"Beware of manufacturing a God of your own: a God who is all mercy, but not just; a God who is all love, but not holy; a God who as a heaven for every body, but a hell for none; a God who can allow good and bad to be side by side in time, but will make no distinction between good and broad in eternity. Such a God is an idol of your own, as truly an idol as any snake or crocodile in an Egyptian temple. The hands of your own fancy and sentimentality have made him. He is not the God of the Bible, and beside the God of the Bible there is no God at all." ― J.C. Ryle

The Anglican Communion is hurtling, like a train without brakes, toward the Lambeth Conference in 2020. What happens when it crashes into the conference is anybody's guess. The missing brakes in question amount to a clear sense of purpose for the conference and a clear rationale for participating in it. Both appear to be missing. Since no one really knows why hundreds of Anglican bishops should gather together, no one can really say who should come; and finally, for lack of common clarity on both issues, the conference threatens to be but a gathering of disordered and vying hopes and resentments. What we are seeing at the moment are open letters, protests, and general anxiety. ---- Ephraim Radner in TLC

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
April 5, 2019

VOL experienced yet another FACEBOOK shut out. My article on abortion and Bishop William Love was denied boosting by Facebook gnomes. Topics like abortion and transgenderism are now in Facebook's crosshairs, unless, of course, you are promoting such behaviors. They call it hate speech, we call it free speech.

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THE homosexual spouses of homosexual Episcopal and Anglican bishops who are being excluded from the Lambeth Conference will be welcome to stay at the University of Kent, the venue for the event, it was confirmed this week. The Council also announced that it would seek a meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury to discuss concerns about the decision not to invite same-sex spouses. This is the grand compromise. Kent University explodes in faux outrage over the exclusion of homosexual spouses to the conference, but gets to keep all the money.

A statement from the chairman of the University's Council, Sir David Warren, and the Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Karen Cox, described the university as an organization "proud of its progressive values, philosophy and record of diversity and inclusion. . . We also place great value on diversity of opinion, open, respectful debate, recognition of difference, and the central role of constructive engagement and dialogue." Of course, you do.

Sniffing the air of self-righteous indignation, the two leaders opined; "Council members were clear that exclusion of same-sex spouses, on grounds of orientation, would be contrary to the values of the University. Council determined that the University shall ensure that accommodation will be available on campus for those spouses affected by this decision who wish to be in Canterbury with their partners during the conference period. The University welcomes them and affirms its belief in, and commitment to, diversity and inclusivity."

There, now that compromise should make even Welby happy, though as Episcopal theologian Dr. Ephraim Radner noted (above), "The Anglican Communion is hurtling, like a train without brakes, toward the Lambeth Conference in 2020. What happens when it crashes into the conference is anybody's guess." VOL believes that Welby will be there with tea and scones for everybody and the promise of a garden party with the Queen, with a little bit of exegesis on I Peter to take back home.

Of course, the great cloud hanging over Lambeth is GAFCON which, while having fewer bishops, has more members. They just made another foray into New Zealand to establish a beachhead there this week. The Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans New Zealand is calling for episcopal nominations. The Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans Aotearoa/New Zealand is a new Diocese in New Zealand looking for a bishop, because of the rejection of the authority of Scripture by the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia at the 2018 General Synod.

As a result, a number of parishes and individuals have chosen to disaffiliate from ACANZP and gather together in 12 parishes to form a new expression of Anglicanism, said a press release. You would think Archbishop Justin Welby might finally be sniffing the air of informal schism. You can read the full story here: https://www.virtueonline.org/fellowship-confessing-anglicans-new-zealand-calls-episcopal-nominations

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In yet another move that is bound to inflame tensions in the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Justin Welby said he backed state enforced LGBT Relationships and Sex Education.

Welby, has categorically declared his support of the government's Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) statutory instrument. This is program is happening in the face of mounting opposition from Muslim, Jewish and Christian parents, and pro-family campaigners expressing concerns of RSE being used to normalize homosexuality and transgenderism among children.

"The Church of England has been actively involved in the consultation on Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education. The Church welcomes the clarity of the guidelines that have been developed and the overarching desire to develop good relationships in children of primary and secondary school age," the Archbishop's Correspondence Officer Dominic Goodall noted, replying on behalf of Archbishop Welby to a question from Rebel Priest Media.

