If we are true Christians, we must not expect everything smooth in our journey to heaven. We must count it no strange thing, if we have to endure sicknesses, losses, bereavements, and disappointments, just like other men. Free pardon and full forgiveness, grace along the way, and glory at the end all this our Savior has promised to give. But He has never promised that we shall have no afflictions. ---J. C. Ryle

The nature of error. Two tendencies of heresy are most revealing. We would be wise to ask ourselves regarding every kind of teaching both what its attitude is towards God and what effect it has upon men. There is invariably something about error which is dishonouring to God and damaging to men. The truth, on the other hand, always honours God, promoting godliness (cf. Tit. 1:16), and always edifies its hearers. --- John R.W Stott

Persecuted Christians -– in the Middle East, for example – may well find themselves caught between militant Islam on the one hand and intolerant post-Enlightenment paganism on the other. – British Foreign Office Spokesman

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
December 28, 2018

Only 20% of the churches in North America are growing. And more than half of those that are growing are growing primarily through transfer growth; in other words – they are growing at the expense of other churches! Only 10% of North American churches are growing through people coming to Christ as Lord and Savior.

These are the findings of Alan Avera, Executive Director of Christianity Explored, a ministry of evangelism and discipleship emanating from All Souls, Langham Place, London.

But there’s another problem, which paradoxically reveals a great opportunity. Avera calls this the 80-30 opportunity. It is this: while 80% of unchurched people indicate that they are willing to engage in a faith conversation, only 30% of Christians have shared their faith in the past 6 months. Unchurched people are apparently more willing to hear than we think they are; they are more willing to hear than Christians are willing to share.

Writes Avera; “Call this an opportunity because unchurched people are willing to engage if we can just mobilize more Christians to share the good news of Jesus. But not all sharing is the same. The unchurched are willing to engage in faith conversations when those conversations come out of relationship.”

The aim of Christianity Explored is to help churches equip ordinary Christians to love, live, and tell the good news of Jesus. We are helping churches address this 80-30 opportunity, he writes.

Tragically, most Episcopalians don’t have a faith they can share (A) because they don’t have a faith worth sharing and (B) faith has been reduced to issues that most people can find in society and the broader world that doesn’t require a church to tell them.

The good news is that the Anglican Church in North America is successfully reaching out to a lost world. Their Archbishop, the Most Rev. Foley Beach recently wrote of his optimism in the face of national decline.

He reported that the ACNA has grown to 1,000 churches with more than 134,000 members in 10 years. Now that is some achievement in the face of its cultured despisers. Two of its most notable parishioners are former Ohio Gov. John Kasich who says he's considering challenging President Donald Trump in 2020 and Mike Pence, U.S. Vice President.

"This is an incredible achievement. We started in faith, and almost ten short years later, we see enormous growth in so many of our churches. Some are very small and struggling. Many are large and growing. But all of them are part of this extraordinary movement of God," he told his followers in a letter.

By contrast, The Episcopal Church is shriveling, with an ASA of 577,000 and is declining year over year.

"When I look at our Province and see that we are only ten years old, I am filled with joy and thanksgiving... and I see the power of the hand and power of God that has both guided and protected us."

The archbishop described it as an "Ebenezer" moment, allowing the ministers of the province to grow through prayer and support.

"We believe in church planting! I don't know of any movement that has seen such an explosion of church planting. We have learned so much over the past ten years...and we are developing this knowledge into practical training for a new generation of churches, ones that we are praying to see in our second decade."

.Beach said that one new ACNA church was being started every ten days. "I find this truth to be more than amazing. We had an initial base of congregations that established the ACNA ten years ago. Since then we have had huge church planting efforts to increase our capacity. It is working! The Always Forward Movement is leading with support, training, and encouragement for local congregations and dioceses. And now we have a steady 'birth rate' year by year."

"This is another remarkable reality. The average Sunday attendance in all ACNA churches in every diocese is strong. And getting stronger! Many of these beloved churches are meeting in rented facilities. Their members willingly gave up the comforts of an established congregation to launch a new church. As I travel the country and speak with our bishops and clergy, I find that our churches and leaders are finding ways of making it all work to the Glory of God. In fact, many churches have been raising capital campaign funds for their own building expansions."

The archbishop, who will soon take over as the new chairman of GAFCON, is one of the youngest archbishops in the Anglican Communion, and in command of one of the fastest growing denominations in America. VOL urges its readers to pray for Archbishop Beach and his family. He will be under great spiritual attack in 2019.

*****

Loneliness, we are now being told, is one of the single biggest issues facing millions of Americans. A massive study finds nearly half of the US feels alone, young adults most of all. It is a crisis of such proportions that suicides are at an all-time high.

The online survey of 20,000 adults consisted of self-reported responses to a series of 20 statements or questions. Analysts used the well-known UCLA Loneliness Scale to calculate respondents’ loneliness scores, which range from 20 to 80.

Those scoring 43 and above were considered lonely. The average loneliness score in America is 44, suggesting that “most Americans are considered lonely,” according to the report.

Younger adults born between the mid-1990s and the early 2000s had loneliness scores of about 48 compared with about 39 for respondents ages 72 and older.

So, what’s making Americans so lonely?

An NPR survey found that working too often or not enough contributed to loneliness, making workplaces a significant source for fostering social relationships and ensuring a work-life balance. The result is increased heart disease and diabetes. The survey found that working too often or not enough contributed to loneliness, making workplaces a significant source for fostering social relationships and ensuring a work-life balance.

Allied to all this is the breakup of the traditional family. The Leave it to Beaver idealized motherhood role which supplied a perfect model for American families, has long since disappeared and new family structures have emerged. “Ozzie and Harriet” is finished.

The end result is that many today feel rejected by both family and friends. I hardly know a family that is not in some sense dysfunctional, my own included.

But must we fear the rejection of family and friends? The answer is no. If you keep caring more about what your family and friends think of you than what God thinks of you, you’ll never do the things God has called you to do.

Jesus knew this because he lived it. At the age of 12 he started ministering in the temple. When his parents discovered he was missing as they were going home, they returned to find him in the temple arguing with its leaders. We see this in Mark 3:21 where it tells us that when Jesus began his ministry, his family went to “take charge of him, for they said, ‘he is out of his mind.’” He wasn’t, of course, and then he dismissed his parents by saying, “I must be about my father’s business”.

After Jesus reached age 12, his father Joseph vanished from the Gospels and was never heard from again. In the Semitic culture in which Jesus was born, bringing shame upon your family was inexcusable.

Whatever, Jesus put the kingdom of God ahead of his biological family, choosing the path set before him, and that might be the lesson for all of us. We are “set apart” for a new and better calling and that just might mean putting family and friends behind and launching out into the deep. No one ever lost by following Jesus. For our Lord it was all or nothing and perhaps that should be our lot and calling as well.

*****

THE ACNA is making advances into Mexico. From the Office of the Canon, Diocese of the Southwest comes this; "The role of the Area Dean is to be a partner with the Bishop and the Bishop's Staff in the mission and ministry of the deanery. The Area Dean has a strategic role in the diocese, helping to shape planning, policy and deployment, drawing on their local knowledge. Within the deanery, the Area Dean in partnership with the Bishop is the key person under God to provide vision, leadership and pastoral care."

In practical terms, it means that our current ministry of training leaders dovetails very nicely with the needs of the diocese and that, "A wide door for effective work has been opened to me(us)". It is not a salaried position. It is an opportunity to work with the bishop and local church leaders in forming and building the Anglican Church in Mexico and we are very excited, as we hope you are.

MOCLAM, a ministry that is making accessible high-quality theological education available to Spanish speakers throughout Ibero-America, offers an undergraduate program consisting of 18 subjects, which have a focus in biblical studies. There are currently over 500 students studying with MOCLAM across a range of countries including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and Spain. TEC is now being challenged on home turf it has occupied for some time. The same is true in Brazil.

*****

Religious freedom found itself compromised this past week when the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), two of the nation's foremost evangelical organizations, publicly announced they now support adding "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" as officially protected minority classifications to the ranks of federal nondiscrimination law.

Explaining their support for the "compromise" that is dubbed "Fairness for All," (a legislative initiative driven by the argument that religious freedom can only be achieved while also conceding "no one should face unjust discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, or gender identity"), one spokesperson who serves on the board of both the CCCU and NAE explained: "We are increasingly persuaded that the most viable political strategy is for comprehensive religious freedom protections to be combined with explicit support for basic human rights for members of the LGBT community."

This is a fool's errand.

First, it is legally and politically untenable to pretend you can grant minority status to any group of people and then maintain for yourself an "exemption" to deny these people the minority protections you just granted them. You can read the full story here: https://www.virtueonline.org/compromising-religious-freedom

*****

The Church of England seems hell bent on following The American Episcopal Church on matters of sexuality. The CofE use of the baptism liturgy (and reaffirmation of baptism) to recognize transition of gender is the latest piece of ecclesiastical insanity.

Here are eleven reasons put forward by Rebel Priest Dr. Jules Gomes on why he disagreed with that ruling.

1. It confuses the purpose and meaning of the sacrament of baptism by adding and/or refocusing upon the additional elements of 'naming' and/or physiological changes. Neither of these elements are in the biblical record; both unhelpfully draw us away from the biblical purpose of baptism

2. It calls for us to use a church service to mark the mutilation of and destruction of body parts

3. It calls for us to deny basic human biology; the nature of male and female; the fact that every single cell in a person's body is male or female (XX or XY)

4. It denies the teaching of Jesus that God made us male and female

5. It distances the CoE from the worldwide, catholic, Church and the teaching throughout all times and in all places -- until this modern, western, phenomena of gender politics

6. It asks us to re-purpose a liturgy to fit with a change in wider society, rather than allowing the timeless-truth of the Gospel to inform our liturgy

7. It embraces the 'T' ideology; which is in essence little more than Gnosticism -- that 'I am not my body' and 'my body is not me' -- which flies in the face of God having made us body, soul and spirit (1Thess 5, Gen 2:7) (soma, psyche, pneuma)

8. It fails to address the very real possibility that 'T' persons may in fact be suffering from a dysphoria and require help to reorder their confused mind, rather than encouragement to reinforce their dysphoria

9. It calls for us to embrace an ideology that has its origins outside of the Christian Church

10. It is an example of Cultural Marxism finding a home within the CoE; this is something that ought to be resisted rather than complied with

11. It is based upon a flawed theology of 'love'. 'God is love'. 'Love is not necessarily God.'

*****

ON THE HOMEFRONT, the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi, Brian Seage sent parishes across the state a letter last week allowing priests to marry -- without the need to petition for permission in advance -- same-sex couples or those who identify as part of the LGBT community.

Church members from parishes across the state had asked the bishop for resources to foster discussions about same-sex marriage at a January Diocesan Council meeting in Biloxi, Seage said in the letter.

Rather than just give literature, Seage also recommended action -- the liturgies he offered to Mississippi's congregations in his letter "permit marriage in church for all couples legally entitled to marry," Seage said. Prior to the release of the bishop's letter, parishes were required to submit to Seage a petition requesting approval to perform same-sex weddings.

Now, priests -- if they so choose -- are able to marry LGBT members who wish to have a church wedding.

"I am aware that any change brings anxiety, but I'm also aware of the grace-filled way our church has walked together and supported the differing viewpoints that exist," Seage wrote.

One wonders what will happen to Albany Episcopal Bishop Bill Love, who sent out a letter to his diocese saying he would not allow such unbiblical “marriages”. Will he be deposed? We shall see how “grace-filled” TEC bishops will be then.

*****

The sexual beat goes on. This week, Owen Labrie, 23, a New Hampshire prep school graduate convicted of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old classmate, reported to jail to begin serving the remaining 10 months of his jail sentence.

Labrie turned himself in to the Merrimack County jail Wednesday morning, more than a week after a judge refused to shorten his sentence. Labrie, of Tunbridge, Vermont, was acquitted in 2015 of raping a 15-year-old classmate Chessy Prout as part of "Senior Salute," a game of sexual conquest, at St. Paul's School. But a jury found him guilty of misdemeanor sexual assault charges and endangering the welfare of a child. He also was convicted of using a computer to lure an underage student for sex, requiring him to register as a sex offender.

*****

More churches are closing in the Diocese of Huron, Canada. One wonders just how much longer the diocese is sustainable. The end of an era has come for two Howick Churches. St. Stephen’s Church, Gorrie and the first Trinity Anglican in Fordwich. Fordwich and Gorrie were part of a three-point parish that included St. James’ Anglican Church, Wroxeter, that closed in 1969 due to declining membership.

In recent years, St. Stephen’s, Gorrie and Trinity Anglican, Fordwich have been part of a six-point charge that includes Christ Church, Listowel, St. Alban’s and St. David’s, Atwood, St. George’s, Harriston and St. Paul’s, Palmerston. Five of the six churches including Gorrie and Fordwich have closed their doors, with final services held at Christmas in 2016.

The disconcertion services for all of these beautiful old churches have been completed. Now the parishioners are tasked with dismantling their sanctuaries. Sadly, according to Canon Law, if another church cannot be found to take their altars, they must be burned. The baptismal fonts will suffer the same fate if they are wood or if they are concrete, they will be smashed and buried. With more and more church closures it becomes increasingly difficult to find a new home for these sacred pieces of the church’s history, said a newspaper report.

*****

Here is a vignette on the Culture Wars as we are seeing them play out in the universities of America. This comes courtesy of Dr. Robert A.J. Gagnon, master theologian whose book The Bible and Homosexual Practice has never been answered or contradicted by any liberal, revisionist or progressive.

Conservative students have filed a lawsuit in the University of Florida charging discrimination. “Why should conservative students have to pay student fees that are used to shut out conservative voices at a state-funded university? Why should they be compelled to fund another propaganda arm of the hard-left Democratic Party? May their lawsuit prosper.

"UF denied budgeted organization status to YAF [Young Americans for Freedom], but the student group was able to obtain funding for a speaker honorarium via the school's Special Request policy. UF changed its Special Request policy to apply only to budgeted student groups after YAF attempted to obtain funds for a second speaker honorarium....

"'All students are entitled to viewpoint-neutral access to and allocation of student activity fees—or they should get their money back,' ADF Senior Counsel Tyson Langhofer.... 'The YAF chapter deserves the same equal access to university resources as every other student organization on campus,' YAF Associate General Counsel Mark Trammell commented in the release. 'It is completely inappropriate for the University of Florida to treat students differently because of their beliefs. The purpose of today’s lawsuit is to remedy this inequity.'

[And now the doublespeak from the UF administration:]

"'The University of Florida is committed to upholding the First Amendment right to free speech and promoting a campus community that is open to all points of view,' UF spokeswoman Margot Winick told Campus Reform."

Apparently, by "open to all points of view" the spokeswoman means views other than those that are opposed to the "LGBTQ" agenda, abortion and unrestricted or illegal immigration.

*****

I hope you will take a moment and read my commentary on The Two Communions that now exist in the Anglican Communion. Here is a taste.

It's unofficial of course, and only a few dare whisper it in the corridors of Lambeth Palace or the Anglican Communion office, but the truth is, the Communion is so badly broken that only a miracle now can ever reconcile what has now become unofficially two bodies of Anglicans.

Archbishop Justin Welby can hotly dispute this all he wants, and he can fake talk about GAFCON being a "ginger group", preach inclusion, reconciliation and diversity, but the truth is the mostly orthodox Global South is evangelical in faith and morals and they are not going to cave into Welby, U.S. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, Canadian primate Fred Hiltz or any other western pansexual progressive liberal leader who, they believe, holds "another gospel" -- (Gal. 1:8.) That day is over.

With all the talk of radical inclusion in the Church of England by two Archbishops, it seems increasingly clear that the only people not being included are orthodox Anglicans, particularly evangelicals, says the Rev. Melvin Tinker, author and rector who was recently banned from preaching at Derby Cathedral at a Carol service organized by the local university Christian Union over the three issues of money, power and sex. (Money, which the cathedral is running out of; sex, over playing a porno movie and power, by a liberal establishment that hates evangelicals).

Welby can weep, wail and gnash his teeth and rage at the Nigerians and Primate Nicholas Okoh and privately indicate his distaste for South American Archbishop Gregory Venables, but the fact remains, the only primates who stand with him are from failing provinces like The Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church of Canada, the Anglican Church in Wales, the Scottish Episcopal Church, most of the Anglican Church of Australia, the Anglican Church in Aotearoa and a single African province -- the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, which was bought and paid for by The Episcopal Church decades ago. In short, Welby owns about 10 million active Anglicans out of 55 million -- the vast majority -- over 80% belong to GAFCON.

You can read the full story here: https://www.virtueonline.org/anglican-communion-now-two-communions

*****

If you need a refresher on ‘What is Anglicanism’, the 2018 Anglican Theology Conference was held recently at Beeson Divinity School's Institute of Anglican Studies at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. Hosting the occasion was The Rev. Gerald McDermott; Anglican Chair of Divinity, at Beeson Divinity School. It can be viewed at the You Tube link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=rVAh3kMwS8k&feature=youtu.be
What is Anglicanism?

You can read the story here: https://www.virtueonline.org/anglican-theology-conference-highlights-what-anglicanism

*****

VIRTUEONLINE wishes all its readers in North America and around the world a very blessed New Year. May God prosper your ministries as you reach out for Him in the turbulent times in which we live.

We have not quite reached our financial goal for 2019, and I am hoping that you will consider a tax-deductible donation. My new book, The Episcotape Letters, modeled on that of C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters, is available. For a donation of $100.00 or more, I will send you an autographed copy. This is a volume of my best satirical essays compiled over the years. It catalogues the unravelling of the Episcopal Church, its apostasies and heresies. Such pathology cries out for correction and there is no better way to do so than by humor and satire. In my book I expose the foibles and self-destruct machinations of the Episcopal Church's apostasies.

You can make a donation at this link: https://tinyurl.com/yabemo37

Thank you,

David

"Hell is truth known too late."― J.C. Ryle, Practical Religion

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
January 11, 2019

THE OXFORD DIOCESE in the Church of England faced a meltdown this week when a large number of clergy rejected Bishop Steven Croft's views on human sexuality, specifically homosexual marriage.

As a result, the diocese faces an uncertain future.

A letter to the bishops, signed by a wide grouping of more than 100 church ministers says that "the situation in the diocese is serious. If not addressed, we would all struggle to support the leadership of our bishops in this matter and a number of our churches may want to seek alternative means of receiving episcopal ministry, in recognition that your position is seriously differentiated from theirs. This would be a tragedy."

The warning comes in response to the Oxford bishops' offer of "interim LGBT guidance and support" in their diocese last October, in a move seen by many as pre-empting the outcome of the official Church of England's "Living in Love and Faith" discussions on sexuality, which will not conclude until 2020.

The letter to the bishops was sent before Christmas, and, in turn, the bishops have responded to the signatories with a statement of their own. Both documents appeared in the public domain on the website of the Oxford Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship.

Clergy signatories include conservative evangelical Canon Vaughan Roberts, Rector of St Ebbe's Oxford, who has openly spoken of his celibacy despite same-sex attraction and the leading charismatic churchman Canon Charlie Cleverly, Rector of St Aldate's, Oxford. Their two congregations are among the largest in the diocese. There are also signatories who are lay people and retired clergy, including the distinguished author, evangelist and lecturer Dr Michael Green.

The letter says: "Our overriding concern is with the direction of travel which the Diocese is taking as revealed by this letter. In its desire for new expressions of "inclusion", it could end up excluding those who hold to the traditional teaching of Scripture and doing a great disservice to those of us who experience same-sex attraction. We are not here simply stating an aversion to change; we are, however, convinced that failing to hold the Bible's teaching out to everyone, including those who identify as LGBTI+, is to show a lack of that very love the letter urges us to exhibit."

They continue: As Bishop William Love of the Diocese of Albany in the Episcopal Church of the USA said last month in relation to the introduction of "blessings" for same-sex couples, it "does a great disservice and injustice to our gay and lesbian Brothers and Sisters in Christ, by leading them to believe that God gives his blessing to the sharing of sexual intimacy within a same-sex relationship, when in fact He has reserved the gift of sexual intimacy for men and women within the confines of marriage between a man and woman."

In response, Bishop Steven Croft, Colin Fletcher, Alan Wilson and Andrew Proud, write: "There is no desire on our part to diminish support for those who are seeking to uphold and to live within the Church of England's current teaching. We have specifically included a commitment to undertake some further listening here."

They add: "There is no intention either to exclude in any way those who hold to the traditional teaching of Scripture now or in the future... If the Church discerns that some further development in polity is needed at this point on human sexuality, we will need to take equal care both locally and nationally to honour and respect those who continue to hold the traditional view.' However, such reassurances are likely to be greeted with skepticism by traditionalists, as similar promises about the ongoing place of 'two integrities' in relation to the issue of women's ministry have not been honoured by the Church of England."

The Oxford diocese is the largest in the Church of England, with 626 parishes. The population is 2.2 million, but only 55,000 attend Anglican churches regularly. There are 816 churches and around 400 paid clergy.

The Church Times reported that the Living in Love and Faith group "will not pronounce on the rights or wrongs of same-sex marriage". Some interpreted this as an indication the existing conservative position of the church would effectively be ongoing, whereas others argued the decision not to make a pronouncement was itself a de facto change in teaching.

The report also quoted the Bishop of Coventry, Christopher Cocksworth, who chairs the group, as saying the project would be 'as much to do with heterosexuality' since he believed people generally were 'in need of wisdom to order their loving and sexing well'.

This revolt indicates a wider chasm that yawns before the Church of England. It is now becoming apparent to evangelicals in the Church of England that they are in a broad battle for the soul of the Church, and if they don't address it now, the progressives and pansexualists will overtake the Church and it will look more and more like the dying Episcopal Church.

Already GAFCON has its own bishop in the person of Andy Lines entrenched on English shores and if evangelicals and Anglo-Catholics of all stripes should decide to get behind him and cease funding the CofE, chaos would ensue, forcing the Archbishop of Canterbury to realign his loyalties which, to date, show that he is moving irretrievably to the left and down the primrose path of cultural Marxism. We await further developments.

You can read more here: https://www.virtueonline.org/oxford-bishop-issues-ad-clerum-homosexual-marriage and here: https://www.virtueonline.org/letter-concerned-anglicans-oxford-diocese-response-ad-clerum-bishop-croft

*****

As if to confirm the point about Justin Welby's loyalties, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Governors of the Anglican Centre in Rome appointed The Very Rev. Dr John Shepherd as the Interim Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome and the Archbishop of Canterbury's Representative to the Holy See. Shepherd holds views on human sexuality at odds with the vast majority of Anglicans in the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Here is what he said in 2006; "It is consistent with the compassion and love enjoyed by biblical teaching, and with the freedom from injustice and discrimination which the new life of the spirit (sic) offers, to affirm equality for all in Christ. And it is this fundamental principle which will lead us to an informed, enlightened and just appreciation of racial affirmation, the equal place of men and women in church and society, homosexual relationships, societal responsibility, and so on. The church was founded presumably to embody the love and charity of God. Paul declares us to be discharged from rules which demean and thwart the flourishing of human nature. He urges us to serve God in a new way. Thanks to St Paul, and to his example of extending the range of God's acceptance and generosity. We can now be more appreciative of the extent to which God's love can inform and shape our lives, and how we can offer justice and compassion to all."

Another report said Shepherd denied the bodily resurrection of Jesus, which begs the question, what the blazes is Welby doing putting this man in a position next door to the Vatican where no one there would dare deny the bodily resurrection of Jesus!

Last month, the Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome, Archbishop Bernard Ntahoturi, stepped down following allegations of sexual misconduct.

You can read the full story here: https://www.virtueonline.org/archbishop-canterbury-appoints-pro-homosexual-representative-holy-see

*****

The Episcopal Church's five-week-old plan to give homosexual-sex couples unfettered access to marriage in all its domestic dioceses has met with overwhelming success, except in one diocese -- Albany -- where the bishop, Bill Love, has steadfastly rejected any notion that he will allow homosexual and lesbian couples to tie the knot in his diocese.

In a handful of Communion Partner dioceses, the bishops have washed their hands in Pilate like fashion and given the parish in question over to a progressive bishop to come in and put his seal of approval on a pansexual union, in the name of "pastoral care", of course.

A parish in the Diocese of Central Florida under the leadership of evangelical (Charismatic) Bishop Gregory Brewer is planning next month to allow two men to participate in accord with resolution B012.

And two of the three congregations in the Diocese of Dallas under Bishop George Sumner (another evangelical) whose pastoral relationships with their bishop changed because of their support of same-sex marriage, are planning services the weekend of Jan. 19-20 to bless couples who had to leave the diocese to get married in the last three years.

In some cases, these bishops are using DEPO as the fall back position to wash their hands personally - "not me Lord".

Eight bishops in the church's 101 domestic dioceses previously had blocked access to the rites. Then in July, the 79th General Convention passed the often-rewritten and often-amended Resolution B012.

Now all but Bishop Love of Albany have rolled over, and he has shamed the other Communion Partner bishops by his relentless refusal to allow these unbiblical unions to take place.

By refusing to obey the resolution's requirements, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has affirmed General Convention's authority, saying that "those of us who have taken vows to obey the doctrine, discipline and worship of the Episcopal Church must act in ways that reflect and uphold the discernment and decisions of the General Convention of the church." He and other church leaders, he said in mid-November, were "assessing the implications of [Love's] statement and will make determinations about appropriate actions soon."

TRANSLATION: If you don't relent, you will be put on trial, found guilty and deposed.

In a sermon Love preached, he said this: "Are we, like Mary and Joseph, willing to risk our reputations, our relationships, our jobs and livelihood?" He is, apparently, but the other Communion Partner bishops have descended down the slippery slope from which there is no return.

"As I write to you, I don't know what the future holds. There is a strong possibility that I may be facing Title IV disciplinary proceedings for my unwillingness to abide by General Convention Resolution B012. As I stated in the Pastoral Letter, it was "not out of mean-spiritedness, hatred, bigotry, judgmentalism, or homophobia" that I have taken the actions that I have, "but rather out of love---love for God and His Word; love for the Episcopal Church and wider Anglican Communion; love for each of you my Brothers and Sisters in Christ, especially love for those who are struggling with same-sex attractions." Whatever the outcome, I trust and believe that God will use it for His purposes and the benefit of His Church and people."

The real and personal tragedy (for me) is that bishops like Brewer, Sumner and Dan Martins of Springfield (Anglo-Catholic) -- who invoked "heartbreak" over B012 - know better. They are putting the institution ahead of the gospel and Scripture and for that they will be answerable "in that day."

You can read the full story here: https://www.virtueonline.org/celebrations-planned-tension-lingers-month-after-marriage-equality-resolution-takes-effect

*****

A Colorado Christian baker can continue his lawsuit against the state of Colorado, accusing them of anti-religious bias for refusing to make cakes that support transgender identity and gay marriage, a federal court has ruled.

Judge Wiley Y. Daniel of the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado has issued an order allowing Jack Phillips' lawsuit against Colorado and its Civil Rights Commission to continue.

In his order, Judge Daniel did grant the Civil Rights Division Director Aubrey Elenis' motion to dismiss Phillips' claims against them for compensatory, punitive and nominal damages, and the motion to dismiss Phillips' claims for prospective relief against Governor John Hickenlooper.

However, Daniel denied the motion to dismiss the other aspects of Phillips' litigation, among them being his claim of having the standing to sue the defendants and Attorney General Cynthia Coffman's motion to dismiss the claims against her. [Barnabas Fund]

*****

The Episcopal Church continues its Gadarene slide over the consecration of women to the episcopacy, with the announcement this week that it would ordain and consecrate Cathleen Chittenden Bascom March 2 as the next Bishop of Kansas. She was elected Bishop on October 19 replacing Dean E. Wolfe, who fled Kansas for St. Bart's in New York City where he can hobnob with the Episcopal upper crust practicing noblesse oblige.

*****

The Anglican Church of Canada has published a study guide for its pamphlet "In Sure and Certain Hope", or, how to commit suicide inclusively with diverse missionality, while listening with a generous pastoral response as we journey together.

In keeping with its floundering response to same-sex marriage, the church isn't particularly interested in whether suicide is right or wrong: instead, it prefers to indulge in conversations about it, long and boring enough to drive all but the most resilient to...suicide, writes David of Samizdat, an orthodox Anglican blogger.

The ACoC is an expert in suicide, of course, since it has been committing it institutionally for years, he writes.

Recently, the Bishop of Toronto Kevin Robertson married his partner at St. James Cathedral, in a form of ecclesiastical and moral suicide that is rapidly emptying the Anglican Church of Canada. You can read both stories here: https://www.virtueonline.org/canadian-anglicans-contemplate-suicide-faster-route-heaven-or-hell and here: https://www.virtueonline.org/toronto-anglican-bishop-kevin-robertson-marries-his-homosexual-partner-cathedral

*****

For some time now, I have been ruminating on a movement called MOCKINGBIRD, that focuses on a very shaky theological foundation known as hyper grace. The movement has been gaining some traction among a loosely knit group of Episcopal clergy. Mockingbird highlights grace as the defining message for today's post-Christian youth.

The leader and mentor of the movement is the Rev. David Zahl, son of the Rev. Dr. Paul Zahl, former seminary president and priest of a parish in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

A blurb from their website says Mockingbird is a non-profit organization devoted to connecting the message of God's grace with the realities of everyday life in fresh and creative ways. "We do this primarily, but not exclusively, via online resources (www.mbird.com), publications and conferences."

In his book, Grace in Practice, Zahl challenges the call to live life under grace -- a concept most Christians secretly have trouble with. He contends that no matter how often we talk about salvation by grace, in our "can-do" society we often cling instead to a righteousness of works. Asserting throughout that grace always trumps both law and church, Zahl illuminates an expansive view of grace in everything, extending the good news of grace to all creation.

Tragically, our relativistic/permissive society has become a natural breeding ground for antinomianism and, therefore, 'grace' has inevitably become 'cheap grace.'

Some now believe, as does this writer, that Zahl has gone too far in his understanding of grace, pitting it against both the law, in the face of legalism and Pharisaism, and antinomianism which holds that under the gospel dispensation of grace, the moral law is of no use or obligation because faith alone is necessary to salvation.

Take, for example, the definition of gospel as Mockingbird defines it. "We stand in the tradition that sees the Gospel as just what the word means: Good News. Specifically, the Good News that "Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners." (1 Timothy 1:15). The Gospel is a proclamation, rather than an invitation or command, yet it always addresses sinners and sufferers directly, i.e. you and me. People have gone wrong throughout history when they have reduced this Good News to its effect on those who have heard it, e.g., peace, love and understanding. These are wonderful things, to be sure, but they should not be confused for the Gospel itself, lest it become a means to an end, rather than an End in itself."

There are two inherent problems with this statement. If the gospel is not an "invitation", then the ministries of the Wesley's and Billy Graham soaked in the message of "whosoever will" is made null and void. Jesus said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). On the issue of "command" the apostle Paul was explicit: in Acts 17:30, Paul on Areopagus says; "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent." There is nothing passive aggressive about the apostle's declaration of war against sin and those who refuse to repent. True evangelism, according to the Great Commission given by Jesus in Matthew 28:18--20, is a matter of making disciples: first, in the narrow sense of calling men and women to believe in Jesus and, second, in the broad sense of teaching them to observe all things that Jesus has taught His people.

But that is not the message of Mockingbird. Mockingbird is not simply evangelical lite, it borders on heresy and what some theologians call hyper grace, which downplays sin and judgement in favor of a happy God.

You can read my full analysis of this movement here: https://www.virtueonline.org/mockingbird-shaky-theology-hyper-grace-movement

*****

More human beings died in abortions than any other cause of death in 2018, a new report indicates.

A heartbreaking reminder about the prevalence of abortion, statistics compiled by Worldometers indicate that there were nearly 42 million abortions world-wide in 2018. The independent site collects data from governments and other reputable organizations and then reports the data, along with estimates and projections, based on those numbers.

Breitbart contrasted the abortion numbers to other causes of death, including cancer, HIV/AIDS, traffic accidents and suicide, and found that abortions far outnumbered every other cause. [Life News]

*****

Students are demanding Oxford University sack a Roman Catholic professor for allegedly criticizing homosexuality. Students claim John Finnis, 77, attacked same-sex relations in published essays. Campaigners launched a petition saying his presence threatens gay people. However, Oxford has supported his right to academic freedom

They claim essays published by John Finnis, 77, emeritus professor of law and legal philosophy, attack same-sex relations and are 'discriminatory'. However, Oxford has supported his right to academic freedom.

Professor Finnis is one of the world's foremost thinkers on the philosophy of natural law and is said to have mentored Right-wing US judge Neil Gorsuch, appointed to the US Supreme Court by Donald Trump in 2017.

The university said: 'Vigorous academic debate does not amount to harassment when conducted respectfully and without violating the dignity of others.'

You can read two articles one by Dr. Jules Gomes here: https://www.virtueonline.org/sack-roman-catholic-professor-criticising-homosexuality-students-say-petition-oxford-university

*****
Dr. Lamin Sanneh has died. He was the D. Willis James Professor of Missions and World Christianity at Yale Divinity School. Lamin suffered a stroke and died on Sunday, January 6th, surrounded by his family. Lamin was born on MacCarthy Island in the River Gambia. A descendent of an ancient African royal family, he grew up as a Muslim but converted to Christianity. He was educated and taught on four different continents. He earned graduate degrees from the University of Birmingham, England (M.A.), and the University of London (Ph.D.). He received honorary doctorates from the University of Edinburgh and Liverpool Hope University. His major faculty appointments were at the University of Ghana (1975-1978), the University of Aberdeen (1978-1981), Harvard University (1981-1989), and finally Yale (1989-2019). He had a lifetime appointment at Clare Hall, University of Cambridge (1996-2019), and was an Honorary Professional Research Fellow at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (1997-2019). He was the author or editor or co-editor of twenty books and monograph-length essays and well over 200 articles and chapters in scholarly venues.

*****

Denouncing the growing hostility to religion that has manifested itself in efforts to eradicate references to God and religion from public places, The Rutherford Institute is asking the United States Supreme Court to reverse a court order requiring the removal of a 40-foot "Peace Cross" memorial from Veterans Memorial Park in Maryland that was erected 90 years ago to honor soldiers who were killed or wounded in World War I.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ordered the memorial removed on the grounds that the Peace Cross, modeled after a Latin cross, is a predominately Christian symbol and constitutes an endorsement of that faith. However, in asking the Supreme Court to overturn the appeals court's ruling, Institute attorneys warn that the ruling fosters a pervasive bias and hostility to religion and does not reflect the neutrality toward religion required by the First Amendment's Establishment Clause.

*****

Summit and March for Life. Anglicans for Life will offer a day of teaching called the Summit for Life at The Falls Church Anglican, on Thursday, January 17, 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Keynote speaker will be Ryan Anderson of the Heritage Foundation. On Friday, January 18, an Anglican Worship Service will be held at 9:00 AM, then chartered buses will ferry folk to the National Mall for the joyous March for Life. Further details can be found here: anglicansforlife.org/summit-2019

Ironically, England's leading conservative evangelical church has repeatedly rebuffed pleas from a pro-life organization, claiming to have "suffice [sic] in-house resource," even though it is unable to provide evidence of a single sermon on abortion in its online Media Library.

The Parish of St. Helen's in Bishopsgate, London, is reportedly the biggest, richest and best known conservative evangelical congregation in the Church of England. According to the Charity Commission, its income for 2017 was £4.1 million.

It has a staff team of eight, led by its Rector, the Reverend William Taylor, plus an associate rector, four curates and an assistant curate. As a conservative evangelical church, it does not ordain women or accept the ministry of female clergy.

From July to December 2018, Brephos, a leading evangelical pro-life organization approached St Helen's leadership pleading with Taylor and his team to address the issue of abortion in their preaching, teaching and training.

A string of emails between St Helen's and Dave Brennan, Executive Director of Brephos, obtained by Rebel Priest, (Dr. Jules Gomes) reveals a stubborn reluctance on the part of Taylor and his clergy to address abortion from the pulpit, send clergy for training or invite qualified personnel to equip the church on pro-life issues. You can read the full story here: https://www.virtueonline.org/uk-abortion-no-go-area-church-englands-flagship-conservative-evangelical-church

*****

My new book, The Episcotape Letters, modeled on that of C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters, is available. For a donation, I will send you an autographed copy. This is a volume of my best satirical essays compiled over the years. It catalogues the unravelling of the Episcopal Church, its apostasies and heresies. Such pathology cries out for correction and there is no better way to do so than by humor and satire. In my book I expose the foibles and self-destruct machinations of the Episcopal Church's apostasies.

Please make a donation at this link: https://tinyurl.com/yabemo37

All Blessings,

David

On Fr. John Shepherd's statement about the resurrection: "The most deceptive comment is here: "I have never denied the reality of the empty tomb." Sounds orthodox. But note the negative formulation: "I have never denied..." Secondly, there are several theories which could include the Empty Tomb and no bodily resurrection. E.g., wrong tomb! Or "someone stole the body. Or simply, "I don't know, but bodies rising from the dead defies the laws of physics (h.t. to Rudolf Bultmann). Finally, "empty tomb" could be taken metaphorically: I have never denied that "the empty tomb" has served as a touching symbol for unenlightened Christians. --- Rev. Dr. Stephen Noll

Most of these modernist (Roman Catholic) bishops are little else than money-hungry Episcopalians who are more comfortable with easy-going Protestantism than authentic Catholicism. They might have a nice way about them -- or a creepy, smarmy way. Their personalities and dispositions mean nothing. In their cases, tolerance is not a virtue, because at the end of the day, it isn't really tolerance. It's permissiveness, the permitting of evil. --- Catholic commentator Michael Voris

Welby and Sentamu are shockingly unsuited to their roles of headship, and the CofE now wallows in shame and uselessness. Is it now time to "uproot, tear down, to destroy and overthrow" the errors and follies of the Church of England and then "to build and plant" in the right way"? (Jeremiah 1:10). Is it now time to launch a bold Luther-like corrective - the fearless, faithful preaching of the Word, the naming of error no matter the source, and quit all this fumbling, over-polite, soft-spoken, cautious, gentle concern of the bulk of current evangelicalism. The straight talk of the Bible is being eroded by those who have vowed to be its guardians: "The Church is a witness and guardian of Holy Scripture" (Article 20). --- Rev. Roger Salter

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
January 25, 2019

A NEW GALLUP POLL finds that trust in America's clergy is less now than ever, attributed mainly to the recent disclosures of sexual abuse by hundreds of Roman Catholic clergy across the nation. Positive news about Americans' confidence in religious leaders' honesty and ethical standards has been steadily tanking in recent years, with no letup in sight.

The polling organization found that only 37 percent of 1,025 respondents had a "very high" or "high" opinion of the honesty and ethical standards of clergy, according to a report published this week. Forty-three percent rated clergy's honesty and ethics as "average," while 15 percent had low or very low opinions.

The 37 percent positive rating is the lowest Gallup has recorded for clergy since 1977 when it began examining views about religious leaders' ethical standards.

Currently, only 31 percent of Catholics and 48 percent of Protestants rate the clergy positively, according to Gallup.

John Fea, a professor of American history at Messiah College in Pennsylvania, told HuffPost he believes the prominence of the Roman Catholic Church's sexual abuse scandal this year may be contributing to a lack of trust in the clergy.

In July, Theodore E. McCarrick, the former archbishop of Washington, resigned from the church's College of Cardinals amid allegations that he had sexually abused children and adult seminarians over decades. And in August, a Pennsylvania grand jury identified 301 predator priests and more than 1,000 victims in a landmark report into sexual abuse in the state. The report has inspired other attorneys general across the U.S. to start similar investigations into the cover-up of sexual abuse in Roman Catholic dioceses.

"Men and women turn toward clergy in some of the most intimate moments of their lives," Fea told HuffPost in an email. "The kinds of scandals and authoritarian leadership that we saw this year among the clergy undermines the trust we place in them."

Ironically, ratings for journalists by the Gallup organization while still low (34%) are rising, even as clergy confidence is tumbling.

*****

Anglican adventurism reached a new peak this week, when the Anglican Church in Nigeria announced that they would consecrate four Nigerian bishops for North America without informing their GAFCON partner, the Anglican Church in North America.

This was a slap in the face at soon to be GAFCON chairman and ACNA Archbishop Foley Beach, as well as Nigeria's two North American branches, CANA East and West.

The real question is why did they do it? It was not a conciliar, collegial or synodical act. It was clearly hurtful, thoughtless and punched a hole unnecessarily into GAFCON's side when GAFCON is making enormous head road into the Church of England as they see the "mother church" compromise over homosexual marriage and transgender issues.

The ACNA issued the following statement; "As was reported last week, the Bishops of the Church of Nigeria have elected four bishops for the Anglican Diocese of the Trinity to minister in North America. These elections did not follow the Protocol between the Anglican Church in North America and the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and was not made in consultation with the College of Bishops of the Anglican Church in North America. The bishops-elect still have to go through the Church of Nigeria's credentialing process. It is not intended that they will be a part of the Anglican Church in North America's College of Bishops."

You can read the full story here: https://www.virtueonline.org/church-nigeria-appoints-four-bishops-minister-us-bypassing-acna

Fortunately, the new GAFCON General secretary, Nigerian Archbishop Ben Kwashi of Jos, Nigeria, said in a video that many Anglicans were teaching disobedience to the work of God. "We in GAFCON will uphold the authority of scripture and explain the salvation of Jesus Christ to the whole world. When people are saved, they will proclaim the Good News." He went on to say, "I will not deviate and I will follow in the steps that our fathers left for us."

*****

In the Diocese of Dallas, twenty-four homosexual marriages got recognized and blessed in an Episcopal diocese claiming to be evangelical. Former New Hampshire Bishop Gene Robinson stepped in to perform the ceremonies.

Dallas Bishop George Sumner turned a blind (evangelical) eye and allowed Bishop Gene Robinson, retired Bishop of New Hampshire, the Episcopal Church's first openly homogenital bishop to officiate at the two ceremonies.

"For a lot of years, you and I have been told that our relationships are not worthy of celebration, are not worthy of God's love, not worthy of God's blessing," said Robinson in his sermon at the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in the first of the two services the weekend of Jan. 19-20, reported ENS.

Sumner, who claims to be an evangelical, had said he was opposed to homosexual marriage, but allowed Robinson to come into his diocese to perform these acts in defiance of Scripture, history and tradition.

"We are aiming to live out 'communion across difference' with all charity and respect," Sumner told Episcopal News Service in an email Jan. 19. Really.

This week also saw the Bishop of Tennessee, John Bauerschmidt allow a visiting bishop to perform homosexual marriages after a lot of hand-wringing about being obedient to the Book of Common Prayer on heterosexual marriage.

Under pressure from more than 100 Episcopalians in the diocese who had signed a letter asking their bishop for permission to perform homosexual marriages, the Communion Partner bishop relented and said that in light of this disagreement, in all matters pertaining to marriage in these congregations, whether use of the Trial Rites or not, another bishop designated by the Bishop will provide whatever episcopal support is needed for couples and clergy preparing for marriage, thus implementing B012 in Tennessee. He rolled over.

In the Diocese of Central Florida, Bishop Gregory Brewer, an evangelical charismatic, quickly determined that he was not going to fight the passage of B012 and rolled over, allowing a woman priest to bring in another bishop to perform a homosexual marriage in her parish.

