"I don't know how you could be a leader without having faith in God. How do you become a good leader? One of the first things you need to do is put on the full armor of God." -- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis

God isn't terrifying because he's unloving. He's terrifying because Love is terrifying--undiluted love, love that refuses compromise with evil, love that will not negotiate away the good of the beloved by allowing the beloved to set the terms of her love, love that promises a good and a future beyond all the beloved can ask or imagine. There is in heaven or earth nothing so uncanny as love." --Peter J. Leithart, President of Theopolis Institute.
"Our citizenship is in heaven," wrote the Apostle Paul (Philippians 3:20). We need to remember that when we think of the growing Christian nationalist movement in the US and the persecution that will inevitably come if we stand for Christ and HIS kingdom. "In this world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." -- Unknown

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
September 29, 2023

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH'S latest parochial reports point to continued denominational decline.

While the church appeared to show an uptick and some have rebounded from COVID-19 disruptions the long-term statistics reveal a steady decline from which there appears no real reversal.

The Episcopal Church's tally of baptized members dropped just below 1.6 million in 2022, down 21% from 2013, ENS reported.

But Average Sunday Attendance the true marker for denominational health revealed an even sharper decline over the past decade, down 43% to 373,000 in 2022, though that one-year total was up by 19% from the pandemic-driven low of 313,000 in 2021.

But churchwide plate and pledge income was effectively unchanged from 2018 to 2022 at $1.3 billion and up 6% since 2013.

Taylor Hartson, a sociologist at the University of Notre Dame identified four major themes in the responses: returning to in-person worship, supporting spiritual growth across generations, welcoming newcomers into the faith community and planning for long-term sustainability.

"Many parishes are experiencing increasing costs associated with older building maintenance and utility use while also experiencing a decrease in available finances from income and pledges," Hartson wrote. "Some parishes have had to dip into endowment funds to keep up with building maintenance, some have been fortunate to secure grants, and others have had to face the difficult decision of closing the parish because they were no longer financially able to support a congregation. With inflation affecting costs and pledging, parishes are faced with difficult decisions about how to plan for their futures."

But the real reason for decline is that TEC has no gospel to proclaim. The constant pansexual push; innumerable woke issues to accommodate to the culture are non-starters for Generations X,Y and Z. Nones are on the rise even as Christianity slowly collapses in America.

Boomers, who comprise 81% of the church, and who are its biggest donors and supporters will be gone in a decade, with no one to replace them. Their average is 75.

You can read Jeff Walton's take here: https://virtueonline.org/episcopalians-see-partial-attendance-rebound-membership-melts-down

***

A number of sex and abuse scandals currently rocking the Episcopal Church have stretched the ailing Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, questioning both his leadership, his authority and legacy.

When Curry steps down as Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church next year after the statutory nine years in office, he will leave behind a legacy of a church in continuing decline with no sign of it turning around. This, despite "It's All About Love" festivals -- intermittent "revivals" he hoped would reverse the decline and jump start the church. It never happened. Curry's legacy will be one of humiliation, failure and loss.

His most notable achievement - the infamous passage of Resolution 2018-B012 -- The Witnessing and Blessing of Gay Marriage - will be his signature imprint on the church, an act that further alienated the orthodox Global South from a growing pansexually driven West, which saw the ouster of a godly evangelical catholic bishop in the person of Albany Bishop William Love.

His revivals, mimicking more evangelically driven revivals but with less substance, and a marked lack of personal repentance, failed to ignite the laity or clergy. His message of "loving, liberating, life-giving (L3)" that he flogged around the country failed to galvanize anyone. Nothing changed. His southern revival style of preaching quickly got old. Burning up the revival trail with what sounded like that ol time religion was really wokeness in disguise of God. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/pb-michael-currys-legacy-will-be-one-humiliation-failure-and-loss

***

THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. To stay or not to stay, that is the question for thousands of evangelical Anglicans in the Church of England as it pursues the brokering in of blessings for same sex couples. The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) is trying to secure a witness for orthodoxy in the CofE. But will it work, or is it all too late.

The February 2023 General Synod of the Church of England (C of E) gave a 'green light' to the House of Bishops to continue in their endeavour to prepare prayers to bless couples outside of marriage between one man and one woman.

This has raised substantial questions for evangelicals (and other orthodox church members) who are now asking whether a biblical understanding of sex and marriage will not just be acknowledged as one amongst many viewpoints, but positively secured for the future so as to enable them to remain in the C of E.

Some ideas have emerged.

• help local church leaders (ordained and lay) think through their own position and need for provision;
• be drawn on by Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship (DEF) committees when discussing these matters with their bishops;
• contribute to a national discussion as to what might be needed in any 'settlement' (a phrase used by the Archbishop of York in his February General Synod speech).

CEEC has given substantial thought over the last few years as to what kind of provision might be needed in the situation in which we now find ourselves -- including to the various 'forms' or 'models' by which long term provision might be made.

In short, CEEC believes that the nature and scale of provision needed will necessitate significant structural rearrangement (the detail of these considerations can be found in papers available on the CEEC website : www.ceec.info) and welcomes a discussion to enable the C of E to avert the otherwise inevitable loss of large numbers of evangelicals from the C of E. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/securing-evangelical-witness-church-england

But will there be a place for me in the Church of England? Lamented John Dunnett National Director for the Church of England Evangelical Council.

"Where does this leave those of us who wish to uphold the faith 'as we have received it'? Having been an ordained minister in the Church of England for more than 35 years, I wonder if there will be a doctrinal place for me in my later years? For those now setting out on ministry in the Church of England (either as ordained or lay) will they have the freedom to teach and preach from Biblical conviction without fear or comeback?"

However, it does appear that the bishops are determined to introduce change and, in view of this, CEEC is giving consideration to the provisions that would be essential if orthodox evangelicals are to remain in the Church of England.

When all is said and done, the only cast-iron way to secure a place for those who wish to hold to the present teaching and practice of the Church will be through a structural rearrangement of the CofE which provides orthodox bishops and archbishops, pipelines to secure the future appointment of ministers, and legal protection for clergy and churches to minister in ways that keep faith with the apostolic inheritance that -- to date -- has determined the sexual ethics of the Church of England.

You can read his lament and thoughts here: https://virtueonline.org/will-there-be-place-me-church-england

***

Now they are taking names. The Oxford Safe Churches Project released a report rating Churches on LGBTQ Acceptance. Oxford University students advised which churches are 'safe' for LGBTQ+ peers. Churches are ranked on a scale of one to five according to inclusivity and transparency.

A spokesperson for the group told the Church Times that the Oxford Safe Churches Project was motivated by a desire to put on public record the stance that each church took on LGBTQ+ issues rather than have students trying to "figure it out" by attending.

Commenting on this new development, a high-level Anglican cleric told VOL on the possible infringement issue of freedom of religion that, "legally speaking, freedom of religion in England is well protected by the Human Rights Act 1997 and the attendant European Convention on Human Rights, Article 9, which is therefore part of English law. (I have no knowledge of the situation in Scotland, which has its own legal system)."

"The police and some of the lower courts in England don't know this and from time to time some unfortunate Christian is arrested, but organizations such as Christian Concern are effective at defending such people, and gradually educating the legal system via a series of judgements that Christians too have the right to freedom of expression, so long as it does not cross the line into criminal activity."

"The chief threat to orthodox Christians lies within liberal denominations, where orthodox voices appear to have been silenced, and the liberal narrative prevails without challenge. Church of England bishops are in the forefront of imposing the woke culture across the denomination, including not only LGBTQ+ but the NetZero agenda. The Methodist Church is fully committed as is the United Reformed Church. Orthodox voices in the Roman Catholic Church appears to have been silenced, as that Church is being subverted by Pope Francis via his invention of "The Synodal Way" -- changing doctrine by popular vote rather than via a Council of the Church. A tactic he appears to have acquired from his Anglican friends."

He concluded, "In short, the Trojan horse entered our churches a long time ago, and its cohorts have largely done their work within the historic denominations."

***

On the 21st September 2023, the Diocese of Exeter, published the glossy "Statement of Needs" for its next bishop, which excluded any talk of pastoral concern for its priests or even gospel proclamation.

Anglican Futures responded by saying, "Despite the mega-byte crunching file-size, it is, in the main, the bland, managerial stuff that is found in such Church of England documents. There is nothing about looking for an episcopal leader with a proven track-record of numerically growing churches, or a proven inspirational preacher and evangelist, or a theologian with a deep understanding of historic orthodox Anglicanism. Instead, there is plenty of being, "...able to think strategically and creatively about..." and "...energetic in encouragement bold in advocacy and gentle in consolation", as if some dioceses long for a headless, heartless, visionless, voiceless bishop.

***

Away from Empire A vision for a more coherent Anglican Communion (Part 2) The second in a two-part series by Egyptian Archbishop Dr. Mouneer Anis on the state of the Anglican Communion, he writes that if the Communion is restored, can it be made strong enough to face future challenges? How can it fulfill God's mission in a world hostile to God? What will be the best structure that can sustain the Communion and also ensure the autonomy and interdependence of its member Provinces? In order to respond to these important questions, we need first to stop and look back at the history of the Anglican Communion and how it moved from a strong beginning to the current failures and fragmentation.

"I suggest that the process of restoring the Communion should proceed as follows: First: Developing the Anglican Covenant with representatives from all Anglican provinces. (A lot of work, that has taken years, has already been done on in this, which will make the task more straightforward now.) Second: The Anglican provinces should next be invited to adopt and sign the Covenant in order to join the newly reconstituted Anglican Communion as full members. You can read the full text here: https://virtueonline.org/away-empire-vision-more-coherent-anglican-communion-part-2

You can read Part 1 here: A DEEPLY TORN COMMUNION here: https://virtueonline.org/deeply-torn-communion It can also be found in the Summer edition of the Anglican Way https://anglicanway.org

***

Nigerian Anglicans might be co-laborers in the gospel but they play hardball when it comes to niceness in dealing with fellow Anglican believers, those who share common beliefs.

The Church of Nigeria recently rejected a request to fold their Missionary Diocese into the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). Archbishop Henry Ndukuba has rejected all efforts to bring its missionary dioceses into the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) fold, despite requests by ACNA Archbishop Foley Beach to do so.

In an exchange of letters, Archbishop Beach wrote to primate Ndukuba saying that he had attempted in person and through letters to address the "Church of Nigeria's continued presence in the North America and his plans to expand his ministry in North America without concern about the ministry of your daughter province, the Anglican Church in North America." You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/church-nigeria-rejects-request-fold-missionary-diocese-acna

***

The Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia is calling on the Province of S. E. Asia to break ties with the Church of England. In a press release from the Synod of the Diocese of West Malaysia to the House of Bishops of the province argued that the General Synod of the Church of England had voted to incorporate into the Church of England's authorized liturgy prayers for the blessing of individuals in same-sex unions, which they said was in direct contravention of Resolution 1.10 of the
Lambeth Conference 1998 on Human Sexuality, which declared that "homosexual
practice is incompatible with Scripture" and advised against the "legitimizing or blessing of same sex union."

This week Singapore Bishop Titus Chung Khiam Boon was elected the new primate of the Church of the Province of South East Asia during an Extraordinary Provincial Synod that included representatives from the four dioceses in the province: Kuching and Sabah, on the northern strip of Borneo, along with Singapore and West Malaysia.

Chung will take office in February 2024, when he will succeed the current primate, the Most Rev. Melter Tais, who will continue to serve as bishop of Sabah. It is not known at this time of going to press where Primate Boon stands on the hot button issues currently dividing the communion.

The Church of the Province of South East Asia is thought to be the fastest growing of the 42 Anglican Communion member churches. It has missionary deaneries in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Indonesia and Nepal, reports ENS.

***

Has former New Westminster Bishop Michael Ingham gone Buddhist? I was in Vancouver, BC recently and asked several sources all of whom said that they had heard that he had. It was Ingham who began the sexual revolution in the ACoC in 2002 over the blessing of same-sex unions, causing a wider rift in the Anglican Communion. Is anybody really surprised?

***

In an article entitled "What is the Future of Evangelicalism?: Evangelicalism Now", the late Dr J. I. Packer, a distinguished Canadian Anglican theologian and author, lamented that North American evangelicalism had entered a "winter" from which it is unlikely to emerge any time soon. Christianity in America is 3,000 miles wide and half an inch deep, opined Packer.

A recent book The Dechurching of America by three authors, Jim Davis, Ryan Burge, and Michael Graham argue that 40 million Americans have left the church with most not likely to return any time soon, if ever.

More than half of the entire group of dechurched evangelicals surveyed fell into the category of "cultural Christians." Graham explained that this group is predominantly male and white, with high marriage rates, education, and income. This group also leaned left on the political spectrum. Its members were labeled as "cultural Christians" because they scored the lowest of any group on Christian orthodoxy. For example, only 1% of this group said that they believed the statement: "Jesus is the Son of God" and just 22% agreed that "the Bible is the literal word of God." That speaks volumes.

What this says to this writer, who has been watching the slow deterioration of Christianity in North America, is that the problem lies squarely in the pulpit. Preachers are preaching an uncertain sound. They have failed to preach "the whole counsel of God." Preachers have ridden their hobby horses in a scattershot way, instead of grasping the fullness of what God has revealed. That often means preaching in an expository way through the books of the Bible. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/christianity-america-3000-miles-wide-and-half-inch-deep-dr-ji-packer

***
FIRST WOMAN BISHOP SUFFRAGAN FOR ARMED FORCES. The first woman bishop for Episcopal Armed, The Rev. Ann Ritonia will be consecrated as bishop suffragan for Episcopal Armed Forces and Federal Ministries during an 11 a.m. ET service Saturday, Sept. 30, at St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square, in Washington, D.C. She will be the first woman to serve in that role in the ministry's nearly 60-year history.

In a note of conciliation, The Rt. Rev. Derek Jones, Bishop of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy for the ACNA said, "I give my heartfelt congratulations to Bishop-elect Ritonia and spoke with her at length just a few days ago. Within the US Military, Chaplains are charged to ministry working in pluralistic settings and, thus, Anglican Chaplains and those from the Episcopal Church often work alongside one another, and with chaplains from varying faith traditions. Her experience in the USMC and Reserves will serve her, and the Episcopal Church, well."

***

MALE OR FEMALE: THERE'S NOTHING IN BETWEEN. Since the dawn of our species, the evolution of two distinct sexes has been fundamental to human reproduction. There is no such thing as a 'sex spectrum.' More than 99.9 percent of animal species that have developed since the emergence of male and female sexes reproduce sexually. And 95 percent of those animal species--including humans--have male and female sexes in separate individuals, whereby organisms are either male or female for their entire lives.

Zachary A. Elliott made his case articulately here: https://quillette.com/2023/09/25/male-female-end-of-list/
25 Sep 2023

***

STACKING THE CONCLAVE. By the end of the day on Sept. 30, Pope Francis will have crossed an important threshold: He will have appointed enough cardinals to have created a supermajority at the next conclave, the gathering of cardinals that will select his successor.

Taken at face value, Francis' statistical watershed suggests he has ensured that the next pope will share his style and vision. But the reality is far more complex. History shows that conclaves exercise a logic of their own that owes little to the pope who devised them.

After all, Francis, who is seen as a liberal reformer, was elected by a conclave for the most part assembled by Popes Benedict XVI and John Paul II, both staunch conservatives.

Of course, stacking the deck is nothing new to The Episcopal Church and now increasingly the Church of England where Justin Welby is putting in place women bishops and activist homosexuals in key positions, one is the Archbishops' Secretary for Appointments who sits at his right hand in Lambeth Palace!

***

Abortion has gone from being tolerated to celebrated. What kind of sick people would tell you that killing your baby is a pathway to joy asked Tucker Carlson. The former FOX news anchor is a member of The Episcopal Church. Apparently, he is going to stay because the people like him. You can watch it here: https://twitter.com/TuckerCarlson/status/1706428363705835678

Now there is increasing evidence that the laity in TEC and in most mainline churches is far more conservative than their clergy and bishops. A new survey of mainline clergy finds those leading the historic denominations that once shaped the American Protestant scene are far more liberal than their congregants on a host of political and social issues.

The Public Religion Research Institute survey of 3,066 mainline clergy, released Thursday (Sept. 14), shows that about half identify with the Democratic Party, 28% identify as independents and only 14% as Republicans. You can read this story here:
https://virtueonline.org/survey-mainline-clergy-are-more-liberal-their-congregants

***

The esteemed Anglican House Publishers is moving their non-liturgical books to a new platform with Amazon KDP, so they will be much more accessible and affordable. They are beginning with a Tenth Anniversary sale. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/anglican-house-publishing-amazon-kindle-direct-publishing-kdp

***

CULTURE WARS AND MORE

The Rise and Fall of the Evangelical Elite can be read here: https://chroniclesmagazine.org/featured/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-evangelical-elite/

Andrew Brunson Offers a View of Impending Persecution can be read here: https://virtueonline.org/andrew-brunson-offers-view-impending-persecution-part-1

Mainline clergy are more liberal than their congregants:
https://virtueonline.org/survey-mainline-clergy-are-more-liberal-their-congregants

When your head is in the Tiger's mouth: https://virtueonline.org/when-your-head-tigers-mouth-heartfelt-plea-orthodox-anglicans-cofe

Pets Are Us: https://virtueonline.org/pets-are-us

Male and Female: There is nothing in between: https://virtueonline.org/male-or-female-theres-nothing-between

John Henry Newman: A tortured mind who attempted to straddle two worlds:
https://virtueonline.org/john-henry-newman-tortured-mind-who-attempted-straddle-two-worlds

***

I conclude this week's VIEWPOINTS on this note: Christian Identity, Christian Genocide. Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director, Barnabas Aid writes that the history of the Church is a history of persecution, of suffering for Christ. There have been many mass killings of our brothers and sisters as in Lyon, sadly unknown and unrecognized even by most Christians. If Christians are considered another race, the term "genocide" is particularly appropriate. Jesus suffered for us and He calls us to suffer for Him. There is no escape from this, for "Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3:12). Jesus took care to warn His followers of this (John 15:18 -- 16:4). In our identification with our Lord, we must be ready for that suffering and ready, if necessary, to pay the ultimate price by dying for Him.

"Much of the Christian writing and preaching that circulates in our world comes out of Western contexts where Christians have for centuries enjoyed freedom and, until recently, general societal approval. But this is an abnormal situation for Christians worldwide and throughout history. Furthermore, things are changing and increasingly we are all faced with the issue: what is my identity? If it is a Christian identity, founded on Christ and His cross, we are called to journey in the way of the cross, which will bring with it opprobrium. But we can learn lessons from the past, from the faithfulness of those who have gone before (Hebrews 11), and apply those lessons to our own age as we seek to be faithful to Christ in an ungodly world which lies in the hands of the evil one."

"The Bible sees only two categories of person: either we belong to Christ or we do not. 'Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life' (1 John 5:12). The world will inevitably persecute those who belong to Christ. Let us therefore rejoice in all our sufferings, especially if we are granted the privilege of suffering for Christ, and join our prayers with all our fellow citizens of heaven."

***

Dear friends. Next week will find me in Kurdistan, Iraq, meeting with Christian missionaries reaching out to the Islamic world. I will be in the company of two fine young Anglican missionaries who are doing sterling work among Muslim groups across the Middle East and Africa. If you think you can help, you can make a tax-deductible donation by check, credit card or PAYPAL below.

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David

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
October 13, 2023

The progressive tide is turning in the Church of England. Its push for prayers via the same-sex project "Love and Faith" is bedeviling its House of Bishops and is roiling the Church's faithful.

"The progressive tide is turning in the Church of England. Its push for prayers via the same-sex project "Love and Faith" is bedeviling its House of Bishops and is roiling the Church's faithful."

Twelve bishops have publicly dissented from the decision, announced on Monday by the House of Bishops, to commend blessings for same-sex couples, saying that there is "deep disagreement within the House".

In a statement published on the website of Premier Christianity on Thursday morning, the signatories say that they are "unable to support the collective decisions made by the House which we believe fail to safeguard the pastoral stability, mission and unity of the Church".

On Monday, after a meeting of the house, it was announced that agreement had been reached "in principle" that the Prayers of Love and Faith should be commended, and thereafter used in existing liturgies, but that stand-alone services using the prayers would require full synodical approval (News, 10 October).

In these 12 bishops' statement, the dissenting group includes seven diocesan bishops, as well as three suffragan bishops elected to the House and bishops designated as Provincial Episcopal Visitors, who are non-voting members. There are currently 53 members of the House of Bishops.

In their statement, they call on their colleagues to "reconsider the course we saw mapped out in our meeting".

Disagreement among the bishops on the issue of same-sex relations is well known, but Monday's statement -- which began "The Church of England's House of Bishops has agreed . . ." -- gave the impression of its being a collective decision of the whole house, given the concession it contained to refer the Prayers to the General Synod.

But Thursday's statement undermines this apparent collegiality. It continues: "We have participated in good faith in attempts to find consensus but were unable to support the decisions taken on Monday. There was deep disagreement within the House.

"Sharing the profound concerns of many in the Church of England and in the wider Communion, with heavy hearts we find it necessary to dissent publicly from the decisions of the House."

To read more click here: https://virtueonline.org/uk-bishops-go-public-their-rift-over-blessings-same-sex-couples
To read the Premier Christianity story go here: https://www.premierchristianity.com/uk-church/exclusive-dissenting-bishops-speak-out-on-same-sex-blessings/16497.article

A group of 78 ordinands and deacon-curates have also written to the House of Bishops warning them that such a move would "indicate a departure from the historic teaching of the Christian faith."
If the liberals refuse to listen and will continue to push for the same sex blessings, they could well suffer the same fate as The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada which saw their denominations split and new Anglican churches form. The Church of England has no thought on how this will affect the wide Anglicans Communion, especially as the Global South Fellowship of Anglican (GSFA) primates are meeting now in Cairo, Egypt, where we can be assured, they will be commenting on this decision.

The sheer arrogance of the CofE's bishops who believe that can act like imperial, colonial spiritual rulers over their own church and that the rest of the communion will buy it, is staggering. Their own church can barely muster a million attenders a week out of a population of 66 million and the only truly thriving parishes are independent African Anglican and Pentecostal churches that are thriving, even as Church of England parishes are shriveling.

See Angela Tilbys' take here: https://virtueonline.org/angela-tilby-emptied-out-belief-leads-empty-pews

She lucidly explains that emptied-out belief leads to empty pews. "The churches that are declining are those that have turned our 'very strange and very difficult faith' into something less spiritually nutritious, something essentially this-worldly and moralistic, in which the bulk of the sermon time is given to social criticism, at the expense of God and the soul.

"If our emptying churches are the result of an emptied-out belief, it would be wise to return to the sources. In scripture, the angels are represented as a divine hierarchy charged by God to warn, instruct, and encourage us in the only thing that really matters: the age-old cosmic struggle between good and evil." She gets it.

Cornelius Harding writes a heartfelt plea to Orthodox Anglicans in the CofE in a piece titled, "When your head is in the tiger's mouth," which you can read here:
https://virtueonline.org/when-your-head-tigers-mouth-heartfelt-plea-orthodox-anglicans-cofe

Here is a sample paragraph: "To each and every Orthodox Anglican in the Church of England I have no words of comfort but rather a warning that the cost may be high. If you stand up for your brothers and sisters in Christ, there will be those who want to devour you, some may be ostracized in their churches, many will lose friends, some may lose their jobs as a Councilor King Lawal recently did, clergy may face disciplinary action or be forced out by their churches and so lose both their livelihood and their home, and ministries may have their funding withdrawn."

The CofE is being led by a man who once stood firm on the church's history, tradition and scripture, but has since turned and gone over to the dark side. Justin Welby, sadly, can no longer be trusted. He has gone from ALPHA to Delta. In the end it could well be a place of judgement -- a terrible place where talk of "reconciliation" and "good disagreement" does not exist.

Scripture makes plain that the time is coming that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17) Scary stuff.

We must never forget that Jesus reserved his harshest judgement for the Pharisees and Sadducees, while his love embraced the outcast and the one lost sheep.

Those modern-day successors in our houses of bishops, men and women who have embraced clericalism; who love to dress up and pontificate and whirl incense, while those in the pews are forced to listen to their rants and leave their churches with nothing but dust and ashes in their hands.

The road to hell is paved with the bones of priests and monks, and the skulls of bishops are the lampposts that light the path, said St. Athanasius, who goes further than Chrysostom by saying, "The floor to hell is paved with the skulls of priests."

Is it any wonder that the Church of England is emptying faster than sand through a sieve. Fewer vicars, closing parishes, less money and rapidly aging pew warmers.

Earlier in the week I wrote, Church of England Ratifies Blessings of Same-Sex Unions: where to for GAFCON and GSFA?

It was inevitable of course. Despite all the erudite theological pleadings by orthodox Anglican theologians not to do it, the Church of England's House of Bishops has agreed in principle that prayers asking for God's blessing for same-sex couples -- known as Prayers of Love and Faith -- should be commended for use.

It is the thin end of the wedge. The church's pansexualists will not rest untill full blown homosexual marriage is accepted and blessed by the church. We know this is true because the CofE is following the trajectory of The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada. The push has only just begun. Jayne Ozanne, the CofE's leading lay lesbian aided by Karen Carpenter and others has only just begun, the fight is on, and, based on the weak wobbly Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, it all seems inevitable. It is only a matter of time.

Now that the House of Bishops here has formally endorsed the blessing of sinful relationships, there can be no more doubt anywhere in the world that the Church of England has excluded itself from any claim to apostolicity, which requires fidelity to orthodoxy. You can read my piece here:
https://virtueonline.org/church-england-ratifies-blessings-same-sex-unions-where-gafcon-and-gsfa

In response the Rev. Canon John Dunnett, National Director for the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC), said this: "The news that the House of Bishops has agreed to commend the prayers asking for God's blessing for same sex couples is deeply concerning. The House of Bishops seems intent on pushing full steam ahead toward something that is contrary to both Scripture and the historic and apostolic teaching of the Church of England.

"... we are convinced that the only way ahead for the Church of England is to pursue a settlement for differentiation that protects and provides a safe space for those on both sides of the debate". You can their full statement here: https://virtueonline.org/ceec-responds-house-bishops-announcement
and here:
https://virtueonline.org/ceec-welcomes-bishops-dissenting-statement

***

The Anglican Network in Europe came out with a devastating and withering response to the bishops.

We grieve with millions of faithful Anglicans around the world at the disastrous decision by the House of Bishops in the Church of England to agree in principle to commend Prayers of Love and Faith for same-sex couples. This action is offensive to the God of love. It replaces his wonderful gospel of grace with a distorted message, blessing what God calls sin. This is heart-breaking, wicked and outrageously arrogant.

Together the House of Bishops have embraced heresy by departing from the clear teaching of Scripture on matters of sexual conduct. As a result, they have betrayed their office. At their consecration service, each bishop was instructed to "be to the flock of Christ a shepherd, not a wolf; feed them, devour them not." However, by introducing, and not banishing "erroneous and strange doctrine", they have become wolves. Together they have demonstrated they are not fit for office. They stand under judgement as did the shepherds of Israel in Jeremiah's day. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/not-fit-office

***

IS SCHISM INEVITABLE? if there is no longer a place at the table for orthodox Anglicans in either the evangelical or Anglo-Catholic camp, will they voluntarily leave the Church of England or be forced out as happened in The Episcopal Church which has formally embraced homosexual marriage with the passage of Resolution B012.

Several parishes have already left the CofE. The most recent is Wellfield Church, Leyland, Lancashire, which moved into the Anglican Convocation in Europe (ACE) and instituted Mark Simpson as its rector. On Sunday 1 October 2023, GAFCON Bishop Andy Lines inaugurated the parish into the ACE. You can read it here: https://virtueonline.org/why-we-left-church-england

***

The London College of Bishops including +Sarah Londin, +Emma Kensington, +Joanne Stepney, +Jonathan Fulham +Lusa Willesden +Ric Islington jumped into the fray in the hope of calming orthodox fears arguing for "reconciliation."

They issued an ad clerum to all clergy and church officers saying, "We have been humbled by your courage in naming your hopes and fears, and heartened by the sensitivity many have shown to one another at times, often in the face of stark disagreement. In our conversations as a College, we too have mirrored the broad range of perspectives consonant with Anglican teaching and tradition. However, we stand together, and are committed to working together with you, and for you, for this Diocese. We realise that some are looking for formal, structural, pastoral provision as the national process continues, and we will look at how best to provide this in London."

One can never reconcile the blessing of sexual sin. God has not, nor will He ever ratify what he has clearly repudiated. He has not changed his mind in 3,000 years. The only binary relationship He has ever endorsed is between a man and a woman for purposes of procreation. The alternative is celibacy for both heterosexual and homosexual persons.

The Bishop of Ebbsfleet, the Rt. Rev Rob Munro put out a statement on behalf of evangelicals in the Church of England saying this:

"I am deeply concerned that the approach that is being proposed will ultimately harm our unity, sanctity, catholicity and apostolicity as a Church, and seriously impact our mission. I believe it is necessary, in commitment to my consecration vows- to uphold God's Word, to teach the doctrine of Christ and refute error- to publicly raise these concerns, that I have been expressing in the House." You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/update-prayer-love-and-faith-house-bishops

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GAFCON AND GSFA PRIMATES AND THE FUTURE OF THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION. The bigger question is what will the GSFA and GAFCON primates do now that the CofE has embarked on the slippery slope of full homosexual inclusion, a behavior proscribed by Scripture for over 3,000 years.

The GSFA primates are meeting in Cairo as we speak. You can be sure they will deliver themselves of the Church of England's bishops' decision in this historic moment, that sees a serious departure from Christian teaching.

But what of the future? Will the Church of England experience schism in its ranks? We shall see.

There is no doubt that the mission-minded GAFCON primates led by the Anglican Church of Nigeria would split from Canterbury along with Rwanda, Uganda, the Congo and possibly South Sudan. But what of the Global South Fellowship of Anglicans (GSFA) primates many of whom have a foot in both GAFCON and GSFA camps?

Can the GSFA, a structurally concerned group of Primates, call the shots and keep the GAFCON primates in line?

The GSFA primates and bishops believe they can outlast the Church of England. They believe that the CofE will be out of business in 25 to 30 years and they can simply take over at that time. (It will be sooner for the Episcopal Church and certainly for the Anglican Church of Canada. Other provinces like the Church in Wales and Scotland are already on life support status.)

But is that feasible in today's fast moving Anglican world? Just as the Middle East is exploding, so is the Anglican Communion. Can the forces pulling the communion apart when money is being used by Western Anglican provinces like TEC is being used to persuade and coerce Global South primates to go along to get along, continue?

The question which must be asked is WHEN will GAFCON and GSFA finally wean themselves off their attachment to Canterbury and to Western money?

Time will tell? But time is running out. Nothing remains static in the world for long. Nothing.

