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Title IV Review Committee Chosen…SC selects nominees for bishop…Middle East…more

"We are at another historic moment when the Church must articulate its faith in the light of modern and postmodern developments both outside itself and within. But, I would also argue, because the rot of modernity has eaten its way into the infrastructure of Anglicanism, especially in the West, we cannot reconstruct authentic Anglican doctrine unless we go back to the sources, namely to the Thirty-Nine Articles and Book of Common Prayer." Rev. Dr. Stephen Noll writing on the Global Anglican Communion

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
7/31/2006

The Episcopal Church announced this past week the committee members of the Title IV Review Committee, and predictably it was a liberal sweep with the odd conservative to make sure the dice wasn't totally loaded against San Joaquin Bishop John-David Schofield as he faces charges he abandoned the communion. It's a bit like a group of soldiers lined up to carry out the death sentence on some poor prisoner, but one of the rifleman gets to fire a blank.

The Rt. Rev. Dorsey Henderson, Bishop of Upper South Carolina, is the senior bishop on the Committee and the rest of the episcopal members of the committee are: the Rt. Rev. David C. Jones, Bishop Suffragan of Virginia; the Rt. Rev. C. Wallis Ohl, Jr., Bishop of Northwest Texas; the Rt. Rev. Bavi Edna "Nedi" Rivera, Bishop Suffragan of Olympia; and the Rt. Rev. James E. Waggoner, Jr., Bishop of Spokane. Outgoing HOD president, George L. Werner reappointed the same two clergy and three lay members. They are: J.P. Causey, Jr. of West Point, Va.; the Very Rev. H. Scott Kirby, dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Eau Claire, Wis.; the Rev. Carolyn Sue Kuhr, rector of St. Patrick's, Big Fork, Mont.; and Ms. Deborah J. Stokes of Westerville, Ohio.

Just to give you a sample of one of the attendees at this mad hatters tea party, Bishop Edna "Nedi" Rivera gallantly told everyone a year or so ago, "I won't marry anyone straight or gay, until the church officially authorizes the marriage of homosexuals." Bishop John-David doesn't have a prayer with this group. But before he is officially 'executed' for "abandonment of communion" (Canon IV.9), a fictitious charge if ever there was one, the House of Bishops meets in September and must vote to depose him. It is hoped saner heads will prevail. Now all this is being done before Mrs. Schori is crowned the 26th Presiding Bishop on Nov. 4. One would hardly want her start in office tarnished by deciding if Bishop John-David should have his head lopped off. For this godly bishop to even be facing trial is letting the inmates in the (Episcopal) asylum determine the sanity of a thoroughly sane man.

On a saner note, the DIOCESE OF SOUTH CAROLINA Standing Committee announced three nominees for bishop to succeed Bishop Edward L. Salmon Jr. The three nominees are: the Rev. Canon Ellis English Brust, 48, chief operating officer and chaplain to the president of the American Anglican Council (AAC); the Very Rev. Mark J. Lawrence, 56, rector, St. Paul's Episcopal Parish, Bakersfield, California; and the Rev. Stephen D. Wood, 42, rector, St. Andrew's Church, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina.

These are all solid candidates, not a single one believes in pluriform sex, gay priests or gay marriages with rites. If you want to see what makes Lawrence tick, you can read a piece he wrote at VOL's website: http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=4543. He is from the Diocese of San Joaquin, heads a cardinal parish and is a Network priest. VOL believes that Brust has the widest experience, however, with considerable national exposure through his association with the AAC, and he is known to a number of primates as well. But what is most interesting is that in this thoroughly orthodox diocese they could only find one priest from the diocese to nominate. What about the Rev. Rick Belser, rector of St. Michael's Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston? He is a seasoned pastor and much more. Canon theologian Kendall Harmon comes with too much baggage and loves to BLOG. Brust's biggest immediate challenge (should he win) will be to decide what to do with Harmon as he comes as a high-priced (canon theologian) blogger. Harmon has no pastoral experience as a rector. He and Brust are also not exactly on the same page about what orthodox Episcopalians should do with an imploding church. Diocesan convention meets at St. Philip's Church in Charleston, South Carolina, on September 16 and the consecration is planned for February 24, 2007. Salmon, 72, was elected in the fall of 1989.

In the DIOCESE OF SOUTHERN VIRGINIA, the turnover of bishops continues apace. Bishop Robert H. Johnson announced his retirement after only five months in office and another interim bishop the Rt. Rev. John Buchanan, will begin his ministry on September 18. Former Diocesan Bishop David Bane was asked to resign because of "major ineptitude" in financial management and a near-total absence of accountability. A unanimous report described the diocese as "adrift and leaderless, floundering in all areas" and torn by hostility between Bishop David C. Bane Jr. and his deputy, Suffragan Bishop Carol J. Gallagher. She was subsequently let go. A source told VOL that the revisionists know that they cannot put a liberal in here and will probably kick the can down the road for some time. "Johnson does not want to go through the problems in this generally conservative diocese. So far, ECUSA's revisionists have held the churches in the fold, but people are leaving in large numbers," he wrote.