However, the Bishop of Albany, William Love, steadfastly refused to allow any of his priests to perform these ceremonies, and for his stand has been partially inhibited by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry from performing his duties as a bishop in the diocese.

You can read my exclusive interview with this godly bishop here: https://www.virtueonline.org/albany-bishop-love-explains-his-actions-rejecting-resolution-b012

You can also read my COMMENTARY piece here: https://www.virtueonline.org/albany-episcopal-bishop-faces-ecclesiastical-execution

*****

ACROSS England and Scotland, orthodox parishes are beginning to abandon their increasingly liberal pro-homosexual dioceses and provinces in the Church of England. In Aberdeen, Scotland, the Westhill Church voted 87% to disaffiliate from the Scottish Episcopal Church. The parish will affiliate with Scottish Anglican Network under Bishop Andy Lines.

Speaking to the Anglican Communion News Service, the Rector of Westhill, Canon Ian Ferguson, said: "We have been on a journey for many years -- when I say 'we', I mean a group of evangelical Episcopal rectors -- in talking to bishops about the trajectory the Scottish Episcopal Church has set itself on going. This culminated in a number of decisions that the SEC took which some of us found that we could not accept."

The Primate of the Anglican Church of Nigeria, Nicholas Okoh, said in a communique, "We praise God who through the Holy Spirit empowered this Church to do so. As Chairman of GAFCON, it is my privilege and great honour to welcome them into the fold of our dear brothers and sisters in Christ. we can assure them of a rich and wonderful fellowship in the GAFCON family. we are Anglicans who uphold Orthodoxy in faith and practice. By joining GAFCON, they are in fellowship with more than half of the Anglican world."

This is not the first evangelical parish to leave the liberal Scottish Episcopal Church. In August last year, St. Thomas in Edinburgh, the latest evangelical parish quit the official Anglican church in Scotland over its support of homosexual marriage. The move to split from the SEC was seen as a major blow to Scottish bishops trying to hold together the deeply opposed factions over homosexual marriage.

A number of other churches have either left or are considering leaving in the wake of the decision to change the Scottish Episcopal Church's (SEC) definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman. You can read the full story here: https://www.virtueonline.org/aberdeen-westhill-church-votes-87-disaffiliate-scottish-episcopal-church

IN ENGLAND, another large evangelical parish, Christ Church Balham, near London, made the decision to join the Free Church of England. Senior minister, Andy Palmer, heralded it as "exciting news" and said it
will "help us secure the gospel ministry here in Balham for generations to come, and send many more people into full-time paid gospel ministry."

"One problem we have had is what to do with all the young men we send off for further theological education. It is our experience that some of those we have sent off to college without the backing of a denomination have then struggled to find ministry jobs afterwards. Of course, some may return to find a job within the Co-Mission network, but this will not be possible for everyone. We needed to
find a way for potential Christian ministers to be ordained and exported across the UK and beyond.

Given the theological trajectory of the Church of England, many churches like us across the country are now looking elsewhere for alternative oversight from evangelical bishops. The two best options seem to be Anglican Mission in England (AMiE) and the Free Church of England (FCE). Both are solidly evangelical, mission-minded, and passionate about planting, but the FCE has the added
benefit since 1992 of being one of the 'Churches designated pursuant to the Church of England (Ecumenical Relations) Measure 1998.'"

One suspects that more and more Church of England parishes will make their way out the door and join movements like the AMiE, and ultimately hook up with GAFCON Bishop Andy Lines as the CofE unravels.

You can read more here: https://www.virtueonline.org/aberdeen-westhill-church-votes-87-disaffiliate-scottish-episcopal-church

*****

In breaking news, the Archbishop of Canterbury apologized 'unreservedly' after an inquiry into allegations against Bishop George Bell found them unproven.

Bell (1883-1958), whose wartime work led to him being regarded as a hero by many Anglicans, was accused of sexually abusing a child during the 1940s when 'Carol' approached the office of Justin Welby in 2013. The Diocese of Chichester paid compensation to her and the Bishop of Chichester issued a formal apology.

However, supporters of Bell argued the evidence against him was too slender. A subsequent investigation of the Church's handling of the issue by QC Alex Carlile found it had 'rushed to judgment' and had 'failed to engage in a process which would also give proper consideration to the rights of the bishop'.

Welby rejected calls to state unequivocally that Bell was not guilty and in January last year, the Church's national safeguarding team said it had passed 'fresh information' to Sussex Police regarding Bell in a move that was widely criticized.

Now, however, an investigation by ecclesiastical lawyer Timothy Briden has concluded that allegations against Bell subsequent to Carol's -- which he was not asked to consider -- were unfounded.

*****

If you want to read a brilliant take on the state of The Church of England, I can do no better than point you to the piece by the Rev. Roger Salter at VOL's website. It is titled: THE PERILOUS PLIGHT OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

Here is a sampling: When the British philosopher Cyril Joad returned to Christian faith and membership of the Church of England, he paid fulsome tribute to the unassuming clergy of the hundreds of ordinary parishes throughout the land. The faith and fortitude of these lowly men of God was a major factor in sustaining Christian belief and character in the life of the nation. Sincere but unspectacular ministry held the church together and maintained the good health of the institution. The troops of the church were of more value than the titled, pretentious, liberal senior clerics.

These men, acknowledged by the former atheist, had no prominence in church affairs and received few plaudits for their sacrifice and loyalty. They had little access to the media and limited participation in the making of church policy. The overall impression of the Church of England was created by noted communicators of striking ability, or notorious skeptics who loved to bathe in the gratifying glare of publicity.

There must be many pastors of similar ilk to those highly regarded by Joad who remain active in the Church of England today. When criticism is made of the Church of England it is leveled principally, forcibly, and deservedly, at those in positions of leadership, and also those followers who heartily approve of them. There is great cause in our time to weep at the poor quality of spiritual leadership in the Established Church.

Canterbury and York are of no encouragement whatsoever and we are saddled with a bevy of bishops that seems utterly useless to the promotion of the true Gospel and who are a distinct danger to the souls who are cruelly hoodwinked by them. They happen to be the daftest set of clerics ever to exist en masse throughout our checkered history. They neither impart nor share in a sure way of salvation through our beloved Redeemer and his mission of human reclamation to God and criminally omit any valid preparation of the soul for eternity. "They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways" (Psalm 95:10). Some very plausible names come within this category.

You can read his full piece here: https://www.virtueonline.org/perilous-plight-church-england

*****

This week we learned that Justin Welby speaks in tongues when he prays. "In my own prayer life, and as part of my daily discipline I pray in tongues every day--not as an occasional thing," he told a radio show host. Master journalist Jules Gomes had this to say; "The half-hour parley was a masterstroke in massaging the wobbly allegiances of evangelical and charismatic Christians in the Church of England about to make for lifeboats as their Titanic sinks after an almighty bonk against the LGBTI iceberg. Look at me, I'm filled with the Holy Spirit, I bring Christians together, I speak in tongues, I'm alert to prophecy, God speaks to me, don't make for the lifeboats, together we can save the Titanic," Captain Welby seems to be bellowing down his bullhorn, with all the persuasiveness of a bald salesman peddling a magic hair growth tonic."

"No one with an iota of media nous should be surprised at how the media latched on like limpet mines to the bit about the Archbishop "speaking in tongues." The top-most English cleric admitting to yammering gloopy gibberish just before his cup of Frappuccino is enough to make an Etonian's toes curl like Ali Baba's slippers. Poor Welby's publicity pony threw a shoe." You can read Gomes brilliant analysis here: https://www.virtueonline.org/archbishop-justin-welby-suffering-terminal-case-confirmation-bias

*****

In Melbourne, Florida, the ACNA College of Bishops met this week and approved a Book of Common Prayer 2019. The bishops also agreed to retain two integrities over the ordination of women priests.

"After six years of the use of draft liturgies, submission of extensive comments from across the Church, and significant revisions and refinements, we have approved the Book of Common Prayer (2019)! The last wave of liturgies in their final form was approved this week for our new Prayer Book, which will be available at Provincial Assembly this June in Plano, Texas. One of the documents approved was the Preface, which includes this helpful introduction to worship in the prayer book tradition."

The Bishops' Working Group on Holy Orders, co-chaired by Bishop Clark Lowenfield and Bishop Jim Hobby, facilitated the next step of our conversations regarding holy orders and the ministry of men and women. When we met previously in Victoria, Canada (September 2017) to discuss this topic we acknowledged that "we have not effectively discipled and equipped all Christians, male and especially female, lay and ordained, to fulfill their callings and ministries in the work of God's kingdom. We repent of this and commit to work earnestly toward a far greater release of the whole Church to her God-given mission." In light of this reality, we thought a good place to start was to listen. There were powerful presentations by a number of women about their experience and observations about ministry from their perspective. The presentations were very well received and are linked here: http://anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/1774

The thorny issue of women's ordination continues to haunt the ACNA. Biblical anthropologist Alice Linsley, a former TEC priest, has written about this and you can read what she has to say here: https://www.virtueonline.org/acna-and-historic-priesthood

*****

ABORTION remains a major issue for millions of American Christians. Recently a March for Life rally was held in Washington, D.C. At the very least, over 100,000 Americans attended the 45th March for Life on Jan. 19, according to organizers. But Americans wouldn't know that number by reading the news.

The rally celebrates life and challenges abortion around the anniversary of the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion in the United States. Held annually in Washington, D.C., the event rarely receives the coverage it deserves -- including the crowd estimates.

What did make the news was the very bad news from New York. Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York, signed the most radical abortion law that our nation has ever seen. It codifies (puts into law by legislation) the original holdings of Roe v. Wade and goes even farther, striking down all meaningful abortion regulations and enshrining abortion as a "fundamental right."

The law also allows abortion at any time during pregnancy - period. Astoundingly, Governor Cuomo ordered that the One World Trade Center and several other structures be illuminated in pink to celebrate this barbaric legislation.

*****

The Canadian branch of the ACNA received The Rt. Rev. Todd Atkinson of Alberta, Canada into the ACNA college of bishops at their meeting in Melbourne, Florida last week. The College of Bishops regularized Bishop Atkinson and received him as a bishop under the oversight of the Rt. Rev. Charlie Masters, Bishop of the Anglican Network in Canada (ANIC). Bishop Atkinson leads a church planting initiative in Canada called Via Apostolica, which will remain independent of the ANiC for the time being.

*****

The ecumenical Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), which includes the Anglican dioceses in the country, have joined other NGOs and Christian groups to express their "deep concern" about the crisis in neighboring Zimbabwe. In a joint statement issued by the CCZ, Caritas Zambia, Civil Society Constitutional Agenda, Non- Governmental Gender Organisations Coordinating Council, Alliance for Community Action and Action Aid, call for an international response, and say: "as civil society activists, we cannot sit idle while our neighbours are being beaten, arrested, detained and killed."

*****

The Church of England announced that it would spend £35 million investment in new churches and outreach. A new church in the Anglo-Catholic tradition is being developed in the Becontree Estate in London, Europe's largest housing estate. A new congregation in a nightclub area and the Church of England's first weekday-only church are two of several new worshipping communities to receive a share of £35 million GBP in funding. The money -- the biggest investment so far by the C of E's Renewal and Reform program -- is intended to help it reach tens of thousands of people, including in city centers, outer estates and rural areas, the C of E said in a statement. The Church said that the new Christian communities "may be far from the traditional image" of churches and will pioneer new types of churches along with new forms of outreach, including a social media pastor and outreach work with school and community choirs.

"Hearing and responding to the good news of Jesus Christ unlocks new joy, new belonging, new purpose and new life," the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said. "These projects show the dynamism and drive of the Church of England's mission to share this good news with people throughout our dioceses and parishes.

But will it work? A senior cleric in the CofE told VOL, "Nope - it will create a tiny number of HTB satellites - replicating current problems over doctrine and morals."

*****

My new book, The Episcotape Letters, modeled on that of C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters, is available. For a donation, I will send you an autographed copy. This is a volume of my best satirical essays compiled over the years. It catalogues the unravelling of the Episcopal Church, its apostasies and heresies. Such pathology cries out for correction and there is no better way to do so than by humor and satire. In my book I expose the foibles and self-destruct machinations of the Episcopal Church's apostasies.

Please make a donation at this link: https://tinyurl.com/yabemo37

All Blessings,

David

"How can we speak of the termination of a pregnancy when what we really mean is the destruction of a human life? How can we talk of therapeutic abortion when pregnancy is not a disease needing therapy and what abortion effects is not a cure but a killing? How can we talk of abortion as a kind of retroactive contraception when what it does is not prevent conception but destroy the conceptus? We need to have the courage to use accurate language. Abortion is feticide: the destruction of an unborn child. It is the shedding of innocent blood, and any society that can tolerate this, let alone legislate for it, has ceased to be civilized." --- John R. W. Stott

[Of] the very small (Episcopal) dioceses, it doesn't seem like there's any way they can be financially sustainable. At some point you're small enough, how do you cover the bishop's salary? --- Kirk Peterson in TLC

Imagine if every Christian in America took their commitment to Jesus as seriously as gun owners take their commitment to the Second Amendment. -- Shame Claiborne and Michael Martin

There are 16 dioceses in the United States that each have a lower average Sunday attendance than St. Martin's Church in Houston. And those same 16 dioceses collectively are smaller than the Diocese of Texas. It seems like some of these dioceses should not be there. --- Kirk Peterson in TLC

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
February 8, 2019

Consistency has never been the hallmark of church leaders any more than it is of politicians. Contradiction and acting contrarian, when it comes to church doctrine is almost standard fare these days. Consistency, it might be argued, is the hobgoblin of small minds.

Take Resolution B012 (please). General Convention believed it could turn the doctrine of marriage on its head and pronounce what Scripture said you could not do, declare the union of two men or two women as good and right in the eyes of God, when clearly it is not.

Writing for the Church Times in a new book from the CofE Evangelical Council on same-sex relationships, Elephants and penguins: one view of gay marriage a Dr. Martin Davie observes; "As something created by God, marriage is not subject to change until His eternal kingdom comes. This means that, in spite of prevailing contemporary feeling, a relationship between two people of the same sex, intrinsically closed to procreation, cannot be a marriage any more than a triangle can have a fourth corner, a truth can be a lie, or an elephant can be a penguin."

Not surprisingly the twitter feed went ballistic and the ranting and raving from the LGBTQ community would have given Cranmer, Hooker or Ryle heartburn.

But increasingly orthodox bishops and theologians are stepping up to the plate and challenging so called progressives on the nature of marriage, the promises made when bishops take office, the Prayer Book statement on prayer and much more.

Bishop C. FitzSimons Allison, the retired bishop of South Carolina, weighed in with a Letter to The Living Church in which he expostulated Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's response to Bishop William Love's refusal to authorize same-sex marriages in the Diocese of Albany, saying that those "who have taken vows to obey the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Episcopal Church must act in ways that reflect and uphold the discernment and decisions of the General Convention of the Church" [TLC, Dec. 2]." Really!

Allison went on to say that when Bishop Love took this oath, the doctrine of the Episcopal Church was, and had been for centuries, exactly what Bishop Love asserts. His views are in complete accord with Lambeth Conference Resolution 1:10 (1998).

"Does no one see the irony and contradiction after decades of bishops ignoring oaths and vows concerning scriptural and creedal faith, they now are demanding obedience to General Convention teaching that was until very recently condemned by previous conventions!"

Bishops' sworn obligation to guard the faith has been strikingly absent since Bishop James Pike's denial of the doctrine of Christ and the Trinity. He was censured by the House of Bishops for the "tone and manner" but not for the substance of his teaching, said Bishop Allison. You can read the full letter here:
https://www.virtueonline.org/selective-discipline-former-south-carolina-bishop-blasts-bishop-curry-over-bishop-loves-partial

Anglican Theologian (The Rev. Dr.) Stephen Noll weighed in with a weighty piece tackling the contradictory takes on homosexual marriage by Communion Partner bishops John Bauerschmidt (Tennessee) and George Sumner (Dallas), who both affirm heterosexual marriage, but in convoluted, compromising language go on to say they will allow visiting bishops to perform sodomite marriages in their dioceses and then have the audacity to say this does not mean "impaired communion!" Really.

This is what Noll says about Bauerschmidt: "Bishop Bauerschmidt offers the teaching "in a spirit of charity, to all people of good will." The document "attempts to speak positively of the things handed down, and not negatively about things now coming into view. Presumably this positivity explains why the bishop does not mention any of the condemnations of sexual immorality in the Old and New Testaments." BAM.

His take on Sumner's compromise, which saw the "marriage" of some 24 homosexuals and lesbians in his diocese just a week ago, was just as strong: "George Sumner seems to have moved from his position of "no compromise" in 2010 to "impaired communion" today. For many of us who served in the Episcopal Church, the steady erosion of orthodoxy over the past two decades brought us to the hard decision that "broken communion" is the only honest and possible option."

It is clear that what was once a loyal opposition to TEC with the Communion Partner Bishops, is no more. Only one bishop, William Love, stood above the herd and refused to capitulate over B012 and he was "partially inhibited", which means he cannot stop a homosexual marriage taking place in his diocese, but history will record that he never caved in as all the other CP bishops did, including the evangelical charismatic Bishop of Central Florida, Greg Brewer.

Of Bishop Love, Dr. Noll had this to say; "Bishop Love proved the exception to the rule among the Communion Partner bishops: he spoke strenuously against Resolution B012 in July 2018 and voted against it. Then in November 2018, he wrote a lengthy Pastoral Letter to his diocese, which concluded with a Pastoral Directive stating that the trial rites authorized by Resolution B012 "shall not be used anywhere in the Diocese of Albany."

Bishop Love's defense begins with his ordination vows to guard the faith and to teach and uphold the Scriptures. The Episcopal Church, he says, "in effect is attempting to order me as a Bishop in God's holy Church, to compromise the 'faith once for all delivered to the saints' (Jude 3)."

Richard John Neuhaus was right: "Where orthodoxy is optional, orthodoxy will sooner or later be proscribed."

Or, as C. S. Lewis opined; "We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful."

You can read Dr. Noll's brilliant analysis here: https://www.virtueonline.org/impaired-communion-flawed-compromise-episcopal-church

*****

But contrariness is not just confined to churches and General Convention resolutions.

The Roman Catholic Church is reeling under more disclosures that homosexual priests abused hundreds of young, mostly men and seminarians. First it was in Boston, then Pennsylvania, and now it is in Galveston, Texas, where some 300 more priests, now mostly dead or laicized, were exposed this week. The RICO act is now in play and the damage nationwide could well bankrupt the Church with lawsuits that could go on for years.

What is not reported is the damage done to godly priests, who continue to labor in the trenches doing the work of the Church while bishops, archbishops and cardinals who knew what was going on all along, sit quietly by hoping it will all go away. It won't, of course. They will be held accountable if not by the church, then by the state.

Contrast all this with what is taking place in The Episcopal Church. TEC has legitimized sodomy and homosexual marriage and believes that by doing so it has headed scandal off at the pass. While homosexual abuse scandals might only be a few, this has still not worked to TEC's benefit. As a result of their acquiescence to pansexuality, TEC has split and now faces fierce opposition from the fast-growing Anglican Church in North America.

TEC is dying and nothing short of repentance and revival and a complete turning around on sexuality can or will stop the rot. Money will not keep the Church afloat forever; you need people, and TEC is running out of them. Dying rich only means that someone else collects.

*****

ABORTION is another shameful blot on America's national character. Democratic party leader Nancy Pelosi called President Trump's wall "immoral," while seeing no contradiction in support of legalized infanticide.

"We will not give one dollar for the immoral wall, period," Pelosi declared. "We need to allocate taxpayer money toward honorable and humane purposes, like the half-billion we give Planned Parenthood each year to kill 330,000 unborn children."

How ironic that the states of New York and Virginia both passed laws allowing a child to be aborted at the moment of birth, and in the state of Virginia after the baby has been born. Can the judgement of God be far behind?

Anglican Archbishop Foley Beach condemned this legislation, calling it a disastrous development for all of us. "One of the foundational responsibilities of the State is to provide physical security to the vulnerable, and none are more vulnerable than babies. I am profoundly saddened by the blatant disregard for the value of life exhibited by the politicians who have done this and by the evident celebration exhibited in the New York City skyline. They have not only abdicated their responsibility to protect the vulnerable but have facilitated their destruction and murder. Pray for them, that God by His goodness will lead them to repentance (Romans 2:4).

"Beyond the damage this "Reproductive Health Act" will have on women, men, and families, the killing of unborn babies undermines the State itself. Abortion not only ends the life of a human being, it denies the world all that she or he would have contributed to society. Future leaders, artists, teachers, doctors, and engineers are being denied the opportunity to fulfill their God-created purpose."

And what was the response from the Episcopal Church? SILENCE. And why, because TEC back in 1996, the ECUSA Executive Council clearly told everyone that in its inclusivity the church does not make any room for a pro-life point of view. With respect to the emotionally-charged issue of abortion, the Episcopal Church categorically rejects any viewpoint other than unfettered support for abortion on demand. The Executive Committee formally made the Episcopal Church a member of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, a group that works against abortion restrictions and opposed the confirmation of Judge Samuel Alito.

According to The Living Church, The Episcopal Church Center joined the organization "on behalf" of the Episcopal Church in 1986, despite a 1978 vote by the Executive Council to decline such membership because the organization's position is inconsistent with positions taken by earlier General Conventions. Not satisfied with the ambiguity this situation created, the Executive Committee saw a clear need to take sides.

George Vanderstar, a member of the Executive Council, claimed that the church's position on abortion is, "Unequivocal opposition to any federal or state legislation that would interfere with a woman's right to make a decision on terminating a pregnancy."

There you have it. Another nail in the coffin of TEC. Why aren't the Communion Partner bishops speaking up on this issue? Clearly, they want to keep their heads under the radar, so they can issue statements on being "in communion" with the rest of the Anglican Communion. But that day has long gone. For ACNA and GAFCON, broken and/or impaired communion are firmly in place.

*****

TWO deplorable Episcopal bishops appeared over the threshold this week looking for exoneration. Former Maryland Episcopal bishop Heather Cook sought for the FIFTH time to get out of jail. Heather is serving a seven-year sentence after killing cyclist Tom Palermo with her car in December 2014. She was driving drunk while texting on Roland Avenue in North Baltimore and she left the scene of the crime.

Nearly three months after a Baltimore judge turned down her request for early release, former Episcopal Bishop Heather Cook, 62, is once again asking a judge to permit her to serve the remainder of her prison sentence at home for the hit-and-run death.

The cyclist's family want none of this and urged the judge to let her serve out her sentence.

Cook's request last spring for home detention was denied. Cook also previously applied for parole and a work release program. Her parole request also was rejected, and she withdrew the work release request. In November, a judge denied Cook's request for a sentence modification that would have granted her early release.

ANOTHER BISHOP, the retired Diocese of Los Angeles Bishop J. Jon Bruno, was properly suspended from ordained ministry for three years because of misconduct, according to a Court of Review for Bishops, but made the three-year suspension retroactive to Aug. 2, 2017.

The case against Bruno involved his unsuccessful 2015 attempt to sell the property of what was then known as St. James the Great's in Newport Beach, California, to a condominium developer for $15 million in cash. That effort prompted some St. James members to bring misconduct allegations against Bruno, alleging he violated church law.

*****

FLORIDA Episcopal bishop Samuel Johnson Howard found himself under fire over his failure to fully implement B012 resolution passed at General Convention last summer.

Accusations of intimidation flew around the diocese from pro-homosexual priests who say Bishop John Howard is not honoring GC resolution. They accused him of intimidation.

Resolution B012 has not gone down well with the handful of Communion Partner bishops who have tried to thread the needle by saying that while they believe marriage is between a man and a woman, they would allow alternative oversight from another bishop if a priest or priestess requested homosexual marriage.

Howard clearly doesn't like B012 and has told his priests that they must come and "look me in the eye" to request performing a homosexual marriage. They squealed to the Presiding Bishop, who told Floridian Episcopalians that they need to sort it out among themselves because he doesn't interfere in diocesan politics. Not true. Michael Curry interfered totally in the Diocese of Albany, where Bishop William Love said he would absolutely not allow a priest to perform an unbiblical, scripturally unsanctioned act and got "partially inhibited" for his stand.

Of course, Howard will roll over because he doesn't have the cojones to go against the Church, values his pension and has no intention of allowing a repeat of Albany in Florida.

Only one bishop, William Love of Albany, refused to cave in to the General Convention resolution saying that it violated the vows he took as a bishop to safeguard the doctrine and teaching of the church. "If I have to decide between following God's Holy Word or what I believe to be a "flawed" General Convention resolution that contradicts God's Holy Word, there is no question. God's Holy Word "trumps" everything." Clearly Bishop Howard is not prepared to go that far; intimidation is a far better idea.

*****

"Living in Love and Faith", a report to the General Synod of the Church of England, which is meeting later this month is a massive exercise by the Church to tackle the thorny issue of human sexuality. The general supposition is that the LLF results will be forwarded to the Lambeth Conference in 2020, to be discussed in table groups (indaba), which in turn will conclude that Anglicans have a mixed bag of views on sex and marriage and that they have agreed to disagree. Such a result will in effect nullify the clear teaching of Lambeth 1998, which has been a touchstone for the Global South churches.

The only problem is that the report makes no reference to Scripture or to Lambeth 1:10, the touchstone theology on human sexuality put forth at Lambeth 1998.

One gets high-sounding lines like this: "...inspire and create a hunger for learning about what it means to be human, or this, draw learners into the complexity and depth of the subject matter without oversimplifying or overwhelming, meeting the needs of a wide range of learners that spans academics and regular churchgoers."

The tragedy is that the entire report manages to avoid quoting the Book, the Bible, anywhere. Instead, we get vague allusions to "creativity" and "hermeneutical understandings" and "situatedness of the gospel" and "ecclesiology in the context of difference." The report makes no reference to Lambeth Resolution I.10 on Human Sexuality and suggests that it will produce a deeper understanding of the interplay of "inherited teaching" on marriage and singleness with "emergent views."

You can read Dr. Stephen Noll's complete take here: https://contendinganglican.org/2019/02/05/living-in-love-and-faith-tree-or-billboard/

*****

The Church of England's Bishop of Truro, Philip Mounstephen, is to chair an official British government review into the persecution of Christians around the world. Bishop Philip, who was Executive Leader of the Church Mission Society prior to becoming Bishop of Truro at the end of last year, appeared recently alongside Britain's Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London to launch the review. "We wanted to do this not just because freedom of worship is a fundamental human right", Mr. Hunt said, "but because also freedom of worship is the invisible line between open societies and closed societies."

*****

The Canadian Anglican Journal as an independent organ is no more. A decision has been made to take away editorial independence, and the editor has resigned. As a house organ, The Journal will become solely a vehicle mouth-piece of the Anglican Church of Canada, rather than accepting differing views.

*****

The homosexual Bishop of Toronto Kevin Robertson was one of 30 bishops invited to Canterbury recently by Justin Welby. Robertson married his same-sex partner in 2018.

On February 7th, Justin Welby welcomed him and 29 other bishops to Lambeth Palace. Not much confirmation is needed on where Justin Welby stands on same-sex marriage but, for those who remain unconvinced that he fully supports it, inviting a male bishop who is married to another man for a cozy chat at Lambeth Palace should do the trick.

The official statement reads: The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, welcomed nearly 30 new Anglican bishops from around the world to his official London residence Lambeth Palace. This morning, the bishops are at the Anglican Communion Office (ACO) in west London. They are taking part in an annual 10-day course run by Canterbury Cathedral -- the Mother Church of the Anglican Communion -- to teach them about the role of a bishop and the Anglican Communion. This year's cohort comes from Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Japan, Kenya, Madagascar, Melanesia, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Scotland, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, the US, and Zimbabwe.

The annual event, affectionately nicknamed "the baby bishops course" by those who have taken part in previous years, includes a program of talks, presentations and workshops and a chance to build networks and relationships with other new bishops across cultural and geographical divides.

*****

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry is running around preaching his love message to anyone who will listen, and he was recently in Orlando and Tallahassee preaching up "love" to anyone who will hear. He calls them revivals but there are no altar calls.

The funny thing about all the "love talk" is, that it is all very selective. Love does not apply to Albany Bishop William Love, whose conscience is seared at the thought of allowing homosexual marriage in violation of God's revealed will about marriage. It also doesn't apply to whole dioceses that believe the Robinson consecration was a profound violation of the moral order and now face losing all their properties. As St. Paul declares, brothers ought not to take brothers to court. Love does not apply to anybody who dares go against the LGBTQ lobby. If so, they will be accused of homophobia, when all the orthodox are saying is that the behavior is wrong as is fornication and adultery and God simply says no. Is God therefore homophobic? Well, next time you see Michael Curry, ask him. The Presiding Bishop is still riding the wave of his Royal Wedding sermon popularity.

*****

My new book, The Episcotape Letters, modeled on that of C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters, is available. For a donation, I will send you an autographed copy. This is a volume of my best satirical essays compiled over the years. It catalogues the unravelling of the Episcopal Church, its apostasies and heresies. Such pathology cries out for correction and there is no better way to do so than by humor and satire. In my book I expose the foibles and self-destruct machinations of the Episcopal Church's apostasies.

Please make a donation at this link: https://tinyurl.com/yabemo37

All Blessings,

David

Intersectionality and identity politics breed division. These ideologies atomize society and drive humanity away from its core and essential commonality. This is where Christians must counter with the gospel of Jesus Christ and the authority of Scripture. Only the gospel secures peace and establishes truth. Only the gospel will unite a fractured society. Only the gospel can stem the tide of modernity's downward spiral into chaos and decay. Identity politics is bad enough in the culture. In the church, it denies the gospel altogether. At the marriage supper of the Lamb, no one will hold any kind of sign claiming their own identity. --- Albert Mohler

The @Ozanne Foundn report on human sexuality reports that 1 in 8 respondents said they had been through some kind of conversion therapy and are now in a relationship with someone of the opposite gender. That's a higher success rate than Alcoholics Anonymous --- Peter Ould

God's holiness and human sin. All divine judgment seems and sounds unjust until we see God as he is and ourselves as we are, according to Scripture. As for God, Scripture uses the pictures of light and fire to set forth his perfect holiness. He dwells in unapproachable light, dazzling, even blinding in its splendour, and is a consuming fire. Human beings who have only glimpsed his glory have been unable to bear the sight, and have turned away or run away or swooned. As for ourselves, I often want to say to my contemporaries what Anselm said to his, 'You have not yet considered the seriousness of sin.' --- John R. W. Stott

The Episcopal Church's 2019-2021 budget pledges $1.15 million to the work of the Anglican Communion office plus an additional $538,000 in block grants to other communion provinces. The budget also shows nearly $2.3 million in staff costs in the Anglican Communion budget lines, but that money covers members of The Episcopal Church staff who work with partners and program across the communion. --- ENS report

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
February 22, 2019

Winston Churchill once said, "an appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last". For the Episcopal Church's Communion Partner bishops who have appeased, over and over again the Church's radical left, the crocodile has all but eaten up the remnant quisling bishops who have appeased PB Michael Curry over Resolution B012. Only Albany Bishop William Love has refused to appease the powers that be and has paid the price for doing so.

The Episcopal Church Cultural Marxists who now own and run the show have virtually no opposition. Bishop Bill Love has been gelded by Bishop Michael Curry so there is no way he can ever reproduce his like again, either in the Diocese of Albany or anywhere else in The Episcopal Church. His evangelical Catholicism is finished and faux evangelicals like Greg Brewer (Central Florida) and George Sumner (Dallas) have rolled over, as have John Bauerschmidt (Tennessee) and Springfield Bishop Dan Martins.

The Left has devoured the right in the name of inclusion, diversity and progressivism, the new unholy trinity of Episcopal revisionism.

Every time the left says we need more "conversation" about the issues, this is an invitation to bullying by the left if the "conversation" doesn't go their way. This tactic has worked well for the Episcopal Church's pansexualists, who have bleated that if orthodox Episcopalians don't roll over, they will be declared homophobic and haters, not fit for purpose.

The progressives have gotten their way in the Episcopal Church and they have swept all before them, ably abetted by a compliant House of Bishops and, of course, a Presiding Bishop, who, despite calls for "love" and his evangelical style revivals, has no intention of calling practicing homosexuals to repent of their sinful behavior. Racism, yes. Poverty, yes. Safeguarding yes, Persecution, yes, (but the persecution of orthodox Episcopalians is okay). Israel bashing, yes. The list goes on and on.

The Presiding Bishop told the biggest black lie this week when, in a live-streamed public conversation with Bishop Samuel Howard (VII Florida), Michael Curry, said, "I don't get into the business of intervening with bishops in their dioceses. This is your diocese." The dialogue arose after some priests in his diocese did not like the threatening tone of Howard's take on B012 and sent a letter to Curry saying Howard was not conforming to the mind and will of the resolution passed last summer in Austin, Texas.

Howard, of course, did back down, despite his protests that he believes man/woman marriage is really the only way to go. ultimately Howard values collegiality and his pension, and he will give those parishes who want to perform these unnatural ceremonies the right to do so.

However, Presiding Bishop Curry did directly intervene between Bishop William Love (IX Albany) and his diocese when he slapped a partial restriction on the New York-based bishop for failing to allow the full implementation of Resolution B012 in his diocese. That action must have slipped the Presiding Bishop's mind. You can read Mary Ann Mueller's take here: https://www.virtueonline.org/presiding-bishops-big-black-lie

But consistency is irrelevant if you are as popular as Curry on the national and international stage. You can pretty well say what you like if you soak it all in a lot of love talk.

*****

But the big news of the week is the backlash erupting over Archbishop Justin Welby's invitations to attend the Lambeth Conference next year in Canterbury.

In an effort to honor Lambeth Resolution 1:10, Welby decided that the married partners of homosexual and lesbian bishops cannot attend the conference and must stay at home, or at least wander around Canterbury while their partners plumb the depths of 1 Peter that they can take back to their constituencies.

Almost everybody is up in arms about this non-invitation. Orthodox Anglicans say it is hypocrisy to allow practicing homosexual bishops to attend, which is a violation of Lambeth 1:10, but then say their partners are not! They say it violates both the intent of the resolution and what it absolutely affirmed about marriage between a man and a woman or celibacy for single people.

Gay Jennings, HOD president, devoted most of her opening remarks at an Executive Council meeting to Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby's decision to not invite same-sex spouses to the 2020 Lambeth Conference. She asked whether "there is still time to resolve this situation and ensure that all bishops' spouses will be invited to the Lambeth Conference."

Jennings said if the communion is "not yet able to hold a global meeting of Anglican bishops and spouses to which everyone is invited, then I think we should not be holding global meetings of Anglican bishops and spouses."

Anglican Communion Secretary General Josiah Idowu-Fearon wrote in a Feb. 15 letter that Welby had invited "every active bishop" because "that is how it should be -- we are recognizing that all those consecrated into the office of bishop should be able to attend. This begs the question what would he do if two homosexual bishops were married to each other, who would get the invitation, the catcher or the pitcher?

Resolution I.10 was passed by the conference in 1998 after heated debate.

Jennings said that Idowu-Fearon's post promulgated "a misconception about the Anglican Communion's governance" by claiming that the Anglican Communion's position on marriage is defined by that resolution.

She said that among the communion's four Instruments of Communion -- the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lambeth Conference, the Primates' Meeting and the Anglican Consultative Council, or ACC -- only the ACC is seen as the corporate entity of the Anglican Communion by the instruments' governing documents and British law. Thus, Jennings said, setting policy is the ACC's job.

Jennings suggested that if the communion cannot resolve to invite all of the bishops' spouses, "I think that the day is coming when we will need to take a hard look at where and how we invest the resources of The Episcopal Church across the Anglican Communion." This is code for 'no more money if you don't shape up and practice what we have passed in the US Episcopal Church.' In that case, it might be a time to say as Peter said in Acts 8: 20 "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!"

But she was not the only left-wing voice raised against Welby and the ACC. It is time to put schism on the table said a homosexual Episcopal activist leader because the Archbishop of Canterbury refuses to allow homosexual partners of bishops to attend, said a left-wing Episcopal homosexual in the Diocese of Washington.

"I honestly don't see how any Bishop in the Canadian, New Zealand or US Episcopal Church can accept an invitation to the 2020 Lambeth. I think it is time to put real schism on the table...let the Canadian, New Zealand, and US Episcopal Church have its own conference with a more thoughtful deliverable than getting together and having tea with the Queen of England. But what can't happen, is a return to the marginalized standing at a gate with those claiming to be the Episcopal Branch of the Jesus Movement walking by to the welcome of those who don't understand what welcome really means, theologically, practically, or emotionally," said John B. Johnson, IV a member of St. Thomas' Parish in Washington, DC who served on the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church from 2012 to 2018.

He said that what the last Lambeth conference did to V. Gene Robinson, is being repeated by Archbishop Welby. Johnson described it as a "new insult" to the active bishops who are openly Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transgendered, Queer/Questioning and that their spouses, unlike those of straight folk, are not welcome. "It is to wound and hurt again; it is wrong, and it is a sin that needs to be called out. So, I am doing just that here."

Johnson said the Archbishop of Canterbury knew this was coming. He also knew that it would cause pain and be yet another poke in the eye of the Canadian, New Zealand and US Episcopal Church.

In England, the outrage continued with leading homosexual Christians also accusing the Anglican Church of hypocrisy following its decision to ban same-sex spouses from attending the church's 2020 global conference.

Canon Jeremy Pemberton, who in 2014 became the first Church of England priest to wed his same-sex partner, said the move to exclude LGBT+ spouses "panders to the views of the most extremely conservative" members of the Anglican Church.

"I just think they increase public revulsion at their hypocrisy and their inability to treat people decently. Imagine receiving an invitation (that says), 'By the way your spouse isn't allowed to come as they're the wrong gender.'

On the conservative side of the ledger, GAFCON chairman and Nigerian Primate Nicholas Okoh called for a boycott of Lambeth 2020, and says the conference is an obstacle to the Gospel. He warned against attending the 2020 Lambeth Conference as currently constituted.

He said the conference embraces teaching and a pattern of life which are profoundly at odds with the biblical witness and apostolic Christianity through the ages.

In an effort to bring everybody to the table, the Archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Makgoba called on bishops to attend and "express your difference."

The African archbishop, in conjunction with Archbishop Welby, says he wants all the bishops in the Anglican Communion to attend Lambeth in 2020 despite the fact that the fabric of the communion is "torn" and has been impaired for decades, "we need each other." I have fisked the archbishop's remarks here: https://tinyurl.com/yyoqmref

Here is one memorable interchange:

MAKGOBA: It's what I call at home, 'celebrating the gift of difference'. So, I encourage all bishops and their spouses to make every possible effort to come and see what God is doing through us in his world.

VOL: There is no such thing as the "gift of difference" in the English language. It does not exist. There is a gift of discernment, there are gifts of the Spirit, but no such "gift of difference" exists. This is the retro mystic language of Frank Griswold, or the convoluted, multi-layered language of Rowan Williams. But "difference" is not a gift, it distinguishes left from right and right from wrong. Several Anglican provinces have committed terrible wrong over sexuality issues and they will not be covered up or glossed over by appeals to "difference." This is just plain nonsense. It is nothing more than Thabospeak.

Keeping the pressure on the Anglican Communion's bishops, the Archbishop of Canterbury invited 30 new "baby bishops" to Canterbury to inaugurate them into the ways of the Anglican Communion.

In contrast, GAFCON primates are meeting in Dubai this week to keep orthodox archbishops and bishops' feet to the fire about not attending the Lambeth conference next year.

Then Welby invited primates of the 40 Anglican provinces to attend a Primates' Meeting in January 2020 in Amman, Jordan. Primates' Meetings are one of four "Instruments of Communion" within the Anglican Communion. The last one took place in Canterbury in October 2017.

In his Epiphany letter, Archbishop Justin spoke of the "long and agonizing" list of difficulties facing Christians across the world, including violence, corruption, poverty, religious-based discrimination and climate-change related rises in water levels. But, he said, "it is our vocation to be bearers of joy . . . in the midst of the real troubles of our world."

"When we come together at the Lambeth Conference in 2020, we will speak of holiness seeking to ensure that we aim to be a holy church", he said. "We will reflect on intentional discipleship and the proclamation in word and deed. We will pray together and find the refreshment of worship in many styles. We will gather in fellowship and mutual love."

He did not mention Lambeth Resolution 1:10 proscribing homosexual conduct which has divided the Anglican Communion for the past decade, and which the vast majority of the communion believe is "unholy" behavior. This is a bullet Welby cannot dodge when the bishops meet next year in Canterbury. Some bishop should stand up at Canterbury and ask Welby directly, 'do you think sodomy is an unholy behavior, archbishop? Do you think God condones same-sex marriage? Can you tell us where to find that in Scripture?'

The Anglican Communion has been "impaired" and the "fabric torn" for over a decade and revisionists and progressives have done nothing about repairing it. They were warned in 1998 when Lambeth 1:10 was passed that the Episcopal Church had to repent of its position. Sodomy is a salvation issue. Instead, TEC went ahead and ordained an openly homosexual to the episcopacy in the person of Gene Robinson. It did so, defying the will and mind of the vast majority of the Anglican Communion. As a result, the Episcopal Church split, the ACNA was born and GAFCON was formed. The 2020 Lambeth Conference looks broken before it has even begun.

*****

The slow but steady drip of evangelical vicars and their congregations leaving the Church of England continues. It was announced last Sunday that Peter Sanlon is stepping down as vicar of St. Mark's Church in Tunbridge Wells.

This is so that he can be received into the Free Church of England, as Rector of Emmanuel Church, Tunbridge Wells. The Free Church of England is a Christian church in the Anglican tradition, committed to the authority of the Bible as the inspired Word of God; it is a designated Church with which the Church of England has had formal ecumenical relations since 1992.

For the record, VOL has posted a number of stories by Sanlon over the years. He is a brilliant, thoughtful vicar and the CofE's loss will be the FCE's gain. I will write more about this in time.

*****

Homosexuals and Women now dominate in the Episcopal Church. As a result, the Church is on the road to spiritual, ecclesial and demographic suicide.

The diocese of Maine elected its first openly homosexual to be the next bishop of the New England diocese. On Saturday, in Bangor after three rounds of voting, the Rev. Thomas James Brown, 48, received the majority of votes from 261 clergy members and laypeople. His election will surely be confirmed by other Episcopal dioceses, including Communion Partner bishops, who recently caved in over resolution B012. Maine is one of only two states, along with West Virginia, where deaths now outnumber births, so the odds of the diocese growing is zero.

On the occasion, Brown said this; "Love at first sight came twice in Brattleboro, first with the parish, and second with the local United Methodist pastor, Tom Mousin. Tom has been my partner and spouse since 2001." You can read my full account of this action here: https://tinyurl.com/y4l7m2av

*****

The Episcopal Diocese of Ft. Worth and its corporation under the leadership of Bishop Jack Iker got some good news when the Texas Supreme Court said it is requesting briefs "on the merits" in its appeal. "While our Petition for Review remains "under consideration" by the Court, this is very good news, signaling that the Court wishes to take a closer look at the April 2018 decision of the Second Court of Appeals", said Bishop Iker. This is often the next step before the Court grants a Petition for Review.

It was the decision of the high Court in 2013 that neutral principles of law should govern disputes over church property in Texas, yet the only judge of the Fort Worth court of appeals to sign an opinion took an approach that effectively reverted to the deference standard in that opinion.

