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Friday, January 19, 2007
"Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in
him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar."
(Proverbs 30:5-6)
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Upcoming Event Update
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AAC Press Release (1/12/07)
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Diocese of Virginia Declares
Churches' Properties "Abandoned"
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Virginia Churches Respond, Urge
Return to Negotiating Table
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Nigerian Bishops Meet, Issue
Communiqué
UPCOMING EVENT
UPDATE
Last week's update
published a link to an event in St. Paul, Minnesota, where
Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi of Kenya will be speaking next
Tuesday, Jan. 23. The event was moved to a different
location than was originally publicized because the Bishop of Minnesota, the
Rt. Rev. James L. Jelinek, prohibited the archbishop from speaking at an
Episcopal church in his diocese. The location has been updated accordingly here
on the AAC Events page.
PRESS RELEASE:
AAC PRESIDENT TRANSFERS CANONICAL RESIDENCY TO ANGLICAN CHURCH OF NIGERIA
January 12, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Jenny Abel
770-414-1515
The Rev. Canon David
C. Anderson, President and CEO of the American Anglican Council, recently
announced that he has transferred his canonical residency from The Episcopal
Church (TEC) of the United States to the Convocation of Anglicans in North
America (CANA), the U.S. missionary branch of the Anglican Church of
Nigeria. The switch, which places Canon Anderson under the oversight of
Bishop Martyn Minns, was made Nov. 1, 2006.
A lifelong
Episcopalian, Canon Anderson served approximately 35 years in ordained
ministry in TEC, including service in the dioceses of Washington, D.C.;
Montana; Wyoming; South Dakota; Los Angeles; and Springfield. He retired in
2002 from St. James Church, Newport Beach, Calif., where he served for 16
years as the parish’s rector.
Canon Anderson’s
decision to move to CANA stems from the growing severity of the theological
crisis in The Episcopal Church nationally, which has become, in many places,
hostile toward biblical orthodoxy and apostate in belief and practice. In
addition to orthodox clergy, hundreds of churches and more than a third of
the denomination’s members have been driven from the church over the past
four decades as the church has persisted in its refusal to repent and return
to the faith once delivered.
“For nearly 20 years,
I worked to reform and renew the Episcopal Church,” Canon Anderson said.
“Since my retirement from active parish ministry and during my work over the
past six years with the AAC, I have watched with sadness as the orthodox
church of my childhood has disappeared from the landscape.
“Over the past year, I
came to realize that TEC was not turning back and that it was time for me to
chart my course with the majority of the Anglican Communion,” he continued.
“The hope of the future of North American Anglicanism lies with the global
Anglican Communion and, more specifically, the Global South Primates, who
robustly live out the Christian faith in the Anglican model. I am blessed
and honored to become part of a church that is excited about sharing the
truth of Jesus Christ with others and seeing the church grow, and that is
guided by the godly and courageous leadership of Archbishop Peter Akinola.”
In speaking of his
departure from TEC, Canon Anderson said, “I give thanks for the faithfulness
of the Network bishops still in The Episcopal Church, and especially for
Bishops Peter Beckwith and Robert Duncan, but it was time for me to move.”
The AAC’s work with
churches both within and outside of TEC, including those in the midst of
departing TEC, will continue despite his move to CANA, Canon Anderson said.
He emphasized the AAC’s vision and hope for a “soon-to-be-united orthodox
Anglican entity in North America,” as well as the organization’s ongoing
desire to join together with other orthodox Christians to “defend the
uncorrupted truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
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DIOCESE OF
VIRGINIA DECLARES CHURCHES' PROPERTIES "ABANDONED"
"Church
Dispute Headed to Court"
Source: The
Washington Times
By Natasha Altamirano
Published January 19, 2007
A property dispute
between the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and 11 churches whose
congregations voted to leave the denomination took one step closer to court
yesterday after the diocese's governing body declared the churches' property
"abandoned."
In a letter to the
diocese explaining the decision, Virginia Bishop Peter James Lee indicated
that litigation is likely.
"I have tried to find
a way forward in our dispute over property that would keep us from having to
resort to civil courts," he wrote. "No longer am I convinced that such an
outcome is possible, nor do I believe that such a move at this time is
dishonorable."
The diocese's
governing body known as the Executive Board based its decision on diocesan
canons, which state that all real and personal church property is held in
trust for the national church and the diocese.
Church law also
requires that the board, composed of the bishop, diocesan officials and 15
elected members from the diocese, protect the property and "take such steps
as may be necessary to transfer the property to the bishop."
Ten of the 11
congregations are in Northern Virginia.
Diocesan officials
didn't specify whether or when the congregations and their leadership are
required to vacate the property, what the resulting consequences might be or
how court action might affect that timeline.