"The Church strongly supports the importance of RSE and health education, as a natural overflow of the ethos of faith schools. It is important for children to develop the virtues and values of healthy relationships and to respect the differences in other families," an email from Lambeth Palace said.

You can read Jules Gomes exclusive story on this here: https://www.virtueonline.org/archbishop-justin-welby-backs-state-enforced-lgbt-relationships-and-sex-education

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Poor old England. On what should have been Brexit weekend, churches and cathedrals opened their doors for prayer and dialogue...and cups of tea.

The first weekend after the UK was supposed to leave the European Union, churches and cathedrals were offering spaces for conversation and prayer on Brexit. This past weekend should have marked the start of a new post-Brexit era for the UK.

But after another week of votes and debates failed to break the deadlock on Brexit, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York invited people to come together in dialogue and prayer as part of five days of prayer for the nation and its future relationship with the European Union.

The country is a mess, the Church of England is mostly irrelevant to 98% of the population, there are more practicing Muslims in England than practicing Christians and Big Ben will be silent for the next four years as it undergoes major conservation on the tower which houses the bell. London Bridge has gone, dismantled in 1967 and relocated to Arizona, but the Thames River still rolls along, the beer is still warm and the Houses of Parliament are beautiful in the early evening light.

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The Episcopal Bishop of Albany found himself at odds with National Church over abortion this week. He had the temerity to blast NY State's "Reproductive Health Act" legislation, calling it legalized killing of innocent human lives.

The Rt. Rev William Love wrote a blistering attack on the state of New York's recent passage of the reproductive health act legalizing late term abortions, calling it "the legalized killing of innocent human lives." Ouch.

The evangelical catholic bishop excoriated the language being used to describe abortion as positive acts of justice, promoting women's rights and showing compassion and mercy to the terminally ill. Unfortunately, the names given to these acts of legislation -- "Reproductive Health Act" and "Medical Aid in Dying Act" fail to accurately reflect the true nature of each bill -- the legalized killing of innocent human lives."

Bishop Love said the 'sanctity of human life' means that all human life is sacred because all people (Christians and non-Christians alike) are created by God in the "image and likeness of God." The bishop cited Genesis 1:26-28, the Book of Acts (Act 17: 24, 25, 28) and Psalm 127:3.

Regardless of how "positively" they may be presented -- abortion and assisted suicide are a direct attack on life itself, failing to recognize and uphold the sanctity of life, the bishop wrote in a letter to his diocese published in The Albany Episcopalian.

By contrast, the national church has passed numerous resolutions on abortion, even though the Episcopal Church was historically anti-abortion. However, in 1994, the Church resolved fully to support abortion, expressing its "unequivocal opposition to any... action... that [would] abridge the right of a woman to reach an informed decision about the termination of her pregnancy, or that would limit the access of a woman to a safe means of acting upon her decision."

Over time, a succession of General Conventions passed 16 abortion-related resolutions, with the Church recognizing a woman's right to terminate her pregnancy, condoning abortion only in cases of rape or incest, cases in which a mother's physical or mental health is at risk, or cases involving fetal abnormalities. The church forbids "abortion as a means of birth control, family planning, sex selection or any reason of mere convenience."

You can read the full story here: https://www.virtueonline.org/albany-episcopal-bishop-odds-national-church-over-abortion

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On the home front, the Diocese of Vermont has three nominees -- from Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Virginia -- in the search for its 11th bishop. They are all women and include:

The Rev. Shannon MacVean-Brown, transition priest at St. John's Church in Speedway, Ind. She is black and married.

The Rev. Hillary D. Raining, rector of St. Christopher's Church in Gladwyne, Pa. is white and married. She is a yoga instructor who loves skiing, hiking and gardening and leading a scout troop. She started something called "The Hive" based on the hive of the honey bee for "wellness and spirituality". She makes no mention of the Gospel of Jesus to save sinners or make churches grow. She described "The Hive" as a bolt of inspiration. Hardly in the vein of St. Paul.

