest, creative methods are needed to keep the doors open, if only occasionally. This is particularly more so in the Midwest than on the two coasts.

*****

The Episcopal Church Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music (SCLM) is conducting a two-day consultation this week in Atlanta on the 2009 General Convention Resolution C056 to collect and develop theological and liturgical resources for same-gender blessings. Some 200 clergy and lay deputies from almost 100 dioceses of the Episcopal Church made their appearance to ratify what is a forgone conclusion -- that Freddie and Guido can do the wild thang, get married and the church will bless it with some made-up Rite they think will impress God. There are no moments of moral illumination coming from this lot. They and TEC are committed to going down the pathway to Sodom and Gomorrah. Their plan is to take as many as they can with them. VOL will bring a more complete picture on this event as it is taking place.

*****

The Episcopal Church is making a big push to influence as much of Africa as it can with its money and endless dialogue talk in the hope it can broker pansexuality. They have their proxy supporters in Canada and the UK along with the Anglican Consultative Council. They recently made a big push in Tanzania and Ghana where conferences of African and Western bishops turned up to push and promote the notion of the one big happy Anglican family. TEC is also supporting theological education in Liberia in order to secure a foot print on African soil for future generations. They know how effective that has been in the US with nine of the 11 seminaries (all of them are in financial trouble) having worked their charm to change the church's teaching on faith and morals. They know that if they can move the next generation of priests away from the Great Commission and the gospel, their liberal and revisionist views will filter into the pews and out onto the street. Of course, the African church has only got to take one look at what it has produced in the US and Canada to see what the future holds and run in the opposite direction.

But TEC is not getting it all its own way. In the Diocese of Wau in The Episcopal Church of Sudan comes word that Franklin Graham (son of Billy Graham) is rebuilding at least 34 churches in that Diocese. The Samaritan's Purse has agreed to rebuild these churches destroyed by war. They will complete twelve this year.

A report out of that diocese stated there is a growing tension between members of the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church of Sudan having to do with the acceptance of funds from various places and persons within The Episcopal Church USA (no matter whether from liberal or conservative dioceses). The difficulty lies in not looking a gift horse in the mouth versus principled refusal.

A recent item in Episcopal News about a speech in New York by Sally Keeble, the Director of the Anglican Alliance for Development, Relief and Advocacy,is very instructive: "...it's going to be bureaucracy light," she said. They have a very small staff in London and regional facilitators in the southern regions of the communion who will have "a very direct relationship" with existing agencies such as Episcopal Relief & Development." Bearing in mind that a number of orthodox African provinces have taken a costly and principled decision not to take funds from Episcopal Relief & Development as a ministry of TEC, the attempt to set up "very direct" relationships with the Global South is a thinly disguised attempt to hold the Lambeth based Communion together through grants rather than gospel.

*****

"Can't Buy Me Love" a song composed by Paul McCartney, might be the theme song of TEC. The J. Christopher Flowers Foundation has given $80,000 to Sewanee: University of the South's School of Theology to fund a scholarship program for an African student. "I am deeply grateful for this commitment to support an African theological student at the University of the South," the Very Rev. William Stafford, theology school dean, wrote in a press release. "The benefits of this are transformative for all parties as it can open up an American student body to un-dreamed realities and it almost always strengthens the leadership of the African churches. The resulting relationships are very welcome in a time of institutional fracture."

It will be a funny show to watch as TEC seminaries try to out compete (or buy) orthodox Anglicans for African affection. Money should seal the deal. Maybe. As the theory goes at TEC, Sewanee can proclaim, "We have more Africans than you do, therefore, the conservative, traditional, obstructionist, jurisdiction invading African bishops don't really count for as much as you ACNA types say they do. We'll manufacture our own African bishops and win the moral contest of critical mass.

"It is the university's expectation that this gift will function as a pilot program with the intent of creating a fundraising model that could support and educate additional African students at Sewanee," the release continued.

Don't look for students from Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda, any time soon, THEY won't be coming.