You can my piece here: https://virtueonline.org/church-england-ratifies-blessings-same-sex-unions-where-gafcon-and-gsfa

***

They elected a new bishop for the Episcopal Diocese of Albany to replace outgoing Bishop William Love who was summarily tossed to the curb for failing to uphold the new-fangled doctrine of inclusion on homosexual marriage.

For their sins of commission, they elected the Rev. Jeremiah Williamson to lead them.

Bishop Love wrote VOL to say that he was deeply saddened for the orthodox clergy and laity in the Diocese of Albany who have tried to remain faithful to God's Holy Word, regarding marriage and issues of human sexuality.

"Unfortunately, I am not surprised by the outcome of the election. Had Fr. Scott Garno been elected, I am not sure that he would have gotten the consents needed in the House of Bishops and House of Deputies in TEC. The hand writing has been on the wall for Albany ever sense the outcome of my trial. It has only been a question of time."

***

WHEN WILL THE ACNA OVERTAKE TEC? David Goodhew has written a fascinating piece for THE LIVING CHURCH in which he asks the obvious question; when will the ACNA overtake the Episcopal Church?

"Given that the ACNA did not exist before 2009, readers of this article may wonder, "can these things be?" But the onus of proof lies with those who expect TEC to remain the biggest Anglican kid on the block. For that to happen, one of two scenarios must come to pass. Either TEC must arrest its long-term decline (and the data from 2019 to 2022 shows that such decline just grew significantly worse) or the ACNA must collapse (and the stress-test of COVID showed it to be much more robust than TEC). So, will the ACNA overtake TEC? The answer is yes, if current trends continue. When will it do so? Not soon, but not that far away either." You can read the full article here: https://virtueonline.org/when-will-acna-overtake-tec

***

ISRAEL stood on the brink of being overwhelmed by Hamas terrorist attacks from Gaza this past week, but were rebuffed by Israeli armed forces that quickly moved in to stamp out the political movement that has dominated Gaza politics for more than two decades. Nothing has been resolved as we go to press, but Israel has the war under control and is moving house by house, street by street and underground tunnel by underground tunnel to eliminate Hamas, a task that might take some time.

One of the chief complaints Hamas supporters make is that Israel will kill civilians as it seeks to eliminate Hamas. But is that a fair argument? Collateral damage has always been a part of war. Did Churchill ask permission to bomb Dresden and Berlin. Allied bombers killed tens of thousands and destroyed large areas with attacks on Cologne, Hamburg and Berlin, and the Japanese cities of Tokyo, Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Melanie Phillips a Jewish London newspaper columnist writes: "If there was a way to defeat Hamas without a war in which many civilians will unfortunately die, Israel would take it. There isn't one. Those calling for "restraint" therefore mean Israel must not defeat Hamas, which would sentence yet more Israeli civilians to be murdered."

"Yes, the prospects for Gaza's civilians are frightful. And the death of civilians is always to be regretted. But this is war. In war there are civilian casualties. And what other army warns its enemy civilians, as Israel has done consistently during this (and every) war, to get out of harm's way before it strikes?

"When the US carpet-bombed Afghanistan after 9/11, or when it razed Mosul to the ground in Iraq, did it issue warnings to the civilians to evacuate? Of course not. Did the west's virtue-signalers clutch their pearls then and demand that America show "restraint" because of the likely civilian casualties? Of course not; there was near silence."

A long time VOL reader who ranks high in the Church of England sent this note:

"I have been to Sderot and to kibbutzim in the area, as well as to the main crossing into Gaza. Israel has been under siege for many years from its neighbor, despite surrendering the Gaza strip entirely to the so-called Palestinians and removing all Jews from its territory. Two-state solutions have been proposed several times and always rejected out of hand by the militants, whose agenda is not independence but the genocide prescribed by Islam.

"Last Saturday's savage assault on Israeli civilians ranks with the worst crimes of Nazi Germany. It is of a piece with the pogroms committed by the Einstazgruppen whose atrocities killed many thousands of Jews in Easter Europe.

"Hamas and its sponsors bear full responsibility for the fate of Gaza, which I expect will now be levelled and its population forced out as refugees. It has become the only viable option for the defense of the State of Israel both now and for the future"

Some commentators think Israel is walking into a trap if it goes whole hog into Gaza. If they do, so the argument goes, world opinion will turn against Israel. True or not, Israel has very few friends to begin with. But she does have some who would stand by her including the US, Britain and Germany.

I invite readers to watch this powerful video: of Douglas Murray's address to a Jewish audience in the UK posted by the Jewish Chronicle.
https://youtu.be/QCUfNLENLZg?si=lwFXulY2hq6DyVni

***

Tikkun Global, a messianic Jewish movement led by my good friend Dr. Daniel Juster had this to say on the situation unraveling in Gaza.

God wants to birth something new about who we are as the Body of Messiah: Jew, Arab, and International together. As we are UNIFIED, so can we be GLORIFIED.

Then we can focus in the time of war for VICTORY! This is a spiritual war, and it needs to be won in the spirit as well as militarily. And it needs to be won with lightning-like power from heaven.

There is a divine opportunity for REVIVAL to sweep across the Middle East in the wake of this war, as the demonic spirits behind Hamas-ISIS-Jihad are exposed and driven out!

PRAY with us! This is a crucial time both in history and in Yeshua's kingdom. Amen to this.

ANTISEMITISM is on the rise. It was reported that there has been a "massive increase" in antisemitic incidents in London since the Hamas attacks on Israel, the Metropolitan Police said.

Between 30 September and 13 October there were 105 antisemitic incidents and 75 offences. In the same period last year, there were 14 antisemitic incidents and 12 offences. The Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu called the rise "disgusting", adding extra funding had been given to protect Jewish institutions.

In the US antisemitism is also on the rise. Antisemitic incidents are on the rise across the U.S., report finds. Antisemitic hate crimes rose in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, home to the country's three largest Jewish populations, according to their police departments.

Last year's report found that 2021 set a new high for antisemitic incidents, with the coronavirus pandemic fueling a worldwide rise in antisemitism. This year the researchers said that "2022 did not mark a universal reversal of the trend, and in some countries, most alarmingly the United States, it intensified."

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) found that the number of antisemitic incidents in the U.S. increased by more than 35 percent in the past year, from 2,721 in 2021 to 3,697 in 2022. Antisemitic and white supremacist propaganda in the U.S. also hit new levels, the organization said.

***

I have just returned from 10 days traveling in Kurdistan and Central Asia meeting believers who are making and forming the next generation of Christian disciples. I had the opportunity to meet brothers and sisters from Iran, Kurdistan, Syria and Central Asia.

I was told that this lay led movement has formed 1,200 churches and discipleship groups over the last two years. Yes, you read that right...all in two years! Some have reached the 10th generation of church planters, that is a church that has planted a church to the 10th generation right across the Middle East.

In Nthn. Iraq some 367 churches have formed from small groups, who then form Networks that meet in homes. N**I a beloved evangelist makes $500.00 a month overseeing these 367 churches. Compare that to what TEC and ACNA bishops get paid and what they oversee. And all these churches have been planted in the last two years!

When have we seen anything like this in the ACNA? Perhaps, the old paradigms of church planting are outdated and bishops need to rethink how to do mission, based of course on the Great Commission.

Could we not learn from our Middle East brothers and sisters how to do mission once again?

Just before I left Central Asia, I attended a baptism in a private home where a dozen men and one woman were baptized in a homemade blow-up swimming pool placed in a living room. Such baptisms would never be tolerated in the public square or hotel, too dangerous.

All this says, is that God is at work. Iran is the fastest growing church in the world today. Believers can cross the border into Iraq, because Iraq is a proxy for Iran. Here they are discipled and sent back to make new disciples. Some are caught and murdered for their faith, but they press on.

As Christianity spreads in Iran, it was reported that around 50,000 out of Iran's 75,000 mosques have closed, highlighting the growth of Christianity in Iran and disillusion with "the regime's use of Islam to justify its authoritarian rule," a prominent human rights activist told Worthy News.

Farrukh H. Saif, whose Emergency Committee to Save the Persecuted and Enslaved (ECSPE) has rescued Christian converts, referred to cleric Mohammad Abolghassem Doulabi, an adviser of Iran's rulers.

Doulabi, a liaison between President Ebrahim Raisi's administration and Iran's Islamic seminaries, called the 50,000 mosque closures a "worrying admission" for a state built around the principles of Islam. Clearly God is at work in the world. One source said that Christianity is growing faster in this century than any other century despite persecution, or, as he noted, perhaps because of it. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/50000-mosques-closed-iran-christianity-spreads

***

VOL. We need to keep the lights on. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to help defray costs. There are no salaries but we have correspondents to pay around the globe who keep you informed. A tax-deductible donation of any amount helps us keep on keeping on. You can send a check to the address below:

VIRTUEONLINE
P.O. Box 111
Shohola, PA 18458

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Thank you for your support.

David

"At the very heart of this generous Protestantism was the power of Scripture, through its teaching of justification by faith, to impart saving trust and transforming love to the wayward hearts and wandering souls of sinners. For according to Reformation Anglicanism, the glory of God is to love the unworthy."
-- Ashley Null, is the Theological Advisor to the ACNA Diocese of the Carolinas

CofE: Mike Pilavachi isn't unique in his being drawn to kinky sex practices; the Anglican Evangelicals have had their woes with John Smyth, Jonathan Fletcher and the Iwerne Camp fiasco. What is wrong with these people? --- Don Warrington

European civilization is primarily due to Christianity. We would not have democracy, nor free markets, nor human rights nor any of the things that distinguish the West from almost everywhere else if it had not been for certain historical events that kept us Christian. -- Effie Deans

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
November 3, 2023

Dear VOL readers.

My apologies for the delay in sending out this digest. Travel and family issues slowed my pace. You will also notice that you are now receiving the digest from MailerLite. We transitioned from Mail Chimp to save on costs. If you experience problems accessing the digest, please let me know. Write me at david@virtueonline.org

DON'T BE DECEIVED! The goal of Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran and Isis is not for political rights for Palestinians but to wipe Israel off the map. The Bible talks about a coming world war in which all the nations will gather together against Israel to battle (Zechariah 13:8). Everyone is going to have to make a MORAL decision whether to stand with Israel or not. We are facing the same spirit that manifested itself in World War II. We need to PRAY and say NEVER AGAIN!

Anglican church leaders are calling for a ceasefire but only for Israelis. No mention is made of Hamas to stop firing rockets. There are soft calls for peace but never for Israel's enemies.

Church leaders in Jerusalem made a renewed call for a ceasefire, after an air strike that hit the compound of St Porphyria's a Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza reportedly killing 18 people, including nine children.

Among the outraged leaders is the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, the Most Rev. Hosam Naoum, a man who has shown no love for the state of Israel that guarantees his safety and security seven days a week. He and two million other Israeli Arabs who enjoy all the benefits of a democratic society which includes health and education.

Where is the outrage at what Hamas has done to Gaza over the last twenty years and the continual firing of rockets into Israel for which the world and church leaders show no similar outrage? You can read my piece here: https://virtueonline.org/church-leaders-call-ceasefire-only-israelis-no-mention-hamas-stop-firing-rockets

You can also read my take on, Is Anybody listening to Archbishop Welby on the Middle East War, here: https://virtueonline.org/anybody-listening-archbishop-welby-middle-east-war

You can also read Jeff Walton's piece: Palestinian Christian Letter Chides Israel, Ignores Hamas here: https://virtueonline.org/palestinian-christian-letter-chides-israel-ignores-hamas

Mary Ann Mueller also weighs in with her piece: Israel is at WAR! In war people die including civilians. You can read it here: https://virtueonline.org/israel-war

West Bank Christian clings to faith as war destroys homes and jobs: https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/west-bank-christian-clings-to-faith-as-war-destroys-homes-and-jobs

The New Axis of Evil by Albert Mohler can be read here: https://virtueonline.org/new-axis-evil

Bad church Advice by Mark Tooley can be read here: https://virtueonline.org/bad-church-advice-hamas

This, in brief, is where we are in this civilizational moment. Freedom is at stake, truth is at stake; the enemy of our souls is roaring like a lion throughout the world and the church, twisting and turning truth on its head. All the time Christians grow weaker in their faith with some 40 million officially dechurched, and Generations X, Y, and Z (especially Z) showing little interest in the faith and the church that supposedly supports it.

I was brutally reminded by one of my grandson's friends, when he saw an Episcopal bishop, all dressed up with a miter, that it was great fodder for Tik Tok, with absolutely no reference as what it all stood for! It has all changed in a generation with little likelihood that it will ever go back to what it was. The key issue is how to present the gospel to these generations where rational apologetics will not work and where emotions and feelings matter more; where subjectivism and personalism frame the narrative. Few seem to grasp the times we are in and even fewer seem able to address the changes going on with a viable apologetic. Tim Keller came about as close as anyone, but he has gone and no one has replaced him.

***

ANTISEMITISM is once again rearing its head across the nation; in colleges, on the streets, in public venues, outside synagogues and more. Where it comes from and why it hasn't gone away? Attacking Jews is normalizing. And the ranks of the modern antisemites are growing, and the hate is spreading. To be charitable, their antisemitism is masquerading as concern and compassion for the Palestinians. But do these young adults know how ignorant they are? Do they know they are mindlessly reenacting a well-worn script about the Jews in use for generations before them?

You can read David Roseberry's take here: https://virtueonline.org/why-antisemitism-rears-its-ugly-face-again

Listen carefully for the echoes of anti-Semitism by Peter Houston: https://virtueonline.org/listen-carefully-echoes-anti-semitism

***

ON THE GLOBAL ANGLICAN FRONT, the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA) and their primates met in Cairo recently and hammered out a communique calling for a reset of the Communion. At the same they chastised Archbishop Justin Welby saying that he had forfeited his leadership role of the Anglican Communion. "We all know and lament that our Communion has entered into a deep darkness of rebellion to the truth of God's word." Fourteen Primates participated and ten other Anglican orthodox leaders joined as observers.

In a later email, Archbishop Foley Beach confirmed that the GSFA primates and the GAFCON primates are working together to formulate an overall response to the revisionism inhabiting the mostly Western Anglican provinces. The bigger question is, can schism be avoided. We wait and see. You can read the full communique here: https://virtueonline.org/gsfa-brings-hope-and-builds-orthodox-unity-anglican-communion

In an exclusive interview VOL obtained with South Sudan Archbishop Justin Badi, the primate made it clear that South Sudan Archbishop says Reset of the Communion is Underway.

It will be those who have invented new teachings to move out or to repent and continue in the fellowship, says Archbishop Justin Badi We lament with tears all that has happened to the Mother Church.
VOL obtained an exclusive interview with Justin Badi Archbishop and Primate of the Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan. In it he affirmed the GSFA Covenantal Structure as a good way to offer ecclesiastical structure and accountability to be a locus of unity for the orthodox in the whole Communion.

He also lamented "with tears" all that has happened to the historic 'mother church' of the communion. "We will continue to pray for her restoration. We are hopeful that the Spirit of God will one day restore the Church of England back to its biblical roots."

Asked at what point did he see the GSFA and GAFCON primates working together, Archbishop Badi said they had all affirmed the Ash Wednesday statement together. "We will commit to take the Gospel out urgently through word and deed to a pain ridden world, and collaborate on mission and ministry." You can read my full interview here: https://virtueonline.org/south-sudan-archbishop-says-reset-communion-underway

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News from Malawi Provincial Synod. They will now ordain women to the priesthood. Is this a sign that the Global South is capitulating to the ordination of women? That is hardly reassuring. At a meeting of GAFCON primates in Entebbe in 2018, they resolved not to consecrate further women bishops until a consensus in favor of the innovation is reached. The Primate of South Sudan endorsed this decision. I

Since then, a small handful of Global South provinces have ordained women to the episcopate. They include the Province of The Episcopal Church of South Sudan in the person of Elizabeth Awut Ngor, Diocese of Rumbek in 2016. The Anglican Church of Kenya in the person of Emily Onyango, Diocese of Bondo in 2021 and the Rev. Rose Okeno, 52, of Butere, a rural diocese. The Anglican Church of Southern Africa in the person of Ellinah Wamukoya, Bishop of Swaziland in 2012 and Margaret Vertue, Bishop of False Bay, in 2012.

I wrote this piece in April 2022. It seems more prescient than ever. https://virtueonline.org/could-consecration-women-bishops-global-south-derail-anglican-realignment

***

The ongoing saga of will they or won't they bless same-sex unions in the Church of England moved theologically backwards yet again. A group of 44 bishops made a public statement dissenting from a majority decision by the House of Bishops to commend prayers for same-sex couples. The new group, 15 diocesan bishops and 29 suffragans, wrote that they "recognise the complexities of the Pastoral Guidance in relation to ministry, and also the need for a swift end to the current uncertainty for LGBTQIA+ clergy and ordinands."

"We look forward to Guidance being issued without delay that includes the removal of all restrictions on clergy entering same-sex civil marriages, and on bishops' ordaining and licensing such clergy, as well as granting permissions to officiate." The Church Times reported last week that such guidance existed in draft form, but that the House of Bishops had voted to delay its implementation for "further work." You can read more here:
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/3-november/news/uk/don-t-delay-guidance-allowing-priests-to-be-in-same-sex-marriages-say-44-bis...

A group calling themselves Inclusive evangelicals believe that affirming the dignity and relationships of the LGBTQIA is the way to go and the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) report allowing for the blessing of same-sex relationships should be adopted. You can read their statement here: https://www.inclusiveevangelicals.com/

Of course, to put the two words together is a contradiction in terms. One cannot be both inclusive and evangelical. You are either evangelical excluding all sexual options except marriage between a man and a woman, or your are inclusive of multiple sexual options.

Theologian Andrew Goddard askes: Will it all now end in tears? "It looks horribly like the whole LLF process in its current form is going to "all end in tears". You can read his take here: Spoiler alert. Yes it will. He says it lacks transparency and is economical with the truth. "After months of denial--the bishops are admitting their proposals are (in violation of the Cornes amendment to the motion and contrary to their stated intention again in July) indicative of a departure from the doctrine of the Church of England."https://www.psephizo.com/sexuality-2/llf-will-it-all-now-end-in-tears/

A senior cleric in the Church told VOL that as a result giving will be reduced and many will vote with their feet. For the sake of WO and Homosexuality the bishops and archbishops have divided the Church of England and reduced it to a fragment of its size and influence 40 years ago. What an indictment.

He wrote; "Growing numbers of clergy are now taking early retirement to get away from the institutional failure being engineered by the two Archbishops. The parish system is collapsing, having had its assets stripped in favor of a new Baptist polity. Which isn't working."

https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/27-october/news/uk/unite-finds-faith-workers-are-stressed-and-overworked

No wonder the GSFA and GAFCON primates will have nothing to do with an apostate Church of England.

Lee Gatiss, Director of Church Society wrote an editorial: Good Lord! In which he wonders what we can do when we are exasperated by bishops and the direction of the Church of England. You can read it here: https://www.churchsociety.org/resource/editorial-good-lord/

You can read Lisa Nolland's piece: 'Going, Going, Gone?' The Church of England and LGBTQ Part 1 She is an excellent decipherer of the Church of England mind. https://virtueonline.org/going-going-gone-church-england-and-lgbtq-part-1

The road to Wigan's tears; The Church of England's drive to remake itself has been a pastoral and financial catastrophe by Marcus Walker of he CRITIC. "Why Wigan?" you might ask. Because Wigan is the prototype for a whole new way of being Anglican which is being rolled out across various dioceses and, being the first of this model, it has been the subject of a detailed study and shown to be a disaster. You can be read here: https://virtueonline.org/road-wigans-tears

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ON THE DOMESTIC FRONT, The Episcopal Church announced this week that three dioceses in Wisconsin moved one step closer to merging into one regional body which could be finalized at the denominational level next year.

The Episcopal dioceses of Milwaukee, Fond du Lac and Eau Claire each voted separately last Saturday to approve a resolution to make a final vote to merge during the 2024 Easter season. The dioceses will ask for the consent of both houses of General Convention in June."

This is the immolation of TEC heating up. It is death by a thousand cuts. There are other diocesan mergers in the works, most notably in New England. The following are the actual Average Sunday Attendance figures for all three dioceses: Eau Claire: 380; Fond Du Lac: 1,162 and Milwaukee: 2,051. Most of the congregants are aging (late 60s) with no younger generations coming along. You can read the full report here: https://virtueonline.org/3-episcopal-church-dioceses-wisconsin-one-step-closer-mergerMaine, New Hampshire, and Vermont bishops will assist each other's dioceses as they move towards inevitable merger.

I wrote a satirical essay about Episcopal Presiding Bishop Michael Curry receiving an epiphany following the removal of a mass. He discovers Jesus and the atoning death of Christ. https://virtueonline.org/michael-curry-has-epiphany-following-recent-hospitalization

I had the privilege of interviewing Canada's leading Anglican priest, the Rev. David Short when I was in Vancouver, BC recently. We discussed his faith journey, leadership, and the schism in the Anglican Church of Canada. You can read it here: https://virtueonline.org/vancouver-bc-anglican-rector-talks-his-journey-faith-leadership-and-surviving-split-anglican-church

***

An All Star Panel including Jordan Peterson, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Os Guinness, and John Anderson discuss the future of the West, the loss of freedom and the rising tide of wokeism enveloping the universities and society. I found this an outstanding conversation. You can watch it here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wtZq-zF1QG4.

***

It is with sadness we report the passing of Roger T. Beckwith (1929-2023). Dr. Beckwith's many decades of theological industry on behalf of the evangelical cause in the Church of England are interwoven with the story of Latimer House, the forerunner of Latimer Trust. A Tribute by Andrew Atherstone can be read here: https://virtueonline.org/roger-t-beckwith-1929-2023

***

Reparative or Conversion therapy is much in the news, with states and countries outlawing it. But a number of Christians are ready to take legal action if a conversion therapy bill in England tramples on religious freedom.

The Christian Institute has repeated its call to the government to ensure that a ban on so-called conversion therapy does not interfere with everyday religious practice.

The organization reiterated its readiness to take legal action against the Westminster government after The Times reported that the government is pressing ahead with a draft bill to ban LGBT 'conversion practices', contradicting reports earlier in the year that it was planning to quietly drop the proposals. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/christians-ready-take-legal-action-if-conversion-therapy-bill-tramples-religious-freedom

***

Survey: Mainline clergy are more liberal than their congregants ran the headline. Mainline clergy are more supportive than their congregants of LGBTQ rights, more likely to have opposed the overturn of Roe v. Wade and less likely to believe America is in danger of losing its culture and identity.
A new survey of mainline clergy finds those leading the historic denominations that once shaped the American Protestant scene are far more liberal than their congregants on a host of political and social issues.

The Public Religion Research Institute survey of 3,066 mainline clergy, shows that about half identify with the Democratic Party, 28% identify as independents and only 14% as Republicans. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/survey-mainline-clergy-are-more-liberal-their-congregants

***

VOL. We need to keep the lights on. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to help defray costs. There are no salaries but we have correspondents to pay around the globe who keep us all informed. A donation of any amount helps us keep on keeping on. You can send a check to the address below:

VIRTUEONLINE
P.O. Box 111
Shohola, PA 18458

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David

"It does not take an expert philosopher to see that we will soon be experiencing the consequences of our choices. We have chosen prosperity, pleasure and power, and we will reap poverty, pain and impotence. It may be that our race will not self-destruct with a nuclear war, but will simply fade away as the result of immature, wicked and short-sighted strategies."-- Fr. Dwight Longenecker,

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
November 10, 2023

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby got such an earful from both sides of the sexual fence this week, that he was forced asked, "Do you want me to resign over same-sex blessings."

"Yes," said the Rev. Dr. Lee Gatiss of Church Society who met with the ABC along with 25 evangelical and Anglo-Catholics to discuss the proposed blessings for same-sex couples.

"He asked what we thought about some clergy teaching a view which we considered to be a threat to people's salvation; I said they ought to leave and they ought to be disciplined by the bishops who promised to banish error at their consecration services," said Gatiss.

"That's not rocket science. What has been proposed is a heresy. I don't use the word lightly. It's a heresy against the teaching of the Scriptures, the early church fathers, and the formularies of the Church of England."

You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/church-society-director-says-archbishop-justin-welby-should-resign

And here: https://mailchi.mp/66fea6ee59f8/church-society-news-update-november-2023?e=aa339a7d79

On the other side of the sexual ledger there were some testy exchanges with progressives who accused Welby of not doing enough to push the blessing of same sex unions.

The Archbishop of Canterbury met thirty-four representatives of progressive organizations and networks at Lambeth seeking the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in the Church of England.

Colin Coward of Changing Attitude organization wrote a report of the meeting which he noted the future is still uncertain over the issue. The meeting was chaired by David Porter, the ABC's strategy advisor, the concierge of compromise.

"After introducing ourselves around the circle, we were invited to speak, and over the next nearly ninety minutes, well over half of our representatives did indeed speak, some from personal experience, some about the anger in our community, some about their total shock at reading the General Synod paper GS 2328, some about the Synod process, some about years of frustration, some about our ultimate goal and some about Christian essence. Present were straight allies, long-time LGBTQIA+ advocates, and members both of long established and very recently formed groups."

You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/archbishop-canterbury-meets-thirty-four-representatives-progressive-organisations

The Archbishop of Canterbury, finds himself locked in the circle dance of dispossession.

He cannot lift the Law of Non-Contradiction or square the circle, and wonders why he suffers from depression. The truth is there is not enough medication out there to cure what ails him.

Welby says he is now progressive on homosexuality, with "a radical new Christian inclusion," having abandoned his former ALPHA views which recognize sex only between a man and a woman in marriage. He has gotten "enlightenment" over prayer and pretzels, that God had expanded His understanding of sexuality to include a handful of LGBTQIA sexualities not hitherto recognized by the Almighty, Jesus, the 10 commandments, the Prophets; with the male/female matrix now consigned to the dustbin of history. A thousand years might be a day in the life of God, but clearly the Almighty needed 6,000 years to get it right about sex.

I wrote a reflection on all this; The Agony of Justin Welby which you can read here: https://virtueonline.org/agony-justin-welby

Here are a number of reflections on the growing situation on the church of England that has the possibility of bringing about schism.

Why I still believe the Church of England's prayers for same-sex couples won't work: https://virtueonline.org/why-i-still-believe-church-englands-prayers-same-sex-couples-wont-work

The road to Wigan's tears: The Church of England's drive to remake itself has been a pastoral and financial catastrophe.
https://virtueonline.org/road-wigans-tears

'Going, Going, Gone?' The Church of England and LGBTQ Part 1: https://virtueonline.org/going-going-gone-church-england-and-lgbtq-part-1

Anglican Myth 7: Overseas Bishops will be the answer
https://virtueonline.org/anglican-myth-7-overseas-bishops-will-be-answer

PRAYERS OF LOVE AND FAITH - A TURBULENT WEEK: https://virtueonline.org/prayers-love-and-faith-turbulent-week

Orthodox ordinands plead with bishops to prevent fracture of the Church
https://virtueonline.org/orthodox-ordinands-plead-bishops-prevent-fracture-church

***
The Church of England has seen an uptick in attendance for a second year running but figures still remain lower than before the pandemic. Its latest figures, released today, showed that in 2022 regular worshippers grew by nearly 20,000 people to 984,000. Average weekly attendance for all ages increased from 605,000 to 654,000. Among children this figure was 87,000, a 17% increase on the previous year.

***

While Welby was wrestling with same-sex issues with his own church, down the road in Uxbridge a dozen GAFCON primates met (Nov. 6-9) to talk about the future of Anglicanism without the Archbishop of Canterbury as its leader. (The prior week the GSFA Primates had met in Cairo.)

The GAFCON Primates Council issued a statement saying they were not leaving the Anglican Communion and they encouraged GAFCON Provinces to withdraw links with UK dioceses that support General Synod over SS Blessings. This is not news Welby wanted to hear, but he undoubtedly got the message though he has not commented on the Primate's statement. He was too busy issuing declarations about climate change.

The Primates Council met under the chairmanship of the Most Rev. Laurent Mbanda, Archbishop of Rwanda.

"Conscious of the forthcoming meeting of the General Synod of the Church of England, the Primates reaffirmed their commitment to the Jerusalem Statement of 2008, which describes Gafcon as 'a spiritual movement to preserve and promote the truth and power of the gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ as we Anglicans have received it.' The Jerusalem Statement rejects the proposition that authentic Anglicans are only those recognised by the Archbishop of Canterbury. On the contrary, the criteria of Anglican identity are outlined in the fourteen points of the Jerusalem Declaration which continue to define authentic
Anglicanism, despite the abandonment of many of these features by those who purport to be Anglicans."

The statement continued; "We have witnessed over the past twenty-five years the slow, but relentless, moral decay in parts of the Anglican Communion where the world's values have been endorsed and embraced, replacing the clear teaching of God's word written." You can red their full statement here: https://virtueonline.org/uk-gafcon-primates-council-issue-statement

***

The Anglican Church of Nigeria through its Archbishop Henry Ndukuba issued a statement on FOREIGN MISSION that reads thusly.

"Our Global strategy shall be focused on the remaining half of the world that is yet to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. Church of Nigeria North American Mission (CONNAM) is the continuation of CANA (Our initial mission Organ). The Church of Nigeria mission in North America was a rescue mission to provide a safe haven for Nigerian Anglicans leaving the ECUSA/TEC Church. Bishop Nathan Kanu is the Supervisory Bishop of CONNAM. At the General Synod at Nnewi crucial decisions to move our missions in north America forward were reached and we have begun the process of its implementation. It is necessary that we revert and maintain the Mission status of our operations in North America and Canada. The Bishops and Priests will be accountable for Mission, Evangelism and Church-Planting in their Zones as assigned. Mission, Spiritual and Numerical Growth of our CONNAM churches will be the primary task of every Mission Region in CONNAM. CONNAM remains the Mission of the Church of Nigeria. There are so much ripe Mission opportunities in North America and some of our people have gone into other Nigerian churches, yet there is still more that can be done among different nationalities and groups. We need to work in partnership with other Mission-minded Churches."

A number of North American evangelical Anglicans took issue with the evangelical primate and accused him of phyletism, the heresy of tribalism. Phyletism is the name of an ecclesiological heresy which says that the Church can be territorially organized on an ethnic, racial, national, or cultural basis so that within a given geographic territory, there can exist several Church jurisdictions, directing their pastoral care only to the members of specific ethnic/national/racial groups. Phyletism has also been associated with a pronounced tendency toward authoritarianism and clericalism, with interminable battles over episcopal authority and jurisdiction.

In Anglicanism, it seems that the Anglican Church of Nigeria is guilty of this heresy, wanting to take care of and promote "their own" and keep separate from the surrounding Christian populations outside of Africa. It appears to be a kind of reverse racism.

***

The president of the Anglican-based Langham Partnership USA blasted preachers of the prosperity gospel calling them a "scam, "crafty counterfeiters" and "an ear-scratching falsehood."

Writing in CULTIVATE, the official journal of the ministry, Benjamin K. Homan launched into a tirade against prosperity teaching, citing the apostle Paul who warned the church...that we would have itching ears, eager to hear things easier to believe and live out than the gospel of Jesus and that there would be preachers and teachers more than willing to fill those ears, especially for their own gain.

