"If you take another position than what is presented by people today ... you are defined as discriminatory. And because of that, you and your institutions can be very, very severely criticized, or even sanctioned. Essentially, what we are facing is the failure to balance the rights of free expression of religion with all these other newly created rights that are coming up out of our secular society. Once the balance shifts against the rights of freedom of religious expression, both on a personal level and on an institutional level, we are going to find ourselves in a situation we've never faced before in the United States." --- Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington D.C.

Dear Brothers and Sisters
www.virtueonline.org
June 25, 2010

The newsmakers this week were again Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church concerning remarks she made about Anglican Communion leaders, Dr. Rowan Williams in a TV interview and the proposed amendments to women bishops legislation by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.

There is a heightened sense of crisis in the Anglican Communion that will not go away, despite a lot of people's best efforts to either make it go away or simply say it no longer exists. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The ecclesiastical woodwork reveals more moth and corruption every time discussion about rites for same sex unions, the need for more homosexual clergy and bishops rears its ugly head and another parish flees TEC.

This week also saw the Anglican Consultative Council Secretary General Kenneth Kearon come in for some hard questioning by TEC's Executive Council. He delivered a few body blows of his own about how the Glasspool consecration might just happen to have negative repercussions around the communion. Ya think? Then he took some hard questions from various council members, including a lesbian or two, which he couldn't answer. All in all, it was bad hair day for TEC and the ACC.

This is a perfectly good example of when the revisionists no longer have the orthodox to beat up, they turn on themselves and devour their own. Sociologists have a field day with this sort of stuff. You see there is no such thing as inclusivity or diversity in TEC. The orthodox have been beaten up for being, well, orthodox, and most have left. The remaining few are no longer welcome at the centers of ecclesiastical power, so the new inclusivity now means a total purity of "belief" which, in terms means that liberal fence sitters like Kearon, are now the new enemy for not falling down and worshipping the homo phallic god of TEC. Joe Stalin would have loved it.

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The recent visit by Jefferts Schori to Southwark cathedral in London and the subsequent mitregate scandal may have had unintended good consequences, though indirectly.

The archbishops of Canterbury and York have "signaled their intention" to propose amendments to draft legislation to allow women to become bishops in the Church of England. The amendments would preserve a female bishop's episcopal authority while providing an alternative for those who are "unable to accept the new situation," according to a June 21 press release from Lambeth Palace.

The amendments "seek to give effect to the idea of a 'co-ordinate' jurisdiction" in which the jurisdiction of the diocesan bishop "remains intact" while provision is made for another bishop to provide episcopal oversight for those who oppose female bishops, the Lambeth release said.

"We want as many people as possible to feel that there is good news for them in this process, and we hope that what we are suggesting may help secure the broadest degree of support for the legislation without further delaying the process of scrutiny and decision," the archbishops said in the release.

A source in London told VOL that Anglo-Catholics are trying to obtain clarification on the amendments that are being proposed, and whether the Synod will accept them. At their last debate, there was strong sympathy for something better than a code of practice. "We will have to see whether that extends to voting for amendments, now that the (heavily stacked) revision committee has failed to deliver. It has to be legal provision: the reserves of 'trust' were exhausted many moons ago.

"It is all going to be unknown until 30 June, the closing date for submission of amendments, and the day on which the Archbishops will table their own amendments."

Asked about where Forward in Faith stood as they seem pleased at the prospect of some cover for their views on women bishops, I was told they simply want to be polite. "The amendments to be proposed will determine their actual response."

The Initial response from the Rev. Rod Thomas, Reform chairman painted a more optimistic picture of the archbishops' offer, "The Archbishops have given a clear lead to get the church out of a potentially destructive dilemma. We very much hope that Synod will follow their lead. Though the details in this amendment seem designed more with Anglo-Catholic objections in mind, we welcome the direction this takes."

You can read the archbishops' letter along with analysis from British commentator Avril Ormsby in today's digest.

I have written two articles on Jefferts Schori recent statements that can be read in today's digest.

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Megaparish affirms the Covenant The vestry of St. Martin's Church in Houston, Texas - the largest congregation in the Episcopal Church - unanimously affirmed the Anglican Communion Covenant on June 15.

The Rev. Dr. Russell J. Levenson, Jr., rector of St. Martin's, is on the advisory committee of Communion Partners. He said St. Martin's does not plan to urge other parishes to take similar actions, but "If somebody asks, we've been willing to share the resolution."