*****

If you want to see what years of influence and money has done on African soil by The Episcopal Church, just look at what is happening in the Anglican Church in Southern Africa. Events reached a head this past week over revelations of years of sexual abuse by Anglican priests by an Anglo-Catholic priest. He revealed young men were bought off and became the biggest supporters of their abusers. The Rev. Clifford Felix, 55, an Anglo-Catholic, says there has been decades of sexual abuse in Anglican dioceses in Southern Africa going back to the 70s. He blew the whistle on it all and got tossed out of his parish and defrocked in a mock trial by his bishop. He revealed decades of homosexual abuse and cover-up at the highest levels of the Church.

This week a group of orthodox Anglicans in that province put out a request for clarity from the Bishops as to the position of this province on some current issues in the Anglican Communion. They released a petition pleading for clarity on the position and teaching of the Faith from the Bishops of Southern Africa following the statement issued by the Synod of Bishops in February 2011. Their statement can be found here: http://archbishop.anglicanchurchsa.org/2011/02/synod-of-bishops-statement-leadership.html

Organizer Fr. Gavin Mitchell begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting said he hopes that the orthodox will be heard as a group of people within the province whose hearts and minds are linked with the majority of Anglicans in the Anglican Communion worldwide in a concern for the future of the Church we love and serve. "We perceive the Anglican Church of SA to be more inclined to align itself with the dying (revisionist and liberal) minority by its failure to indicate that it has taken seriously the concerns of the orthodox majority."

You can read the story in today's digest and sign their petition here: http://www.petitiononline.com/FCASA02/petition-sign.html

*****

The earthquake and and following tsunami has roused up Episcopalians and Anglicans across the globe to act to help their brothers and sisters in Japan. ERD, the Anglican Relief and Development Fund of the Anglican Church in North America, has put out the following statement calling for help.

If you are able, Canon Nancy Norton, Executive Director of Anglican Relief and Development Fund, would like for you to consider donating to the Anglican Relief and Development Fund (ARDF) for Japan Relief. To assist your fellow Christians in Japan and our suffering brothers and sisters affected by this tragedy, click here to donate. http://anglicanaid.net/?/main/page/35

The following is a prayer for those who suffer: "Gracious Father, creator and Savior of this mortal world, we ask your comforting and strengthening help for the people of Japan and surrounding areas. Comfort those whose loved ones have died, bring swift rescue for those who are missing, and strengthen those who are injured. In this crisis, empower your people with your Holy Spirit as they bring Gospel love and courage to their fellow countrymen. Keep us steadfast in prayer until this season of trial has passed for our brothers and sisters. All these things we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen"

*****

The NO ANGLICAN COVENANT coalition crowd in England has criticized church officials for attempting to suppress honest discussion about the proposed Anglican Covenant. "Instead of fostering a free and open discussion, church officials are trying to ensure that this radical document is endorsed without serious debate," according to Coalition Moderator, Dr Lesley Fellows. The idea of an Anglican Covenant was first proposed officially in 2004 as a means of addressing divisions among the member churches of the Anglican Communion on matters ranging from human sexuality to the role of women. The current draft, which has been unilaterally designated as "final", has been referred to Communion churches for adoption. The proposed Covenant establishes mechanisms that would have the effect of forcing member churches to conform to the demands and expectations of other churches or risk exclusion from the Communion. The draft must be either accepted without amendment or rejected entirely; no other options are allowed. A series of decisions demonstrate a pattern of bias and manipulation designed to facilitate Covenant adoption, they say.

A source in London told VOL that on this occasion they have not only lost, they can't even bring themselves to see that they have lost. "The Covenant is out for discussion by diocesan synods, and they will all approve it. And then we will approve it at General Synod."

*****

A revival is taking place in Nepal. Fr. Jerry writes to say that starting Day III of training in Bhaktapur is going really well. "The only problem is they want to praise and sing and worship so much, we have to 'squeeze' the teachings in. Ah to have such a 'problem.' Yesterday we took the training wheels off and let the kids rip (they're mostly in their 20's). We supervised while they did the healing prayers; sick/distressed people are hearing about what we're doing and coming for prayer. Every person who came received healing and in all but one instance, the kids did all the ministry; we discovered a nasty deliverance situation which I had to jump into; took two hours. But the young man left free in Christ, big smile, face and skin colour totally different. There is much demonic activity and oppression here.