"One particular brand of ear-scratching falsehood plaguing the church around the globe is what's commonly called "the prosperity gospel." It takes many forms and can be dressed to look very much like the biblical truth. But ultimately, it appeals to our desire for ease, wealth, for instant gratification, and for being the center of the story. It promises a crown without a cross, which is not the way of Jesus."

The Langham ministry is the brain-child of the late John R.W. Stott whose global ministry transformed biblical evangelicalism in the 20th century. VOL regularly uses quotes from Dr. Stott's writings. He remains the doyen of evangelical preaching and Bible teaching. He has no peers. You can read more about this story here: https://virtueonline.org/langham-foundation-usa-head-blasts-prosperity-gospel

***

Evangelicals, under the banner of the Evangelical Alliances are calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Holy Land. They urge action towards a just peace

Unlike most calls for an "immediate ceasefire" by any number of religious groups, this group is more even-handed.

Here are some quotes from their press release:

"We recognize that our knowledge and understanding of the Holy Land and the Middle East is incomplete. We acknowledge the complexity of the geopolitical situation, historical grievances, and multiple perspectives of the people groups. We acknowledge that we do not know God's full plan for Israel and Palestine. We commit to listening and learning from the churches and people of the region.

"We do not see the current resurgence of violence as isolated from the decades-long conflict and war between the two peoples, namely Israelis and Palestinians. This conflict has denied many their human dignity. We lament this situation.

"We know that this situation in the holy land has resulted in cycles of violence, and that peace can only be achieved when the cycles of violence are broken and when perpetrators and victims are set free from their sinful desire for vengeance.

"We call for de-escalation and the cessation of hostilities between Israel and different Palestinian formations and supporters, including Hamas.

"We condemn the attacks on civilians by Hamas. Hamas' acts of aggression and the largest killing of Jewish civilians on a single day since the Holocaust are deplorable and despicable.

"We note that Israel in pursuit of Hamas has caused more civilian deaths in Palestine. We condemn these further deaths of Palestinian civilians."

"We call on Hamas to immediately release all hostages. "

Supporting alliances
Middle East and North Africa Evangelical Alliance
Asia Evangelical Alliance
Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Ethiopia
Jordan Evangelical Council
Evangelical Fellowship of India
Association of the Iraqi National Evangelical Churches
Evangelical Alliance of Kenya
Evangelical Churches Alliance Qatar
Evangelical Alliance of South Africa
National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka
Evangelical Alliance of Arabic speakers in Europe

You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/evangelicals-call-immediate-ceasefire-holy-land

If you wish to sign this statement, please add your organization in this form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfrBjXLgsoVZR0I0ItcsCUhlzuifkTFEmIu0ODPado9kD8R6A/viewform?usp=share_link

***

The Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA) has agreed to the ordination of women, while adding more dioceses and new provinces. A report from the ACNS said the province concluded its provincial Synod with a plan for new dioceses and potentially two more provinces, or member churches, of the Anglican Communion. Under the theme "Growing the Church in the Broken World", more than 100 clergy and lay representatives from across the existing 15 dioceses -- Botswana, Lake Malawi, Northern Malawi, Upper Shire, Central Zambia, Eastern Zambia, Luapula, Lusaka, Northern Zambia, Central Zimbabwe, Harare, Manicaland, Masvingo, and Matabeleland -- gathered in Mount Soche, Blantyre in Southern Malawi, for the five-day meeting last week. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/growing-church-central-africa-agrees-womens-ordination-more-dioceses-and-new-provinces

To date no GAFCON province has approved the ordination of women to the priesthood or episcopacy. However, there is a growing acceptance of WO in most African provinces. The issue is being seen as secondary, adiaphora.

The Jerusalem Declaration affirms that the Bible makes a distinction between salvation issues and other secondary issues. The Primates acknowledged that while there is disagreement and ongoing discussion on the issues of the ordination of women as deacons or priests, and the consecration of women as Bishops, we are agreed that these are not salvation issues and are not issues that will disrupt our mission: to proclaim Christ faithfully to the nations.

***

An ACNA Board of Inquiry announced this week that there are reasonable grounds that Bishop Stewart Ruch must face an ecclesiastical trial pursuant to Canon IV.4.3 of the Canons of the Anglican Church in North America. A presentment was signed by three bishops of the Church with jurisdiction referred to it from the office of the Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America. The presentment conformed to the requirements of Canon IV.4.1.

Bishop Ruch responded saying; "An ecclesiastical trial will provide an opportunity for all the evidence to be considered. I am relieved that there will be an occasion to hear all sides and gain some resolution after more than two years. I continue to desire to walk in openness and humility."

***

The Rev. Dr. Ashley Null, Cranmer scholar, priest and theologian delivered the inaugural John H. Rodgers Lecture Series address on Reformation Day, 2023 at Trinity School for Ministry, Ambridge PA. he believes that faithful Anglicanism is an expression of reformed Catholicism.

"Faithful Anglicanism is an expression of reformed Catholicism. The Anglican family has its roots in the Western Catholic Church. From the early days of the Church we existed prior to a relationship of obedience to the Bishop of Rome under whose oversight and care we Anglicans subsequently came. As such we are part of the Catholic Church. At the Reformation of the 16th Century, in obedience to the Apostles' teaching, we found that we could no longer remain in submission to unreformed papal authority, doctrine and practice in a number of areas and centrally in the application of God's grace to sinners, as the 39 Articles make clear. Thus we were reformed by the Apostolic Word. Hence Anglicanism is reformed, apostolic Catholicism seeking in all things to be faithful to the Word of God written." You can read Dr. Null's lecture here: https://virtueonline.org/anglican-theologians-clash-over-kigali-communique

Coupled with this lecture is a second reflection by three theologians, Hans Boersma, Gerald McDermott and Greg Peters. The theologians clash over the Kigali Communique. The two pieces should be read back-to-back. The question is:
Is The Anglican "Reset" Truly Anglican? You can read both here: https://virtueonline.org/anglican-theologians-clash-over-kigali-communique

***

The Church of South India which has been riddled with corruption for years by more than 22 bishops over the sale of properties and pocketing the money for themselves. The laity got an encouraging word when the High Court in Madras annulled Bishop A Dharmaraj Rasalam's election as CSI moderator. The verdict has come as a victory for a section of CSI laity in Kerala led by a Major Victor, who has waged a legal battle against the bishop.

CSI moderator Rasalam was scheduled to retire on May 19, 2023, at the age of 67. However, he had brought in an amendment to the Church's constitution to raise the retirement age to 70 years, which was challenged by a section of believers. On Tuesday, the Madras HC set aside the amendment effected by the bishop. Bishop Rasalam was in charge of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka.

Rasalam was detained at Thiruvananthapuram international airport in July 2022 when he was scheduled to travel to the UK to attend the Lambeth Conference at the Enforcement Directorate's behest, a day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided multiple premises of the Church of South India (CSI) in connection with an alleged money laundering case. The CSI is without doubt the most corrupt province in the anglican Communion. That "honor" once went to Mexico when an archbishop and bishop made off with $1.5 million TEC dollars.

You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/madras-hc-annuls-bishop-dharmaraj-rasalams-election-csi-moderator

***

C.M. Almy and Sons, among the Episcopal church's best-known vestment making and church goods companies, has been acquired by F.C. Ziegler, America's largest manufacturer of church supplies. The November 1 announcement of the transfer of ownership comes only after a few months after Wippell and Co., a U.K. vestments firm with a broad reach into the Episcopal market, gave notice of its pending closure, The Living Church reports.

F.C. Ziegler is a Roman Catholic-focused firm based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Its president, William Zitter, told TLC, "We are committed to the Almy customers. The Almy brand will stay as an independent brand, with an independent website and catalog. I don't see us making a bunch of changes."

***

VOL We need to keep the lights on. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to help defray costs. There are no salaries but we have correspondents to pay around the globe who keep us all informed. A donation of any amount helps us keep on keeping on. You can send a check to the address below:

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Thank you for your support.

David

As long as active clergy homosexual activity persists, the Church will continue to fracture and split, where eventually it will all but collapse and disappear. --- Kevin Wells

The push to normalize homosexuality within the church is not letting up. One of the arguments pro-gay theology advocates make is that Christians have made grievous interpretive errors in the past and are making the same mistake with homosexuality today. When you look closer at the details of their claim, it turns out pro-gay theology advocates are the ones who are repeating yesterday's errors. -- Alan Schlemon

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
November 24, 2023

IT'S been a remarkable two weeks since I last wrote to you all.

The Economist magazine says that Donald Trump poses the biggest danger to the world in 2024. I thought Satan is. No matter.

The Pope fires an orthodox bishop because he is too Catholic. It doesn't pay to be a vocal critic of the leader of a billion souls apparently.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and his Synod approve the blessing of same sex unions despite 3,000 years of biblical teaching that says sex can only stay within marriage between a man and a woman. Schism could be in the air for the flailing Church of England. Justin Welby disingenuously did not vote saying that he didn't want to be a source of disunity in the Communion. Comparisons with the hand washing Pilate should not go unnoticed. The GAFCON and GSFA primates were not buying it and forged ahead to reset the communion.

A tsunami of antisemitism floods the world that we have not seen in 90 years, a lot of it on American campuses where people are taught to think, or so we thought. We have seen it on the streets of major streets and in front of synagogues.

A war grinds on in the Middle East with over 14,000 dead. Israel agreed to a four-day cease-fire with Hamas agreeing to release 50 hostages in exchange for 150 Palestinians being released from Israeli prisons. Globally people can be heard reciting "from the river to the sea," code for wipe out all the Jews. This is holocaust talk.

Wars and rumors of wars fill our television screens. Earthquakes and floods seem almost routine.

On a truly sad note, a fellow scribbler, Michael Voris founder of Church Militant an orthodox Roman Catholic News Service said he was stepping down "for breaching its morality clause." Two other staff members also resigned. Though a staunch Catholic he appreciated VOL's unique ministry, and I saw his ministry in much the same light. This is truly heart-breaking news. Will Church Militant survive? Time will tell. This failure is right up there with Ravi Zacharias, and a host of mega-church pastors who have fallen from grace.

In a victory for free speech, the Helsinki Court of Appeals dismissed all charges against Finnish Member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen and Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola, who were both tried for "hate speech" in August, having publicly expressed their Christian beliefs. They had the temerity to say homosexuality was wrong. Score one for God.

***

From the Anglican World came news that the Church of England Synod approved prayers for same sex blessings; a move VOL predicted. The action by the Mother Church roiled around the Anglican Communion causing theological and moral havoc and chaos. It might be the final push for schism in the CofE. While evangelicals and Anglo Catholics have made no move at present to leave, other Anglican receive fleers. Time will tell.

Archbishop Justin Welby has turned out to be the Benedict Arnold of Anglicanism, an evangelical turncoat. May God forgive him...or not. Heresy comes with severe penalties in Scripture.

Welby is on the wrong side of the war in the Middle East and homosexuality in his church. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/welbys-presidential-address-wrong-war-and-sex

I wrote that NOW is the time to leave the Church of England if evangelicals want to retain their integrity. You can read my piece here: https://virtueonline.org/evangelicals-must-flee-church-england-retain-their-integrity

You can read Susie Leafe's fine piece on Welby's disingenuous refusal to vote on SS blessings for the sake of Anglican unity. GAFCON and GSFA primates were not buying it. They will continue to reset the communion. https://virtueonline.org/does-anyone-care-archbishop-canterbury-abstained

CofE evangelicals launched a flying bishops' idea to make provision for evangelicals. https://virtueonline.org/ceec-responds-general-synod-decision
They have also set up an Ephesians Fund to review their giving to the Church of England. The Ephesian Fund provides an alternative and is designed to help giving go to local churches that are committed to biblical faith. The Ephesian Fund also provides Parochial church Council (PCC) with a way to give their parish share to the Diocese in support of similar churches. You can read it here: https://ceec.info/ephesian-fund/

You can see a podcast here on same sex trial services here: https://virtueonline.org/briefing-church-england-trial-services-same-sex-blessings-podcast

The Gospel Coalition has an excellent take here: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/church-england-same-sex-vote/

A satirist with a nose for the absurd wrote A Diabolical Synod. You can read it here: https://virtueonline.org/another-diabolical-synod

A vicar writes to his congregation about the Synod decision on 'gay blessings'. Spoiler alert; "I will not 'ask for, or declare God's blessing' on relationships, and/or sexual activity that are contrary to God's word." You can read his moving piece here: https://virtueonline.org/vicar-writes-his-congregation-about-synod-decision-gay-blessings

Should I go or should I stay; reflections of a layman by Chik Kaw Tan It is a well written piece which you can read here: https://virtueonline.org/should-i-go-or-should-i-stay-church-england

English Anglicans hit the lifeboats is another excellent read: https://virtueonline.org/english-anglicans-hit-lifeboats

The Anglican Network in Europe released a statement which you can read here https://virtueonline.org/anglican-network-europe-release-statement-cofe-same-sex-blessings-0

Vaughan Roberts, vicar of St. Ebbe's wrote a scathing piece regarding decisions by general synod. "It represents a shocking departure from the truth of God's word, which will have serious and distressing repercussions". You can read it here: https://virtueonline.org/oxford-uk-statement-vaughan-roberts-vicar-st-ebbes-regarding-decisions-general-synod

The history of pansexualists' push in The Episcopal Church has been well documented. The relentless drive from one General Convention to the next till homosexual marriage was finally brokered in in 2018 with resolution B012 was the climax of 27 years going back to 1991.

Only two sexual sins now remain in TEC. One is sexual abuse and the other is adultery. On the abuse issue, the new president of TEC's House of Deputies filed a sexual harassment complaint against a retired bishop when she came into office.

If you want to get around the adultery prohibition you need to follow Gene Robinson's example. He was married first to a woman, then divorced her, then met a man, married him, and then divorced him and has now taken up with God knows who. No bishop has raised his voice in protest. I wrote a brief history here: https://virtueonline.org/evangelicals-must-flee-church-england-retain-their-integrity

***

The Middle East continues in open turmoil. Even as I write there is a prisoner hostage exchange. The broader picture remains cloudy with pro-Palestinian forces erupting around the world along side growing antisemitism.

Christian Leaders Want Ceasefire but That Only Benefits Hamas, however , the mantra "from the river to the sea" would signal the end of Israel.

Thirty American Christian leaders including Episcopal Presiding Bishop Michael Curry sent a letter to President Biden calling for an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza. They also called for a de-escalation, and restraint by all involved. How disingenuous of them.

It isn't rocket science to know that any ceasefire with Hamas terrorists who continue to use hostages as shields, allows them time to regroup to continue the war against Israel. It benefits only them! It just sets back the timetable for Israel to complete its mission to seek and destroy this terrorist group. You can read my take here: https://virtueonline.org/christian-leaders-want-ceasefire-only-benefits-hamas

Anglican theologian Gerald McDermott has written a piece on Why the Land Promises Belong to Ethnic Israel. In this essay, Gerald McDermott explores the notion of supersessionism in Christian theology, which suggests the promises made to the Jewish people in the Old Testament, including the land promise, have been superseded by the Christian church. He contends this view has dominated Christian interpretation since the fourth century, leading to the marginalization of the New Testament's references to the land promise. McDermott posits evidence in the New Testament that contradicts supersessionism, and he argues that recognizing the ongoing significance of the land promise is vital for understanding God's trustworthiness and the fulfillment of his promises. You can read his fine piece here: https://virtueonline.org/gerald-mcdermott-why-land-promises-belong-ethnic-israel

There is one story that the mainstream media has not picked up on and that is the small Christian population in Gaza who are trapped by the war. The cry has gone up, "Israeli leaders, please evacuate Palestinian Christians out of Gaza and into the West Bank immediately -- these Christians face genocide by Hamas if they are forced to move south."

Palestinians who love Jesus Christ and are called to follow Jesus are not members of Hamas. They are not supporters of radical Islamist terrorism. They do not support the terror attacks on Israel. They just want to live in peace and be free to follow the Bible and love their neighbors.
The piece by Joel C. Rosenberg can be read here: https://virtueonline.org/very-urgent-israeli-leaders-please-evacuate-palestinian-christians-out-gaza-and-west-bank

For a good blog on the Middle East situation, you can read Dr. Dr Daniel Juster's TIKKUN GLOBAL, Israel at war blog here: https://www.tikkunglobal.org/2023#israel-at-war

IN OTHER NEWS. Who is to blame when Episcopalians and Methodists Leave the Church? VOL correspondent Mary Ann Mueller explores this theme and drops a dime on the bishops; leaders of the flocks. You can read her in depth piece here: https://virtueonline.org/who-blame-when-episcopalians-methodists-leave-church

New Anglican Missionary Society (NAMS) has new leadership. Bishop Josep Rossello will take over as Servant General from Canon Dr. Jon Shuler who has led the ministry for more than 30 years. Rossello will usher in the next chapter in the organization's journey. NAMS, which began as a North American Missionary Society, expanded into a global religious order of church planters under the guidance and vision of Jon Shuler, and the oversight of Archbishop Moses Tay and Bishop Albert Vun. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/bishop-josep-rossello-lead-new-anglican-missionary-society-nams

To Reconquista or not to Reconquista, that is the question. Former TIME correspondent and GetReligion writer Dick Ostling has written a piece on the new "Operation Reconquista"www.operationreconquista.com/ protest launched on Reformation Day to rescue evangelicals in the mainline denominations. Blame for the division lies squarely on liberalism.

Given the entrenched church leadership these insurgents oppose, the effort looks quixotic, but it could become noteworthy even if no gradual turnarounds of the denominations ever occur. It's potentially intriguing if these insurgents at least re-create the largely defunct organized conservative beachheads within denominations that are ever more resolute in their doctrinal liberalism, he writes. Can it be done? Unlikely, as schism has already hit The Episcopal Church with the formation of the Anglican Church in North America. The remaining evangelicals and Anglo-Catholic will be gone as soon as the next tranche of bishops comes along, because they could not wear the miter without affirming B012 on gay marriage.

FACTOID: As of Saturday, there have been nearly 7,300 successful disaffiliations from the United Methodist Church (with more yet to some). For context, the entire Episcopal Church reported 6,249 U.S. parishes and missions in the most recent reporting year (2022).

Bishop David Pytches, founder of New Wine and Soul Survivor has died at the age of 92. He was a prominent evangelical charismatic Anglican vicar of St Andrew's Chorleywood, where the Christian festival "New Wine" started. His influence was profound. One of the tributes to him is from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who said he and his family had "transformative encounters with Jesus through New Wine". New Wine gave birth to Soul Survivor and Mike Pilavachi was appointed its leader, remaining until his abuse of young men was discovered this year. Premier Christian News reports that he has broken his self-imposed silence to pay tribute to David Pytches, a man he described as his spiritual father around whom "things kept happening." You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/david-pytches-1931-2023-bishop-charismatic-pioneer-and-father-faith

***

CULTURE WARS

his year Target's LGBTQ Christmas lineup includes such items including a nutcracker holding a Progress Pride flag and wearing a Pride hat. Did not Target learn from this year's Pride Month debacle which was pushing "tuck-friendly" swimsuits for children? Or from the flap that developed in 2016 when Target unveiled its transgender bathroom policy. In her piece Disabled Santas and queer nutcrackers Mary Anne Mueller unpacks all this here: https://virtueonline.org/disabled-santas-and-queer-nutcrackers

The Men's Marriage Strike: What the Political Class Has to Lose. The Men's Marriage Strike: Professional conservatives will lose the most, and they know it writes Stephen Baskerville.

The conservative political class has become apoplectic. What has them so agitated that they inveigh against it with such frenzy? Transgenderists mutilating children? Family-court judges castrating boys? Homosexualists proclaiming a right to sexually molest children?

No, what really drives the promoters of "family values" into a frenzie is that men are not marrying and having children. For this, the men are castigated as "puerile", "cowardly,""unmanly", and worse. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/mens-marriage-strike-what-political-class-has-lose

***

THEOLOGY

Protestants need to get back to basics, writes Carl Trueman. Much of modern evangelicalism sorely needs to recover "classical theology"--the term one used to describe orthodox Christian doctrines as set forth by the creeds, the Great Tradition of theology exemplified by the ancient ecumenical councils, and traditional Protestant confessions such as the Westminster Confession. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/protestants-need-go-back-basics

THE PRESERVATION AND PERPETUAL PROFESSION OF THE THIRTY-NINE ARTICLES - PART ONE by Roger Salter is excellent reading. Dr William G.T. Shedd (1820-1894) was a leading Reformed theologian who taught at Union Seminary, New York, for a period of twenty-eight years, his last academic appointment. His expertise and eminence is worthy of comparison with Charles Hodge of Princeton Seminary and Robert Lewis Dabney, co-founder of Austin Theological Seminary, two veritable giants in the firmament of American Christian scholarship in the 19th century. The fact that these three men were Presbyterians should not deter Anglicans from appreciating them and learning from them. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/preservation-and-perpetual-profession-thirty-nine-articles-part-one

The life and times of Samuel Seabury and Charles Simeon by the illustrious Chuck Collins can be read here: https://virtueonline.org/samuel-seabury and here: https://virtueonline.org/charles-simeon

VOL. We are moving into Advent season and we are in need of funds as to go into 2024. We need to keep the lights on. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to help defray costs. There are no salaries but we have correspondents to pay around the globe who keep us all informed. A donation of any amount helps us keep on keeping on. You can send a check to the address below:

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BREAKING NEWS

It had to come sooner or later; a bill aimed at officially severing the Church of England from the British government is set to be introduced in Parliament next month.

The Disestablishment of the Church of England bill, scheduled to be introduced by Liberal Democrat lawmaker Paul Scriven on Dec. 6, was selected earlier in November from a bill ballot from private members of the House of Lords, according to British secularist groups.

Calling his bill "long overdue," Scriven said the measure would bring an end to the "privileges" enjoyed by the Church of England, which has an estimated 85 million members in 165 countries. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/atheist-groups-cheer-uk-parliament-set-consider-bill-severing-cofes-ties-govt

"I saw this blasphemous statue and was outraged. My conscience is held captive to the word of God, not to bureaucratic decree. And so I acted. -- Navy veteran Michael Cassidy who toppled the demonic statue of Baphomet at the Iowa state Capitol holiday display

The complacent middle ground is eroding. The Baby Boomer consensus is losing authority. As a result, the hard left waxes and woke revolutionaries are on the march. But the hard right grows as well. Politically, the extremes must be moderated; passions must be channeled constructively toward virtuous ends. -- R.R. Reno

On Glorifying Christ. Christian experience is experience of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There really is no such thing as 'an experience of the Holy Spirit' from which the Father and the Son are excluded. In any case, the Holy Spirit is a reticent Spirit. He does not willingly draw attention to himself. Rather he prompts us to pray 'Abba! Father!' and thus witnesses to our filial relationship to God. And above all he glorifies Christ. He turns the bright beams of his searchlight upon the face of Jesus Christ. He is never more satisfied than when the believer is engrossed in Jesus Christ. -- John R.W. Stott

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
December 15, 2023

IT was inevitable, of course; only a matter of time. And we have seen it all before. This time it is being played out in The Church of England. The Mother Church has done the unthinkable, despite legal and theological challenges same sex blessings will be allowed to take place in churches across England.

It will mark the final degradation of a once proud, faithful church that claimed Archbishops Matthew Parker, Thomas Cranmer and William Temple to name just a few, now rolling in their graves at the thought of their beloved church embracing sexual sin.

As one senior cleric in the church told VOL, "The Church of England is now formally broken."

In commending these prayers, the bishops are leading lost souls further away from the gospel, further away from Christ. They must repent. Inch by inch, they are working towards introducing special services that counterfeit genuine marriage and to officially approve of what God calls sin. They are not promoting love and faith but approving of lust and unfaithfulness to Jesus Christ.

The CofE's capitulation to the culture is now complete. Homosexual marriage is only a hop, step and jump away; but it will come and the Jayne Ozanne's and Colin Coward's sexual hopes and fantasies will become a reality. Gene Robinson will rejoice and TECs House of Bishops will send congratulatory notes and blessings to Archbishop Justin Welby, the Church of England synod for their new found enlightenment.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, though infirm, will send a high five to Archbishop Justin Welby, and Bishop Anthony Poggo, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion will be left carrying the ball trying to figure out how he can spin it to the Global South bishops who are dead set against such unbiblical sexual inroads into the communion. There isn't a big enough check book to cover the pushback he will receive.

The GAFCON and GSFA primates have already distanced themselves from Welby, and now they will have little option but to cut the ecclesiastical umbilical cord with Canterbury, letting the CofE ship run adrift onto the rocks of repugnant heresies.

The Global South Primates will now view Canterbury as a gangrenous part of the body fit only to be cut off and removed lest it infect the rest of the communion.

Further on the downside, (much to the surprise of nobody), parishes will not suddenly fill up with same-sex couples; it never happened in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada, and it won't happen in the Church of England.

The only question now is how to divvy up the spoils.

Here is a list of stories that paint a fuller picture over what took place this week.

https://virtueonline.org/first-church-england-blessings-same-sex-couples-use-sunday

https://virtueonline.org/bishops-prayers-love-and-faith-lead-lost-souls-further-christ

https://virtueonline.org/deaf-and-arrogant - GAFCON bishop Andy Lines responds.

https://virtueonline.org/church-england-same-sex-blessings-are-hugely-disappointing

https://virtueonline.org/house-bishops-commends-prayers-love-and-faith-ceec-responds

https://virtueonline.org/letter-house-bishops-anglican-alliance-about-prayers-love-and-faith

https://virtueonline.org/statement-society-and-forward-faith-prayers-love-and-faith

https://virtueonline.org/hard-decisions-will-have-be-made-says-benn

Two C of E Bishops went a step further saying Same-Sex Liturgies were 'Illegal'! The two evangelical bishops advised their clergy not to use the Prayers of Love and Faith recently commended by the House of Bishops for blessing same-sex unions. Bishops Paul Williams of Southwell and Nottingham and Rob Munro of Ebbsfleet wrote that they believe the liturgies violate the church's canons, leaving clergy who use them vulnerable to legal challenges. (See The Living Church)

***

Prominent LGBT activist Jayne Ozanne has claimed that repentance is not central to the gospel. The former member of the Church of England General Synod, who describes herself as a "gay evangelical" Christian, argued that "if repentance is not a salvation matter" then the church doesn't need to uphold biblical sexual ethics.

Writing in an attempt to debunk FIEC National Director John Stevens' Premier Christianity article "Why sex outside marriage is a salvation issue", Ozanne said she wanted to share the "good news" that repentance is not 'central to our salvation'.

In his article, Stevens explained: "It is important to be clear that it is not sexual sin that disqualifies people from the kingdom of God, but the failure to repent and to receive the forgiveness Christ offers.

"To continue to live in sin, proudly refusing to repent, is a sure sign that a person is not in the kingdom. This is true not just for sexual sin, but other sins which are equally contrary to the clearly revealed will of God."

He added: "To allow people to think that they can enjoy forgiveness and the gift of eternal life while continuing in sexual sin is not loving. As Ozanne makes clear, this is not simply about homosexuality but all sex outside marriage."

**

The war in Israel continues to make headlines and will do so for some time to come. It was voted No.1 story by the Religion Newswriters Association as their international story of the year. The RNA characterized the No.1 domestic story of the year the incidents of hate against Jews and Muslims which skyrocketed after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas against Israel and Israel's military assault in Gaza. The conflict prompted numerous protests, and college campuses saw fierce debate about the war and the boundaries of free speech. Many Jewish groups and evangelical Christians staunchly support Israel, while many Muslim and progressive religious groups decry Israel's invasion.

It will come as no surprise that religious leaders are by and large pro-Palestinian. The Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem Hosam Naoum echoes the line of The Episcopal Church in its hatred of Israel, even though he lives with all the benefits Israel provides its people which includes some 2 million Arab Israelis.

Three Christian leaders tried to deliver to President Joe Biden a letter signed by churches in Bethlehem urging a permanent cease fire in Gaza.The letter was signed by representatives from Bethlehem's major Christian communities, listing churches affiliated with Greek Orthodox, Syriac, Armenian, Catholic and Lutheran traditions. (You can read the story here: https://religionnews.com/2023/11/27/bethlehem-christians-push-lawmakers-to-embrace-ceasefire-peace-plan/)

A "comprehensive ceasefire" that leaves even the remnants of Hamas in place is a non-starter for Israel. Sooner rather than later the rockets would start up again and no one, not even the UN will care if local Israeli towns, even Haifa is hit with a rocket. The travelling salesmen for peace, say they want a constant and comprehensive ceasefire. "Enough death. Enough destruction. This is a moral obligation. There must be other ways. This is our call and prayer this Christmas."

But what if a ceasefire allows Hamas to re-arm and continue their genocidal slaughter of Jews. Would the world rise and say; "Hamas, stop what you are doing, cease your rocket attacks and strive for peace." Would a UN resolution by the Israeli representative suggesting the same even get a hearing. I doubt it. They would be reminded of the 57 years of Israeli occupation of Gaza, (a palpable lie). Israel walked out in 2005 to let Gaza be politically self-run. They chose, or allowed Hamas to take over without a single democratic election.

I have written three opinion pieces here:

https://virtueonline.org/bethlehem-pastors-arrive-dc-urge-lawmakers-embrace-cease-fire-peace-plan-who-benefits

https://virtueonline.org/world-opinion-turns-against-israel

https://virtueonline.org/israel-and-amalekites-study-understanding-todays-middle-east-war

*****

IN OTHER MIDDLE EAST NEWS, the Rt. Rev Bill Atwood, American bishop of the International Diocese for the ACNA announced in a newsletter that a priest he ordained for the Middle East, known only as "Y" will be the first Bishop of a huge million person Muslim Background Believers (MBB) network that is becoming a Diocese. Atwood has been given the oversight of walking with them to develop that network into a Church.

If this comes off it will cause immense heartburn to Archbishop Justin Welby to see a rival diocese in the Middle East, right there in Jerusalem. Welby got a whiff of the rise of orthodoxy in the Anglican communion when The Episcopal/Anglican Province of Alexandria was elevated to the status of province in June 2020. Its territory was formerly the Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa. With the formation of yet another diocese, these two orthodox entities will brook no compromise over same-sex relationships, which currently plagues most of Western Anglicanism and has now been ratified by the Church of England.

Welby's status as leader of the Anglican Communion continues to diminish by the day. He has no credibility with 85% of Anglicans globally, but clearly, he still has the respect of a dying Church of England. When he comes to go sighs of relief will go up across the world.

*****

HERESY when it hits the church is mostly hid behind smooth sounding talk. One dare not be confrontational. It's not the right thing to do ol' chap. It has hit a kairos moment for Church of England evangelicals.

There was a time in history when heretics and their followers were vigorously denounced from pulpit and throne. Many were caught, beheaded, and burnt at the stake. That was the fate of heretics.