"I think it's
premature in the process to know exactly what will happen next," said
Patrick Getlein, secretary of the diocese, in an e-mail to The Washington
Times. "Today's action by the Board was procedural, and I think that we will
have to wait and see what exactly the next steps are in due course."
The 11 churches where
property has been declared abandoned are the Falls Church in Falls Church,
Truro Church in Fairfax, Christ the Redeemer in Centreville, Church of the
Apostles in Fairfax, Church of the Epiphany in Herndon, Church of Our
Saviour near Leesburg, Church of the Word in Gainesville, Potomac Falls
Church in Sterling, St. Margaret's Anglican Church in Woodbridge, St. Paul's
Church in Haymarket and St. Stephen's Church in Heathsville.
The diocese's Standing
Committee, a 12-member advisory group to the bishop, also met yesterday to
discuss the status of the churches' clergy. The committee's decision was not
available yesterday.
"In the structure of
the Episcopal Church, individuals may come and go but parishes continue,"
Bishop Lee wrote in his letter, citing examples where minorities of
parishioners who voted to stay in the Episcopal Church have reorganized into
mini-congregations. "It is for these persons that previous generations of
Episcopalians worshipped, worked, prayed and gave generously for the spread
of the Kingdom of God. It is the trust that they created, and that we
inherited, which now must move to protect, preserve and expand for
generations to come."
The dispute began
years ago over issues of biblical authority and sexuality and was
exacerbated by the consecration of the Episcopal Church's first openly
homosexual bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, in 2003.
The departing
congregations make up more than 10 percent of the diocese's estimated 90,000
members.
Truro Church and the
Falls Church were among the diocese's largest and most historic churches,
with combined property worth an estimated $27 million to $37 million.
"These churches are
saddened, but, sadly, not surprised at what the diocese and what the
national church have elected to do," said Jim Pierobon, a spokesman for both
congregations.
Though the
congregations would like to settle the matter amicably out of court, they
are prepared to handle a potential lawsuit, Mr. Pierobon said.
"We have absolutely no
intention of leaving," he said. "We are fully prepared to defend our rights
in court and will protect our congregations' property titles and rights to
the full extent of the law."
The titles of the
property at Truro Church and the Falls Church list lay leaders -- not clergy
-- as trustees on behalf of the congregations, Mr. Pierobon said.
"Our lawyers, after
assessing the law, have concluded that the law in Virginia favors
congregations -- even within large denominations such as the Episcopal
Church," he said. "Denominational trusts in congregational property are not
valid in the Commonwealth of Virginia."
Several other
officials with the departing congregations could not be reached for comment
yesterday.
VIRGINIA
CHURCHES RESPOND, URGE RETURN TO NEGOTIATING TABLE
"Anglican District of Virginia Leaders Urge Episcopal Bishop and
Diocese to Return to Negotiating Table"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jim Pierobon, 301-520-1758
FAIRFAX and FALLS
CHURCH, Va, Jan. 19 - Two leaders of the Anglican District of Virginia today
urged the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and its bishop, the Rt. Rev. Peter
James Lee, to cease both his divisive rhetoric and his march toward the
courthouse and instead return to the negotiating table.
"It is still not too
late for Bishop Lee and the leaders of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia to
stand down from making any more threats against faithful Christians who
followed the Diocese of Virginia's protocol for departing congregations, and
instead to return to the negotiating table," said Tom Wilson, Senior Warden
of The Falls Church and Chairman of the Anglican District. "I still have
hope, even now, that we can sit down and reason together."
The Anglican District
of Virginia is a growing association of Anglican Churches in Virginia,
consisting of 16 worshipping congregations and two emerging church plants.
On a typical Sunday, almost 6000 people attend these churches, making
Anglican District larger than almost half of the Episcopal dioceses in the
United States.
"I am sorry that
Bishop Lee seems to have forgotten the conclusions reached by his own
Diocesan Reconciliation Commission as well as his own personally-appointed
Special Committee led by the diocesan chancellor," said Jim Oakes, Senior
Warden of Truro Church and a member of the governing board of the Anglican
District. Oakes noted that the Truro vestry had just met last week at the
request of the Diocese to appoint its representatives to negotiate with the
Diocese and gather information requested by the Diocese. Before the
representatives could begin negotiations, the Diocese abruptly reversed its
course and terminated negotiations
The Anglican District
of Virginia parishes welcome all Episcopalians and others to worship.
Following the Anglican tradition, this includes welcoming all baptized
Christians to the Lord's Table or Eucharist.
"Bishop Lee's memory
seems oddly selective and while that grieves me deeply, I still have hope
that he will come to his senses and take seriously the recommendations of
both the Reconciliation Commission and the Special Committee. There is still
time," Oakes added.
Both the reports from
the Diocesan Reconciliation Commission as well as the Bishop's Special
Committee are still available for download from the website of the Episcopal
Diocese of Virginia and have not yet been taken down. "I see that as a sign
that as long as the reports are still available to the public there is hope
for an amicable settlement," said Oakes. "The facts and our history speak
for themselves."