"Today we're going to spend more time on the basics of discipleship and the Christian life of holiness, then have "graduation." Tomorrow we sneak off to Chitwan and will be there through the weekend, then head off for our next village. It's been somewhat rough here, but at least we get a little power every day plus some possibly hot water every few days. The people here are so beautiful. We've bonded quickly with the people at the church here, they are so joyful and sweet. We're so glad we listened to that still small voice that said "Go to Nepal." It was real. It was God. He is amazing."

*****

The evangelical Diocese of Recife became a member of the Brazilian Evangelical Alliance recently. Bishop Robinson Cavalcanti is on the Council of Reference.

"In a clear demonstration of its credibility and role in the growing conservative protestant community in Brazil, the Diocese of Recife has been accepted as a full member of the Evangelical Alliance and Bishop Robinson Cavalcanti has been elected to sit on the organization's Council of Reference alongside the most respected senior leaders from various denominations. The Evangelical Alliance, a network and representative entity, is constituted under the auspices of the World Evangelical Alliance. In Brazil, the Diocese of Recife has emerged as the historic expression of Anglicanism in contrast to the ultraliberal Province (IEAB). Recife clergy are involved in local ecumenical organizations and are keynote speakers in the nation's major Christian events. Bishop Cavalcanti was a member of the Theological Comission of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA, former, WEF), a member Lausanne Convening Comittee (1974) and the Lausanne Comission for Word Evangelization (LCWE) having participated in all three Lausanne Congresses, as a speaker in two of them. He was also on the Executive Comission of the Latin American Theological Fraternity and EFAC-Evangelical Fellowship in the Anglican Communion."

*****

Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood Doesn't Want a Female or Non-Muslim (read Christian) President. The respected Egyptian newpaper "Al Masry Al Youm" is reporting that, despite prevarications and previous hints to the contrary, a senior figure in the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood says that its new political party will maintain the position that neither a woman nor a Christian can be president of Egypt.

It reports that Saad al-Husseini, a member of the Brotherhood's Guidance Bureau, its highest executive body, stated that while the "Freedom and Justice" party's new platform must still be approved by the Guidance Office and its Shura Council, it will adhere to the Ikhwan's position on the presidency, which has been that a woman cannot hold final power over a man, nor a non-Muslim over a Muslim. Husseini added the confusing caveat that this "does not mean we impose this opinion on the people, who have inherent jurisdiction in this regard." This seems to mean that Egyptians may vote to have such a president, but that if the Brotherhood itself has the votes, it will not allow it.

The same paper also reports that the Brotherhood wants only small changes to the constitution and is pushing for a 'yes' vote in the March 19 referendum on proposed constitutional amendments, ones that still preserve a strong presidency. It is also describing the revolution begun on January 25 as an "Islamic revolution," saying: "The revolution's slogans, such as 'freedom,' 'social justice' and 'equality' - all of these can be found in Islamic Law." [Source: Hudson Institute's Center for Religious Freedom.]

*****

The Anglican Church in America has appointed the Rt. Rev. Brian R. Marsh as Episcopal Visitor to the Diocese of the Eastern United States (DEUS). This appointment was requested by the Standing Committee of the diocese because of the recent resignation of The Rt. Rev. Louis Campese, longtime Bishop Ordinary of the DEUS. The request was affirmed by the ACA House of Bishops. Bishop Marsh will assist the DEUS by providing episcopal oversight to the many parishes and missions in the southeastern area of the country. He will preside at the upcoming synod of the Diocese of the Eastern United States which will open on March 30.

