Beloved in Christ,

As is usual each week, there are some positives to look at and some negatives. In the negative column is the decision by Archbishop Mouneer Anis not to attend GAFCON, but instead to go to Lambeth where he hopes his orthodox voice will be heard. He has tried repeatedly to have his voice heard, speaking of the outrages of the American Episcopal Church, and Dr. Rowan Williams has turned a deaf ear, as have the revisionist bishops and primates of the Communion. Nevertheless, Archbishop Mouneer will try yet again at Lambeth, though there is little chance of success. His words about his decision to absent himself from GAFCON, blaming the trouble on northern agitators, are poorly chosen as well as factually wrong. GAFCON is the creation of some Global South Primates, and in their invitation to other orthodox bishops, clergy and laity, naturally some come from the north, even as Egypt is north of Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, and Rwanda.

Another negative is the decision by the California State Supreme Court to allow homosexual marriage. Although the Episcopal Church has maintained that they don't have any rites for "gay" blessings, and haven't given permission for any, the unspoken message is "full speed ahead!" And although the Diocese of Los Angeles doesn't officially have any "gay rites", they have been used for a decade or more (even though they don't exist). Now All Saints' Episcopal Church in Pasadena (the long-standing home of revisionist and homosexual activists such as the Rev. Ed Bacon, rector and the Rev. Susan Russell, Senior Associate for Parish Life) has announced that they will do homosexual marriages, officially. This of course blows the Diocese of Los Angeles' charade and puts Bishop J. Jon Bruno on the spot. Will Bishop Bruno do anything? No, for he has announced that he will ride again in the Gay Pride Parade, and that should indicate that once again, canon law is to be winked at when inconvenient but massively enforced when favorable. For All Saints' Church, the only thing new about this is that it is now more open, and they claim that they are satisfying both California Law and the Baptismal Covenant.

The Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori spoke recently at the University of the South, saying "Diversity is a vital part of the Anglican Communion. That can be a problem for those who think their way is the only way." She goes on to make a comparison of those who believe in a specific Christology of Jesus as "the Way, the Truth, and the Life," as sinning against the Holy Spirit, "It's like the sin against the Holy Spirit, believing that there is no other possibility. Believing that we've got the whole thing right now and God can't possibly do anything else, anything unexpected." Although Schori earned a Ph.D in marine biology, her grasp of the Holy Scriptures and her comprehension of theology are far removed from her area of learned expertise, and it would appear from her remarks that if you believe what Jesus said about himself, you are sinning against the Holy Spirit. It simply takes your breath away. The leadership of TEC has become so much like the characters in "Alice in Wonderland."

Also on the downside are the actions of many Christian denominational leaders in the United States who are joining the litigation effort of TEC against the departing Virginia Anglican parishes. Many denominations which have always portrayed themselves as non-hierarchical are suddenly wanting to take rights away from local congregations where property and bank accounts are concerned. Why the interest? Because churches join a denominational structure, or create such, to further the ministry of the local church, but once formed, the denominational structure becomes interested in power and position, and they see the local churches as their own property. It is the ecclesial example of Lord Acton's saying, "...power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely..." An AAC Board of Trustees member comments on this in an article on the StandFirm blog entitled "Diocese of Virginia plays dress up with Seventh Day Adventists: Let's Pretend We're Hierarchical" and lists all the denominations trying to "pile on" in the case. If they are joining the litigation on TEC's side, are they are afraid that their own people might want to leave? They have inadvertently given testimony against themselves, and their own churches should take careful note.

On the positive side, we note that Bishop John Howe, whom we criticized in a recent posting, together with the Diocese of Central Florida have protested the handling of the depositions of bishops John-David Schofield and Bill Cox in a vigorous letter to Katharine Jefferts Schori. If more of the orthodox dioceses would follow this South Carolina-Central Florida lead, the TEC leaders might better consider the illegality of their previous actions, and set about to correct them instead of continuing them.

