| Friday, June 22, 2007
"No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever
acknowledges the Son has the Father also."
1
John 2;23 NIV
Note from the editor: Today is Jenny Abel's final day
as AAC Communications Assistant. We would like to thank her for 2+ years of
service to the American Anglican Council.
- Message from the Rev. Canon David C. Anderson
- Press Release: AAC Supports Kenya’s Appointment
of U.S.-based Bishop
- Church of Uganda to Consecrate an American
Bishop
- Diocesan Chancellors Rebuff Council Accession
Declaration
- San Diego Diocese Sues Churches
Message from the Rev. Canon David C. Anderson
Recent days have seen the announcement by the Church of
Kenya concerning the upcoming ordination to the episcopate of the Rev. Canon
Bill Atwood to oversee the work of the Kenyan Province in the Americas, and
now the announcement from the Church of Uganda that they will ordain the
Rev. John Guernsey to the episcopate to oversee the Ugandan Churches in the
States. Some have nervously suggested that these announcements are a sign of
the fracturing of the conservative orthodox into smaller and smaller
entities and the beginning of the end of any hope for a unified orthodox
American Province.
I see it the opposite way and am quite encouraged. The
orthodox have all been wanting a new Province, but the question is how to
get from where we are to where we need to be. I would hope that with bishops
to oversee the work for Kenya and Uganda, and bishops already in place and
perhaps more to come for AMiA and CANA, we are seeing the birthing of what
will be the future House of Bishops of a new entity, albeit a little ways
still down the road. One of the dilemmas of being Anglican is that we need
bishops, both for sacraments and for bold orthodox leadership, and we need a
critical mass to be acquired to help things really move. With these new
bishops in place and perhaps a few more, together with the ACN bishops who
might with their dioceses chose to realign away from TEC, a critical mass
would be in place for some dramatic things to happen.
Yes, TEC will probably sue everyone - that is to be
expected. Even if TEC can't win consistently on law or on facts, it appears
that they will sue anyway, to bankrupt parish churches and perhaps dioceses
in legal defense. If a church or diocese can't afford to stay in court,
however well they may (or may not) have law or facts on their side, they
lose by default. The other side of the same question is where will TEC's
money come from to do all this litigation? Will someone crack open the
Church Pension Fund and raid the pensions of liberals and conservatives to
fund the litigation? Only time will tell. Will someone crack open the Trust
Funds of TEC and use their money for the litigation? A conversation with
Ellen F. Cooke might be useful prior to such action. Two things are certain,
TEC will continue litigating, and the faithful will not be deterred by such
action.
In looking toward a new Anglican orthodox entity, a major
factor will be the Common Cause. With the Common Cause bishops and churches
and the transprovincial congregations and bishops all working together I
believe some exciting things are ahead. I would encourage my readers to be
finally optimistic, though real battles are obviously also ahead.
Now we move to the bizarre world of liberal revisionist
TEC: an article appeared the other day written by Janet I. Tu, a Seattle
Times religion reporter. Tu’s article begins, "Shortly after noon on
Fridays, the Rev. Ann Holmes Redding ties on a black headscarf, preparing to
pray with her Muslim group on First Hill. On Sunday mornings, Redding puts
on the white collar of an Episcopal priest. She does both, she says, because
she's Christian and Muslim."
The AAC has previously stated that the trend in TEC is
toward polytheism and syncretism with other non-Christian faiths. Seldom has
an example been provided for us that is as clear as this one. How does the
TEC religious establishment react to this news? Jim Naughton, Canon for
Communications for the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, wrote on the
Episcopal Communicators listserv, "I fervently hope that it will be possible
to ignore this story until it slips back beneath the radar." When the AAC
posted the story and Jim Naughton's comment on the AAC Blog, Naughton was
clearly embarrassed that his desire to sweep this latest scandal under the
rug was exposed. Friends of the AAC and orthodoxy who are on the Episcopal
Communicators listserv can send the AAC material that needs to get out; we
do protect our sources so that the light of day can shine on some of the
unseemly things that TEC is up to. The latest word is that Jim Naughton is
setting up his own, more pure, more secure, more NON-INCLUSIVE listserv so
that only like-minded Episcopal Communicators can talk to each other.
