VirtueOnline

The Church of Uganda and the "Anti-Homosexuality Bill"

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 13:50:00 -0500

The Church of Uganda and the "Anti-Homosexuality Bill"

From the Rev. Canon Aaron Mwesigye
Anglican Province of Uganda
November 6, 2009

The Church of Uganda is studying the proposed "Anti-homosexuality bill" and, therefore, does not yet have an official position on the bill. In the meantime, we can restate our position on a number of related issues.

1. Our deepest conviction as the Church of Uganda is that, in Christ, people and their sexual desires are redeemed, and restored to God's original intent. Repentance and obedience to Scripture are the gateway to the redemption of marriage and family and the transformation of society. (Position Paper on Scripture, Authority, and Human Sexuality, May 2005)

The Muddled Mind of Arizona Episcopal Bishop Kirk Smith

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0500

The Muddled Mind of Arizona Episcopal Bishop Kirk Smith

News Analysis

By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
November 5, 2009

Of all the commentary appearing on blogs and in Anglican cyberspace regarding the Pope's recent offer of a safe harbor to traditionalist Anglicans, none has appeared more inane, muddled and downright inaccurate than that of the Rt. Rev. Kirk S. Smith, the Episcopal Bishop of Arizona.

Here is what he said:

SMITH: I've been waiting a few days to make any comment on the recent invitation from Pope Benedict XVI to disgruntled Anglicans to become Roman Catholics.

VOL: First of all, these Anglicans are hardly "disgruntled". What they are wanting is to be faithful to Scripture, tradition and reason at a time when the Episcopal Church is unfaithful to Scripture, has virtually wiped out all tradition, and is being totally unreasonable over property issues.

Bishop Schofield to Inaugurate New Anglican Religious Society in San Diego

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 10:10:00 -0500

Bishop Schofield to Inaugurate New Anglican Religious Society in San Diego

by David Turney
http://tinyurl.com/yl3sed4
November 5, 2009

New Society Forming

Dear Christian Brothers and Sisters,

There is a vision being birthed at the Anglican Church of the Resurrection ("ACR") in San Marcos, California. Read on. A new Community (Society) is arising in your midst. This is to invite Christians to consider becoming a part of it . . . as the Lord leads. The Society (Community) forming will be a group of persons who especially intend to walk in the joy of serving our Servant King, the Lord Jesus Christ. Our coming together will be for the express purpose of mutual encouragement and accountability with a special focus on growth in Christ through serving.

BELLEVILLE, ILL: Episcopal minister: Former church wants to 'destroy' him

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 09:40:00 -0500

BELLEVILLE, ILL: Episcopal minister: Former church wants to 'destroy' him

By Beth Hundsdorfer & Grace Pawlaczyk
News-Democrat
http://www.bnd.com/homepage/story/995584.html
November 05, 2009

The Rev. Dale Coleman, who has quietly led St. George's Episcopal Church in Belleville for two years, believes there are people at his former church in New Mexico "who want to destroy me."

He said that a vendetta has followed him to Belleville that started over ideological differences involving homosexuals in the church but escalated into a series of personal attacks that he still faces in court, including that the married minister improperly spent church money on a girlfriend.

Churches --- A matter of trust

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 09:10:00 -0500

Churches --- A matter of trust

Opinion

By Creede Hinshaw
http://savannahnow.com/column/2009-11-05/hinshaw-churches-matter-trust
November 5, 2009

It is heart-wrenching to observe the courtroom struggle played out over who holds title to the property of Savannah's historic, downtown Christ Church, very likely the oldest congregation in Georgia.

This case took a dramatic turn recently when Superior Court Judge Michael Karpf ruled that the national body (The Episcopal Church USA) rightfully owns the property on Johnson Square and those members now occupying that building must surrender the property immediately, a verdict the defendants swiftly appealed to the Georgia Supreme Court.

UK Kool-Aid - Robert Hart

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 17:30:00 -0500

UK Kool-Aid

by Robert Hart
http://anglicancontinuum.blogspot.com/2009/11/uk-kool-aid.html
November 5, 2009

The Resolutions

"That this Assembly, representing the Traditional Anglican Communion in Great Britain, offers its joyful thanks to Pope Benedict XVI for his forthcoming Apostolic Constitution allowing the corporate reunion of Anglicans with the Holy See, and requests the Primate and College of Bishops of the Traditional Anglican Communion to take the steps necessary to implement this Constitution." --From the website <http://www.thetraditionalanglicanchurch.org.uk/newspage.htm> of the Traditional Anglican Church in the United Kingdom.