Leaders of great heresies like Arianism, Pelagianism and Docetism, were brought before counsels forced to confess, and if they didn't they were cast into outer darkness to await the judgement of God. The church survived them all.

When leaders fought FOR the faith like St. Paul, Luther, Calvin and Cranmer, to name but a few; they were hunted down, chased out of cities, and, when caught, suffered similar fates of death, dismemberment and burning at stakes.

Today that is no longer the case. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/smooth-sounding-heretics-church-england

*****

MOZAMBIQUE. This week the Anglican Church moved to expel its Archbishop Dom Carlos Matsinhe over allegations of a rigged election. But VOL was told that the push to rid the province of the primate is not really what it's all about.

As a result, Matsinhe's subordinates in the Anglican Church of Mozambique and Angola have written a letter demanding his resignation, saying his endorsement of the disputed polls was a betrayal of the people of Mozambique, thereby making him unfit to remain head of the church.

A letter signed by 10 of the province's 12 bishops, demanded Matsinhe's resignation as archbishop of the Anglican church for failing to perform his civic duties as the president of the National Elections Commission.

That's the official line. However, multiple sources told Virtueonline that this is not what the real story is about.

One source in South Africa said, "this has been brewing for a while. While Mozambique's dioceses are no longer in the Anglican Church in South Africa (ACSA,) the Archbishop of Cape Town is a supporter of Matsinhe and the bishop of Nampula, Manuel Ernesto - because they are in the Archbishop of Canterbury's camp. All other 10 bishops of the Anglican Church of Mozambique and Angola are firmly in the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA) camp.
An orthodox Anglican Archbishop told VOL that The Anglican Communion Office and Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury have been bullying these bishops because it is a new province and they are conservative. What a surprise.

The Rt. Rev. Bill Atwood, International Diocese in the Anglican Church in North America, said, "I was privileged to meet with the bishops from Angola and Mozambique while we were at GAFCON IV. They are not only biblically faithful; they are amazingly fruitful. They remind me very much of their common language brothers and sisters in the Anglican Church in Brazil, who also speak Portuguese. It is fun watching synergy develop between them!" You can read the full story here: https://virtueonline.org/mozambique-anglican-church-moves-expel-archbishop-over-fixed-election

*****

The biggest orthodox fly in the Anglican Communion, and the bane of Archbishop Justin Welby is Nigerian Primate Henry Ndukuba. This week he struck again. In a press release from the evangelical province's primate wrote a response to the Church of England's decision to approve same-sex blessings.

He called prayers for same-sex couples a "fundamental error to the Scripture. It profoundly expressed concerns, adjudging the decision as a withdrawal from Scriptural teachings that define marriage which is solely between a man and a woman."

Ndukuba emphasized the historical tenets of Anglicanism, stating that the duty of bishops is to defend the Church against error. He lamented the decision of the Church of England, asserting that it silenced voices committed to the traditional understanding of marriage.

"The Church of Nigeria expressed solidarity with those opposing the change in the Church of England's stance. The statement criticized the perceived inconsistency of endorsing same-sex blessings while claiming that there is no change in doctrine." You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/church-nigeria-response-church-englands-decision-approve-same-sex-blessings

*****

Increasingly our Global South leaders are speaking out about injustice and issues affecting the lives of their people. It is not solely about gospel presentation though that is foremost in their minds and hearts. Jesus first, justice second.

The Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit says the problems faced by Kenyans is a result of corruption, poor planning, tribalism, and political bickering.

According to the Standard newspaper, he said these vices have resulted in low agricultural production, food insecurity, and a sluggish pace of development.

Speaking in Voi town on Sunday during a celebration marking the 30th anniversary of the Taita-Taveta ACK Diocese, Sapit criticized elected leaders for their failure to provide leadership and mobilize Kenyans to enhance food production.

"Poor planning has led to flooding, food insecurity, and low agricultural production. We are unlucky because county and national governments do not plan things well, and that is why Kenyans are facing perennial hunger and floods," he said. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/kenya-anglican-archbishop-decries-corruption-and-tribalism-country

*****

Civil war has decimated the Sudan. As a result Africa's primates sent a statement of solidarity to the primate of Sudan saying; 'We are standing with you'.

The statement was signed by the Most Rev. Albert Chama, chairman of the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA), primate of the Church of the Province of Central Africa and bishop of the Diocese of Lusaka, on behalf of the primates.

Eight months on from the start of the civil war in Sudan, the statement summarizes the devastating impact it is having on the lives of thousands. It states, "The conflict has taken a severe toll resulting in the loss of thousands of lives, widespread property destruction, and the displacement of nearly a million people from their homes." [ACNS] You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/africas-primates-send-statement-solidarity-primate-sudan-we-are-standing-you

*****

Revisionist theology roils around the western branch of the Anglican Communion.
The Archbishop of Perth, Kay Goldsworthy, is set to proceed with an ordination later this week that, according to sources in the diocese, is set to "split the diocese".

Goldsworthy, will proceed with the ordination to the priesthood of a man who is openly living in a relationship with another man despite a large growing protest in the Diocese.

I understand that more than 700 signatories have been received on a letter of protest. These 700 signatories represent close to 15% of regular church attendance in the Diocese and do not include members from one large church, St Matthew's Shenton Park, which is organising it's own response and will effectively double the number protesting. This leaves easily one quarter of regular church goers in the Diocese now protesting against an ordination. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/archbishop-perth-set-proceed-ordination-will-split-diocese-0

*****

As you know by now the Episcopal Church worships all things queer, and there is no let-up in sight.

It was announced by the Washington National Cathedral staff that they would once again celebrate the birthday of Matthew Shepard on (Dec. 1), with his parents gathering with the Cathedral community to celebrate his life and legacy as a gay man who was murdered in 1998 at the tender age of 21, from what was reported as a vicious anti-gay hate crime. It shocked the conscience of a nation and electrified the movement for the LGBTQ rights. Through his parents Dennis and Judy Shepard they helped pass the country's first federal hate crimes legislation, the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, in 2009.

But is it true?

In 2004, when I first wrote this story, it was revealed by Bill Fancher of Agape Press, that Shepard's death was no hate crime at all. The beating death of Matthew Shepard was thought to be -- and was portrayed in the media as -- simply the result of the fact that he was homosexual. However, it was later revealed that Shepard was killed for refusing to pay drug dealers for his drugs.

According to a new ABC "20/20" investigation, which confirms a previously published MassNews exclusive, Shepard's murder was, in fact, a bungled burglary, motivated not by hate or homophobic rage, but by money and drugs. Shepard's killers, Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson, detailed their actions and motives to "20/20's" Elizabeth Vargas. Their disclosures sparked new controversy over the activist outcry and mainstream media coverage that many feel contributed to Shepard's murder being characterized as a hate crime.

IN OTHER CATHEDRAL NEWS, Jeff Walton of Juicy Ecumenism recounts the recent uproar regarding paid passes for several Washington National Cathedral services of Holy Eucharist (since made optional) may have overshadowed another, unticketed service at the Episcopal Church's most prominent place of worship.

Reverend Mother Felix Culpa, "Abbess" of House of Magnificent Intentions, participated in the November 30 evening service as a reader attired in oversized headgear and heavy makeup. Culpa is part of the satirical drag group Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence controversially invited earlier this year as honorees at the Los Angeles' Dodgers Pride Night, a decision that made national news for the Major League Baseball team. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/drag-sister-indulges-episcopal-washington-national-cathedral

*****

CULTURE WARS

Navy veteran topples satanic display in Iowa Capitol, blasts 'anti-Christia... https://virtueonline.org/navy-veteran-topples-satanic-display-iowa-capitol-blasts-anti-christian-acts-govt

Tim Alberta on evangelical extremism and the pastors who profit from it https://virtueonline.org/tim-alberta-evangelical-extremism-and-pastors-who-profit-it

Disrupting a church service in the name of climate change isn't Christian https://virtueonline.org/disrupting-church-service-name-climate-change-isnt-christian

Why is Christian persecution ignored by the West?
https://virtueonline.org/why-christian-persecution-ignored-west

"Wake Up': Staggering Global Christian Persecution Sparks Alarm as Exp. https://virtueonline.org/wake-staggering-global-christian-persecution-sparks-alarm-expert

*****

THEOLOGY

Recommended reading.

https://virtueonline.org/young-earth-creationism-hinders-understanding-bible - By Alice Linsley
https://virtueonline.org/incarnation-christ By Dr. Bruce Atkinson.
https://virtueonline.org/archbishop-matthew-parker By Dean Chuck Collins
https://virtueonline.org/secret-christian-contentment By Dr. Bruce Atkinson
https://virtueonline.org/perpetual-preservation-and-profession-thirty-nine-articles-part-two By Roger Salter

*****

AS EYE SEE IT

TOWARDS ACHIEVING A JUST AND EFFECTIVE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS by Nigerian Archbishop Henry Ndukuba https://virtueonline.org/towards-achieving-just-and-effective-universal-declaration-human-rights

Why is Freedom of Religion ignored by the Media and among the Public and what... https://virtueonline.org/why-freedom-religion-ignored-media-and-among-public-and-what-should-be-done

Are American Christians Persecuted? https://virtueonline.org/are-american-christians-persecuted

"Israel then and now in the purposes of God"https://virtueonline.org/israel-then-and-now-purposes-god

The 'Islamophobia' industry shills for Hamas https://virtueonline.org/islamophobia-industry-shills-hamas

A PERSONAL 'BARMEN DECLARATION' IN THE LIGHT THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND
https://virtueonline.org/personal-barmen-declaration-light-church-englands-current-direction

*****

MY END OF YEAR APPEAL which you can read here: https://virtueonline.org/end-year-appeal asks VOL readers to make a tax-deductible donation to keep the news coming. There are no salaries, but I do have to pay overseas correspondents, a webmaster, various Internet bills and the ever present need to travel to get you the stories from the far-flung Anglican Communion.

Please consider a tax-deductible donation to help defray costs. A donation of any amount helps us keep the lights on, and you the reader informed. You can send a check to the address below:

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David

It has been hailed as an important first step by Catholics who have advocated for changes in the Church's teachings on LGBT issues, and on cohabitation and divorce and remarriage.

Both denominations heavily nuanced their decisions saying that this was not marriage and that no formal church teaching on marriage had changed.

But most theological commentators realized that this was a momentous break with 2,000 years of church teaching and a capitulation to the culture that has been pushing both society and the church to formally recognize homosexual relationships.

Almost immediately two women priests in the Church of England had their relationship formally blessed, and from Rome Fr. James Martin SJ a pro-gay activist Catholic priest announced he would begin blessing homosexual unions. Celibacy is not even discussed.

WHERE TO FROM HERE?

That is the question that must now be asked.

Will every cardinal, archbishop, and bishop in the RCC go along with this change? For some, like Bishops Joseph Strickland and Raymond Burke the answer is a clear no. Even as I write they are being marginalized for their views by the pope. That is the price you pay for telling the truth.

In Anglicanism we have seen formal schism in The Episcopal Church with the birth of the Anglican Church in North America. (ACNA). Globally we have seen the birth of GAFCON and the GSFA, formally distancing themselves from the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Church of England.

Will the same happen in the RCC. Time will tell. Apart from the Reformation, the counter Reformation kept the church together despite its multiple apostasies. The Counter-Reformation sometimes called the Catholic Revival, was the period of Catholic resurgence that was initiated in response to, and as an alternative to, the Protestant Reformations at the time.

But the Reformation has lived on for 500 years and its recovery of the great doctrine of Justification by Faith alone in the finished work of Christ on the cross has never ceased. It remains the bedrock doctrine for myriad Christian denominations across the globe, and is in no danger of disappearing. The Reformation continues with revivals and modest movements of the Holy Spirit.

But there are small upstart traditional Catholic groups that have every intention of maintaining the Catholic position on marriage and the Mass and they repudiate any watering down of traditional Catholic teaching. They may well have to function outside of their dioceses, unless they find a sympathetic priest to assist them.

While the future might see Anglo Catholics and evangelicals uniting with traditional Catholics over hot button issues like abortion, gay marriage, and transgender issues, the two denominations will still not see eye to eye on weighty issues of salvation, the Mass, and the place of Mary as co-redemptrix and other doctrinal differences; but they will find they have more in common than in times past.

We may well see a return to small house churches where the faithful gather to read the Word, baptize and practice the sacraments, even as the mainline denominations die off, the price of revisionism. Ironically, before he died Pope Benedict predicted this.

"From the crisis of today the Church of tomorrow will emerge--a Church that has lost much. She will become small and will have to start afresh more or less from the beginning. She will no longer be able to inhabit many of the edifices she built in prosperity."

"As the number of her adherents diminishes, so she will lose many of her social privileges. In contrast to an earlier age, it will be seen much more like a voluntary society, entered only by free decision."

"The Church will be a more spiritual Church, not presuming upon a political mandate, flirting as little with the Left as with the Right. But when the trial of this sifting is past, a great power will flow from a more spiritualized and simplified Church."

"Then they will discover the little flock of believers as something wholly new," concluded Benedict.

The future of evangelical Christianity around the world might look very familiar.

Furthermore, we are seeing the face of Christianity in the Global South where the faith is most alive today. Churches in countries where the faith is denied, and where Christian's are forced to meet in their homes such as we are seeing in Iran and China, to name just two countries, will have much in common with faithful Western churches practicing in much the same manner. A profound irony indeed.

Over the next decade most of western Christendom will be dead and gone. Whoever replaces Episcopal Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will not stop the rot in the Episcopal Church. Even King Canute knew he could not roll back the incoming tides, and time will wash over Canterbury and Rome leaving a believing, worshiping remnant.

The survival of 'the faith once for all delivered to the saints' does not need the Vatican or Lambeth palace for its future. God dwells in temples not made with hands. (Acts 17:24-28).

I am posting several stories on this momentous decision which you can read in today's digest. We have scoured the Internet for the finest and best. You may not agree with everything posted, but it will give you a full-orbed picture of what has taken place.

We must never forget who really runs the universe and who is in charge of the Church. We all know how it will end. If for the moment our lives and events look bleak, we can take comfort in the martyrs and faithful who have gone before and who have paved the way for us to follow in.

With this last digest for 2023, I want to wish VOL readers a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Advent blessings to all,

David

LINKS

CHURCH OF ENGLAND LINKS:

Church of England to introduce same-sex blessing, as it faces 'disestablishment' bill in Parliament https://religionnews.com/2023/12/15/church-of-england/

Church of England backs same-sex blessings and the elite press yawns.
https://www.getreligion.org/getreligion/2023/11/27/church-of-england-backs-same-sex-blessings-and-the-elite-press-yawns-once-again

Bishops are abdicating responsibility over same-sex blessings https://premierchristian.news/us/news/article/bishops-are-abdicating-responsibility-over-same-sex-blessings-say-cofe-s-evangelicals

Canterbury Cathedral dean to consider same-sex blessings https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-67773326

'A long journey': blessings for same-sex couples expose Church of England divisions | Anglicanism https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/15/same-sex-couples-blessings-church-of-england

CATHOLIC LINKS:

FIRST THINGS: The Pope and the Black Hole | Dan Hitchens https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2023/12/the-pope-and-the-black-hole

Perfect for Christmas headlines: Pope Francis OK's blessings for same-sex couples (sort of) -- Julia Duin https://www.getreligion.org/getreligion/2023/12/19/perfect-for-christmas-headlines-pope-francis-oks-blessings-for-same-sex-couples-sort-of

Pope Francis Opens Door to Blessings of Same-Sex Couples and Persecution of the Church - The Stream https://stream.org/pope-francis-opens-door-to-blessings-of-same-sex-couples-and-persecution-of-the-church/

ARCHBISHOP VIGANÒ: Bergoglio's 'blessings' for homosexual couples shows he is a 'servant of Satan'https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/abp-vigano-bergoglios-approval-of-blessings-for-homosexual-couples-shows-he-is-a-servant-of-satan/?utm_source=featured-news&utm_campaign=catholic

Homosexual Blessings: Austrian bishop says priests CAN'T refuse & Malawi bishops say NO WAY https://www.lifesitenews.com/episodes/homosexual-blessings-austrian-bishop-says-priests-cant-refuse-malawi-bishops-say-no-way/

Bishops in Malawi Declare 'Blessings for Same-Sex Unions of Any Kind are Not Permitted'https://www.ncregister.com/cna/bishops-in-malawi-declare-blessings-for-same-sex-unions-of-any-kind-are-not-permitted

Most American bishops are going along with Pope Francis''blessings' for homosexual couples https://www.lifesitenews.com/analysis/most-american-bishops-are-going-along-with-pope-francis-blessings-for-homosexual-couples/

Vatican's homosexual 'blessings' document invites priests to fudge both doctrine and practice. https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/vaticans-homosexual-blessings-document-invites-priests-to-fudge-both-doctrine-and-practice/

Pope's homosexual 'blessings' document pretends to be magisterial teaching but is not
https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/popes-homosexual-blessings-document-pretends-to-be-magisterial-teaching-but-is-not/

Prominent canon lawyer Fr. Murray excoriates new Vatican doc endorsing 'blessings' of gay couples https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/prominent-canon-lawyer-fr-murray-excoriates-new-vatican-doc-endorsing-blessings-of-gay-couples/

Father James Martin blesses homosexual 'couple' at Jesuit residence in New York City
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/father-james-martin-blesses-homosexual-couple-at-jesuit-residence-in-new-york-city/?utm_source=featured_news&utm_campaign=usa

Christian Leaders Sounds Off After Pope Francis Gives Green Light to Bless ...
https://www2.cbn.com/news/us/christian-leaders-sounds-after-pope-francis-gives-green-light-bless-what-god-calls-sin

Breaking Down Fiducia Supplicans https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/breaking-down-fiducia-supplicans

Archbishop prohibits same-sex blessings, admonishes Pope Francis: 'Great deception'
https://www.christianpost.com/news/archbishop-prohibits-same-sex-blessings-admonishes-pope-francis.html

Pope Francis Slammed for Blessing Same-Sex Couples: 'Blasphemy'https://www.newsweek.com/pope-francis-same-sex-marriage-blessing-backlash-1853397

NCR TIMELINE: What Has the Catholic Church Said About Same-Sex 'Blessings'? | National Catholic Register https://www.ncregister.com/cna/timeline-what-has-the-catholic-church-said-about-same-sex-blessings-vt4mkr60

Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria Nixes Same-Sex Blessings: https://twitter.com/blastc4/status/1737622972909654480/photo/1

The Church of England and Pope Francis softened on same-sex couples. Will it last? -
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-12-19/church-of-england-catholics-pope-francis-gay-marriage

Pope's Approval of Same-Sex Blessings Unlikely to Sway SCOTUS https://news.northeastern.edu/2023/12/20/pope-francis-same-sex-blessings-supreme-court/

GOMES: Pope Francis Doubles Down on Blessing Same-Sex Couples | Rome dispatch
https://www.churchmilitant.com/video/episode/romd-pope-francis-doubles-down-on-blessing-same-sex-couples

USCCB: Statement on Vatican's Document Addressing Pastoral Blessings | USCCB
https://www.usccb.org/news/2023/statement-usccb-vaticans-document-addressing-pastoral-blessings

One Catholic priest, Dwight Longenecker offers a list of things that will happen from the continued fall-out from the Pope's decision to bless same-sex unions.

*Conservative Catholics will look for another church home--the SSPX the Eastern Orthodox or one of any number of traditionalist sects

*Ordinary Catholics who simply see this as crazy Vatican political correctness will just leave.

*Faithful Catholics will vote with their wallet. Prepare to see "Peter's Pence" become Peter's penniless.

*This financial hit will not only affect the Vatican, but will hurt parishes, dioceses and Catholic apostolates

*Ecumenical relations with conservative non-Catholic denominations will be destroyed

*Evangelization efforts among individual non-Catholic Christians will be undermined.

*Co-operation from bishops, clergy and people will dwindle. Already several bishop's conferences have said they will not implement the advice in Fiducia Supplicans. Others will be more passive and just ignore it.

*Faithful Catholics will not dissent and rebel. At best they'll simply ignore anything that comes from the Vatican. At worst they will launch resistance movements. These movements will be smart, hard working and well funded...and they will cause more division in the church.

*Division in the church will increase and may culminate in schism. The schism may come from progressive Catholics for whom Fiducia Supplicans did not go far enough or from conservative Catholics who are fed up.

*Already overworked parish priests will be put in a hot spot when people in "irregular relationships" call to arrange for "blessing services". How will they navigate the pastoral minefield?

*When priests decline to conduct blessings for same sex couples will their diocese be sued? Has anybody thought of that?

*Worst of all the authority and respect for the papacy itself will be permanently damaged.

Source: https://dwightlongenecker.com/the-coming-fiducia-fallout/

END

This year marks the eightieth anniversary of the lectures that became C. S. Lewis's book The Abolition of Man. Speaking to an audience at the height of the Second World War, Lewis identified the central problem of the modern age: The world was losing its sense of what it meant to be human. --- First Things
Modernity has shunted religion and the supernatural to the margins, at the cost of stripping the world of its mystery. The sea of faith recedes, Matthew Arnold wrote in a great poem, and we hear only its "melancholy, long, withdrawing roar." --- Carl Trueman

Evangelicals have been taking a thrashing for the support many in their ranks have lent to Donald Trump. One can ignore the criticism as just more venom aimed at a group that was always "outside" the mainstream--or make some hard choices. Either way, things are about to get ugly --- Mike Cosper

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
January 5, 2024

Welcome to 2024.

If you thought 2023 was unwieldy, you might be surprised at how 2024 could turn out.

Here are some observations and predictions.

If there is not a nationwide spiritual revival, the following could take place.

Forty million dechurched Americans will not suddenly return to church. Their numbers might even increase. The numbers of Nones, (people without religion, but vaguely spiritual) will continue to rise. Liberal mainline Protestant denominations will continue to decline; evangelicals will likely grow, but there is little evidence that they will be anything but vacuous theologically. (As the late J. I. Packer observed, evangelicals in America are 3000 miles wide and half an inch deep.) Homosexual marriage and LGBTQ sexualities will be normalized, with transgenderism becoming more acceptable. Abortion will rage on as an issue, and with the abortion pill in doubt by the Supreme Court, states will continue to exercise their right to determine if a woman can have an abortion.

The drug culture will see more deaths and homelessness will continue to rise. A gun culture will increase the likelihood of civil war if Trump loses the next election. A woke culture, if not contained will sweep America off the cliff. However, as Kurt Mahlburg of Mercator News notes, there are signs that as 2024 begins, it's hard not to notice that wokeness is a religion in decline. The data points are all around us -- whether seen in a growing awareness of the futility of transgender surgery, the hypocrisy of elite climate panic peddlers, falling support for same-sex relationships, or the dawning realization that the cult's high priests would sooner support Hamas terrorists than the babies they murder.

Christians will feel more isolated, with many losing jobs over their failure to express the language changes that go along with sex changes in society.

Mega churches will begin to flame out, as their leaders will reveal themselves as more interested in power, sex, and money. The Roman Catholic Church will stay afloat with immigration from South America. Older generations of Catholics will die off forcing many parishes to close. Pope Francis will either retire or die, but his legacy on homosexuality will live on causing chaos and confusion among the faithful.

There will be fewer seminaries and seminarians as churches shrink, making it impossible to find and fund the next generation of pastors and priests.

Technology will continue to isolate people, loneliness will increase, while the concept of community continues to shrivel. Suicides will increase as will Medical Assistance in Dying, (MAID) is normalized.

Trump and evangelicals will continue to dominate the political scene as we head towards a national election.

The T shirt slogan, "Jesus is my Savior; Trump is my president" will be seen more frequently. The far left will clash with the far right, with many wondering if there is still a political middle. Fear and hatred will continue to ratchet up as we get closer to November. The left will increasingly win the culture wars, though pushback is increasingly being seen from concerned parents and conservative churches.

Politics and religion will be so intertwined that secularism might look attractive to both doubters and seekers.

What we will see emerging is small groups of believers, not denominationally driven, who will look for authentic worship, biblical (expository) preaching, Eucharistic practicing and community embracing. Such groups might well be the salvation of America. We shall see.

Small, orthodox denominations like the ACNA, PCA, NALC along with continuing Anglican churches and traditional Catholic Churches will grow but not enough to change or challenge the culture.

THE BIGGER global picture is that we will continue to see Christianity exploding in the Global South, with many predicting massive conversions of Muslims to Christ through dreams, prophecies, and healings. It could be the biggest breakout of the Christian faith in 2,000 years. Even as the west craters and major denominations slowly disappear their place will be taken by the rise of the Global South, especially in denominations like Anglicanism, Lutheranism and Catholicism. Pentecostals could outnumber Catholics in traditionally Catholic countries like Brazil.

The big news is the rise of house churches in countries where Christianity is officially forbidden. Christianity is growing the fastest in countries like Iran, China and Nepal. We could see a massive explosion of the gospel in the 10/40 window. There are predictions that many Jews will acknowledge Yeshua Messiah as Lord and Savior.

The overall picture is far from bleak, but for the West there is very little to shout about. While the Global South is winning the battle over homosexuality it is yet to be realized if they can win the war over modernity.

***

My lead story is the Year in Review. Of course, the top story was the Church of England's blessings of same sex unions. The bishops said there was no change in the church's doctrine of marriage. However, conservatives were upset, but revisionists and pansexualists said it did not go far enough. Archbishop Justin Welby took heat from both sides over the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) report calling for same-sex blessings and offered to resign.

The next three top stories involved GAFCON leaders meeting In Kigali, Rwanda and their rejection of the Archbishop of Canterbury as the spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion. GAFCON chairman Foley Beach, said that unless Justin Welby repented, "we can no longer recognize him as first among equals."

Fourteen Primates and ten observers from the GSFA met in Cairo to reaffirm biblical doctrine of marriage. They call for a "reset of the communion" turning up the heat on Archbishop Justin Welby.

GAFCON Primates meeting in Uxbridge, UK reaffirm commitment to the Jerusalem Statement which rejects the proposition that authentic Anglicans are only those recognized by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Reaffirm they are not leaving the Anglican Communion. Will work with GSFA to reset the communion. They say they will not attend the 2024 Primates' Meeting in Rome with those who support a revisionist agenda. You can read the full story here: https://virtueonline.org/year-review-top-ten-anglican-stories-2023

***

It should be apparent by now, even to the Archbishop of Canterbury, that the locus of Anglicanism no longer lies in Lambeth Palace or Canterbury, and that Justin Welby no longer holds the spiritual or cultural reins of leadership in the Anglican Communion. It is why the Global South will win the Spiritual and Culture Wars in the Anglican Communion. A reset of the communion is underway and will not be stopped.

Mr. Welby has forfeited that right with decisions that have clearly gone against Scripture, the history of Anglicanism; slowly but steadily capitulating to the spirit of the age. You can read more here:
https://virtueonline.org/why-global-south-will-win-spiritual-and-culture-wars-anglican-communion

***

The big wrestle in the Church of England now that prayers for the blessing of same-sex relationships is official, is what will evangelicals do now?

In an interview Christian Today spoke with the Rev. John Dunnett, National Director of the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC). He had this to say:

"The draft guidance being prepared by the House of Bishops included at an early stage the possibility that clergy can marry a same-sex partner and suggests it would be inappropriate to ask personal questions about the lifestyle of people offering for ordination. If these are included in the final guidance, then this would indeed be a departure from the doctrine of the Church of England. If that becomes the case, the CEEC would have to say that we cannot be part of a diocese that accepts two contradictory positions.

We need to be able to teach and preach what has always been understood as the Christian position on marriage, and call out other views as errant. The ordination and licensing of orthodox clergy should be overseen by an orthodox bishop and orthodox churches must be free to partner with other orthodox churches. They must not be forced to work with churches that have a view that has always been seen to be contrary to Scripture. There must also be a secure orthodox pipeline so that ordinations and training take place within an orthodox context, and senior appointment processes must be adapted to ensure orthodoxy into the future.
https://virtueonline.org/future-evangelicals-church-england

But then accusations arose that Church of England evangelicals were making secret plans to split the church. Nic Tall a member of General Synod and Secretary of the General Synod Gender & Sexuality Group made this charge and you can read it here: https://viamedia.news/2023/12/30/plotting-the-division-of-the-church-of-england/

This brought forth ripostes from theological heavyweights Ian Paul and Andrew Goddard. You can read their take here: https://virtueonline.org/have-evangelicals-made-secret-plans-split-church

Anglican Futures, a blog in touch with what is going on wrote this; "In October 2021, Anglican Futures predicted that the House of Bishops would seek to introduce experimental services to bless same-sex relationships in February 2023. Most dismissed it as fanciful, yet despite events unfolding in a slightly different order, by the end of 2023, approved blessings are taking place and standalone services may well be introduced on an experimental basis early in 2024.

For many this has come as a shock.

"Thousands of pages have been written to explain how those who accept the blessing of same-sex relationships have already turned away from what Christians have always believed about many foundational ideas; the nature of men and women, marriage, creation and procreation; how we define sin and what we need saving from; the nature and authority of the Scriptures; and even our understanding of the Triune God. But these are the doctrinal 'blocks' which have been quietly removed and replaced over many years, often without much comment from evangelicals." You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/2023-four-lessons-learned

All false teaching has catastrophic salvific consequences and they are also, inevitably, attended by disastrous pastoral consequences."

The introduction of Prayers of Love and Faith cannot be dismissed as a storm in a teacup:

"What is clearly going on is that, contrary to all their protestations, the House of Bishops are sending a message to the country that the Church of England has changed its understanding on issues of human sexuality. And, to them at least, if that is the prize, the suffering of others, the rejection by the global church and the internal fragmentation is a price worth paying."

After November's Synod "The Day the Music Died", reflected the grief felt by many in the Church of England and it is unsurprising that in their heartache people have clung onto any hope offered.

As the impossibility of a Third Province (even for the faithful) became more obvious, other forms of 'Formal Structural Pastoral Provision" were suggested. To assist people as they considered the pros and cons of the options being bandied around, Anglican Futures explored a number of Anglican Myths:

Anglican Myth 1: It's my church - I'm the incumbent

Anglican Myth 2: "But can't we have "Alternative Episcopal Oversight"?

Anglican Myth 3: The bishop is the focus of unity

Anglican Myth 4: We can bankrupt the diocese

Anglican Myth 5: St Luke's is leaving the Church of England

Anglican Myth 6: The louder the better

Anglican Myth 7: The temporal-spiritual divide

Anglican Myth 8: Overseas bishops will be the answer

What it boils down to as that evangelicals cannot effectively do anything. If they leave, they will lose everything as the bishop and church owns everything. They will lose their pensions and security. But falling into compromise is no winning ticket either.

Aware of the difficult decisions facing faithful Anglicans in the year ahead, Anglican Futures began 2023 with an impassioned plea for clergy and laity to be like Daniel by considering the compromises which are part of living in a fallen world.

"Daniel resolved in his heart in advance what it was he would and would not do. In other words he was honest with himself about what he was doing and what was, and was not, acceptable. That is surely a good discipline - not to fall into compromise but to take reasoned decisions, justified by the exigencies of the situation, but always aware that doing so is somewhere between sub-optimal and a necessary evil.