In other diocesan news, a Special Convention for the Election of a Bishop Coadjutor to succeed Bishop Iker will be held Saturday, June 1*, at St. Vincent's Cathedral. The name of the Coadjutor-elect will be announced that day.

In accord with ACNA canons, the College of Bishops must examine and approve the Coadjutor-elect. This will occur during their regular meeting on June 14-15. The bishops are scheduled to gather at Christ Church in Plano, the same location where the first Archbishop was installed 10 years ago. Once the College of Bishops gives its consent, the Coadjutor-elect will be eligible for consecration.

A retirement celebration for Bishop Iker will take place at a banquet following the opening Eucharist of the 37th annual Diocesan Convention, on Friday, Nov. 15, in Granbury. Retired Archbishop Robert Duncan will be the keynote speaker after dinner. Bishop Iker will continue to serve as chief pastor of the Diocese until his retirement on Dec. 31, 2019, when the Coadjutor will succeed him, becoming Fourth Bishop of Fort Worth on New Year's Day.

*****

The Anglican Church in North America is growing, according to two writers for The Living Church. David Goodhew and Jeremy Bonner noted that substantial swathes of the Anglican Communion were unaware of the birth of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) in 2009 and remain unaware of it to this day. Others may be conscious of ACNA's existence but, depending on which side of the various theological divides they fall, will question (or exaggerate) its size and significance. The article they wrote is an attempt to clarify the nature of ACNA on its 10th birthday.

ACNA is reporting growth, but is that growth real? Originating primarily as an exodus of parishes and dioceses unhappy at the theological stance of the Episcopal Church (TEC), does ACNA remain primarily a reaction to TEC, or is it changing into something else as the break from TEC recedes into the past?

Put briefly, the data shows that ACNA has been growing and that it has significant reach beyond the usual Anglican enclaves in North America, but it has vulnerabilities, too. "Understanding ACNA matters. It matters greatly both for Anglicans in the United States and, as similar divisions spread to other areas, for the Anglican Communion more widely." You can read their report here: https://tinyurl.com/yx94d6u3

*****

Parishes in the Church of England will no longer be legally required to conduct a service every Sunday after the General Synod has voted to end a law that has existed since the 17th century.

Canon laws, first passed in 1603 and updated most recently in 1964, stipulate that weekly Sunday services must take place in every church.

However, vicars in rural parts of the country, who have been increasingly responsible for "up to 20 churches" in their area due to the decline in clergy, say they are unable to abide by the law and left with little choice but to break it.

*****

Churches and faith groups are making an important contribution to efforts to eliminate the global scourge of human trafficking, a UN human rights committee has heard.

Jack Palmer-White, the Anglican Communion's Permanent Representative to the UN, outlined the many anti-trafficking initiatives being led by churches in a submission to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) this week.

The CEDAW is considering submissions on the issue of human trafficking as it prepares to make a 'general recommendation' to UN member states.

In his report, Mr Palmer-White asked that the general recommendation 'reflects the key role that churches and other faith actors can, and do, play in the fight against trafficking of women and girls in the context of global migration'.

Examples of anti-trafficking work detailed in the report include a partnership between the US Embassy to Ghana and the Diocese of Accra which has led to the creation of a community shelter called Hope Village that rehabilitates rescued children, while holding the government of Ghana to account on its progress in eliminating trafficking.

In the UK, the Church of England is equipping churches to recognize modern slavery in their communities and provide support and care as part of its anti-trafficking Clewer Initiative.

*****

Faluni herdsmen who killed a Nigerian Anglican priest are demanding a ransom of nearly ₦10 million for the release of his family.

The Rev. Anthony Jata'u of the Diocese of Sokoto was abducted Feb. 7 and his corpse was dumped by the roadside. He was taken along with his wife, three children and two sisters-in-law. Sources say bandits shot at the car the priest was driving and dragged the occupants from the car. Fr. Anthony's body was found a few days afterward, but the family members had been taken away.

"My prayers and those of the whole community at Lambeth Palace are with the family of the Rev. Anthony Idris Jata'u, who grieve even as they continue to be held in captivity and great danger," Archbishop Justin Welby said.

*****

David Booth Beers, the enfant terrible legal beagle of The Episcopal Church has retired and his place is being taken by a woman, Mary Kostel. She was appointed Chancellor to the Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry. Beers retired after 27 years.

Beers had a no-holds-barred approach to property disputes, and initiated lawsuits for properties that continue to this day. Following the retirement of Frank Griswold, Jefferts Schori took on a more public role, leaping into the fray over property ownership; in turn advising, bullying, coercing and threatening with the help of Beers. He was largely successful. Litigation costs have run up to more than $60 million.

Ms. Kostel, a life-long Episcopalian raised in southwestern Virginia, is a graduate of Princeton University and the University of Virginia School of Law where she was Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review. After two federal judicial clerkships, she served in the U.S. Department of Justice and practiced law in Washington firms, where she represented The Episcopal Church in various matters. She was appointed in 2009 by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori as Special Counsel for the Church's "property" litigation and disciplinary matters.

*****

My new book, The Episcotape Letters, modeled on that of C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters, is available. For a donation, I will send you an autographed copy. This is a volume of my best satirical essays compiled over the years. It catalogues the unravelling of the Episcopal Church, its apostasies and heresies. Such pathology cries out for correction and there is no better way to do so than by humor and satire. In my book I expose the foibles and self-destruct machinations of the Episcopal Church's apostasies.

Please make a donation at this link: https://tinyurl.com/yabemo37

All Blessings,

David

Empty religion. We need to listen again to the biblical criticism of religion. No book, not even by Marx and his followers, is more scathing of empty religion than the Bible. The prophets of the eighth and seventh centuries BC were outspoken in their denunciation of the formalism and hypocrisy of Israelite worship. Jesus then applied their critique to the Pharisees of his day: 'These people ... honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me' (Is. 29:13; Mk. 7:6). And this indictment of religion by the Old Testament prophets and by Jesus is uncomfortably applicable to us and our churches today. Too much of our worship is ritual without reality, form without power, fun without fear, religion without God. --- John R.W. Stott

Dear Brothers and Sisters
www.virtueonline.org
March 8, 2019

The United Methodist Church made history this week when it voted against a plan that would have paved the way for homosexual "marriage" and clergy.

At their General Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, Methodist delegates from around the world defeated the "One Church Plan" -- which had been favored by the majority of Methodist bishops and theological liberals -- 438 to 384.

By voting to uphold the definition of marriage as the union of a man and a woman, the Methodist Church, which has over 12 million members, has distinguished itself as the only mainline Protestant church to not go down the path of normalizing homosexuality.

Choosing instead the "Traditional Plan," delegates also signaled their support for sanctioning clergy who disobey the same-sex "marriage" and LGBT clergy prohibitions.

While half of the Methodists' members are Americans, most of the rest live in Africa, where the denomination enjoys impressive growth, adding about 100,000 members annually. It was the African delegates who brought overwhelming support for the Traditional Plan.

Observers on both sides of the contentious vote noted the immense significance of the move.

"History...was made this week because the United Methodist Church, the only one of those mainline churches not to normalize homosexuality, voted to uphold biblical standards of sexual morality, the historic teachings of the United Methodist Church consistent with 2,000 years of church history defining marriage exclusively as the union of a man and a woman," declared Albert Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and one of the most influential voices in Evangelicalism.

And that, dear friends, is why the United Methodist Church managed to hold onto the faith over sexuality and why The Episcopal Church has gone in the opposite direction normalizing LGBTQI behavior and homosexual marriage, snubbing their African brothers and sisters, and then wondering why the denomination is slipping in average Sunday attendance while the Global South grows by leaps and bounds.

Lambeth 1:10 was the Anglican Communion's response to same-sex marriage, but it was immediately violated when then Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold laid hands on Gene Robinson, thereby bringing about a schism in TEC and the birth of the ACNA and GAFCON. Sin has not paid out for TEC. Mr. Revival and "love" Bishop Michael Curry is doing his best promoting the Jesus Movement, but there is no sign of any uptick in new parishioners pouring into churches. Every diocese is on a downward swing.

*****

Archbishop Justin Welby is mounting a high-level campaign to lure orthodox Anglican bishops to Lambeth in 2020. The archbishop's take now is all about strategy.

He and ACC Secretary General Josiah Idowu-Fearon are pulling out all the stops to bring everyone to the table, even as a number of orthodox primates and progressive Western Anglican leaders, question whether they will attend.

The Archbishop and Bishop (two Instruments of Communion) believe they have a strategy; but will it work?

Lines are being drawn up. On one side are progressive pro homosexual western pan Anglican provinces who have embraced pansexuality and homosexual marriage. These include The Episcopal Church, the ACoC, most of Australia, New Zealand, England, Wales, Scotland, Europe, most of Nthn. Ireland and Southern Africa.

Pro homosexual voices in the US and England are now questioning whether they will attend because Archbishop Welby has nixed the partners of several active homosexual bishops. At a recent executive council meeting, angry Episcopal House of Deputies president Gay Jennings questioned the pool of money TEC gives, and wondered out loud if it should be given if the Archbishop of Canterbury doesn't change his mind.

On the other side are GAFCON provinces, some 27, many of whom have indicated they will not be attending, and they far outnumber Western provinces. TEC will provide the largest number of suffragan bishops, assisting bishops, associate bishops and, if they can, bishops resurrected from columbariums in order to boost numbers, even though they can barely muster half a million on Sunday morning. The truth is GAFCON owns the communion and in time they will be the communion. Lambeth 2020 will be all smoke and mirrors.

You can read the full story here: https://www.virtueonline.org/welby-mounts-high-level-campaign-lure-orthodox-bishops-lambeth-2020

The Archbishop of Canterbury has found himself caught in a homosexual vortex of his own making. By inviting even one homosexual bishop, Welby has violated Lambeth resolution 1:10. Denying them the right to bring their spouses is sheer hubris and hypocrisy. Bishop Idowu-Fearon of the ACC and Welby's No.1 sidekick told the lesbian bishop of New York that she couldn't bring her spouse Becki, which got a thunderstorm response from her bishop Andrew M. L. Dietsche who called the refusal "alarming." Dietsche said he would raise up the slight at the next HOB in North Carolina. The two bishops even suggested that they might not attend.

That was all faux outrage of course, because in the next breath they said they would attend and raise it with the ABC when they all meet in Canterbury at the University of Kent. Both Church of England bishops and a number of American Episcopal bishops are now berating Welby for his double standard.

These progressive bishops have a point. Welby and Fearon said they couldn't come because it would violate Lambeth resolution 1:10 passed in '98. The two key sections of that resolution read thus: "In view of the teaching of Scripture, upholds faithfulness in marriage between a man and a woman in lifelong union, and believes that abstinence is right for those who are not called to marriage; (and we) cannot advise the legitimizing or blessing of same sex unions nor ordaining those involved in same gender unions." That's pretty clear.

Homosexual bishops' spouses should not be denied access to the conference, they cry. Technically, they are correct. Once you accept the notion that sodomy is good and right in the eyes of God, and clearly Welby does, then on what grounds can he deny the other half coming! Lambeth Resolution 1:10 has already been breached!

Of course, the spouses will go and they will walk around the University of Kent and offer themselves to the Times, Guardian, Telegraph and the Independent for sympathetic interviews. They will only be denied listening to the predictable, highly forgettable deep thinkers on matters of concern with special guests and keynote speakers, seminars, plenary sessions and discussions that will soon be forgotten.

As a result, the upcoming Lambeth conference is looking increasingly like a three-ring circus with Welby and his two ecclesiastical henchmen, ACC Secretary General Josiah Idowu-Fearon and Cape Town Archbishop Thabo Makgoba doing handstands in an effort to bring everyone to the table in the name of a benevolent, inclusive, wink wink, God. You can read my full account here: https://www.virtueonline.org/archbishop-canterbury-caught-homosexual-vortex-his-own-making

*****

The feminization of the episcopacy in the Episcopal Church continued apace this week, when the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas made history --- consecrating its first female bishop.

Cathleen Bascom will be its 10th bishop, beating out three other women including a black woman and a lesbian.

She is the 1,112th bishop of the Episcopal Church and also the first diocesan bishop ever to be elected from a slate of all women candidates.

It's a sign the stained-glass ceiling is breaking for women in the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, said a news report. The Rev. Cathleen Chittenden Bascom is the first woman bishop in the diocese's 160-year history and said; "I am receiving the privilege where women before me did not get this opportunity, and as much trepidation and joy that I have in it that, I have the privilege to do it where African American people were not, gay and lesbian people were not, all those people who were not given the chance to use their gifts. I just feel so blessed."

Recently, Susan Brown Snook was elected fifth bishop of San Diego.

The Diocese of Texas recently elected a new Suffragan Bishop in the person of the Rev. Canon Kathryn (Kai) Ryan. She will be the western-region Suffragan Bishop of Texas.

The Rev. Jennifer Brooke-Davidson was chosen Bishop Suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas during their 113th annual Diocesan Council.

To date there has been no discernible uptick in ASA because women now assume the episcopacy. The decline will continue. The pushing of pansexuality has been a non-starter for every diocese.

*****

Trinity Wall Street, the wealthiest church in the world with a $6 billion portfolio that includes major real estate holdings, primarily in New York where it is both a developer and a landlord, announced that it had acquired Church Divinity School of the Pacific, in a partnership which will mean a firm financial footing and expand offerings by the West Coast seminary. An ENS story said its assets now belong to Trinity.

Church Divinity School campus fills an entire block and is a mix of buildings from two centuries, which means that if and when the liberal episcopal seminary fails, Trinity will have some prime real estate in Berkeley it can sell off. One wonders if the deep thinkers at Trinity Wall Street had taken a cue from another well-known New York real estate developer with a deal like this.

Quoting the spiritual that says, "I got a home up in that kingdom, ain't that good news," Presiding Bishop Michael Curry said in an emailed statement that the agreement "is not simply a matter of institutional rearrangement." Really. Curry said it was "forming leaders for a Jesus Movement committed to living, proclaiming and witnessing to his way and message of unconditional, unselfish, sacrificial liberating love." The Episcopal Church has certainly come a long way from John Shelby Spong and his deranged 12 Theses.

In 2017, Episcopal Divinity School announced it would be closing its Cambridge, Massachusetts, campus and entering an affiliation agreement with Union Theological Seminary in New York.

A former evangelical seminary president wrote VOL and said, "Yes, rearranging the chairs on the Titanic. But not a bad idea if the ship is sinking. Trinity Wall Street has buckets of $$ and why not put some of that into theological education. What really interested me about the EDS campus is not only the Catholics who bought 7 buildings but an evangelical group called "The Church in Cambridge" is also occupying the former EDS space."

*****

The Anglican Church of Canada will shortly face a torturous future over whether to bless homosexual unions. David of Samizdat wryly notes that the Canadian House of Bishops is wrestling over the issue.

"Considering the Anglican Church of Canada has become a repository for most of the nation's gay clergy, for those old enough to remember it, this headline may bring to mind the notorious nude wrestling scene in Ken Russell's film "Women in Love". If that's what the bishops were up to, no one is admitting to it.

"What is being admitted to is a "currency of grace", a reference to the fact that the bishops are desperate not to lose the currency derived from conservative parishes who might leave the denomination when the marriage canon is officially changed to permit same sex marriage later this year. At least, I think that's what they are getting at."

A press release stated thusly:

"The National House of Bishops has worked very hard since General Synod 2016--not only on the issues from General Synod 2016 and the ministry of the whole church, but on how we work and live together," said Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada. "We left this January meeting having wrestled with how we are the church and how we will remain united in Christ whatever the outcomes at General Synod 2019."

"One bishop commented that in our work there was a 'currency of grace,' a statement that resonated with members of the House. This is not to say there isn't diversity and there aren't differences among us, but there was space, respect and grace-filled conversation in how we went about our discussions, and for each other."

They also spent two days focused on issues that will come before General Synod when it meets in July 2019. These included the proposed replacement of the Book of Common Prayer's collect for the conversion of the Jews with a collect for reconciliation with the Jews; the second reading of the proposed amendment to the marriage canon (Resolution A051-R2); and changes to Canon XXII in response to the evolving self-determining Indigenous church within the Anglican Church of Canada.

David cited Soren Kierkegaard, philosopher, theologian and poet to put it all in context and perspective: "A passionate tumultuous age will overthrow everything, pull everything down; but a revolutionary age, that is at the same time reflective and passionless, transforms that expression of strength into a feat of dialectics: it leaves everything standing but cunningly empties it of significance. Instead of culminating in a rebellion it reduces the inward reality of all relationships to a reflective tension which leaves everything standing but makes the whole of life ambiguous: so that everything continues to exist factually whilst by a dialectical deceit, privatissime, it supplies a secret interpretation -- that it does not exist."

It is a perfect description of today's mainline churches who pay careful attention to their symbols, liturgies and traditions but have meticulously emptied them of meaning.

Thus we have drive-through ashes, ashes to go and ashes to joke about.

Speaking of ashes, LGBT and other progressive activists around the country are now co-opting Ash Wednesday, substituting "glitter crosses" for ashes in order to make sure that homosexuals are celebrated as "fabulously made," according to LifesiteNews.

"Glitter Ashes lets the world know that we are progressive, queer-positive Christians," according to a statement by Parity, a New York-based advocacy group. "We are in the pews, in the pulpits and giving glitter ashes in the street to those who either may not have time to go to a church -- or may have been rejected by a church."

Through "glitter ashes" the group hopes to promote a more "inclusive Christian message."

The Glitter Ash Wednesday movement, which began in 2017, is just one more example of how LGBT ideology seeks to redefine Christianity, elevating its message above the message of the Cross of Christ.

*****

Kudos to Bishop Eric Menees of the Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin who, when he found that one of his priests had been sexually abusing parishioners, had Jesus Antonio Castañeda-Serna arrested and immediately defrocked.

Castañeda was arrested after victims filed complaints with the Fresno Police Department.

Castañeda (commonly known as Father Antonio Castañeda) joined the diocese in 2008 as the vicar of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in Fresno, California. On the evening of October 29, 2017, Bishop Eric Menees received credible accusations that Castañeda had committed sexual misconduct against adults in the diocese. The following morning, Bishop Menees suspended Castañeda from all pastoral and priestly ministry and reported the accusations to the police.

The Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin hired an independent third party to conduct an internal investigation. Castañeda informed the bishop he would not contest the accusations and he consented to be deposed from priestly ministry in the Anglican Church. Castañeda was then stripped of all priestly roles, privileges and standing. Bishop Menees began lending day-to-day pastoral care and oversight to Castañeda's former congregation.

The Roman Catholic Church could take a cue out of the Menees playbook in the way he handled this.

*****

Evangelicals and the presidency. When he was elected president in 2016, the general wisdom was that Donald Trump received support from 81 percent of evangelicals in the country. This figure was touted by both the secular and religious media, including myself. Much later, missiologist Ed Stetzer in conjunction with the Billy Graham Center in Wheaton did their own studies and debunked that myth and concluded that that figure was grossly inflated and that in fact the figure was closer to 57 percent with certain caveats. Most who voted for Trump were from the southern states, often with poor or little education, but called themselves evangelicals for want of a better handle. Many might be thought of as fundamentalists. The Pew Research Center found in June 2016 that while 78 percent of self-identified white evangelical voters planned to vote for Trump, 45 percent were mainly voting against Hillary Clinton and only 30 percent were voting for Trump himself. More recently, studies revealed this group rarely if ever attended church and while they labeled themselves conservative, they might be evangelicals in name only. You can read that story here. https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/why-ex-churchgoers-flocked-to-trump/

*****

For those of us who knew and loved Canon Michael Green, the greatest Anglican evangelist of the last Century, you can read Andrew Symes excellent summary here. Michael will live on in some 50 books he wrote, which generations from now will read.

https://anglicanmainstream.org/thanksgiving-for-the-life-of-michael-green/

*****

My new book, The Episcotape Letters, modeled on that of C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters, is available. For a donation, I will send you an autographed copy. This is a volume of my best satirical essays compiled over the years. It catalogues the unravelling of the Episcopal Church, its apostasies and heresies. Such pathology cries out for correction and there is no better way to do so than by humor and satire. In my book I expose the foibles and self-destruct machinations of the Episcopal Church's apostasies.

Please make a donation at this link: https://tinyurl.com/yabemo37

All Blessings,

David

Once you have abandoned the principle that homosexual intercourse and transgenderism are immoral acts unworthy of federal protection and expansion, you have no case for maintaining a permanent religious exemption for your bigotry. --- Robert A. J. Gagnon, Ph.D.

"Beware of manufacturing a God of your own: a God who is all mercy, but not just; a God who is all love, but not holy; a God who has a heaven for everybody, but a hell for none; a God who can allow good and bad to be side by side in time, but will make no distinction between good and broad in eternity. Such a God is an idol of your own, as truly an idol as any snake or crocodile in an Egyptian temple. The hands of your own fancy and sentimentality have made him. He is not the God of the Bible, and beside the God of the Bible there is no God at all."― Bishop J.C. Ryle

Can you imagine being threatened by Administrators that, if you teach seminary students that belief in Christ's death as amends-making or atoning is (according to Jesus, Paul, and the early church generally) a sine qua non (essential) of the Christian faith, you have made students who think otherwise feel unsafe and are inadequately preparing them for Christian ministry by not agreeing that it is an equally valid representation of the NT witness to say that Jesus did not die to make amends for human sin? I repeat: Can you imagine that? --- Robert A. J. Gagnon, Ph.D.

Dear Brothers and Sisters
www.virtueonline.org
March 22, 2019

A wise reader of VOL wrote to me this week and made the following observation; "The Lambeth Conference seems to be the most expensive gathering for false doctrine since the Council of Trent." He may be right.

There are reasons to believe that the Lambeth Conference is generating so much heat from the left and right that Welby may be forced to cancel it.

It has emerged that the University of Kent where the bishops will be housed is coming under fire for allowing the conference to be held there because of Welby's insistence that the homosexual partners of homosexual bishops cannot attend. They are being accused of hosting a homophobic conference that will net the university over $5 million dollars from the 800 bishops. But all the rains of fire and sulphur of the media and the left have yet to fall upon it in torrents; when it does, the University of Kent may find it can no longer host the Conference.

A source in the UK told VOL that he has seen a rather pertinent question asked about banning those bishops who have engaged in multiple marriages. There are now several in England, contrary to 1 Timothy 3.2

You may recall that the event was pushed down the road by two years and an emergency gathering of primates was held in Canterbury to sort it the differences between The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church in North America. Nothing was resolved of course. GAFCON primates said they would not turn up because Welby was clearly conflicted over homosexuality. Liberals, revisionists and homosexual bishops are raising the middle finger to Welby telling him his stance on Lambeth Resolution 1:10, which Welby and Josiah Idowu-Fearon would violate, is homophobic. Welby can't win. He has already lost the plot.

Perhaps we should take bets on whether the Lambeth Conference will take place at the University of Kent in 2020 -- or at all? I will be writing more about this at length.

*****

PERSECUTION, but whose doing it? The massacre of 50 innocent Muslims in Christchurch, New Zealand this past week was a horror show, reminiscent of Pittsburgh (Jews) and Charleston, SC (Blacks) being indiscriminately killed by white nationalists. In fact, over the last 16 years, white nationalists have been responsible for 98% of all the attacks on various ethnic groups in the name of racial purity.

Less well reported is that in Nigeria more than 120 Christians were gunned down or killed by machetes over the past 3 weeks by Muslims. Did one see that reported in mainstream media? Some twelve Christian villages were wiped out by Fulani tribesmen last June, resulting in over 200 Christians dead. Many of them were Anglican Christians.

In the Philippines, Muslims bombed a Roman Catholic cathedral, killing 20 people and wounding dozens more. Also not reported widely. Worldwide, Christians are the most persecuted faith. Did you see this on CNN or MSNBC or even FOX news? Breitbart News picked it up as did a number of blogs and other news services like Global Christian News and VOL. In fairness, NEWSWEEK ran a headline "CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION AND GENOCIDE IS WORSE NOW THAN "ANY TIME IN HISTORY," but it is not common.

To date, in 2019, there have been 453 Muslim attacks in which 1,956 people have been murdered. In 2018, a known total of 4,305 Christians have been murdered in Muslim attacks across the world, with very little reporting in the mainstream news. But if a Jew or a Muslim or a Black is killed by a white nationalist, it is front page news on TV and across the world.

Is it fair, of course not. It is why VOL and news services like this have to report the rest of the news you won't see elsewhere. In the US, cultural Marxism is killing the nation's Judeo-Christian heritage. You can read the excellent What is the Message for our Time by Roger Salter here: https://www.virtueonline.org/what-message-our-time

*****

Episcopal Bishops heard the call to evangelize, even as the denomination faces its own inevitable demise. The bishops met in Kanuga, NC this past week in an attempt to put lipstick on a pig.

The bishops heard from an AME lady bishop and an evangelical Church of England bishop on why the bishops should evangelize and make new disciples or face going out of business.

The African American Methodist Church's mandate is "to seek out and save the lost and to serve the needy." TEC hasn't saved a soul in decades, but it does have oodles of causes that keep it busy with no mention of seeking and saving anything, except whales, bashing white privileged folk and lots of talk about unidentifiable racists in the Episcopal Church. TEC is riddled with programs with none having to do with the salvation of souls. Based on year-over-year numbers, TEC is presiding over its own attrition.

The Episcopal Church needs to truly commit to evangelism, rather than fight about sex, money and power, said orthodox light Honduran Bishop Lloyd Allen during his sermon. At the last General Convention, he thought the biggest problem was lack of translation for some sessions. Go figure. But TEC's problems have always been about sex, specifically homosexuality and money, as in tons of dead men's money to spend on any number of issues the HOB can come up with. And power, well look how power has destroyed orthodox bishops who only wanted to stand for the gospel. All of the orthodox bishops are now gone, with one two exceptions.

Church of England Bishop of Islington, one Ric Thorpe, a bishop from the HTB/Welby gene pool, told the bishops the story of his conversion experience, which led him to become an evangelist and church planter. As the bishop of Islington, he supports the Diocese of London's goal of creating 100 new worshipping communities within the diocese by 2020. Praise the Lord.

The essence of church planting is about making disciples and teaching them to make disciples of others, he said. Clergy and all church leaders need to repent, saying "we have lost our way; we've lost our passion for the Gospel," Thorpe said. They need to admit to Jesus that "we've tried lots of stuff and it just doesn't work and we need something different."

In terms of risk, evangelists need to have a loose hold on their traditions and be willing to "go down in flames, not just be comfortable," he said. The essence of church planting, Thorpe said, is about making disciples.

Pick me off the floor, Mildred.

You can read more here: https://www.virtueonline.org/episcopal-bishops-hear-call-evangelize-even-church-faces-inevitable-demise

*****

Will it still happen? Is full communion between United Methodists and the U.S. Episcopal Church now possible?

Next year, delegates at the United Methodist Church's General Conference are supposed to consider a full-communion plan with the U.S. Episcopal Church, writes Terry Mattingly.

"We seek to draw closer in mission and ministry, grounded in sufficient agreement in the essentials of Christian faith and order and assisted by interchangeability of ordained ministries," states the current text for "A Gift to the World: Co-Laborers for the Healing of Brokenness."

But recent votes by the UMC to keep marriage between a man and a woman have come up against The Episcopal Church's more inclusive approach of homosexual unions. Now what?

While it was never intended as a merger, nor is there interchangeability of clergy, it is giving pause for LGBTQ clergy and laity in the UMC to go ahead and investigate nearby Episcopal parishes.

A special General Conference recently voted to reaffirm current doctrine that marriage is the "union of one man and one woman" and "the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching." The historic gathering also passed pieces of a "Traditionalist Plan" requiring UMC clergy to follow those laws in their Book of Discipline.

So far, leaders on the United Methodist left haven't announced plans to leave. But that doesn't mean that Episcopal clergy and other liberal Protestant leaders shouldn't be prepared to help United Methodists who come their way, said the Rev. David Simmons of St. Matthias Episcopal Church in Waukesha, Wis., a leader in several regional and national ecumenical efforts. Watch for more developments.

Both denominations are in free fall. The Episcopal Church membership has declined from 3.6 million in 1966 to 1.7 million. In the United States, UMC membership has fallen from 11 million to 6.8 million in roughly the same timeframe.

The Global South for both denominations is solidly biblical on marriage and they are increasingly controlling the agenda and doctrine of both denominations.

*****

The Church of England is staring at oblivion as just 2% of young Britons say they identify with it. New research finds that the UK's national religion is facing "unrelenting decline". The number of people who identify as belonging to the Church of England has dropped to a record low that could threaten the denomination's future, research suggests.

CofE affiliation has fallen to just 2 per cent among adults aged 18 to 24, while the majority of every age group now has no religion, the British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey found.

The number of Britons who describe themselves as part of the church has more than halved since 2002, from 31 per cent to 14 per cent. The number who actually attend sermons is far lower. You can read the full story here: https://www.virtueonline.org/church-england-staring-oblivion-just-2-young-britons-say-they-identify-it

*****

A New York State Supreme Court judge March 12 dismissed substantially all the claims in a lawsuit against the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society (DFMS), the corporate name of The Episcopal Church, filed by Bishop Stacy Sauls, who was removed from his post as chief operating officer in April 2016.

Sauls' suit against the DFMS and an unspecified number of unnamed defendants associated with the church. Sauls claimed that the church's decision to replace him as chief operating officer breached Sauls' contract, damaged his reputation and made it difficult for him to find a job elsewhere in the church.

Judge Paul A. Goetz found that Sauls' contract was not breached because he was an "at will employee;" and that "nothing in the [DFMS] handbook limits the defendants' right to terminate plaintiff's employment for any reason."

That's three for three so far this year. In February, Bishop J. Jon Bruno learned that an Episcopal Church court concluded that he was properly suspended from ordained ministry for three years because of misconduct. His three-year suspension retroactive to Aug. 2, 2017, will stand. The court said in its order it found that "the majority of the factual determinations of the hearing panel are supported by substantial evidence when viewed as a whole in light of the record on appeal." Both men are toast. And then of course there's the bishop of Maryland Heather Cooke who is languishing in jail and yearns for freedom after killing a cyclist because she was drunk, on drugs and couldn't steer straight. The wife of the killed cyclist wants her to do the full time of seven years, and so far, the courts are siding with her. Cooke has shown little remorse. Keeping her locked up seems an appropriate response.

*****

The Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee elected Phoebe A. Roaf to be the next bishop of that diocese. In keeping with Bishop Michael Curry's call for more women and people of color to be bishops, Roaf fits both categories. Now if she had been a lesbian it would have been three for three. No such luck. Maybe next time. Perhaps there is a transgender bishop just waiting in the wings.

*****

Meantime, the Episcopal Church in South Carolina is growing impatient with all the delays over who owns the properties in that state.

TECinSC has petitioned the SC Supreme Court, seeking enforcement of the church property decision.

The Episcopal Church in South Carolina (TECSC) and The Episcopal Church filed a petition asking the South Carolina Supreme Court to order the Dorchester County Circuit Court to enforce the high court's 2017 decision and return control of diocesan property and 29 parish properties to The Episcopal Church and its local diocese, TECSC.

The Petition for Writ of Mandamus asks the high court to require Circuit Judge Edgar W. Dickson to take action and execute the decision that the justices remitted to Judge Dickson 16 months ago.

The disputed properties currently are under the control of a group led by Bishop Mark Lawrence that left The Episcopal Church in 2012 and then sued the church in an attempt to keep the property. The delay in enforcing the high court's decision is continuing to cause harm to TECSC, the petition says.

"The extraordinary remedy sought [a writ of mandamus] is therefore necessary given the long delay and misdirected undertaking of the Circuit Court to attempt to revisit the merits, while the property to which Petitioners are entitled is being wasted, misused, and depleted," the petition says.

"The Circuit Court has unduly delayed and appears to be reconsidering the case on its merits, exceeding its jurisdiction on remittitur," the petition says.

However, an attorney VOL spoke with, says TEC is saying that the lower court should be ordered to enforce the judgment in favor of TEC. Apparently, the lower court seems in no hurry to do this, he said.

*****

In England, which is rapidly falling down the sewer of cultural Marxism, there is a current relentless push to normalize transgenderism and same-sex parenting to the youngest of primary school children. Dissenters to the new normal are smeared and discredited for being intolerant and non-inclusive. A recent article on the subject entitled 'Don't Let Bigots Win Sex Education Battle' draws the obvious inference: if you dissent, you are a bigot to be fought and silenced.

This has sparked a conflict as inevitable as it is striking: the progressive liberal elite has turned on Muslims. The coalition of the minorities assumed by the cultural Marxist Left has collapsed like Humpty Dumpty, writes David Kurten.

The flashpoint is Parkfield Community School, a secular school not far from the center of Birmingham, attended by over 98% Muslim children. The trigger is the so-called 'No Outsiders' program, which is ostensibly promoted as teaching the requirements of the Equality Act 2010, and promoting tolerance and inclusivity.

This sounds eminently reasonable to busy parents who do not have time to peruse the lesson content of this and other anti-bullying programs like Educate and Celebrate or CHIPS (Confronting Homophobia in Primary Schools). Such programs, however, often provide material which deliberately and knowingly undermine traditional family values. Now the progressive liberal elite has turned on Muslims. The fireworks can be seen here: https://tinyurl.com/y6ssxyms

*****

A group of Continuing Anglican bishops recently released a statement on the matter of abortion and affirmed the right to life.

They call it "reproductive health," but what it really amounts to is killing unborn or newborn babies. If abortion doesn't kill them, their lives now can be extinguished shortly after they take their first breath. On January 22, New York State passed a law allowing infanticide for babies who have survived abortion attempts, while Democrat Gov. Cuomo, who professes to be Catholic, chortled and grinned while state assembly members, some of whom call themselves Christian, clapped and cheered. That night, New York City buildings were bathed in pink light in ghoulish celebration. In Orwellian newspeak, the law is called "The Reproductive Health Act." Health for whom?

Continuers normally stay under the radar on such issues, leaving it to orthodox Anglicans like the ACNA to make pronouncements of this kind. Now they have stepped up to the plate. You can read their full statement here: https://www.virtueonline.org/anglicans-affirm-right-life

In other continuing Anglican news, the 'G-4' churches have begun a dialogue with the Polish National Catholic Church. The continuers are coming out of the shadows after years of splitting and squabbling with the Big 4. They are determined to be better positioned on the public stage of Anglicanism internationally, especially as they see the Church of England rapidly declining and the ACNA a major player on the Anglican scene.

*****

CANADA is set to shut down a third of Its churches, some 9,000, in the next few years. According to a World News Report, Canada has been a religious nation in the past, but low numbers of worshippers at many of the churches in the country are forcing closures.

This will result in several potential outcomes for these churches according to the head of the National Trust for Canada, Robert Pajot. Some of the buildings are likely going to be sold off, while many others will just be demolished. While plenty are worried about the loss of the sacred spaces, others are just as worried about the loss of historic buildings. Some churches will be renovated and turned into places to host art galleries or even become shelters for the less fortunate. However, there is a sense that a deeper loss is occurring in the towns and cities impacted by these closures. Most notably, they are going to lose a sense of community that appeared over time and was fostered in the churches.

A third of the churches in Canada will likely see their end, and it's possible that more will see cutbacks in the future.

No gospel, no future. Liberal Christianity has been the slow death with the abandonment of the "faith once for all delivered to the saints." The United Church of Canada, a union of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Methodist Church (Canada, Newfoundland and Bermuda), the Congregational Churches of Canada, and the General Council of Local Union Churches and the Anglican Church of Canada are the two biggest losers in this ecclesial train wreck.

*****

CONVERSION THERAPY. There are three reasons to be wary of the conversion therapy bans that are going to keep rearing their heads over the coming years: because they often bring transgender therapy bans along with them; because they are illiberal and trample on freedoms of conscience and religion; and because the evidence is that therapy sometimes works and is not generally harmful. These are three reasons not to jump on board the latest 'progressive' LGBT bandwagon careering headlong through our liberties.

Tragically the Church of England and TEC disparage reparative therapy, which is not surprising bearing in mind the powerful pansexual lobbying against it found in their ranks.

*****

The Royal College of Physicians has abandoned its historic opposition to assisted suicide despite over half of its members saying they would refuse to participate in the practice if it was made legal.

The RCP said it had been moved to change its position after a survey of its own members found that there was no majority view on assisted suicide.

The poll triggered a backlash among doctors and academics who said it represented a "deliberate attempt" on the part of a minority in the RCP to drop opposition to assisted dying. Opponents claiming that the 60 per cent threshold to maintain the status quo was evidence of vote rigging and mounted a legal challenge, but this was rejected by the High Court on Thursday.

"The Church of England's position remains to affirm the intrinsic value of every human life and express its support for the current law on assisted suicide as a means of contributing to a just and compassionate society in which vulnerable people are protected."

*****

The TEC Communion Partner bishops keep hoping against all hope, logic, theology, ecclesiology and wisdom that they can thread the needle over a 50-year-old conversation about the full inclusion of LGBTQ people in the life of the church began this week with the goal of seeking "a lasting path forward for mutual flourishing" of those Episcopalians who disagree about the church's stance on same-sex marriage.

It will never happen of course, and they could be back in another 50 years with no change, presuming, of course, that TEC is still around which it won't be.

The Task Force for Communion Across Difference's mandate, found in General Convention Resolution A227, sets that goal and asks the group to find that path while acknowledging Convention's "clear decision" that Christian marriage can be a covenant between two people of the same sex or of the opposite sex, and that the church is committed to providing access to marriage rites for all. The resolution also affirms "the indispensable place that the minority who hold to this Church's historic teaching on marriage have in our common life, whose witness the Church needs."

General Convention in July 2018 called for the communion task force as part of its decision to end (via Resolution B012) the church's requirement that bishops give their permission for clergy to use the two marriage rites that the previous meeting of convention had authorized (via Resolution 2015-A054) for trial use by both same-sex and opposite-sex couples.

The Rev. Susan Russell, one of the task force conveners and a lesbian priest from the Diocese of Los Angeles who has been advocating for years for greater LGBTQ inclusion in The Episcopal Church, admitted the "two polarities" in the church, but we all know she will never tolerate any opposition to her "polarity." The Communion Partner bishops are little more than quislings at this point. Oddly missing from this "task force" was the Rt. Rev. Bill Love of Albany, who has already been served partial inhibition papers for showing disobedience to B012. Everyone knows where all this is going. The orthodox position on marriage between a man and a woman is history.

*****

I hope you will consider a tax-deductible donation to keep the VOL lights on and these bi-weekly digests coming into your e-mail box. Recent findings from ALEXA rankings revealed that VOL is still the No.1 orthodox Anglican online news service in the Anglican Communion. In addition to a website, these digests go to more than 6,000 readers and our Facebook postings now get between 3,500 and 28,000 reads. I hope you think we are worth keeping the lights on for. Please make a donation at this link: https://tinyurl.com/yabemo37

All blessings,

David

"Beware of manufacturing a God of your own: a God who is all mercy, but not just; a God who is all love, but not holy; a God who as a heaven for every body, but a hell for none; a God who can allow good and bad to be side by side in time, but will make no distinction between good and broad in eternity. Such a God is an idol of your own, as truly an idol as any snake or crocodile in an Egyptian temple. The hands of your own fancy and sentimentality have made him. He is not the God of the Bible, and beside the God of the Bible there is no God at all."― J.C. Ryle

The Anglican Communion is hurtling, like a train without brakes, toward the Lambeth Conference in 2020. What happens when it crashes into the conference is anybody's guess. The missing brakes in question amount to a clear sense of purpose for the conference and a clear rationale for participating in it. Both appear to be missing. Since no one really knows why hundreds of Anglican bishops should gather together, no one can really say who should come; and finally, for lack of common clarity on both issues, the conference threatens to be but a gathering of disordered and vying hopes and resentments. What we are seeing at the moment are open letters, protests, and general anxiety. ---- Ephraim Radner in TLC

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
April 5, 2019

VOL experienced yet another FACEBOOK shut out. My article on abortion and Bishop William Love was denied boosting by Facebook gnomes. Topics like abortion and transgenderism are now in Facebook's crosshairs, unless, of course, you are promoting such behaviors. They call it hate speech, we call it free speech.

*****

THE homosexual spouses of homosexual Episcopal and Anglican bishops who are being excluded from the Lambeth Conference will be welcome to stay at the University of Kent, the venue for the event, it was confirmed this week. The Council also announced that it would seek a meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury to discuss concerns about the decision not to invite same-sex spouses. This is the grand compromise. Kent University explodes in faux outrage over the exclusion of homosexual spouses to the conference, but gets to keep all the money.

A statement from the chairman of the University's Council, Sir David Warren, and the Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Karen Cox, described the university as an organization "proud of its progressive values, philosophy and record of diversity and inclusion. . . We also place great value on diversity of opinion, open, respectful debate, recognition of difference, and the central role of constructive engagement and dialogue." Of course, you do.

Sniffing the air of self-righteous indignation, the two leaders opined; "Council members were clear that exclusion of same-sex spouses, on grounds of orientation, would be contrary to the values of the University. Council determined that the University shall ensure that accommodation will be available on campus for those spouses affected by this decision who wish to be in Canterbury with their partners during the conference period. The University welcomes them and affirms its belief in, and commitment to, diversity and inclusivity."

There, now that compromise should make even Welby happy, though as Episcopal theologian Dr. Ephraim Radner noted (above), "The Anglican Communion is hurtling, like a train without brakes, toward the Lambeth Conference in 2020. What happens when it crashes into the conference is anybody's guess." VOL believes that Welby will be there with tea and scones for everybody and the promise of a garden party with the Queen, with a little bit of exegesis on I Peter to take back home.

Of course, the great cloud hanging over Lambeth is GAFCON which, while having fewer bishops, has more members. They just made another foray into New Zealand to establish a beachhead there this week. The Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans New Zealand is calling for episcopal nominations. The Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans Aotearoa/New Zealand is a new Diocese in New Zealand looking for a bishop, because of the rejection of the authority of Scripture by the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia at the 2018 General Synod.

As a result, a number of parishes and individuals have chosen to disaffiliate from ACANZP and gather together in 12 parishes to form a new expression of Anglicanism, said a press release. You would think Archbishop Justin Welby might finally be sniffing the air of informal schism. You can read the full story here: https://www.virtueonline.org/fellowship-confessing-anglicans-new-zealand-calls-episcopal-nominations

*****

In yet another move that is bound to inflame tensions in the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Justin Welby said he backed state enforced LGBT Relationships and Sex Education.

Welby, has categorically declared his support of the government's Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) statutory instrument. This is program is happening in the face of mounting opposition from Muslim, Jewish and Christian parents, and pro-family campaigners expressing concerns of RSE being used to normalize homosexuality and transgenderism among children.

"The Church of England has been actively involved in the consultation on Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education. The Church welcomes the clarity of the guidelines that have been developed and the overarching desire to develop good relationships in children of primary and secondary school age," the Archbishop's Correspondence Officer Dominic Goodall noted, replying on behalf of Archbishop Welby to a question from Rebel Priest Media.

"The Church strongly supports the importance of RSE and health education, as a natural overflow of the ethos of faith schools. It is important for children to develop the virtues and values of healthy relationships and to respect the differences in other families," an email from Lambeth Palace said.

You can read Jules Gomes exclusive story on this here: https://www.virtueonline.org/archbishop-justin-welby-backs-state-enforced-lgbt-relationships-and-sex-education

*****

Poor old England. On what should have been Brexit weekend, churches and cathedrals opened their doors for prayer and dialogue...and cups of tea.