"We just wanted to say - as a growing, thriving parish - that we're fine with the Covenant, and we're glad to live within its parameters," Fr. Levenson told The Living Church.

St. Martin's, founded in 1952, began experiencing explosive growth during the tenure of its second rector, the Rev. Claude E. Payne, who was elected Bishop of Texas in 1993. The parish now has nearly 8,500 baptized members and more than 6,000 communicants, Fr. Levenson said.

"We don't issue resolutions or statements very often," Fr. Levenson said. "We are very intentional about staying engaged with people who disagree with us." (Source TLC)

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Participants at the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania's recent 140th annual gathering heard Bishop Nathan Baxter be asked whether an effective covenant is based on fate or faith, echoing a presentation made to the 2008 Lambeth Conference of Bishops by Sir Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the British Commonwealth. Baxter said that the diocese, the Episcopal Church, and the Anglican Communion are faced with a decision, "Will we, going forward, live in the crucible of a covenant of fate or faith?"

He said that Central Pennsylvania would "continue to move forward as a truly inclusive diocese, to be prepared as our Episcopal Church moves towards full liturgical recognition of homosexual and lesbian Episcopalians.

"But our preparation must include how we honor those whose convictions limit their support for full inclusion," Baxter added. "They, too, are part of our church and their concerns will be honored, and they too are and will be part of the full inclusion of which we speak [which includes] full inclusion in our love, in our protection from disrespect for their beliefs and sincere convictions and full inclusion in our larger mission."

Baxter told the convention that he is "tired of substituting politeness for grace; and political agendas of the day being confused with spiritual liberation of the Gospel." Jesus, he said, welcomed both traditionalists and those on the margins. "I don't have to lose my soul to make it happen, the Holy Spirit is already working," Baxter added.

And just how many traditionalists are left in Central PA?

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An update report on Christ Episcopal Church in San Antonio, Texas. The resigned vestry members have initiated the beginnings of a church plant. More can be learned from the following:

Welcome to our new adventure with the Lord. Some of us who were formerly lay leaders (vestry members) at a prominent local Episcopal church have been encouraged to initially lead this new effort that aims to start a new fellowship. As a result, we are endeavoring to move forward in faith to do what we believe God is calling us to do...

Over the next few weeks and months, we simply intend to worship together with fellow believers so that we might discern His will for us. While our worship services will be in the Anglican tradition, we do not foresee potential discussions of any formal affiliation occurring for some time. We anticipate that for at least the better part of the summer, we will hold our worship services each Sunday from 5:00 - 6:00pm at a local church, and we are currently working to identify potential locations.

If you wish to join us and/or keep up to date on our progress, including learn where we will be holding future services, please click here and you be taken to a page that will allow you to leave us whatever contact information you care to leave. Your information will of course be held in strictest confidence, and you'll be allowed to unsubscribe at any time.

Should you wish to contact us with a comment or question or prayer request, please click here for more information: http://www.somethingiscomingsa.com/index.html

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The Anglican Church in North America ACNA now has 614 congregations in 20 Dioceses. More than 200 other congregations are ministry partners with the Anglican Church, including the congregations of the Anglican Mission (AMiA) which changed its status from a founding Member to a Ministry Partner.

ACNA's church data base currently includes five churches in Wisconsin: St. Stephen's Anglican Church –Cedar Grove St. Edmund's Anglican Church-Elm Grove All Saints Anglican Church-Milwaukee

Ministry Partners congregations include: Light of Christ-Kenosha Bread of Life –Madison

Are there people working fervently to create additional churches? Yes. Here is a recent update submitted about Fr. Tom Duncan who is pursuing opportunities in Central Wisconsin and the "Northern Frontier":

"In May, Fr. Tom Duncan contacted over 70 people in Central Wisconsin and in the Oshkosh-Appleton-Green Bay corridor who in the past have expressed interest in the work of the AAC and in Anglicans for Life. He has been pleased to hear back from numerous individuals who are interested in helping develop the emerging Anglican work in Wisconsin. Fr. Tom and Rita are following up with personal phone calls, trips to Wausau, Appleton, and Green Bay, and with e mails and letters to these interested parties."

Taking note of Rev. Dr. Ed Stetzer's challenge to spend time with those who do not strongly connect to a church, Deacon Phillip Anderas has begun the Holy Cross Fellowship in Milwaukee and focuses on pastoral care for students at Marquette.