Lastly, we have The Very Rev. Hilary B. Smith, the lesbian rector of Holy Comforter, Richmond, Va. "I'm part Costa Rican and both my Dad and Zita are native Spanish speakers. I'm also part Jewish; my grandfather on my Dad's side was Jewish as was his whole family, my extended family. I grew up with a lot of diversity. When I came out as gay to my Dad and stepmother, Zita said, "What an exciting thing for our family!"

She ticked all the boxes, she is bound to win. The BIG question is, if she wins will she get a call from Welby saying she can't bring her significant other or spouse or whatever the blazes you call her to Lambeth next year!

For my satirical take on all this you can read this: Transsexual Episcopal Priest Nominated to be the next Bishop of Vermont. Here's a taste.

NEWS ALERT: The Rev. Winslow Slidebottom of the Diocese of Massachusetts, the Episcopal Church's first transgender priest, said he is tossing his studded collar in the ring as part of a slate of candidates to be the next bishop of Vermont. Other candidates include a black lesbian priest from the Diocese of New York, a white divorced priest from the Diocese of Central Florida and a homosexual priest from the Diocese of Dallas.

It was an act of total inclusion, Slidebottom told VOL in an exclusive interview. "I knew that this was my transgender moment."

"I was listening to one of the presiding bishop's sermons on love, and I got caught up into the third heaven like St. Paul. Actually, I think I made the fourth, the ecstasy was so upon me."

You can read the rest here: https://www.virtueonline.org/transsexual-episcopal-priest-nominated-be-next-bishop-vermont

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The Anglican Church of Canada is seeking a new Primate.
Behold the candidates set to replace Canadian Primate Fred Hiltz:
The Right Reverend Jane Alexander of the diocese of Edmonton;
The Most Reverend Ron Cutler of the diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island and Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada;
The Most Reverend Gregory Kerr-Wilson of the diocese of Calgary and Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert's Land;
The Right Reverend Linda Nicholls of the diocese of Huron; (the fastest dying diocese in Canada) and
The Right Reverend Michael Oulton of the diocese of Ontario.

It goes without saying that they range from the theologically liberal to hyper-liberal and all are in favor of same-sex marriage, writes David of Samizdat. "The only surprise is that no married lesbian atheist was available to stand."

One wag looking at the picture observed, "I think you have the wrong picture here David. Surely this is good old Fred dropping in on a rehabilitation center somewhere." Our thoughts exactly. Not a Cranmer among them.

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The ANGLICAN DIOCESE IN NEW ENGLAND recently hosted the Bishop of Mukono. The ongoing realignment of the Anglican Communion is beginning to take effect, not just at the global level but at the local and diocesan level. It is undoubtedly causing heartburn to Bishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon, Secretary General of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC), who believes that his office alone should have a monopoly on all ministry networks in the Anglican Communion.

Not anymore. Recently, Bishop Andrew Williams, the newly appointed bishop of the Anglican diocese of New England, met with Bishop James Ssebaggala of Mukono Diocese, Uganda along with the Rev. Michael Kafeero of St. Paul's Church in Waltham.

Both bishops wanted to meet and get acquainted while discussing plans for partnership in ministry. Bishop Williams was inspired to hear what was going on in Mukono under Bishop James in the last ten years, especially their vibrant missionary work and substantial growth.

The diocese currently has an outreach to the 20,000 people who live in the islands of Lake Victoria, along with multiple educational development endeavors and work to overcome the HIV epidemic in certain Ugandan communities.

In times past, the Episcopal Church would have screamed about cross border violations, no more. That day has long gone. ACNA is established and growing, TEC is withering and dying.

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The outspoken Anglican Archbishop of Kenya, Jackson ole Sapit publicly criticized the courts for legalizing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) relationships, saying the move is unconstitutional and against spiritual teachings.

Sapit urged the church to be bold enough to condemn all ills in the society, including the LGBT movement.

"The Church does not support the ruling on LGBT association. This is not only unconstitutional but also against the teachings of God."

The Judiciary should respect and follow the Constitution," he said on the sidelines of a church service at ACK Holy Trinity in Kibera, Nairobi. The cleric said his church would not relent in its fight against LGBT.