Jim Pierobon
for The Falls Church and Truro Church
301-520-1758
NIGERIAN
BISHOPS MEET, ISSUE COMMUNIQUE
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The Church of Nigeria Bishops on the Feb.
Primates' Meeting & Lambeth 2008:
On the Primates'
February Tanzania meeting and the homosexuality issue:
"We are not going to Tanzania to discuss gay marriages. We are going to
Tanzania because we are Primates of the Church and we have many things
to talk about and to pray about. We come together primarily for
fellowship as Primates, we come together to study the word of God and to
think together on various matters that concerns our provinces. So the
gay marriage thing is not the main agenda. It may rear its ugly head
again but it is not the main agenda."
Church
of Nigeria Bishops and Lambeth 2008:
"We are part and parcel of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Lambeth Conference is called once in every ten years for all Anglicans
Bishops therefore it is our conference. What we are saying in Church of
Nigeria and in many other provinces in Africa is that for us to gather
all over the world as many as 800 Bishops, and to build that consensus
and to agree on certain things, and for some to say 'well it doesn’t
matter; we can continue things in our own way'. Then think of the
financial implication, think of the risks involved. For 120 Bishops from
Nigeria to travel to England, consider the financial implication. It
will not cost any diocese in the country lest than N1million – for the
delegates and other expenses-. We are talking about N120million and we
are going to spend three weeks there. And then on return, there is
nothing to show for it, that is what we are arguing against. So, we are
part and parcel of Lambeth Conference, but we are challenging the
authorities that before we come, we have to be sure that we are not
coming for a Jamboree. We are coming for serious business and we have
plenty of time before Lambeth to decide whether we are coming for a mere
jamboree or a serious conference."
-From questions answered during annual retreat (
full text here ) |
"Nigerian
Bishops Warn of Schism in Anglican Church"
Source: The
Christian Post
Lillian Kwon, Christian Post Reporter
Posted January 16, 2007
Anglican leaders from
the Church of Nigeria have warned the worldwide communion that they "cannot
walk together" with provinces that do not repent of their departure from
Scripture.
In a communiqué
issued at their annual retreat on Jan. 9-13, the House of Bishops of the
Church of Nigeria said that it maintains its posture not to share fellowship
with member-Provinces that "denigrate the authority of Scripture."
"Our participation in
this worldwide fellowship is contingent on genuine repentance by those who
have chosen to walk away, for two cannot walk together except they are in
agreement," said the Most. Rev. Peter Akinola of the Church of Nigeria in a
statement. "Christian unity must be anchored on Biblical truth."
The Nigerian primate’s
statement was directed to the U.S.-based Episcopal Church which had
consecrated an openly gay bishop and elected Katharine Jefferts Schori, who
supports same-sex unions in recent years, as Presiding Bishop of the U.S.
arm of Anglicanism.
The recent decisions
of the Episcopal Church violated the 1998 Lambeth Resolution 1.10, which
states that they reject homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture
while they are still called on to minister to all despite sexual
orientation.
In September 2006, the
Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa (CAPA) agreed to "The Road to
Lambeth," clearly stating that the North American churches must repent or
depart. The Nigerian Anglican leaders at the recent retreat reaffirmed the
CAPA document.
If the churches, or
"the apostles of 'revisionist agenda,'" fail to repent, CAPA leaders warned
that they would hold their own Lambeth conference on African soil in 2008
rather than joining the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Lambeth conferences
are held once every 10 years. Bishops from around the globe are scheduled to
gather for worship and discussion in July 2008 at the University of Kent at
Canterbury, England.
Archbishop of
Canterbury Rowan Williams , the Anglican spiritual leader, said earlier this
month that he feared schism in the church as the situation is slipping out
of his control.
Recent actions of the
Episcopal Church's General Convention and its failure to obey the demands of
the Windsor Report push the possibility that Africans will have their own
Lambeth 2008, Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi of the Anglican Church of Kenya
indicated in an interview with Virtue Online.
African bishops had
considered the Windsor Report, which called parties to the controversy to
express regret, "a vehicle by which the offending churches" would repent and
turn back.
Congregations in the
United States also opposing recent actions of the Episcopal Church have
split with the national body. And most recently, two of the largest churches
in the Diocese of Virginia joined the Convocation of Anglicans in North
America (CANA) – a splinter group and an outreach initiative of the Church
of Nigeria.
African bishops at the
recent retreat said they were delighted that CANA was taking "giant strides
to other parts of the world."
The latest warning by
the Church of Nigeria comes months after Anglican leaders of 20 provinces
proposed the formation of a separate orthodox Anglican body in the U.S. Some
also stated that they would not be able to recognize Jefferts Schori as a
representative of the U.S. Anglican arm at the upcoming Primates meeting in
February.
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