Are there other additional orthodox churches in Wisconsin? Yes. According to the AAC who keeps records of churches who have chosen in past years to be separated from the mainline Episcopal Church, there are close to eighteen listed in Wisconsin: Anglican Catholics, Charismatic Episcopalians, Anglican Province in America, Orthodox Old Catholic, Anglican Province of Christ the King, Polish Nationals, United Anglicans and others. If you would like to receive additional information about these churches, please contact the AAC by calling them toll-free at 800-914-2000 or visiting their website, www.americananglican.org.

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The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have told members of the Church of England not to "fight shy" of talking about conversion to non-Christians and members of other faiths. The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams and the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu said religious diversity in Britain today has made Britain a more generous culture. "Sadly, it has also made many nervous of publicly espousing a vision of the common good for all people," they say in a new document, "Sharing the Gospel of Salvation", published yesterday. They acknowledge the "shadow side" of the Church's history of mission.

They add, "Too much reticence is as untrue to our history and our vocation today as was the cultural insensitivity of an earlier age." In the foreword to the booklet, the archbishops say that while stridency is "counterproductive", failure to be open about Christian beliefs is "equally unhelpful."

"In Christ, old identities are never the last word and the good is offered for all the world," they say. "So, there should be nothing embarrassed or awkward about the Church's commitment to draw others to Christ. This we do, not in order to win favour for ourselves, not to make others more like us, but simply because we want to share God's gifts as we have received them - freely and unearned."

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In Buffalo, NY, the crumbling Episcopal Church at Niagara and Vermont streets has been sold to a New York City business for $150,000 by the Bronx woman who acquired the property in a tax-foreclosure sale four years ago, according to Buffalo Housing Court Judge Henry J. Nowak.

St. Mary's on the Hill site was sold by Julia J. Myrie-Oyewo to Amansie Enterprises. As a result of the transaction, Nowak on Thursday placed the building code violation case on the court's reserve calendar, pending possible city action against the new owner.

Last Month, Nowak converted the unpaid $3,000 fine imposed on Myrie-Oyewo into a civil judgment. She was sentenced in absentia to 30 days in jail on April 27 and still faces that penalty. The new owners of the 117-year-old, three-building site could face a fine.

The Diocese of Western New York is one of the fastest dying dioceses in The Episcopal Church. Bishop J. Michael Garrison is busy "restructuring the diocese", a euphemism for juncturing small dying parishes. Recently, Garrison deposed four priests and two deacons from St. Bartholomew's Anglican Church, Tonawanda. All three priests and two deacons deny they have abandoned the Communion of the church and are now under the authority of the Anglican Church in North America.

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Are we in the Last Days or End Times? Millions of American Fundamentalists think we are. This belief has been heightened by the recent BP oil spill.

Calamites and catastrophes always bring out the despair of pre-millenialists and Dispensationalists and the Blessed Hope of Christ's return.

The formation of the State of Israel, numerous and sundry earthquakes, Tsunamis and the legitimization of homosexuality by mainstream America will shortly incur the wrath and divine judgment of God.

It is ironic that Jesus himself said that only the Father knew when the End was and He was not telling. The End Times began with the first coming of Christ and will end when God the Father says so. It is the height of American Fundamentalist (and some evangelical) arrogance to think that it will happen in their life time because we think we see "signs of the times". History has been full of End Times scenarios, the most obvious being the advent of the new milleniuum when millions thought Jesus would descend from heaven with chariots of fire or land on His feet on the Mount of Olives.

What a lot of Christians really are saying is that we are living in the "end" of the End Times. True or not, it still begs the question what right do we have to interpret texts like Revelation 8:8, "And the second angel sounded and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; and the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed," as though it applies to June 2010.

"The London Times" quoted former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey as saying, "What a lot of nonsense. I do not believe in biblical interpretation in that kind of way. It brings classical scholarship into disrepute. It is a disgrace." And Carey is an evangelical, no less.

The truth is Christians should always be prepared for our Lord's return, "that He will come to judge the living and the dead". In the meantime, we are called to give an account of the hope that lies within us, and that, it seems to me, is far more important and far more immediate.

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The Northern Province of the Moravian Church voted recently to enter into full communion with the Episcopal Church.