"...the great test facing this generation is not getting the "right" answer to, "should I stay or should I go" but the holiness with which we treat those who come to the opposite conclusion. The real question, therefore, is, "How am I holy in this?"..."

2023 has revealed the theological instability of the Church of England and experience tells us it will take honesty and humility for faithful Anglicans to determine the best way forward.

Rico Tice of Christianity Explored, a movement out of All Soul's Langham Place left the Church to attend an independent church.... contact with CofE was damaging Christianity Explored but leading an ANiE church away from All Souls would have been seen as divisive.

Nicky Gumbel of ALPHA fame and the Anglican Alliance tried to play both ends against the middle. For 10-15 years he told his staff not to teach on sexuality to avoid damaging the Alpha brand. Now he has retired, and he seems to want to be in control of the orthodox.

The one option few seem to want to take is to leave. GAFCON, the ANiE and other entities await them if they so choose.

Andy Lines Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Network in Europe said this; "For both clergy and laity now standing at the crossroads and prayerfully considering their future path, we want to reassure them there is a road available which avoids an unknown and unsafe future as part of an apostate denomination, and draw their attention to the recent Gafcon Primates' statement (9 Nov 2023) which speaks of a way of being authentically Anglican apart from Canterbury-aligned structures: We... commend the ministry and witness of the Anglican Network in Europe as the appropriate and necessary provision of Gafcon for those who cannot in good conscience remain in a Church which flagrantly abandons the teaching of Scripture."

***

THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY WILL RETIRE RICH. When the Archbishop of Canterbury discovered via a DNA test that his father was Winston Churchill's private secretary, Sir Anthony Montague Browne, and not, as he had always believed, his mother's first husband, Gavin Welby, he admitted it was a great surprise but said it was also 'a story of redemption and hope'.

Now, Justin Welby's mother, Jane Williams, has sprung another surprise -- this time from beyond the grave. The Daily Mail disclosed that the archbishop has been informed that he has become a multi-millionaire, as his mother left him a staggering £2.4million ($3.08 million).

Welby can leave his post as a failure, having both wrecked the Church of England, and alienated himself from 85% of the Anglican Communion and retire rich.

***

The Rt. Rev. Colin Buchanan, (1934-2023) the last of a certain kind of evangelical bishop in the Church of England, died suddenly in the Leeds General Infirmary on November 29, at 89. The Church Times described him as "a devoted Reformation Anglican, which was a rather reactionary and unpopular thing to be in his prime, and he was persistent and focused, and surely was a major figure in ensuring that the Church of England's modern liturgies have a more Protestant character than those of other Anglican Churches in the Global North."

He was a force for growth of evangelicalism across the Anglican Communion in the last two generations. He was a passionate advocate of disestablishing the Church of England, and his 1994 book, Cut the Connection, led to a historic full General Synod debate on the subject. In all of these roles, as pre-eminent liturgist, as ecumenical opponent, as theological watchman, and as energetic bishop, Colin Buchanan was widely respected for his pastoral generosity, intellectual honesty, and abiding faith. Without a doubt, he stands in the line of John Wesley, Charles Simeon, William Wilberforce, and J.I. Packer as a tested guardian of Anglicanism's evangelical heritage. Ht/TLC

***

The growing verbal tumult over the war in Gaza is revealing in the side Christians are taking. Evangelicals, by and large, who stand with Israel are accused of Zionism, a slur word in today's debate, where robust opposition to Israel or Zionism crosses the line into antisemitism.

On the other side, the World Council of Churches, liberal Protestant churches of one stripe or another have taken up the cry of genocide aimed at Israel, calling for a ceasefire without thinking of the consequences of Hamas regrouping, rearming, and continuing to fire rockets into Israel.

Here is my opening paragraph: The gasbag irrelevancy World Council of Churches has weighed in on the war in Gaza calling for an immediate end to the brutal violence there. "Israel's military response in Gaza has become tantamount to a war not only against Hamas but against all the people of the territory," said WCC general secretary the Rev. Dr Jerry Pillay. Pillay himself has accused Israel of Apartheid in its policies towards Palestinians.

You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/religious-liberals-call-end-war-gaza-are-they-right

***

ON THE INTERNATIONAL front, NIGERIA has been ranked as the most dangerous and deadliest country for Christians. It is not mere speculation apparently. Nigerian Christians recorded several massacres at the hands of Islamists like Boko Haram and Fulani Herdsmen. Over 160 killed in Christian areas after wave of Christmas attacks. Armed groups attacked around 20 small villages in Plateau state in 2 days. Over the last 5 years tens of thousands of Nigerian Christians have been killed including many Anglicans. We hear little outrage from the world community or the UN these killings. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/tragedy-nigerian-christian-massacre

UGANDA. The High Court in Uganda's central district of Luwero has summoned 37 bishops, including the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda (CoU), Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, to defend themselves against the cancellation of the election of Rev. Canon Godfrey Kasana Ssemakula, as the fourth bishop of the Luwero Anglican Diocese. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/uganda-high-court-summons-archbishop-stephen-kaziimba-mugalu-36-other-bishops

The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Steven Kaziimba Mugalu, has urged Christians in Africa not to pay attention to false teachings. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/ugandan-archbishop-warns-christians-warns-against-false-teachings

***

It is crunch time for the Anglican Church of Canada. The church's revenues are falling beneath the floor boards. Contributions from the dioceses to the national church are dropping, creating, on one level, uncertainty, on another, certainty - that program and staff cuts are imminent.

In one of those rare moments of inadvertent prophetic truth uttered by an Anglican bishop, Linda Nicholls observed:

The church is likely to remain smaller and be less affluent than it once was, she said, but these things should not be taken as signs that it is ending or that it is no longer watched over by God.

God is indeed watching as each year the ACoC becomes more liberal and less Christian than the year before. That is why it is in the sad state it's in today, writes orthodox Canadian journalist, David of Samizdat.

Amal Attia, the national church's treasurer and CFO, presented figures that showed that as of Sept. 30, the church was experiencing a revenue shortfall of just over $600,000, attributable mostly to diocesan contributions running $724,728 less than budgeted. Contributions from dioceses are expected to pick up by the time the year's numbers are finalized, she said, and a deficit of $153,667 is projected for the year. You can read more here: https://anglicanjournal.com/cogs-ponders-financial-future-as-revenues-drop/

***

We have begun a New Year but we are still behind in tax deductible donations to get the year up and running in full throttle. We could use your help to pay bills. There are no fancy salaries, just the everyday grind to get the word out for pennies on the dollar. We have website and internet bills to pay. There are overseas correspondents and travel to consider. Please, if you can help here are a couple of ways you can make this happen.

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Epiphany blessings,

David

Disciples with high CQs (Contextual Intelligence) also have a high missional consciousness. Missional is not a winning or a conquering but an invitation to a feast and festival--a feast in the kingdom of God (Luke 14:16). All mission must be "mission in Christ's way"...which means it is kenotic, self-giving, humble, sacrificial, loving and forgiving. --- Leonard Sweet and Michael Adam Beck

It costs something to be a real Christian, according to the standard of the Bible. There are enemies to be overcome, battles to be fought, sacrifices to be made, an Egypt to be forsaken, a wilderness to be passed through, a cross to be carried, a race to be run. Conversion is not putting a person in an arm-chair and taking them easily to heaven. It is the beginning of a mighty conflict, in which it costs much to win the victory. --- J. C. Ryle

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
January 19, 2024

Yet another scandal and another bad week for the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.

The leader of the Anglican Communion (perhaps only a small part of it at this point), is facing calls to resign after backing Paula Vennells, ex-Post Office boss, after it was said he wanted her to become Bishop of London.

Queen Elizabeth's former chaplain, Rev Canon Jeremy Haselock, called for Justin Welby to resign after it was claimed he pushed Vennells' application for bishop. It comes after she said she will hand back her CBE with immediate effect amid the fallout of the Horizon IT scandal, which led to the wrongful prosecution of hundreds of sub-postmasters.

Apparently, Vennells, an ordained priest who has never held hold a senior position in the Church of England, nor been the priest of a parish, is understood to have been interviewed for the role.

She was in the final shortlist of three but was not appointed, according to the BBC.

A lot of people got hurt by the false charges, with some of the postmasters committing suicide, say several reports!

The real kicker is that Welby was looking for a managerial type not a spiritual leader for the parishes and vicars in London. THAT speaks volumes about the titular head of the communion. Can you imagine the Primate of Nigeria sitting down with his fellow bishops and announcing, "yes the next bishop of Abuja must be chosen from the government to spiritually lead a million souls!" Never going to happen. Welby's strategy reeks more of his days as an oilman, not the spiritual head of the Church of England.

There are other reasons Welby should go. His total failure to bring pastoral care to the fore during the pandemic and the disastrous decisions he made at that time shows his complete and utter lack of understanding of the Church and its ministry.

"His has been a terrible primacy and clutching his Royal Victorian Order, he should go," said Haselock. Another former Anglican chaplain to the queen, Dr. Gavin Ashenden echoed much the same thing saying that short of a public statement it was hugely embarrassing for all Christians. "She should not have been ordained. She was underwhelming intellectually. Based on Welby's cumulatively moral sensibility perhaps he should resign," said Ashenden.

Furthermore, GAFCON and GSFA archbishops would lose no sleep if he resigned. In fact, they are working to "reset" the communion over Welby's failure to uphold biblical standards on human sexuality. The LLF report and the passage of blessings for same-sex unions has been his undoing.

You can read several stories here: https://virtueonline.org/justin-welby-should-quit-over-claims-he-backed-paula-vennells-be-bishop-london

The failure of Anglican managerialism: https://virtueonline.org/failure-anglican-managerialism

A Gospelphobic Church is a brilliant take down of Welby. Here is a sample paragraph. "Justin Welby, archbishop of Canterbury and captain of the good ship Anglican, having steered the ship onto the rocks is bailing furiously in an attempt to stop the vessel from sinking. His officers meanwhile can only give one order 'Full steam ahead'. Meanwhile most of the deckhands have taken to the lifeboats or jumped into the cold cold water, deserting the sinking ship however they can. The remaining tenacious few of the crew left behind are frantically trying to persuade the officers to alter course and patch the leaks." You can read it all here: https://virtueonline.org/gospelphobic-church

***

The group of Anglicans most affected by the church of England's decision to bless homosexual unions are evangelicals. They now find themselves at a crossroads.

They believe they can negotiate their way around a church that now blesses same-sex unions, even though the church says no change of doctrine has been officially endorsed. The push is on for a full-on assault for gay marriage which, based on experience in the American Episcopal Church will come sooner rather than later.

An article; The CofE's Clandestine move toward gay marriage, which you can read here https://virtueonline.org/c-es-clandestine-move-toward-gay-marriage demonstrates the truth of what we saw happen in TEC with the passage of Resolution B012. The steam roller of pansexuality marches steadily on, the sodomists brook no opposition, their outrage and grandstanding at future synods will go on and on, cowing even the hardiest of heterosexuals. Their identity is at stake.

"Does my lord bishop really think that God cannot change His mind in keeping with an upwardly evolving society, the joys of multiculturalism, pluriformity and the rich diversity now found in England?"

"Is the member not mightier than the sword, my lord Bishop."

The recent prayers and blessings approved of by the church was just another move in the Church of England chess game to fully approve that which God has said a resounding no too, along with 2,000 years of church teaching. To hell with it all. We will have our way. It is written. You can read my take here: https://virtueonline.org/evangelicals-crossroads-church-england

***

Adding fuel to the fire of Church of England decline, The Rev. Dr. David Goodhew of The Living Church said COVID was bad for the Church of England. And new data show just how bad. Overall, the church lost one in five of its Sunday worshipers during COVID. For children at worship, it's worse.

Canterbury Cathedral makes the CofE appear impressive, but appearances can deceive. The Diocese of Canterbury had 1,600 children in Sunday worship in 2019, before COVID. By 2022 it had 1,000 children in Sunday worship. That's nearly a 40 percent drop.

Long-term decline coupled with COVID has left much of the church in deep trouble. Yes, there are wonderful pockets of vitality, but their number is shrinking. The new data show that, during COVID, the condition of much of the church has moved from serious to critical. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/after-covid-deepening-decline-church-england

***

There is an update on the late John Smyth who performed sadistic beatings on schoolboys and young men who regarded him as a spiritual father. Smyth died while under investigation, so criminal charges were never brought against him.

A Statement from the National Director of Safeguarding has been issued by the independent reviewer into the Church's handling of allegations against the late John Smyth owing to years of delay. "We would like to say as commissioners of the review, the NST recognizes the process has gone on longer than is acceptable for those waiting for an outcome and for the Church to act and learn on the outcomes of the report. Along with the reviewer we apologize for this delay. We continue to offer additional resources and financial support to ensure the report is received by the end of April with a view to publication as soon as practically possible after that date."

***

On a positive note, The Diocese of Peru is experiencing a turn around with Bishop Jorge Aquilar recently ordaining 18 in a packed emotional service at the Anglican cathedral.

Dean Ian Montgomery was in Lima and reported on the situation there, in an exclusive story for VOL.

"I watched as tears of joy and sweet gratitude were shed for the love and blessing of God being so active in the diocese. The crowd overflowed into the parish hall as many could not be seated in the Cathedral. There were moments when the congregation exploded with exhilaration as we sang, prayed, clapped, and shouted our approbation and praise. This was emotional, exciting and faith building. God is doing a new thing in the revived Diocese of Peru." You can read the full story here: https://virtueonline.org/turn-around-diocese-peru

***

On the Global front there are strains emerging among biblically faithful Anglicans.

Can the Cairo Covenant unite both Global South Anglicans and GAFCON (and resolve theological differences and strategies at the same time)? GAFCON has put forth the Jerusalem Declaration, their official statement on Anglican orthodoxy.

The argument is over sola scriptura and what is now being suggested, prima scriptura as the church's official position.

The American Anglican Council has put out a story dealing with all this which you can read here: https://virtueonline.org/can-cairo-covenant-unite-both-global-south-anglicans-and-gafcon-and-resolve-theological-differences

Some 75-85% of the Global Anglican Communion has rejected the Global North's progressive Anglicanism which has been teaching and exporting unbiblical teaching on God's creation of male and female, human identity in the image of God, human sexuality, marriage, and human flourishing--to name but a few essentials.

This false teaching promoted by the Archbishops of Canterbury, York, and the Bishops of the Church of England has prompted the majority of GAFCON and Global South bishops to reject the Communion leadership of the Archbishop of Canterbury [https://www.gafcon.org/news/gafcon-iv-the-kigali-commitment]. Biblically faithful Anglicans are prepared to "reset the Communion" on its biblical foundations. It feels as if we are in a new Anglican Reformation, long awaited, and soon to be consummated!

But the two entities must decide on how they view scripture as the church's final authority.

Here in a nutshell is the issue:

"The problem is that the Cairo Covenant uses the language of sola scriptura without sufficient qualification. The term sola scriptura suggests that the Bible by itself can ensure orthodoxy without the guidance of the historic Church. The Covenant defines sola scriptura as 'the Scriptures authority over the Church," which itself is 'a creature of the divine Word.' Yet as students of church history know, the Church produced the Bible and protected it against heretical interpretations at ecumenical councils like Nicaea...the Bible was a "creature" of the Church, not the other way around."

After citing other Anglican formularies such as the Thirty-Nine Articles and the canons of 1571, they conclude that the Cairo Covenant as written does not acknowledge that the guardian of Scripture has always been the Church's councils, creeds, and teachings. And so, they propose the following amendment to Section 1, paragraph 1.5 of the Doctrinal Foundations of the Cairo Covenant:
"We suggest replacement of sola scriptura with prima scriptura, Scriptures primary authority protected by the wisdom of the Great Tradition...reading Scripture with the Church's eyes of faith."

You can read the full story here: https://virtueonline.org/can-cairo-covenant-unite-both-global-south-anglicans-and-gafcon-and-resolve-theological-differences

You can read Dr. Stephen Noll's take here: https://virtueonline.org/are-foundations-global-south-secure

Here is a sample paragraph: "Twice in the past six months, prominent Anglican theologians have written articles questioning the formularies of Global South entities: Gafcon and the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GFSA). Both articles appeared in the online edition of First Things. While First Things is a highly reputable "journal of religion and public life," it has largely ignored the movements of global Anglicanism and in turn seldom read by Global Anglicans. It is important now that these articles be read carefully and discussed by Anglican leaders worldwide."

***

A report from Glasgow is calling for an investigation into the secretary general of the Archbishops' Council, William Nye. A Church Times carries a report: Psychologist reports 'significant harm' after closure of Independent Safeguarding Board which deals with the Glasgow report, as covered on TA previously here.

The letter, written by Synod member and safeguarding lawyer, Martin Sewell, accuses Mr. Nye of failing to heed a request from Steve Reeves, one of the sacked members of the ISB, to delay the announcement of its termination so that survivors could be informed privately rather than learning via the media.

The letter alleges that Mr. Nye "rejected that advice and chose to take the risk; it had foreseeable and foreseen consequences . . . avoidable significant harm towards the vulnerable people to whom he owed a duty of care."

The full text of this letter can be found here. https://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Untitled-29.pdf

***

GAFCON has a new General Secretary, the Rev. Canon Paul Donison. He replaces outgoing Nigerian archbishop Ben Kwashi. The announcement was made by the Revd. Dr. Laurent Mbanda of Rwanda. You can read the full story here: https://virtueonline.org/most-revd-dr-mbanda-announces-revd-donisons-consecration

***

Even as he recuperates from brain surgery Presiding Bishop Michael Curry faces a Title IV Investigation, reports The Living Church. As the Episcopal Church girds for an important leadership transition in 2024, the current hierarchy is being roiled by a series of secular crises.

On January 10, it became apparent that Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry is the subject of a Title IV disciplinary investigation regarding his response to abuse allegations against another bishop. Confirmation came in the form of a letter from Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves, vice president of the House of Bishops, announcing that she has recused herself from overseeing Title IV allegations regarding Curry and Bishop Todd Ousley, the bishop for pastoral development on the presiding bishop's staff.

You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/recuperating-presiding-bishop-faces-title-iv-investigation

***

The rector of St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Houston -- which recently welcomed its 10,000th member, the most of any Episcopal church -- has announced plans to retire from full-time ministry in May.

The Rev. Dr. Russell J. Levenson Jr., 62, who has led St. Martin's since 2007, plans to move to Birmingham, Alabama, to be closer to family. He has been a prominent voice among evangelicals in the church. You can read more here: https://livingchurch.org/2024/01/12/rector-at-largest-episcopal-parish-announces-retirement-plans/

***

These past two weeks, I had an opportunity during the rain and snow to read the 1988 A Document of General Principles & Polices, the official Manifesto of Hamas. It is worth reading because the Western Media simply does not read and 'get' what is really behind the war in Israel. I concluded that the War in Israel is about Religion, not just the Land or Politics.

Here are some choice morsels of information drawn from this Manifesto.

"Palestine is the cause of a people who have been let down by a world that fails to secure their rights and restore to them what has been usurped from them, a people whose land continues to suffer one of the worst types of occupation in this world.

"Palestine is a land that was seized by a racist, anti-human and colonial Zionist project that was founded on a false promise (the Balfour Declaration), on recognition of a usurping entity and on imposing a fait accompli by force.

"Palestine symbolizes the resistance that shall continue until liberation is accomplished, until the return is fulfilled and until a fully sovereign state is established with Jerusalem as its capital." You can read my full report here: https://virtueonline.org/war-israel-about-religion-not-just-land-or-politics

On another note, South Africa has now entered the fray taking Israel to the International Court of Justice charging Israel with genocide, It's an absurd charge. To charge Israel with Genocide when that is the same word to describe what the Nazis did to 6 million Jews is in fact outrageous. I was in South Africa in 1991 at the time when Apartheid came apart under PM F.W. de Klerk. There were no outbreaks of violence against whites. A Truth Commission was set up. The African National Congress (ANC) took over and peace reigned. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/apartheid-south-africa-and-war-israel

***

13 TEC Bishops berate President Trump over racial rhetoric. Writing as "teachers of the faith" and "shepherds of the souls of our parishioners," 13 Southern and Southwestern bishops from Province VII issued the following pastoral letter on January 9, about the racial rhetoric of presidential candidate, Donald Trump:

Bishops Are Not Political Pundits: An Episcopal and Theological Exhortation
Bishops are not political pundits. We are equally the pastors to Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and others. We would not presume to instruct people how to vote. Immigration policy is a worry for Americans of various perspectives, and politicians should grapple with the question. However, bishops are teachers of the faith as well as shepherds of the souls of our parishioners. We speak specifically as such.

Donald Trump, our former President, has recently called immigrants 'vermin,' and had said that they 'poison the blood of our country.' A clearer example of racism, in this case with a eugenic edge, one could not find. When the parallels to Nazi rhetoric were pointed out, Trump claimed he knew no such thing. But then he repeated the very same statements, when he most certainly was aware of the parallels. You can read more here: https://livingchurch.org/2024/01/18/bishops-issue-pastoral-letter-about-trumps-rhetoric/

***

Canon Chuck Collins takes on liberal Catholicism in his latest piece; LUX MUNDI Here is a sample from his piece: "When the first bricks are badly laid, the wall in the end will be wonky. When the church abandons Scripture and the doctrinal formularies of the Edwardian and Elizabethan Settlement and wanders the road of personal preference, the end result is Charles Gore, liberal catholicism, and "Lux Mundi." Charles Gore, the popular Bishop (of Worcester, Birmingham, and Oxford) died January 17, 1932. At its best, the Liberal Catholic Movement wanted to "preserve the best of the past in the light of the best of the present so as to build for the best future" (Frank Gavin), but, in fact it was third-generation Tractarianism that tried to marry Anglo-Catholic ritual with liberal theology and the new biblical criticism of its day." You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/lux-mundi

Another piece by Canon Collins; JUSTIFICATION & TRENT: How the Roman Catholic Church got it Wrong, can be read here: https://virtueonline.org/justification-trent-how-roman-catholic-church-got-it-wrong

CULTURE WARS

Two stories (there are many more), capture the moment of cancel culture.
A Finnish MP, bishop may be dragged before Supreme Court despite acquittals over 'hate speech' against LGBT pride.

Finnish MP Päivi Räsänen, who served as Finland's interior minister from 2011 to 2015, could see the Supreme Court of Finland overturn her multiple acquittals related to alleged "hate speech" stemming from a 2019 Bible tweet.

The state prosecutor in Finland is appealing the second unanimous acquittal of a Finnish parliamentarian and Lutheran bishop over "hate speech" charges related to their faith-based views on sexuality and gender. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/finnish-mp-bishop-may-be-dragged-supreme-court-despite-acquittals-over-hate-speech-against-lgbt

The cult of sexual transitioning and disembodied transhumanism is a misguided quest for Eternity in denial of the Incarnation, writes Dr. Gavin Ashenden in the Catholic Herald

"Living in the light of the birth of Christ provides a different quality of life, of self-understanding, and a different quality of social relationship to the alternative secular solipsism. As our society loses its Christian memory, the task of evangelism is not to lament what is lost but to offer as medicine what can heal. The Incarnation heals. More specifically, the embodiment of the Logos heals." You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/cult-sexual-transitioning-and-disembodied-transhumanism-misguided-quest-eternity-denial-incarnation

***

We have begun a New Year but we are still behind in donations to get the year up and running at full throttle. We could use your help to pay bills. There are no fancy salaries, just the everyday grind to get the word out for pennies on the dollar. We have website and internet bills to pay. There is an associate editor and overseas correspondents and travel to consider. Please, if you can help, here are a couple of ways you can make a tax-deductible donation.

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David

THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION began to crack as traditional leaders -- representing about 85% of the global Anglican worshippers -- declared no confidence in Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and the church's power structures in England. This followed a Church of England vote to allow blessing rites for same-sex unions. -- Terry Mattingly -- OnReligion

The people who call themselves LGBTQ activists are now recruiting many people, including our children. They don't know what they are doing, but they are destroying people's lives by engaging them in unethical activities. The West wants to make our country Sodom and Gomorrah, and we won't accept it.--- Gilbert Lubega of Uganda

"Christianity is not shrinking; it's shifting (dramatically) from the northern hemisphere to the south. There's a pernicious myth out there that the Church is in decline when it's actually growing. Fast. Since the year 2000, the world population has been growing at 1% per annum, but the church has been growing at 2% - 100% faster than the global population (with Pentecostalism growing at 4%.) -- Rick Warren

God continues to speak through what he has spoken -- John Stott

"When the Christian faith is politicized, churches become repositories not of grace but of grievances, places where tribal identities are reinforced, where fears are nurtured, and where aggression and nastiness are sacralized," --- Peter Wehner

By David W. Virtue DD
www.virtueonline.org
February 2, 2024

IN past years the Mere Anglican conference held in Charleston, SC drew noted Anglican heavy hitters to explore various themes. Last year it was C.S. Lewis; this year it centered more around apologetics.

The conference drew a distinguished group of presenters to theologically discuss, "Speaking the Truth in Love: The Church and the Challenge of the New Morality." The list included: The Rev. Dr. John Dickson, Anglican priest and apologist; the Rev. Sam Allberry, Anglican priest and apologist; Dr. D.A. Carson, Renowned New Testament scholar and author; the Rev. Dr. Carl Trueman, Professor, Grove City College; Dr. Rebecca McLaughlin, Apologist and author; the Rev. Vaughan Roberts, Anglican Rector of St. Ebbe's Church, Oxford; Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing, Senior Fellow, Oxford Center for Christian Apologetics; and the Rev. Calvin Robinson, priest, writer, and social commentator. Archbishop Foley Beach (ACNA II) was the Conference's Festival Eucharist celebrant.

Then it all blew up.

One invitee, the Rev. Calvin Robinson threw a monkey wrench into the works when he riffed off text and talked about the highly controversial issue of Women's Ordination. It is the third rail: Women in Holy Orders, as one commentator described it.

"It was my point that the reason Gender Theory, Queer Theory and Critical Race Theory are so prevalent in the Church today is because we have conceded too much ground to Feminism," wrote Robinson on his sub stack.

But then he hurled a hand grenade into the conference and tackled Women's Ordination head on.

"I put it to you that Feminism -- an arm of liberalism -- is the gate by which all the other woke ideas gain ground. They are all part of the same ideology, but Feminism is the brute force which breaks down the wall for all the others," he said.

"The Church has become effeminate and, therefore, vulnerable in a way that it needn't be. Men, being the stronger sex of the species, offer talents different from those of women. That is not to say they are better; goodness no, women are far better than men at a great many things. Men are simple beings. But we do have a practical role to play in the Church, which can only be played by men."

The conference host, one Rev Jeffrey S. Miller promptly banned Robinson from a final round table discussion "because he failed to address the topic assigned to him," with South Carolina Anglican Bishop Chip Edgar weighing in and saying that Robinson was not "cancelled" due to his position on Women in Holy Orders but was removed from the final panel because his talk was deemed to have veered substantively from the topic he was asked to address.

"Instead, he took advantage of the opportunity and opined on what he considers the exceeding evil of women in Holy Orders. Most importantly, he did so in a way which was inexcusably provocative, and completely lacking in charity and pastoral consideration of the people in attendance--especially the many women clergy both of our diocese and others who attended."

Edgar went on to explain that The Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) has maintained a "dual integrities" position allowing dioceses to choose what direction to take.

This then prompted the Rt. Rev. Alex Farmer, Bishop of the Diocese of the Gulf Atlantic (ACNA) declaring that Robinson had an "unclean spirit" when he spoke at the Mere Anglican conference in Charleston, SC. Alarm bells went off. The bishop later apologized for his remarks saying he was sorry for the way he questioned the spirit behind his motivations. "That was improper of me, and especially in the context inappropriate. I am deeply sorry for the harm that this has caused to the wider Body of Christ."

Nonetheless the whole subject stirred a hornet's nest of opinion, with commentaries coming down mostly on the side of Robinson with some even suggesting it could blow up the ACNA! That is not going to happen. Since 2009, the ACNA has lived with the "two integrities" and that seems likely in the foreseeable future. In truth there is nowhere else for the Anglo-Catholic to go to. The Continuing Church groups are way too splintered amongst themselves to offer a safe haven for ACNA's traditionalist wing.

The following links will give you a fuller picture on all sides of the issue.

https://virtueonline.org/anglicans-clash-over-anglo-catholic-priests-disinvitation-mere-anglican-conference

https://virtueonline.org/calvin-robinson-kerfuffle-widens

https://virtueonline.org/calvin-robinson-declared-have-deceiving-unclean-spirit-acna-bishop

https://virtueonline.org/apology-and-public-statement-bishop-alex-farmer

https://anglicanmainstream.org/cancelling-calvin-robinson-the-american-anglican-crisis-as-feminism-takes-truth-integrity-hostage/

https://virtueonline.org/forward-faith-north-america-response-mere-anglicanism-conference

https://northamanglican.com/the-day-the-gloves-came-off-an-end-to-detente-in-the-acna/

***

Last week, the lead bishops for Living in Love and Faith (LLF) reconciliation process, the Rt. Rev. Helen-Ann Hartley and Rt. Rev. Martyn Snow wrote a piece for the Church Times, in which they said,
"We are at a crossroads: either we have reached the point of separation, accepting that different views cannot co-exist within the same Church, or we must shift the debate to the question how we live well with difference. We believe firmly in the latter approach, and, therefore, we are issuing a call for reconciliation and bridge-building."

Their attempt to 'reset' the debate will rest on a number of commitments, which will be brought to General Synod for discussion in February. They have yet to be published -- but for once the devil will not be in the detail - but in their purpose and underlying premise, writes Susie Leafe of Anglican Futures.

"These commitments will honor the votes already taken by the Synod and the general sense of direction, while also inviting the whole of the Synod to make a commitment to the principle of being a broad Church in which different views are not just accepted, but honored as part of what it means to be the living, dynamic, and beautiful body of Christ."

The orthodox should be shocked. There is a danger that this development is being seen as a partial victory.

Why? Because the bishops have used a simple bait and switch. Alongside the 'broad church' principle was the offer of a 'prize' -- a delay to the introduction of standalone services and a promise that Synod will examine "legal safeguards and appropriate structures" for those needing reassurance.

And that is the bait.

But the switch is devastating.

If the bishops are to be believed, Synod will be asked to commit to:
"...the principle of being a broad Church in which different views are not just accepted but honored as part of what it means to be the living, dynamic, and beautiful body of Christ."

If words mean anything, such a commitment has serious implications:
• It means accepting that the presenting issue of same-sex blessings and the underlying debates about the nature of marriage, the authority of Scripture and the means of salvation -- are to be considered adiaphora -- things indifferent.
• It is a commitment to accept those who deny the teaching of Christ, rather than rebuke them, and to honor those who promote a false gospel, rather than avoid them.
• It is to affirm that the presence of sin makes the body of Christ more beautiful.

