Monday 29th January 2007
 “A foster mother pays tribute to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s compassion” “When the Archbishop of Canterbury supported the Catholic Church in the gay adoption row last week, many were surprised. Dr Rowan Williams, usually considered a moderniser, was criticised by liberals for asking Tony Blair to exempt Catholic adoption agencies from Government regulations - being introduced in April – which will force all agencies to offer children for adoption to gays. The Guardian newspaper, in a comment piece, even suggested that the church’s moral authority was ‘fatally compromised’. Now it has emerged that Dr Williams may have been influenced by his close involvement with a remarkable couple who rescued a boy brutalised by a notorious social services paedophile ring... ” From The Daily Mail.
Sunday 28th January 2007
 “Episcopal diocese may abandon U.S. church” “For Bishop John-David Schofield, the question is central to the future of the church he loves: Does the American Episcopal Church believe the Scriptures are the revealed word of God? In a recent vote, a majority of his flock answered with a resounding ‘no,’ and that is why Schofield is leading his San Joaquin Diocese in an unprecedented effort to pull away from the Episcopal Church... Schofield’s goal is to place the diocese under the jurisdiction of a conservative prelate, possibly one in South America or Africa. ‘When you hear that we’re some little Fresno fringe group, think of this,’ he said. ‘We identify with the worldwide Anglican Communion of 77 million members. Compared to that religious body, the American Episcopal Church of about 780,000 members is a tiny drop in the bucket.’ ... The Rev. Van McCalister, a diocesan spokesman, put it another way. ‘To paint us as homophobic is a lie,’ he said. ‘This is not about homosexuality. It’s about the core principles of what it means to be Christian, the authority of Scripture, and the willingness to deal with sin and not pretend that it doesn’t exist.’... ” From The Los Angeles Times.
Sunday 28th January 2007
“Williams ‘fostering schism’, aide fears” “The Archbishop of Canterbury has ‘fostered schism’ in the Anglican communion’s row over homosexual clergy, one of his most senior aides believes. In an email that lays bare growing tensions at the heart of the Church, the communion’s secretary-general endorses a withering assessment of Rowan Williams. He supports the view that the archbishop has chosen ‘a path that is not courageous or well-defined’ and has appointed a ‘virtual lynch mob’ to try to preserve unity...” From The Telegraph in London.
Sunday 28th January 2007
 Bishop Martyn Minns (now ‘Missionary Bishop of CANA’) writes to TEC Bishop Peter Lee of Virginia on the inhibition of 21 clergy “Dear Bishop Lee:
I am writing to you in response to your recent decision to ‘inhibit’ 21 Anglican clergy and to rescind the licenses of 6 additional clergy who serve as faithful pastors in congregations throughout Virginia... ... Are you, by your actions, suggesting that the Church of Nigeria is somehow not fully Anglican? Such a suggestion would be ironic in light of the meeting of the Primates in Dar es Salaam to be held early next month when a major agenda topic is whether or not The Episcopal Church — and hence the Diocese of Virginia — should continue to be recognized as fully Anglican...” Read the full letter on the CANA website.
Wednesday 24th January 2007
“Marketing Rocky Balboa as ‘The Passion of The Christ 2’” “Have you heard the recent joke that Hollywood was so amazed by the popularity of The Passion of the Christ that they’ve been working on a sequel? Well, it may not be a joke after all. Motive Entertainment, the marketing firm that helped make The Passion the most profitable film about Jesus since E.T. the Extraterrestial, is trying desperately to repeat their success by promoting Rocky Balboa as a faith-based film that all Christians should see when it opens in theaters on December 22nd...” This piece from The Sacred Sandwich (a satrical site) is a little dated, but worth reading and following the links to www.rockyresources.com. (If you must, you can even send a faith-based e-card... you were warned!)
Wednesday 24th January 2007
“Virginia: Bishop inhibits clergy; diocese responds to filings by separated churches” “Bishop Peter Lee of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, inhibited 21 diocesan clergy on January 22 and rescinded the licenses of six others, saying that he was acting on the determination of the diocesan Standing Committee that the clergy ‘have openly renounced the doctrine, discipline or worship of the Episcopal Church and, therefore, have abandoned the communion of the Episcopal Church.’ Lee’s action came after the votes of the majority membership of 15 diocesan congregations at various times in 2006 to leave The Episcopal Church...” Report from The Episcopal News Service.