Closer to our home here in Atlanta, the Episcopal Diocese
of Atlanta is promoting the Gay Pride Parade for Atlanta, encouraging its
members to come out and participate. Diocesan writer John York announced,
"Atlanta's Pride Festival will be June 22-24, and for the fourth year in a
row, Episcopalians from throughout the diocese will be taking part, staffing
a booth in Piedmont Park and marching in the parade on Peachtree Street.
Everyone is invited to participate, at whatever level you can, and help to
spread the message that the Episcopal Church welcomes everyone! For
Episcopalians, the weekend will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 21, with
Atlanta Integrity's 19th annual Gay Pride Eucharist, featuring as preacher
Dr. Louie Crew, founder of the national Integrity organization. At the
parade, starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 24, spectators have learned to
expect the "Episcopal Church Welcomes You" banner - and they cheer us as we
go by. We'll need your help to keep our numbers strong and to show a good
cross-section of Episcopalians, gay and straight, single people, families,
laity, clergy, all of us together." What is also true is that any number of
Atlanta area Episcopalians will see this Episco-spectacle, and decide to
leave the Episcopal Church and perhaps Anglicanism as well.
Coming back to a positive note, the AAC applauds the
actions of Kenya and Uganda in naming bishops-elect, and raises a question.
When will the time come for cross licensing of clergy and bishops within our
American Anglican community? When will the time come for an orthodox
Anglican House of Bishops (as well as of clergy and laity) here in North
America? It is just a question, but a question I wish to leave with you for
now.
Press Release: AAC Supports Kenya’s Appointment
of U.S.-based Bishop
Date: June 21, 2007
The American Anglican Council (AAC) fervently applauds the
bold and courageous act by Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi of the Anglican
Province of Kenya in appointing a suffragan bishop to oversee the province’s
U.S.-based congregations. Last week’s announcement of the Aug. 30
consecration of the Rev. Canon Bill Atwood serves as one more important step
toward the long-anticipated realignment of North American Anglicanism.
The Rev. Canon David Anderson, AAC president and CEO, who
was traveling overseas when the news of Atwood’s appointment broke, said he
was very encouraged by the development.
“The oversight and pastoral care offered by Global South
provinces to 250-plus Anglican churches in America are vital during this
time of deep crisis in the U.S. Episcopal Church,” Anderson said. “With
local bishops on the ground now for the provinces of Kenya, Nigeria and
Rwanda, we hope to see tremendous growth among Anglican churches in the
U.S., as well as increased collaboration in ministry efforts.
“Our prayer is that the faith and zeal of Global South
leaders like Archbishop Nzimbi will spread through the American churches and
result in a renewed dedication to the proclamation of the Gospel, both
domestically and abroad,” Anderson continued.
Anderson added that the AAC looks forward to future
cooperation with the Kenyan coalition as well as with the Rwandan-affiliated
Anglican Mission in the Americas (AMiA) and the Nigerian Convocation of
Anglicans in North America (CANA), and with all other Anglican Common Cause
Partners.
Church of Uganda to Consecrate an American Bishop
Source: Church of Uganda Press Release (Via E-Mail)
Date: June 21, 2007
The Most Rev’d Henry Luke Orombi, Archbishop of Uganda,
with the consent of the House of Bishops of the Church of Uganda, given in
December 2006 and reaffirmed today, will consecrate the Rev. John A.M.
Guernsey, an American priest canonically resident in North Kigezi Diocese,
Church of Uganda, as a Bishop in the Church of Uganda. He will be
consecrated in Mbarara on 2nd September 2007, together with Rev. George
Tibesigwa, Bishop-elect of Ankole Diocese.