You can read the full story here: https://virtueonline.org/living-love-faith-and-reconciliation-exercise-bait-and-switch

You can read a Masterclass in Manipulation here:
https://virtueonline.org/masterclass-manipulation

ARCHBISHOP JUSTIN WELBY has faced yet another call for him to resign, this time he 'should quit' over claims he backed the disgraced former Post Office boss Paula Vennells to be Bishop of London.

Gabriella Swerling, Social and Religious Affairs Editor for the Telegraph
says the Archbishop of Canterbury, is accused of endorsing Paula Vennells while some 700 sub-postmasters were falsely accused of money that went missing from their sites.

The late Queen's former chaplain, the Rev Canon Jeremy Haselock, an associate priest at Great St Bartholomew's in the City of London, criticised the alleged endorsement, writing on social media: "Surely this is the point at which Welby must go. Another demonstration of his complete lack of sound judgment."

Paula Vennells, who was the Post Office chief executive from 2012 to 2019, handed back her CBE last week.

You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/justin-welby-should-quit-over-claims-he-backed-paula-vennells-be-bishop-london

***

An insightful piece on the future of Christianity in England, titled, IT'S OVER -- PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE by someone called Campbell documents that too many Christians in the UK are living with an illusion. "Let me tell you plainly: it's over. The days of being a Christian country have gone, and they are not coming back any time soon. It is imperative that we grasp this. Instead of pretending we are living in a pale imitation of the past, we have to work out how to live in the present and prepare for the future."

"I pray (literally) that there might be a recovery of both church and nation, that the Holy Spirit will sweep through the land and we will have godly leaders in church and state. In the meantime, until God does this, we Christians have to get our own house in order. Merely doing what we have always done in the hope that this time it will work is to embrace failure."

You can read more here: https://possil.wordpress.com/2024/02/02/its-over-prepare-for-the-future/

***

MORE TEC DIOCESES look to merge. The dioceses of Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan will merge later this year.

According to the Episcopal News Service the two dioceses, after more than four years of administrative sharing and ministry cooperation, are finalizing plans for a potential merger. Final approval would take place at the 81st General Convention in June when it meets in Louisville, Kentucky.

Across TEC as dioceses shrink with aging and dying parishioners, and with no new young people coming along to replace them, church coffers are drying up.

The Dioceses of Bethlehem and Central Pennsylvania are exploring merger.

Indianapolis and Northern Indiana are in talks to discuss merger of their dioceses.

Three dioceses of The Episcopal Church in Wisconsin are one step closer to merging into one regional body, which could be finalized at the denominational level next year.

The Episcopal dioceses of Milwaukee, Fond du Lac and Eau Claire each voted separately to approve a resolution to make a final vote to merge during the 2024 Easter season.

The bishops of the dioceses of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont while not talking merger, at least for now say they will serve as assisting bishops in each other's dioceses as part of an effort to increase collaboration in the region.

You would think the church's deep thinkers would start seeing the writing on the wall and ask some very hard questions about how much longer they can keep up the pretense that all is well and that rattling on about woke issues; racism, abortion, sodomy, gay rights, the war in Israel, guns, the border, and more is not making the church grow. In fact, it looks very much like it is emptying the church.

One can only imagine two octogenarians talking in church; Mildred turns to George, and asks; "who was that in the pulpit, dear?"

"It's one of these trannie creatures, my love."

"What's that?"

"Haven't got a clue, but the bishop who is very trendy, says this fellow appears on Tik Tok."

"What's Tik Tok?"

A VOL READER dropped me a line to say churches are closing in the Diocese of Northern California under the watchful eye of Bishop Megan M. Traquair.

Churches that closed are in Rio Vista, Antelope, Marin and Tahoe. Also, the conference ground at Lake Tahoe has been sold. The church in Orland was sold some time ago.

"In some areas, when the church is closed, the diocese returns the money to help people in the local community rather than taking the money."

At the national level, there is a discussion of charging the Episcopal Relief and Development for rent and personnel services. There was strong opposition to that idea once people became aware of it.

THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION IN TEC is also taking hits. Among key insights are the shortage of clergy and the aging profile of those currently serving, as well as the changing shape of employment prospects as numerous parish communities themselves undergo change.

The Church Divinity School of the Pacific has announced that in January 2026 it will withdraw from the Graduate Theological Union, a consortium of multi-faith institutions in Berkeley, California, that CDSP helped found in 1962.

The announcement from Stephen Fowl, the seminary's president, and dean since Aug. 1, 2023, said that after the school moves to a fully hybrid model for Master of Divinity students beginning in the summer of 2025, few opportunities will exist for the kind of collaboration GTU has afforded students in the past.

TRANSLATION. They don't have enough students. Seminary education costs are prohibitive, young ordinands are not to be found.

The Episcopal Divinity School will relocate its office to the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York City following EDS' decision earlier this spring to discontinue the affiliation between EDS and Union Theological Seminary at the end of the current academic year.

***

THE LATEST FROM WAR TORN ISRAEL. This comes from an Anglican theologian visiting the area this week. He sent this report.

"On the plane and so far in the conference I have heard and seen stunning things. One of the rabbis from Sderot told us last night of seeing his people murdered and nearly getting killed himself. He said he prays for the Messiah to come "no matter which Messiah he is." Many Sderot refugees in our hotel.

An Arab pastor in Bethlehem spoke of Bible studies he is having among mothers and grandmothers of terrorists; they pray for Jewish soldiers. Much Christian work on the West Bank, much talk here of love for both Jews and Arabs.

The father of a soldier told us last night that before Gaza only 10% of soldiers prayed in the morning. Now it is only 10% who DONT pray.

Huge change in Israeli society. Even the far-left president of Israel said publicly the other day that they pray for the Messiah to come. The Minister of Tourism, a rabbi, told a Christian leader here; "We hope you send missionaries to all the Arabs here."

"But dont you hate missionaries?" He replied, "If you teach them what you believe, we will have peace in the Middle East. The Ultra-orthodox wife of a reservist who just returned from three months in Gaza, "the reason these Jews are marching in the streets for ceasefire is that they dont have God. We know God and know that death is not the end."

"We spent the day on the Gaza envelope, seeing the kibbutzim that were attacked. Grisly, horrifying. Blood dripping down walls next to baby things. Talked with good number of soldier reservists. All have a great spirit."

***

NIGERIAN ANGLICAN ARCHBISHOP SUSPENDS NORTH AMERICAN BISHOP. The Anglican Archbishop of Nigeria, The Most Rev. Dr. Henry C. Ndukuba has approved the suspension of the Rt. Rev. Olukayode Adebogun as a Bishop of the Church of Nigeria (in both his erstwhile role as a Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Trinity (ADOTT) and as the Area Bishop for Canada Missionary Region Area 1 in Canada).

An immediate full investigation and suspension refers to a series of utterances and actions attributed to Bishop Adebogun since the General Synod of the Church of Nigeria (CON) held at Nnewi from 12 to 16 September 2023 which sought to undermine the authority and lawful directives of the Primate of the Church of Nigeria and the General Synod of the Church of Nigeria with regard to the Church of Nigeria Mission in North America and Canada generally. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/nigerian-anglican-archbishop-suspends-north-american-bishop

***

Falls Church, an Anglican congregation in northern VA has retained an outside independent entity to investigate credible reports of sexual abuse by an employee of the church from 1990-2002 who served as the youth director between 1990-1999.

The investigation is proceeding, and dozens of interviews have been conducted as we seek to understand the truth, despite the passage of time. If you have information, please contact the investigation team at confidentialFCA@islerdare.com

***

African Anglican women are flexing their muscles, even as the Global South rises and the West declines. A group of African women bishops met in Kenya in January and released a communique emphasizing the need for authentic women's leadership, and calling on the church to stop its silence on gender inequalities.

"Women of faith shall continually be instruments of hope, transforming the world and offering thoughtful and practical leadership in various issues that affect society; Women of faith are placed at the core of progressive communities and their voices add valuable contributions to build a stronger Church;

Christianity is essentially a 'women's movement' and we are responsible for the growth of the church. We the six Africa Anglican Bishops believe the church needs to acknowledge, encourage, empower, and commission lay people in the ministry of the church to reach all people in their spheres of influence; and promote wholesomeness. You can read more: https://virtueonline.org/africa-anglican-bishops-communique

***

We are watching the biggest schism in American Protestant history. The United Methodist Church, the largest mainline Protestant denomination in the U.S., lost about a quarter of its total churches between 2019 and 2023 due to disaffiliations, according to a new Lewis Center report released this month.

More than 7,600 congregations have received permission to leave the denomination since 2019, according to the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, a research center out of the UMC-affiliated Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. The center's third and final report highlights the disproportionate number and demographics among disaffiliated churches, including how a majority of disaffiliations were in southern jurisdictions. The presenting issue? Homosexuality and homosexual marriage. United Methodist rules forbid same-sex marriage rites and the ordination of "self-avowed practicing homosexuals." It split The Episcopal Church, and looks to split The Church of England.

***

TO BLESS OR NOT TO BLESS? That is the question. Wherever we look, the church continues to get itself tied in knots over same-sex weddings. We have seen the Pope get the entire Roman Catholic hierarchy at odds with itself over whether or not they should bless same sex-couples. Pope Francis issued a Vatican document, Fiducia Supplicans, which authorizes priests to give spontaneous, non-liturgical blessings to couples in irregular situations, which includes same-sex couples.

This naturally has caused a storm within Roman Catholicism: it has been rejected by the entire Catholic church in Africa, while in Europe LGBTQ-etc. activists within the church see it as a watershed moment in their struggle for full recognition.

You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/bless-or-not-bless

***

Has science replaced faith as society moves more and deeper into secularity? Do we even need God when meds more than prayer seem to fix us faster than prayers which might take some time to work.
It has often been said, "All truth is God's truth."

Dr. Bruce E. Atkinson, has written, "On the Bible and Science: Preliminary Principles Associated with God's Revelatory Purposes."

He writes; "It is a horrendously false idea that the Christian faith and empirical science are enemies, that these fields can never come to agreement. While God has directly inspired and authorized the scriptures according to His divine purposes (Isaiah 55:8-11, 2 Timothy 3:14-17), we have to admit that He is also on the side of science."

You can read his take here: https://virtueonline.org/science-and-bible-relationship-revisited

***

THE NEW YEAR is underway, but we are still behind in donations to get the year up and running at full throttle. We could use your help to pay bills. There are no salaries, just the everyday grind to get the word out for pennies on the dollar. We have website and internet bills to pay. There is an associate editor and overseas correspondents and travel to consider. Please, if you can help, here are a couple of ways you can make a tax-deductible donation.

You can send a check to the address below:

VIRTUEONLINE
P.O. Box 111
Shohola, PA 18458

A PayPal donation link can be found here: http://www.virtueonline.org/support.html

If you know someone who would like to receive these bi-weekly news reports, they can subscribe here: https://virtueonline.org/ It is free and nothing is behind a paywall.

Thank you for your support.

David

The most subversive aspect of the He Gets Us campaign (Superbowl ad) may be how it inverts the message of Christ, making "us" the focal point instead of Him. This reflects the therapeutic ethos that defines contemporary liberal culture, and is the antithesis of Christ's call to forsake ourselves and follow him. --- Nate Fischer

We know that true freedom comes by being slaves to Christ. We know that there is strength in weakness. We know that it is more blessed to give than to receive. We know that there is no glory without the cross. We know that we can only receive when we relinquish everything. -- J. C Ryle

"The category of White Evangelical increasingly contains Americans who rarely or never attend church. Being a conservative Christian, in other words, is rapidly becoming less about theological beliefs or religious practice, but rather a commitment to partisanship and political ideology. American Christians who are concerned about the future of their faith should take warning. Planting your beloved faith in the welcoming soil of partisan politics is like burying your loved one in Stephen King's Pet Cemetery. What returns is neither living, nor dead, but something else entirely. Potentially the stuff of horror movies." --Sam Perry, Professor of Sociology at the University of Oklahoma

"Bad political flag-waving means foregrounding partisan politics in settings where they do not belong -- for example, in Christian worship. Making the case for a party's political platform belongs, for example, at the national convention of the party. That's where you can wave your flag properly, but not in Christian worship." -- John Piper is an American Reformed Baptist theologian, pastor, and chancellor of Bethlehem College and Seminary.

Flying the Pride flag is not a way of saying that LGBT people are welcome in the church: it is a way of saying that Christians holding to the truth of Scripture are not welcome. The only people attracted to the church by such a display are those who want to transform, even destroy, the church -- Campbell-Jack at the Grain of Sand blog

A brutal analysis published by Fr. David Goodhew of Middlesbrough, England, a respected voice on Anglican statistics, noted that "usual Sunday" attendance plunged from 950,000 in 2000 to 549,000 in 2022 -- in a national church that claims 26 million members. With children, Sunday numbers fell 23% percent between 2019 and 2022. The Canterbury diocese had 1,600 children in worship in 2019, a sobering number that fell to 1,000 in 2022. -- Terry Mattingly

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
February 16, 2024

AMERICA IS SECULARIZING. The evidence is clear. The question of why is a little more murky. And for American Christians, one likely cause should be sobering--especially during election season.

First, the facts. According to data from Gallup, Pew, and PRRI, the percentage of Americans who identify with any religion is in steady decline, as are those who believe in God, the devil, Heaven, Hell, or angels; who say religion is a very important part of their life; maintain membership in a church or synagogue; or attend church regularly.

In fact, Americans are increasingly aware of religion's waning cultural authority. Since 2010, Gallup shows nearly 74% of Americans on average believe religion is losing its influence on American life. Over the previous ten years, that average was closer to 55%.

It's hard to overstate this point. In 1990, just seven percent of Americans were non-religious -- 30 years later, the "nones" had quadrupled. And new data indicates that nearly half of Generation Z has no religious affiliation.

For decades Episcopalians were known for being the Republican Party at prayer with scores of senators and not a few presidents claiming the mantle of Episcopalian.

Andrea Valentino writing for The Critic says this; "What was once nicknamed the "Republican party at prayer" is now amongst the most progressive churches in the world. In 1976, it explicitly allowed the ordination of women. By 2003, Gene Robinson had become the first openly gay bishop in any major Christian denomination. Transgender ordination was permitted in 2012. Three years on, Michael Curry was elected the church's first black presiding bishop. Same-sex marriage is another area of flux: the church's current stance, formalized in Resolution B012, states that bishops can reject unions in their own dioceses, but must point couples towards more amenable colleagues."

With the leftward swing of the denomination, Episcopalians are more likely to be Democrats, repudiating Christian nationalism, favoring a slew of woke issues, jumping on board LGBTQI issues and homosexual marriage; issues that old school Republicans feel decidedly uncomfortable with and which many reject.

Orthodox Anglicans in the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) have generally made a point of steering clear of partisan political issues; focusing on the gospel, apologetics, church growth, skirting the culture war on politics. They are firmly pro-life; firmly opposed to gay marriage, and opposed to sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman. What is harder to gauge is just who evangelical and Anglo-Catholic Anglicans will vote for in the coming election. Theological conservatism does not necessarily equate to political conservatism. But it is best perhaps not to speculate.

**

THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND rolls from crisis to crisis, seemingly unable to get it right, or control the narrative.

From the dragged-out issue over whether to bless same-sex unions; a failed safeguarding program, Archbishop Justin Welby faces an enormous backlash over Britian's migration policies. One wonders if he will ever get off his depression meds. Most unlikely.

One headline from The Times screamed; "UK: Church allows asylum seekers to exploit it. CofE is naive about motives of migrants who convert yet watches real believers be persecuted."

The story of Abdul Ezedi illustrates the policy black hole that is Britain's asylum system. It also illustrates the moral black hole that is the Church of England, writes Melanie Phillips.

Ezedi, who is suspected of throwing a chemical at a mother and her two young children, is an Afghan asylum seeker who in 2016 was smuggled into Britain in a lorry. His asylum claim was turned down twice, the second time after he was convicted of sexual assault and indecent exposure.

Later, however, he was given permission to remain in Britain after he claimed to have converted to Christianity and a priest vouched that he was "wholly committed" to his new religion. In fact, those who know him have described him as "a good Muslim" who would regularly buy halal meat and who wanted to go back to Afghanistan to find a wife.

Since Christians are persecuted in Afghanistan, Ezedi could claim he would be endangered if he was sent back there. In other words, he underwent baptism in order to game the system. The church says don't blame us for this, we baptised him in good faith and it's the government's job, not ours, to deal with asylum.

This is disingenuous. There's a history of asylum seekers using baptism to boost their claims. Nearly one in seven of the 300 migrants on the Bibby Stockholm barge are currently converting to Christianity.

Former ABC, Lord Carey, launched into the debate saying, "My disagreement with the archbishop and bishops in the House, therefore, is not with their compassion and Christian care for others, but their blindness to what migration is doing to our country -- our culture, our infrastructure and our common life."

Matthew Firth, a former CofE ordinand who moved to better spiritual pastures, expostulated that the Church of England has become 'conveyor belt for asylum seeker fake conversions'. He accused Church leaders of turning a blind eye to 'extraordinary' number of migrants manipulating the system.

A number of British judges wrote that asylum seekers dupe church leaders to avoid deportation. Islamic 'converts' to Christianity claim they face religious persecution in their own country because of their new faith.

The misguided rave in the nave: You can read it here:
https://www.conservativewoman.co.uk/this-misguided-rave-in-the-nave/

All in all, the Church of England has gotten it wrong...again. You can read the full story and links here: https://virtueonline.org/uk-church-allows-asylum-seekers-exploit-it

On the subject of the LLF and General Synod, Evangelical theologian Ian Paul had this to say. Is it 'all fouled up' or 'beyond repair'?

Summary: The new paper for February's General Synod lifts the lid on much that has previously been kept under cover in terms of both significant decisions by bishops and the content of legal advice. What it reveals is not a pretty sight and brings to light the depths of the problems. Drawing on a fuller narrative account, this article highlights 7 disturbing features evident in relation to the process and the actions of the House of Bishops. These cumulatively suggest we should no longer simply resign ourselves to the problems with LLF/PLF being a case of SNAFU (Situation Normal, All Fouled Up) but rather admit we are now, perhaps even systemically, at the stage of FUBAR (Fouled Up Beyond All Repair) given the evidence of:

Concealing decisions from General Synod;
Concealing advice from General Synod;
Misleading General Synod;
Disregarding General Synod;

Can the CofE sink to new levels of duplicity and division? The Church of England's Evangelicals (CEEC) weighed in with President Bishop Julian Henderson asking, why is alternative spiritual oversight needed and why now?

He said the suite of prayers for the blessing of same sex couples, as part of Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF) is a watershed moment marking a departure from the biblical, historic and apostolic teaching of the Church of England on the place for sexual intimacy, the abandonment of the authority of Scripture in its teaching about relationships and the embrace of today's culture on marriage.

"The result is a divided Church at every level -- from the House of Bishops to General Synod, to the local parish. There are a lot of people who are angry, sad, shocked and disappointed by this -- on both sides of the debate, because it either goes too far or does not go far enough. This decision has put the Church of England in a very vulnerable place, where in every local parish church there is now likely to be a difficult, a charged, an emotional discussion about these issues. This is not good news for the Church of England, for its future, for its witness or its relationships locally."

A number of clergy and/or Parochial Church Councils (PCCs) now feel in impaired fellowship with their bishops as a result of their bishop's support for the Prayers of Love and Faith, he said.

He concluded his remarks by saying; "We know that for the next two or three years the CEEC needs to be pursuing 'structural differentiation' with the House of Bishops, if they continue to move away from our Anglican inheritance. Some form of differentiation will need to be created within the life and structures of the Church of England so that orthodoxy and biblical Christianity is secured going forward on a permanent basis."

You can read more here: https://ceec.info/why-is-alternative-spiritual-oversight-needed-and-why-now-bishop-julian-henderson-president-ceec-explains/

However, one noted British journalist wrote VOL about this option saying; "It seems the CEEC have given up on any meaningful idea of episcopacy -- seeing the alternative as someone to offer an occasional pep talk and maybe visit once a year. Lord have mercy."

To round off the insanity, the Church of England synod will meet later this month in London to discuss the biodiversity agenda of the church's overall environment program, racial justice, and Prayers of Love and Faith that ask for God's blessing for same-sex couples. None of this will touch the ordinary citizen who will probably never hear the Good News of God's forgiveness and grace. Your average Brit looking up and seeing a cathedral loaded down with solar panels is hardly likely to shout, "I have seen the light."

Meantime the queer (married) Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, the Very Rev. David Monteith, held a rave in the nave complete with booze for all, which Frank Wright of LifeSiteNews described as 'Desecration': Canterbury Cathedral hosts alcohol-fueled 'silent disco' near tomb of English martyr.

Critics, including Christian Dr. Cajetan Skowronski, protested against the desecration, warning of plans to extend similar events to other cathedrals across Britain.

The cathedral, a destination for millions of Christian pilgrims, hosted the two-night "silent disco" serving alcohol to revelers in headphones.

The events, described in advance by one Catholic writer as "dancing on the grave" of the martyred "Saint" Thomas Becket.

The current dean says he has a reported interest in "getting the youth into church." Really.

Archbishop Welby finally weighed in with a petition and said everyone likes a Silent Disco, but its place is in a nightclub, not in Canterbury Cathedral. The most important Christian church in England.

"The site of the martyrdom and relics of "Saint" Thomas Becket. The repository for the mortal remains of kings, princes and bishops. The destination of millions of pilgrims for centuries, past, present and future. The inspiration for our greatest early work of literature. And most importantly, the epicentre of countless prayers and sacraments -- the House of God. Do not profane this holy site of which you are custodian."

Dr. Gavin Ashenden, a former Anglican bishop, now in the embrace of Rome, slaughtered the event and the behavior of the Dean for allowing this sacrilegious event. You can watch his video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2E2MOiGb6U

BREAKING: Rave Faces Scrutiny: https://www.christianpost.com/news/canterbury-cathedral-faces-scrutiny-for-hosting-silent-disco.html

***

North American Anglicanism is not without its problems especially when it comes to the Anglican Province of Nigeria. A Nigerian Anglican bishop here sued the Nigerian Primate, Henry Ndukuba for libel seeking reinstatement after being suspended from his position.

Charging he was unjustly suspended from ministry and libeled by the Primate of of Nigeria, the Rt. Rev. Olukayode Adebogun says he will seek $707,000 from Archbishop Henry Ndukuba if he is not immediately reinstated.

"Bishop Adebogun was suspended from 2 positions: The Church of Nigeria North American Mission (CONNAM), Missionary Bishop of Canada and as a Bishop of Nigeria because of "utterances and actions" attributed to him. The Primate of the Church of Nigeria and its General Synod claimed these sought to undermine his authority and the church's mission in North America and Canada."

In a letter VOL received; Femi Falana of the Law Firm of Falana & Falana, argues that there is not a "scintilla of evidence" that the bishop made the alleged utterances and actions and that no basis exists for the suspension.

The archbishop hastily set up a panel to investigate charges against the Adebogun, a North American bishop in charge of dioceses and parishes in the US and Canada and said the lawsuit was "premature." We'll keep you posted.

You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/nigerian-anglican-archbishop-suspends-north-american-bishop and here: https://virtueonline.org/nigerian-primate-sets-panel-investigate-suspended-nth-american-bishop

***

THE WAR IN ISRAEL continues to bedevil Christians and secularists alike. There is continuing anti-Semitism; rails against Israel as the purveyors of genocide; with PM Netanyahu digging his heels in, saying the IDF will not stop till Hamas are gone or surrenders and all the hostages released.

One wonders if the whole thing was reversed and the IDF were hiding in tunnels and Hamas was breathing down their necks would the UN demand a halt to the war and for the Hamas hostages to be released? I doubt it.

Anglican theologian Dr. Gerry McDermott made a visit to Israel and brought back a gruesome account of what he saw near Gaza. "I joined a group of Christian leaders, hosted by the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, who came to support Israel in its time of war. We saw blood-spattered walls and bullet holes in baby nurseries on the Gaza envelope. We saw hundreds of burned cars stacked thirty feet high and thousands of others riddled with holes from bullets and rocket-propelled grenades. Baby seats, children's toys, and vacation gear were strewn amid the carnage." You can read his full account here: https://virtueonline.org/devils-face-gaza

You can read my own take on why the two-state solution won't work amidst cries by the US Govt. and other Middle East countries calling for it. Anglican theologian Dr. Gerry McDermott, wrote VOL to say that the so-called two-state solution presumes that there is a "good" Palestinian leadership committed to living in peace side-by-side with the Jewish state. But this is a political fantasy. Only ideologues believe it. Opinion polls run by credible Palestinians show that a vast majority of Palestinians on the West Bank reject it and would vote for Hamas tomorrow if Abbas and his Palestinian Authority (the PA) permitted free elections (which they will not because they know they will lose).You can read it here: https://virtueonline.org/two-state-or-not-two-state-solution-question

***

POPE FRANCIS seems bent on following parts of the Anglican Communion on homosexuality and, it would seem, accepting the possibility of women deacons, perhaps, down the road, women priests.

The Roman Catholic Church has demonstrated its enviable talent for casuistry in recent statements on same-sex marriage.

A same-sex blessing is blessing the person not the relationship. The fact that the two people in the same-sex marriage are being blessed together is purely coincidental; it has nothing to do with the relationship. Nothing at all, writes David of Samizdat, tongue in cheek. One wonders why Anglicans didn't think of that!

The Anglican Communion News Service (ACNS) reports that the Pope met with a number of Church of England bishops to discuss the role of women in the church.

The Rt. Rev. Jo Bailey Wells, the Anglican Communion's deputy secretary general and bishop for episcopal ministry, attended a meeting with Pope Francis and his international Council of Cardinals at the Vatican in Rome.

Two other women also were invited to address the meeting: Linda Pocher, a Salesian sister and professor at the Pontifical Auxilium; and Giuliva Di Beradino, a consecrated sister and teacher from the Diocese of Verona in Italy.

According to the Vatican Press Office, Pope Francis and the cardinals are continuing to deepen "their reflection, begun last December, on the role of women in the church." This meeting was part of a series of four seminars, during which they are seeking to listen to diverse voices and issues on the subject.

Based on what we know here, we can safely say we know where all this is going. The slippery slope of sodomy ends up with women in the pulpit and boys in the bed. Just ask 'call me Ted' Cardinal McCarrick; he's had first-hand experience.

***

SOLA SCRIPTURA IN THE ANGLICAN CHURCH. I have posted an excellent interview between Canon Phil Ashey and Dr. Ashley Null on this topic. It makes for substantive reading on the subject.

Null is a friend of the American Anglican Council, (and a personal friend) and the interview comes on the heels of a recent controversy surfacing online through various articles regarding the place of sola scriptura in Anglican theology and in the upcoming Global South Assembly. How do both sides come together to create a structure that will preserve biblical-faithfulness in the midst of theological controversies that continue today? Dr. Null helps explain the foundations of Anglican thought and the place of sola scriptura in Cranmer's thinking. You can read the interview here: https://virtueonline.org/sola-scriptura-anglican-church

***

STDS IN THE USA. According to a recent CDC report, cases of syphilis are rising in the United States. The report offers an interesting window on contemporary American culture.

First, it features the usual exceptionalism for health issues that are a part of the progressive remaking of society. Just as smoking a cigar is bad but puffing on a joint is OK, so spreading illnesses by being unvaccinated is evil while spreading disease through sexual indulgence is a mere technical problem. And it cannot be addressed in terms of any broader moral framework beyond that provided by "experts"--typically not moral philosophers or theologians but scientists, writes Carl Trueman in FIRST THINGS.

AIDS would be wiped out in a decade if men stopped indulging in anal sex, and bisexuals could not pass it along to women. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/stds-usa

***

Deep Anglicanism: A Brief Guide Paperback -- February 12, 2024
by Gerald McDermott (Author). You can purchase this latest effort by the well-known Anglican author and theologian here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CVLJM25D/

***

CULTURE WARS

He gets us, or does He?: https://virtueonline.org/screwtape-whispers-he-gets-us-lure-us-away-jesus
He Saves Us: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rV3AnTUPiDY
Why we should resist the Conversion therapy ban: https://virtueonline.org/why-we-should-resist-conversion-therapy-ban

***

LENT is a great season for us to intentionally, consciously, remind ourselves that God is God and we are not...we are called to serve and to give of ourselves and to give of our possessions and to recognize the limits of who we are as human beings before God... The greatest joy is in that... in being reminded that we are people living towards death and living in our limits towards death and that Easter is this radical in-breaking of God into the order of things. Lent is the order of things. Easter is the exceptional thing. My hope is that we would fully enter into Lent so that we can fully enter into the joy of Easter. --- Bishop Chip Edgar, Anglican Bishop of SC.

More here: https://virtueonline.org/ash-wednesday-should-lead-us-guilt-grace-gratitude

***

VOL. Thank you for recent donations that have come in to cover our expenses. We are still behind, but things are improving. We could use a few more tax-deductible donations to break even. There are no salaries, just the everyday grind to get the word out for pennies on the dollar. We have website and internet bills to pay. There is an associate editor, webmaster, and overseas correspondents and travel to consider. Please, if you can help, here are a couple of ways you can make a tax-deductible donation.

You can send a check to the address below:

VIRTUEONLINE
P.O. Box 111
Shohola, PA 18458

A PayPal donation link can be found here: http://www.virtueonline.org/support.html

If you know someone who would like to receive these bi-weekly news reports, they can subscribe here: https://virtueonline.org/ It is free and nothing is behind a paywall.

Thank you for your support.

David

From the point of view of the Catholic analyst of world affairs, for whom politics is always downstream from culture, this is what happens when what scholars call "expressive individualism"--self-absorption on steroids--displaces the biblical view of the human condition: That there are truths built into the world and into us, including the truth that we are male and female, distinct but complementary, ordered to communion and fruitfulness. Ideas, as always, have consequences, and the desperately defective ideas of woke culture--the cult of the false trinity of Me, Myself, and I--have now corrupted American diplomacy, endangering both our country and the world." -- George Weigel is the Distinguished Senior Fellow of Washington, D.C.'s Ethics and Public Policy Center

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
March 1, 2024

The Rev. Dr. Ian Paul, a conservative theologian, made a speech at the Church of England Synod this week in which he said the synod was "standing on the brink of a precipice."

"Since the first report on marriage and sexuality in 1979, in contrast with debates about divorce and about the ministry of women, no consensus for change has emerged. The Shared Conversations and the LLF process have taken up most of the last ten years. The result? We are more anxious, more divided, more uncertain. The fateful phrase 'a radical new Christian inclusion' has unleashed a civil war in the Church.

"In that time, adult attendance has fallen 30%, and the decline is accelerating. Child attendance has fallen 40% in the same period. And in the last three years, vocations to ordained ministry have collapsed by 40%. There is a very real prospect that ministry is going to collapse in large parts of the Church of England within the next five years. Where is this on our agenda?

"But here is the other stark reality: Other churches are growing. But we are reluctant to learn from them. We now represent something less than 18% of all Christians in a church on Sunday. We have another eight hours scheduled to talk about LLF. What it will it produce? More division, more frustration, no more progress. Fiddling whilst Canterbury burns doesn't even capture it."