Another positive is word that the attendance of Colorado Bishop Rob O'Neill at GAFCON was falsely reported by the Episcopal Church news sources. Although Presiding Bishop Schori asked him to attend on her behalf to be her eyes and ears, she does not have the authority or power to invite him, or get him into the meetings. AAC inquiry into the invitation list reveals that Bishop O'Neill has not been invited or registered. Once again, TEC acts with the arrogance of presumed power and place. O'Neill is, after all, the bishop who just rescinded seven-year-old Letters Dimissory of clergy from Colorado, done by his predecessor Bishop Winterrowd, and deposed those clergy in absentia for abandonment of communion. Seven years after the legal departure letters were signed, yet! 

This weekend in the United States we remember our soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen and merchant marines who helped defend the United States against her enemies, and gave their service and often their life in this defense. This Memorial Day weekend we extend our honor and respect to those defenders.

Blessings and peace in Christ Jesus,

The Rt. Rev. David C. Anderson, Sr.
President and CEO, American Anglican Council

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Christian Retreat for Armed Forces Members: The Welcome Home Initiative

Source: Christ the King Spiritual Life Center

The Welcome Home Inititative (WHI) is a recurring seminar/retreat sponsored by Christ the King Spiritual Life Center and the Episcopal Diocese of Albany for men, women, and families of the US Armed Forces. The goal of the retreat is to minister practically and prayerfully to members of the Armed Forces and their families, providing support and resources to help them heal and thrive. The retreat aims to to help those who have suffered trauma in combat, be it physical, psychological, or spiritual, and to connect combat veterans with appropriate specialist agencies and resources.

The retreat is held at the Christ the King Spiritual Life Center in Greenwich, NY. The next WHI retreat will be held July 28-30, 2008.  To learn more about the Welcome Home Initiative, please contact Sandra at 518-692-9550 x202 or visit the website at the link above.

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Call to 40 Days of Prayer for GAFCON

Source: Common Cause website 

May 21, 2008

The lead bishops of the Common Cause Partnership have called for 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting for the Global Anglican Future Conference to begin on Wednesday, May 21. The effort will run through the end of the Conference, which is taking place in Jerusalem, June 22-29. More than 1,000 Anglican leaders, including 280 bishops, will take part in this historic gathering.

"We are partnering with Jesus the Intercessor, preparing the way for our leaders to enter Jerusalem. Many are physically making the journey, many, many others will make the journey on their knees, crying out to the Lord for His perfect will to be done in each pilgrim here and there," said Rose-Marie Edwards, chief intercessor for the Anglican Communion Network.

The bishops have specified that the Daily Office, the Great Litany, and the Psalms of Ascent (120-134) be used during this season. The Psalms of Ascent were chosen because of the impact they had on the Global South meeting in Nairobi out of which GAFCON was birthed. Contributors to the Common Cause Partnership prayer blog will be posting these resources along with reflections, scriptures, collects and other aids to prayer as the 40 days unfold. Participants are invited to report specific needs, praises, and other feedback on the prayer blog.

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Virginia: Denominations Join Episcopalian Diocese in Fight Over Church Property

Source:Christianity Today 
By Daniel Burke

May 20, 2008

Sixteen Protestant denominations and regional districts have joined a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia in contesting a Reconstruction-era state law that governs church splits.

The post-Civil War splintering of Methodist and Presbyterian churches in 1867 prompted the Virginia law, which allows congregations to keep their property when seceding from a church or "religious society" that's dividing.

However, the United Methodist Church (UMC) and the Presbyterian Church USA, two of the largest U.S. mainline Protestant denominations, side with the Episcopal diocese in saying that the law is unconstitutional.

On Friday, May 16, a judge in Fairfax County, Va., ruled that the UMC, the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church and the Worldwide Church of God may participate in oral arguments May 28 to assess the law's constitutionality. ...

The rest of the article may be found at the link above.

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Letter to the Presiding Bishop From the Diocese of Central Florida

Source: Diocese of Central Florida website 

May 15, 2008

The Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop
The Episcopal Church Center
815 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10017

Dear Bishop Jefferts Schori,

Grace and peace from our God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We, the Diocesan Board and Standing Committee and Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida, strongly protest what we believe to have been a failure to follow the Canons of our Episcopal Church in the recent depositions of Bishops Schofield and Cox.

Since deposition is the most severe sanction that can be applied against a bishop, it is critical that both the letter and the spirit of the Canons be followed. The Canons intentionally provide for an exceptionally high level of participation and agreement from the Bishops in order to impose a sentence of deposition.  In this instance, it seems clear to us that the canonical safeguards in place were not followed.