Tuesday 23rd January 2007
Episcopal Church – “Women’s Ordination is Settled” “The Episcopal Church has embraced a mandatory women’s ordination policy for more than 30 years and recommendations by the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Panel of Reference that the Church clarify the permissive nature of its canon are ‘antithetical to our polity and therefore not appropriate,’ according to Bonnie Anderson, president of the House of Deputies. In a Jan. 12 letter sent to Archbishop Rowan Williams and the members of the panel, Mrs. Anderson asked the panel to issue a correction to its December 2006 report which concluded that ‘no diocese or parish should be compelled to accept the ministry of word or sacrament from an ordained woman.’ She also requested that in the future the panel ensure ‘adequate representation from the province directly affected by the recommendations.’....” Report from The Living Church.
Saturday 20th January 2007
 “Thomas Cranmer: Reforming Archbishop And Martyr” “In 2006, the Church of England observed the 450th anniversary of the martyrdom of Thomas Cranmer, whose enormous contributions to the Church in England are well known. His martyrdom was the last of many trials that Cranmer faced in the 22 years he served as Archbishop, as he had less than five years when he was free to lead the Church of England in what he believed was the correct God-ordained path. How was Cranmer able to continue and to achieve so much in the face of great challenges and almost continuous opposition? Why, after initially recanting his evangelical beliefs in the last weeks of his life, did he end his life a martyr to the faith he had done so much to establish in England? Professor Rudi Heinze, former Vice Principal of Oak Hill, gave this lecture on 9 November 2006.” Download the mp3 of this helpful talk from Oak Hill College in London. A 64MB download from the Oak Hill website.
Friday 19th January 2007
“Virginia leadership declares church property ‘abandoned’ ” “The Executive Board of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia January 18 authorized Bishop Peter Lee to ‘take such steps as may be necessary to recover or secure such real and personal property’ of 11 congregations where a majority of the members and leaders have left the Episcopal Church. The authorization came after the Executive Board declared the property to be abandoned under the diocese’s canonical definitions (Canons 15.1, 15.2, 15.3), according to a statement posted on the diocese’s website...” Churches affected include Truro and Falls Church. See the Episcopal News Service. See also ths Press Release from the Diocese of Virginia – and this letter from Bishop Lee.
Monday 15th January 2007
 An interview with TEC Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori “ADG: What about the rest of that statement [John 14:6] – KJS: The small box? ADG: Well, the rest of the verse, that no one comes to the Father except by the son. KJS: Again in its narrow construction, it tends to eliminate other possibilities. In its broader construction, yes, human beings come to relationship with God largely through their experience of holiness in other human beings. Through seeing God at work in other people’s lives. In that sense, yes, I will affirm that statement. But not in the narrow sense, that people can only come to relationship with God through consciously believing in Jesus. ... KJS: I think Jesus was focussed on heaven in this life, primarily. The Judeo-Christian tradition has always said yes, there is resurrection. There is life after death. But I think Jesus was not so worried about that... ADG: Do you think there’s any part of us that lives on somewhere after we die? KJS: Absolutely. But that’s not a question that concerns me day in and day out. I think I’m meant to use the gifts I have to transform the world in this life...” Read the full interview from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (via ADG’s religion editor, Frank Lockwood’s blog). (It’s chilling to reflect on Luke 9:20-26 and Luke 6:39)
Sunday 7th January 2007
“Dr Williams invites Dr Jefferts Schori to Primates’ Meeting” “The Archbishop of Canterbury has written to all the Primates of the Anglican Communion, in advance of their February meeting in Tanzania, confirming that he has invited the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States (ECUSA), Dr Katharine Jefferts Schori, to attend. Dr Williams acknowledges that the meeting will be ‘an important and difficult encounter, with several moments of discernment and decision to be faced, and a good deal of work to be done on our hopes for the Lambeth Conference, and on the nature and shape of the Covenant that we hope will assist in strengthening our unity as a Communion’...” From The Church Times.
Friday 5th January 2007
 “A Covenant for a Confused Church” – by Chris Sugden “A Covenant for the Church of England (CCE) has put the proper Episcopal care of churches faithful to the biblical and Anglican tradition of the Church of England as a major issue to be addressed before the February Primates Meeting. The framework of this debate is war for the soul of our national culture. Its Christian basis is being undermined at every turn – Winterval not Christmas, no public display of crosses, partners rather than husbands and wives and particularly the undermining of Christian marriage...” This helpful article gives a rationale for the Covenant for the Church of England, and addresses some of the critiques. Published in the Church of England Newspaper, it is also available at Anglican Mainstream.