The nearly unanimous voice vote came during an evening session on the second day of the church's June 17-21 quadrennial Provincial Synod at Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

"This is an important day in the life of our churches," said David L. Wickmann, president of the Provincial Elders' Conference, Moravian Church North America. "This communion means our church has the opportunity to engage with one of our historic partners in a more complete and meaningful way."

"I am abundantly delighted, and look forward to growth in mutual relationship and mission," Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said after learning of the decision. "I believe we have much to learn from the Moravian tradition."

Diocese of Milwaukee Bishop Steven Miller told ENS by phone shortly after the vote that "at a time when so many people are trying to divide, this is a witness to our church's commitment to Christ, who wants to make us all one."

That's precious. This is the same bishop who got into a spitting contest with Nashotah House over a laboratory worship service at the seminary begun two Sundays ago which he claimed was actually an ACNA congregation.

It turned out to be false, of course. Nashotah's Trustee Chairman said it is a service for anyone interested to attend, and is in no way related to being in opposition to the diocese or any local congregation.

So Miller is happy to make nice with the Moravians, but even a hint that a fellow Anglican group might be involved in a seminary he cannot control causes him to go ballistic.

Miller, co-chair of the Moravian Episcopal Dialogue, addressed the synod just after the vote telling participants, "that there's much that we can share with one another in terms of mission and ministry and that it was as exciting and moving a moment for the Episcopal Church as it was for them."

Ironically, the Moravian vote ended a day that began with the Rev. Canon Kenneth Kearon, secretary general of the Anglican Communion, telling the Episcopal Church's Executive Council that the communion's ecumenical dialogues "are at the point of collapse" because of the church's decision to ordain as bishop an openly homosexual priest for the second time.

The Moravian Church does not allow services by openly homosexual and lesbian members, but the church's international body, the Unitas Fratrum, has said the issue is not a doctrinal matter.

The Moravian Church's Southern Province is expected to vote on full communion with TEC during its synod Sept. 9-12 at the Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, North Carolina. Each province can independently enter into full communion relationships.

The Moravian Church is relatively small and concentrated in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Wisconsin.

A VOL reader wrote to say that while the Northern Province of the Moravian church voted to have full communion with TEC, don't expect the Synod of the Southern Provence to follow sweetly in its trail. "They will meet in September to vote on the same matter. Jesus said, 'If the blind lead the blind they shall both fall into the ditch'. The Northern Provence has fallen into the ditch. It now remains to be seen if the Southern Province does the same. As a delegate to the synod this September, I will do all I can to stand in opposition to this unholy communion with an apostate denomination."

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The Prayer Book 350th Anniversary campaign for coin and stamp.The Prayer Book Society is urging people to back a campaign calling on the Royal Mint and Royal Mail to recognise the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer by issuing a special coin and stamp.

Although the anniversary is not until 2012, the Prayer Book Society (PBS) said it needs supporters to act now as choices for commemorative coins and stamps are made long before the actual event.

The charity, which campaigns for the continued use of Archbishop Thomas Cranmer's famous 1662 prayer book, is asking people to help by contacting the Royal Mint and Royal Mail.

The Book of Common Prayer has been used in Anglican churches since the Reformation, and is still used regularly for services in cathedrals and churches throughout England despite more modern versions. PBS chairman Prudence Dailey commented, "The Book of Common Prayer is of immeasurable historical and cultural significance to the English speaking world.

"This is therefore a significant anniversary and we hope that people will join our campaign to recognise its importance in the history of the nation. "Let's overwhelm the Royal Mail with requests to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, perhaps featuring a picture of Archbishop Cranmer holding his famous book."

Assistant curator Mr Payne can be reached by email at joseph.payne@royalmint.gov.uk or by post at The Royal Mint, Llantrisant, Pontyclun, CF72 8YT.

The Prayer Book Society exists to promote and preserve the use of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer and ensure it is available to future generations. The 1662 book is the traditional service book of the Church of England, and it contains the Church's historic beliefs. For more information visit: www.pbs.org.uk.

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U.S. Appears for First Time in Trafficking Report The growing crisis of human trafficking received greater visibility this week, when the U.S. State Department included the U.S. in its 10th annual "Trafficking in Persons" (TIP) Report. The U.S. is ranked as a "Tier I" country, meaning it fully complies with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act's (TVPA) minimum standards.

The report provides an in-depth analysis of over 177 countries and reprimands 13 countries, including Iran, North Korea, Burma, Cuba, Saudi Arabia and others for not meeting minimum international standards on human trafficking.