You can read more here: https://www.virtueonline.org/kenya-anglican-archbishop-sapit-criticises-courts-over-lgbt-ruling

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The Diocese of South Dakota has added two nominees in the search for its 11th bishop.

The Rev. John Floberg is rector of St. James, St. Luke's, and Church of the Cross on Standing Rock Indian Reservation, N.D. The Rev. Robert Two Bulls Jr. is vicar of All Saints Indian Mission, Minneapolis, and missioner of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota's Department of Indian Work and Multicultural Ministries.

They join the two nominees by the diocese's search committee: the Rev. Jonathan Folts, rector of St. John's Church, Essex, Conn., and the Rev. Mark Story, rector of St. Mary's Church, Edmond, Okla.

The most orthodox of this bunch is Floberg. If he wins, he will probably join the Communion Partner bishops, but of course he might be considered too conservative, in which case he doesn't have a prayer.

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The Bishop of Chester, (England) Peter Forster has passed his safeguarding duties over to another bishop after coming under criticism for his handling of an abuse case involving a retired priest who was jailed this month.

Gordon Dickenson, 89, was sentenced to 27 months in prison by Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty to eight counts of sexual activity with a child. The abuse occurred in 1974 while Dickenson was vicar of Christ Church, Latchford.

Bishop Forster faced criticism over his handling of the case after the diocese failed to act on a letter it received from Dickenson in 2009 in which he admitted he had been accused of abuse.

After Dickenson's sentencing, the Diocese of Chester offered an "unreserved apology to the survivor who has shown bravery and courage".

"The diocese wishes to apologize for not acting on this information in 2009 and acknowledges that, had it done so, the police may have brought a prosecution against Gordon Dickenson sooner," it said.

"An independent review will be conducted into the handling of the case to identify where any failures in procedures arose, and what lessons can be learned."

In light of the case, Bishop Forster has now announced that he is handing over all safeguarding duties to the Bishop of Birkenhead Keith Sinclair "with immediate effect".

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The Church Pension Fund announced that it was investing $40 million in clean energy infrastructure projects. The $500 Million fund will provide loans to renewable energy developers. The Fund is managed by New Energy Capital Partners, LLC (NEC), a leading alternative asset management firm that invests across the capital structures of small and mid-sized clean energy infrastructure projects and companies.

No money, of course. for gospel proclamation, but it is nice to know the air will be cleaner and clearer even as the last aging Episcopalian is buried in a Columbarium.

What a story it would be if the CPF announced it was investing just $5 million to bring in 150 Nigerian Anglican evangelists to re-evangelize the Episcopal Church!

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UNPLANNED is the inspiring true story of one woman's journey of transformation.

Abby Johnson was the director of Planned Parenthood until the day she saw something that changed everything. Abby joined her former enemies at 40 Days For Life and became one of the most ardent pro-life speakers in America.

Vice President Mike Pence tweeted his support for "Unplanned", a movie that recounts Abby Johnson's conversion story from Planned Parenthood manager to pro-life leader.

The outspoken pro-life Pence tweeted: "So good to see movie theaters across the country showing Unplanned -- a deeply inspiring new pro-life film based on the best-selling book by Abby Johnson."

"More and more Americans are embracing the sanctity of life because of powerful stories like this one," he added.

Where to view movie "Unplanned" click here: https://www.unplannedfilm.com/

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ALEXA, a global rating system that utilizes web traffic data to compile a list of the most popular websites, rated Virtueonline as the world leader in Anglican news dissemination from an orthodox perspective.

The Alexa report ranked Virtueonline 779,102 out of 30 million websites globally, rating it the leader in global Anglican news. This number does not include a biweekly digest that goes to an additional 6,000 persons, with additional pass-alongs. In addition, stories that appear on VOLs FACEBOOK page get from 4,000 to 28,000 hits per story. This virtually doubles the readership.

You can read the full story here: https://www.virtueonline.org/virtueonline-world-leader-orthodox-anglican-news

I hope you will consider supporting this vital ministry to the Anglican Communion. You can make a tax-deductible donation here at this link: https://tinyurl.com/yabemo37

All Blessings,

David