Cranmer Scholar Weighs Bible in Light of English Reformation & American Culture

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 14:50:00 -0500

Cranmer Scholar Weighs Bible in Light of English Reformation and American Culture

By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
November 5, 2009

David W. Virtue recently interviewed Cranmer scholar, historian and theologian The Rev. Canon Dr. Ashley Null in the unlikely venue of New York City where neither lives. The occasion was a "Focus on Ministry" conference held at the American Bible Society which included outstanding Bible teacher and expositor Jonathan Juckes, Rector of Kirk Ella in East Yorkshire. He has served at major Anglican evangelical parishes in England (Sevenoaks, St. Helen's, Bishopsgate) and was on the staff of the Proclamation Trust, an organization dedicated to promoting expository preaching. The Rev. Gregory O. Brewer, rector of Calvary St. Georges co-chaired the event with the Rev. John Mason Founding Rector of Christ Church New York City. Mason taught New Testament theology and has been an Anglican minister for over thirty-five years. He is originally from Sydney, Australia.

Dr. Null is canon theologian in the Diocese of Western Kansas. He is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society, London, and currently The Episcopal Church's Scaife-Anderson Fellow at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Seminary in New York. He is the author of "Thomas Cranmer's Doctrine of Repentance: Renewing the Power to Love" and a "The Power of Unconditional Love: Thomas Cranmer for Today", forthcoming from Holy Trinity, Brompton, in London. Since I was attending the lectures he was giving here in New York, he agreed to this interview.

VOL: Canon Null, what are you doing in New York City?

NULL: I have the privilege and pleasure of speaking at the first annual Focus on Ministry Conference in NYC which is a partnership of Christ Church Anglican, Calvary/St George (TEC) and the American Bible Society.

VOL: What is the thrust of your message?

NULL: I have specially appreciated two things about this conference. First, its wrestling with how to understand the Bible in light of the insights from the English Reformation and, secondly, how those in the Anglican tradition can effectively proclaim the Gospel to those steeped in the assumptions of American popular culture.

SWEDEN: Anglicans snub Swedish lesbian bishop

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:50:00 -0500

SWEDEN: Anglicans snub Swedish lesbian bishop

http://www.thelocal.se/23074/20091104/
November 4, 2009

Anglican bishops from England and Northern Ireland have rebuffed invitations to attend the ordination of the openly gay Eva Brunne to be the next Bishop of Stockholm.

Five bishops from various levels within the Anglican Church, including Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, have decided not to attend the November 8th ceremony, the Dagen newspaper reports.

"The Anglican Church has a moratorium right now concerning the ordination of bishops who live together with someone of the same sex," Alan Harper, a bishop from Armagh in Northern Ireland, told the newspaper.

Episcopalians cite five goals for the future in Strategic Planning survey result

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:10:00 -0500

Episcopalians cite five goals for the future in Strategic Planning survey results

Office for Public Affairs
November 5, 2009

The results of the Strategic Planning survey indicate youth and young adults, evangelism and elements of congregational life are top on Episcopalian's suggestions for the future.

The results of the Strategic Planning survey were shared with Executive Council at the group's recent meeting in Memphis, TN.

Complete results from the Strategic Planning survey along with other resources are available here: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/strategicplan/

Minnesota Dodges Gay BulletTEC Financial Woes IncreaseNew ACNA Parishes

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 09:20:00 -0500

Minnesota Dodges Gay Bullet*TEC Financial Woes Increase*New ACNA Parishes* Diocesan News

Stewards and heralds. We are stewards of what God has said, but heralds of what God has done. Our stewardship is of an accomplished revelation; but an accomplished redemption is the good news which we proclaim as heralds. --- From "The Preacher's Portrait" by John R. W. Stott

You have reached a courageous decision and a faithful decision. You could go on in depletion, frustration. You have not done that, he said. There are some things worse than death. One of them is denial. Resurrection follows death, not denial.. --- Bishop George Councell, Diocese of NJ on the closure of a 125-year old parish in his diocese.

If we haven't got control of our mind during the hour of spiritual study we are not benefited at all. We simply yawn and tire ourselves without a goal, for we cannot remember anything. In the same way, when the printer doesn't have his mind on his work and forgets to put ink in, the printing presses work without printing anything. --- Elder Paisios, +1994

United Methodists hold line on gay issues

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 07:20:00 -0500

United Methodists hold line on gay issues
Delegates pray prior to a vote on issues related to homosexuality during the 2008 United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas.

By Linda Bloom
umc.org
Nov. 4, 2009

Ten years ago, the Rev. Greg Dell was put on trial by The United Methodist Church for performing a same-sex union ceremony.