The first weekend after the UK was supposed to leave the European Union, churches and cathedrals were offering spaces for conversation and prayer on Brexit. This past weekend should have marked the start of a new post-Brexit era for the UK.

But after another week of votes and debates failed to break the deadlock on Brexit, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York invited people to come together in dialogue and prayer as part of five days of prayer for the nation and its future relationship with the European Union.

The country is a mess, the Church of England is mostly irrelevant to 98% of the population, there are more practicing Muslims in England than practicing Christians and Big Ben will be silent for the next four years as it undergoes major conservation on the tower which houses the bell. London Bridge has gone, dismantled in 1967 and relocated to Arizona, but the Thames River still rolls along, the beer is still warm and the Houses of Parliament are beautiful in the early evening light.

****

The Episcopal Bishop of Albany found himself at odds with National Church over abortion this week. He had the temerity to blast NY State's "Reproductive Health Act" legislation, calling it legalized killing of innocent human lives.

The Rt. Rev William Love wrote a blistering attack on the state of New York's recent passage of the reproductive health act legalizing late term abortions, calling it "the legalized killing of innocent human lives." Ouch.

The evangelical catholic bishop excoriated the language being used to describe abortion as positive acts of justice, promoting women's rights and showing compassion and mercy to the terminally ill. Unfortunately, the names given to these acts of legislation -- "Reproductive Health Act" and "Medical Aid in Dying Act" fail to accurately reflect the true nature of each bill -- the legalized killing of innocent human lives."

Bishop Love said the 'sanctity of human life' means that all human life is sacred because all people (Christians and non-Christians alike) are created by God in the "image and likeness of God." The bishop cited Genesis 1:26-28, the Book of Acts (Act 17: 24, 25, 28) and Psalm 127:3.

Regardless of how "positively" they may be presented -- abortion and assisted suicide are a direct attack on life itself, failing to recognize and uphold the sanctity of life, the bishop wrote in a letter to his diocese published in The Albany Episcopalian.

By contrast, the national church has passed numerous resolutions on abortion, even though the Episcopal Church was historically anti-abortion. However, in 1994, the Church resolved fully to support abortion, expressing its "unequivocal opposition to any... action... that [would] abridge the right of a woman to reach an informed decision about the termination of her pregnancy, or that would limit the access of a woman to a safe means of acting upon her decision."

Over time, a succession of General Conventions passed 16 abortion-related resolutions, with the Church recognizing a woman's right to terminate her pregnancy, condoning abortion only in cases of rape or incest, cases in which a mother's physical or mental health is at risk, or cases involving fetal abnormalities. The church forbids "abortion as a means of birth control, family planning, sex selection or any reason of mere convenience."

You can read the full story here: https://www.virtueonline.org/albany-episcopal-bishop-odds-national-church-over-abortion

*****

On the home front, the Diocese of Vermont has three nominees -- from Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Virginia -- in the search for its 11th bishop. They are all women and include:

The Rev. Shannon MacVean-Brown, transition priest at St. John's Church in Speedway, Ind. She is black and married.

The Rev. Hillary D. Raining, rector of St. Christopher's Church in Gladwyne, Pa. is white and married. She is a yoga instructor who loves skiing, hiking and gardening and leading a scout troop. She started something called "The Hive" based on the hive of the honey bee for "wellness and spirituality". She makes no mention of the Gospel of Jesus to save sinners or make churches grow. She described "The Hive" as a bolt of inspiration. Hardly in the vein of St. Paul.

Lastly, we have The Very Rev. Hilary B. Smith, the lesbian rector of Holy Comforter, Richmond, Va. "I'm part Costa Rican and both my Dad and Zita are native Spanish speakers. I'm also part Jewish; my grandfather on my Dad's side was Jewish as was his whole family, my extended family. I grew up with a lot of diversity. When I came out as gay to my Dad and stepmother, Zita said, "What an exciting thing for our family!"

She ticked all the boxes, she is bound to win. The BIG question is, if she wins will she get a call from Welby saying she can't bring her significant other or spouse or whatever the blazes you call her to Lambeth next year!

For my satirical take on all this you can read this: Transsexual Episcopal Priest Nominated to be the next Bishop of Vermont. Here's a taste.

NEWS ALERT: The Rev. Winslow Slidebottom of the Diocese of Massachusetts, the Episcopal Church's first transgender priest, said he is tossing his studded collar in the ring as part of a slate of candidates to be the next bishop of Vermont. Other candidates include a black lesbian priest from the Diocese of New York, a white divorced priest from the Diocese of Central Florida and a homosexual priest from the Diocese of Dallas.

It was an act of total inclusion, Slidebottom told VOL in an exclusive interview. "I knew that this was my transgender moment."

"I was listening to one of the presiding bishop's sermons on love, and I got caught up into the third heaven like St. Paul. Actually, I think I made the fourth, the ecstasy was so upon me."

You can read the rest here: https://www.virtueonline.org/transsexual-episcopal-priest-nominated-be-next-bishop-vermont

*****

The Anglican Church of Canada is seeking a new Primate.
Behold the candidates set to replace Canadian Primate Fred Hiltz:
The Right Reverend Jane Alexander of the diocese of Edmonton;
The Most Reverend Ron Cutler of the diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island and Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada;
The Most Reverend Gregory Kerr-Wilson of the diocese of Calgary and Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert's Land;
The Right Reverend Linda Nicholls of the diocese of Huron; (the fastest dying diocese in Canada) and
The Right Reverend Michael Oulton of the diocese of Ontario.

It goes without saying that they range from the theologically liberal to hyper-liberal and all are in favor of same-sex marriage, writes David of Samizdat. "The only surprise is that no married lesbian atheist was available to stand."

One wag looking at the picture observed, "I think you have the wrong picture here David. Surely this is good old Fred dropping in on a rehabilitation center somewhere." Our thoughts exactly. Not a Cranmer among them.

*****

The ANGLICAN DIOCESE IN NEW ENGLAND recently hosted the Bishop of Mukono. The ongoing realignment of the Anglican Communion is beginning to take effect, not just at the global level but at the local and diocesan level. It is undoubtedly causing heartburn to Bishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon, Secretary General of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC), who believes that his office alone should have a monopoly on all ministry networks in the Anglican Communion.

Not anymore. Recently, Bishop Andrew Williams, the newly appointed bishop of the Anglican diocese of New England, met with Bishop James Ssebaggala of Mukono Diocese, Uganda along with the Rev. Michael Kafeero of St. Paul's Church in Waltham.

Both bishops wanted to meet and get acquainted while discussing plans for partnership in ministry. Bishop Williams was inspired to hear what was going on in Mukono under Bishop James in the last ten years, especially their vibrant missionary work and substantial growth.

The diocese currently has an outreach to the 20,000 people who live in the islands of Lake Victoria, along with multiple educational development endeavors and work to overcome the HIV epidemic in certain Ugandan communities.

In times past, the Episcopal Church would have screamed about cross border violations, no more. That day has long gone. ACNA is established and growing, TEC is withering and dying.

*****

The outspoken Anglican Archbishop of Kenya, Jackson ole Sapit publicly criticized the courts for legalizing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) relationships, saying the move is unconstitutional and against spiritual teachings.

Sapit urged the church to be bold enough to condemn all ills in the society, including the LGBT movement.

"The Church does not support the ruling on LGBT association. This is not only unconstitutional but also against the teachings of God."

The Judiciary should respect and follow the Constitution," he said on the sidelines of a church service at ACK Holy Trinity in Kibera, Nairobi. The cleric said his church would not relent in its fight against LGBT.

You can read more here: https://www.virtueonline.org/kenya-anglican-archbishop-sapit-criticises-courts-over-lgbt-ruling

*****

The Diocese of South Dakota has added two nominees in the search for its 11th bishop.

The Rev. John Floberg is rector of St. James, St. Luke's, and Church of the Cross on Standing Rock Indian Reservation, N.D. The Rev. Robert Two Bulls Jr. is vicar of All Saints Indian Mission, Minneapolis, and missioner of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota's Department of Indian Work and Multicultural Ministries.

They join the two nominees by the diocese's search committee: the Rev. Jonathan Folts, rector of St. John's Church, Essex, Conn., and the Rev. Mark Story, rector of St. Mary's Church, Edmond, Okla.

The most orthodox of this bunch is Floberg. If he wins, he will probably join the Communion Partner bishops, but of course he might be considered too conservative, in which case he doesn't have a prayer.

*****

The Bishop of Chester, (England) Peter Forster has passed his safeguarding duties over to another bishop after coming under criticism for his handling of an abuse case involving a retired priest who was jailed this month.

Gordon Dickenson, 89, was sentenced to 27 months in prison by Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty to eight counts of sexual activity with a child. The abuse occurred in 1974 while Dickenson was vicar of Christ Church, Latchford.

Bishop Forster faced criticism over his handling of the case after the diocese failed to act on a letter it received from Dickenson in 2009 in which he admitted he had been accused of abuse.

After Dickenson's sentencing, the Diocese of Chester offered an "unreserved apology to the survivor who has shown bravery and courage".

"The diocese wishes to apologize for not acting on this information in 2009 and acknowledges that, had it done so, the police may have brought a prosecution against Gordon Dickenson sooner," it said.

"An independent review will be conducted into the handling of the case to identify where any failures in procedures arose, and what lessons can be learned."

In light of the case, Bishop Forster has now announced that he is handing over all safeguarding duties to the Bishop of Birkenhead Keith Sinclair "with immediate effect".

*****

The Church Pension Fund announced that it was investing $40 million in clean energy infrastructure projects. The $500 Million fund will provide loans to renewable energy developers. The Fund is managed by New Energy Capital Partners, LLC (NEC), a leading alternative asset management firm that invests across the capital structures of small and mid-sized clean energy infrastructure projects and companies.

No money, of course. for gospel proclamation, but it is nice to know the air will be cleaner and clearer even as the last aging Episcopalian is buried in a Columbarium.

What a story it would be if the CPF announced it was investing just $5 million to bring in 150 Nigerian Anglican evangelists to re-evangelize the Episcopal Church!

*****

UNPLANNED is the inspiring true story of one woman's journey of transformation.

Abby Johnson was the director of Planned Parenthood until the day she saw something that changed everything. Abby joined her former enemies at 40 Days For Life and became one of the most ardent pro-life speakers in America.

Vice President Mike Pence tweeted his support for "Unplanned", a movie that recounts Abby Johnson's conversion story from Planned Parenthood manager to pro-life leader.

The outspoken pro-life Pence tweeted: "So good to see movie theaters across the country showing Unplanned -- a deeply inspiring new pro-life film based on the best-selling book by Abby Johnson."

"More and more Americans are embracing the sanctity of life because of powerful stories like this one," he added.

Where to view movie "Unplanned" click here: https://www.unplannedfilm.com/

*****

ALEXA, a global rating system that utilizes web traffic data to compile a list of the most popular websites, rated Virtueonline as the world leader in Anglican news dissemination from an orthodox perspective.

The Alexa report ranked Virtueonline 779,102 out of 30 million websites globally, rating it the leader in global Anglican news. This number does not include a biweekly digest that goes to an additional 6,000 persons, with additional pass-alongs. In addition, stories that appear on VOLs FACEBOOK page get from 4,000 to 28,000 hits per story. This virtually doubles the readership.

You can read the full story here: https://www.virtueonline.org/virtueonline-world-leader-orthodox-anglican-news

I hope you will consider supporting this vital ministry to the Anglican Communion. You can make a tax-deductible donation here at this link: https://tinyurl.com/yabemo37

All Blessings,

David

The cross and justification. If God justifies sinners freely by his grace, on what ground does he do so? How is it possible for the righteous God to declare the unrighteous to be righteous without either compromising his righteousness or condoning their unrighteousness? That is our question. God's answer is the cross. --- John R. W. Stott

When God speaks to people, it is highly subjective. It is subject to the human will, emotions, feelings, fatigue, hunger, pain, suffering, grief, and any other number of factors, but God's Word is objective truth. It is always true, even if you've got the flu. It does not depend on human feelings or hearing voices or perceived voices. Put 100% of your trust of God speaking to you, first in Scripture, but also by His Spirit. These two affirm one another and keep us out of the ditches of human or personal experience. When someone tells you God spoke to them, tell them He's spoken to you too...and it starts in Genesis 1:1 and ends in Revelation 22:21. In between those pages, I am more than convinced that God speaks to me. Outsides of those pages, not so much. --- Jack Wellman

The collection of texts that make up the Bible can never be made serviceable to the homosexual and transgender agenda without doing violence to Scripture both in its historical context and in its hermeneutical (interpretive) application for today. --- Robert A. J. Gagnon, Ph.D.

So-called "Liberal Christianity" is just another name for "Heretical Christianity." It is not about "liberality" (a more censorious bunch you are not likely to find) but rather about disregarding the consistent witness of Scripture, including Jesus --- Robert A. J. Gagnon, Ph.D.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
April 19, 2019

If you are looking for markers of a dying America and a culture once boosted by a strong Christian faith but now fast disappearing, the following headlines might be indicators.

• 21 State Attorneys General Band Together to Fight Pro-Life Law...
• 'Can America survive Americans?' The American experiment is history's longest-running tutorial in the art of political freedom, but is it coming to an inglorious end -- and at the hand of Americans?
• Mayor Pete (Buttigieg) and the Crackup of Christianity...
• Liberal beliefs pulling Mainline (churches) further down...

This is just a sampling. However, there is some good news amidst the gloom. Christianity Today reports that evangelicals show no decline, despite Trump and Nones. Hope springs eternal, but the overall decline cannot be minimized. We are in cultural freefall, tragically aided and abetted by a growing number of Christian denominations who seem bent on embracing the culture instead of the Bible. The Roman Catholic Church seems destined for the grave in America as sexual abuse cases reveal the depth of depravity this Church has embraced. The rise of incivility, porn watching, abuse of women and endless violence on videos and television, along with heightened anger on social media, only ratchets up the differences Americans feel about each other. Cultural Marxists (progressives) stamp on the head of Christ at every opportunity to advance their agenda. There are even whispers of a second civil war in America if Trump should be impeached. Only time will tell. Whither America!

Very few philosophies in the world are as bigoted as liberalism. Liberalism is the most bigoted philosophy in the world today, says Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias.

No Church has embraced this more vigorously than The Episcopal Church.Cultural Marxism is no longer just a secular issue such as denying psychology professor Jordan Peterson the right to speak at Cambridge University, or Yale University's recent declaration demanding that Yale will deny financial support to students who take summer jobs or fellowships with Christian organizations. It is now being fully embraced by The Episcopal Church with high sounding words like "inclusion" and "conversation." Another name for Cultural Marxism is progressivism. You can read my full story on all this here:
Cultural Marxism and the Episcopal Church: https://www.virtueonline.org/cultural-marxism-and-episcopal-church

*****

Recent photos I saw, show Connecticut Bishop Ian Douglas making nice with Archbishop Justin Welby. Perhaps the ABC should widen his reading. This past week, the Connecticut State Supreme Court ruled that St. Paul's Darien, a flagship parish in the bishop's diocese, had the right to remove a priest because the priest embellished his resume when he sought the job following the retirement of the late Terry Fullam, TEC's best known charismatic priest.

A legal dispute brought by parishioners led to the removal of the Rev. George I. Kovoor as rector of the Episcopal parish was upheld by the courts this week. In an 18-page decision, Judge Kevin Tierney of Connecticut State Superior Court accomplished both the removal of Kovoor as St. Paul's Rector, without any liability for payment of his salary; and simultaneously confirmed that on October 26, 2018, the Annual Diocesan Convention severed its relationship with St. Paul's Church - Darien.

The civil complaint alleged that Kovoor made false representations as to his credentials which induced the parish to engage Kovoor to be its rector in October 2016 and, therefore, his contract as rector never came into existence and is void.

Accordingly, St. Paul's now continues as an independent, Connecticut, ecclesiastical society, as it was in 1967, when it voluntarily agreed to join the Diocese, the senior warden told VOL. Ownership of parish property remains in dispute. You can read the full story here: https://tinyurl.com/y2hh4ytb

*****

A Title IV complaint has been filed against the Rev. Bob Malm, rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Alexandria VA. The complaint alleges that Malm falsely stated under oath that a parishioner, Mrs. Sigrid Yahner who lives in Franklin PA, is 74, and terminally ill, or someone purporting to be her, repeatedly set up appointments with him and was a no-show. He claims that he was being threatened.

Mrs. Bonetti's son Eric told VOL that he was prepared to demonstrate that neither his mother, nor anyone claiming to be her, EVER set up an appointment with Malm. "I've also been pestering 815, (national church headquarters) about the matter and got back an email from (intake officer) Todd Ousley asking me not to contact him further. "This remains a Diocesan matter. Please do not contact me further regarding your concerns. You must deal with this through proper channels. This remains a Diocesan matter and the PB has no jurisdiction."

Meanwhile, amidst collapsing revenue and attendance, Malm recently hired an openly homosexual assistant rector, The Rev. Jason Roberson. https://www.gracealex.org/news/new-associate-rector-called/

"The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia will do everything in its power to avoid addressing Bob's criminal conduct," Bonetti told VOL.

*****

Conveners of the 2020 Lambeth Conference are crowing over the fact that over 500 bishops from 39 Anglican Communion provinces have so far registered to attend next year. This compares with some 623 bishops and a smaller number of spouses that attended in 1998.

However, primates and bishops of the largest African provinces will not be there. The six that are not coming represent more than two-thirds of all the Anglican Communion's practicing Anglicans, some 40 million Anglicans. They include Nigeria (20 million) Rwanda, (one million), Uganda, (approximately 14 million -- based on 32% of a population of 45.3 million, according to Wikipedia), Kenya has between 4.5 million and 5 million, though I am told that the bishop of the Diocese of Nairobi plans to attend, and Chile. There may be other South American and Asian provinces not known to this writer who may not attend. The total Anglican population is thought to be 85 million, which includes 26 million inactive Anglicans in the Church of England. Four attending bishops talk about the need for unity. You can read the full story here: https://tinyurl.com/y5v22x9w

*****

As GAFCON chairman and Nigerian Primate Nicholas Okoh exits the leadership of GAFCON, he goes out with a blast. Writing to GAFCON followers he said there was no middle ground between faithfulness and false teaching in the Anglican Communion, a direct slap in the face at Archbishop Justin Welby. False tolerance of religious leaders who have "no regard for the Lord" brings disaster, said the Nigerian Primate.

In his final letter, Okoh said the crisis of the Anglican Communion is spiritual and it is essentially the same as that of God's people in the time of Samuel. "False tolerance of religious leaders...brings disaster and we must continue to stand firm for the faith as we have received it."

The evangelical Primate of some 20 million Nigerian Anglicans has repeatedly railed against the Archbishop of Canterbury over his refusal to condemn homosexuality and for failing to discipline errant provinces that have embraced same-sex marriage.

Okoh praised incoming chairman and successor, ACNA Archbishop Foley Beach as a man "tested" and "one who has paid the price for standing firm." God is blessing us with a godly and wise leader who loves the Lord Jesus Christ and has the heart of an evangelist, he said. You can read my story here: https://tinyurl.com/y2kq29vn

*****

The Anglican Church in North America officially released the final texts for The Book of Common Prayer 2019 this week. It has been an enterprise long in the making driven by the former ACNA archbishop Robert Duncan.

These texts can be found on the new Book of Common Prayer (BCP) website here. http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/1823 Commemorative editions marking the 10-year anniversary of the Anglican Church in North America will be released at Provincial Assembly in June. You can read the full story here: https://www.virtueonline.org/book-common-prayer-2019-final-texts-released

*****

Three more women priests were elected bishops in The Episcopal Church recently, thus fulfilling Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's "revival" dream that the Church would have more women and people of color, not to mention openly pansexual priests, as next generation bishops.

The Rt. Rev. Cathleen Chittenden Bascom was consecrated the 10th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas on March 2 at Grace Cathedral in Topeka, becoming the first woman bishop in the diocese's 160-year history. She was also the first diocesan bishop ever to be elected from a slate of candidates who all were women.

The Rev. Megan M. Traquair was recently elected the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Northern California. She is the first woman to be elected as bishop, selected from the first slate to ever include female candidates in the diocese of Northern California. With her election, the number of women bishops in the House of Bishops continues its upward trend.

The Rev. Canon Kathryn 'Kai' Ryan was recently elected as bishop suffragan for the western region of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. The other two candidates were both women. Ryan, 54, currently serves as Canon to the Ordinary for the Diocese of Texas. She will serve "under the direction" of Diocesan Bishop Andy Doyle and will have oversight of congregations in the western region of the diocese, with an office in Austin.

Regrettably, none are black or lesbian, but a transgendered bishop can't be too far behind. All things in time.

*****

The Rt. Rev. Whayne M. Hougland Jr., Bishop of Western Michigan, gave an update April 13 on shared ministries with the Diocese of Eastern Michigan, according to The Living Church.

The Diocesan Council and Standing Committee gathered in a joint meeting to consider the invitation offered to us by the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan -- to enter into a period of conversation around deepening our shared ministries and to share a bishop during that time.

Hougland: "Your elected leadership has voted unanimously to support me in accepting the invitation to dance -- to take the next steps in faith, working alongside our friends from across the state."

TRANSLATION: The two dioceses apart have no future. Time to face reality: Unite or die.

*****

The Anglican Church of Canada is sitting on so many time bombs, one is forced to ask just when one of them will go off, thus sending the Anglican Church parts into thin air never to be heard of or seen again.

First off, the Diocese of Niagara, now in the hands of a woman bishop who recently married the homosexual bishop of Toronto to his partner, thus sparking even more outrage from Global South bishops. This time the diocese has been branded syncretistic, promoting a book by Bishop Carlton Pearson called "God Is Not a Christian, Nor a Jew, Muslim, Hindu ... God Dwells With Us, in Us, around Us, as Us".

Pearson was declared a heretic by his church in 2004 and now espouses a treacly new-age universalism laced with generous helpings of meaningless gibberish such as "Self Actualization" and "Expanded Consciousness":

The Diocese of Niagara is attracted to this sort of thing like a moth to a flame, writes David of Samizdat:
In the preface the author writes, "Christian, Jewish, and Islamic theologies teach us that we are all created in the image and likeness of God. If this is even close to the truth, then to believe in God is to believe in yourself -- in your own soul." You can read more here: https://www.virtueonline.org/syncretistic-diocese-niagara

General Synod 2019 meeting in July will address and vote on changes to the marriage Canon. "This is to be a forum for support and to encourage each other as we head into this important conversation. Many continue to feel hurt and excluded; others are wanting to continue working for justice, respect and dignity for all as equal members of the body of Christ ... the living out of our baptismal covenant," says a blurb from the Church.

Let me save you the trouble of attending this gabfest. The ACoC will change its marriage canons to suit a handful of homosexuals, whose pain of exclusion will be tearfully splashed all over the Synod floor. The bishops will fall all over themselves to allow them to be married. The ACoC will formally approve homosexual marriage, and to hell with what the handful of orthodox bishops think or do. One doubts that a single orthodox bishop will walk out.

Four Toronto Anglican priests however, wrote an Open Letter about marriage saying that the change in the canons would blur the boundaries of marriage and make them unclear and contestable.

"From the bishops' point of view, there will be two doctrines of marriage in the church, and for both there ought to be support and protection.

"That said, the church is still rolling like a freight train toward a formal and canonical change and the declaration of a novel and single doctrine of marriage. This new doctrine changes marriage from a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman for procreation, to an erotic agreement between adults."
You can read the full story here: https://tinyurl.com/y2zckd4c

Finally, the Anglican Journal is abandoning its editorial independence. The previous mandate of the Journal, as specified in the handbook of the General Synod, is to be "a national newspaper of interest to the members of the Anglican Church of Canada, with an independent editorial policy and not being an official voice of or for the church."

The new mandate reads, "the General Synod shall produce and distribute journalistic content of interest to the members of the Anglican Church of Canada, whose purpose is to connect and reflect the Church to internal and external audiences, providing a forum for the full range of voices and views across the Church."

The Journal has always had a bias towards theological liberalism, so for all intents and purposes, it has been a mouthpiece for the Anglican Church of Canada. The only difference now is that it is no longer pretending to do otherwise, writes David of Samizdat.

There is one thing that could change, though: currently, the Journal receives over $500,000 yearly from Canadian Heritage -- from our taxes -- but only if it maintains editorial independence.

*****

Equal, the Campaign for Equal Marriage in the Church of England, is campaigning for a change in the teaching and practice of the Church of England to allow all couples to marry in church, regardless of their gender, sex or sexuality. This principle of equality already applies in English law and in some other churches.

The Church of England's current official position is that only opposite-sex couples can marry in its churches. Same-gender couples cannot marry in church. They cannot even officially receive a blessing after a civil marriage. Christians who have married their same-gender partner are discriminated against in the ministry of the church, both lay and ordained.

Our aims: We believe that same-gender couples should be able to be married in Church of England parishes.

We believe that people in such marriages should have the same opportunities for lay and ordained ministry in the Church of England as anyone else.

We believe that the consciences of everyone should be protected -- no member of the clergy should be forced to conduct a marriage they disagree with. No member of the clergy should be prevented from celebrating a marriage involving a same-gender couple.

*****

ARCTIC bishop goes to Ireland, according to the Diocese of Down and Dramore. The Rt. Rev. Darren McCartney has been appointed Incumbent of the Parish of Clonallon and Warrenpoint with Kilbroney in the Diocese of Dromore. Since 2012, Darren has been Suffragan (assistant) bishop of the Diocese of the Arctic.

He was ordained in the Diocese of the Arctic in 2003, ministering in Pangnirtung before returning to Northern Ireland in 2006 on his appointment as curate in Carrickfergus, Diocese of Connor. He was appointed rector of Knocknamuckley in 2009 and served there until 2012, when he was elected suffragan (assistant) Bishop of the Diocese of the Arctic.

Bishop Harold said: "I am very pleased to welcome Bishop Darren back to the Diocese of Down and Dromore. Please pray for him, his wife Karen and his son Liam, as they prepare to move. I know that Darren will be greatly used by God in his new ministry in Rostrevor and Warrenpoint".

The date of the institution service will be announced soon.

*****

Queer coins in the Canadian fountain. A number of Canadians demonstrated in Ottawa this week at the country's Royal Mint against a new coin to be released in the coming weeks that commemorates the decriminalization of homosexual sex acts.

Organizer CitizenGO released a statement yesterday saying that it had collected over 48,000 signatures in support of its "demand that the Mint cancel this release of this one-dollar coin.""I am very upset over the planned release of a pro-homosexual one-dollar coin later this year. I do not want a 'gay' loonie," states the petition. "The government must withdraw its plans for any design that celebrates homosexual acts. I do not want homosexuality forced upon me and my country," it adds.

*****

On the Culture War front, half of pastors are concerned they will offend someone if they speak on social Issues. In a new report from the Barna Group, nine out of 10 Christian pastors said they feel that helping Christians form biblical beliefs about specific issues is a major part of their job.

The report found that pastors face pressure to address specific, sometimes hot button, issues. However, at the same time, pastors said they struggled with just how to address those topics, such as LGBT issues and same-sex marriage.

"The stakes are high in the public square," the researchers wrote in their report. "The issues pastors feel most pressured to speak out on are the same ones they feel limited to speak on."

The biggest topic clergy say they felt pressure to talk about is homosexuality. Nearly half of respondents says they feel limited in how to talk about homosexuality in their church, but at the same time some 37 percent said they felt pressure to speak about it.

"They actually feel pressured to not preach on certain topics or pressured to speak on topics that they are not ready to talk about," said Barna Group president David Kinnaman.

The study also looked at how pastors feel about religious freedom. Some 75 percent of pastors said they believe religious freedom is becoming "less valued," while about 44 percent said they predict that other freedoms could be threatened in the next 10 years.

Many pastors in the study also reported that "extreme" or "major" threats to religious freedom included requiring religious hospitals to perform abortions, forcing religious organizations to hire despite beliefs on sexual orientation and restrictions on religious groups on college campuses.

*****

I hope you will consider supporting VIRTUEONLINE'S vital ministry to the Anglican Communion. You can make a tax-deductible donation here at this link: https://tinyurl.com/yabemo37 Thank you for your support.

All Blessings,

David

The so-called "Equality Act" that Democrats are now pushing in the House as their "top priority" should really be renamed the "Get the Homophobic and Transphobic Bigots Act." It is the most dangerous bill to freedom of speech and the free exercise of religion that has ever been proposed on a national level. The key point to recognize about the bill is that it will codify into law that you are a bigot, the moral equivalent of a racist, tantamount to being a member of the Klu Klux Klan, who must be shut out of society and, wherever possible, harassed and persecuted for your beliefs. Everything else is commentary. --- Robert A.J. Gagnon

Very many Church of England bishops are implicit Arians since they demote Jesus' teaching on marriage and Sex. --- Bishop Gavin Ashenden

The lordship of Christ. In saying that saving faith includes obedience, I mean that in true faith there is an element of submission. Faith is directed towards a Person. It is in fact a complete commitment to this Person involving not only an acceptance of what is offered but a humble surrender to what is or may be demanded. The bent knee is as much a part of saving faith as the open hand. --- John R.W. Stott

By David W. Virtue, DD
www.virtueonline.org
May 3, 2019

FEELINGS, nothing more than feelings, Teardrops rolling down my face ...for all my life I'll feel it, Feelings, wo-o-o... thus ran the lyrics by Barry Mann, now being regurgitated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.

When Welby sent out the Lambeth 2020 invitations and disinvited the spouses of bishops who are in same-sex marriages, he was attempting a compromise which was typically Anglican: it had nothing to do with right, wrong, truth or lies; what mattered was whose feelings were going to be hurt.
Whether same-sex marriage is good, bad, Biblical or unbiblical is not the point; just like the treacly song, what matters is feelings and not hurting them or, at least, hurting them all equally.

There are currently two bishops in this position: the Rt. Rev. Mary Glasspool, Assistant Bishop of New York and the Rt. Rev. Kevin Robertson, Suffragan Bishop of Toronto. Next month, they are due to be joined by a third, when the Rev. Thomas Brown is consecrated Bishop of Maine.

Then Welby said this; "The most painful part, to me, of the decisions that have to be made, is that I know that, at every moment that I write a letter or make a decision, I am making a decision about people -- and that there is no decision that will result in nobody getting hurt."

"If I'd decided differently on the decision about same-sex spouses -- and it hurt a lot of people, by the way -- I would have hurt a huge number of people elsewhere in the Communion. And there wasn't a nice solution which I looked and thought, 'Nah, I don't want to do that, I'll take the nasty solution.' It's not as simple as that."

So, it is okay not to hurt the feelings of a small group of pansexualists, but ignore the pain caused to millions of orthodox Anglicans across the globe who feel differently. They can be hurt. That's okay.

Truth be damned, Scripture be damned, history be damned, tradition be damned, the Church MUST affirm and please a handful of whinny homosexuals and lesbians lest they turn on you and call you a hater and homophobic. We must not have that, even though Scripture is clear that those who perform these acts will NOT inherit the Kingdom of God. Feelings are definitely far more important, more important than scripture or holding the communion together or what 80% of the Anglican Communion really thinks about sodomy, regardless of what GAFCON primates and bishops who represent more than two thirds of what the communion thinks, we must bow before the hurt feelings of Ms. Glasspool, Kevin
Robertson and Thomas Brown have done and now want the communion to look like, even though it violates the consciences of millions of Church-going Anglicans. God forbid!

Welby reiterated this theme in Hong Kong this week where the ACC-17 were meeting at a luxurious hotel according to the Church Times, where the first item of business was an apology from the chief operating officer of the Anglican Communion Office, David White. He had been asked by a member of the Anglican Consultative Council from South Sudan why they were meeting in such a luxurious hotel "with chandeliers in every room".

The ABC played it all down saying that the policy over the last few years has been the use of electronic meetings. "Sometimes, it is necessary to see each other face to face, because you can just do and say things that you can't do in any other way. And, sometimes, even with the carbon footprint, those who are suffering particularly from climate change need the experience of being with others who are there physically with them, who put an arm round them literally rather than metaphorically, to express their concern and sorrow, and go away more determined to campaign." Tio hell with carbon footprint. We must have liberals and progressives gather together to whip away at conservatives who won't show up because they know what to expect.

But Welby isn't getting it all his way. The Most Rev. Foley Beach, Primate of the Anglican Church in North America and Chairman of GAFCON, meeting with his fellow primates in Sydney, had this to say;
"Yesterday I received a letter from Archbishop Justin just moments before the invitation was reported online. I read the online report first and was disappointed to see that the original "news" source had furthered a partisan, divisive, and false narrative by wrongly asserting that I left the Anglican Communion. I have never left the Anglican Communion, and have no intention of doing so.

I did transfer out of a revisionist body that had left the teaching of the Scriptures and the Anglican Communion and I became canonically resident in another province of the Anglican Communion. I have never left. For the Anglican Church in North America to be treated as mere "observers" is an insult to both our bishops, many of whom have made costly stands for the Gospel, and the majority of Anglicans around the world who have long stood with us as a province of the Anglican Communion.

Once I have had a chance to review this with our College of Bishops and the Primates Council of the Global Anglican Future Conference I will respond more fully."

Now you know how this is going to go. GAFCON primates will stand on Scripture, they will not yield to Welby's waffle on sexuality, they will uphold Scripture is primary on all matters of faith and practice.

You can read Lambeth 2020 Chaos, a press release put out by GAFCON: Here is a teaser; "Plans for the 2020 Lambeth Conference are descending into chaos. In a promotional video, the Archbishop of Canterbury stated that "of course all bishops' spouses will be invited." This surely meant that the wife of Bishop Mary Glasspool (New York, USA), the husband of Bishop Kevin Robertson (Toronto, Canada) and the husband of the soon to be consecrated Bishop Thomas Brown (Maine, USA) would be invited.

However, according to a blog written on 15th February by the Secretary General of the Anglican Consultative Council, Dr Josiah Idowu-Fearon, the spouses of the three bishops in same-sex unions were not to be invited. It then emerged that the Archbishop of Canterbury had spoken to each of the bishops in private to explain that it would be 'inappropriate' for their spouses to attend, due to Resolution I.10 of the Lambeth 1998 Conference, which affirmed the bible's teaching on marriage being between 'a man and a woman'. Yet the bishops in these same-sex unions will be invited along with those who consecrated them, "married" them, and endorse their life-style which is contrary to the Lambeth Resolution and to Scripture.

You can read the full report here: https://www.virtueonline.org/lambeth-2020-chaos

Welby gave an unscripted press conference to two media (ENS and Church Times), conservative press was not invited. What Welby had to say candidly is very revealing. You can read what he had to say here: https://www.virtueonline.org/acc-17-welby-candid-and-not-camera

*****

A war of words has broken out in the Anglican Communion between the Primate of the ACNA and the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, with each publicly lashing out at the other over an "insulting" offer by the Archbishop of Canterbury to let ACNA Archbishop Foley Beach attend Lambeth 2020 as an "observer", treating him as a outlier and not an Anglican.

The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Josiah Idowu-Fearon, publicly rebuked the Most Rev. Archbishop Foley Beach in an address at the Anglican Consultative Council's 17th meeting in Hong Kong, in which he said the crisis in the Anglican Communion "is being caused by autocratic Primates and bishops in the Global South who do not behave as Anglicans."

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, had issued the invitation to ACNA Archbishop Beach, who called the invitation an "insult."

Welby issued an invitation to denominational heads across the globe to attend the Lambeth conference and included Archbishop Beach among the invitees as "ecumenical observers."
https://www.anglicannews.org/news/2019/04/archbishop-of-canterbury-invites-ecumenical-observers-to-the-lambeth-conference-2020.aspx

However, an incensed Beach told VOL that the "news" source only furthered a partisan, divisive and false narrative by wrongly asserting that he had left the Anglican Communion when, in fact, he has not.

"I have never left the Anglican Communion, and have no intention of doing so." He said he had transferred out of The Episcopal Church because that church had abandoned the teaching of the Scriptures. "I have never left (the Anglican Communion)."

You can read more here: https://www.virtueonline.org/aco-secretary-general-rebukes-gafcon-calls-them-intentionally-ignorant-polity

IN allied news, Welby has invited, as one of the "ecumenical observers" to Lambeth 2020 the Old Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht, however this has not gone down well, Several priests who believe the pro-homosexual Union does not speak for them will not be attending.

Instead, the Bishop of the Old Catholic Church of BC, the Rt. Rev Gerard LaPlante, told VOL that he has been invited to Europe to lay hands on two new bishops for the Old Catholic Church, thus signaling a split in that denomination.

*****

It's official. ACNA Archbishop Foley Beach will wear another hat, that of Chairman of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON). He replaces Nigerian Primate Nicholas Okoh. GAFCON unites 50 million Christians from within the worldwide Anglican Communion into a family of faithful believers, committed to proclaiming the unchanging, transforming Gospel of Jesus the Christ to the world. Therefore, Dr. Beach's new role provides an even greater chance to serve the global Church. He will work closely with Archbishop Ben Kwashi of Nigeria, GAFCON'S General Secretary, to unite Christians from both the Global North and the Global South in common mission and ministry for the sake of the Gospel. The global opportunities for partnership and communicating the Lord's Word have never been greater!

*****

Another major development this week occurred when the ACNA entered into a concordat with the Church of Nigeria over three CANA parishes in the US, resulting in two out of the three dioceses staying with the Church of Nigeria and one -- CANA East -- joining fully with the ACNA. The two dioceses CANA West, based in El Paso, Texas and the Anglican Diocese of the Trinity based in Minneapolis will remain as "ministry partners" with the ACNA but canonically resident with Nigeria. "I have requested ACNA to receive me and our Diocese as ministry partners and I hope they do. I further urge ACNA to consider the concerns of our diocese regarding the ordination of women. It is my hope that we will work together for the good of the kingdom," Bishop Felix Orji told VOL

Bishop Julain Dobbs (CANA East) told VOL, “Cana East remains a diocese of the Anglican Church in North America which it joined in 2013 and looks forward to a continued gospel partnership with the Church of Nigeria as we seek to proclaim Christ, plant churches and witness to the love of and faithfulness of Almighty God.”

On July 3, four Anglican bishops will be consecrated by the Church of Nigeria in Lagos, three of whom will return to the U.S. and one will be based in Canada.

However, this did not stop ANGLICAN-TV and its resident Episcopal spokesman, (the Rev.) George Conger, spinning what took place, likening it to the situation in the Anglican Mission in America (AMIA). This is total spin and nonsense. There is no possible parallel. The AMiA under Chuck Murphy never joined with anyone and the AMIA's refusal to come under the ACNA has left it split and in tatters. It has no future.

The ACNA is 30-strong dioceses with just two no longer officially part of the ACNA. It's a bump in the road. Conger accused CANA of building a kingdom, untrue. That the Church of Nigeria has not accepted the protocols of the ACNA and wants to have its own people in the US and Canada is very troubling. It is a reverse form of colonialism and ACNA should reject such a compromise. We are way beyond nationalism and colonialism of every form. That the most segregated hour in America is Sunday morning worship is a stain on American Christianity and the actions of Archbishop Nicholas Okoh only confirms that. Kevin Kallsen and ANGLICAN-TV should offer a correction and an apology for its egregious misstatements about the ACNA. That Conger stays in TEC under a morally compromised bishop like Greg Brewer speaks volumes; throwing stones in glass houses comes to mind.

*****

A proposal is being put forward at the Church in Wales' governing body, calling for ordination to be denied to candidates who do not accept the ordination of women.

A Private Member's Motion by the Ven. Peggy Jackson is now before the Church's governing body, following the consecration of two women bishops, arguing that all bishops, consonant with previous undertakings, agree not to hold in future, separate, ordination services for any candidate, on the grounds of the candidates' views on gender.

It calls on the Bench of Bishops to resile (abandon a position or a course of action) from paragraph 5 of the Explanatory Note to their 2014 Code of Practice and cease to ordain those who, refusing the sacramental ministry of women, expect to rely upon the conscience clauses of the Code. You can read the full story here: https://www.virtueonline.org/wales-ordination-be-denied-candidates-who-do-not-accept-womens-ordination

*****

The Reformed Episcopal Church announced this week that one of their bishops, David Hicks, had resigned as Ordinary of the Diocese of Northeast to become the rector of an ACNA parish in the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh and will take up a parish in Butler, PA.

"I know this announcement meets all of us with surprise, perhaps shock, and certainly sadness. Bishop Hicks has served his diocese for fourteen years as its pastor, and at the Reformed Episcopal Seminary. Furthermore, his calling is away from episcopal service, although he will still be a bishop without specific portfolio.

"As the saying goes, "Once ordained always ordained." This call even comes in the middle, not the end of his life's service. At the same time the sense of finishing what God has called us to do in one specific endeavor, much earlier than expected, sometimes comes along the road of ministry. This kind of occurrence appears at all levels of service both lay and clergy," wrote The Most Rev. Dr. Ray R. Sutton Presiding Bishop of the REC. You can read more here: http://virtueonline.org/rec-bishop-david-hicks-resigns-ordinary-diocese-northeast-be-rector-butler-pa

This should not be viewed as a slight upon the REC, as the REC is a fully pledged and paid up diocese of the ACNA. It is a case of reshuffling of chairs by one bishop heading off to a new jurisdiction.

*****

A priest once elected, and subsequently denied office, as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan, is moving on from at least one church he leads, leaving behind a precipitously declining congregation with only a handful of attendees. The Rev. Kevin Thew Forrester at the time of his election was a Zen Buddhist lay ordinand. His 2009 election triggered opposition from across the church after it was revealed that he had received a Zen Buddhist ordination. Forrester had unilaterally edited the baptismal rite in church services he presided over in an effort to bypass doctrines he disagreed with, including original sin and the existence of Satan. The clergyman from Marquette, the largest city in Michigan's geographically vast Upper Peninsula, also inserted a verse from the Koran into a church service as the Word of God.

However, Forrester was never consecrated. That's because his election to oversee the Northern Michigan diocese did not receive consent from a sufficient number of diocesan bishops and standing committees, as required by Episcopal Church canon law. It was the first time a bishop-elect had been denied consent since the 1930s, and the first time since the 1870s that one had been rejected for theological reasons.

Despite few members in its congregation, the new job at Trinity Houghton lists a generous compensation of up to $60,000 and four weeks' vacation time. "With that kind of pay it's the best job in the diocese," assessed Dennis Lennox, a Michigan Episcopalian and religious affairs commentator familiar with the diocese. "It might even be the best job in the Episcopal Church, given the congregation is only around 12 souls." You can read more here: https://www.virtueonline.org/northern-michigan-rejected-episcopalian-buddhist-bishop-moving

*****

As the Church of England very slowly unravels, one parish recently experienced what it calls a "good separation" as a new Anglican church is established outside the C of E.

The idea of planting new congregations under the auspices of, for example, Anglican Mission in England or Free Church of England is being entertained by a growing number of C of E clergy and supportive members of their congregations.

Rev Dr Peter Sanlon is such a clergyman. He has for some time been publicly critical of the theological direction of the C of E. In 2018, he published a book, 'The Bible Theft', detailing the C of E leadership's move away from biblical teaching (review here). As vicar of St Mark's Church of England Parish, Tunbridge Wells, he openly shared his concerns with his parish leadership and congregation, as well as with the Diocesan leadership. After some time of preparation and negotiation, he and a small team have begun Emmanuel Anglican Church, a new congregation of the Free Church of England congregation. It meets in the library of a community center on a housing estate about a mile down the hill from the center of town.