One wonders why TEC's illustrious leaders don't get behind this. Human trafficking (read sexual trafficking usually of minors) is a first order offense, a stench in the very nostrils of God.

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The Rev. Lauren R. Stanley is an Episcopal missionary with a decidedly bad track record. So bad in fact that she has managed to get herself sacked from not just one country but two, and nobody at national headquarters seems to be catching on.

She once served in the Diocese of Renk in the Episcopal Church of Sudan for eighteen months where she was told, none too politely, to go home. Her views on homosexuality did not sit well with that orthodox diocese, so they told her to leave.

"So it has been with a heavy heart that having returned recently to the United States, I see my own Church, the one that has nurtured and nourished me for the last 15 years, the one that sent me forth as a missionary to Sudan, torn apart by arguments over sexuality and so-called biblical inerrancy," She wrote.

If Ms. Stanley had been following the 2008 Lambeth Conference, she would have read Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul's rip at TEC's homosexual views. If she had, she could have politely resigned and left the country. Instead she stayed and they tossed her out.

Well, she's done it again, this time in the Diocese of Haiti where she was masquerading as a missionary. Apparently, the powers that be said that she did not have the right "skill set" for the job. Nothing in the official press release said what skill sets she did or did not have exactly, but she is returning to the US having flopped again as a "missionary". Perhaps they can find her a job carrying Jefferts Schori's bags as she globe trots pressing the flesh for TEC's views on pansexuality.

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A new billboard is going up in Raleigh and five other North Carolina cities with a seemingly innocuous slogan superimposed on an image of the American flag: "One Nation Indivisible." It's what the slogan doesn't say that may bother some people. Since 1954, the Pledge of Allegiance has split those three words to include two others: "under God." But this billboard was paid for by N.C. Secular Association, a coalition of nonbelievers and agnostics. Their message: We're Americans, too.

"We're trying to restore the sense of one nation indivisible," said Joseph McDaniel Stewart, a member of Charlotte Atheists and Agnostics who initiated the billboard campaign. "It's a nation that welcomes people who believe or don't believe. Everybody's equal in the eyes of the law."

The billboard has already gone up on the Billy Graham Parkway in Charlotte and in Greensboro, Wilmington and Winston-Salem. It is expected to go up in Asheville and at the intersection of Capital Boulevard and Trawick Road in Raleigh this week, or, at the latest, by the Fourth of July weekend.

The $15,000 project is another sign of the growing visibility of atheists in North Carolina. It took 11 groups, including the Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle, to mount a fundraising campaign for the billboards.

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Prayer in America. The U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, conducted in 2007 by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life, shows that prayer is a common religious practice in America, with nearly six-in-ten adults in the U.S. saying they pray at least once a day. However, frequency of prayer differs significantly by religious tradition, age, gender and income. The biggest prayers in America are Jehovah's Witnesses, among the lowest are mainline denominations including The Episcopal Church.

Why is no one surprised? Buddhists, Jews and the unaffiliated are the only groups who pray less than Episcopalians.

A federal district court in Wisconsin recently ruled that the annual declaration of a National Day of Prayer, established by Congress in 1952, is unconstitutional. The decision is being appealed. The judge has stayed the ruling, saying it should not be applied until the appeals process is complete.

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A national challenge to commit people to reading the Bible and praying for spiritual revival while the Page's host (Rev. Charlie Garrett) travels to all 50 state capitals and then to Washington DC.

Mission: This page is designed to allow people to follow Charlie during these travels. He hopes to remind the nation of its spiritual heritage and to promote spiritual revival in the nation.

Charlie's goal - To travel to all 50 state capitals beginning on or about 1 July 2010, read from national and state documents about our Christian heritage, and conduct an open-air sermon. He'll make his travels available on this page each day as well as Twitter at: http://twitter.com/charliepreacher. Or you can follow by the blog on the website mentioned below.

Goals:

– To COMMIT to reading the Bible each day for 30 minutes. By doing this, every person could finish the Bible in approximately 150 days - I anticipate my travels will last longer than 150 days.

– To COMMIT to praying for spiritual revival in our nation each day.

http://zh-cn.facebook.com/pages/A-Capital-Adventure-The-50-State-Challenge/124037594296802

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Among today's top analysis pieces is one by Dr. Chris Sugden titled When diversity trumps truth, the Church has nothing to offer the poor. A must read

*****

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In Christ,

David

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