We respectfully disagree with Mr. Beers assertion, which was reaffirmed by you in your April 30, 2008 letter to the House of Bishops, that the Canonical language of "the whole number of bishops entitled to vote" can be taken to mean only those in attendance at a particular meeting (Addendum 1).  Indeed, that would leave no higher standard for deposition than for any matter of routine business.  We agree with the analysis provided by Bishop and Standing Committee of the Diocese of South Carolina that the Canons plainly require a majority of all Bishops entitled to vote, not just those in attendance at a particular meeting.  (Addendum 2).

We respectfully request that you and the House of Bishops revisit those decisions and make every effort to follow our Church Canons in this and all future House of Bishops decisions.

Finally, we believe that depositions are an unnecessary and unfortunate way to deal with disagreement, dissension, and even division within our Church.  Those Bishops (or other clergy) who, for sake of conscience, can no longer minister as part of The Episcopal Church can be transferred at their request, or permitted to renounce their vows and join with other Anglican Provinces without vindictiveness or punitive measures.  This would avoid the horrible implication that it is "abandonment of Communion" to join with another Anglican Province with whom we are in Communion, even if impaired.  Further, it would be a gracious demonstration of the love of Christ to honor the service of these Bishops to our Church by wishing them Godspeed as they enter new phases of their life and ministry.

Our common desire is to conduct our common life in such a way as to build one another up in Christ and commend our Lord to all those who see us.  We pray that gracious and life-giving strategies will be found as we move through this difficult season.

Yours in Christ,

John W. Howe, Bishop                    
Anthony P. Clark, President of the Standing Committee

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Press Release: Remain Faithful organization formed

Source: via email

May 21, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FORT WORTH - A group of local Episcopalians met Tuesday to form an organization to respond to what they are calling a "proliferation of misinformation" concerning the pending split between the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth and The Episcopal Church (TEC) headquartered in New York.

The group, calling themselves "Remain Faithful," has taken steps to organize as a non-profit corporation with the stated purpose of setting forth the true position of traditional and orthodox Episcopalians in this diocese who believe TEC no longer stands for the historic faith. 
 
"Remain Faithful looks forward to stating clearly the positions of orthodox Episcopalians - and in particular orthodox lay Episcopalians," said Chad Bates, the group's chairman. "We stand along side our orthodox clergy in support of our shared beliefs and feel the time has come for an organization led by the laity to uphold our traditional faith in unequivocal terms. We welcome all who share our beliefs or who want to learn more about what we stand for," he said. "Without question, there has been some confusion about what we stand for as orthodox Episcopalians, and we look forward to clarifying our position."

The group has established a website - www.remainfaithful.org - and Bates said the organization is in the process of preparing a detailed position paper that will be published soon.

Cora Werley, spokesperson for the group, said much of the misinformation being distributed concerns sexuality and women's ordination. "There are many within The Episcopal Church membership who have been told that the differences of opinion in our Church are primarily about women's ordination or the views of a few Bishops," Werley said.  "We know this is not true.  There are much more fundamental issues involved, and we look forward to clearly sharing our beliefs and uncovering the issues in a Christ-like manner," she said.

Bates said that the group is comprised of a broad cross-section of lay people from throughout the Fort Worth-based diocese.  "Up to now," he said, "we have let our clergy do our talking for us.  We thank God for their witness in our midst.  But at this crucial moment in the history of our diocese, we feel called to make our own faithful witness, united in our belief that Holy Scripture is the revealed word of God and Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life and the source of eternal salvation." ...

Bates shared the group's mission statement: "Remain Faithful is a group of orthodox Episcopalians who believe the Bible to be the revealed Word of God which contains all things necessary for salvation as  well as wisdom for Godly living.  We are comprised of and led by lay Episcopalians.  We are committed to speak the truth in love, communicating clearly the position of faithful orthodox Episcopalians upholding the authority of Holy Scripture.  We stand firm with the vast majority in the worldwide Anglican  Communion in our commitment to serve our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to support orthodox Christian ideals and beliefs, and to spread the Good News of Jesus' gift of salvation to all."

More information can be obtained about the organization at the group's website or by calling Cora Werley at 817-946-3865.

Read the entire press release by clicking here.