In February, the Diocese of Rochester announced Sanlon's resignation as vicar of St Mark's C of E in order to transfer to become Rector of Emmanuel FCE. For more, click here: https://www.virtueonline.org/example-good-separation-new-anglican-church-established-outside-c-e

*****

A conference on the Jewish roots of Christianity is being held at Beeson Divinity School. The Institute of Anglican Studies at Beeson Divinity School will host its second Annual Anglican Theology Conference, Sept. 24-25. This year's conference, "Jewish Roots of Christianity," will bring in leading scholars to present cutting-edge research on the campus of Samford University.

"Interest in Jewish roots is somewhat new in the history of Christianity, and especially for Christian scholars," said Gerald McDermott, Beeson's Anglican Chair of Divinity and conference organizer. "This is important not only for scholars but also for the church."

The conference will address topics such as the Jewish roots of Christian liturgy, post-Holocaust theology, Messianic Judaism, Paul and Jewish law and whether Jesus was breaking from the Judaism of his day. Speakers include Mark Kinzer, president emeritus of the Messianic Jewish Theological Institute; Eugene Korn, academic director of The Center of Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation in Israel; and David M. Moffitt, senior lecturer in New Testament Studies at the University of St. Andrews; among many others.

Register for the conference and find more information.
https://www.samford.edu/news/2019/04/Beeson-Divinity-Schools-Second-Annual-Anglican-Theology-Conference-to-Discuss-Jewish-Roots-of-Christianity

*****

The Bishop of Wyoming John Smylie is retiring. He has had an undistinguished career in the position. In 2010, Baptized Membership was 7,279, by 2017, it had dropped to 6,454. In 2010, communicants numbered 5,883. In 2017, it had dropped to 5,144. The 2010, ASA in 2010 was 1,972, by 2017, it was down to 1,690. The 2010 Percentage of baptized who attend Sunday services was 27.1%, by 2017, it was 26.1%. Baptisms plunged from 149 in 2010 to 106 in 2017. The only "good news" is that columbaria were definitely needed because funerals were up from 132 in 2010 to 143 in 2017, far outpacing any other statistic.

*****

Slowly, but surely, the acceptance of homosexuality is creeping into the Church of England. Recently, permission was given by the Chapter for a Durham Cathedral banner to be carried in support of the LGBT+ community during the Durham Pride parade. They also invited staff and volunteers to show their support. No comment from the Archbishop of York and no comment from the Bishop of Durham, both supposedly "Evangelicals". Both, however are ardent WO supporters.

*****

One by one former Anglo-Catholic parishes roll over and become Affirming Catholic. A case in point is St. Thomas, Fifth Ave., in New York City. You can see a vimeo here of a recent homosexual marriage: https://vimeo.com/333182898

*****

AWKWARD. A United Methodist Dialogue Committee recommends taking "next faithful step" toward full communion between The Episcopal Church and United Methodist Church. But there's a wee bit of a snag. Recently the UMC General Conference decided against same-sex marriage largely influenced by African votes. TEC is fully on board with same-sex marriage. UMC put their best spin on it by saying, "we believe that what we are experiencing in the various crises of our denominational life is the birth pangs of something remarkable, something new. We believe that the forces of polarization, mistrust, and animosity in our society and in our ecclesial life will not have the last word." This might be a case of double blindness.

*****

And just to let you know that TEC is fully committed to yet more women bishops, the Diocese of Montana announced that three women have been nominated to lead the diocese into the future.
The three women are; The Rev. Mary Caucutt, rector of Christ Church, Cody, Wyo. Her specialty is Ignatian spirituality, gardening and cooking. The next is The Rev. Nina Ranadive Pooley, rector of St. Bartholomew's Church, Yarmouth, Maine, whose specialty is "responsive liturgy" and "ecumenical collaborations." Finally, there is the Rev. Marty Stebbins, rector, St. Timothy's, Wilson, N.C. a licensed veterinarian and board-certified epidemiologist. "There are two ministries that combine my ministry love of Christ and animals: the first is the annual pet blessing, to which both pets and livestock are invited. It celebrates the role they have in our lives."

*****

The percentage of Americans who say they belong to a church, synagogue or mosque has hit a historic low, a new Gallup report released April 18 shows.

The new report analyzing religious membership of Americans has found that an average of 50 percent of Americans in 2018 said they belong or are members of a church or other religious institution. This represents a 20-percentage-point decline in church membership over the past 20 years, and the lowest it has been since Gallup began polling the question in 1937.

Previously, church membership reported being at least 70 percent or more from the years 1937 through 1976.

For Democrats, independents, Hispanics and men, fewer than half report being members of a church or other religious institution, according to the data.

The new Gallup report published this week analyzes the organization's data from 2016 to 2018 based on telephone interviews with a random sample of over 7,688 adults from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The sample has a margin of error of 1 percentage point.

As previous polling has shown, the decline in church membership coincides with an increase in Americans who claim they don't have any religious affiliation. The data also shows that Americans with a religious affiliation has dropped to 77 percent, down from 90 percent in 1998 through 2000.

Those reporting no religious affiliation has doubled from 9 percent to 19 percent in 2016 through 2018. Among those who claim no religious affiliation, 7 percent report belonging to a church.

As Gallup notes, the trend also coincides with a decline in church membership among people who do have religious preferences.

*****

Please consider a tax-deductible donation to support VIRTUEONLINE'S vital ministry to the Anglican Communion. You can make your donation here at this link: https://tinyurl.com/yabemo37 You can also send a snail mail check to: VIRTUEONLINE, 570 Twin Lakes Rd., P.O. Box 111, Shohola, PA 18458. Thank you for your support.

All Blessings,

David

I loathe the cliche "everyone has a story". Most of our stories are quite wicked and regrettable but we glorify them on the basis of our common humanity without assessing them in light of divine holiness and truth. Demas had his story. Do we soften to it? Judas had his story. Do we respect it? Michael Curry and Jon Meacham have their stories. Do we tolerate them? Repentance in humility and love before God is our lifetime's soul-work down here. But we all commit the crime of heresy by going our own way and brazenly disputing with God. He is merciful to our honest doubts and desperate questionings but not to a career of controverting with his plain truth in a mood of religious nit-picking and deeming ourselves smart in so doing. Evangelicals are being seriously tempted to cozy up to the world. --- Rev. Roger Salter

In many parts of the world, the greatest competition for the hearts and minds of people is between biblical Christianity and the prosperity gospel. And the central problem of the prosperity gospel is not that it offers too much, but that it offers too little. The gospel of Jesus Christ brings salvation, the forgiveness of sin, and life everlasting. The prosperity gospel promises a Ferrari. At least it did for Joel Osteen. --- Albert J. Mohler

God's provision. Grace and mercy are both expressions of God's love, grace to the guilty and undeserving, mercy to the needy and helpless. Peace is that restoration of harmony with God, others and self which we call 'salvation'. Put together, peace indicates the character of salvation, mercy our need of it and grace God's free provision of it in Christ. --- John R.W. Stott

After hearing white "gay" state representative Brian Sims' harassing and attempting to shame a pro-life elderly Catholic woman for being a "white" person praying at an abortion clinic, the obvious response is: How does an abortion clinic killing a disproportionately high rate of Black babies support the view that Black Lives Matter? --- Robert A. J. Gagnon

There will be no way for the Archbishop of Canterbury to convene a task group to deal with ACNA without dealing with Gafcon, and there will be no way to have a fruitful dialogue with Gafcon without backing up to Lambeth 1998 and the "consequences" that flowed from it. And such a turnaround by Canterbury has been repeatedly refused. --- Dr. Stephen Noll

Free grace. The gospel is the gospel of grace, of God's free and unmerited favour. To turn from him who called you in the grace of Christ is to turn from the true gospel. Whenever teachers start exalting man, implying that he can contribute anything to his salvation by his own morality, religion, philosophy or respectability, the gospel of grace is being corrupted. That is the first test. The true gospel magnifies the free grace of God. --- John R.W. Stott

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
May 17, 2019

Archbishop Justin Welby got his head handed to him on a platter in Hong Kong where the ACC-17 met last week, and the platter wasn't made of silver. John the Baptist did better.

The chaos of ACC-17 Hong Kong came to a head with Welby finding himself shot down in one resolution after another over homosexuality. Welby preferred to fall on his sword for a handful of homosexuals rather than persecuted Christians. He would sooner broker sodomy and homosexual marriage into the Anglican Communion regardless of how this impacts African Christians facing persecution by Islamic militants.

That was the takeaway from Hong Kong this week, where the ACC-17 crowd met. Welby left emptied-handed, with a failed resolution, apologizing all over the place. An Episcopal bishop from Oklahoma took it in the face from several African bishops, who expressed horror that homosexuality was so upfront in the Anglican Communion when other more pressing issues bewail the Communion.

One bishop even mentioned the hated "G" word, which must have had Welby wetting his pants. He hates GAFCON. He has called them a "ginger group" and he insulted Archbishop Beach by saying he can show up as an "ecumenical observer" next year at Lambeth.

That is not going to happen, of course. Archbishop Beach will not be there. But a couple of orthodox primates from the Global South will show up just to read the riot act (an Athanasian moment) to the assembled bishops, undercutting Welby's, "I am the focus of unity" message, which is now in tatters.

Meanwhile, the GAFCON primates who were meeting in Sydney turned the tables on Welby, totally blindsiding him and announced that they were going to hold a conference of their own next year in Kilgali, Rwanda, for all faithful bishops who will sign off on the Jerusalem Declaration and affirm Lambeth 1:10.

The GAFCON primates will meet in June, just one month before Lambeth. They just cut off Welby's legs.

Welby got upstaged...again. He must be fit to be tied. He can't spin, ignore, prevaricate any longer. He just got his head handed to him by GAFCON chairman and ACNA Archbishop Foley Beach and his fellow primates.

Now regardless of how many show up, they will still represent only 20 million of the 70 million Anglicans worldwide. Welby may boast of a larger number of bishops at Lambeth, but they will represent only 20 million Anglicans. That includes the Bishop of Northern Michigan, who can boast a mere 400 ASA Episcopalians on any given Sunday. This is both laughable and pathetic.

One wonders what is going on in Welby's brain now that the Hong Kong debacle is over. He leaves, tail between his legs, hopelessly outgunned by liberals and a handful of African conservatives. Who knows, perhaps they were sent as ringers to torture Welby!

Would anybody really be surprised if Welby decided to do a Rowan Williams and leave the office years before he has to and run a small HTB parish in London's East End! You can read my story here: https://www.virtueonline.org/archbishop-justin-welby-should-resign
Another story I wrote can be seen here: https://www.virtueonline.org/welby-pushes-anglican-communion-edge-hoping-redemption

Perhaps the penny will drop and Welby will finally realize that he cannot serve two masters. What a lesson to learn.

Two very important commentaries on this event are posted here. One is by Wycliffe theologian Andrew Atherstone, which you can read here: http://virtueonline.org/what-really-happened-anglican-consultative-council-acc-17. The other is by Dr. Stephen Noll who critiques Atherstone's too irenic approach to ACC-17, which you can read here:
https://www.virtueonline.org/gafcon-and-acc-17-response-andrew-atherstone Canon Phil Ashey of the American Anglican Council also weighed in. Here is his take: https://www.virtueonline.org/anglican-consultative-council-adding-dysfunction-broken-instruments-communion

It's interesting to note that as the influence of the ACC wanes in the Anglican Communion and the influence of GAFCON grows, the ACC is doubling down and increasing its budget to fund its strategic plan from $3 million to $6.4 million for 2025. Do they honestly think they can head off GAFCON at the pass by throwing money at their cause?

*****

In Baltimore, MD, Heather Cook, the former Episcopal bishop who garnered headlines around the world after fatally striking a Baltimore bicyclist with her car while driving drunk two days after Christmas in 2014, has been released from prison.

Cook, 62, served just over half of the seven-year sentence she was originally given on four criminal charges in connection with the crash that killed bicyclist Thomas Palermo, a software engineer and married father of two, on Dec. 27, 2014.

Released from the Maryland Correctional Institute for Women, she will be on supervised probation for five years, according to her attorney, David Irwin of Towson.

Gerard Shields, a spokesman for the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, said Cook will be required to report within 24 hours to a Parole and Probation field office for intake.

"She will then be classified and assigned to an office location according to the home address she provides to us," he said in an email.

Cook will learn the exact conditions of her probation at the meeting.

Cook was the No. 2 official in the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland at the time she struck Palermo, who was 41 and the father of two young children, with her 2001 Subaru Forester in Roland Park. You can read more here: https://tinyurl.com/y5ga6zzw

It is quite amazing that we hear nothing from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry about the benefits of white privilege in that she was sprung from prison after doing half her sentence. Would such a male or female person of color be afforded such a quick release?

*****

As the Church of England declines into the sunset with diminishing congregations, slowly, but inevitably brokering in same sex marriage, some parishes want to bend over even further to make nice with local Muslims.

A case in point this week occurred in the Diocese of Durham, where a parish church, The Church of St Matthew and St Luke, Darlington, agreed to provide separate worship space so men and women could offer segregated worship. The church in question offered to cover crosses and other sacred images in order to host Islamic prayers and an Iftar meal for the local Muslim community. Rebel priest, Dr. Jules Gomes, ripped into this parish for "being ashamed of the gospel" after saying it would cover crosses.

Meanwhile, Durham Cathedral sent out a second email confirming it would be participating in the Gay Pride Parade on May 26 and invited staff and volunteers to join.

Dr. Andrew Bosanquet, a scientist, wrote to Bishop Butler, saying that he was "deeply saddened by the stand of the present Durham Cathedral authorities in so openly supporting Gay Pride. Bishop Butler did not respond to the letter.

The Iftar meal and Muslim prayers will go ahead on June 2 in the parish.

You can read the full story here: https://www.virtueonline.org/durham-church-offers-cover-crosses-while-hosting-muslim-iftar-meal

*****

Following the recent meeting of GAFCON archbishops and bishops in Australia, an "Anglican Foundations: A Handbook to the Source Documents of the English Reformation" was made available to attendees.

One attendee wrote VOL and said how they were privileged to hear Archbishops Foley Beach and Ben Kwashi speak at Holy Trinity, Adelaide, as part of their What's Next? Confidently Preaching Christ GAFCON Australia tour. You can see more here: http://www.gafconaustralia.org/.

"It was most encouraging, explaining clearly how the Anglican Communion had reached this current stage and providing a helpful update on the way ahead and the need to hold to the Word of God.

"During proceedings, mention was made of a recent book (December 2018), authored by Rev. Dr. Tim Patrick, Principal and Lecturer in Theology, Bible College of South Australia, setting out the foundational texts of the Anglican Communion. The book is readily available internationally. The best way for readers around the world to obtain it easily is via Booko, which provides a range of booksellers in different countries and their respective prices for the book and delivery."
https://booko.com.au/9781906327538/Anglican-Foundations-A-Handbook-to-the-Source-Documents-of-the-English-Reformation

Anglican Foundations is an unparalleled resource that offers students, ordinands, and all committed Anglicans the ideal orientation to the doctrinal texts of the English Reformation.

*****

IN WALES, the House of Bishops pondered same sex relationships. Following a debate, in a secret ballot, by a margin of 76 to 21, they supported the bishops' view that it is pastorally unsustainable for the Church in Wales to make no formal provision for those in same-sex relationships. They were clear to state that it was not a binding vote of the Governing Body, and did not, in any respect, change the Church's teaching and practice on marriage. Rather, the bishops received the vote as permission to undertake new work on the question of how the Church in Wales might make some kind of formal provision in this area.

Well, we know how all this will eventually go. There will be endless "listening" talks coupled with talks of "diversity" and finally, acceptance. The Church's pansexualists will wear down the opposition with cries of homophobia and hate and sooner or later, the bishops will cave in, as they have done in the US, Canada, New Zealand and Scotland.

One small pushback did occur in Wales, when a motion, put forward by a woman priest demanding future candidates for ordination who do not accept the role of women priests, be denied access to ordination fell apart. The Church in Wales governing body rejected the proposal, with the Ven. Peggy Jackson back-peddling as fast she could, saying she was misunderstood.

*****

The Queen has appointed her first female 'Dean of Her Majesty's Chapels Royal' since the post was created in the Middle Ages.

Bishop Sarah Mullally, who was also appointed Bishop of London in March 2018, will take over from the retiring holder, The Rt. Rev. and Rt. Hon. Lord Chartres, this summer - which means one of her first tasks could be to baptize little Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, the newborn son of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Mother-of-two, Bishop Mullally is a self-described feminist, who ordains both men and women and has been described as a 'theological liberal'. The role means she is the primary representative of the Church in the Royal Court.

*****

In Toronto, Canada, the Ontario Court of Appeal released its decision in Christian Medical and Dental Society (CMDS) v. College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO). The court unanimously upheld the CPSO's policies on medical assistance in dying and human rights obligations. The policies require doctors who conscientiously object to ethically controversial procedures (such as euthanasia/assisted suicide and abortion) to take "positive action" to facilitate them, such as by providing an "effective referral" to a willing and available physician.

The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC), the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario (ACBO), and the Christian Legal Fellowship (CLF) -- who jointly intervened in the case as a Coalition, said they were disappointed with the ruling. Bishop Ronald Fabbro, ACBO President and Bishop of London, commented:

"This decision is a step backwards for conscience rights in our province. Of particular concern is the wording in the Court of Appeal decision which suggests that conscientious objectors pursue an area of medicine that is less controversial. We run the very real risk of losing many good physicians who entered the practice motivated by a desire to heal their patients which was rooted in their own personal beliefs. Across Canada and throughout the world, we have seen an appropriate balance struck between patient rights and those of health care providers. Sadly, this is not the case in our province."

*****

Approximately 9,000 churches in Canada are estimated to close over the next 10 years based on data collected by the National Trust for Canada. There are only around 1676 Anglican parishes in Canada according to a 2007 census: https://www.anglican.ca/ask/faq/number-of-anglicans/), so if about a quarter close, that would be 400 or so closing. That would be at least two or three whole dioceses disappearing, which will be faster if the ACoC splits over the attempt to legitimize same sex marriage at their next general convention.

So, what do the churches lose?

Regeneration Works estimates that there are about 27,600 faith buildings in Canada, based on data from the Statistics Canada business register that was included in a 2009 survey by Natural Resources Canada. Of those, 9,000--a third--are estimated to close in the next 10 years. The impact of these closures would reach beyond where people worship on Sunday mornings.

"At the moment it is believed that faith communities are the largest not-for-profit landlords, real estate holders, in this nation," says Fry. "So there's a great deal of land that, if we don't make careful decisions, will pass back into commercial landlords' hands."

*****

As the Church of England slowly implodes and parishes begin leaving for better spiritual pastures, you will see more parishes like this declaring their independence.

Recently, the Rev. Peter Sanlon vicar of St. Mark's Church of England parish in Tunbridge Wells took his congregation out of the Church of England and began Emmanuel Anglican Church. This is a new congregation of the Free Church of England congregation, which now meets in the library of a community center on a housing estate about a mile down the hill from the center of town.

The decision was influenced by the history of the town: a fellowship with the name of Emmanuel Church was established as part of the foundation of the Countess of Huntingdon in the 18th century; this later became part of the Free Church of England, but closed in the early part of the 20th century. So, the new church is actually a revival of an old one. You can see a video detailing his theology and departure from the CofE here: https://youtu.be/26N8eYfglDU

*****

A notable British clergyman died this week. He was the Rev. Richard Bewes, successor to the Rev, John Stott of All Souls, Langham Place, London.

Christian leaders from across the world responded with warm tributes to the news of Prebendary Richard Bewes' peaceful release from months of suffering from cancer. He died at his home in Virginia Water, surrounded by Timothy, Wendy, Stephen and his wife, Pam.

A child of the East African Revival in the 1930s, he treasured his African roots and was the UK chairman of African Enterprise for 32 years. The son of missionary parents, Canon Cecil and Mrs Sylvia Bewes, Richard was born in 1934 in Nairobi and spent his first five years in what became (over 40 years later) the library of St Andrew College of Theology and Development in Kabare, founded by Archbishop David Gitari in 1977.

Richard's send-off from All Souls in 2004 was accompanied by a spectacular rendition of the Beatles' great hit Hey Bewes by the members of his staff team. In his mid-70s he launched the online video website "The Sermon".

He was appointed Prebendary of St Paul's Cathedral in 1988 and awarded an OBE by the Queen in 2005.

Richard was a longtime friend of Billy Graham. Bishop Gavin Reid writes: "Richard was the key player in bringing Billy Graham to London for Mission '89, which centered on three mission phases around London: West Ham, Crystal Palace and Earls Court, with a finish at Wembley. He was an enthusiastic chairman of the event.

"He proved a very tactful leader of the various committees full of people with strong personalities."

Richard named his last home "Montreat" after Billy Graham's home in Asheville, North Carolina. Leighton Ford writes: "Richard Bewes was one of my brother-in-law Billy Graham's special friends, and one of his valued advisers. He respected him so highly that, if it had been timely, he wanted him to preach at his own homegoing service."

A funeral service with thanksgiving and memorial will be held at All Souls, Langham Place, on 7 June at 2 PM.

You can read the full obituary here: https://www.virtueonline.org/richard-bewes-bible-his-pocket-and-jesus-his-heart

*****

Last month, the Gafcon Primates affirmed the decision to form a new Anglican extra-provincial diocese, and your prayers would be much appreciated as the inaugural synod are meeting in New Zealand Friday 17th and Saturday 18th May.

As representatives of 12 churches meet, please pray for the ability to discuss things robustly, good gospel unity and for the Lord to guide us to good decisions.

Please pray that the structure and leadership we come up with will allow us to preach Christ faithfully here in the coming days and years. This is the day of small things, and there are large areas of the country where people live far from gospel-minded churches so pray we'd ensure that the evangelism of this nation, the raising up of leaders, and planting new churches amongst the unreached would be the heartbeat of the new diocese.

In 2016, the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia (ACANZP) accepted a report which stated that the Church wanted to find a way to remain united despite having two integrities on matters of sexuality. After much debate, the Church changed their canons last year to allow the formal blessing of same-sex relationships. For some, the decision in 2016 caused them to leave the ACANZP, others followed when the canons were changed. Relationships between these folk and between them and the ACANZP have, for the most part been gracious and cordial. The churches forming the extra-provincial diocese include those who left in 2016 and those who left later. As they made their decisions about the future, their desire to serve each other and those who will come after them, was evident.

Rev'd Jay Behan, the Minister of St Stephen's in Christchurch was at the Primates Council at the start of the month and has been so grateful to Gafcon for standing with them and praying with them. Watch his interview here in which he discusses the reasons for leaving and how the new diocese will be formed.

*****

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You can also send a snail mail check to: VIRTUEONLINE, 570 Twin Lakes Rd., P.O. Box 111, Shohola, PA 18458. Thank you for your support.

All Blessings,

David

Judged by our works. The whole New Testament teaches this; although we sinners can be 'justified' only by faith in Christ, yet we shall be 'judged' by our works. This is not a contradiction. It is because good works of love are the only available public evidence of our faith. Our faith in Jesus Christ is secret, hidden in our hearts. But if it is genuine, it will manifest itself visibly in good works. As James puts it, 'I will show you my faith by what I do ... faith without deeds is useless' (Jas. 2:18, 20). Since the judgment day will be a public occasion, it will be necessary for public evidence to be produced, namely the outworking of our faith in compassionate action. Jesus himself taught this many times. For example, 'The Son of man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done' (Mt. 16:27). It is not our salvation, but our judgment, which will be according to our works. --- John R.W. Stott

"Sex Reassignment Surgery" is a euphemism for Genital Mutilation Surgery. If we called it what it rightly is, there would be fewer people promoting it and fewer still suckered into doing it --- Robert A. J. Gagnon, Ph.D.

Reparations for slavery a century-and-a-half after the fact forces people to pay for something that they didn't do, to persons to whom it wasn't done. It is an injustice. This is not social justice. It is social extortion by guilt complex and virtue signaling. --- Robert A.J. Gagnon

On a transgender Deacon appointed in the ACoC. "I find myself wondering why an Anglican Diocese whose mission it is to assist each parishioner to find his true identity in Christ, should choose someone so utterly confused about her own identity to help them do it." David of Samizdat in Canada

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
May 31, 2019

Justin Welby is once again the top newsmaker in this week's digest. And once again he finds himself in the cross hairs of the growing, noisy GAFCON primates and bishops who challenge his authority by authorizing new networks across the communion.

They did it again recently when twelve parishes formerly in the province of Aotearoa, (New Zealand), fed up with their province's drift into the formal acceptance of homoerotic marriage, declared their independence. The parishes announced they were installing their own bishop and would head out on their own to reclaim New Zealand for Christ.

They gathered and formed the Church of Confessing Anglicans Aotearoa/New Zealand, a new Anglican Diocese standing firmly in Anglican faith and practice, and structurally distinct from the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia.

It was a bold and brave move. Of course, they are not the first to have abandoned the ecclesiastical ship they had been wallowing in. A group of equally brave Brazilian Anglicans had done the same thing back in 2013, abandoning their ecclesiastically and morally challenged episcopal province that had been backed by the American episcopal church. They launched out on their own.

Excommunicated, with their properties ripped from them, they determined to start over, knowing that God was on their side. Today they are self-sufficient and growing rapidly under the leadership of Bishop Miguel Uchoa.

There are other GAFCON outposts in Europe, Scotland and Ireland. More are anticipated.

It is bewilderingly mind-blowing that Welby does not see what is going on, or if he does see it, he continues to blow off GAFCON as nothing more than a "ginger group". GAFCON is stomping all over him from one end of the globe to the other.

Welby is making nice with American Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and Canadian primate Fred Hiltz, while ignoring or pretending that ACNA Archbishop Foley Beach, who is now GAFCON chairman, is not a real Anglican at all! Go figure.

Welby will never command respect from anyone in the Global South associated with GAFCON till he repents of his alliance with provinces that embrace pansexuality. That is a done deal.

You can read my full story about all this here: https://virtueonline.org/gafcon-marches-relentlessly-forward-even-welbys-world-withers

*****

Just how bad is homosexual and transgender behavior? Well, it is worse than you think.

Promoters of homosexual relationships and transgenderism are some of the most judgmental people around. If you don't agree with them, they call you homophobic and transphobic bigots and then vote for political policies designed to coerce and indoctrinate those with whom they disagree. They are not against being judgmental; they are just against judgments by God of the behaviors that they promote, says theologian and sexual ethicist, The Rev. Dr. Robert A. Gagnon.

The Episcopal Church has fully embraced the LGBTQ lifestyle and mantra, and, with money wants to push these behaviors onto the Global South in the hope of winning over African Anglican leaders into a new world sexual order that not only violates their own history and consciences about sex, but Scripture as well.

You can read my story about this here: https://virtueonline.org/homosexual-and-transgender-behavior-worse-you-think

*****

In England, a biologist vicar resigned after a clash with his bishop and headteacher over transgender indoctrination in a church school

The Rev. Linsey John Owen Parker, vicar of All Saints, Fordham and Eight Ash Green, in Colchester, resigned after a clash with Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford over the gender transitioning of an eight-year-old boy.

"I was basically told by my bishop that if I wished to faithfully follow the teachings of the Bible then I was no longer welcome in the Church. It felt very much like the Church and the school were silencing me," the Rev. Parker, a conservative evangelical clergyman, told the Daily Mail, a British newspaper.

The vicar was a victim of an arrangement bringing together Bishop Cottrell, Diocesan Director of Education Reverend Tim Elbourne, Headteacher Ceri Daniels and a transgender campaign group called Mermaids, a source from the village school in Essex told VOL.

When an eight-year-old child announced he was transitioning to become a girl, Parker raised concerns that the school had no formal policy on how staff should deal with a child who wanted to change gender.

There was also no guidance on whether the pupil would be allowed to use female toilets or share changing rooms or accommodation with girls during trips.

Parker queried if the transitioning had been approved by a psychologist or a medical professional, but his questions remained unanswered.

You can read two stories about this here: https://virtueonline.org/england-biologist-vicar-resigns-after-clash-bishop-and-headteacher-over-transgender-indoctrination

And here: https://virtueonline.org/church-england-school-endorses-transitioning-8-year-old

You can read the vicar's letter here: https://www.premierchristianity.com/Blog/Read-the-letter-from-the-CofE-vicar-resigning-over-the-Church-s-approach-to-sexuality

*****

There has been a delicate political and ecclesial dance of sorts between the Church of Nigeria and several Nigerian dioceses in North America (including Canada) and the Anglican Church in North America.

Three dioceses recently clarified their provincial affiliations, with one saying it would no longer maintain dual citizenship with Nigeria.

At its synod this past week, the Diocese of CANA East took action to remain solely a diocese of the Anglican Church in North America and to change its name to The Anglican Diocese of the Living Word. The Diocese has also applied for ministry partner status with the Church of Nigeria.

The Diocese of CANA West, and the Diocese of the Trinity, all of which previously had dual citizenship in the Anglican Church in North America and the Church of Nigeria through CANA (the Convocation of Anglicans in North America), would remain with the Church of Nigeria.

According to the Houston agreement, jointly signed by Archbishop Okoh of the Church of Nigeria and Archbishop Beach of the Anglican Church in North America, each diocese will reside canonically in either the Anglican Church in North America or the Church of Nigeria, as it chooses, and can apply for ministry partner status in the other province.

You can read the full story here: https://virtueonline.org/acna-three-dioceses-clarify-their-provincial-affiliations

*****

It comes as no surprise that African primates are speaking up and saying they will boycott the Lambeth Conference in August of next year over the communion's endorsement of homosexuality by a number of Western Primates.

The latest to say he won't attend is the Primate of Kenya, Jackson Ole Sapit."I will not be at the Lambeth Conference for those reasons. Others are also boycotting," Archbishop Sapit told Religion News Service in an interview. "God's plan of marriage is between a man and woman for procreation. Homosexuality is a sin before God."

Sources said representatives from Nigeria and Uganda, two provinces of the communion with large populations of Anglicans, would also stay home. Both Archbishop Nicholas Okoh of Nigeria and Archbishop Stanley Ntagali of Uganda strongly oppose homosexuality as un-Christian.

Nigeria has the highest number of Anglicans within the communion. Uganda is third after U.K., with Sudan and Kenya following.

*****

The Diocese of Colorado elected its first ever female black Episcopal bishop, following the retirement of Robert O'Neill, whose claim to fame was going after one single parish that left his diocese and TEC for the Church of Nigeria. O'Neill spent nearly $3 million in litigation. Part of O'Neill's legacy is that the diocese has decreased by one third and the diocese was unable to pay their national church assessment.

On Saturday, the church hosted the ordination and consecration of Kym Lucas as its 11th bishop. She is both Colorado's first woman bishop and first black bishop. For the first time in history, the Episcopal Church in Colorado will be led by an African American woman.

When asked if the Episcopal Church of Colorado was a progressive, forward-thinking church, she replied, "I've been in Washington D.C. for a long time so labels like progressive and conservative don't always make sense in various contexts. What I would call this church is a church that is open to the Holy Spirit moving in it. It's an open church. It is open to where God might lead it and that might be to some very strange places or places that we really aren't expecting to go but there is this deep, profound sense of prayerfulness and openness in this church which is beautiful."

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, who is also black, has called for more women and people of color to be elevated to the episcopacy in TEC. He is apparently getting his way.

*****

Here is the latest count of women in The Episcopal Church.

There are 35 TEC women bishops

31 have been consecrated.

Four are in the pipeline with consecration dates
Kathryn Ryan -- Texas Suffragan -- June 1
Susan Brown Snook -- V San Diego -- June 15
Megan Traquaire -- VIII Northern California -- June 29
Shannnon MacVean-Brown -- XI Vermont -- September 28

One has died: Jane Dixon -- Suffragan Washington, DC

One defrocked: Heather Cook --- Suffragan Maryland

Six are black:
Barbara Harris -- Massachusetts Suffragan
Gayle Harris -- Massachusetts Suffragan
Jennifer Bakersville-Barrows -- XI Indianapolis
Phoebe Roaf -- VI West Tennessee
Kymberly Lucas -- XI Colorado
Shannon MacVean-Brown -- XI Vermont-elect

One Indian of the Cherokee tribe -- Gayle Gallagher -- Southern Virginia - Suffragan

One partnered lesbian -- Mary Glasspool -- Los Angeles Suffragan, now in the diocese of New York.

Three dioceses have upcoming elections.

El Camino Real has a slate of five -- three are female -- electing June 1

Michigan has an all female slate -- electing June 1

Montana has an all female slate -- electing July 26

Other dioceses electing in 2019 are Southern Virginia; Eastern Michigan; Georgia; Missouri; and Oklahoma. But they have not yet announced a slate.

*****

Queen Elizabeth II has accepted the nomination of three women to suffragan sees in the Church of England:

The Venerable Sarah Bullock as the next Bishop of Shrewsbury, in the Diocese of Lichfield.
The Venerable Joanne Woolway Grenfell as the next Bishop of Stepney, in the Diocese of London.
The Reverend Canon Dagmar Winter as the next Bishop of Huntingdon, in the Diocese of Ely.

Women have been consecrated as bishops in the Church of England only since 2015. But at the time of the consecrations of these three nominees this autumn, the total number of women in the Church of England's House of Bishops (22) will be significantly larger than that of other churches in the Anglican Communion, including provinces like the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada, where women have been consecrated since the 1980s and 1990s, respectively.

In the Church of England's 42 dioceses, the majority of women serving as bishops are suffragans. At the moment, only five women lead English dioceses:

The Rt. Rev. Vivienne Faull, Bishop of Bristol
The Rt. Rev. Christine Hardman, Bishop of Newcastle
The Rt. Rev. Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby
The Rt. Rev. Sarah Mullaly, Bishop of London
The Rt. Rev. Rachel Treweek, Bishop of Gloucester
Source: TLC

*****

JAMAICA has a new Anglican Archbishop. He is Howard Gregory and he will be the new Anglican Archbishop for the West Indies Province.

Archbishop Gregory previously held the posts of head of Anglican Church in Jamaica and Cayman Islands.

He succeeds Barbadian Dr. John Holder, who retired in February 2018 and has become the first Jamaican to head the Anglican Church in the Caribbean since Archbishop William Hardie vacated the post in 1949.

You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/jamaica-new-anglican-archbishop-appointed

*****

Will Sex Affect Episcopal-Methodist Communion? An article in The Living Church suggests it might, owing to the fact that in the wake of the Methodists' bitterly contested Special Conference in St. Louis in late February, the UMC reaffirmed its stance barring "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" from ordained ministry and toughened sanctions for clergy who officiate at same-sex weddings.

So, what is TEC to do, having embraced the cultural sexual order. In May, United Methodist bishops cleared the way for a 2020 General Conference vote on a full communion agreement that would allow the two churches to share clergy. If the Methodists approve the proposal, the Episcopal Church could take it up at General Convention in 2021.

But the proposal faces new obstacles. Some now worry full communion could become a casualty of tense, politically charged times in churches at risk of breaking apart. But others say it is time to keep building on ecumenical momentum and not let sexuality debates interfere with a larger witness.

Efforts to break up the United Methodist Church are already underway, and not just from progressives whose agenda was defeated in St. Louis. Conservatives are now drafting proposals to divide the United Methodist Church into two or more separate bodies at next year's General Conference in Minneapolis. For example, the Wesleyan Covenant Association has chartering documents ready for a new denomination that would affirm Methodists' traditional sexuality standards, said its president, Keith Boyette. Some want to form new bodies, even though they prevailed in the General Conference in February.

"Some people do want to leave because theirs are evangelical churches in very liberal areas," said Renfroe, pastor of discipleship at The Woodlands United Methodist Church in Texas. "It's hard to say These are my colleagues in ministry, this is my family, when you're looked down upon and dismissed at every meeting that you go to."

Boyette said he would like to see partnership of some type emerge, but he warned that such an effort might backfire and stymie the ecumenical project.

Yup, it will. TEC will never countenance ecumenical talks that do not embrace full body (homosexual) contact. If it does unite, it will be with a small part of the UMC, with the rest remaining of the Methodists remaining diametrically opposed to sodomy in all its bizarre forms.

"If the United Methodist Church splits and there's a schism there, who are we going to be in communion with?" said Rania, a lay ministry associate at Christ Church in Dover. "Would it be with the conservative folks that remain or the break-off churches? ... There are a lot of unknowns here, and we really need to wait and see."

*****

In the Anglican Church of Canada, the madness over sexuality continues at a pace that might surpass even the Episcopal Church.

The Anglican Diocese of Rupert's Land ordained its first openly transgender deacon, one Theo Robinson, who said he felt called by God to help heal the rift between LGBTTQ people and the church.

"I want to show people who are afraid to go to church (because of their sexuality) they are welcome," said Robinson, 40. "I want to help heal the wounds of those who have been rejected."

Robinson, who works in spiritual care at Misericordia Place, was ordained May 1 to serve as a transitional deacon -- someone on the path to priesthood.

Theo Robinson was born Theresa Jennifer Robinson, but now describes herself as a man, in spite of the fact that she possesses no Y chromosome.

Writes David of Samizdat, "I don't doubt her sincerity or wish her anything but God's blessings. Nevertheless, I find myself wondering why an Anglican Diocese whose mission it is to assist each parishioner to find his true identity in Christ, should choose someone so utterly confused about her own identity to help them do it." Amen to that.

*****

This June, the Anglican Church in North America celebrates its 10th Anniversary with Assembly 2019: Renewing Our Call to the Great Commission, an assembly centered on discipleship and moving forward into our next 10 years as a province.

The Assembly will be held in Plano, Texas, June 17-19, 2019 and hosted by Christ Church, Plano, the site of Archbishop Bob Duncan's installation as the inaugural archbishop in 2009.

Keynote speakers Archbishop Foley Beach, Archbishop Laurent Mbanda, James Bryan Smith, Russell Moore, and Ravi Zacharias will join us as we celebrate and help us go deeper into discipleship.

To commemorate the occasion, attendees will receive a special edition of The 2019 Book of Common Prayer and will be mailed a revised Catechism. Both will be officially released at Assembly.

Visit disciple2019.com now for more information and to register.

Your servant will be present at this august occasion and I will file reports from Dallas, Texas

I hope as many of you as can will be present on this auspicious occasion.

*****

A chapel named for retired Episcopal Church Bishop Gene Robinson was dedicated Thursday by Robinson as part of the consecration of a newly redeveloped Washington, D.C. church building.

St. Thomas' Episcopal Parish chose to honor the former New Hampshire bishop who was the first openly partnered homosexual to be consecrated a bishop in the Episcopal Church and the wider Anglican Communion. The chapel is envisioned as a pilgrimage site for youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). Robinson's 2003 consecration as bishop was one of several contested actions fueling a broader Anglican realignment in North America and beyond.

Robinson, now divorced, (from his male partner) resides in Washington and serves as bishop-in-residence at St. Thomas. The church has declined precipitously in the past decade, shrinking from 350 to 140 members (-60%) and from a weekly attendance of 150 down to 50 (-66%). In 2018 Dyer cited the ongoing construction of the new church sanctuary and a purge of the parish membership rolls as contributing factors to the congregation's diminished size. Asked about the decline in attendance, Dyer commented via Twitter "ASA is one measure. @StThomasDC is one of the most best parishes I have served. Check back in 5 years and the story will be different." In their dreams. You can read the full story here: https://virtueonline.org/gene-robinson-chapel-dedicated-retired-gay-episcopal-bishop

*****

If you think that decline is only being felt in liberal mainline denominations, think again. The Southern Baptist Convention is experiencing further decline despite its solid evangelical credentials.

A report in Christian Today noticed the decline in membership and worship attendance in 2018, but also an increase in financial giving, according to recently released numbers.

SBC's newly released Annual Church Profile report noted that from 2017 to 2018, membership in the country's largest Protestant denomination went below the 15 million mark, declining by 192,000 people to about 14.8 million members.

Weekly worship attendance also declined, going from approximately 5.32 million in 2017 to approximately 5.29 million in 2018. Attendance for small group and Sunday School also declined, from about 3.34 million in 2017 to 3.24 million in 2018.

Ronnie Floyd, president of the SBC Executive Committee, said on Thursday that the ACP report shows it's "time to press reset spiritually and strategically in the Southern Baptist Convention."

*****

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All Blessings,

David

"Nobody ever outgrows Scripture; the book widens and deepens with our years."--- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Reformed Baptist Preacher

"The Bible is the cradle wherein Christ is laid." --- Martin Luther

Reading and understanding the Bible involves lots and lots of interpretation. Not just in light of the world and culture around us, but in reference to other parts of the Bible." --- John Piper, Founder of Desiring God

"The Holy Scriptures are our letters from home." --- St. Augustine of Hippo

"It is mind-boggling to me that the Almighty power created everything I see; the Bible says that God created the entire universe just so he could create this galaxy just so he could create Earth so he could create human beings so he could create a family." --- Rick Warren, Founder of Saddleback Church

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
June 14, 2019

This week's lead story begins with Bishop William H. Love of the diocese of Albany, who told delegates to the diocese's 151th annual convention that he and his diocese were in the midst of a battle with an uncertain outcome.

"The greatest threat to the Church in the West comes from the ongoing cultural wars over human sexuality and same-sex marriage; abortion; "hate-speech legislation" and court rulings by judges who seem to have little to no regard for the U.S. Constitution (particularly the First Amendment and its guarantee of religious freedom and freedom of speech)", he said.

In a candid appraisal of the situation he personally faces along with the future of the diocese of Albany, Bishop William H. Love told delegates that the very nature and character of the diocese was under attack from forces outside, as well as from within.

The evangelical catholic bishop painted a grim picture of the state of the Church, his own partial inhibition and the state of the diocese's finances. You can read the full story here: https://virtueonline.org/albany-bishop-love-says-diocese-midst-battle-uncertain-outcome

*****

IN PLANO, TEXAS this week, the College of Bishops of the Anglican Church in North America re-elected the Most Rev. Dr. Foley Beach to serve as its archbishop and primate for a second term. According to the Church's Constitution, an archbishop may serve up to two 5-year terms. In the ACNA, the archbishop oversees bishops, dioceses, and parishes in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. He has certain responsibilities and duties beyond that of other bishops in the province,but does not hold unilateral authority. Beach was recently installed as the Chairman of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON). GAFCON is a global movement of orthodox Anglicans representing over 70% of the denomination's active members.

*****

In other ACNA news, the College of Bishops consented to the election of the Very Rev. Ryan Reed as the Bishop Coadjutor for the Diocese of Fort Worth. Reed was elected by the Fort Worth convention on June 1.

Last summer, the current bishop of Fort Worth, the Rt. Rev. Jack Iker, who has served the diocese in this capacity for over 25 years, announced his coming retirement. In the same announcement, Iker also called for the election of a bishop coadjutor to enter as an assistant with the expectation of taking over the position when he retires. Reed will fill this role and take over for Iker at the end of the year. His entire ordained ministry tenure has been within the Diocese of Fort Worth, most recently as Dean of St. Vincent's Cathedral, the location of the Inaugural Assembly of the Anglican Church in North America in 2009.

Archbishop Foley Beach also announced that since its inception 10 years ago, the ACNA now had 1,053 congregations. Across both the US, Canada, and Mexico from coast to coast (plus Hawaii and Alaska!), and from the cold north to warm south, in small towns and large cities, in college towns, inner city neighborhoods, suburban communities, there are congregations of all kinds of sizes and strengths and ages.

