Virginia goes over the brink
“This is not California, or El Camino Real, or even North Carolina. Virginia has long defined the ‘moderate middle’ of the Episcopal Church, and for that reason among others I believe the passage of this resolution will send shockwaves through the entire church. I also have to believe that if this is what has happened in Virginia in January, we’re in for a real circus come July in Anaheim.”
– Greg Griffith at Stand Firm writes about the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia’s Annual Council meeting held in Reston, Virginia, on January 23 & 24.
(h/t Anglican Mainstream.) Photo of Bishop Peter Lee: Diocese of Virginia.
Abortion and Obama’s first few days
Here was President Obama’s statement on abortion yesterday, released late in the day:
“On the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we are reminded that this decision not only protects women’s health and reproductive freedom, but stands for a broader principle: that government should not intrude on our most private family matters. I remain committed to protecting a woman’s right to choose. …”
– Justin Taylor at Between Two Worlds provides the text of the President’s statement as well as some reflections.
Fort Worth Asst Bp Wantland ‘removed and released’ by TEC Presiding Bishop
“Dr. Schori:
This will acknowledge electronic receipt on this date of a letter apparently not mailed to me, but dated January 15, 2009, purporting to ‘accept’ my letter to you dated November 15, 2008 as a Renunciation of my Orders.
As you must know, my letter specifically declared that ‘I am not resigning my Orders’. …”
– Assistant Bishop William C. Wantland of the Diocese of Fort Worth responds to a letter from the TEC Presiding Bishop. Read it on the Fort Worth website. (And here’s the Episcopal Life version.)
‘Magic’ goat arrested for armed robbery
“Police in Nigeria are holding a goat on suspicion of attempted armed robbery.
Vigilantes took the black and white beast to the police saying it was an armed robber who had used black magic to transform himself into a goat to escape arrest after trying to steal a Mazda 323. …”
– Report at ABC News. (image adapted from Google maps.)
Episcopal diocese funds frozen
Financial services firm Morgan Stanley has frozen the accounts of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh because it is unsure who should be allowed to access them. …
In October, a group that represents about 60 percent of the local parishes voted to join the more theologically conservative Anglican Province of the Southern Cone. …
On Nov. 20, the group that voted against leaving the diocese wrote to Morgan Stanley about the assets. Its leaders claim they have not been able to use any of the $20 million in diocesan assets or personnel files since the split. …
– Read the full report from The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Pittsburgh Anglican website. Pittsburgh Episcopal website.
There’s probably no bus
Steve Kryger at Communicate Jesus links to a witty response in The Church Times to the ‘Atheist Bus’ campaign in the UK.
(Photo: Jon Worth / British Humanist Association.)
Rick Warren’s prayer
Rick Warren’s prayer at the inauguration of President Barack Obama may be seen here on YouTube.
Transcript here.
And the text of Gene Robinson’s prayer on Sunday is here.
New GAFCON and FCA websites
The GAFCON website has been relaunched after a redesign – and a site for the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans is also up and running.
At gafcon.org and fca.net.
Beyond the Elizabethan Settlement
Bishop Jack Iker of Fort Worth delivered this address on Friday at the Mere Anglicanism Conference in Charleston, South Carolina –
“Have you noticed how nearly everything we speak of in today’s world is global? …
The consecration of a partnered homosexual bishop in the Diocese of New Hampshire impacts the life of the Diocese of Jos in Nigeria. The blessing of same-sex unions in a growing number of North American dioceses send shock waves throughout the Anglican world. To speak of Global Anglicanism is to speak of fragmentation, division and schism… ”
– Read his full address at the Diocese of Fort Worth website.
A Conversation with Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali
On Friday, Al Mohler’s radio programme featured an interview with Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali. Both have been speaking at the Mere Anglicanism Conference in Charleston, South Carolina.
The segment begins 5’14” into this mp3 file (direct link) and runs for 33 minutes.
h/t Anglican Mainstream. (Photo: Joy Gwaltney, GAFCON.)
Inauguration Prayer Service plans
“Today, as part of an Inauguration for all Americans, the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Committee announced the spiritual leaders from the diverse array of our nation’s religious traditions who will participate in the National Prayer Service on Wednesday, January 21st. …”
– from The Presidential Inaugural Committee.
Most US Christians define own theology
American individualism has made its imprint on Christianity.
A sizable majority of the country’s faithful no longer hew closely to orthodox teachings, and look more to themselves than to churches or denominations to define their religious convictions, according to two recent surveys. More than half of all Christians also believe that some non-Christians can get into heaven. …
– Read the full article by Jane Lampman in The Christian Science Monitor.
(Illustration CS Monitor.)
Primates to address international concerns
“The primates and moderators of the Anglican Communion will be hosted by the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East for a February 1-5 meeting in Alexandria, Egypt… Meeting behind closed doors at the Helnan Palestine Hotel, the primates will discuss international concerns such as the proposed Anglican covenant, the situation in Zimbabwe, global warming, and Christian responses to the global financial crisis. …
The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori will attend the meeting in her capacity as presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church. …
Archbishop Phillip Aspinall, primate of the Anglican Church of Australia, will act as spokesperson for the meeting.”
– Report from Episcopal Life Online.
(Photo taken at last November’s JSC meeting: ACNS Rosenthal.)
Ugandan-born named Rwanda Bishop
The Rev. Nathan Kamusiime Gasatura was on Sunday consecrated Bishop of Butare Anglican Diocese in Rwanda.
The consecration service was held in Butare Stadium and was attended by thousands of Christians from the dioceses of Rwanda, Burundi, DR Congo and Uganda. …
– Report from The New Vision, Uganda. (Photo: New Vision.)
Australia Day Convention 2009
This year’s Australia Day Convention at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney is focussing on Paul’s letter to the Colossians.
It’s on Monday January 26 (obviously) – and details are available at www.australiadayconvention.com
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…