Bishop-elect Guernsey will provide local episcopal oversight to the 26
congregations in the United States that are part of the Church of Uganda, on
behalf of the ten Ugandan Bishops currently providing episcopal care to
Biblically orthodox American congregations. He will also continue to serve
as Rector of All Saints Church, Dale City, Virginia.
Archbishop Orombi said, “Rev. Guernsey has a long history with the Church of
Uganda, including many short visits to Uganda for teaching and preaching
missions. He is highly respected by clergy and Bishops in the Church of
Uganda, and has also been a pastoral and strategic leader in the Anglican
Communion Network as Dean of the Mid-Atlantic Convocation. He is the ideal
candidate to pioneer this new ministry.”
Archbishop Orombi’s fellow Primates, who are also providing episcopal
oversight to Biblically orthodox congregations in the United States, are
supportive of the move. Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi of the Anglican Church
of Kenya also recently announced the consecration of the Rev. Canon Dr. Bill
Atwood, an American priest, as a Bishop in the Church of Kenya, a decision
applauded by Archbishop Orombi.
Archbishop Nzimbi said, “It is a new day for the pastoral and episcopal care
of the orthodox congregations in America. We look forward to working with
our Ugandan neighbours in mutual collaboration in providing apostolic and
missional support to our orthodox brothers and sisters in America.”
The election and consecration of Rev. Guernsey as a Bishop in the Church of
Uganda has the support of the Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan, Moderator of the
Anglican Communion Network and Convener of Common Cause.
“John Guernsey’s consecration is an answer to our prayers,” said Duncan,
“that we would be able to provide a domestic bishop for the Ugandan churches
that are part of the Network’s International Conference.”
Duncan added, “In my capacity as the Convener of Common Cause, we will
enthusiastically welcome him to the Council of Bishops meeting in
September.”
Diocesan Chancellors Rebuff Council Accession
Declaration
Source: The
Living Church
Date:
June 18, 2007
The chancellors of the dioceses of Fort Worth, Quincy,
Pittsburgh and San Joaquin have rejected the Executive Council’s assertion
that changes the dioceses had made to their accession clauses are null and
void.
At its meeting last week, Executive Council approved a
resolution declaring “null and void” attempts by the dioceses to revise
their constitutions to qualify their accession to the Constitution and
Canons of the General Convention.
“The Episcopal Church (TEC) has declared the authority of
Holy Scripture null and void so we are not surprised that its Executive
Council attacks our diocesan constitutions because we reserve the right not
to accede to TEC’s unbiblical actions,” the chancellors responded in a
prepared statement. “The Executive Council does not have the authority to
make decisions or pass resolutions of this type on behalf of TEC.
Furthermore, the Executive Council does not have the right to interfere in
internal diocesan constitutional processes. The Executive Council's
declaration is contrary to the law and to the historic Anglican faith.”
San Diego Dioceses Sues Churches
The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego is suing former
parishes, one for a second time. The San Diego Diocese lost its first
lawsuit against St. John's Anglican Church in 2006; however, that hasn't
stopped them from trying again. Two of the churches being sued, St. John's
Anglican Church and St. Anne's Anglican Church, released responses to the
diocesan action; you will find excerpts from the responses and links to the
full articles below.
St. John’s Anglican Church(Fallbrook, CA)
"...we are deeply disappointed that the Episcopal Diocese
of San Diego and its Bishop, James R. Mathes, have been caught up in the
national tidal wave of lawsuits being filed by The Episcopal Church against
local church congregations that have realigned with other Provinces of the
Worldwide Anglican Communion, and instead have filed another senseless and
intolerant lawsuit against St. John’s in an attempt to confiscate all of its
church property, including the sanctuary, Bibles, hymnals and office
files..." Full Article Here
St. Anne's Anglican Church (Oceanside, CA)
"...We are amazed at the disregard of the religious and
property rights of St. Anne’s church members who overwhelmingly voted their
conscience to end their affiliation with The Episcopal Church and The
Episcopal Diocese of San Diego over a year ago...Over many decades, St.
Anne’s members have given sacrificially to maintain the property and operate
the church without any financial support from the Diocese..." Full Article Here |
