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In 1995
David W. Virtue, D.D., established VIRTUEONLINE, an Episcopal/Anglican Online News Service dedicated to serving orthodox Anglicans around the globe. The service has successfully reached nearly 4 million readers across 204 countries.
Commentaries by
David W. Virtue
Alexandria Archbishop Focuses on Nicene Creed; Avoids Disputational Doctrinal Bullets in Unity Talks
COMMENTARY By David W. Virtue, DD www.virtueonline.org Nov. 5, 2025 The Most Rev. Dr. Samy Fawzy Shehata (Archbishop of the Episcopal/Anglican Province of Alexandria and Diocesan Bishop of Egypt) recently addressed the Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order, in which he called for ongoing work to “serve the unity for which Christ prayed”. The conference which ran from 24-28 October, explored the theme: 'Where now for visible unity?' It met at the Logos Papal Center o
THE ACNA BOMBSHELL: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO Mt. 18?
EDITORIAL By David W. Virtue, DD Nov. 5, 2025 It landed like a bombshell in the ACNA cathedral Narthex. ACNA Archbishop Stephen Wood has been accused of sexual misconduct, abuse of power, plagiarism and much more. Some 3,500 words have been written blowing up a single orthodox archbishop in a small denomination by one of America’s leading newspapers. Why did it merit such printers ink? A reporter and photographer were sent to dig it all up from willing talkers. So,
TEC Figures Reveal Continued Decline // ACNA Archbishop Caught in Alleged Sex Scandal and Abuse of Power // TEC Presiding Bishop Blasts Israel //
CofE Vicars will Exercise Local Option to Bless SS Marriage At every step of our Christian development and in every sphere of our Christian discipleship, pride is the greatest enemy and humility our greatest friend. --- John Stott Why is so much modern discipleship so shallow. It emphasizes “growth” without repentance, “authenticity” without holiness, “belonging” without sacrifice. The call of Jesus — “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up
Libro de Oración Común (2019)
The Official Spanish translation of the book of Common Prayer 2019
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THE ACNA BOMBSHELL: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO Mt. 18?
EDITORIAL By David W. Virtue, DD Nov. 5, 2025 It landed like a bombshell in the ACNA cathedral Narthex. ACNA Archbishop Stephen Wood has been accused of sexual misconduct, abuse of power, plagiarism and much more. Some 3,500 words have been written blowing up a single orthodox archbishop in a small denomination by one of America’s leading newspapers. Why did it merit such printers ink? A reporter and photographer were sent to dig it all up from willing talkers. So,
ARCHBISHOP WOOD AND THE FUTURE OF ACNA. Why were questions never asked about his behavior before he was elected archbishop?
COMMENTARY By David W. Virtue, DD www.virtueonline.org October 28, 2025 ACNA Archbishop Steve Wood, 62, has come out fighting. Following fulsome disclosure of his alleged misdeeds in the Washington Post, that includes sexual misconduct, plagiarism, abuse of power and more, the staunchly orthodox leader said in a letter to his parish, that “I unequivocally, categorically, and emphatically deny in their entirety the accusations made against me by Ms. Claire Buxton, who was
Three Crises Engulf Anglican Church in North America
COMMENTARY By David W. Virtue, DD www.virtueonline.org October 23, 2025 Three simultaneous crises have engulfed the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), threatening the future of the breakaway orthodox denomination with an unprecedented convergence of scandals involving its highest-ranking leaders. Archbishop Wood Faces Sexual Misconduct Allegations ACNA Archbishop Steve Wood has been credibly accused of sexual misconduct and abuse of power, according to a Washingto
News From Around the World
Anglican Archbishop on Leave Amidst Allegations
By Jeffrey Walton JUICY ECUMENISM November 3, 2025 Archbishop Steve Wood announced tonight that he is both taking a temporary leave of absence as Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) and as diocesan Bishop of the Carolinas. In a separate letter to the congregation of St. Andrew’s Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, Wood and his wife Jacqui wrote of his decision to retire as rector of the parish. Wood has served as rector of St. Andrew’s for the past 25 year
Scholars ponder denomination’s future after GAFCON pledge to ‘reorder’ Anglican Communion