By contrast, The Episcopal Church has closed more parishes than it has opened during the same period.

Some churches came into the ACNA as a whole unit, some lost their property and some are still under threat of litigation. But these churches, their leaders and families are part of the Anglican Church in North America.

Next week the ACNA's Provincial Assembly opens and invitations are still open - - www.disciple2019.com

"We have durable friendships with the Anglican Church all around the globe. This assembly will see more than a dozen Archbishops and Bishops who represent the vast majority of Anglican Christians around the world attending our assembly. We have a robust and theological rigorous catechism, a brand new beautiful Book of Common Prayer, a united College of Bishops, and a clear gospel message for the years to come. We have young leaders and faithful seasoned believers who remain active in gospel work," said Archbishop Beach.

*****

A GAFCON Task Force on Women in the Episcopate presented an Interim Report on its work to the GAFCON Primates' Meeting in April 2019.

The subject of women in the episcopate is beginning to appear in the discussions, even in the regions of the Church where the subject has not been so central or controversial as it has been in the West. It has therefore been of great value to meet together with brothers and sisters from Africa, North and South America, UK, Australia, and Asia. We have seen the value of careful study of Scripture and asking how far the historic episcopate can be "locally adapted," as the Lambeth Quadrilateral states. As GAFCON seeks to uphold the faith once for all delivered to the saints, we are committed to continuing study and consultation until such as time as we can say together, "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us."

There has been no fore-ordained conclusion to our work. The Task Force's prime recommendation to "retain the historic practice of the consecration of men only as bishops" is conditional: "until and unless a strong consensus to change emerges after prayer, consultation and continued study of Scripture among the GAFCON fellowship."

The Anglican Church in North America specifically forbids the ordination of women bishops.

On all the available evidence nothing has been achieved in either The Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church of Canada or the Church of England ordaining women bishops. They have not demonstrated that women bishops make churches grow or plant new churches, despite the fact that TEC has had women bishops for nearly 30 years. The dioceses they have led have had no ASA upward tick and show no signs of spiritual revival.

*****

The Diocese of Michigan recently elected a lesbian bishop to lead it. The previous bishop had seen the diocese drop by over 40% in communicants and average Sunday attendance.

The first woman to become a bishop in the Anglican Communion was Barbara Harris, who was ordained suffragan bishop of Massachusetts in the United States in February 1989. As of August 2017, 24 women have since been elected to the episcopate across the church.

A report in the Detroit Free Press opined that Bishop-elect Bonnie Perry statements indicate that she should run for political office or become a lobbyist, rather than a bishop. Perry told the Free Press that she intends to get the church involved with secular foundations and government officials to help make the region more equitable. So, there was nothing about evangelism, discipleship or spiritual development, just another politically active bishop who will do nothing to make the diocese grow. More than likely she will be the last bishop of the diocese.

IN other Michigan news, two dioceses have decided to share a bishop. The Diocese of Eastern Michigan and Diocese of Western Michigan held a joint clergy retreat in May and finalized a process of experimentation and dialogue that eventually could lead to a long-term commitment between the two dioceses.

The dioceses have not shied away from discussing the possibility of someday merging, a canonically governed process known as "juncture," though that is just one of many options on the table as they consider the future of The Episcopal Church in Michigan. The state encompasses four dioceses, All four dioceses have collaborated in the past in various ways, from joint formation programs to coordinated public statements on statewide issues.

In October, Eastern Michigan's convention is scheduled to vote to elect Western Michigan Bishop Whayne Hougland Jr. as bishop provisional. If approved, Hougland would be following in the footsteps of other dual-diocese bishops, in particular, Northwestern Pennsylvania Bishop Sean Rowe, who also serves as bishop provisional of the Diocese of Western New York.

The transition underway in the Diocese of Eastern Michigan follows a spirit of innovation that dates back to its creation in 1994, when it was carved out of the Detroit-based Diocese of Michigan.

The deeper truth is that the dioceses are slowly dying and within a few years will cease to exist. Of course, the official press release puffery from ENS makes it sound like a glorious future awaits the dioceses. "We're getting better as a church on focusing on mission-driven priorities rather than trying to squeeze the mission into an existing structure," said Bishop Todd Ousley, Bishop for the Office of Pastoral Development in the Presiding Bishop's Office. Yes, and cows fly and homosexuals breed.

*****

IN TASMANIA, disciplinary action against a former Anglican, Bishop Philip Newell was halted this week. In the 1980s, former Bishop Phillip Newell allowed a now convicted pedophile to stay in the church. He won a court bid to have disciplinary action halted.

In its 2017 report, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse highlighted failures of the church in Tasmania and criticized Bishop Newell, who allowed a now-convicted pedophile to stay in the church.

The commission referred to evidence he had been made aware in 1987 that now-convicted pedophile Louis Daniels had sexually abused three boys. Bishop Newell applied to the Supreme Court for a stay of proceedings based on ill-health.

*****

IN JAMAICA, the newly elected archbishop of the Anglican Church in the Province of the West Indies (CPWI) Howard said that the diocese is in a period of preparation as the province makes changes in the administration of baptism and communion.

Gregory pointed out that he would be focusing on strengthening the ties across the region. He advised that he will be moving towards implementation of a number of issues that have not advanced beyond discussions over the years, especially as agreed in the action plan.

"We are not a church that just focuses on ourselves, but we see ourselves on a mission of ministering to the nation and throughout the province," Gregory said.

Meanwhile, asked about the advancement of women in the province, Gregory said that: "The province has accepted that women can be bishops... This synod approved a process to take it through. So right now, with immediate effect, a woman can become a bishop in the province."

*****

Having successfully seduced the Anglican Church of Southern Africa with money and more, the Episcopal Church has now turned its attention to Southern Sudan.

A US Episcopal priest has been appointed as a bishop in South Sudan to foster links between the two Episcopal Churches.

He is Canon Patrick Augustine, who has left his post of Rector of Christ Episcopal Church, La Crosse, in Wisconsin, and is now an assistant bishop in the diocese of Bor, in South Sudan.

Bishop Augustine, who is 69, plans to divide his time equally between the US and Bor diocese, ministering in particular to the South Sudanese diaspora in the US. He aims to try to strengthen the relationship between the Episcopal Churches in the US and South Sudan.

The appointment was made by the Archbishop of Jonglei and Bishop of Bor, the Most Rev. Ruben Akurdid Ngong. He has known Bishop Augustine for many decades; the Pakistani-born US cleric has spent years travelling to and from South Sudan.

Part of Bishop Augustine's remit will be to try to heal divisions over the US Episcopal Church's affirmation of same-sex marriage.

A decade ago, during the height of the controversy about Bishop Gene Robinson -- the first openly homosexual-partnered Anglican bishop -- the then Archbishop of South Sudan, Daniel Deng Bul, called for Bishop Robinson to resign. Bishop Bul insisted that he would not take part in any pan-Anglican discussions on sexuality, because it was "not approved by the Bible" and there were no LGBT people in Sudan.

Bishop Augustine told the Episcopal News Service that, although he personally supported the Episcopal Church's moves to accept homosexual relationships fully, he recognized the sincerity of the South Sudanese opposition.

"We do it in the name of compassion and justice. They disagree with us on conservative theological grounds." [ENS report).

VOL will stay on top of this story as we learn more.

*****

A war over the meaning of words has broken out between a Church of England Bishop and one of his vicars, the Rev. John Parker, over allegations in which the vicar has accused his bishop of supporting the transitioning of an 8-year-old child in his school and endorsing a training session by transgender activist group Mermaids. The bishop, Stephen Cottrell said the vicar misrepresented the entire narrative.

Parker, Vicar of All Saints, Fordham and Eight Ash Green, in Colchester, told the Daily Mail: "I was basically told by my bishop that if I wished to faithfully follow the teachings of the Bible then I was no longer welcome in the Church. It felt very much like I was being silenced by the Church and the school."

The British tabloid reported on May 25 that the vicar "resigned following a bitter dispute with his bishop over the way a Church of England school handled an eight-year-old pupil's plan to change gender."

However, Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford, responded categorically on Saturday, stating that he "had no conversation whatsoever with JP on this matter, or any other for nearly a year."

In another tweet, Cottrell told Emma Sivyer, Church Army, "I never said this to John Parker, and would be horrified if I had." He adds: "Moreover, another inexplicable bit of this story is that I've never actually had any conversation or exchange with John Parker on this matter whatsoever."

When Virtueonline contacted the bishop for comment, Cottrell replied, saying: "I am at a loss to know where these comments attributed to me by John Parker come from." The bishop said he would release a full statement on Monday.

Hours after Cottrell's tweets, Parker released his own statement on the Christian Concern website, claiming Cottrell had a meeting with him in September 2018. The same month, "after a meeting with Bishop Stephen, I declared myself to be in broken communion with him; no response was forthcoming," Parker wrote.

This is an unfolding story and we have yet to get to the bottom of who said what to whom. You can read my story here, but watch for more unfolding news. https://virtueonline.org/church-england-bishop-refutes-vicar-john-parkers-allegations-escalating-transgender-war

*****

A story I wrote with the headline, "Homosexual and Transgender Behavior is Worse Than You Think" got blocked by Facebook, which probably comes as no surprise as this is not the first time this has happened and won't be the last. Still and all, the story got over 3,500 hits on Facebook and another 1,600 at VOL's website.

Promoters of homosexual relationships and transgenderism are some of the most judgmental people around. If you don't agree with them, they call you homophobic and transphobic bigots and then vote for political policies designed to coerce and indoctrinate those with whom they disagree. They are not against being judgmental; they are just against judgments by God of the behaviors that they promote, says theologian and sexual ethicist, The Rev. Dr. Robert A. Gagnon.

The Episcopal Church has fully embraced the LGBTQ lifestyle and mantra, and, with money, wants to push these behaviors onto the Global South in the hope of winning over African Anglican leaders into a new world sexual order that not only violates their own history and consciences about sex, but Scripture as well.

"God himself judges such behaviors to be severely wrong, according to the consistent witness of Scripture. Jesus viewed a male-female prerequisite for sexual ethics as foundational for other standards, like the limitation of two persons to a sexual union (based on God's intentional design of binary sexuality). Jesus intensified God's demand for sexual purity, reaching into adultery of the heart and rejecting divorce and remarriage after divorce. In the midst of doing that in Matt. 5 Jesus warns that if one's hand, eye, or foot should threaten one's downfall, cut it off, because it is better to go into heaven maimed than to enter hell full-bodied," writes Gagnon at his Facebook page.

Today's pansexualists think that they know better than Jesus and Jesus' Heavenly Father.

"If one applied their standard consistently, they would have to refuse judgment of adult-consensual "loving" relationships between close kin (incest) and between three or more persons concurrently, not to mention bestiality and pedophilia. Isn't any statement that leads to such ridiculous results patently absurd? Judgement of evil is a good thing, not a bad thing. Every parent who has an ounce of sense knows this when it comes to directing their children on a path that leads to life rather than a path that leads to death," writes Gagnon.

"Homosexual relationships dishonor one's God-given sex by treating it as only half-intact in relation to one's own sex (two half-males unite to form a single whole male, on the analogy that man and woman each comprise one half of the sexual spectrum)." You can read the full story here: https://virtueonline.org/homosexual-and-transgender-behavior-worse-you-think

*****

Next week I will be attending the ACNA annual Assembly in Dallas, TX, where I will be reporting to VOL's global readership. The growth of the ACNA over the last decade has been astonishing, living proof that if the ACNA had not been born out of the apostasies of The Episcopal Church, the very stones would have cried out. Mercifully that did not happen. With nearly 140,000 members and growing steadily, one can only rejoice at what God is doing with those who remain faithful and who are prepared to step outside their comfort zones to preach the gospel 'to whosoever will.'

All blessings,

David

Data from the Church in Wales shows Anglican churches are closing at a rate of about 10 every year, with attendance dropping off as the numbers of people saying they had no religion rose. --- Church of Wales

The decline in America's birthrate is dramatic, and profound for society. The National Center for Health Statistics reported a few weeks ago that the number of babies born in the U.S. last year fell to a 32-year low. Meantime, the general fertility rate--defined as the number of births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44--fell to the lowest level since the start of federal record-keeping. --- The Wall Street Journal

United to Christ. When we become united to Christ by faith, something so tremendous happens that the New Testament cannot find language adequate to describe it. It is a new birth, yes, but also a new creation, a resurrection, light out of darkness, and life from the dead. We were slaves, now we are sons. We were lost, now we have come home. We were condemned and under the wrath of God, now we have been justified and adopted into his family. What subsequent experience can possibly compare with this in importance? We must be careful, in describing deeper experiences, not to denigrate regeneration or to cast a slur on this first, decisive and creative work of God's love. --- John R.W. Stott

Christianity is not disappearing--instead, it's spreading and shifting its geographical center. In 1910, Europe and North America (the West) contained 80 percent of the world's self-identified Christians. Today, it's 40 percent and declining. Meanwhile in the 21st century, almost 24 percent of the world's Christians live in Sub-Saharan Africa compared to less than 2 percent a hundred years earlier. The church in China is also rapidly expanding with an estimated 120 million Christians. --- Christianity Today

Dear Brothers and Sisters
www.virtueonline.org
June 28, 2019

MORE THAN 30 years ago I began writing about the Episcopal Church and the broader Anglican Communion. They were heady days, but it was apparent to me even then that the Episcopal Church was heading down a road that it should not take and one I personally did not want to take. My own parish was orthodox (evangelical) at that time, but today is no longer.

At the time (now 34 years exactly), I said the Episcopal Emperors running the Church had no spiritual clothes and that by embracing pansexuality the Church would, over time, come to a disastrous end.

I came up against the powers that be with a vengeance. Liberals and revisionists yelled and screamed that I lacked inclusion, behaved like a fundamentalist, failed to see a new and rising diversity that would include everybody and sweep away people like myself as Neanderthals of another time.

Even conservatives berated me for being "shrill" and "strident." I would not last they said. I would be buried by both sides for lacking tolerance and understanding.

Against all odds I held on. I knew in my heart of hearts that Scripture could not be broken, that the gospel was true, and any compromise on sexuality issues would bring disaster and God's wrath. Come as you are, stay as you are, went the cry. It proved to be a wrong formula for success.

Now more than three decades later, the ranks of orthodox Episcopalians have been shredded, only a handful of orthodox dioceses can be found; some say just one remains -- the Diocese of Albany and its Bishop, William H. Love. That is probably the truth, but the tide is against even him as he fights to keep his bishopric.

One by one, dioceses fell over themselves to promote the new-fangled doctrine of inclusion which meant homosexual priests and homosexual marriage. In time, homosexuality included lesbianism and soon LGBTQI was born and now holds sway in the halls of ecclesiastical power.

Today, openly homosexual and lesbian priests and bishops dominate pulpits and dioceses, actively pushed and promoted by a presiding bishop who sees nothing wrong with a behavior that Scripture proscribes. Increasingly, the number of women taking over dioceses has increased even though there is not a shred of evidence that they can make churches or dioceses grow. But for the sake of "rights" and "virtue-signaling", women must be given everything a man can do and promoted to the highest ranks of the Church. A female presiding bishop was inevitable, who said she could not believe in personal salvation, miracles and Christ's substitutionary atonement.

And what has The Episcopal Church attained for all its inclusiveness? Growth, peace and harmony, acknowledgement by society for its openness...a Nobel Prize for inclusion? None of the above. Today the Church is in freefall, held together mostly by The Church Pension Group and dead men's money. Lawsuits for properties rage on with millions of dollars spent to recover properties that will soon be empty in 10 years, if not earlier. The average age of an Episcopalian is now in his/her mid Sixties and most of the clergy are aged between 55 and 70, with fewer and fewer younger clerics coming forward to replace them.

Nearly half of the denomination's parishes are run by part time and/or non-stipendiary priests. The hope that following the consecration of Gene Robinson, an openly homosexual man to the episcopacy, there would be a mighty inflow into the Church never materialized. It was a lie pushed and promoted
by pansexualists. It never happened.

More than 100,000 walked out the door and the Anglican Church in America was born, The rest, as they say, is history.

*****

It was another bad week for the Church of England (do they ever have good weeks?) This time the bad news revolved around four separate incidents that seemingly show just how morally corrupt the CofE is and why GAFCON is needed, growing and will, in time, take over the Anglican Communion.

The first piece of bad news is the Bishop Peter Ball saga. Ball was a priest who sodomized his way through 16 boys and young men over a period of 15 years, was a protege of Britain's royal family anddied this week in Taunton, in southwest England. He was 87. Mr. Ball had a sprawling network of well-positioned friends, among them Lord Carey and Prince Charles, who provided him housing on one of his estates.

Those powerful friends helped reinstate Ball to the ministry in 1993 after he had admitted to an act of gross indecency, as described under the law, with a 19-year-old man and accepted a police caution, which allowed him at first to avoid a criminal trial. Two decades later, in 2015, the case was reopened. His trial was an acute embarrassment to the church, unearthing a history of complaints about Mr. Ball that had gone ignored by church officials. He served 18 months of a 32-month sentence.

Then came news that GAFCON missionary bishop Andy Lines, who covers for Anglicans in Scotland, the UK, and Europe, was a victim of spiritual abuse and had undergone months of counselling and support.

"Those with spiritual authority are like all in authority. All authority is open to abuse or manipulation," he said in a statement issued through Anglican Mission in Europe (AMiE).

"I have been coming to terms with elements of spiritual manipulation in my own life. It has been a very hard and painful process requiring months of professional counselling for me to come to terms with what I have experienced. I now realize the nature of what was happening. I have come to realize that this can happen to strong as well as vulnerable people. I have become aware that the particular manipulation and control I have experienced has been experienced by a number of others." You can read the full story here: https://virtueonline.org/leading-gafcon-bishop-says-he-was-victim-spiritual-abuse

BOTTOM SMACKING. It seems to be the fetish of choice with evangelicals in the Church of England. First, we had a certain John Smyth, a British barrister, who was alleged to have carried out "sadomasochistic physical abuse" on young men in the 1970s and 1980s at Iwerne Trust camps, an evangelical camp where more than 80 survivors stepped forward with complaints that they were beaten by Smyth. The said gentlemen then fled to South Africa, where his activities sadly continued and 90 other young men were abused. Smyth died before being brought back to England. Survivors of abuse and campaigners expressed dismay at the news that Smyth died before he could be brought to justice.

Now another similar report in England has just been released, where the Rev. Jonathan Fletcher of Emmanuel Church, Wimbledon, one of the Church of England's leading evangelical figures has been banned from preaching after "spiritually abusing" vulnerable adults, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Fletcher, 76, was stripped of his Church powers by the Bishop of Southwark in 2017, following complaints made to the London church where he used to be minister. In late September 2018, concrete allegations were made about conduct involving Jonathan and other men. In late 2018, a small number of allegations were made of the practice of physical discipline in the context of discipling relationships. One example of this involved men hitting each other on their naked backsides with a trainer for failing to meet personal targets. This took place over a period of time.

The Emmanuel Church has set up a website which offers support to those who have suffered from his "unacceptable behaviours", and since April there has been a hurried effort to ensure that those churches which have invited him to preach (without Permission to Officiate or presumably DBS certificate) withdraw such invitations as soon as possible. The terms of the letter sent out by the Bishop of Maidstone, the Rt Rev. Rod Thomas, the Rev. Robin Weekes, the Rev. Will Taylor and the Rev. Vaughan Roberts certainly suggests that they were not entirely confident they had their former colleague's full co-operation in standing down.

Interestingly, Jonathan Fletcher's brother was Chairman of the Iwerne Trust which first invited, hosted and then excluded Smyth before he was "encouraged" to emigrate to South Africa following revelations of his hanky panky.

This is a bad time for the Evangelical wing of the Church of England. A report from the Archbishop Cranmer blog says full extent of the damage has not yet come to full public prominence. There is more to come.

He writes: "There is a further major complication for the church over the tensions associated with the Evangelical movements REFORM and GAFCON. These potentially secessionist movements present real problems for the Anglican leadership, which is treading carefully and sensitively in its engagement with those who threaten schism over well-known issues."

*****

The Episcopal Diocese of Maine consecrated a homosexual to be their next bishop. The Rt. Rev. Thomas James Brown was given his miter on Saturday as the 10th bishop of the Diocese of Maine at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke in Portland. He is the first openly partnered homosexual to be installed as a diocesan bishop in the U.S. since Gene Robinson in 2003. The service was led by the Most Rev. Michael Curry, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church.

A video posted on the diocese's YouTube channel showed participants, including Brown, calling the Holy Spirit a "she" during the recitation of the Nicene Creed. It is unclear if Curry said "she." Microphones captured the creed being recited as, "We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. Who with the Father and the Son, She is worshiped and glorified. She has spoken through the Prophets."

Brown's consecration comes ahead of next year's global gathering of Anglican bishops at Lambeth. Will Archbishop Justin Welby send a note to the newly anointed bishop telling him his male partner is not welcome next year? Stay tuned.

The Diocese of Maine reports 11,322 members and 3,694 attendees spread across 59 congregations. Membership declined 15.1 percent between 2007 and 2017, while attendance for the same period declined 25.8 percent.

A reader told VOL that Brown was previously director of education for a local Planned Parenthood affiliate for several years.

*****

An American Episcopal priest, the Rev. Patrick Augustine, who was ordained an assistant bishop in the Diocese of Bor in South Sudan, did not get the approval of the House of Bishops of the Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and will have to leave the country in six months.

A statement released by the Archbishop of South Sudan, the Most Rev. Justin Badi Arama, said that misinformation about his consecration had been spread about his appointment (by the ENS) and he bluntly said that the Rev. Patrick Augustine was not a bridge-builder for reconciliation between the ECSS and TEC. Bishop Augustine's consecration and views do not reflect the stand of South Sudan Province
"He is not a bridge for reconciliation between The Episcopal Church and South Sudan," said the archbishop.

The Sudanese Episcopal Church repudiated the election of Bishop V. Gene Robinson to the episcopacy and the recent same-sex marriage resolution (B012) passed by the Episcopal House of Bishops. You can read the full story here: https://virtueonline.org/us-episcopal-priest-only-has-six-month-remit-stay-south-sudan

*****

It was a big week for the Anglican Church in North America. The ACNA celebrated its 10-year anniversary in Plano this week. There were over 1,100 attendees from 23 countries, that included 10 Primates from the Global South with ACNA Archbishop Foley Beach announcing new GAFCON Anglican dioceses, as the moral and theological divide between Lambeth and GAFCON grows exponentially.

"The Anglican Communion has a rich heritage that is evangelical and catholic, but the virus of revisionism and liberalism continues to spread all around the Anglican world. The powers that be in the Anglican Communion establishment are not doing anything to stop it and the result is that they are infecting provinces around the world. This is not the gospel and what the scriptures teach us," Archbishop Beach told attendees.

"Passion for the gospel and people must stand for truth against western secularism but in their own cultures," he said.

Beach praised the new extra provincial diocese in New Zealand and said a new bishop would be consecrated in October this year. When asked if reconciliation was ever possible between TEC and the ACNA, he said it was not possible to have reconciliation if the other side is suing you. You can read more about this significant Anglican conference here: https://virtueonline.org/plano-tx-acna-annual-assembly-draws-over-1100-anglicans-including-global-south-primates-and-bishops
Here: https://virtueonline.org/plano-tx-acna-leader-says-anglican-communion-faces-new-dark-age-and-new-reformation
And here: https://virtueonline.org/plano-tx-ten-years-anglicans-celebrate-prayer-book-and-discipleship
You can see videos of the conference here: https://www.youtube.com/user/AnglicanChurchNA

*****

In one of his first monthly newsletters as GAFCON chairman, ACNA Archbishop Foley Beach took a swipe at Archbishop Justin Welby and said the Anglican Communion was no more and should be called the "Canterbury Communion." He said the Archbishop of Canterbury had blundered by inviting progressive Anglican primates to Lambeth next year, while ignoring those primates who uphold reformational truths. "The liberals have their money, but we have the true gospel," said Ugandan Archbishop Stanley Ntagali.

Clearly orthodox Anglicans from both the West and Global South are exercising their spiritual muscle, declaring progressive Anglicans as enemies of the gospel. A growing number of Anglican provinces now say they will boycott the next Lambeth Conference. These include Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria, with the ACNA archbishop and bishops refusing to attend as observers.

"We seek to be Biblical Christians in a global age as participants in the Global Anglican Future Conference. We are busy proclaiming Jesus Christ faithfully to the nations by making disciples, evangelizing those who don't know Jesus, and speaking into corruption, economic injustices, and moral concerns in their local communities," writes GAFCON chairman and ACNA Archbishop Foley Beach in his monthly newsletter.

*****

In Lansing, Michigan, a complaint was filed with the Roman Catholic bishop of Lansing, the Most Rev. Earl Boyea, after a parish in his diocese decided to host an Episcopal service for the retiring Episcopal Bishop of Michigan, the Rt. Rev. Wendell Gibbs. The complaint objects to Episcopalians using the consecrated space of St. Mary Magdalen on the grounds that the retiring Episcopal bishop supports LGBTQ marriage. Replacing Gibbs is a Chicago-area priest(ess), Dr. Bonnie Perry. Perry is an ex-Roman Catholic, noncelibate lesbian woman in a same-sex marriage.

The service, billed as a retirement service and mass for the outgoing Episcopal bishop is slated for November 9, at St. Mary Magdalen Roman Catholic Church in Brighton, which is located halfway between Detroit and the state capital of Lansing. VOL reached out to the RCC bishop for a comment, but had not heard back in time for this news bite. You can read the full report here: https://virtueonline.org/lansing-mi-pro-homosexual-episcopal-mass-catholic-church-draws-complaint

*****

Allegations of false teaching and prosperity preaching lodged against Suffragan Bishop-elect Augustine Unuigbe by a "Senior ACNA Clergy" elicited an apology from The Rt. Revd. Amos Fagbamiye, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Trinity (ADOTT). The "senior ACNA clergy" has been identified as The Rev. Matt Kennedy, priest of the Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd in Binghamton, NY. He is in the Anglican Diocese of the Living Word, under Bishop Julian Dobbs.

In a press release from the diocese, Fagbamiye said Unuigbe had complied with all primatial directives on the issue. "Specifically, he submitted an undertaking to the Primate as directed in which he tendered an apology for any inadvertent error made in his sermon that elicited the allegations by the said "Senior ACNA Clergy." He assured the Primate of his continuous commitment to the teachings of the Word of God in its undiluted form and that he will continue to align with the vision of the Church of Nigeria, as a "Bible based" Church. He also re-affirmed his unflinching loyalty to the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and indeed to our Lord Jesus Christ."

The bishop-elect reiterated his obedience and absolute loyalty to the sole authority of the Holy Scriptures, and further said he will not undertake nor engage in any form of teaching that is opposed to the Holy Scriptures. He will desist from interfacing and arguing with the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) as a body or members of her Province.

*****

The largest parish in the Scottish Episcopal Church, St. Silas, with some 225 members, voted to leave the Scottish Episcopal Church this past week. The parish voted to discontinue its status as a licensed private chapel within the Scottish Episcopal Church. After a process of consultation and prayer, a members' vote was held and an emphatic majority of 86% voted to leave.

The Church has made the following statement:

Recent decisions of the Scottish Episcopal Church have made clear to us that the denomination does not regard the Bible as the authoritative word of God. With deep sadness, we have therefore decided that for reasons of integrity we can no longer continue as part of the Scottish Episcopal Church. We want to leave with goodwill towards those with whom we are parting company, and sincerely pray for God's blessing for the SEC in the future, and its renewal around God's word. You can read the full story here:
https://virtueonline.org/st-silas-votes-leave-scottish-episcopal-church

*****

In Australia, the Diocese of Grafton Synod rejected both the National Constitution and Bishops' Agreement on Same-Sex Marriage, indicating it would walk away from aspects of the national church constitution and the recent Bishops' Agreement.

The Synod debated asking the General Synod to introduce same-sex marriage and blessing liturgies. That motion, as expected, was passed along with a number of related matters. What surprised some delegates at Synod was that the following motion was comprehensively defeated.

The doctrine of the Church is that marriage is a lifelong union between a man and a woman. If the Church is to change its doctrine to permit same-sex marriage, the appropriate mechanism is through the framework of the Constitution and Canons of the Anglican Church of Australia. Bishops should give leadership in demonstrating trust in this framework as the way to move forward together...

The synod of Grafton essentially said, "we'll decide for ourselves what our doctrine and liturgy is". You can read the full story here: https://virtueonline.org/australia-grafton-synod-indicates-rejection-both-national-constitution-and-bishops-agreement-same

*****

Should Christians support paying reparations 150 years after slavery? No, writes Laura Baxter of the Federalist. The evils of slavery are too great to be fixed with cash. Forgiveness cannot be bought, and no number of government commissions will make things right, she says.

Yes, Christians should, says the Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton, the Episcopal bishop of Maryland, who urged Congress to pass HR 40, a bill to form a commission to study reparations for slavery. Sutton, perhaps himself a candidate for the commission, claimed to represent the perspective of the faith community in favor of reparations. After all, reparations have unanimous support from his diocese, which is 90 percent white. Reparations have been supported by multiple Democratic presidential candidates and religious leaders.

Along with religiously tinged words, Sutton explicitly claimed to base his remarks on the "Holy Scriptures" and "teachings of Jesus." However, Sutton was vague on the specific verses or Christian teaching that he was espousing.

This is not surprising. When Christ came to save the world from its sin--including slavery--he did not start by chairing a 13-member commission with his disciples. Sutton distorted four key biblical concepts in his remarks to Congress. You can read the full story here: https://virtueonline.org/no-christianity-does-not-support-paying-reparations-150-years-after-slavery

*****

Some 566 bishops and their spouses have so far registered to take part in the Lambeth Conference 2020, the decennial gathering of the bishops of the Anglican Communion. Bishops from 40 Anglican Communion Provinces and five Extra Provincial Areas have been invited to the event by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. However several of the larger African provinces have said they will not come owing to the fact that the apostate provinces like TEC and the ACoC have been invited in defiance of Lambeth 1:10.

"We are delighted that so many of our international guests have already confirmed their attendance at this historic event and we look forward to welcoming more registrations in the weeks and months ahead," said Phil George, CEO of the Lambeth Conference Company.

Truth be told, regardless of how many bishops show up they will represent only 20 million of the Anglican Communion's 70 million Anglicans.

All Blessings,

David

For more stories go to www.virtueonline.org Follow VOL on FACEBOOK here: https://www.facebook.com/virtueonline

To a layman, it seems obvious that what unites the Evangelical and the Anglo-Catholic against the 'Liberal' or 'Modernist' is something very clear and momentous, namely, the fact that both are thoroughgoing supernaturalists, who believe in the Creation, the Fall..."the Incarnation, the Resurrection, the Second Coming, and the Four Last Things. This unites them not only with one another, but with the Christian religion as understood ubique et ab omnibus." -- C. S. Lewis

The Transgender Moment is the shattered landscape after a perfect storm of new philosophies and technology: Christianity's decline, philosophical dualism, post-modernism and the Pill. --- Michael Cook.

It will be very difficult to have open dialogue in many workplaces without putting oneself in danger. One Christian professor on a secular university's science faculty declined to answer a question I had about the biology of homosexuality, out of fear that anything he said, no matter how innocuous and fact-based, could get him brought up on charges within his university, as well as attacked by social media mobs. Everyone working for a major corporation will be frog-marched through "diversity and inclusion" training and will face pressure not simply to tolerate LGBT co-workers but to affirm their sexuality and gender identity. ----- Rod Dreher

There are aspects of what the secular culture calls 'homosexual orientation' that are ... morally neutral." I do not believe this to be the case. I believe my same-sex attraction to be a movement of indwelling sin within me which I seek to mortify daily. I believe that original sin, like actual sin, is properly called sin. I believe that even my internal temptations are sin whether I act on them or not. I have been clear on this question in my public preaching and teaching. I follow Calvin closely in his reading of James 1. ---- TE Greg Johnson, Lead Pastor, Memorial PCA St. Louis

There are already more Christians in Africa than any other continent and by 2060 six of the countries with the top ten largest Christian populations will be in Africa, up from three in 2015. -- Quartz News

Liberalism long ago captured the seminaries and centers of control but never fully persuaded the local church in America even after a century of trying. Meanwhile, as the USA church shrinks thanks to decades of theological schizophrenia, the African church has arisen bold and strong, untouched by and unintimidated by USA theological liberalism. --- Mark Tooley of IRD

New birth, new behavior. The new birth results in new behaviour. Sin and the child of God are incompatible. They may occasionally meet; they cannot live together in harmony --- John R.W. Stott

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
July 12, 2019

FROM time to time I receive stories from Episcopalians who have clashed with their local Episcopal parish and what these clashes have done to them and their families. I usually ignore them, but these three tugged at my heart, and so I share them with you. I am not revealing their names to protect them.

"My husband's family goes back five generations at the local Episcopal Church...his faith has always been strong thanks to his mother and father and his ancestors. Today this same beautiful cathedral-like church is being turned into a hotel/bar restaurant after being destroyed by the politics of the left, forcing many to leave. He is now very ill, and at a time when he needs the Faith he was raised with...in a church he loved...no more...it exists no more. He has no refuge."

Then there is this; "Yes, I remember well, when I left TEC, people had already begun changing where their funds went or either just stopped all together. The church I left is in a small town in the South and had become one of the most popular churches in the area, and I was very active in it. Then the homo and same-sex issue began to raise its ugly head more and more...there was an exodus from there, and extreme hurt. However, to stay was not an option to some of us: I could no longer sign off on TEC. We planted an Anglican Church and I was ridiculed and called names and my friends dropped by the wayside. They were so angry that I left, but there was no reason to stay. The female priest was very liberal but managed to conceal it to a large degree. Then when she came out, she came OUT! Now they have a married same-sex couple and he (or she...not certain of the roles) serve on the vestry. I feel TEC truly lied to me and deceived me. I don't know if I will ever really put it behind me. I am shocked when I see and read about TEC now."

And then there was the Episcopal gentleman who turned up to church in full military regalia around the time of the Vietnam War and was told by the rector that wearing the uniform sent a bad message to his people and don't come back wearing it. He never darkened the door of an Episcopal Church again.

There are countless stories like this, most of it caused by the pain of brokering sodomy into the Episcopal Church. The spiritual, psychological and personal cost to lives has been enormous; the financial cost has run to the tens of millions of dollars in lost income, plate and pledge and lawsuits over properties. Churches have been split forever. We will never know the full extent of the cost that pansexuality has done to the Episcopal Church. The lives of people broken by the Episcopal Church will never be the same again, they have been spiritually maimed for life. Mercifully they will be sorted out at the Last Judgment...and judgement begins first with the household of God. (1 Peter 4:17).

*****

FACEBOOK continues to censor VOL's stories, but not only mine but other people of orthodox conviction as well. Dr. Robert Gagnon has had his words and blog censored by Facebook. But now AMAZON is doing the same thing. A reader wrote to VOL saying that he had a friend, a very accomplished scientist, who has written about the weaknesses in the evidence for thinking that evolution is the explanation of human origins. Amazon banned his books. There is a pattern here. Free speech is slowly being eroded and destroyed in America. Religious freedom is on the line.

Perhaps the worst-case scenario is Amazon's recent banning of the late Dr. Joseph Nicolosi's books on reparative therapy. Dr. Nicolosi helped hundreds of men break free from homosexuality. Amazon, the world's largest online retailer, banned his books under pressure from homosexual activists.

Linda Nicolosi, the late psychologist's wife, told Virtueonline that Amazon had bowed to long term pressure from gay activists. Amazon agreed to stop offering Dr. Joseph Nicolosi's books for sale.

"If this ban stands, it will effectively amount to a stranglehold on the free flow of information for conservatives and people of traditional faith, because Amazon holds a virtual monopoly on book sales, the public will be unable to access information on the causes of homosexuality, and of any hope for change."

"Of course, this is what gay activists want --- to control the free flow of information. Their activism was never about tolerance-- it was about the marginalization and shaming of anyone with a different viewpoint."

Dr. Nicolosi's books--including a new book about to be published, "The Best of Joseph Nicolosi"--- will soon be available directly on his web site, www.josephnicolosi.com.

Conservative columnist Rod Dreher wrote and said while Nicolosi's books were now banned, you can still buy Mein Kampf, by Adolf Hitler. He said the pro-Stalin works of Stalin apologist Grover Furr, an American academic who argues in books and in lectures that Stalin killed nobody and committed no crimes. (Between 7-10 million Ukrainians and other Soviet citizens died in the Stalin-engineered famine called the Holodomor alone). A history of Communism by the white supremacist David Duke and The SS Leadership Guide, translated from the original German, were still available from Amazon.

"You can buy a highly influential text by the Islamist radical Sayyid Qutb, Milestones, which calls on Muslims to wage relentless global jihad against non-Muslims and insufficiently radical Muslims, until the entire world is under radical Islamic rule."

I knew Nicolosi personally and saw his handiwork. Here is what I wrote that was picked up by Rod Dreher, Rebel Priest Dr. Jules Gomes and Church Militant.

I first met Dr. Nicolosi in London and saw him in action with about 100 young homosexuals who had come from all over Europe looking to break free from their homosexual desires. They had come voluntarily without coercion. As they expressed their concerns and fears, I watched as Dr Nicolosi led them through their relationship with their fathers, sometimes mothers, which were always dysfunctional, usually absentee fathers, emotionally disconnected fathers, abusive fathers.

As they talked, I watched as grown men cried, argued and fought with Dr. Nicolosi. He held his ground. He was tough and kind in the same breath. He demanded that at all times they tell the truth about the family relationships. Were these men instantly healed? No. But they were on the way to healing and Dr. Nicolosi would always be there for them. Later I heard from some married women and could testify that reparative therapy did work.

You can read my full story here: https://virtueonline.org/amazon-bans-late-reparative-therapists-books

*****

A story I wrote about a complaint filed by a Roman Catholic against the retiring Episcopal Bishop of Michigan, Wendell Gibbs, got picked up by ChurchMilitant.com. The complaint was about a retirement service and mass for the pro-homosexual Episcopal bishop to be held at St. Mary Magdalen Roman Catholic Church in Brighton. The complainant thought it wrong to have someone who did not share Catholic teaching on homosexuality using an RC parish.

I wrote to the Catholic archbishop but got no response. Church Militant picked up the story and lo and behold the Episcopal diocese withdrew from the parish and said the venue was changed to the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Paul in Detroit! Protests clearly work.

Ironically, replacing Gibbs is a Chicago-area priest(ess), Dr. Bonnie Perry. Perry is an ex-Roman Catholic, noncelibate lesbian woman in a same-sex marriage. You can read my story here:
https://virtueonline.org/lansing-mi-pro-homosexual-episcopal-mass-catholic-church-draws-complaint

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A recent story about the sado-masochism of a certain Jonathan Fletcher and earlier of John Smyth prompted this response from a reader. "[These] disgusting sexual relationships and activities have been at the heart of clerical promotion in the Church of England probably since it began. But now the great secret is being exposed for all to read. Some theological colleges (seminaries) have seemed more like brothels than religious houses, and the homosexual freemasonry which flourishes in public schools (private schools in US English) has long flowed into the circles of influence and promotion such as the Iwerne Trust, and the mutual promotion society which we now hear meets at Lambeth Palace to advance all kinds of careers." Could it be more blatant?

The Rev. Fletcher was Minister of Emmanuel Ridgway Proprietary Chapel, in Wimbledon, from 1982 to 2012, and an influential figure among Evangelicals in the Church of England. The allegations involve physical beatings, reminiscent of the beatings administered by John Smyth Fletcher admitted that the beatings took place, but on Friday described them as "light-hearted forfeits" in a "system of mutual encouragement".

Southwark diocese removed Fletcher's Permission to Officiate (PTO) in 2017, after an independent safeguarding assessment had concluded that, while there was "no criminal case to answer", nor any evidence that he posed "a significant sexual or physical risk to children . . . there was a risk of him behaving towards vulnerable adults who may be seeking his spiritual guidance in a manner which may be harmful".

IN OTHER CofE news, almost 400 people in 'positions of trust' with the Church of England have been convicted of child sex offences, an inquiry heard. The Inquiry probed the Church of England's response to child sex abuse allegations. Victims who made complaints were 'discredited or belittled by congregations'. Some clergy accused of abuse were allowed to keep their jobs and get promoted. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/almost-400-people-positions-trust-church-england-have-been-convicted-child-sex-offences-inquiry

The Diocese of Newcastle has embraced LGBTQ Queering. Newcastle Cathedral is being confronted over a weekend-long LGBT festival that includes a panel discussion on "Queering the Church". Between Friday 19 and Sunday 21 July, the Cathedral is hosting six LGBT events. Coinciding with the city's pro-LGBT march, the Cathedral is hosting four panelists, including a Church of England curate who identifies as 'non-binary genderqueer transgender'. Colin Hart, The Christian Institute's Director, said such festivals lead people away from the good news of the Gospel.

On the subject of 'good disagreement' now permeating the Church of England and promoted as a compromise to orthodox views of sexuality, the Rev. Dr. Stephen Noll has written a brilliant critique of John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York's take on moral equivalence verses moral equivocation.

In his Presidential Address to the General Synod of the Church of England last week, the Archbishop of York, in referring to the issue of human sexuality, had something important to observe about interpreting the Bible:
"The kind of disagreement we have is exactly the kind of disagreement one would expect to find in a church where the old habits of reading the Bible consistently and thoroughly, as part of a liturgical pattern or a pattern of private devotion, had broken down. The expectations we have of Biblical literacy -- not only of laity but of clergy too -- would strike most earlier generations of Christians as sadly low."

It is hard not to say Amen to that! Indeed, that is exactly the kind of habits of reading, interpreting, and applying of the Bible which Archbishop Cranmer called for in his Scripture Collect:
Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen."

It is the kind of approach affirmed in the Jerusalem Declaration from GAFCON 2008:
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God written and to contain all things necessary for salvation. The Bible is to be translated, read, preached, taught and obeyed in its plain and canonical sense, respectful of the church's historic and consensual reading. (clause 2)

So far, it seems, the Archbishop and orthodox Anglicans are aligned, but then the alignment fails. The reason it fails is that right from the start he frames his address in terms of good disagreement™. "How," he wonders, "can people who read the same Bible and share the same baptism come to strongly diverse conclusions about human sexuality?"

The paradigm of disagreement, as he poses it, is a matter of moral equivalence. "Some say this, some say that.""Some say God made sex for marriage, some say love conquers all.""Who am I to judge?"

Noll then takes him apart. I urge VOL's readers to read his take here: https://virtueonline.org/york-interpreting-bible-moral-equivalence-and-moral-equivocation

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In a culture war victory for England's conservatives, a landmark judgment in the case of Felix Ngole, the Court of Appeal upheld the rights of Christians to freely express their faith and overturned a High Court decision. The crucial outcome represents a major development of the law which results in Christians now having the legal right to express Biblical views on social media or elsewhere without fear for their professional careers. This is the first Court of Appeal judgment regarding freedom of expression of Biblical views which sets limits on the rights of professional regulators to limit free speech on social media; the judgment will be an authoritative statement of the law which is likely to be relied upon in hundreds of current and future cases.

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Anglican evangelicals are gathering steam as GAFCON moves into high gear drawing more primates and bishops into their orb. Canon Malcolm Richards has been made the Bishop for International Relations in a ground-breaking consecration in Sydney.