*****

End of the world, prophetic loonies are once again emerging from the ashes of failed past predictions about our Lord's return. Apparently nuclear meltdowns in Japan and earthquakes in various parts of the world along with Tsunamis are bringing out the apocalypticists in force. I spotted a T-shirt on an elderly gentleman at the gym this week that read: "Jesus is returning on May 21st 2011 prepare to meet your maker". My wife said he was at least 75. This of course begs the question why a 75-year old man is bothering to exercise his abs if the Lord is about to return. Jesus himself said he didn't know the time or the hour. Only the Father knows. Why is anyone listening to evangelist Harold Camping once again making a fool of himself? A friend of mine said she has relatives and friends in the Midwest who are buying up food supplies, re-opening their nuclear bunkers from the 50s (they're a little musty she said), and rearming themselves with guns. This also begs the question, if you can't love your neighbor and share your bread, then the least you can do (to save yourself) is shoot him. Fundamentalism or funny-mentalism with a touch of Dispensational and premillenial theology does funny things to people.

A friend of mine with a quirky sense of humor had this to say. "Jesus is not returning on May 21st. That man has not read his prophetic charts correctly. Here's the inside scoop. Jesus' return will be announced on CNN World News first. He will arrive from some undisclosed location (probably Roswell, New Mexico) in a stretch limo and will check into a Howard Johnson in New York City first. From there he will give a media scrum before holidaying in Florida for two weeks. Then it's off to Hollywood where he'll sign a motion picture deal with Mega-Studios Corp. Then he will outline for everyone the game plan for the 1,000 year period of tribulation (I believe the Internal Revenue Service will be a contributing troubler for those left behind in this scenario). Then he'll be off to heaven for that 1,000 year period (buses will be leased to carry off all the raptured ones to paradise). Well, it's too easy to predict the rest. He'll return to earth and set up his everlasting kingdom at Joe's Bagel Palace in central Jerusalem, where he will co-rule with Creflo Dollar and other guys like that. Now this is inside dope. I'm no slacker, I don't watch guys like Kenneth Copeland, Jimmy Swaggert, and Jim Bakker for nothing you know. I know a thing or two about prophetic charts and how to read them. Gotta go now, must stock up on water, dry rations, guns and ammunition for Armageddon."

*****

Former Vice President Al Gore is dumping his publishers, Rodale and Penguin, and is jumping to Random House for his next book, a yet to be titled tome due sometime next year. He will be the first author to work with Jon Meacham, the former Newsweek editor-in-chief who landed as an executive editor at the publishing house after leaving the magazine prior to its sale by the Washington Post Co. to electronics mogul Sidney Harman for $1.00. A favored son and alumnus of Sewanee, Meacham's ultra liberal views came into sharp focus when he pitched some very harsh words against ACNA Archbishop Robert Duncan and the formation of the new North American Anglican province in NEWSWEEK. Within a month NEWSWEEK was dead.

*****

Dr. Rowan Williams is now a big disappointment for liberals. Lionel Deimel, a liberal lay Episcopal Blogger in Pittsburgh wrote, "Whereas many of us expected him to be a progressive primate who would move both the Church of England and the Anglican Communion forward, he has instead been an instrument of reaction under whose leadership the Anglican Communion threatens to either fall apart or to descend into irrelevance. Those of us who welcomed the end of George Carey's tenure had high hopes for the new resident of Lambeth Palace, but those hopes were not to be realized. We prayed that the Jeffrey John affair would prove an aberration, but Rowan's missteps began happening with such predictable regularity that that it soon became statistically impossible to credit them either to momentary lapses in judgment or simple bad luck. What went wrong?" You can read his full blast in today's digest.

An orthodox Anglican writer in the UK said of the rip, "I can't really fault Diemel's analysis, except that he underestimates (as an American) the subtle power of the Lambeth bureaucracy and British establishment which turned George Carey and Rowan Williams alike into institutional pragmatists."

*****

ABOUT 900 ex-Anglicans, including 60 clergy, are to be received into the RC Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham this Easter, it emerged this week.

A total of 795 former Anglicans attended RC cathedrals at the week­end for the Rite of Election gathering, which is part of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. The gathering inaugurates the final period of preparation before reception into the Church of Rome.

A spokesman for the Catholic Communications Network said that figures obtained by Fr. Keith Newton, Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate, suggested that 900 former Anglicans were expected to join it, but that about 100 of these had not attended the Rite of Election at the weekend.

*****

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David