Tuesday 2nd January 2007
“Church of England Set for ‘Crunch’ Synod as Reports Reveal 51 Gay Priests” “Renewed divisions over the issue of homosexuality are set to drag the Church of England further into crisis at the start of the new year. A disclosure revealed that more than 50 gay and lesbian priests from the Church of England have been ‘married’ under the Civil Partnership Act...” From Christian Today.
Thursday 28th December 2006
“Georgia: Mother Church of Diocese told to pay up or get out by liberal bishop” “The Bishop of Georgia, Henry I. Louttit has sent a letter from his attorneys telling the mother congregation of the diocese – Christ Church, Savannah – founded by John Wesley, that they must pay their full financial obligation to the diocese of $60,000 by December 31 or get out. In a letter obtained by VOL from the law firm of Elliott, Blackburn, Barnes & Gooding, the diocesan chancellor James L. Elliott wrote that the request of the rector, wardens and vestry for a timeline of Lambeth 2008 to make up their mind about their future in the diocese was unacceptable and that the bishop wants to know by June 30, 2007 what path they chose, but that for such an ‘accommodation’ to take place the parish must ante up $60,000 by December 31...” Story from VirtueOnline.
Sunday 24th December 2006
“Bishop: Bureaucrats are writing Christ out of Christmas” “A leading Church of England bishop has launched an outspoken attack on ‘thoughtless bureaucracy and political correctness’ for helping to ‘write Christ out of Christmas’. The Rt Rev Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, the Bishop of Rochester, accuses a small but powerful group of officials of marginalising religious celebrations out of an oversensitivity to multiculturalism...” Story from The Daily Mail.
Friday 22nd December 2006
 Archbishop Peter Jensen’s Christmas Message Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen, who is spending a few days in hospital, has released his Christmas Message for 2006. Download his message – which is formatted 2 to an A4 sheet – by clicking on the image at right. It would be suitable for including in your church news-sheets on Sunday or Monday. Please pray for a speedy recovery for Peter. And please pray for all who will be preaching and leading services this weekend – that they may graciously and humbly commend the Lord Jesus Christ so that he alone will be exalted.
Thursday 21st December 2006
Archbishop Peter Jensen responds to ‘the Covenant’ “The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen, has responded to news that leading evangelicals in the Church of England have met with the Archbishop of Canterbury and presented a Covenant promoting ‘new, informal networks’ among churches that are unable to maintain fellowship with Anglicans with whom they disagree...”. From SydneyAnglicans.net.
Thursday 21st December 2006
Who’s behind “A Covenant for the Church of England”? The list of signatories to the Covenant for the Church of England, as well as a Q & A has been released. Many of the signatories will be known and respected by ACL members. (Wallace Benn, John Stott, Dick Lucas, William Taylor, David Petersen, Richard Bewes... and many others.) Read the list and their Q & A here – and also see the text of the Covenant as released on December 12.
Monday 18th December 2006
“Virginia: Two Churches Vote To Leave Diocese And The Episcopal Church” “In two packed Episcopal church services, nearly 4,000 evangelical Episcopalians voted to leave the Diocese of Virginia and the Episcopal Church today, in the largest single one-day departure of Episcopalians in American Episcopal church history. Six other parishes in the diocese also voted to leave The Episcopal Church. St. Stephens voted 75 percent to leave. In packed parishes, with standing room only at both services, the two churches were told that they had voted overwhelmingly to leave, with Falls Church parishioners voting 90 percent to leave the denomination and a second vote of 94.3 percent to retain the church properties. The Rev. John Yates made the announcement at the conclusion of the 9.00am service. There were gasps from the congregation but there was no cheering or clapping...” Report from VirtueOnline.
Statement from Peter James Lee, Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia “The leadership of the Diocese of Virginia has labored for three years to seek another course that would have maintained the integrity of the church and the spirit of inclusiveness that has been a hallmark of the Diocese and the Anglican Communion. The votes today have compromised these discussions and have created Nigerian congregations occupying Episcopal churches...” From the Diocese of Virginia website.