By Sean Frankling ANGLICAN JOURNAL October 31, 2025 In the wake of the declaration by a coalition of conservative Anglican provinces of its intention to reorder the Anglican Communion around itself rather than Canterbury, two Canadian scholars with years of experience in the global South take different views on how much the apparent schism will divide the denomination in theory and in practice. What both agree on is that it is not yet clear how many of the provinces with
TEC’s Baptismal numbers hidden in plain sight. The actual number of baptisms got lost in the weeds
By Mary Ann Mueller VOL Special Correspondent www.virtueonline.org October 30, 2025 The 2024 Episcopal Church’s Baptismal number is 19,624 down from 20,247 in 2023. Resulting in a -3.1% drop of 623. However, Paul Paulson writing for the Episcopal News Service (ENS) missed the figure generating the headline: “Episcopal Church reports no baptized membership data for 2024, citing parochial report ‘confusion’.” “The Episcopal Church has many members. In most years, it can p
Church of England
The quiet revival passes the Church of England by
by John Sandeman Thedothercheek.com November 5, 2025 New attendance stats released by the Church of England are in marked contrast to the Bible Society’s report of a quiet revival in the UK. The Bible Society “Quiet Revival” report claimed that “Church attendance has risen by 50 per cent over the last six years,” according to stats from a You Gov survey in England and Wales conducted for the Bible Society. “In 2018, just 4 per cent of 18–24-year-olds said that they att
EFAC calls on bishops to restore confidence in their leadership
PRESS RELEASE October 28, 2025 On Wednesday 15 October, an update was released by the Church of England on the Living in Love and Faith process, following a House of Bishops' residential meeting the previous week. The House of Bishops reviewed documents produced by the Church of England's Legal Office and the Faith and Order Commission (FAOC) addressing outstanding questions following the 2023 General Synod's commendation of the Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF). Remainin
CofE clergy vow to offer same-sex blessing services despite bishops’ decision
Religion Media Centre October 20, 2025 A number of clergy in the Church of England are resisting a decision by the House of Bishops which put the brakes on moves to allow stand-alone services for same-sex blessings and to allow clergy to be in same-sex marriages. Canon Simon Butler, an influential vicar in “Inclusive Evangelicals”, says the Canons of the Church of England do, in fact, permit stand-alone services. He has officiated at two in his church, Holy Trinity & St M
Viewpoints by David Virtue
TEC Figures Reveal Continued Decline // ACNA Archbishop Caught in Alleged Sex Scandal and Abuse of Power // TEC Presiding Bishop Blasts Israel //
CofE Vicars will Exercise Local Option to Bless SS Marriage At every step of our Christian development and in every sphere of our Christian discipleship, pride is the greatest enemy and humility our greatest friend. --- John Stott Why is so much modern discipleship so shallow. It emphasizes “growth” without repentance, “authenticity” without holiness, “belonging” without sacrifice. The call of Jesus — “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up
GAFCON Declares Formation of Global Anglican Communion// GAFCON Separates from Traditional Communion Structure // GSFA Withholds Endorsement // Mullally Appointment Sparks International Response //
"God intends us to penetrate the world. Christian salt has no business to remain snugly in elegant little ecclesiastical salt cellars; our place is to be rubbed into the secular community, as salt is rubbed into meat, to stop it going bad." – John Stott Dear Brothers and Sisters, www.virtueonline.org October 17, 2025 Historic Shift: GAFCON Announces Separation The long-anticipated moment arrived Thursday morning. At 5am, my inbox contained a headline that will reshape An
First Woman Bishop is New 106th Archbishop of Canterbury///CofE has Israel Problem///ACNA in Fight Over Firing of JAFC Bishop///Queer Woman Dean to lead NY Cathedral///
Bishop Howard Case Dropped by PB. He resigns TEC///Anglican Church of Southern Africa Supports Palestine, Blasts Israel The concept of...
Culture Wars
‘Roe v. Wade’ Eroded the Church’s Historic Pro-Life Consensus
Abortion and America's Churches: A Religious History of "Roe v. Wade" (Faith, Governance, and Civil Society in American History) By Daniel K. Williams (Author) 384 pages $33.54 BOOK REVIEW By Gillis J. Harp Christianity Today October 9, 2025 It was already unraveling by 1973. Repairing it today won’t be easy. After the Supreme Court’s polarizing Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, the liberal Protestant organ, The Christian Century, sometimes expressed deep ethical concerns
The Culture of Mass Delusions. Mental health and the consequences of denying reality.