"If we continue this fruitless process, that will be the legacy we leave: the Church of England, a heap of ruins. It is up to us." You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/standing-brink-precipice

When I first posted this; a number of thoughtful responses including those with inside knowledge, suspect Paul has his own motives for saying this which includes his unbridled support of ALPHA projects, cutting off resources from everyone else.

"It is not a solution. The only solution is a change of leadership. And it will take 20 years," said a senior cleric with inside knowledge.

Another well-traveled bishop said this; "This is one of the worst cases of episcopal manipulation and "heroic" head in the sand leadership. For the Church of England to make major changes requires consensus, transparency and a great amount of charity. I have seen none of these. IMHO, I would rather have no bishops than bad bishops. Bishops, or no bishops, sexual depravity is the devil's very effective WMD."

For a fuller reading of what went on at Synod this week, you can read Susie Leafe's excellent take at Anglican Futures, which you can read here: https://virtueonline.org/what-happened-general-synod-living-love-and-faith-feb-24

For another take on the state of the CofE you can read Cornelius Harding's heartfelt plea here: https://virtueonline.org/take-heart-some-reflections-current-state-church-england

"It is easy for the orthodox within the Church of England to feel altogether depressed about the current situation in which they find themselves after all there has been disappointment after disappointment.

"The approval of the Prayers of Love and Faith resource section under canon B5 and the previous decision of the Bishops introducing guidance indicating someone identifying themselves in a gender other than their sex can have this new identity incorporated liturgically hold one thing in common and that is that they avoided the proper process for liturgical or doctrinal reform.

"This is vitally important because it means that rather than the rules of the game legally having been changed as they were so that the Church could ordain women to the Priesthood instead the rules have remained but the umpires have declared they will look the other way."

For a satirical take on synod, Stephen Keeble does a brilliant takedown of Welby and his bishops. A DIABOLICAL SYNOD -- {PART 2)

My Dear Wermwood

I am most impressed that your chief patient, the Primate of All England, opened the recent meeting of the General Synod of the dear CofE by denouncing the agents of the Enemy as malign forces. I am even more impressed that he did this on his own initiative. Celebrated as 'the voice that boiled a billion kettles' when he preached at last year's coronation, and now almost completely devoid of residual restraint, he is by far our most successful archiepiscopal project to date.

Our sustained strategy for enabling the English to worship themselves - the Royal Supremacy over the Church, Parliamentary Democracy and, finally, the General Synod, is bearing great fruit. Since our triumphant suppression of the Book of Common Prayer, our English Anglican clients have long been accustomed to cherishing their infernal dreams rather than worrying about deceitful lusts, appetites, devices and desires. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/diabolical-synod-part-2

You can read Part 1 here: https://virtueonline.org/diabolical-synod

The Church of England suffers from what the late Auburn Traycik, editor of The Christian Challenge called 'Anglican fudge.' Endless synods trying to bless the unblessable. The evangelicals want to stay in the club but want alternative oversight which church leaders will not give them. If you want to leave, then leave everything behind as you exit the door. No building, no vicarage, no salary and reduced or no pension.

We know how it will end because the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby is on the side of the LLF report documenting such blessings, and the church's homosexuals and lesbians will brook no turning back, and will, in time, push for full homosexual marriage. "Blessings" of same-sex couples is just the thin end of the wedge.

Watching the rapidly descending Church of England; there is a report out that the Church of Scotland -- Scotland's Presbyterian counterpart to the Church of England -- is on a remarkably similar trajectory of doctrinal decay and dissolution. In 1982 the Church of Scotland had nearly 920,000 members; last year, that stood at 270,300, a decline of 70%. The average age of its congregants is now 62, and only 60,000 worship in person.

One Church of England bishop noted; "If anyone is looking to start a mission in the UK by buying a handsome church building for peanuts, The Church of Scotland has a large selection waiting for a new owner."

Like the Episcopal Church; The Church of Scotland is on the way out. The only difference is that TEC has money, lots of the green they can throw at every cockamamie woke issue it can find; on the basis that the church remains relevant to the times, even as the gospel is no longer proclaimed and has evaporated from sight.

Just how bad are things in TEC? A report issued by the Episcopal New Service this week around Title IV issues throws light on several dioceses in moral peril.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, who is spending a lot of time these days recovering from heart issues, announced a Title IV transparency webpage detailing cases against bishops, which you read here: https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2024/02/22/presiding-bishop-announces-title-iv-transparency-webpage-detailing-cases-against-bishops/

Anglican Watch which regularly notes Episcopal Church abuse has a report here: "Ten signs your church may be dying": https://www.anglicanwatch.com/ten-signs-your-church-may-be-dying/ There are multiple stories of Episcopal abuse documented here.

Here is what a prominent friend of Anglican Watch, who also is a well-known pastoral counselor, told AW that his best estimate is that 30 percent of clergy meet the clinical definition of having narcissistic personality disorder. As for bishops and other senior officials, his best estimate is 40-50 percent. That's scary stuff. Indeed it is.

I wrote a modestly satirical essay, JESUS, THE 12 AND GENERAL SYNOD which you can read here: https://virtueonline.org/jesus-twelve-and-general-synod

***

BRITAIN AND THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND can't seem to keep its nose out of other peoples' business even though it can't control the agenda of its own church!

Prince William (the late Queen's grandson) said he wanted to see an end to the fighting in Gaza as soon as possible because "too many have been killed."

It has always been an iron rule that the Royal Family never makes political or controversial interventions. Yet Prince William did exactly that --- playing politics, especially since he issued his statement on the eve of a deeply divisive debate on Gaza in the House of Commons. The late Queen would never, ever have done or approved this.

All the while England is experiencing anti-Israel mob intimidation with placards reading, "Death to America,""Death to Israel,""England will be run by Shariah Law" and much more.

Who could doubt it? Social media has been ablaze with abuse and death threats against anyone deemed not to hate Israel enough.

Archbishop Justin Welby is on record saying, "As a religious leader I can say that the killing of so many civilians, the extensive damage to civilian infrastructure cannot be morally justified. I do not have military or political answers to this crisis."

Apparently, he has moral justification for his position on the war, with no mention of the monstrous behavior of Hamas, and their continuing pull to keep Gaza from ever becoming a free and democratic state...with liberty for all. The demonization of Israel is now standard political fare in England. You can read my take here: Britain, Royalty, the Church of England, and the War in Israel: https://virtueonline.org/britain-royalty-church-england-and-war-israel

***

If you doubt that England is not in dire trouble read this piece by Richard Tice in The Telegraph. https://virtueonline.org/while-westminster-bickers-over-lee-anderson-thugs-are-sending-death-threats-reform

Here is a sample:

"While Westminster bickers over Lee Anderson, thugs are sending death threats to Reform. The contrast could not be clearer. Our politicians are playing word games rather than dealing with the growing threat.

"Our nation stands on the precipice. The threat to our way of life and democracy could not be clearer, with the British public looking on in despair.

"Weekend after weekend, the people of our great country witness what looks like a once respected police force pandering in fear to extreme Islamists and anti-Semites on the streets of our capital city. Placards displaying hateful symbols have almost become the norm as our police officers too often stand by and do nothing. Slogans are projected on Big Ben as they stand and watch.

"Two-tiered policing has emboldened those who oppose the core values of our nation. The Mayor of London and the Metropolitan Police boss Sir Mark Rowley have allowed this to happen in our capital, but it is happening elsewhere too."

***

While Anglicans Churches decline in the West, the Global South is rising to the challenge of evangelizing its neighbors and, hopefully bring the gospel back to the West.

Newly consecrated and enthroned Bishops in the Global South Fellowship of Anglicans (GSFA) met in a weeklong formation retreat at Lweza Training and Conference Center in the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda.

Godfrey Olukya, VOL's African Correspondent documents that the retreat brought together new bishops with their wives from Africa, Asia, and Latin America in 12 Provinces.

In his Sermon, Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba of Uganda highlighted the challenges and opportunities that come with being a Bishop.

"The main role of a Bishop is to proclaim the gospel to all nations. It's a new calling with new challenges and many opportunities. A lot of doors are opened but not all are meant to be entered," Archbishop Kaziimba said.

"The work to do is so much that we much appreciate the importance of delegation. Work never grows old. It's only us the workers who grow old. Have time for yourself and family. Choose what to do and what not to do," he added.

In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Global South Fellowship of Anglicans, the Most Rev. Justin Badi. Primate and Archbishop of South Sudan, highlighted the objectives of the Fellowship arguing that it is, "to guard the faith, be united in mission and ministry, establish mutual accountability across members of the Global South and to work for the well-being of the communion."

That is not something Welby wants to hear. His behavior and theology has officially exempted him from his position as primus inter pares of the communion, and he is fast becoming a footnote to global Anglicanism.

***

SELF-ACCEPTANCE IN CHRIST. There has been an ongoing debate about the role of self-esteem in the lives of believers in Jesus Christ. Is high self-esteem even the good thing that the secular world insists that it is? And for Christians, where do spiritual disciplines, self-denial, and the application of the Cross in our lives fit into the picture? What about the value of humility and not thinking too highly of yourself as Paul advised?

Virtueonline asked Dr. Bruce E. Atkinson to examine the whole topic in this 'Me, Myself and I' generation. He has come up with a two-part series for VOL readers that I encourage you to read, learn and inwardly digest.

Part 1. An Interaction between biblical theology and self psychology
(the good, the bad, and the ugly) regarding the issue of self-esteem. Part 1 can be read here: https://virtueonline.org/self-acceptance-christ

Part 2. Examines the Role of the Cross in the Transformation Process and can be read here: https://virtueonline.org/self-acceptance-christ-part-2

***

If you have spent your life trying harder to please God but always falling short, and believing that God has it in for you, then these two pieces are for you:

A couple of articles by one of my favorite theologians Chuck Collins can be seen here: https://virtueonline.org/its-all-about-god-not-you

And here....

https://virtueonline.org/give-me-law-and-gospel-please-never-give-me-law-without-gospel-chuck-collins

***

If you are looking for a good book to read this Eastertide, I cannot recommend too highly this book by Dr. Ashley Null
Eastertide -- Meditations on the Collects of Thomas Cranmer
Author: Ashley Null
Pages: 146 pages
Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other platforms https://www.amazon.com/dp/173590225X?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_F6G3WP718BNGJWXWGDX2&language=en-US

Null is the greatest living scholar on Cranmer today, but he is a man who owns a pastor's heart. You can buy here as well and support Anglican Publishing House.
https://anglicanhousepublishers.org/shop/eastertide/?fbclid=IwAR13KBAvGqQBb5vKk-lz4LDk6ei20eTbpRRMCGCF8XZUgQlP0bUJEnENhkc

***

We are deep into Lent, and there is so much to be both thankful for and repent of. We are people of the way; fallen, hopeful, and, as Paul writes in Ephesians 1:3-14 (NIV): "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight."

I wish you all a holy Lent.

Warmly in Our Lord,

David

When on trial for his faith the apostle Peter said that he would continue preaching Christ, 'And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.' (Acts 4:12) Throughout the New Testament there is an unrelenting insistence that Christ is the sole Saviour and anything else is to be utterly rejected. --- By Campbell

Liberal Christians are more politically active than their conservative counterparts, according to recent data analysis by political scientist and religious statistician Ryan Burge.

Both transgenderism and feminism are erasing real women. Transgenderism tries to make men into women. Feminism wants women to behave like men -- The Ruth Institute

Gaza is virtually one massive underground military base with civilians living on the surface. The callous use of hospitals, schools, and women and children as human shields by Hamas shows how callous and amoral, they are, and how absolutely committed they are to their Charter. It is not rhetoric - they really want to create as much mayhem as possible as they aim to kill every Jewish person in the land of Israel. -- Rev. Dr. Gerry Mcdermott

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
March 15, 2024

IS THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND going to apologize for Christianity? A report by something called the Oversight Group has declared that the Church should say sorry publicly, not just for profiting from the evils of slavery (through investment in the South Sea Company) but for 'seeking to destroy diverse African traditional religious belief systems'. And having apologized, it recommends the Church 'reach beyond theological institutions' and 'enable all Africans to discover the varied belief systems and spiritual practices of their forbears and their efficacy'.

If all beliefs and practices are as good and truthful as each other; if attempts to replace one set of religious ideas with another are wrong, then all Anglican missionary activity is wrong, and some of its bravest modern martyrs, the African Christians who suffered and died for their faith, were misguided, writes William Moore in the Spectator.

Michael Nazir-Ali, the former Bishop of Rochester, is critical of the report. 'The way to do it would've been to say we applaud all the good that was done and is being done today, while acknowledging there were mistakes which need to be put right,' he says. 'But by comparison to the good done, the mistakes are minor.' He cites the use of drums in worship as an example of an African practice which it was wrong for missionaries to eradicate. 'We can now see it's possible to use drums without those pagan associations.' But many other 'very concerning elements of African traditional religions kept people in bondage. No one should apologise for eradicating any of that.'

You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/maligning-missionaries-should-church-england-regret-promotion-christianity
The Church wants to pour as much as one billion pounds ($1.275 billion) into reparations for its historic "racist" sins. And this will resolve what exactly? You can read a slap down here: https://virtueonline.org/woke-grift-bleeding-church-england-dry

Or here: https://virtueonline.org/church-england-replacing-its-christian-nature-fit-woke-frenzy

And here: https://virtueonline.org/should-church-generate-%C2%A31-billion-fund-slavery-reparations

If that wasn't bad enough, the Archbishop of Canterbury continues to show that he is the archbishop of wokerbury. His latest came this week when he went on another apology rant over the alleged islamophobia by Christians in England. He and York Archbishop Stephen Cottrell put out a statement warning the United Kingdom government that its new extremism definition risks "disproportionately targeting Muslim communities" and "driving us apart." Really. What about rising Jew hatred, and vast sections of British 'no go' cities unsafe for Christians to travel in; afraid of being beaten and raped by Islamic mob gangs.

The archbishops suggest labelling a multi-faceted problem as hateful extremism may "vilify the wrong people and risk yet more division." Really.

The problem isn't a bunch of aging milquetoast, 'tea and crumpet' Christians huddling in dying parishes; it is young pro-Palestinian Muslims mobs storming the streets demanding that Israel be exterminated for alleged genocidal attacks in Gaza.

England is slowly becoming Muslim. In England and Wales, the number of Muhammad-worshippers approaches 4 million or 6.5% of the population. According to a 2017 projection the Muslim population in the UK in the year 2050 is likely to number around 13 million.

England might not be a Third World country, but many of its cities now end in 'stan' like Londonstan. As one observer noted; It has terrible roads, awful public transport, crumbling schools, squalid housing for millions of people, prisons so bad European states will not extradite criminals, councils going bust, a neofeudal land 'distribution' system, no tax for the extremely wealthy, the capital city awash with dirty money, criminally inept but unaccountable government, and Britain has ruined one of the best healthcare systems (NHS) in the world. The crisis has led to calls for Britain to scrap universal health care and return to a private or hybrid health system.

As that great Episcopalian Barry Goldwater once said: "moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue; extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice". So, extremism in the eradication of Islam from the face of the earth is no vice.

As if things were not bad enough, we learned from the Religion Media Centre that The Church of England's Parish Finance Statistics 2022 shows that the number of regular givers has fallen each year over the past nine years to stand at around 401,000 in 2022 compared with 572,000 in 2013.

The largest source of income was parish giving at £586 million and the average weekly giving was £16.20, ranging from under £10 in Lincoln to £30 in London. The total income of parishes was £1,055 million and the total expenditure was £1,019 million ($1.3 million).

The report's introduction says this represents a second year of modest growth in parishes' income after the sharp downturn of 2020, but this was eroded by the effects of inflation so that in real terms income was slightly down. Expenditure fell in real terms, reversing the modest recovery in parishes' spending after the COVID pandemic, and was lower in 2022 than in any of the previous 20 years. There was a reduction in expenditure on buildings and over half the increased expenditure between 2021 and 2022 went on church running costs.

Now if you think the sound you are hearing is the death rattle of the Church of England, The Church Times reported 'No churchwardens and vacant PCC posts: an investigation into the church volunteering crisis'

The Church Times wrote to every diocese last month in an attempt to quantify the extent of the recruitment challenge. Those that replied reported that between one quarter and 40 per cent of parishes had only one churchwarden, while between five and 21 per cent had none. One reported that 22 per cent of its parishes were missing one or more people in key positions this January.

Anecdotally, I'd suggest 50 to 60 per cent of our parishes are struggling to fill PCC posts," a diocesan secretary in a rural diocese said. "It simply is getting harder. Congregations are getting smaller and older, the burden and responsibility seems to be getting more onerous -- just dealing with banks seems to be a major headache for many PCCs -- and there has been a general decline in the pool of available volunteers in general in the last few years."

You can read more here: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2024/15-march/features/features/no-churchwardens-and-vacant-pcc-posts-an-investigation-into-the-church-volunteering-crisis

***

In a brilliant analysis on the DECLINE AND FALL OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND, the author Campbell writes that godly Christians have been betrayed by their denomination.

"Sadly today the CofE, an institution which has been of inestimable benefit to Christians across the globe, has been captured by woke ideological extremists who appear determined to set the Church on a course leading to gross doctrinal error and institutional suicide. All this with the support of the liberal bishops and the middle-of-the-road clergy.

"Evident Disdain We have seen helter-skelters and pitch and putt in ancient cathedrals. There have been 'Rave in the Nave' silent discos in cathedrals, including Canterbury where revellers sipping cocktails danced to hits by artists such as Eminem and Britney Spears yards from the site of Becket's murder. All in the name of 'being relevant' and raising money. These activities demonstrate at the least a lack of respect for Christianity and Christians, and at worst a casual blasphemy.

The Islamic call to prayer was heard inside Gloucester Cathedral in 2017. This is an explicit call to worship another god, as well as the proclamation that 'There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.' In 2015, St John's Church, Waterloo, hosted an Islamic jummah salah, or Friday prayer.

We see pride flags flying over and hung within churches, even draped on the altar. One of the seven deadly sins honoured in houses supposedly built for the worship of God, whilst they celebrate what God unambiguously terms an 'abomination' and which excludes people from salvation.

The leadership of the CofE seem determined to give the appearance of believing that what matters most to them is today's zeitgeist. It is apparent that institutionally the Church of England has abandoned Christianity to become a woke lobby group. They would far rather turn their backs on God's Word than disappoint the Pink News. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/decline-and-fall-church-england

And here: https://virtueonline.org/month-mourn-irrelevant-c-e

DUMBING DOWN THE PRIESTHOOD. Unless the Church of England reinstates rigorous college-based training for clerics, it will wither away. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/dumbing-down-priesthood

In other news Justin Welby says he carries personal alarm, (a buzzer that calls the cops when pushed?) amid increasing threats in church. He also said that social media showed that society had 'lost [its] moral compass',

He said he had heard "hate speech" in the past few weeks between members of the church and towards the members, and between and directed at members of parliament, he told the Spectator. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/justin-welby-says-he-carries-personal-alarm-amid-increasing-threats-church

ASYLUM SEEKERS...NOT A former Church of England priest claims that many asylum seekers he came across withdrew their interest in baptism upon being asked to participate in church activities to ensure they weren't just looking to bolster their asylum applications, drawing pushback from the diocese.

Matthew Firth, who served at St. Cuthbert's in Darlington before leaving the Church of England for the Free Church of England in 2020, gave testimony to the Home Affairs Select Committee on Tuesday. He recounted his experience with asylum seekers at his church between 2018 and 2020.

His testimony comes after judges voiced concern that church leaders are being "duped" by asylum seekers who claim to convert to Christianity to evade deportation amid heightened scrutiny following the Clapham chemical attack. The attacker, Abdul Ezedi, was reportedly granted asylum on the grounds of conversion to Christianity at a Baptist church. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/asylum-seekers-melt-away-when-asked-be-involved-church-baptisms-priest-says

***

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH is watching as its chickens come home to roost. With an open marriage stance and anything goes sexuality, some of its bishops are finding themselves groin deep in sexual sin. Ailing Presiding Bishop Michael Curry must now contend with six bishops caught up in scandals which are rocking TEC to its core. Michael Curry plus five others.

Bishop Curry announced this week that six bishops face Title IV canons charges over their failure to deal with flagrant violations of abuse, some of them sexual, in their dioceses.

A letter from Curry announcing the publication of the details online says that "experience over the past several years with Title IV matters involving bishops has given rise to calls for more transparency in the process. Given the current atmosphere, I have chosen to exercise my canonical discretion to adopt a general protocol for transparency in Title IV matters involving bishops. The protocol will provide for greater transparency around Title IV processes while also appropriately protecting privacy."

Translation: Curry is getting his butt kicked by the feisty Anglican Watch website https://www.anglicanwatch.com/ which has been doggedly detailing the sexual and other hijinks of bishops who thought they could get away with it.

You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/ailing-presiding-bishop-and-six-bishops-face-title-iv-violations

***

The tenuous relationship between the Anglican Church of Nigeria and the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) remains so; but it took an uglier twist this week when an internal squabble arose when Nigerian-based Anglican Diocese of The Trinity (ADOTT) in North America won a court case over a dissolution claim by the Nigerian Anglican province.

Rebuffing Nigeria's Primate and Archbishop Henry Ndukuba, an Indiana trial court ruled that the province had no right to dissolve the North American Anglican Diocese of the Trinity (ADOTT). In January of 2024 the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) suspended the Rt. Rev. Olukayode Adebogun from his role as a cleric in the church for little more than unjustifiable disobedience.

The Indiana Court decided in favor of the Anglican Diocese of The Trinity (ADOTT) in a case brought by the Anglican Church of Nigeria's Primate Henry Ndukuba and Nigerian Bishop Nathan Kanu in a power grab for the diocese by the Nigerian province. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/anglican-diocese-trinity-wins-court-case-over-dissolution-claim-nigerian-anglican-province

***

The Anglican Church of Nigeria continued its attacks against the homosexual agenda of the West, which must cause heartburn to Justin Welby. This week the Church of Nigeria again made its position public on the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQI) controversy, condemning, without equivocations, their gradual infiltration into human culture and practice.

According to the Dean of the Church of Nigeria, the Most Rev. Dr. Blessing Enyidah, the Holy Scriptures, and the entire body of Christ unreservedly frown at homosexuality and related unnatural sexual orientations.

Speaking on the "Structure and Doctrine of the Church of Nigeria", the Dean who is also the Bishop of Ikwere Diocese in Rivers State said, "Against the back-drop of the Scriptures and Church of Christ, the Anglican Church in Nigeria has repeatedly condemned and rejected LGBTQI and all homosexual acts". You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/church-nigeria-frowns-homosexuality-others-describes-them-ungodly-acts

***

ACNA calls for prayer as their College of Bishops meet in Conclave beginning on June 20th at St. Vincent's Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania to seek the Lord and select a new archbishop. This will be followed by their Provincial Assembly (June 26-28), at the conclusion of which the new Archbishop will begin his term.

***

Episcopal Chaplains Sought for 'Identity-affirming Spiritual Care', writes Jeff Walton of Juicy Ecumenism. The Episcopal Church's House of Bishops Spring meeting held earlier this week at Camp Allen in Navasota, Texas included a brief update that readers may find of interest:

"The Rt. Rev. Ann Ritonia, bishop suffragan for Armed Forces and Federal Ministries, told the bishops that there are 104 Episcopal chaplains, including 94 in active military duty, seven ministering in Veterans Affairs, and three ministering in federal prisons. She emphasized the need to encourage vocations in military chaplaincy, particularly to ensure that LGBTQ+ service members have access to identity-affirming spiritual care."

So regularizing sexual sin is no longer big news in TEC, but what is of interest is that the Anglican Church in North America's Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy (the endorsing agency and canonical residence for professional chaplains with the ACNA and other participating Anglican bodies) has more than 300 chaplains, of which 187 are active-duty military. This is despite being a smaller denomination than the Episcopal Church as measured by membership. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/episcopal-chaplains-sought-identity-affirming-spiritual-care

***

THE WAR IN ISRAEL remains a hot button issue for the Archbishop of Canterbury. He spoke with the Rev. Dr. @MuntherIsaac, (Palestinian Christian pastor and theologian) this week and after listening to him he continued to be deeply horrified by Israel's bombardment and siege of Gaza. "I condemn the killing of Palestinian civilians, the destruction of homes and neighbourhoods, and pushing people to the brink of starvation -- there is no moral justification for this," he said.

VOL: And where is the moral justification for Hamas using fellow Gazans as human shields and refusing to release Israeli hostages being held as pawns. Israel could wipe Gaza off the map if they wanted too, but they have not done so. They are abiding by the rules of war with targeted bombings, something Hamas would never bother to do if the situation were reversed. Using the humanitarian crisis to stop the war is a non-starter for Israel. Hamas is garnering international sympathy by keeping the talks going, at the same time applying pressure on Israel to end the conflict.

If homes and neighborhoods are being destroyed it is because Hamas terrorists are underground in tunnels fueling the war on the surface and using Palestinians as pawns to kill IDF soldiers; steadfastly refusing to release the hostages.

Would the UN even take up the case for genocide if Hamas was in control of the situation and they were hunting down Jews in tunnels under Gaza? Welby makes no mention of the hostages. His whine is for Palestinians because a handful happen to be Anglicans.

The archbishop's stance shows complete naivete, it is stupid at best, and at worst a complete capitulation to Hamas. In short, Hamas wins, Israel loses. That, however is not going to happen. PM Bibi Netanyahu has made it abundantly clear he will not stop; there will be no negotiation while even one Hamas lives and Qatar should think seriously about kicking out the Hamas leadership from their country until they are serious about negotiating with Israel. You can read more here:
https://virtueonline.org/despite-death-toll-israel-must-take-rafah-and-end-war and here: https://virtueonline.org/israel-would-not-exist-if-hamas-or-iran-ever-had-its-way
***

CULTURE WARS The following is a selection of stories

This is where the Transgender Movement is going: https://virtueonline.org/where-transgender-movement-going

A cry from the heart to keep England's cathedrals sacred
https://virtueonline.org/cry-heart-keep-englands-cathedrals-sacred

Abortion is Running Out of Babies
https://virtueonline.org/abortion-running-out-babies

Even atheists can see through the trans delusion
https://virtueonline.org/even-atheists-can-see-through-trans-delusion

We Need to Purge Wokeness From Our Churches and Rescue Christianity From
Cultural Marxism
https://virtueonline.org/even-atheists-can-see-through-trans-delusion

SPECIALTY ARTICLES WRITTEN BY SELECT THEOLOGIANS CAN BE READ HERE:

AI Demonic: A Spiritual Exploration of AI
https://virtueonline.org/ai-demonic-spiritual-exploration-ai

PROPHETS OF FRAGMENTATION
https://virtueonline.org/prophets-fragmentation

Be Not Blown About By Every Fad
https://virtueonline.org/be-not-blown-about-every-fad
A DECIDEDLY DIABOLICAL SYNOD -- (PART 3)
https://virtueonline.org/decididly-diabolical-synod-part-3

PURE THEOLOGY

No Creed but the Bible by Carl Trueman
https://virtueonline.org/unpacking-no-creed-bible

Be not blown about by every fad
https://virtueonline.org/be-not-blown-about-every-fad

It's all about God not you by Chuck Collins
https://virtueonline.org/its-all-about-god-not-you

***

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David

PS. WE ARE UNDERGOING CHANGES WITH A NEW WEBSITE, AND A CHANGE OF HOW VIEWPOINTS IS SENT OUT. We are cleaning up our lists. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you, please bear with us.

Do not underestimate the will and force of Satan to supplant Christianity with this perverse woke religion through which he seeks to eclipse truth. His aim is to starve humanity of the truth of the Gospel -- Doug Mainwaring for LifeSite News

The Catholic Church saw the largest decline in religious affiliation of any religious group in 2023. -- Religion News Service

Our urgent need today is not to follow the path into decadence but to enhance our capacity for guilt by repentance and forgiveness. St. Paul has taught us: "Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so let every mouth be stopped and all the world become guilty before God" (Rom. 3:19) and "...God has consigned all men to disobedience so that he might have mercy upon all" (Rom. 11:32). -- Bishop C. FitzSimons Allison

The West's preoccupation with material wealth and economic growth is a sign of its moral decadence and spiritual poverty. The recent history of the West is a tale of moral decline, in which those robust virtues needed to build a civilization have been slowly corrupted by materialism and complacency. Our nations have become geographical areas without purpose where our governing class, in Wilde's words, 'know the price of everything and the value of nothing'. The shallow Left who control our media and politics have abandoned the intellect in order to shelter in emotion. For them the greatest sin of all is disagreement, which they term 'hate'. -- Campbell Campbell-Jack

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
March 29, 2024

PEOPLE often write and ask me, 'have we reached the bottom of the pit yet, are their further depths the Anglican Communion has yet to plunge before the insanity ends.'

It's a good question and worth answering. The short answer is no. I thought that when The Episcopal Church fully embraced homosexual marriage, and then turned around and kicked out a bishop who disagreed with that decision, despite all the lovely talk about inclusion and diversity, that we had reached the bottom? Not even close.

The full range of accepting LGBTQI sexualities had yet to kick in, and then along came the whole transgender nightmare. Boys wanting to be girls and vice versa; hormone replacement therapy; banning reparative therapy when there was overwhelming evidence that it worked. Anti-racism training for aging geriatrics; reparations for crimes like slavery they never committed, and to top it off apologizing for Christianity itself. Missionaries who gave their lives to bring the gospel to Africa and other parts of the world were now being vilified, their lives shredded, statues torn down, because they dared to say 'Jesus saves,' and 'there is no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved.' Such absolutes mock Islam. There are photos of the Archbishop of Canterbury hosting hardline Islamists for tea and cake; leaders who will, in time, (replete with smiles), replace the Bible with the Koran, kicking the ABC to the curb.

One unspeakable evil is western Anglican efforts to infiltrate and turn orthodox African Anglican provinces on the issue of homosexuality. To date they have not been very successful, (except Southern Africa), but money is a powerful weapon for financially struggling provinces.

One unholy act was allowing a married homosexual to be the new dean of the iconic and historic Canterbury cathedral. This degradation, for me personally, where I had worshipped attending several Lambeth conferences, was the final straw. I could not, in all honesty darken the doors of the cathedral again. It is spiritually dead to me. I suspect I am not the only one who feels this way. Mercifully I will be dead when and if there is ever another Lambeth Conference.

The biggest offender and compromiser in this slow but steady erosion and desecration of the faith is the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.

He is steadily eroding the foundations of 'the faith once for all delivered to the saints.' The mother church is no more for millions of African Anglicans who once saw the Church of England as their historic home. Today a dozen GAFCON primates no longer recognize the ABC as primus inter pares, they have turned their backs on him. He is dead to them.