See also this report (7 Va. Episcopal Parishes Vote to Sever Ties) from The Washington Post – “The other Virginia congregations that announced votes to leave the U.S. church are Church of the Apostles in Fairfax, St. Stephen’s in Heathsville, St. Margaret’s Church in Woodbridge, Potomac Falls Episcopal Church in Sterling and Church of the Word in Gainesville. Another church participating in the vote, St. Paul’s in Haymarket, is expected to release results today. Last week, members of All Saints’ Church in Dale City announced a vote to separate. In all, the eight parishes that finished voting yesterday represent about 5 percent of the 90,000-member Virginia diocese... Truro and The Falls Church were formed before the U.S. denomination existed. George Washington was a member of the vestry at The Falls Church.”
Sunday 17th December 2006
 “Colour, pomp, didgeridoo and a new archbishop” “Spirituality was an eclectic experience amid the pageantry at the installation yesterday of Melbourne’s new Anglican archbishop, Dr Philip Freier. Befitting a ceremony for a former bishop of the Northern Territory, there were some indigenous touches to the formalities... Archbishop Freier, 51, who was elected in August, delivered a thoughtful sermon, drawing from the prophet Ezekiel, which looked at the traditional ideas of Jesus as the good shepherd.” Report from The Age. See also this report from Anglican Media Melbourne – and Archbishop Freier’s sermon (pdf).
Sunday 17th December 2006
The Falls Church and Truro Church in Northern Virginia to announce voting results tonight “The Falls Church and Truro Church ... are scheduled to announce their congregations’ votes on their relationship with the U.S. Episcopal Church this Sunday, Dec. 17...” It seems the media are expected to be present in force (pdf file). See also this commentary from Get Religion.
Sunday 17th December 2006
 “A Confused ‘Covenant’ ” – comments by Bishop Tom Wright “I am surprised that this document (‘A Covenant for the Church of England’) has been issued, and sorry that its clear grasp of some issues is not matched by clarity or wisdom on others. I fully understand what the Bishop of Rochester has referred to as the ‘strength of feeling’ which it demonstrates, but could wish that this had been matched by strength of thinking, both in the strategic decision to make this move at this time and in the detail of much of the document...” Read the full comments on Fulcrum-anglican.org.uk.
Sunday 17th December 2006
 Win a ‘meet and greet’ with... ‘Better Homes and Gardens’ in the US runs an ‘inspired’ competition with a rather unusual prize. See what you think.
Saturday 16th December 2006
“Conservative Evangelicals lay their cards on the table” “A coalition of Evangelical and Charismatic Anglicans this week produced a covenant promoting ‘new, informal networks’ among churches that are unable to maintain fellowship with Anglicans with whom they disagree. The coalition includes Anglican Mainstream, Reform, the Church of England Evangelical Council, New Wine, and Crosslinks. It was said by Canon Chris Sugden of Anglican Mainstream to represent, in all, about 2000 congregations...” Report from Church Times.
Thursday 14th December 2006
“A Family at Cross-Purposes” “It is a struggle worthy of the Old Testament, pitting brother against brother, son against mother, and leaving the famous father, the Rev. Billy Graham, trapped in the middle, pondering what to do...” From the Washington Times. (May require registration.)
Wednesday 13th December 2006
More churches vote to disaffiliate from The Episcopal Church “All Saints Episcopal Church in Dale City, whose members voted 402-6 on Sunday to leave the Episcopal Church, has become the first Northern Virginia church to flee the denomination out of several expected defections. The 500-member church was one of nine churches to vote last weekend whether to leave the Episcopal Church over disagreements on biblical authority and the 2003 consecration of New Hampshire Bishop V. Gene Robinson, a practicing homosexual...”
From the Washington Times. See the All Saints website. Members of Truro Church in Fairfax, Virginia, are in the process of making a decision this week.
Monday 11th December 2006
“Liberal bishops face evangelical backlash” “Liberal bishops who support homosexual priests are to be barred from entering some churches and money intended for Anglican coffers will be withheld. In a dramatic escalation in the Church of England's civil war over homosexual clergy, scores of evangelical churches will break their historic links with liberal bishops who oversee their parishes...”
From the UK Sunday Telegraph.
Saturday 9th December 2006
“Bishop Howard Attempts to Depose Six of ‘Florida Seven’ Priests” “Press Release from the Anglican Alliance of North Florida:
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA — The Anglican Alliance of North Florida is saddened to announce that six of the original ‘Florida Seven’ priests have received a letter of deposition from Bishop John Howard of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida on the grounds of “abandonment of communion”. The deposition of a priest or a deacon is an ecclesiastical measure which strips someone of clergy status by nullifying his or her ordination.