(Image: Matt Kirk/Unsplash) By Dave Doveton, Anglican Mainstream September 17, 2025 Thirty years ago, if you had told another person that...
Iran’s Secret Revolution: 2,000 a Day Turning to Christ in the Heart of Islam’s Harshest Regime
By Amine Ayoub THE STREAM July, 2025 While the world’s attention remains locked on nuclear threats, anti-Israel rhetoric, and...
As Eye See It
ACNA in Crisis. Steve Wood should resign as archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America.
OPINION By Warren Cole Smith MINISTRY WATCH November 1, 2025 The Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) is a small but mighty denomination. To use an expression from boxing, it is a denomination that “punches above its weight.” Founded just 15 years ago, it has grown to more than 1000 congregations and a membership of 120,000. It also has a strong presence in places like Dallas and Colorado Springs, cities that are home to significant evangelical institutions. So, you
We Need Luther’s High View of Scripture
By Mark D. Thompson The Gospel Coalition October 31, 2025 On All Saints’ Eve 1517, Martin Luther changed the shape of Europe and the world forever. However it was done—and I don’t think Luther was beyond the theatrical flourish of nailing his famous Ninety-five Theses to the church door himself—when Luther’s arguments against indulgences were released on the world, the Protestant Reformation began. Luther remains a controversial figure today, and with good reason. Yet it’s s
In ACNA’s upside-down world, abuse survivors are considered the problem.
The crucial truth to remember is that when someone comes forward and tells the truth about abuse, they are not the one causing harm to the church. October 27, 2025 (RNS) — Facing allegations he mishandled abuse incidents in his Anglican Church in North America’s Diocese of the Upper Midwest, Bishop Stewart Ruch wrote to then-Archbishop Foley Beach in January 2022, “Both my diocese and the ACNA got hit this summer by a vicious spiritual attack of the enemy. I believe this
Devotionals
Stand Fast in Freedom: Galatians 5:1 and the Modern Yokes of Bondage
By the Rev. Dr. Ronald Moore www.virtueonline.org August 20, 2025 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us...
Sola Gratia: The Unmerited Favor That Rescued the World
Grace is not a suggestion, a boost, or a cooperative handshake—it is the sovereign act of God upon undeserving sinners. The Rev. Dr....
Soli Deo Gloria: Glory to God Alone
By the Rev. Dr. Ronald Moore www.virtueonline.org August 12, 2025 There is a Latin phrase that thundered through the Reformation like a...
Theology, History and Science
Alexandria Archbishop Focuses on Nicene Creed; Avoids Disputational Doctrinal Bullets in Unity Talks
COMMENTARY By David W. Virtue, DD www.virtueonline.org Nov. 5, 2025 The Most Rev. Dr. Samy Fawzy Shehata (Archbishop of the Episcopal/Anglican Province of Alexandria and Diocesan Bishop of Egypt) recently addressed the Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order, in which he called for ongoing work to “serve the unity for which Christ prayed”. The conference which ran from 24-28 October, explored the theme: 'Where now for visible unity?' It met at the Logos Papal Center o
The Church is Not Broken Words for a Difficult Week
By Bryan Hollon Oct 24, 2025 What does a faithful church look like? For those of us in the Anglican tradition, it means children and adult converts are being baptized and confirmed, faithful lay Christians are centered increasingly on Jesus Christ through Word and Sacrament – grounded in the biblically saturated liturgies of the Book of Common Prayer. It entails an appreciation for the apostolic faith guarded and transmitted over centuries and received through the English
Fire Without Flame
A Protestant Reappraisal and Rebuttal of Purgatory’s Modern Revival By J Neil Daniels Oct 24, 2025 I. The Strange Return of an Old Fire Not many doctrines have traveled such a curious path as purgatory. Once the bedrock of late medieval Catholic piety — an invisible realm crowded with suffering souls, masses, indulgences, and anxious relatives — it became, almost overnight, one of the great heresies of the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther’s first hammer blows against
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