The bishop of the DIOCESE OF TENNESSEE, the Rt. Rev. Bertram Herlong says in a Pastoral letter to his diocese that it will take time to sort out questions raised by actions of the 75th General Convention. "Do not expect immediate responses or solutions. As I have said many times, it took us a long time to get where we are and it is going to take a long time to work out ultimate solutions. We should not make premature judgments about what will happen, but should wait and see how her performance affects the program and direction of the National Church. Bishop Jefferts Schori is our Presiding Bishop and we must respect the office even if we do not agree with the performance of the individual who holds that office," Herlong wrote.

Herlong joined a group of bishops in disassociating himself from the actions of the 75th General Convention in response to the Windsor Report. He also wrote in the letter that he did not agree with Presiding Bishop-elect Katharine Jefferts Schori's decisions to consent to the 2003 election of an openly gay man as bishop of New Hampshire and to allow same-gender blessings in the Diocese of Nevada. Alternative primatial oversight, is not a prudent move at this time for the diocese, says Herlong.

SEWANEE: A Tennessee native wrote to VOL to say that although he holds a Ph.D. in English, and is an orthodox Episcopalian, it is unlikely he would be hired by the University of the South. "The reason the university has these problems is that it has slowly begun hiring 'moderate' anti-Christians and anti-Southern liberals decades ago to prove it is tolerant. They will not rest until they utterly remake the school into one that is almost anti-Christian and is largely anti-Southern. The correct U of the South would never hire me: I don't hate Southern culture, nor do I want Christianity further perverted and liberalized." One could repeat that for all but two of TEC's seminaries.

The MIDDLE EAST is bringing out the best in some folk. The Barnabas Fund in England is organizing aid for Christian refugees in Lebanon. Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director, UK says media reports indicate that among the 800,000 people who have been displaced are many Christians who had to leave the areas where the fighting and bombing are most intense. Many have had their homes and possessions destroyed and loved ones killed. Some have been directly affected by air-strikes. One Christian leader known to Barnabas Fund had his house badly damaged. Many Lebanese Christians are heartbroken by the devastation they now see around them, especially in places like south Lebanon, Tyre and southern Beirut. It is difficult for them to understand why God allows it. Some see the situation in Biblical terms of destruction.

"Our Syrian partner records the boldness of one Christian family deciding to stay in the danger zone to help those in need: 'Another Christian family from the south, near Marj 'Ayoun, after repeated attacks by Israeli troops, jets and rockets, lost its possessions and was urged to leave the area, but because of their faith, the husband and family stayed faithful and remained there till this date, and he said on the phone to us: "by our stay, we have to make a difference by being different from the others, all our surroundings are our field to help, witness and support them while passing this catastrophic period of time". We've encouraged them to come over avoiding unexpected attacks from the enemy, but he replied: "I should stay with my people and congregation" - he pastors a church - "and they need my presence".'

Through Barnabas Fund's Lebanese and Syrian Christian partners' aid via local partners is the fastest and most effective method of help. Barnabas Fund has sent £10,000 to help 100 Christian refugee families in Lebanon and another £5,000 to help those in Syria.

The need is huge and escalating, writes Sookhdeo. "The actual cost of supporting these families was higher than anticipated as their needs are so great. It appears that the conflict is not going to end soon, so more support is urgently needed." Interested donors can donate online by clicking here: https://secure.barnabasfund.org. Please quote project reference 27-631 when sending your gift.

LIBERAL PRIMATE OF BRAZIL FAILS IN RE-ELECTION BID. In an unusual decision the General Synod of the Province of Brazil (IEAB) did not re-elect liberal Primate Orlando Santos de Oliveira. The new Primate-Elected is the Rt. Revd. Mauricio Andrade, Bishop of Brasília of the National Cathedral. He is a leading pro-gay advocate in the House of Bishops. A report from the disenfranchised Diocese of Recife says he is part of a new generation in the Episcopal Church of former evangelicals turned liberal. He was raised among the Plymouth Brethren and later became a conservative Presbyterian. He is a former Inter-Varsity staff worker. Other clergy from this group, another former conservative Presbyterian the Rev. Saulo de Barros was elected the first bishop of the new Missionary Diocesan of the Amazon. The Synod also decided to create a Missionary Diocese for Recife and did not re-elect the local suffragan bishop Filadelfo Oliveira, the one responsible for the excommunication of 32 priests. Instead they elected Bishop Sebastião Gameleira, of Pelotas who was originally from Recife, a former lay liberation theologian from the Roman Catholic Church. The Episcopal Province of Brazil is an ECUSA plant, which accounts for its liberal bent. They are not in sync with the rest of the Southern Cone under Archbishop Greg Venables.

AND FROM NEW ZEALAND comes word from The Rev. Ron Ashford of Papakura (near Auckland) asking why his province's Archbishops Brown Turei and David Moxon (and Bishops John Paterson and Tom Brown) have not taken up the request of the Archbishop of Canterbury who has asked the Primates of the Anglican Communion for their "reaction" to ECUSA/TEC's General Convention's response to the Windsor Report, as well as their opinion as to the Province's and Communion's view.