All of the priests in question had requested that Bishop Howard provide alternative episcopal oversight in 2005, and were refused. All but one had applied to the Panel of Reference and the Archbishop of Canterbury for protection. All of them are now members of the Anglican Alliance of North Florida and are faithfully serving as priests under archbishops in other parts of the Anglican Communion. Not only have they not abandoned the communion of the Church, they have come under the authority of orthodox Anglican bishops precisely because of their desire to remain in that communion.
In addition, Bishop Howard sent out a letter announcing that he had accepted letters of renunciation of ministry from seven clergy. At least three of these clergy have never renounced their orders, either verbally or in writing, but rather have been accepted as clergy under an overseas Anglican authority and serve in parishes within the Anglican Alliance of North Florida; they have no intention of renouncing their orders and ask Bishop Howard to rectify his mistake.
The priests who received letters of deposition are the Rev. Alex Farmer, the Rev. James McCaslin, the Rev. James Needham, the Rev. Samuel Pascoe, the Rev. Robert Sanders, and the Rev. David Sandifer. The priests and deacon purported to have renounced their orders have asked that their names not be disclosed at this time at the request of their overseas province.
All of these clergy are in good standing in the dioceses to which they belong and are serving under the authority of their respective bishops; by the grace of God, they intend to continue to serve Christ and His Church as ordained ministers and are looking forward to working together for a common Anglican witness.”
Press release via The Rev. Neil Lebhar. For background, see The Anglican Alliance of North Florida and also the Episcopal Diocese of Florida.
Friday 8th December 2006
“St Paul’s tomb unearthed in Rome” “Archaeologists working for the Vatican have unearthed a sarcophagus containing what they believe are the remains of St Paul the Apostle. The tomb dates back to at least AD390 and was found in a crypt under a basilica in Rome...” Report from BBC News. See also this report from The Telegraph (UK).
Friday 8th December 2006
“Conservative Jews Allow Gay Rabbis and Unions” “The highest legal body in Conservative Judaism, the centrist movement in worldwide Jewry, voted yesterday to allow the ordination of gay rabbis and the celebration of same-sex commitment ceremonies. The decision, which followed years of debate, was denounced by traditionalists in the movement as an indication that Conservative Judaism had abandoned its commitment to adhere to Jewish law, but celebrated by others as a long-awaited move toward full equality for gay people...” Story from The New York Times (requires free registration).
Wednesday 6th December 2006
“Archbishop Venables: Primates Coalition Will Support Second U.S. Jurisdiction” “In a message to the Dec. 1-2 convention in the Diocese of San Joaquin, the Primate of the Southern Cone assured clergy and lay delegates that the Global South primates’ coalition will support pleas for a second Anglican jurisdiction in the United States — one independent of The Episcopal Church.” Story from the Living Church. Or see Archbishop Venables’ address via Anglican TV.
Monday 4th December 2006
San Joaquin Diocesan Convention – First reading of amendment to the diocesan constitution The Diocese of San Joachin in California has passed the first reading of an amendment to the diocesan constitution in which it describes itself as “a constituent member of the Anglican Communion and in full communion with the See of Canterbury”. In his Bishop’s Address to the convention, Bishop Schofield spoke about the proposed change – “Undoubtedly you are aware that this meeting of the Diocese of San Joaquin is historic. You may have heard someone say that the diocese is seeking to secede from The Episcopal Church. If that is what you think, then you are wrong! This convention’s business does not begin something new. On the contrary, we in the Diocese of San Joaquin are meeting to state clearly that we intend to go nowhere nor introduce anything new. Instead, we are defending the doctrine, discipline, and worship as this Church has received them. Why, then, are we amending our Constitution? This amending process is the first step in the removal from our Constitution of any reference to The Episcopal Church because – in our opinion – they have decided to walk apart from the Anglican Communion...”
Read the details on the San Joaquin website.
Friday 1st December 2006
Episcopal Church ‘Response’ falls short – says The Anglican Communion Network “The Episcopal News Service today released a proposal responding to the request by seven Episcopal dioceses for Alternative Primatial Oversight (APO). It suggests that a ‘primatial vicar’ be appointed by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori to serve as her ‘designated pastor in such dioceses’. The ‘primatial vicar’would be accountable to Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori and perform those functions she chooses to delegate, such as episcopal ordinations...” See the full statement (and a link to the Episcopal Church’s proposals) on the Anglican Communion Network website.
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