Bishop Richards, who was previously the General Secretary of the Church Missionary Society -- NSW & ACT is the first to take on the full-time role without also having responsibilities as a Sydney Regional Bishop. He will also take up a parallel appointment as the Director of the Centre for Global Mission at Moore Theological College.

The former Bishop of George's River, Peter Tasker, pioneered the role of Bishop for International Relations, representing the Archbishop and the Diocese at consecrations, conferences and making pastoral visits across the globe since 2009.

The Rt. Rev. Bill Atwood holds the title of Bishop of the International Diocese of the Anglican Church in North America and is coordinating efforts with Richards to bring him up to speed. Lambeth Palace and the Anglican Communion Office should take note. They no longer hold all the cards.

"God's plan is international and intercultural in scope. Go with God's plan - what God is already doing - making peace among the nations," said the preacher.

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Melanesia has a new primate. Leonard Dawea, Bishop of Temotu, was elected Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Melanesia at last week's meeting of the Provincial Electoral Board. He will be installed at Saint Barnabas Provincial Cathedral in Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, on September 15. Like his predecessors, the primate will also serve as Bishop of Central Melanesia, the province's largest diocese.. Dawea succeeds Archbishop George Takeli, who had also been his predecessor as Bishop of Temotu. The easternmost province in the Solomons, Temotu is a double chain of seventeen islands, with a combined population of just under 30,000 people. Bishop Dawea is a native of one of the Reefs Islands in Temotu Province. HT to TLC

Dawea was a member of the Melanesian Brotherhood for twelve years before his ordination to the priesthood. This missionary monastic order has played a central role in the spread of the Christian faith in the region and helped to broker an important peace agreement between rival factions in 2000. Members of the Brotherhood commonly serve between seven and twenty years and are then released from their vows and permitted to marry and raise a family. Bishop Dawea married after his time in monastic life, and he and his wife, Dorah, have two children. Hat Tip - TLC

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Atheism and Islam is on the rise in the UK as Christianity suffers 'dramatic decline', according to The Telegraph. Christian belief has halved in Britain in 35 years, with just one in three people now identifying as Christian - while atheism and Islam continue to rise. Figures published by the British Social Attitudes Survey reveal the widest ever margin between staunch atheists and believers who are certain that God exists.

Of almost 4,000 people polled by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), 38 per cent described themselves as Christian - a fall from 50 per cent in 2008 and 66 per cent in 1983.

Those identifying as Muslim increased from 1 per cent in 1983 to 3 per cent in 2008, and 6 per cent in 2018.

The survey shows that the biggest change is in the number of people who define themselves as "confident atheists", which rose from 10 per cent in 1998 to 18 per cent in 2008 and its record high of 26 per cent in 2018.

In contrast, researchers found that an overall 55 per cent of the population express some sort of belief in some kind of God.

Nancy Kelley, deputy chief executive at NatCen, said that the steady decline in religion and belief among the British public is "one of the most important trends in post-war history".

Dave Male, the Church of England's director of evangelism and discipleship, said: "For many people ticking a box marked 'Church of England' or 'Anglican' is now an active choice and no longer an automatic response. In spite of this, the Church of England remains at the heart of communities."

It might also signal to the Global South just how irrelevant the Church of England is and how the center of Anglicanism has moved decisively to Africa. It should come as no surprise that GAFCON owns the communion, not the Lambeth conference or the Archbishop of Canterbury.

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FACTOID. On the subject of the Anglican Centre in Rome, VOL was told that the newly appointed chairman of its council (in succession to Stephen Platten) is the ultra-liberal Michael Burrows, Bishop of Ossory, Cashel and Waterford. He supported abortion in last year's Irish referendum.

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This week, Church Pension Group (CPG) released their annual report. The report, which has the subtitle "A Stable Presence," details trends in investments, shares current statistics about their services, introduces new board members and employees, and gives a snapshot of current priorities for the organizations that fall under its purview. Church Pension Group includes The Church Pension Fund, Church Life Insurance Corporation, The Church Insurance Companies, The Episcopal Church Medical Trust, and Church Publishing Incorporated.
At the of the end of 2018, CPG pension plans had 6,000 active clergy participants and 19,881 active lay participants and boasted a portfolio with assets totaling $13.5 billion. During 2018, CPG took in $85 million in assessments, but paid $380 million in clergy pension benefits, relying on its investment returns to make up the difference. In that same time, CPG also offered 75 conferences, The Church Insurance Companies insured 90% of Episcopal churches and Church Publishing managed 2,753 products and titles. H/T to Episcopal Cafe

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The Anglican Church of Canada's motion to change the Marriage Canon was defeated. The 2/3rds majority needed to allow same-sex marriage was passed by the laity and clergy but defeated by the bishops.
As predicted, there was much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth by progressives. David of Samizdat, an orthodox Canadian Anglican blogger wrote, "There was a lot of emotion following the vote. The final prayer was delivered by a lady who had tears trickling down her face. Like a zombie that just won't die, the possibility of a new motion to revisit the Marriage Canon resolution was raised from the floor at the end of the evening."

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"The men who really believe in themselves are all in lunatic asylums."― G.K. Chesterton, from Orthodoxy

The whole purpose of God in redemption is to make us holy and to restore us to the image of God. To accomplish this, He disengages us from earthly ambitions and draws us away from the cheap and unworthy prizes that worldly men set their hearts upon. The true Christian ideal is not to be happy but to be holy. --- A. W. Tozer

The promise of victory. Romans 8 contains five convictions about God's providence (verse 28), five affirmations about his purpose (29,30) and five questions about his love (31-39), which together bring us fifteen assurances about him. We urgently need them today, since nothing seems stable in our world any longer. Insecurity is written across all human experience. Christian people are not guaranteed immunity to temptation, tribulation or tragedy, but we are promised victory over them. God's pledge is not that suffering will never afflict us, but that it will never separate us from his love. --- John R.W. Stott

By David W. Virtue, DD
www.virtueonline.org
July 26, 2019

ANGLICANS, by and large are convictional Christians. Episcopalians, by and large are nominal Christians. Most Episcopalians pray, pay and obey, and write out checks without asking the hard questions about what the Church really teaches. If confronted, they say something like 'not in my house', and 'we would never allow a homosexual marriage in our parish' or 'my priest simply won't talk about sex or politics because he or she knows there just be more Republicans than Democrats sitting in their pews.' So, they say nothing.

Now if the apostle Paul had taken that approach, the two Corinthian epistles would never have been written. Paul confronts sexual issues and ethics head on and with great vigor... "a man is actually living with his father's wife!" (1 Cor. 5:1) a big no no. "Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers--none of these will inherit the kingdom of God." (I Cor. 6-9-10) another list of no nos.

This is hardly in the vein of your average Episcopal priest or bishop. You can pass all the resolutions you like at General Convention and ignore Scripture, but what goes on at the local level is all that matters. I know a number of orthodox Episcopalians who stay in Episcopal parishes because they want to be buried in the parish yard or columbarium.

It only becomes an issue when a bishop with conviction, like the Bishop of Albany, Bill Love stands up and says 'not in my diocese' that the fat hits the fan. Suddenly you divide the sheep from the goats, a number of parishes revolt, the presiding bishop is summoned and the craziness begins.

Sooner or later it all comes home to roost. Silence, compromise and prevarication are losing combinations. Young people, if they are looking for a church at all, seek a pastor or a church with real conviction. That is why evangelical and Pentecostal churches are growing and why progressive churches are dying. It is why the Anglican Church in North America is growing and why the Episcopal Church is dying.

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"80% of the people who are persecuted in the world today are Christian," said Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, former Bishop of Rochester and a world authority on religious persecution.

This astounding statistic echoed throughout the meetings last week held around the capital of the United States, Washington, D.C. The U.S. State Department held the 2nd annual Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom around the world and Bishop Michael and Bishop Andudu from the Nuba Mountains, Sudan, were asked to participate in Ministerial side events to help shed light on the worldwide persecution of Christians.

They and other Anglicans who have participated in past GAFCON events, like Faith McDonnell of the Institute of Religion and Democracy, were in attendance to be a voice for the suffering church.

Please read more here and watch the interviews with Bishop Michael, Faith McDonnell and Bishop Andudu. https://www.gafcon.org/news/advocating-for-the-suffering-church?utm_source=GAFCON+Communications&utm_campaign=be37e6d4e9-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_07_24_03_13&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ae55802e3e-be37e6d4e9-90164461

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"Without true repentance this affirmation of same-sex unions as 'marriage' brings us to the end of a long goodbye for Canadian Anglicanism in its current form. It has signed its own death warrant. Faithful Anglicans now need to get off of this ship that is sinking in the midst of judgment, and reform an evangelical community of faith that can carry the rich heritage of global Anglicanism to another generation. Goodbye, ACoC." Thus writes Joe Boot of the Ezra Institute.

This past week's debacle at the Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC) Synod is living proof that orthodoxy is now dead in the ACoC. A narrowly passed resolution upholding traditional marriage was almost immediately trashed by a dozen or so bishops who referred back to an earlier resolution, A Word to the Church, which they believe gave them carte blanche to go ahead and perform these unholy "marriage" unions regardless of what Synod just voted.

In one diocese after another, bishops stepped up to the plate saying they would go ahead and allow/perform homosexual marriages and to hell with what Synod passed. This, of course, begs the question why did they have the vote at all! Canadian blogger, David of Samizdat, sums it up well when he wrote; "Mainline churches used to fear the Charismatic movement because of what they considered overly emotional displays seen during worship. Just as the liberal church has stolen much of the language of successful conservative churches -- as if success is somehow embodied in the language -- so, finally, liberals have appropriated Charismatic emotionalism. Except the emotions are throbbing waves of shock, pain, deep hurt, sobbing, anger, frustration, confusion and fear...along with enough hand-wringing, cloying, obsequious, groveling apologies to be the envy of Uriah Heep." You can read my summation here and why both TEC and the ACoC would sooner go out of business than repent. https://virtueonline.org/tec-and-acoc-would-sooner-go-out-business-repent-embracing-pansexuality

Just to complicate matters, Indigenous native Anglican groups do not want same sex marriage. In late breaking news, the Diocese of Athabasca said it will not be marrying same-sex couples. Score one for the good guys.

On the state of Biblical orthodoxy in the Anglican Church of Canada, you can read George Sinclair's fine piece here: https://virtueonline.org/state-biblical-orthodoxy-anglican-church-canada

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CONTINUING ANGLICAN NEWS. There has been a changing of the guard in the Anglican Province of America (APA). The Rt. Rev. Chandler "Chad" H. Jones was elected coadjutor of the Eastern Diocese of the Anglican Province of America at the diocese's recent synod and will succeed the Most Rev. Walter Grundorf as diocesan bishop. Grundorf is the founding presiding bishop of the APA. It is expected that Jones will succeed Grundorf at a full provincial synod next year. The APA came about in 1977 when the APA and three other Continuing bodies broke from The American Episcopal Church over her heretical teachings and unacceptable revisions of the Book of Common Prayer.

IN other news, the Diocese of the Holy Trinity (ACC) and the Diocese of the West (ACA) announced that they have agreed to work together with the goal of unifying their organizations at some level. This comes on the heels of an historic establishment of full communion between the Anglican Joint Synods Churches in 2017.

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St. Christopher Episcopal Church in League City, Texas, gave a Bible to a parishioner, David Scott, to take with him on a business trip. To this day, the congregation still has not gotten it back. That's because he left it on the moon, according to a report in ENS. The Bible was left on the lunar rover in the Hadley Plains area of the Moon by Apollo 15 Mission Commander Colonel David R. Scott, a member of St. Christopher, August 2nd, 1971. The bigger and deeper question is why Episcopalians don't read their Bibles on earth and learn what the Scriptures really have to say about sex!

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An email from the Archbishop of Canterbury's office in April 2018 confirmed that no apology had been issued to the Rev. Matthew Ineson for the lack of action to his sexual abuse claims. Ineson, a victim of sexual abuse at the hands of an Anglican priest, is campaigning for independence for church safeguarding. Ineson disputed Justin Welby's testimony at the independent inquiry into sexual abuse in the Anglican church. Trevor Devamanikkam was accused of raping Matthew Ineson of Heckmondwike in 1984. Devamanikkam took his own life on the day of his trial.

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What happens when the Bishop decides to get tough? In the light of an address by the Rev. William Taylor, Rector of St Helen's Bishopsgate in the City of London, explaining to his congregation why he is not going to leave the Church of England, here is a practical scenario that really could happen to a large city-center conservative evangelical church that chooses to stay in the denomination:

A CofE diocesan bishop receives notice from a conservative evangelical incumbent that, because she will not distance herself from the House of Bishops''good disagreement' and 'radical inclusion' stance on human sexuality and the transgender issue, she and his church are now in 'impaired communion'. The Bishop's spiritual oversight is not welcome; in the eyes of the Rector, the other licensed clergy on his staff team and the church council, she is just a secular CEO or area manager.

But far from taking this on the chin, the Bishop is affronted because she believes the Church has bestowed on her an authentically spiritual oversight. She resolves to play hardball with this Rector, but she is clever about it and bides her time.

When his curate's four-year licence comes to an end, she tells the Rector that he is no longer being allocated as a training incumbent. So, he won't get a first-time curate. One of his second-curacy clergy then decides to move on. The Rector gets in touch with the Bishop's office to organize a replacement, but is told that she is not going to license one. You can read the Rev. Julian Mann's full story here:
https://virtueonline.org/what-happens-when-bishop-decides-get-tough

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There is no doubt that Archbishop Justin Welby has treated the former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord George Carey very shabbily over safeguarding issues in the CofE. He was told to step down as honorary assistant bishop within the Diocese of Oxford, by Welby. Now a very British way of getting back at Welby would be for Carey to turn up to the GAFCON gabfest in Kilgali, Rwanda a month before the Lambeth Conference meets in Canterbury and declare his support for the GAFCON primates. It would certainly take the wind out of Welby's sails, but then he probably deserves it.

*****

Following a two-hour hearing at Calhoun County Courthouse in St. Matthews, SC, First Circuit Court Judge Edgar Dickson ordered all parties--The Episcopal Church in South Carolina (TECinSC) and The Episcopal Church (Anglican), to enter into mediation in the ongoing dispute over enforcing the South Carolina Supreme Court's 2017 decision on diocesan and parish properties.

The hearing was initially in regard to a lawsuit filed against TECinSC and The Episcopal Church by the Anglican group that has come to be known as the Betterments Act case. It was filed in November 2017 and cites the Betterments Act statute to seek compensation from TECinSC and The Episcopal Church for the cost of improvements made to the properties over the years.

During the hearing, attorneys for TECinSC and The Episcopal Church argued the grounds for dismissal of the case, per their motion filed on December 15, 2017. During the course of the arguments, Judge Dickson asked several questions on issues surrounding ownership and trusteeship of the involved properties. In response, attorneys for Bishop Mark Lawrence argued that the Supreme Court decision of August 2, 2017 does not, in their view, specifically identify the parishes that directly acceded to the Dennis Canon. That canon requires that church properties be held in trust on behalf of the diocese, to be used for the benefit of The Episcopal Church. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/south-carolina-circuit-court-hears-arguments-betterments-statute-and-orders-mediation

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A man who says he was sexually abused by a priest in the early 1970s is suing the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona and the Tucson parish where the abuse allegedly occurred, claiming his reports of repeated molestation were ignored at the time. It may be the first lawsuit to take advantage of a new Arizona law that extends the statute of limitations for cases of child sexual abuse. The diocese, though not disputing that the abuse took place, denies his accusations of a cover-up and says the matter was handled appropriately at the time.

According to the lawsuit, Charles Taylor was sexually abused for several years around age 12 by the Rev. Richard Babcock, a priest at Grace Church (now Grace St. Paul's Church), in the church and in Babcock's home. Taylor says he told the rector about the abuse at the time, but the rector failed to stop it, and Babcock continued to abuse him and other children. The lawsuit, filed on July 12, also claims that the diocese knew that Babcock was abusing children and covered it up by "reassigning him to other churches." The complaint consists of two counts each -- negligence and breach of fiduciary duty -- against the diocese and Grace St. Paul's. Babcock, now deceased, admitted to having abused children in a sworn affidavit before his death, according to the law firm representing Taylor. ENS Report

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The latest in sexual outrage is, not so surprisingly, transgenderism. While a tiny proportion (around 0.05 per cent) of people are genuinely 'intersex', meaning they exhibit a mixture of male and female biology owing to a disorder of sex development, transgenderism has typically been regarded as separate to this, as a psychological disorder known as gender dysphoria (and previously, gender identity disorder). Increasingly, however, activists, including many within the medical establishment, are blurring the lines between the two and claiming that transgenderism, like intersexuality, is rooted in a person's genetics and biology.

Transgenderism has typically been regarded as a psychological disorder known as gender dysphoria (and previously, gender identity disorder).

The idea that a person's sex is determined by their anatomy at birth is not true, and we've known that it's not true for decades.' So says Dr Joshua D Safer, endocrinologist at the Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery in New York and president of the United States Professional Association of Transgender Health.

Likewise, the current US Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guidelines from 2017 state that the term 'biological sex' is 'imprecise and should be avoided', citing the existence of intersex conditions and eliding them with transgenderism. The guidelines endorse the controversial notion that sex is 'assigned' not recognized at birth and argue that 'compelling studies' show that biology contributes to 'gender identity and its expression'.

Critics of transgender ideology often point to the fact that a person's sex is biologically determined as male or female (XX or XY chromosomes) to demonstrate that any feelings a person has to be the other sex must be mistaken, and possibly a sign of mental illness. British theologian and Anglican priest Dr. Will Jones takes this apart and you can read what he says here:
https://virtueonline.org/transgender-researchers-twist-data-prove-transgenderism-innate

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The New Wineskins for Global Mission Conference will be held on September 26-29, 2019. The tri-annual New Wineskins for Global Mission Conference, at Ridgecrest Conference Center in Black Mountain, North Carolina, continues to be the single largest gathering of Anglicans interested in international mission from throughout the whole of the Anglican Communion. You can register here: https://newwineskinsconference.org/

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VirtueOnline has begun a crowdfunding campaign to not only gain funding to keep VOL afloat, but also to grow as a brand. We want you to stay engaged with what we report on. Our new version of VirtueOnline 2.0 will include more reports, a better website to read on, better branding and essentially more news about everything Anglican. Our drive is to reach $40,000. We hope you will join with us to keep the Anglican Communion's foremost orthodox Anglican Communion News Service alive and coming into your email. For more stories go to www.virtueonline.org You can follow VOL on FACEBOOK here: https://www.facebook.com/virtueonline

All Blessings,

David

The rush to consign Epstein to hell is interesting, since many Americans no longer believe in a place of eternal damnation -- a trend seen in polls in recent decades. --- Terry Mattingly

Something has gone terribly wrong. One third of the world call themselves 'Christians', but a significant proportion of them are missing. Many of them are missing from our churches. Many others are present, but are missing out on the joy of truly knowing and following Christ. Something has to change! Mission to nominal Christians is too often missing from the agenda of the global church and its leaders. ---
The Lausanne Rome 2018 Statement on Nominal Christianity

Religious observance without moral obedience cannot save --- Philip Graham Ryken

Love is supreme. Knowledge is vital, faith indispensable, religious experience necessary, and service essential, but Paul gives precedence to love. Love is the greatest thing in the world. For 'God is love' in his innermost being. Father, Son and Spirit are eternally united to each other in self-giving love. So he who is love, and has set his love upon us, calls us to love him and others in return. 'We love because he first loved us' (1 Jn. 4:19). Love is the principal, the paramount, the pre-eminent, the distinguishing characteristic of the people of God. Nothing can dislodge or replace it. Love is supreme. --- John R.W. Stott

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
August 16, 2019

THE CHURCH is going to have to learn afresh how to live in the midst of a pagan culture, one which has the power to corrupt all Christian belief. So writes David F. Wells, Distinguished Senior Research Professor, at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.

Baptist theologian Al Moehler, in an article The Transgender Revolution's Radical Redefinition of Self and Safety: Where Did it Come From?says that when massive change is taking place in a society, the vocabulary changes with it. Sometimes new words emerge. Oftentimes old words are redefined. They're redeployed, sometimes contorted beyond their meaning, sometimes broadened beyond anything a previous generation could have imagined.

That's what's happening with the word "safe" right now, and it's made very clear in an article that ran at USA Today. Kristin Lam is the reporter. The headline: "More than 7,000 Americans have gender X IDs, a victory for transgender rights. Is that a safety risk too?" That's the headline, ending with that question, "Is it a safety risk too?" A safety risk? What might that mean?

Well, if you go back to the major use of the word "safe" or "safety" in generations past, it has had to do with physical safety, with health and wellbeing. It has to do with avoiding disease or avoiding injury. Safety as applied to others might even be translated into something like your local city's department of public safety, which would certainly include, most importantly, the police department; the police department is for the most part concerned about keeping a society safe from criminal activity and law breaking.

What is happening is a radical notion of the self that is emerging. The individual in North America who defined it most appropriately was Charles Taylor, the Canadian philosopher, who in the late 1980s published a book entitled Sources of the Self: The Making of Modern Identity. That word "identity" is central. The idea here is that the self, the individual, now bears a responsibility to discover within and to construct without an identity.

And then you have the rise of modern psychology and psychiatry. You can't have the modern notion of the individual and of the self without the rise of modern psychiatry and psychology and the looming influence of figures such as Sigmund Freud. But Freud's is simply the most important of the names on this list that contributed to the modern idea of the self as project, and it has so infected our society that most people simply take it as a norm. They simply take it as a given. The reality is that our identity is our concern. It is our right to declare. It is our own responsibility as a personal project.

Dr. Wells put his finger on the cultural shift when he writes, "We have moved from thinking about ourselves in terms of human nature (and in Christian terms in the imago Dei) -- what is common to all who are human --to thinking in terms of the self. Today, the self is that center in each person where gender, sexual orientation, and biography come together in a unique combination. My self is unique to me. Therefore, life is about becoming authentic to who I am. And it follows that if every self is different in some measure, there are no moral norms that are applicable to everyone in the same way. Moral norms therefore are replaced by values --that is, by what is important to and for me and people legitimately have different moral values. This is the path that the acute relativism of our time has taken.

*****

Closely allied to this, is an article by Greg Sheridan of The Spectator, who cogently argues that the West cannot survive without a re-energized belief in Christianity. Most British people seem to take it on faith that to have faith is stupid, he writes. While things are not this bad in the U.S., we cannot ignore the fact that a generation of Nones, Millennials and Generations X and Y are growing up with little or no faith input into their lives.

"There is no faster way to get yourself classed as dim than by admitting that you hold religious belief, especially Christian belief. Anti-Catholicism used to be the anti-Semitism of intellectuals; now Catholics get no special attention. All believing Christians are regarded as stupid, eccentric or malevolent.

"Some conservatives will make the case for the social usefulness of Christian values. The conservative asks: if society prospered with these traditions and customs, is it really wise to throw them away without a moment's hesitation?

"That is just what the West is doing, especially the Anglophone West. Britain, Australia and even the God-fearing United States are becoming atheist societies. Britain is more atheist than Australia, which is more atheist than the US, but the trend of radically declining belief is undeniable in all three."

This is historically new. As Nicky Gumbel from Holy Trinity Brompton recently pointed out, there have been periods of very low religious practice in Britain -- the middle of the 18th century, for example -- and other western societies, but never before of wholesale atheist belief (atheism is a faith like any other, only less reasonable).

*****

TEC AND GIVING. The Living Church produced a report on diocesan progress in their stewardship. They noted that The Episcopal Church is highly dependent on contributions from its dioceses, just as dioceses are highly dependent on their churches, and churches are highly dependent on their members. Some dioceses are paying more; some are paying less. They based their analysis on 103 domestic dioceses. You can read the full report here: https://livingchurch.org/

They note that overall the story is positive, as the number of domestic dioceses in compliance has grown sharply. The Rev. Mally Lloyd, who chairs the finance committee of the Executive Council, told TLC that in 2013, TEC was asking each diocese to contribute 19% of their revenue, but only 44 dioceses were doing so. The "ask" has since been reduced in stages to 15%, and more than 90 dioceses are expected to comply for 2019.

What the report did not say is that fewer people are giving more, because there are no new converts coming forward to cover the bills. It's those white privileged males and females that are keeping the coffers filled. They did note that a significant number of conservative parishes are telling their diocesan bishops that they don't want their money to go to the national church because of its stand on homosexual marriage. I have made the point repeatedly that the people in the pews are far more conservative than their priests and bishops, and they are willing to stay in TEC because of friendships and the graveyards that await them. They did note that the Diocese of Pennsylvania took a major financial hit under Bishop Charles Bennison who left the diocese in disgrace, for covering his brother's sexual assault of a woman. Also, the Diocese of Colorado took a major financial hit when former Bishop Rob O'Neill spent $3 million in legal fees going after the Rev. Don Armstrong for daring to leave TEC and its apostate theology. The new bishop, a woman, vows she will raise the funds next year.

The report said the 2015 General Convention adopted a carrot-and-stick approach to assessments -- gradual reductions in the rate of assessment, combined with a penalty for noncompliance. The penalty is that beginning this year, dioceses that do not either meet the assessment or obtain a waiver will be ineligible to receive grants or loans from The Episcopal Church in the following year. Any exceptions would have to be approved by Executive Council.

How serious is this penalty? That will vary from diocese to diocese, depending on their inclination to apply for loans or grants. To gussy it all up, TEC provided about $5.5 million in grants and loans, to dioceses, individual churches and organizations. This includes $3.9 million in block grants, primarily to financially dependent dioceses. The remainder includes scholarships and grants for campus ministries, church planting, anti-poverty efforts, seminaries, rural churches and other programs.

That focus may shift as soon as specific grant applications are denied in 2020. Barnes said his staff will determine which dioceses have paid the requisite 15% when they close their books for the year at the end of January. The Executive Council, which must approve most grants and loans, will meet in mid-February.

*****

Archbishop Justin Welby is still enmeshed in the beating boys' scandal and will "give evidence" as an investigation begins into Church camps where boys were sadistically beaten at Church of England holiday camps. Before his ordination, Welby had served as a "dormitory officer" at evangelical camps where John Smyth QC carried out beatings of boys and young men. The church announced an independent review into the assaults carried out by Smyth in the 1970s and 1980s. The investigation will try to establish which Church staff knew about the abuse, whether they responded appropriately and whether the attacks could have been prevented.

*****

Did Ravi Zacharias Invent the tale of his Father attending his first doctoral ceremony? It appears so. In his autobiography, Walking from East to West, and in his other writings, Zacharias tells a touching story about how his once-hostile father proudly attended the ceremony at which Ravi received his first honorary doctorate. Ravi also tells us that so proud was the elder Oscar Zacharias, that he purchased the robe Ravi wore that day. Ravi has repeated the story widely in his writings and lectures.

The problem is that Oscar Zacharias died in 1979 and Ravi did not receive his first doctorate until May of 1980. The 1979 date comes from several of Ravi's published writings. The 1980 date has been confirmed by Houghton College.
It is, of course, possible, that Ravi has mis-remembered the year of his father's death. This would be an easy error to rectify. Unfortunately, his ministry has refused several requests to clarify the date of the death of Oscar Zacharias. VOL reached out to his publisher, but did not get a response back.

*****

Meghan Markle reportedly wanted the Dalai Lama to deliver the sermon at her wedding, but it was "vetoed" by Archbishop Justin Welby. Michael Curry was the fall back choice. Meghan's love of meditation, which has since been passed to Harry, and her affinity for quoting the Dalai Lama in her former career as an actress, is thought to be contributing factors to her inclination to consider the invitation.

According to Daily Mail, Welby is said to have vetoed the idea due to the Dalai Lama not being a Christian. After sharing his sentiments regarding the matter, Welby then told Harry and Meghan that they should instead have American bishop Michael Curry, who serves as the head of the Episcopal Church in the U.S., give a speech at the royal wedding. This suggestion came even though neither Meghan nor Harry had previously met Curry.

*****

As growing dissatisfaction with the Church of England grows and Welby's prevarication on sexuality issues heightens, more and more parish priests are leaving the church. The latest person to do so is the Vicar of Fowey, the Rev. Philip de Grey-Warter, who is also Priest-in-Charge of Golant, in the diocese of Truro. He is stepping down after 17 years to plant a new church community under the auspices of GAFCON. He said he had "wrestled" with the decision since December, when the House of Bishops issued guidance on using the liturgy for the Affirmation of Baptismal Faith to mark a person's gender transition (News, 14 December 2018).

"We have been very clear that we are making this move in conscience and not telling anyone else what they ought to do," he said. "We hope some people will come and plant with us, and there will be others who continue in the parish church. We want to ensure good relationships are maintained."

*****

Three Anglican cathedrals have set out to increase both their appeal to the public and to get more people into the building. One has chosen a gin festival, another has built a mini golf course over the flagstones where pilgrims have knelt in prayer since the 7th century, and one has built a helter skelter at the heart of the building.

Pretty predictably, there have been two sets of responses. One group has hailed these as imaginative initiatives which will catch the imagination of the public, and make the buildings seem a little more relevant to people who otherwise would not give the faith of the cathedral a second thought; and the other group has protested that the cathedral authorities have misunderstood the purpose of the buildings and their relationship with the public.

In every generation the Church faces a live or die challenge. Convert or be converted, writes Bishop Gavin Ashenden. Either act as an agency for people to encounter the Living God and be forgiven, turned and transformed; or fit into the unforgiving contours of a society that is driven by other forces, other appetites, and smear over their agenda a patina of spirituality that confers a thin covering of political and cultural legitimacy.

You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/convert-or-be-converted

You can also read a story about all this by Andrew Symes here: https://virtueonline.org/cathedral-gimmicks-illustrate-spiritually-blind-britain-and-mute-church

*****

The Episcopal Diocese of Taiwan elected the Rev. Lennon Yuan-Rung Chang, 64, rector of Advent Church, Taipei, as its sixth bishop on Aug. 3, 2019, at a special election convention held at St. James' Episcopal Church, Taichung. He was one of three nominees. Chang was elected on the second ballot. Nine clergy votes and 19 lay votes were necessary for election on that ballot; Chang received 11 clergy votes and 28 lay votes.

*****

An Australian Anglican bishop vows to test church ban on same-sex marriage, reports TLC. The Diocese of Wangaratta, in rural Southeastern Australia, will vote on allowing same-sex marriage at its August 30-31 synod, with the full support of its bishop, the Rt. Rev. John Parkes. Parkes, who will retire from his ministry after the synod concludes. He told the Australian Broadcasting Company that he believes the change has wide support in the diocese. He said he is also prepared to officiate at same-sex marriages himself and to be disciplined by the Anglican Church of Australia for his convictions.

Parkes has been a vocal supporter of same-sex marriages for several years. Last summer's Wangaratta diocesan synod voted to commend the preparation of rites by the bishop for blessing same-sex civil unions. In 2012 and 2013, the Diocese of Perth voted to call for legal acknowledgement of same-sex marriages, but the resolutions were vetoed both times by then-Archbishop Roger Herft.

The Anglican Church of Australia reaffirmed its commitment to a traditional understanding of marriage at its last General Synod, in 2017, resolving that "the doctrine of our church, in line with traditional Christian teaching, is that marriage is an exclusive and lifelong union of a man and a woman."

*****

In Hong Kong, the Sheng Kung Hui House of Bishops issued a pastoral letter in light of the "Extradition Bill" (2019) which has sparked a series of marches and spread conflicts as clashes between the police and civilians have grown more acute and tension has permeated the city, causing anxiety and pain.

"We think that when Christians respond to political or public issues, we should remember that we are all members of God's family, even if we hold different opinions. We might stand on opposite sides, and feel animosity or even hatred towards those with different views. When this happens, we have to be extremely careful, because our hearts might have fallen into the control of the "evil one". We need to remember that benevolent thoughts come from God while wicked intentions originate in the "evil one," Satan. In these times, we all need to pray to God for mercy and forgive one another."

There was no condemnation of Chinese Communist authorities trying to wipe out pro-democracy forces in HK, just an anemic response, a sort of 'why can't we all just get along'. But then again, Anglicans in Hong Kong have sided with the Three Self Movement which is the government-controlled Protestant movement on Mainland China and these leaders certainly don't want to upset that political and ecclesial apple cart for fear of retribution!

*****

In the Diocese of Huron, some parishioners at some churches thought that they would be allowed to have a "secret ballot" to vote and decide yes or no on the same-sex weddings in their particular parish (about three weeks ago this was the thought}, now the latest is that the individual parishioner can speak to the minister and give the parishioner's viewpoint and yes or no decision for SSM or not. Therefore, there will be no "secret" ballot in those churches. All this follows the failed passage of the marriage resolution at Synod recently. Local option allows dioceses to act independently and defiantly of the resolution. Many are doing so.

*****

Presidential candidate and Episcopalian Pete Buttigieg has hired the Rev. Shawna Foster as his faith-outreach director. Foster, is a 35-year-old Unitarian Universalist pastor. She has a lot in common with Buttigieg: Both are millennials, LGBT people and military veterans. These days belief wise there is not much between them. To be an Episcopalian you can pretty believe what you want and say the creed. In other words, Foster is to the theological left of Mayor Pete, if that is indeed possible.

*****

VirtueOnline has begun a crowdfunding campaign to not only gain funding to keep VOL afloat, but also to grow as a brand. We want you to stay engaged with what we report on. Our new version of VirtueOnline 2.0 will include more reports, a better website to read on, better branding and essentially more news about everything Anglican. Our drive is to reach $40,000. We hope you will join with us to keep the Anglican Communion's foremost orthodox Anglican Communion News Service alive and coming into your email. For more stories go to www.virtueonline.org You can follow VOL on FACEBOOK here: https://www.facebook.com/virtueonline

All Blessings,

David

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
August 30, 2019

Church attendance in the United States is at an all-time low, according to a Gallup poll released in April 2019. This decline has not been a steady one. Indeed, over the last 20 years, church attendance has fallen by 20 percent. This might not sound like cause for concern off the bat. And if you're not a person of faith, you might rightly wonder why you would care about such a thing.

Church attendance is simply a measure of something deeper: social cohesion. It's worth noting that the religions with the highest rate of attendance according to Pew Forum have almost notoriously high levels of social cohesion: Latter-Day Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses, Evangelical Protestants, Mormons and historically black churches top the list.

There's also the question of religious donations. Religious giving has declined by 50 percent since 1990, according to a 2016 article in The New York Times. This means people who previously used religious services to make ends meet now either have to go without or receive funding from the government. This, in turn, strengthens the central power of the state.

Civil society is in rapid decline, that is, those elements of society which exist independently of big government and big business, which are essential to a functioning and free society are fast disappearing.

Loneliness, isolation, fear, and the dark side of social media might be seen as a prelude to tyranny, and this in turn could lead to growing violence. Fatherlessness, a problem in the Black community is now washing over into the white community.

Of 114 mass shootings - using the Congress definition - between 1982 and May 2019, 110 were carried out by men.

According to Statista analysis, in the same time-frame 64 of the perpetrators were white, while 19 were black, 10 Latino and eight Asian.

About 60% of America is white-only, while current stats show white people carry out about 58% of shootings. As a proportion of all races and shootings, white people far outstrip others.

The deeper truth is that without parental guidance, the preaching of moral values, the recognition of what is right and wrong, churches will have little influence on the vast sea of disappearing Americans. The churches are devoid of millennials as well as Generations X and Y and they won't come to church if what they hear is no different from what the New York Times or Washington Post throw at them. If there is not a clear understanding of what the gospel is, then railing on about climate change, the wall, refugees, saving the whales and carbon footprints will not draw young people into the church.

If the parents don't believe, there is little incentive for them to go to church. Kids pick up on that immediately and follow in their footsteps. Of course, there is no guarantee that even if the parents are true believers that the children will follow. The God-given gift of free will can be met with a resounding no.

With the loss of a moral base in decision-making largely furnished from the Bible, in time the loss of business ethics will set in. One sees that in people like Bernie Madoff, Jeffrey Epstein and numerous businessmen caught with their hands in the till. We are also becoming a shame-free society, so no one feels guilty about anything, because we are told guilt is bad for you. But is it? One must distinguish between true moral guilt and guilt feelings, but guilt is a reality and only the foot of the cross can deal adequately with it.

One other emerging fact is the conflation of true Biblical faith with American Civil Religion, making it harder for Millennials (read Nones) to know what the difference is. It is very hard for Americans not to see themselves as exceptional while waving flags and toting guns. Millennials want their faith undiluted and many conclude that the rise of the Nones may not be due to a general societal decline in religious fervor, but to a decline in religious affiliation among people whose identification was weak to begin with. The death of mainline (liberal) Protestantism is guaranteed.

The killer then is nominalism. The number of Americans with a "somewhat strong" religious affiliation dropped from 12 percent to 4 percent between 2006 and 2018. That should tell you everything. Perhaps the weeding out of true believers from nominalists is necessary for a new understanding of the faith to appear. Only a return to sound gospel preaching and Bible teaching, the push for discipleship and discipline can halt the decline. The question is will we ever see it again?

*****

On the Global Anglican front there were a number of notable changes. Uganda has a new archbishop. He is Stephen Kaziimba. A source who knows him describes him as a "PRINCE and a great friend. It could not be better. He is secure, gentle, gracious, and more courageous than almost anyone I know. He is a total GAFCON supporter and a straight arrow. Honorable, honest, and godly. The real deal!!!" Now that should give Welby the vapors. He succeeds the Most Rev. Stanley Ntagali, who retires in 2020 at the mandatory age of 65.

Nicaragua has a new bishop in the person of the Rt. Rev. Harold Gustavo Dixon Reynales. He was consecrated Bishop of Nicaragua on August 24, 2019 at All Saints Anglican Church in Managua by the bishops of the Anglican Church of the Central America. (Iglesia Anglicana De La Region Central De America)

One of those laying hands on him was Bishop Lloyd Allen, a TEC Communion Partner bishop. Other bishops included the Most Rev. Francisco Moreno, Archbishop of Mexico; the Most Rev. Julio Murray, Bishop of Panama and Archbishop of Central America; the Rt. Rev. Silvestre Romero, Bishop of Guatemala; the Rt. Rev. Hector Monterrosa, Bishop of Costa Rica; and the Rt. Rev. Lloyd Allen, Bishop of Honduras (Episcopal Church of the USA); and Bishop Dixon.

Armed kidnappers abducted the wife of Anglican Bishop Emmanuel Maduwuike in the southwest of Nigeria Thursday, according to local reports. The gunmen later released her after an undisclosed amount of money was purportedly paid as ransom.

The Bishop's wife who was waylaid and abducted on Friday at Ekemele while she was going home from Owerri, was let go on Sunday by her abductors.

The victim, Mrs. Anuri Maduwuike, was accosted at gunpoint Thursday while returning home from Owerri, Imo State, according to an unnamed eyewitness, and kidnappers took her to an unknown destination.

The DR Congo, Bishop William Bahemuka, the Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Boga (DR Congo) reported that ADF rebels attacked Boga town in the early morning hours of Friday, 23rd August. Boga is located in the southern part of Ituri Province and is where the diocesan Cathedral is located.

More than 200 youth, children, and women were abducted, shops were looted, cows stolen, and the Anglican Mission Hospital was looted. A doctor and lab technician from the hospital were among those abducted. The raid lasted about three hours.

Government troops based in Boga were seriously outnumbered by the rebels. There are conflicting reports about the role of the army in resisting the attack. No casualties have been reported.

Residents of the town fled during the attack, but with the Ebola outbreak to their south and the ethnic conflict to their north, there are few safe places for them to flee.

Bishop Bahemuka reports that the Army has dispatched additional troops to provide security and search for those who were abducted.

"I appeal to people of good will everywhere to lobby their home governments to put pressure on the DR Congo government to stabilize the security situation in eastern Congo. We also appeal for a massive outpouring of sustained prayer from Christians everywhere. The situation is so desperate that we need God's supernatural intervention. May God have mercy on us," said the bishop.

*****

On the home front, The Diocese of South Carolina reported a victory in its struggle to keep some 30 properties out of the hands of the Episcopal Diocese of SC.

Judge Edgar W. Dickson ruled this week that he is denying TEC and TECSC's motion to dismiss a claim filed by TEC and the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina regarding the Betterments Statute claim filed by the Episcopal Diocese.

The Betterments Statute provides that a party who makes good faith improvements to property they believe they own, may be compensated for the value of those improvements, if a court makes a final determination that another party is the true owner. Many of the parishes in the Diocese of South Carolina can trace their unbroken history back to the colonial era of the state. During that entire time, there has never been any question of their unencumbered title to property or legal identity. All have proceeded throughout their history with the maintaining and improving of their properties in the good faith belief of their ownership of them, a press release put out by the Anglican diocese.

The Bishop of Milwaukee, Steven Miller, (XI Milwaukee) has announced he is resigning, having been in the job since 2003. Milwaukee is the largest city in Wisconsin and the 30th most populous city in the country.

His track record, by any official or unofficial analysis has been disastrous. If the diocese were to be traded on the Nasdaq it would have been tossed off years ago. Of course, he's not the only disastrous Episcopal bishop, there are many others whose track record is just as bad, and many are exiting now before the balloon goes up and the whole edifice comes crumbling to the ground. Miller's tenure is typical for his generation but a few twists and turns reveal that he is a corporatist bishop more concerned for the institution, than the souls of men, women and children who were supposed to be fed the Word of God rather than the soft palliatives of inclusion and diversity.

In every way shape and form Miller was a company man. His reward will be a healthy pension even as he exits and his successor presides over a diocese that looks more like a dying beached whale that kids pour buckets of water over, in the hope they can keep the poor creature alive.

When Miller began his tenure in 2003, baptized membership was a healthy 13,686, by 2017 baptized membership had dropped to 8,053, a loss of 5,633 or 41.2%. By the end of 2019, that figure will have dropped below 8,000.

Average Sunday Attendance in 2003 was 5,403, by 2017 that figure had dropped to 3,190 for a loss of 2,213 or 41%. This is the true barometer of diocesan health. By the end of 2019, it is very possible that figure will dip below 3,000.

Communicants in 2003 numbered 11,909, by 2017 that figure was 7,280 for a loss of 2,701 or 38.7%.

Baptisms in 2003 were 234, by 2017 they had dropped to 113, a drop of 121 or 51.7%.

Confirmations in 2003 totaled 104, by 2017 they had dropped to 32, a drop of 108 or 77.1%

Congregations dropped from 60 in 2003 to 51 by 2017, a loss of 11 congregations or 15%.

*****

Lay Anglican leaders from the Church of South India (CSI) have petitioned Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of the state of Kerala not to receive the leader of the Anglican Communion Archbishop Justin Welby as a state guest when he comes to India in September, arguing that Church's invitation will gloss over the deep corruption within the CSI.

An article in The New India Express ran with the headline, "Don't receive Canterbury Archbishop as state guest: Church of South India to Kerala CM."

In their petition, the "eminent personalities" said the Church's invitation to the archbishop was aimed at covering up several issues, including and especially corruption.

"The Archbishop of Canterbury has no relevance for faithful in the state. The CSI is according him such a mammoth welcome to cover up the rot that has set in the Church and the state guest status provides a semblance of respect to the Church," said Valson Thampu, former principal of St Stephen's College, Delhi.

The group of laymen also mentioned in the petition that the Church was trying to cover up criminal charges against bishops through extensive media coverage generated during the visit of the Archbishop.