"The letter asks the primates for their personal 'reaction' to the approved resolutions as well as the likely reaction 'within your province as a whole.' The final question asked 'How do you expect the Anglican Communion as a whole to view the resolutions passed at General Convention?'", wrote Ashford.

"To date no formal (open) discussion has occurred within New Zealand (with the possible exception of discussion(s) amongst Diocesan/Denominational elites) on this topic. I therefore wonder how you, as our Primate/Archbishops, will be able to respond to the second aspect adequately and honestly. Amongst those with whom I am in close contact, there is growing concern that some of the ACANZP leadership may use the concerns surrounding the Windsor Report, The Anglican Covenant, and ECUSA/TEC's response to the Windsor Report, to realign the ACANZP with ECUSA/TEC, rather than with the Archbishop of Canterbury. Such a move (about which the vast majority of clergy and parishioners know little or nothing) would, more than likely, be wholeheartedly rejected should such a realignment be suggested to them. Therefore, I respectfully ask that meetings be organized and held at the parish, archdeaconry, diocesan and ACANZP levels before a response is made to the Archbishop of Canterbury's request, so that the Provincial Church can inform you of what its response is."

The Archbishop of Canterbury wrote to the primates of the Anglican Communion seeking their reflections on the response to the Windsor Report by the 75th General Convention of The Episcopal Church. One could ask the same question of most provinces. The silence is deafening.

OBITUARY. Sadly we announce the passing this week of Dr. Leon Morris, Australia's most prolific biblical and theological author. He wrote over fifty books of theology and biblical commentary which have sold nearly two million copies worldwide and been translated into many languages. He was well-known throughout the Christian world as a careful, conservative biblical scholar. Extraordinarily, Morris received no formal theological education, apart from two years of supervision for his doctorate in Cambridge. He was a self-taught theologian who brought his rigorous and disciplined training in scientific enquiry to his study of the Bible and theology. He was 93.

His book, The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross, became seminal for modern evangelical theology of the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ. He was encouraged in his study by Professor, later Archbishop, Michael Ramsay. In 1961, Morris accepted the position of Warden at Tyndale House in Cambridge, a significant evangelical biblical research centre. In 1964, he courageously left this ideal academic post and returned to Ridley College as Principal when the college was in severe difficulty, convinced this was God's call. During his fifteen years as Principal, he strengthened the college, gave it a worldwide reputation, built a new chapel and established Ridley College as an official residential college of Melbourne University, the first college to take both men and women. In 1966 he was runner-up in the election of the Archbishop of Sydney.

He and Mildred were loyal members of Holy Trinity Doncaster near Melbourne, where he preached his final sermon, on the opening verses of John's gospel late in 1997. Morris was well known for his humble manner and gracious Christian character. He leaves a vast legacy of theologically equipped ministers throughout the world upholding biblical Christian faith centered on the atoning death of Jesus Christ. He is survived by his brother, Max. His wife Mildred predeceased him in April 2003. They had no children. The Leon and Mildred Morris Foundation continues their generosity to many good causes. SOURCE. The Rev'd Canon Dr Peter Adam, Principal, Ridley College, Melbourne.

FROM VOL'S WEB MASTER: As you are reading the news on the latest Episcopal Church developments, remember that you can access all of VOL's nearly 100 articles from GC2006 on the following page: http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/gc2006/gc2006.php.

I am posting three stories on the Middle East in today's digest in an effort to offer reasonably diverse views on what is happening there. VOL has also posted correspondence leaked to us between the Bishop of San Joaquin and Bishop Dorsey Henderson of Upper South Carolina who heads the Title IV Review Committee and a letter from California Bishop William Swing. It's getting downright nasty out there. The panicky Swing wrote to Schofield, "You have taken unilateral action that destroys any chance for the rest of the dioceses in California could ever argue that we are a hierarchical church," moaned Swing. "That will create chaos for all of us for all time." Now I wonder who created the chaos in the first place. Before Gene Robinson's election as the church's First Sodomite Bishop there was only partial chaos, now with his election it's full blown chaos...and these guys want to blame Bishop Schofield!

CORRECTION. A slight error in a story about San Joaquin in your last digest writes Fr. Donald Seeks, Chairman, Constitution and Canons Committee of the Diocese of San Joaquin. "We did not vote to submit to the General Convention. The 2004 and 2005 Diocesan Conventions of San Joaquin adopted an amendment to its constitution in regard to the accession clause which says, in effect, that if we disagree with an action taken by the General Convention, our Diocesan Convention can reject it. This was adopted overwhelmingly in the two conventions required for an amendment to our constitution."

THIS BRIEF DIGEST comes to you on eve of my trip to Africa. I felt it important to get it to you before leaving town fearing possibly poor Internet connection overseas. Thank you for your patience.

All Blessings

David W. Virtue DD

PS. If you would like to help defray the cost of the African trip you can make a tax deductible donation to:

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