It's a tragedy beyond all human understanding.
I wish I could tell you that revival is on the way, but I cannot. Sin in all is forms is becoming more deeply embedded in the life of the communion. CofE Synod bishops compromise their souls every time they gather. The Church of England is toying with a soft core 'living in love and faith' report, blessing same-sex unions,
that will in time become the law of the church, with full blown homosexual marriage just a few years away. There is talk of schism in the CofE, but that is probably not going to happen. Church and state are too intertwined to allow a parallel church.

The archbishop himself has been asked to resign on several occasions but is steadfastly refusing to do so. He is two years from retirement.

To say it is an unholy mess is to state the obvious. Perhaps the final descent is about to begin. We shall see.

***

The Anglican Church in North America will celebrate 15 years as a Province this June 2024. Reflecting on the early formation of the Province, Archbishop Emeritus Duncan said, "you trust the Lord and you say your prayers. It's amazing how the Lord shows up and shows you a way when you thought there was no way."

The theme for this year's Provincial Assembly is, "Rejoice, Pray, Give Thanks" which will also be the occasion for the election of a new archbishop to replace Archbishop Foley Beach. By April 2 we will have a list of candidates. The assembly will be held at Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA from June 25-28, 2024.

Recent figures show Anglican congregations in the United States, Canada and Mexico reporting a significant attendance increase of 17,228 persons following a widespread return to regular worship services post-COVID. The Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) reported modest growth in both membership and total number of churches in 2022.

Overall Average Principal Service Attendance in 2022 was 75,583, up 30 percent from 58,255 in 2021. Membership increased 2,549 (up 2 percent from 122,450) in 2021 to 124,999 in 2022. Congregations grew by three to 977 total. 2023 totals will be revealed at the conference. The ACNA has a higher Sunday attendance than the Anglican Church of Canada.

***

A rising star in TEC, the Episcopal Bishop of Wyoming, the Rt. Rev. Paul-Gordon Chandler, has been deposed under Title IV charges brought against him. The Rt. Rev. Mary Gray-Reeves, acting in her role as presiding bishop-designate for some Title IV matters, made the announcement.

The Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs provided no information about the nature of the allegations against Chandler, though a letter to the diocese from the chair of its standing committee cited "an alleged indiscretion with a member of our diocesan team."

Under the terms of the accord, Chandler has voluntarily submitted to a sentence of deposition, which deprives him of the right to exercise the gifts and spiritual authority of God's word and sacraments conferred at ordination.

A native of West Africa, he previously served as rector of the Anglican Church in Qatar and is also known for his work as an art curator. He was founder of CARAVAN, an international nonprofit affiliated with The Episcopal Church that uses art to bring people together. This year, Chandler helped create a touring art exhibition, "Grounded," that features the works of 15 Native American Artists. He had been scheduled to speak on Oct. 16 in Charleston, South Carolina, about his book on Kahlil Gibran, but that event was canceled by the organizer three days earlier without explanation. (ENS contributed to this report).

The resolution of Chandler's case comes at a time when bishops and other church leaders have been calling for greater oversight and transparency in disciplinary cases involving bishops.

***

THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA IS ON DEATH WATCH. It will come as no surprise that that the ACoC is slowly going out of business. VOL has been tracking the numbers for years. The latest figures released by the national church reveal a church with an overall average Sunday attendance in 2024 of 64,774 down from 172,255 in 1999.

In 2017, the last time there was a public census, the Anglican Church of Canada had an average Sunday attendance of 97,421 -- a one third drop. The church which took a serious hit through COVID has not recovered, and now seems unlikely it will.

The better news is that Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) is now bigger than the ACoC and has been growing exponentially year over year for the 15 years it has been in business. In June they will select their third Primate with a vision to keep spreading the gospel which the ACoC has been failing to do for as long as I remember. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/anglican-church-canada-death-watch

***

The flagship St. Thomas Episcopal Church, in New York City is in deep financial trouble and is making plans to close its school music program as money drains from plate, pledge and endowments.

An ominous report put out by the vestry of the flagship St. Thomas Episcopal Church on New York city's illustrious Fifth Avenue, reveals a church in long-term decline both in numbers and income, erupting in closure of its choir school and a down grading of its historic programs.

St. Thomas Fifth Avenue, built on "millionaires Row" because of its ostentatious mansions, now finds its general fund has depleted to a point of critical concern and the Vestry has advised the School Board of Trustees that the current Choir School is at risk of closure.

The vestry warned that for the past 50 years, St. Thomas Church has balanced its budget by drawing what was needed from invested funds and spending bequests as they came in, but successive treasurers have warned that this practice was unsustainable. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/nyc-flagship-episcopal-church-deep-financial-trouble

***

To say that the Archbishop of Canterbury is increasingly out of touch with reality is probably to state the obvious.

The Living in Love and Faith (LLF) report will probably split the church if conservative concerns are ignored or sidelined in favor of the woke left dictating the terms of future sexual behavior.

If you think pouring 30 million pounds ($38 Million) into various climate change proposals to reach net zero by 2030 is right, you are probably rolling your eyes.

Finally, if you think pouring a billion pounds ($1.263 Billion) into reparations for something which you and he never did, will salve the church's conscience over long-outlawed slave trade, when local vicars can barely put food on the table and their parishes are leaking like sieves, then you get the picture. See this excellent article on the subject of reparations here: https://www.christiantoday.com/article/is.there.a.biblical.case.for.making.reparations.for.slavery/141525.htm

A former race tsar in the UK says the reparation fund is almost bribery. You san read what he says here: https://virtueonline.org/former-race-tsar-says-reparation-fund-almost-bribery

Welby, realizing the growing criticism of reparations wrote his own reasoning here: https://virtueonline.org/benefits-billion-pound-slavery-fund-will-reach-far-and-wide-justin-welby

***

Just when you think things couldn't get worse, we learned this week that up to a quarter of Church of England parishes have no wardens. The voluntary role is responsible for a number of duties, including the maintenance of church buildings.

They are also generally responsible for the day-to-day functioning of the parish. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/quarter-church-england-parishes-have-no-wardens

***

Once upon a time, people used to speak about a Christian mission to "darkest Africa". The extent of the change is visible in a job advert recently put out by the Diocese of York. It appears to be announcing a mission to whitest England.

The diocese is seeking a "racial justice enabler", a half-time post for which he/she will be paid £32,000 -- more than double the annual rate of pay for a full-time vicar. Thrown in on top of the pension scheme are free parking in York, the benefits of a cycle to work scheme and eye-care vouchers.

Charles Moore of the Telegraph breaks it down. First of all, the post will not be offered to a white person. The ad cannot state as much (such racial discrimination is against the law), but I think that is what the "person specification" means when it says that the successful candidate will have "a passion for racial justice and radical hospitality borne out of lived experience".

I am not sufficiently educated in modern missionary lingo to know exactly what "radical hospitality" means, but I do know that "lived experience" is something that white people, in racial questions, are considered incapable of possessing.

"I find this all rather tragic. Christianity is at a low ebb in most of Europe. Energetic missionaries from black Africa would be very welcome. Instead, an Anglican diocese is disrespecting "those who our biases cause us not to see" -- 97 per cent of its population." You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/racial-justice-enablers-hills-north-rejoice

***

Justin Welby the Archbishop of Canterbury has once again jumped in with both feet on the war in Israel, urging Israel to a ceasefire so hungry Gazans can be fed.

His noble intentions notwithstanding, any kind of a ceasefire only benefits Hamas.

Food is getting into Gaza by air, sea, and land; but not enough to feed 1.5 million Gazans we are told. We are also not told that when food does arrive and Gazans scrounge for food and water, Hamas sits on a rich trove of supplies. The Israeli military has deployed troops to "secure the area" around a jetty bringing food from Cyprus while cargoes of aid are unloaded. So, without naming Israel by name, Welby puts the onus for peace on the democratic state, mentioning in passing the hostages being held by Hamas. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/archbishop-canterburys-misplaced-compassion-over-israel

FOR A BRILLIANT TAKE DOWN ON THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND, read this by Campbell Campbell-Jack.

"There are many good and godly men and women in the Church of England who simply want to worship and serve God as best they can in the way their parents did. There are ministers whose preaching and teaching has enriched us and whose books Christians read with profit. Such Christians have been betrayed by their denomination.

"Sadly today the CofE, an institution which has been of inestimable benefit to Christians across the globe, has been captured by woke ideological extremists who appear determined to set the Church on a course leading to gross doctrinal error and institutional suicide. All this with the support of the liberal bishops and the middle-of-the-road clergy."

"The CofE has drifted so far from the faith that it has come to renounce what was once held and which made it a church. Many of the leaders of the CofE pretend to be something they are not, they profess adherence to a creed in which they no longer believe." You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/decline-and-fall-church-england

You can read another take here: https://virtueonline.org/church-england-replacing-its-christian-nature-fit-woke-frenzy

***

JEWS, GENOCIDE AND THE FUTURE OF ISRAEL. Jews make up just 0.2% of the world's population yet they experienced harassment by governments and social groups or individuals in 91 countries in 2021, down from 94 countries in 2020.

With friends Like Chuck Schumer, who needs enemies? The Gaza War rumbles on, and increasingly the US is acting like it is taking up Hamas's case without mentioning the word; while IDF forces thread the needle, killing Hamas terrorists while avoiding Gazan citizens as best it can in a war that could end in 24 hours if Hamas surrendered its remaining forces and freed the 130, mainly Jewish hostages.

But Hamas is on a suicidal mission and public relations campaign dragging out the war to garner worldwide sympathy and support. A case in point. Every time NPR shows us the war, it is always about civilians being wounded in Gaza and rushed into hospitals where limited resources are available to heal them.

No mention is ever made of the fact that hospitals are Hamas hotspots for terrorists using Gazans as shields while IDF forces do their best to uncover tunnels underneath the hospitals where the terrorists hide. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/jews-genocide-and-future-israel

***

NIGERIA faces internal pain not only with some 5,000 Christians murdered by Islamic terrorists; an Anglican Archbishop says the situation in his country "remains dire with hunger, violent acts and protests proving not to be the answer."

"We must strongly resist the temptation of falling into the hands of our enemies, including bandits and terrorists, who will not miss any opportunity to overrun this country, should there be any breakdown of law and order," said the Anglican Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, the Most Rev. David Onuoha. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/nigeria-archbishop-says-nigerian-situation-remains-dire

***

The Anglican Province of Uganda is going through a nightmarish situation with what looks to be a split in its ranks.

'Bishop' Charles Okunya Ooode, formerly Bishop-elect in Uganda's Anglican Church, became a religious rebel a year ago and started a breakaway Church in the Eastern Uganda Diocese of Kumi and called it Reformed Anglican Church.

He gained some followers and they grabbed 34 Churches belonging to the Anglican Church and sent away the priests and workers.

But last week, The Church of Uganda, Diocese of Kumi started an operation to reclaim the churches previously taken over by the RAC its members and Bishop Oode.

According to The Independent magazine, an operation started March 8, was led by the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, The Most Rev. Dr. Samuel Stephen Kazimba Mugalu and the Bishop of Kumi Diocese, Rt. Rev. Michael Okwi Esakhan in the company of security heads and local government leaders in Kumi and Ngora districts.

Archbishop Kaziinga was called in to take back churches that had absconded to the Reform Episcopal Church. https://virtueonline.org/anglican-church-uganda-reclaims-34-churches

And here: https://virtueonline.org/anglican-archbishop-uganda-blocked-enter-some-churches-rebellious-anglican-church-group

Now the Reformed Anglican Church which recently became popular in eastern Uganda Anglican Church (also called Church of Uganda) Diocese of Kumi has started spreading to other parts of the country.

In Kumi Diocese, it broke away from the Anglican Church of Uganda after a disagreement on the appointment of a new Bishop in Kumi Diocese. It has now been introduced in western Uganda in Kigezi Sub region.

According to the Redpepper publication, Christians in Kigezi Anglican Church Archdeaconry have an additional sect to exercise their right to worship following the introduction of the Reformed Anglican Church in their region. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/reformed-anglican-church-introduced-western-uganda-archdeaconary

***

THERE IS MORE DISQUIETING NEWS ON THE HOME FRONT. A recent Gallup poll reveals that more than half of Americans rarely go to church.

"The most popular church in America might be St. Mattress, followed by Bedside Baptist.

"Those two -- euphemisms for sleeping in on Sundays -- increasingly describe the attitude of many Americans toward attending churches or other houses of worship.

"More than half of Americans (56%) say they seldom or never attend religious services, according to new data from Gallup. Less than a third (30%) say they attend on a weekly or almost weekly basis.

"Gallup found that almost all of the so-called Nones (95%) say they seldom or never attend services. More than half of Jews, Buddhists, Hindus and Orthodox Christians say they rarely attend as well.

"Among religious Americans, Latter-Day Saints (67%) are most likely to say they attend weekly or almost weekly, followed by Protestants (44%), Muslims (38%) and Catholics (33%)."

The lesson for liberals and revisionists is this -- your focus on woke issues is not working. Sermons on these issues is not filling pews. Most of that information is available on social media, one doesn't need to attend church to hear it spouted at you from the pulpit.

Conservatives should also learn the lesson that politicizing the gospel is not a winning strategy. Plugging for a certain candidate to win the next election has little to do with gospel proclamation. In fact, it might harm winning over skeptics, agnostics and atheists into hearing our gospel.

You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/gallup-poll-more-half-americans-rarely-go-church

***

CULTURE WARS

People say they're leaving religion due to anti-LGBTQ teachings and sexual abuse.
https://virtueonline.org/people-say-theyre-leaving-religion-due-anti-lgbtq-teachings-and-sexual-abuse

The evil trans ideology is in retreat, at last
https://virtueonline.org/evil-trans-ideology-retreat-last

THEOLOGY STORIES FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

Paradoxes in Passion Week by John Stackhouse
https://virtueonline.org/paradoxes-passion-week

THOMAS CRANMER: The Most Important Theologian of the English Reformation by Chuck Collins
https://virtueonline.org/thomas-cranmer-most-important-theologian-english-reformation

WHO'S YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS? By Chuck Collins
https://virtueonline.org/whos-your-righteousness-0

I Believe in the Death of Julius Caesar and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ by Steve Bateman
https://virtueonline.org/i-believe-death-julius-caesar-and-resurrection-jesus-christ

***

Dear friends,

Over a year ago I learned that my webmaster James Syrow had been stricken with ALS at the tender age of 41. ALS is considered to be among the top 1-to-2 worst neurological diseases a person can get, worse than Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

He writes: "In just 18 months, Larisa and I have gone from the news that my ALS is incurable with a lifespan of 2-to-4 years -- to watching it kill off muscles one by one -- to finally being unable to move, speak, walk, shift in bed, or even lift my hands to scratch an itch. On the surface, the grim prognosis of the doctors was coming true. But we also knew of a counter-narrative: that there HAVE been people who overcame ALS. What's more, they all followed a similar course of treatment.

We have hired a full-time caretaker, to help me from morning to evening. He makes me walk daily, to spur bodily recovery. He is in addition to hiring a babysitter we need to have for our kids. We are also pursuing a huge number of treatments, like the very expensive dental procedure in 2023 to replace all of my old mercury (!) tooth fillings which were poisoning me. But what really kicked off my recovery four months ago was a crazy new therapy called Klawitherapy.

Now I need your help. Help me raise $25,000 so I can receive all of the necessary treatments, and finish my recovery. Together, we can beat this! Thank you all, James Syrow and Family."

If you can help James then please hit the gofundme button below:
https://gofund.me/157d3d48

***

ACNA Archbishop Foley Beach writes: "In Holy Week I encourage you to invite friends and family to Holy Week services. What did Mary do on Easter morning after she found the tomb empty and then encountered the risen Lord? She went back and told the disciples and her friends! Likewise, we are challenged to reach out and invite those we know to church in this special season. Share the good news this Holy Week, the transforming love of the risen Savior, Jesus Christ!"

VOL wishes all its readers a blessed Easter.

David

Nigeria remained the deadliest place in the world to follow Christ, with 4,118 people killed for their faith from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023, according to Open Doors' 2024 World Watch List (WWL) report.

The devil is smart enough to use hollow, cultural Christianity to make us atheists in the long run, to realize that the best way to take down a cross is to replace it with a culture, a crown, or a cathedral--or a Christmas tree. --- Russell Moore

While we may not be facing the prospect of imminent death or being banished to the gulags, living out our faith well still requires the moral courage to stand against the culture when the culture stands against God. -- Alexei Navalny

Lost people are going to act like lost people, so we shouldn't expect Christ to change our culture without first changing the people in it. -- Ryan Denison

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
www.virtueonline.org
April 12, 2024

Come June and The Episcopal Church will elect a new presiding bishop. Four candidates are listed; all men, two whites, one Hispanic and one black, all straight; no women, no lesbians, or male homosexuals. Why there has been no outcry about the lack of diversity and inclusion is mind blowing. It speaks volumes about the contrarian state of the church. Wot no women! No queer candidates? Pick me off the floor Mildred.

The Episcopal Church is in desperate trouble. The decline in attendance between 2021 and 2022 was the largest on record - 5.6%. While average Sunday attendance (ASA) "declined dramatically" during the pandemic in 2020-2021, in 2022 the church did see a brief uptick to 372,952. The age of an average Episcopalian is 69. Membership has gone from 3.4 million in 1960 to 1.58 million in 2022. Only a zombie apocalypse much like that which followed the death of Jesus, when Matthew report that tombs broke open and the saints inside were resurrected, could TEC be saved.

By limiting the church's top slot to mostly white men, it is signaling that one of them can hopefully pull the church back from the brink. In truth they are moderate men of all shades of opinion, but united by a common belief that anything goes if you gloss it with a little creed, expensive robes, and miters, aided and abetted with shows of public piety when the occasion calls for it. But homosexual marriage (B012) is encased in Episcopal stone and nothing will reverse the ongoing downward trend. God is never mocked. TEC is reaping what it has sown.

You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/why-next-episcopal-presiding-bishop-really-doesnt-matter

***

This begs the obvious question, what will the Church of Jesus Christ look like in 2050?

New York Times columnist Ross Douthart says that by 2050 the church in America will look very different from the church today. He observes that another survey showing religion's recent ebb from Gallup, confirms a deepening of the 21st-century decline in church attendance.

The American church is in decline, the dechurched (now unchurched) numbers are increasing, with Nones on the rise (people with no religion), and Gen. Z seriously uninterested in historic Christianity. Biblical illiteracy is on the rise along with the parallel rise of mysticism (Douthart's belief) and the occult in all its manifestations. The mainline denominations will be all but gone.

Today most Gen Z's, Baby boomers or Gen-Exers couldn't tell the difference between a Presbyterian and Episcopalian. Furthermore, they don't care. The differences are irrelevant to their lives consumed as they are by Tik Tok, Taylor Swift, AI, animation, and new forms of social media.

Douthart believes that the main alternative to traditional religion, a faith in secular progress, has entered its own crisis of commitment and belief, with mysticism creeping back in around secularism's edges. He may be right. I would also argue that with the loss of Christian faith is seeing a concurrent rise in paganism.

"With apologies to the likes of Dawkins, Christianity's decline across the West doesn't mean that secular liberalism, much less atheism, will triumph, but that a new religious creed will take its place. And make no mistake: This new form of paganism will bring with it all the violence and oppression common to every pagan empire across the dreary ages of the world. Instead of citizens in a self-governing republic, we will find ourselves slaves in a pagan empire," writes John Daniel Davidson a senior editor at The Federalist.

You can read more of my analysis here: https://virtueonline.org/what-will-church-look-2050

***

IS THE END NIGH FOR THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND?Anglican Futures an orthodox Anglican blog in the Church of England has said the unsayable, but nonetheless believable truth that the Church of England as presently constructed and being run, is over and its end is nigh.

Some call it "terminal orthodoxy" and others "cut flower" Anglicanism. Both terms express the idea that even if the position of the faithful in the Church of England in 2024 is currently tenable, the situation is unlikely to last beyond the present generation. And for that reason, it is also sometimes known as the "one generation strategy"- make hay while the sun shines or bricks while there is straw - but recognise that the end is nigh for the orthodox in the CofE - that the opportunities for orthodox ministry are withering and dying.

Any optimism however, needs to be balanced with the reality that many orthodox ordinands, at different stages, are questioning their futures and the possible lack of curacies for those who do enter the Church but are determined to resist liberalism. The odds of the House of Bishops being anything other than revisionist-controlled for the foreseeable future appear very long indeed, and the impact of that on the operation of General Synod has been all too evident. Few would regard the existing provision for prayers of blessing for same-sex couples as the end rather than the start of the process.

And all this is before the orthodox commence, or increase, militancy - whether it be withholding funds, utilising the "Ephesian Fund", accepting "Alternative Spiritual Oversight", creating "parallel structures", organising "irregular" ordinations, withdrawing from Chapter meetings or "Chrism masses", being vocally critical of bishops, etc. In some places (just the threat of) such acts have already seen clergy summoned before their bishop, and it might well be thought that militant parishes will not be rewarded by dioceses.

Those who believe that the end has been reached have no choice but to pursue a future outside the CofE - anything else is unconscionable. Those who fear the "trajectory" argument is right, will be making preparations.

To convince them otherwise, those who think this is doom-mongering and a "self-fulfilling prophesy" will need to make more compelling arguments - both for why the 'trajectory' argument is wrong and for how the longed for "structural settlement" can be achieved.

Watch the Rev Philip de Grey-Warters story about leaving the Church of England here: https://youtu.be/LLKvODr5rYY

You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/end-nigh-church-england and here: https://www.anglicanfutures.org/post/is-the-end-nigh

***

AN ECCLESIASTICAL COURT WILL DECIDE THE FUTURE OF ACNA BISHOP TODD ATKINSON. The Court for the Trial of a Bishop has found Atkinson guilty of four charges of violating Canon IV.2.4: "Conduct giving just cause for scandal or offense, including the abuse of ecclesiastical power."

All parties agreed to conduct the trial by written submissions of briefings, witness testimony through affidavit, and other evidence. This manner of proceeding saved resources for all parties and spared witnesses, including victims, from enduring the stresses of live testimony and cross-examination. Atkinson has 30 days to appeal the Trial Court's decision (Canon IV.5.5.1).

***

On the international front, The Anglican Church in Uganda has said it is happy about the recent upholding of the anti-homosexuality law which the LGBT community and human rights activists wanted the court to overturn.

LGBT activists in Uganda petitioned in the constitutional court seeking the scrapping of a homosexuality law passed last year saying it infringed on their human rights. The court rejected their appeal.

The Church of Uganda praised the five judges who made the ruling for being religious and patriotic. It said it is happy with the decision.

Speaking on behalf of Anglican Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba, the provincial secretary of Anglican Church of Uganda, The Rev. Canon Captain William Ongeng, told VOL; "We are happy about the court ruling. Any right-thinking person would think that is the right decision. In fact, there was nothing new. Ugandans decided a long time ago that they are against homosexuality."

The Anglican Church of Uganda has never favored the use of the death penalty. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/uganda-anglican-archbishop-applauds-high-court-decision-over-homosexuality

***

Internecine war among Nigerian Anglicans is bad testimony to the gospel. In an exclusive special report, VOL learned that the Anglican Diocese of the Trinity (ADOTT), a diocese of the Church of Nigeria North America Mission (CONNAM), is suing the Church of Nigeria (CoN), CONNAM (the Church of Nigeria North American Mission), its Primate, the Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, Bishop Nathan Kanu as coordinating bishop of CONNAM, and ADOTT Bishop Olukayode Adebogun, to prevent the General Synod of the Church of Nigeria from dissolving it.

At issue is who has the right to make decisions for the diocese, an Indiana nonprofit corporation with 501 (C)(3) tax-exempt status, and who owns the diocesan properties and governs the other entities affiliated with it, which includes 7,000 persons, a cathedral, as well as 80 parishes.

ADOTT's constitution states that "[a]ny property, both real and personal, owned by the Diocese now and in the future, is not and shall not be subject to any trust interest in favor of CONNAM, the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), or any other Province of the Anglican Communion."

Millions of dollars are at stake as well as the integrity of all parties involved. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/north-american-nigerian-diocese-suing-anglican-church-nigeria-over-property-and-other-claims

***

The Episcopal Church it seems, can't keep its nose out of international politics even when it is wrong, or conversely has no ability to change the outcome, but has the remarkable ability to virtue signal its will.

A letter signed by 140 Global "Christian" leaders has been sent to President Biden demanding an "immediate and permanent ceasefire" in Gaza and a halt to arms shipments to Israel.

The letter was organized by the Churches for Middle East Peace a hodgepodge of liberal leftist churches and groups demanding a ceasefire that would surely guarante the continuation of the war, the regrouping of Hamas, and a Palestinian state side-by-side with Israel, bent on Israel's destruction.

Using Ramadan and Easter as high holy days for a ceasefire, the Christian leaders naively believe that Palestinians of good will, will see the light, sit down with their Israeli brothers and sisters, and negotiate a peace that will last until the next genocidal attack on Jews.

Under the guise of peace, these leaders are promoting war and the continued slaughter of innocents, writes Eugene Korn, an ethicist living in Israel.

"A permanent ceasefire today would leave Hamas in power and free to continue its violent assault on the State of Israel, its citizens, and any prospects for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. The letter conveniently never mentions the cause of the war, namely Hamas' barbaric slaughter, rape, beheading and kidnapping of more than 1,300 innocent Israelis on October 7, writes Korn.

And yet these American liberals which includes, of course, the American Episcopal presiding Bishop Michael Curry, want a permanent ceasefire that would in time, see the destruction of Israel.

There are times when barbarism and evil can only be met with force. Had the British and Americans stopped at the borders of Germany, the Holocaust would have gone on and on.

You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/global-christian-leaders-would-see-israel-driven-out-existence-if-war-stopped-now

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The seven Episcopal bishops who serve the dioceses of New York and Long Island are publicly opposing the potential long-term lease of General Theological Seminary's property and facilities to a nonprofit choral music school that has ties to Christian conservatives. The bishops oppose General Seminary's long-term lease with choral music school over LGBTQ+ inclusion concerns.

The School of Sacred Music, which describes itself on its website as "grounded in the Roman Catholic tradition," has been using part of the seminary as its base since late 2023 through a short-term rental agreement. "We engage and inspire students and professional church musicians, members of the clergy, congregations, faith communities, and all interested members of the public," the website says. The school's vespers are now scheduled every Tuesday and Thursday in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd. You can read more here: https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2024/04/11/bishops-oppose-general-seminarys-long-term-lease-with-choral-music-school-over-lgbtq-inclusion-concerns/

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In a 20-page document released Monday, the Vatican's doctrine office outlined what it called several "grave threats" to human dignity, including surrogacy, euthanasia and assisted suicide, discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender transition surgery, and "gender theory," which it says "intends to deny the greatest possible difference that exists between living beings: sexual difference." The document mostly reiterates Catholic teaching on these subjects but comes as Pope Francis has recently allowed priests to bless gay couples and allow transgender people to serve as godparents.

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ABORTION. It has been a hot button issue for as long as I can remember and remains on the front burner for Catholics and evangelicals. But lately it has met resistance from some unlikely quarters. Recent polls show 70% of Americans favor abortion with 86 percent in favor of IVF a procedure that allows a lab to fertilize the eggs of a woman. (Full disclosure. We know people who have had this procedure and today have healthy children.)

In 1970, a poll conducted by the Baptist Sunday School Board found that 70 percent of Southern Baptist pastors supported abortion to protect the mental or physical health of the mother, a position that has slowly reversed with time.

Despite three judges being appointed to the Supreme Court on the issue, Republicans are backpedaling faster than when facing an overtaking tsunami wave. Presumptive president Donald Trump has reversed himself (13 times) and now wants the issue left up to the states. He has abandoned his absolute ban on abortion because it is not a winning strategy. Republican politicians no longer see it as a winning reelection ticket either. Democrats have always believed in a woman's right to choose, with both Republican and Democratic politicians wanting to keep government fingers off women's bodies. Arizona's unearthing of an ancient abortion law is giving Republicans historical hiccoughs. Complicating the issue is the abortion pill. Abortion pills end a pregnancy. Morning-after pills prevent pregnancy from occurring. Pro-Lifers may have to rethink their strategy for the future. Pro-life Democrats like Casey of PA, maybe "generally believed".

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MENTAL HEALTH. There's a strong empirical argument that people who don't believe in the basic tenets of any faith group should still make it a habit to attend services at a house of worship. In a recent study published in the Sociology of Religion, scholars examined whether church attendance was associated with improved mental or physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data points to a clear conclusion: The people in the sample who reported better overall health outcomes were those who attended religious services in person at least once a week. Attending religious services online, meanwhile, brought no measurable health benefit. You can read more here:
https://thedispatch.com/article/why-church-attendance-is-more-important-than-ever/

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LEAVE THE BIBLE ALONE. The God Bless the USA Bible should never have been made, says a Southern Baptist theologian.

Andrew T. Walker, in a critique of Donald Trump's hawking of a $60.00 Bible to raise money for his re-election or legal expenses, he writes, "if you are a Christian, familiarity with the Constitution and Declaration of Independence is good. America's founding was, after all, doubtlessly influenced by its heavily Protestant character. If you are a Christian, familiarity with the Bible is even more important. We rely on God's Word to sustain us in our daily relationship with Christ. The Word is a "lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path," as Scripture says.

But fusing America's founding documents with the Word of God is a syncretistic expression of civil religion that goes farther than what those who love their country--and, more importantly, for those who love their Bibles--should ever allow. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/leave-bible-alone

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This past week marked a milestone in my own life. I found myself diagnosed with afib, with shortness of breath, rapid heart-beat and reduced heart function. I was obliged to wear a heart monitor and swallow a variety of heart pills to hopefully get my heart back to its original state. We shall see how all that works out.

Part of it no doubt is long hours of work, stress, taking some people way too seriously and trying too hard. I would value your prayers.

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I plan to attend several Anglican events over the next few weeks that include the ACNA assembly in Latrobe, Pa and later the first assembly of the Global South Fellowship of Anglicans (GSFA) in Cairo, Egypt. This worldwide fellowship of orthodox Anglicans who count amongst its members 25 provinces that are seeking to reorder the Anglican Communion to establish mutual accountability and to guard the faith. They believe the American Episcopal Church has gone off the rails and the Church of England is heading in the same direction, with Justin Welby the Archbishop of Canterbury a feckless leader.

I could use some financial support to make these trips possible. You can send a tax-deductible donation to the address below:

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I leave VOL readers today with this thought:

When did being a disciple become discipleship - a verb? Something we do for God rather than what God in his Son does for us?

When did the Christian "disciplines" turn into exercises and about duty and obedience, instead of our loving response to a very gracious Father?

And sermons, when did they become about us and not God? A nice man telling nice people to be nicer? Rather than announcing God's mercy to the wicked and the ungrateful?

And when did faithfulness become our holding on to God, before his hold on us?

Christianity isn't a self-improvement program. Even if it never results in moral improvement, it is about enjoying God who rejoices over his children with gladness and exults over them with loud singing. -- Dean Chuck Collins

All Blessings,

David