*****

Welby is caught in another thicket, this time over Brexit. The Archbishop of Canterbury has been criticized by Brexiters for reportedly meeting MPs, with a view to chairing citizens' assemblies to stop a no-deal departure from the EU.

Welby was reportedly in talks to chair citizens' assemblies at Coventry Cathedral next month with leading Commons figures who were due to meet on Tuesday to discuss tactics to oppose the UK crashing out of the EU on 31 October, the Times has reported.

The series of public meetings would discuss alternatives to leaving the EU without an agreement.

The former Conservative party leader Iain Duncan Smith told the Times: "I generally don't criticize the archbishop but he shouldn't allow himself to be tempted into what is essentially a very political issue right now."

Mark Francois, the vice-chairman of the European Research Group of Eurosceptic Tory MPs, said Britons were exhausted from being told why the result of the Brexit referendum should be overturned. He told the paper: "I suspect they will not be overjoyed by having it rubbed in by the archbishop of Canterbury to boot."

Welby was also criticized by the pro-Brexit Labour MP Kate Hoey and Brexit MEPs, who called on Welby not to interfere with Brexit.

I have posted two fine criticisms of this action by Welby here and here:
https://virtueonline.org/pharaoh-justin-welby-bent-buggering-brexit
https://virtueonline.org/citizen-welby-and-cosmetics-reconciliation

*****

An article I wrote on the future of the Anglican Communion -- GAFCON vs. the Lambeth Conference -- has gotten more than 12,000 hits on Facebook.

Progressive Western Anglicanism grows more irrelevant with the acceptance of homosexual marriage. GAFCON is the future, the Lambeth Conference is rapidly becoming the past, were the headlines.

From New Zealand to Nigeria, from Tanzania to Chile, from South Africa to Rwanda, from Kenya to North America, the steady drumbeat of orthodox Anglicanism corralled in GAFCON is taking root even as fissures in the Lambeth Conference widen. You can read the full story here: https://virtueonline.org/african-anglicans-are-future-anglican-communion

Another article on the Anglican province of TANZANIA and why they supported the GAFCON communique affirming traditional marriage got more than 30,000 hits, the highest number ever for one story.

Provincial leaders said they will not be in communion with western liberal provinces who affirm same-
sex marriage. The bishops also said they would not be attending Lambeth 2020, another stick in the eye at Welby.

Read more here: https://virtueonline.org/tanzania-gafcon-communique-affirms-traditional-marriage

*****

Should evangelicals and Anglo-Catholics attend Lambeth 2020? Well, the Rt. Rev. William Atwood, GAFCON International ambassador thinks they should not. His reasoning is excellent. Here is what he sent to VOL:

"There are some orthodox Bishops and Archbishops who feel a responsibility to go to the Lambeth Bishops Conference to defend the faith. Certainly, high-level Anglican Communion officials are urging them to attend so 'their voice can be heard when Lambeth 1.10 is discussed.' The problem is that history shows that is a set-up. If they go, whatever is said, whatever is discussed, whatever is decided, the institutional machine of the 'Canterbury Communion' will decide and do whatever they want the day after the Lambeth Conference ends, and that will be to protect and preserve the involvement of TEC and other innovating Provinces. Even worse, the attendance of orthodox Bishops will allow them to say, 'All positions were welcomed. Everyone was heard, but the consensus is that Lambeth resolution 1.10 no longer reflects the values of the Communion.' In any case, TEC, the Anglican Church of Canada, the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Polynesia, Scotland, Brazil, and others will continue with their march away from Biblical authority, and sadly, away from Christ. Those conservatives who attend will unwittingly be complicit in allowing the liberal juggernaut to claim consensus.

"It is only by staying away from this conference can the point be made that the decisions and trajectory of the current Canterbury Communion structures are unacceptable. The only way to do that is by not attending the upcoming Lambeth conference," says Atwood.

To date five African provinces: Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria have said they will not attend Lambeth 2020

*****

The ABC was in Sri Lanka, where he unloaded himself on the dangers of extremism. "It is the duty of every religious tradition, for its leaders to resist extremism and to teach peaceful dialogue," said Welby.

"Religious extremism, fundamentalism, violence and terrorism can be found around the world in worrisome supply. The term Religious extremism describes faith-based actions that are deliberate attempts to cause harm to other people. It includes violent religious movements, routine asceticism that is extreme enough to cause medical concern, beliefs that cause harm through denial of medicine or mental harm through abusive family behaviors.

"Religious tolerance, multiculturalism and equality are the particular targets of extremists. Their own religion provides guidance that trumps any secular law or any concept of Human Rights.

"Although all mass movements breed the occasional extremist, the horrific specters of oppression and violent coercion have resulted mostly from Abrahamic monotheistic religions such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and to a lesser extent from other traditional religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism especially because of battles against multiculturalism.

"Most justifications for religious extremism are fundamentalist in nature, based squarely on religious doctrine, strictly interpreted. The declining strength of religion in the face of secularization means there are fewer middle-ground religionists to rein in extremists."

*****

There is no single 'gay gene', a new study finds. A major new study analyzing the genetic data of half a million people has concluded that there is no single gene that causes someone to be gay.

Looking at the data of individuals in the UK and US, the study found that there were some genetic variants among gay people, but that genetic factors could only account for between 8 and 25 per cent of same-sex sexual behavior within the general population at the most.

The study, published in Science Mag, sought to build on previous research which found that genetics appeared to account for similarities in the sexual orientation of twins in 18% of cases for women and 37% for men.

The researchers from Harvard and MIT looked at the data of 409,000 people stored in the UK Biobank and 68,500 from the US-based genetics company 23andMe.

The study participants were asked about how many sexual partners they had had and whether these were of the same or opposite sex.

The researchers were able to establish five genetic variants linked to same-sex behaviour, two that were found in both men and women, two found only in men, and another found only in women.

However, when considered altogether, they concluded that these variations explained less than 1% of the variation in same-sex behavior among the study participants.

*****

Has the tarnish worn off the word "evangelical"? Michael Gerson writing in The Washington Post in an article titled Why white evangelicals should panic, says this:
"Since 2000, according to Gallup, the percentage of Americans with no religious affiliation has more than doubled, from 8 percent to 19 percent. The percentage of millennials with no religion has averaged 33 percent in recent surveys...some of those alienated from religion merely drop out of the faith marketplace. They are what he calls "passive secularists." But there is also an increasing number who are "active secularists" -- people who have chosen secularism as an identity. And this is creating a secular left within the Democratic Party to counter the religious right in the Republican Party. In their hands, the culture war will be fought to the last man or woman...

Today, far too many evangelicals are seen as angry and culturally defensive, and have tied their cause to a leader who is morally corrupt and dehumanizes others. Older evangelicals -- the very people who should be maintaining and modeling moral standards -- have ignored and compromised those standards for political reasons in plain view of their own children. And disillusionment is the natural result.

"I am 'Evangelical and unashamed'" writes Dr. Os Guinness, social critic and evangelical Anglican who begs to differ with Gerson. He writes that we are, of course, 'followers of Jesus,' and therefore 'Christians,' before we are Evangelicals, Orthodox or Roman Catholics. But the labels matter as they point to important principles of faith.

Consider:
1) 'Evangelical' is deeper, earlier, and more biblical than either 'orthodox' or 'catholic,' important though those other terms are.
2) Whenever Christians seek renewal, they become 'evangelical,' as Francis of Assisi was described by the Pope when he called the church back to the way of Jesus.
3) Of all the major traditions, Evangelicals have less corruption in their history, and almost no blood on their hands, compared with the others.

It is therefore sad that, though Jews, Orthodox and Roman Catholics stay Jewish, Orthodox and Roman Catholic when their very deep problems are exposed, Evangelicals quickly jump ship.

"I, for one, intensely dislike and disagree with the compromises, mediocrity and shallowness of much American Evangelicalism. American Evangelicalism certainly requires reform and renewal. But understanding its true biblical meaning, and linking hands with its exemplars down the centuries and across the world, I remain a grateful and unashamed Evangelical."

*****

In Spring, Texas this week, Anglo-Catholic Bishop William Wantland unfolded the catholicity of Anglicanism. The former Episcopal bishop and now an ACNA bishop, laid the ground work for the Sept. FiF-NA Assembly.

An article by VOL's special correspondent Mary Ann Mueller can be read here: https://virtueonline.org/spring-tx-anglo-catholic-bishop-unfolds-catholicity-anglicanism

*****

BREAKING NEWS....

The numbers are out, and, as expected, The Episcopal Church is in serious decline. Latest average Sunday attendance shows TEC with 533,206 in 2018 down 4.2% from 2017 when the figure was 556,744. This is a total loss of 28,538. Baptized membership is down 36%!

We will crunch the numbers and bring you a full report tomorrow.

*****

VirtueOnline has begun a crowdfunding campaign to not only gain funding to keep VOL afloat, but also to grow as a brand. We want you to stay engaged with what we report on. Our new version of VirtueOnline 2.0 will include more reports, a better website to read on, better branding and essentially more news about everything Anglican. Our drive is to reach $40,000. We hope you will join with us to keep the Anglican Communion's foremost orthodox Anglican Communion News Service alive and coming into your email. For more stories go to www.virtueonline.org You can follow VOL on FACEBOOK here: https://www.facebook.com/virtueonline

All Blessings,

David

Some Muslims believe that the Houris mentioned in the Quran are buxom maidens to be enjoyed by martyrs in the afterlife. In a note to his fellow hijackers, September 11 ringleader Muhammad Atta reminded them of their impending "marriage in Paradise" to the 72 virgins. Islamic extremists refer to suicide bombing as a "wedding to the black-eyed in eternal Paradise." The German scholar Christoph Luxenberg says the "houris" with "swelling breasts" refers instead to "white raisins" and juicy fruits. (See Newsweek article "Challenging the Quran" on July 28, 2003.) Dr. Maher Hathout challenges the misconception, arguing that the Arabic refers to "beings of distinction." The Houris mentioned in the Quran are called "Horites" [Horim] in the Bible. They are described as the "mighty men" of old, heroes, deified rulers, and men of great wisdom. The Quranic expression "the "lap of the Houris" appears to be equivalent to the "bosom of Abraham" in the Hebrew Scriptures. Abraham was a Horite Hebrew ruler. --- Alice Linsley

We acknowledge God as the Lord of life and death: ultimately he gives and he takes away. We support and hail the efforts of physicians and medical researchers when their work promotes the natural processes of life and death. But abortion, euthanasia, intentional suicide, transgender modification, and reproductive and genetic engineering are affronts to God's sovereignty and to human dignity in God's image. --- Stephen Noll

The bar of conscience. Scripture has a high view of the sacredness of conscience. Conscience is not infallible; it needs to be taught. But though consciences have to be educated, they are never to be violated, even when they are wrong. --- John R.W. Stott

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
September 13, 2019

It will come as no surprise to those of us who have been watching the steady but quickening decline of The Episcopal Church that the latest figures revealed some 23,538 failed to show up for services last year. In 2018, there were 36,214 fewer baptized members in the 99 domestic dioceses. The ten foreign dioceses show a less then modest increase both in baptized membership and ASA figures.

From 2008-2018, average Sunday attendance has dropped nearly 25%, to about 562,000. By comparison, in the year 2003, it was 858,000.

The 2018 figures show that baptized Episcopalians dropped 2.1% and the loss of people in the pews on a Sunday double to 4.2%. The last time there was an ASA drop of more than four percent was in 2007, under Katharine Jefferts Schori's first full year as Presiding Bishop. That year the ASA fell 4.9% as a flood of individuals and the Diocese of San Joaquin left The Episcopal Church during her primatial reign, while three additional dioceses -- Pittsburgh, Ft. Worth, and Quincy -- prepared to realign within other Anglican provinces.

At the height of its popularity in the United States, the Episcopal Church had more than 3.5 million members. By 2010, that number dropped to less than 2 million; the decline is still underway, according to numbers from the denomination's Office of the General Convention.

Institute of Religion and Democracy Communications Manager and Anglican Program Director Jeff Walton says the decline actually started in the back in the 1960s, but picked up steam again in the 80s and 90s with the writings of Episcopal theologian John Shelby Spong.

"In order for Christianity to survive and grow, Christians needed to go and shed traditionally understood beliefs -- not only about human sexuality, but about the role of Jesus Christ, His identity, what sin and human nature looks like -- a variety of different things that are pretty key to the Christian understanding of mankind and its relationship to God," Walton pointed out.

For more on this you can read Mary Ann Mueller's fine analysis here: https://virtueonline.org/episcopal-church-numbers-continue-plummet-0

*****

It wasn't just the Episcopal Church in decline, the Church of Wales shows another Anglican province on its way to history. Figures from the membership and Finance Report 2018 show continued decline in all measures bar one.

According to AncientBriton blogger, confirmations were up 30% despite the unilateral decision of the bench of bishops to scrap confirmation as a prerequisite to Holy Communion. Some dodgy legal advice lead to a Eucharistic free for all. There was a 36% fall in confirmations 2017 - 2016.

The 25% increase in weekdays only attendance between 2016 - 2017 fell back 19% between 2017 - 2018.

Perhaps more surprisingly the reported Sunday attendance increased between 2017 and 2018 in a number of important fields: under 7s; 7 to 10s; 11 to 17s; and families. The average attendance of under 18's was down 1%; down 7% between 2016 and 2017.

The Report also shows a worrying decline in total giving across a range of categories despite an increase in average giving per attendee.

*****

On the international front, the big news was the recent visit of Archbishop Justin Welby to India where he made a total fool of himself in at least four different areas. The British call it a cockup, here in the US we might describe it as a miscalculation. It was an ecclesiastical diplomatic disaster.

Welby virtue-signaled, groveling before a 100-year-old shrine where 400 unarmed Indian civilians were massacred in which Indian Christians played no part. He also took it on the chin when climate scientists objected to his message on global warming. Welby totaled ignored multi-million-dollar corruption by Church of South India (CSI) bishops who have been rifling the till, selling off buildings and pocketing the proceeds. To cap it off, Welby failed to draw any attention to the open persecution of Christians that is now occurring on a regular basis in India. Not a negative word was spoken to Prime Minister Modi, who is systematically destroying Christianity in India to curry favor with Hindu nationalists. You can read my full report here:
https://virtueonline.org/welbys-india-trip-proves-be-major-miscalculation-ecclesiastical-diplomacy
You can also read another fine piece by Dr. Jules Gomes here: https://virtueonline.org/canterbury-archbishop-caught-lying

Gomes, who writes as The Rebel Priest also did an interview with an Indian climatologist detailing the errors of Archbishop Welby's climate change alarmism. He argues that the Archbishop is seen as shirking from his duties to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19).

"Archbishop Welby's 'climate justice' lecture at India's most leftwing seminary was slammed by Indian Christians who saw it as a cop out from the real issue of widespread persecution facing the Indian church under the current Hindu fundamentalist regime of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and corruption in the Church of South India."

Welby was also lambasted for promoting religious relativism and pluralism by engaging in inter-faith dialogue rather than preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. I remember when Justin Welby was considered "evangelical". If climates change, so can evangelicals I guess."

*****

An exchange between a church commissioner and an MP questioner revealed that Justin Welby has not, nor has any intention of signing the Jerusalem Declaration, and would therefore not be eligible to attend the GAFCON gathering of bishops next year in Kilgali, Rwanda.

Only bishops who have signed the declaration are eligible to attend.

The member for South Holland and The Deepings, the Rt. Hon. Sir John Hayes (Cons.) tabled six questions to Dame Caroline Spelman (Cons.) the Second Church Estates Commissioner in Parliament on the Anglican Communion, GAFCON, and the Church of England. Mrs. Spelman responded as follows:

On the Global Anglican Future Conference: Rwanda

To ask the right Hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Archbishop of Canterbury plans to attend the 2020 Global Anglican Future Conference in Kigali, Rwanda.

On September 3, 2019 he responded:

At previous meetings of the Global Anglican Future Conference, the Archbishop of Canterbury has been represented by a diocesan bishop of the Church of England. No decision has yet been taken by the Archbishop of Canterbury about whether he or a representative will attend the 2020 Conference in Kigali, Rwanda.

Now if such a person attended, they would have observer status only and presumably report back to Welby.

The full exchange can be seen here: https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&max=20&questiontype=AllQuestions&house=commons%2clords&member=312

*****

What a bishop meant for evil, God turned it for good. This week some 2,000 Anglicans stood with their new rector, the Rev. Sam Ferguson at The Falls Church Anglican as he was installed as the new rector of this incredible congregation. These people dedicated their new worship space following seven years of "tabernacling" in hotel conference rooms and high school auditoriums after they gave up their historic property because the Gospel was more important to them. All 2,000 of them! Two services were needed and both were packed, according to sources.

There is profound irony in all this as well as God's providential hand.

At one time these same 2,000 met in the old Falls Church (Episcopal) building, but got tossed out of their $40 million 250-year-old historic church in litigation with the Episcopal Church by Virginia Bishop Shannon Johnston, because they would not roll over to same-sex marriage and deny scripture over sexuality issues. The Church was then being run by the Rev. John Yates. Rather than fight, they walked away from the property. Several years later, Johnston was forced to resign his bishopric in Virginia for unspecified reasons and is now on the outside looking in, while a thriving new parish he tried to dismember and hope to keep a remnant failed to materialize. The old church is now propped up by the diocese, which doesn't want to admit failure. The schism in TEC continues. This parish will only thrive.

You can read IRD Anglican writer Jeff Walton's full take on this here: https://virtueonline.org/falls-churchva-itinerant-anglicans-consecration-new-home

*****

Man plans and God laughs: resist all you want; Brexit will happen, says British Anglican blogger Archbishop Cranmer. In a piece at his blog he writes; "Church of England Bishops in the House of Lords voted against the Government and in favor of Hilary Benn's Bill to force Boris Johnson to beg Brussels for another extension to Article 50. There they were, orating about the common good and the need for compromise and the imperative of a transformation of the narrative, but not one voice was raised about the need to bring this political purgatory to an end and leave.

That's the Anglican bit done.

God laughs.

Boris Johnson is in a bit of a pickle. He has committed himself to taking the UK out of the EU by 31st October (Reformation Day) "do or die". He was then asked in the House of Commons whether or not, if Parliament so determined, he would go to Brussels and request an(other) extension to Article 50. He responded that he would obey the law. He has since been asked if he will go to Brussels and request an(other) extension, and he responded that he would "rather be dead in a ditch".

On the face of it, he is hemmed in. As the European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 6) Bill becomes the European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Act, he is obliged, by law, to write the following letter:

O, how God laughs.

*****

An allegedly drunk man who launched into a foul-mouthed rant at cathedral staff over a crazy golf course has pleaded guilty to common assault.

Micheal Feeney berated visiting chaplain Margaret Moore about the "disgraceful" golf course built inside Rochester Cathedral.

The 67-year-old, who occasionally prays at the cathedral, raged at staff and visitors after a free nine-hole golf course was installed in the nave of the 13th-century building.

He shouted: "This isn't f***ing Disneyland, this is a f***ing cathedral, this is a f***ing disgrace."

Minus the f-bomb, we do believe the parishioner has a point. If a crowdfunding effort is taken up, we will let you know. A modern-day cleansing of the temple perhaps?

*****

REPARATIONS. Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) announced it is creating a $1.7 million endowment that will fund "activities and programs that promote justice and inclusion," including "the particular needs of any descendants of enslaved persons that worked at the Seminary."

"While the seminary itself didn't own slaves, many of the early professors did," said Curtis Prather, the seminary's director of communications. "At least one of our buildings was built by slaves. ... We have recognized this over the years."

"We wanted to make a significant start, and try to plant a seed to move in the direction of reparations," said the Rev. Joseph Thompson, PhD, the director of the Office of Multicultural Ministries, which will administer the fund. He said the fund is expected to generate about $70,000 annually.

*****

Thousands walked in silent protest against changing Northern Ireland's abortion laws. The law will drastically relax Northern Ireland's abortion laws. The protest was organized by NI Voiceless and brought together people from across the political spectrum, and people of all faiths and none. Organizers said there was frustration that the people of Northern Ireland "were not asked about this undemocratic change, which does not reflect public or political opinion here".

*****

In Australia's Diocese of Wangaratta, Bishop John Parkes said he would go ahead and allow same-sex marriages, but then later announced that he would delay the action or suspend the authorization of said marriages, pending a ruling on the matter by the Anglican Church of Australia's Appellate Tribunal. Legislation permitting the marriages had been approved by wide margins at Wangaratta's Diocesan Synod two weeks ago. The Most Rev. Philip Freier, Australia's primate, responded with an immediate appeal to the tribunal and a clear direction that no marriages should be celebrated until the matter was resolved.

The Wangaratta bishop had earlier said he would officiate this Saturday at the marriage of the diocese's archdeacon-emeritus, John Davis, to the Rev. Rob Whalley, a former California Episcopalian. Parkes had ordained Whalley to the diaconate in 2009. While Davis and Whalley's civil marriage was sealed on Tuesday, a church marriage for the couple has been delayed indefinitely.

Attention is now likely to be shifted to a meeting of the Anglican Church of Australia's bishops that Freier has called for November 20 in Melbourne. That meeting will serve as a prelude to next year's special session of the church's General Synod, which had been previously planned as a time for determining a way forward for the church on this highly contentious issue.

Sydney's archbishop Glenn Davies strongly condemned the Wangaratta decision. In a statement issued last week, he noted, "The doctrine of our Church is not determined by 67 members of a regional synod in Victoria nor is it changed by what they may purport to authorise. Time and time again, the General Synod has affirmed the biblical view of marriage as the doctrine of our Church. To bless that which is contrary to Scripture cannot, therefore, be permissible under our church law."

Davies also compared the Wangaratta decision to the Canadian Diocese of New Westminster's 2003 decision to authorize same-sex blessings. He wrote, "It is now universally acknowledged that those events were the beginning of the 'tear in the fabric of the Anglican Communion' To claim the authority of our Church to carry out a service of blessing contrary to the biblical view of marriage and the doctrine of our Church will certainly fracture the Anglican Church of Australia."

Sydney is the largest of the Australian church's 22 dioceses. It has shown growth, even as the more rural dioceses, like Wangaratta, have consistently declined and aged. Bishop Parkes seems to assume that Australian Anglicanism will gradually follow the liberalizing trajectory of the wider culture on these issues. But as David Goodhew has pointed out, Sydney's brand of Anglicanism seems poised to dominate the Australian church's future, as over half of Australian Anglican clergy under 40 serve in its churches. [TLC contributed to this report]

*****

Liberty University has become an embarrassment to Christian college journalism programs. There were negative exposes emerging in World magazine last year and a piece this year in The Washington Post, written by a former student journalist at Liberty.

We can't blame the students who are attending the school hoping to learn and do journalism. We can't fully blame the faculty who are trying to do their job and provide for their families. One has to blame leadership of that college which created such a dishonest climate for journalism education.

"University president Jerry Falwell Jr. is trying to turn the journalism program and the Champion, the campus newspaper, into a public relations training department," noted blogger and author Rod Dreher, commenting on the World article.

The World article notes that, at one point in 2016, Falwell spoke to the newspaper staff and told them it was "established to champion the interests of the university, disseminate information about happenings on Liberty's campus, as well as the positive impacts of Liberty in the community and beyond." World reported that Liberty administration sees itself as publisher with rights to oversee editorial decisions and censor content. "We're going to have to be stricter in the future if these protocols aren't followed," Falwell told the newspaper staff, according to World.

*****

New polling in the U.S. reveals an all-time high of those who identify as religious "nones," individuals who claim no allegiance to any faith.

Many of the "nones" are part of a growing group of Americans who declare they are "spiritual but not religious." And many in this group fall into the millennial age group or younger and claim to have had negative experiences with "organized religion" in the past and wrote off church because of it.

According to Barna research, that group makes up 11% of the population. Of those, even the ones who claim a faith of some kind, 93% do not attend religious services.

The rise is contributing to a concerning pattern. It's concerning not only because people are losing faith, but because of what faith represents as a component of civil society and how it contributes to our lives as a whole.

Numerous studies and polls provide evidence that the faithful are generally happier and healthier overall. Religious devotion contributes to stronger marriages, families, friendships and what appears to be significant protection from depression or addictive behaviors.

*****

Two of VOL'S stories, one on Tanzania and the other on the Rise of the Global South that I wrote, each garnered some 30,000 and 39,000 hits respectively on FACEBOOK. By any measure this is an extraordinary number of hits. Most of the readership comes from Africa. This was not luck, it is good cyber management. The person who made this possible is Mr. James Syrow, who runs a digital media ministry called Media Dei. This ministry works to bring top-level digital expertise to churches, schools, etc. They only work with nonprofits. If you think you could benefit from their efforts, you can get in touch with him at james@mediadei.org.

*****
VirtueOnline is in the midst of a crowdfunding campaign to not only gain funding to keep VOL afloat, but also to grow as a brand. We want you to stay engaged with what we report on. Our new version of VirtueOnline 2.0 will include more reports, a better website to read on, better branding and essentially more news about everything Anglican. Our drive is to reach $40,000. We hope you will join with us to keep the Anglican Communion's foremost orthodox Anglican Communion News Service alive and coming into your email. You can make a tax deductible donation here: https://virtueonline.org/support.html

For more stories go to www.virtueonline.org You can follow VOL on FACEBOOK here: https://www.facebook.com/virtueonline

All Blessings,

David

Cranmer distinguishes Christ's spiritual presence from his sacramental presence. Avoiding the Lutheran doctrine of consubstantiation, he argues that the spiritual presence occurs only through Christ's divine nature, he being in heaven in regards to his human nature. Cranmer follows a symbolic reading of the phrase "This is my body", and develops a view "remarkably close to that developed by Zwingli and Oecolampadius." --- Alister E. McGrath, Reformation Thought: An Introduction (Oxford: Blackwell, 1999), 257.

I didn't go to religion to make me "happy" I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don't recommend Christianity. --- C.S. Lewis

Sowing to the flesh. To 'sow to the flesh' is to pander to it, to cosset, cuddle and stroke it, instead of crucifying it. The seeds we sow are largely thoughts and deeds. Every time we allow our mind to harbour a grudge, nurse a grievance, entertain an impure fantasy, or wallow in self-pity, we are sowing to the flesh. Every time we linger in bad company whose insidious influence we know we cannot resist, every time we lie in bed when we ought to be up and praying, every time we read pornographic literature, every time we take a risk which strains our self-control, we are sowing, sowing, sowing to the flesh. Some Christians sow to the flesh every day and wonder why they do not reap holiness. --- John R.W. Stott

You are not being ordained to run soup kitchens, fight against fake man-made climate change, agitate against immigration policy or issue screeds against gun violence. Preparing your parishioners for eternal life is your calling, your sacred duty, and nothing else. --- Michael Voris

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
September 27, 2019

"The total division across Parliament is only a shadow of the immense divisions across the country, which the bishops find at every level. Divisions are shaking the country apart. They are shaking us apart in all our great institutions." Thus spake Archbishop Justin Welby in Parliament the other day. He then went on to say that he was well aware of divisions as the (Anglican Communion) was "split at every level", a statement that was greeted with some mirth by politicians on both sides of the aisle.

Of course, Welby can't do much about the state of England's political crisis, but he can do something about the crisis in the Anglican Communion. He could take sides and end the nightmare that the Communion has become and for which he must now take full responsibility.

He could tell the American Episcopal Church that they had gone over the line, first embracing sodomy and then homosexual marriage, both of which are contrary to Scripture, and until they repent, they would not be welcome in Canterbury next year. He could repeat that message to the Anglican Church of Canada, the Welsh and Scottish churches, the Church in Aotearoa, (New Zealand) and the majority of dioceses in Australia and South Africa.

And here's the real kicker, if the only archbishops and bishops who showed up were from Africa and to a lesser extent Asia and South America, he would still have the greatest numerical turnout in the history of the communion. They would collectively represent more than 70% of the Communion's 80 million Anglicans. The other truth is that the Nigerians are probably wealthy enough to bankroll the whole event.

So why doesn't he do it? Because he is conflicted over homosexual marriage and he is prepared to alienate the vast majority of Anglicans in the communion over a behavior that Our Lord himself said should be confined to "male and female".

Welby has long ago forfeited the right to call himself an Evangelical and 'liberal' might be too soft a term. He has gone where no archbishop has gone before and he is paying a steep price for it.

Meantime, the Episcopal Church's HOB met in Minneapolis this week and agonized with much faux pain over whether they would attend Lambeth 2020 because Welby won't allow the homosexual partners of bishops officially to attend Bible studies under the Big Tent and to hear lofty talk of unity in diversity. Of course, there won't be any discussion about the elephant in the room, namely Lambeth Resolution 1:10 which is the theological and moral compass of the communion. Some of the Episcopal bishops sniffed the air and said they might not attend. Of course, they will. They'll go so they can hold press conferences screaming about how uninclusive Welby is and steal his thunder. They will take a leaf out of Gene Robinson's playbook, who showed up and scored bigly with liberal British media who fawned all over him. They can do a repeat job. You can read my full report here: https://virtueonline.org/episcopal-house-bishop-agonize-over-attending-lambeth-2020

*****

Just a reminder of how fast things are going down the drain in the UK. The Church in Wales elected a lesbian to be the next Bishop of Monmouth. This is how AncientBriton blogger described Archdeacon Cheery Vann explained it.

"Merit and holiness has nothing to do with the election of bishops in the Church in Wales...members of the Archbishop's Council tell me that Archdeacon Vann is a complete nonentity, not as a person but in her role in the substantive debates within the Archbishop's Council. In other words, she is not someone who has ideas, is a mover or a shaker, who people when we come to an issue, they look at her and think: What does she have to say? She is just another grey face at a long grey table. She is a committee person; she sits on the dais at General Synod and in 10 years has made no meaningful contribution whatsoever. Within the diocese where she is archdeacon, she has made life miserable for conservative evangelicals, I'm told, through a passive, aggressive approach to things. In other words, she is not a warrior for this cause, she is just an apparatchik. And so now we have another mediocrity who has a good CV of positions but no actual real holiness or merit or intellect or heft..."

I couldn't have said it better myself. You can read the full story here:
https://virtueonline.org/wales-new-bishop-monmouth-lesbian-updated

*****

Episcopal Porn. Not to be outdone, a former priest at Episcopal churches in Providence and Cranston, Rhode Island, was forced to resigned after FBI agents raided the rectory at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Worcester and discovered that the Rev. Gregory Lisby had 180 images and 15 videos depicting child porn. Investigators had reviewed data provided by Microsoft for Lisby's account.

Now you should know that Lisby is married to the Rev. Timothy Burger, rector of the Episcopal church, according to court documents. They have two kids. So why didn't the bishop ask to see his viewing habits? How do we know that he wasn't watching this stuff with Lisby? And should the children be allowed to stay with this sodomite priest?

The Rev. Douglas J. Fisher, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts, addressed the charges against Lisby, noting his marriage to Burger of St. Luke's. The bishop noted that Lisby was suspended at one time for an "inappropriate relationship with an adult that did not involve sexual contact." So why was he not thrown out then. The bishop tried to put the best spin on it all by saying that Lisby was not actually involved physically with any children! And that lessens the evil of what he did?

Additional files of child pornography were subsequently found during the investigation, authorities said.

*****

The Episcopal Church can't get enough women bishops it seems. Just about every time one turns around, the Church is ordaining yet another woman, or queer, or sometimes both in the same person.

This week it was announced that the Rev. Susan B. Haynes, would be the next bishop of Southern Virginia. She will be its 11th. I suppose we should take comfort that she is married to a man with kids. A small blessing these days. Don't look for any turnaround in the diocese. There will be lots of weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth about climate change and other assorted social issues, but you will not hear a clarion call for gospel salvation. That message got quashed years ago.

*****

It will come as no surprise that Albany Bishop William Love will face a tribunal (hearing panel) for potential discipline because he refuses to embrace homosexual marriage passed at GC last summer.

He will face a kangaroo court where the conclusion is foreordained and where he will either be suspended or deposed, (there is no other alternative.) To find him innocent would fly in the face of every resolution TEC has passed over the last 20 years about sodomy and now homosexual marriage.

Bishop Love wrote this following the announcement; "What I tried to do as best I can, by the grace of God, is to be faithful and obedient to that which I believe the Lord has called me to, even though it sometimes can be very difficult, and sometimes it's not politically correct."

Bishop Love's "sin" is that he dared to stand up and say that God does not, nor has He ever approved of sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman. For his faithful stand he will get the equivalent of a beheading, or else be burnt at the stake.

Leading up to the 2018 General Convention, Love was one of eight conservative Episcopal bishops who still refused to allow the church's approved trial marriage rites for same-sex couples. When General Convention passed Resolution B012 to allow same-sex couples to marry in all domestic dioceses, most of the conservative bishops agreed to abide by the resolution's requirements. The Albany Bishop now faces the trial of his life for defying GC Resolution B012. Tragically, the seven Communion Partner bishops made alternative arrangements, believing, like Pilate they can wash their hands. These quisling bishops will have to answer to God one day for their actions. You can read my story on all this here:
https://virtueonline.org/kangaroo-court-will-try-convict-and-depose-godly-orthodox-episcopal-bishop

*****

On the international scene, the evangelical Anglican Province of Nigeria announced the election of a new Primate to succeed Nichola Okoh. He is Archbishop Henry Chukwudum Ndukuba. The Archbishop hails from Anambra State. He was born in 1959. He is 60. Ordained in 1989 by Archbishop J. Abiodun Adetiloye, he was consecrated the first Bishop of the Diocese of Gombe, with seven other Bishops. He served as the Chairman of the Liturgy, Prayer and Spirituality Committee of the Church of Nigeria. He was once the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria [CAN] Gombe State Chapter.

He is a sound Biblical Scholar, Teacher, Pastor and an accomplished Evangelist. He is a man who loves the Lord Jesus Christ and has a great heart for the Word of God. He has written many articles for Christian Journals and a book; "Christ Above All: A Theology of the Epistle to the Hebrews." He has served Nigeria and the Church in different capacities.

One could not say that of Welby or Curry, and that is why Nigeria is the largest province in the communion. They will win the communion culture wars and, in time, GAFCON will simply take over from Welby and the Lambeth Conference.

*****

Visiting bishops from Nigeria and South Sudan assisted a congregation of the Southern Mission Society South Africa by ordaining a woman as a permanent deacon for ministry in Trinity Anglican Church in Franschhoek South Africa recently.

Judith Moody had ministered in the congregation, especially among the elderly and housebound for a number of years. She is a widow with grown up grandchildren. In his sermon preaching on the ministry of Anna the prophetess at the presentation of Jesus in the temple, Bishop Zechariah Manyok of the Diocese of Wanglei, South Sudan noted how African society valued old people for their wisdom. In drawing on the appointment of deacons in Acts 6, he stressed that as Jesus reached out to outsiders, so deacons were appointed in Jerusalem to assist the Greek-speaking outsiders. Therefore, a deacon is not supposed to know borders.

Bishop Zakka Lalle, Bishop of Kano, Nigeria ordained Deacon Judith, whose stole was presented to her by her granddaughter Samantha. Other stoles were supplied by a visiting Ghanaian lady Methodist minister. The ordination took place on the authority of Bishop Joel Obetia on behalf of the House of Bishops of the Church of Uganda who exercise oversight of the Southern Mission Society.

You should know that the Anglican Church of Southern Africa is the one solid pocket of revisionist thinking on the African continent. Thabo Makgoba is the Primate and he is firmly in the back pocket of TEC and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

*****

The corruption of the Church of South India involving millions of dollars stolen by a significant number of bishops to line their pockets selling off properties and much more is coming to a head, though it is uncertain just how corrupt the courts are and who can buy off the judges.

VOL's fearless correspondent the Rev. Dr. Joseph Muthuraj has been documenting this for some years, has written a brilliant piece on the latest goings on, on that subcontinent. It is a marvel that Archbishop Justin Welby could go to India and not even mention the corruption going on in the Indian church while he grovels before a shrine commemorating the dead to which no Anglican played any part. You can read more here:
https://virtueonline.org/elephant-crushing-church-south-india-government-and-courts

*****

ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF SOUTH CAROLINA mediation results have reached an impasse. One of the principles of mediation is that the discussion and information disclosed is confidential. Following the mediation with Mr. Tom Wills of Wills, Massalon & Allen in Charleston, the parties in the State case released the following mutually agreed upon statement:

"On July 23 2019, Judge Dickson ordered the parties to mediate. On September 26, 2019, the parties mediated for a full day and ultimately the mediator declared an impasse."

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NEW WINESKINS MISSIONARY NETWORK, a triennial gathering of orthodox Episcopal and Anglican missionaries met near Asheville, NC this week to explore global mission and how to reach the world's vast unreached with the gospel of Jesus Christ. More than 1,000 assembled and they have been listening to evangelical globalist missionaries and thinkers tell of the growth in their various countries and how to be more knowledgeable, active, and effective in fulfilling our Lord's Great Commission.

There were some 120 Mission Awareness Presentations (MAP) talks being offered. The Anglican Dean of Thailand, Yee Ching Wah spoke at a dinner about the increasing mission activity in SE Asia. Growth across 7 deaneries is something no one anticipated: Nepal alone has 82 congregations. "We need the spirit of God to complete this task together," he said.

The Rev. Tad de Bordenave, founder Anglican Frontier Missions which channels the Church's mission to parts of the world that do not have their own church, spoke on the need to reach unreached peoples.

Jeff Walton of IRD is there and will write a story or two on this mission gathering. VOL will post the stories as soon as they become available.

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The Rt. Rev. Ryan S. Reed was consecrated to be Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of Ft. Worth in a service Saturday, Sept. 21, at Arborlawn United Methodist Church in Ft. Worth before a congregation of more than 1200 clergy, lay people, and guests.
Bishop William Wantland, Bishop Jack Iker, Archbishop Foley Beach, Bishop Reed, and Bishop Keith Ackerman consecrated the new bishop. Bishop Reed replaces the retiring Bishop Jack Iker.

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The bishops of the Church of England have issued a call for respect on all sides amid growing acrimony over the debate on Britain's withdrawal from the EU.

A joint statement issued on behalf of the Church of England's College of Bishops calls for a new tone of listening and respect in debates and describes the use of language in some cases as "unacceptable".

It calls for the 2016 referendum to be honored and for the rule of law and impartiality of the courts to be upheld. It adds: "We should speak to others with respect. And we should also listen. We should do this especially with the poor, with the marginalized, and with those whose voices are often not heard in our national conversation. We should not denigrate, patronize or ignore the honest views of fellow citizens, but seek to respect their opinions, their participation in society, and their votes."

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In NEWCASTLE, Australia a trifecta of issues haunts the ultra-liberal diocese. The first is a "Bill for a Clergy Discipline Ordinance of 1966 Amending Ordinance 2019" which would remove any disciplinary process for a member of the clergy who pronounced or declines to pronounce a blessing of a marriage in which the persons being married are of the same sex and would remove any disciplinary process or a member of the clergy who is married to a person of the same sex. The Bill proposes that the Synod would have to agree at a subsequent meeting by resolution that the Ordinance come into effect and that the Ordinance would only come into effect with the concurrence of the Bishop.

A Bill for "Blessing of Persons Married According to the Marriage Act Regulation 2019" which would provide for a form of service for the blessing of a marriage conducted in accordance with the Marriage Act. The Bill proposes that the Bishop would have to stipulate a date on which the Regulation would come into effect.

There is no doubt that these "Private Members" Bills will cause anguish to come in the Diocesan community as well as being a cause of celebration for others. In a real way, the debate that has being underway in the Anglican Communion for over 20 years and is a very current debate in the Anglican Church of Australia, will be a live debate in the formal processes of our Diocese. Our engagement with and response to LGBTIQ+ Anglicans has been actively discussed for some time. The Doctrine Commission of the General Synod has published a series of essays as part of this conversation (https://anglican.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Marriage-Doctrine-Essays-Final.pdf). There is little doubt the diocese will go for it. There is no "sound doctrinal" voices to hold back the inevitable.

Secondly, an Anglican Church review board has set aside a ruling that former Newcastle Assistant Bishop Richard Appleby is permanently unfit to hold office, in a decision that has outraged a man who reported child sexual abuse allegations about a priest to him.

A three-member review panel found the Newcastle Anglican professional standards board decision in February was excessive, and the bishop had been denied procedural fairness.

The review panel found the board had reached its decision by relying on information from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse Newcastle Anglican case study, without allowing Bishop Appleby the opportunity to respond.

The Professional Standards Board in February ruled Bishop Appleby should be deposed as a bishop and hold no further office, after considering evidence about the bishop's responses to a report by Newcastle man Steve Smith in 1984 that he had been sexually abused by Newcastle Anglican priest George Parker.

The evidence included the royal commission being satisfied that Mr. Smith met Bishop Appleby in 1984 and disclosed that he had been sexually abused by Father Parker over several years as a child. It found Bishop Appleby took no further action so that Parker remained licensed as a priest in Newcastle diocese until 1996.

Thirdly, Newcastle Bishop Dr. Peter Stuart found himself at odds with Sidney Archbishop Glenn Davies over criminalization of abortion. While Bishop Stuart affirmed the sanctity of life, he says the NSW abortion bill should pass.

Stuart says he views all human life as sacred "from its inception until death" but has written to NSW politicians encouraging them to support the controversial abortion bill currently before the state parliament.

That view is at odds with the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Glenn Davies, who last week urged state MPs to reject the bill, arguing changing abortion laws needed wider community consultation and should not be rushed.

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If you have missed them, then three major essays on the Jerusalem Declaration by the Rev. Dr. Stephen Noll are well worth the read. In the third essay, Noll asks the question, Should Clause 13 Be Excised? Clause 13, which calls for church discipline, and how that fits into GAFCON'S understanding of unity and diversity within Anglicanism.

The Jerusalem Declaration contains fourteen clauses. Thirteen of them are affirmations of basic Christian doctrines: the Gospel, the Bible, the Creeds and Councils, the Articles, Prayer Book and Ordinal, marriage, stewardship, mission, church unity and Jesus coming in glory. One of them, clause 13, is a downer. It reads:

We reject the authority of those churches and leaders who have denied the orthodox faith in word or deed. We pray for them and call on them to repent and return to the Lord. Noll argues that clause 13 is not a lapse into negativity but is the salt of discipline that makes the affirmations of doctrine "edible," i.e., credible and effective in a catholic and apostolic church and the Anglican Communion in particular.

This should be a wake-up call to those handful of evangelical and Anglo-Catholic bishops in TEC who think they can go to Lambeth next year without compromising their souls. Without godly discipline it is all a big fudge. If Lambeth 1:10 is circumvented, if there are no boundaries, why bother being an Anglican or even a Christian for that matter. You can read more here:
https://virtueonline.org/thoughts-jerusalem-declaration-3-should-clause-13-be-excised

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In a UN speech this week, President Donald Trump announced new Religious Freedom initiatives.Cheering US faith principles, the President pledged new funds and business support to curb persecution.

Trump praised the country's religious freedom record and cited figures that suggest the rest of the world has much work to do, as he announced new funding to protect religious sites as well as business partnerships to fuel the cause. "Our nation was founded on the idea that our rights do not come from government, but from God," said Trump. "Regrettably, the freedom enjoyed in America is rare in the world."

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What better note to end on than to 'Sing Hallelujah to the Lord'. This has become the anthem of the Hong Kong protests. There is hope.
Watch VIDEO here: https://www.realclearreligion.org/video/2019/08/14/sing_hallelujah_to_the_lord_has_become_the_anthem_of_the_hong_kong_protests.html

All blessings,

David