Since then, a few states have legalized gay marriage and some mainline Protestant denominations, including the Episcopal Church and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, now accept non-celibate gay and lesbian clergy.

A New Agenda For Conservatives - Mike McManus

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 07:10:00 -0500

A New Agenda For Conservatives

By Mike McManus
November 4, 2009

Conservatives are exultant by this week's victories for governors in Virginia and New Jersey. With good reason. Their core supporters turned out, and they attracted a substantial majority of independents, most of whom had voted for Obama.

Maine voters also defeated a gay marriage law. In all 31 states where same-sex marriage has been put to a public vote, people supported traditional marriage.

However, in 2010 conservatives must be far more creative to win major victories in Congress and in state capitals. If Obama's Health Plan passes Congress, as is likely, Democrats will claim a victory that will impress many independents.

Traditional Anglican Communion in UK accepts Pope's invitation

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 06:30:00 -0500

Traditional Anglican Communion in UK accepts Pope's invitation

By Stephen Smuts
http://tinyurl.com/ybdlfcb
November 5, 2009

The Traditional Anglican Communion in England has accepted Pope Benedict XVI's invitation of a Ordinariate.

The following appears on their website:

The Resolutions

That this Assembly, representing the Traditional Anglican Communion in Great Britain, offers its joyful thanks to Pope Benedict XVI for his forthcoming Apostolic Constitution allowing the corporate reunion of Anglicans with the Holy See, and requests the Primate and College of Bishops of the Traditional Anglican Communion to take the steps necessary to implement this Constitution.

PORTLAND, Me. Episcopal Bishop Stephen T. Lane responds to Question 1 results

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 16:40:00 -0500

PORTLAND, Me. Episcopal Bishop Stephen T. Lane responds to Question 1 results

Episcopal Diocese of Maine
Press Release
November 4, 2009

Bishop Stephen T. Lane has issued the following statement on the passage of Question 1:

"Yesterday, Question 1 provided each of us with the opportunity to exercise our franchise, to express our support for the right of same-gender couples to be afforded the full rights and responsibilities of a civil marriage or to disagree. Yesterday, Mainers chose to disagree.

Which way to turn? (Part II) - Charles H. Nalls

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 15:50:00 -0500

Which way to turn? (Part II)

by The Rev. Canon Charles H. Nalls, SSM
November 4, 2009

"Lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward..."
-Genesis 13:14

Several weeks ago, the Roman Catholic Church announced a forthcoming Apostolic Constitution aimed at "reconciling" Anglicans, Anglo-Catholics in particular, to the "big Church"; or, to use the language of the ever fissiparous American Continuing Anglicans, the "Holy Catholic Church-Original Jurisdiction." The initial announcement has prompted a flurry of breathless letters speculating on the content of the Constitution which purports to proffer Personal Ordinariates to Anglican folk disaffected with the state of the imploding Anglican Communion and those "traditional" Anglo-Catholics who yearn for unification with the See of Peter.

PITTSBURGH: Bishop Duncan Writes to his Diocese about Appeal

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 10:20:00 -0500

PITTSBURGH: Bishop Duncan Writes to his Diocese about Appeal

ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH
Office of the Bishop

30th October, A.D.2009

TO THE ELECTED LEADERSHIP OF THE DIOCESE:

Beloved in the Lord,

I am writing to you from Southern California on Friday afternoon. Yesterday was a very important day for us in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. I want to give you some first-hand information on yesterday's announcements, and the decisions leading up to them.

As those of you who have been with us in leadership through the first phase of the Calvary lawsuit will recall, the long-established practice in the diocese is to have the Standing Committee serve as the body of direct oversight relating to legal matters. Particularly in times of major decision and legal consultation it is the Standing Committee that we entrust with responsibility for setting the course forward.

As Night Follows Day - David Phillips

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500

As Night Follows Day

By David Phillips
November 2009

My personal tutor at theological college was Michael Vasey. Michael was, I believe, opposed to the ordination of women as presbyters (priests). But when the General Synod voted in favour of this he is reported to have said that if the Church could do so despite the teaching of Scripture then it must follow that it could not object to homosexual practice. Accordingly in his book 'Strangers and Friends' published three years later he set out to argue from Scripture that the Church should change its mind.

In a similar vein in 2003 the then Bishop of Oxford, Richard Harries, argued in an article in the Daily Telegraph that "The Church has got it wrong in the past - there's no doubt about it. I think you can take the view that, just as the Church eventually abolished slavery, so they ended up in favour of votes for women, so they voted for the ordination of women, and this is just one more issue where the Church has got it wrong." His argument was that the Church had got it wrong on homosexual conduct.

Church of England squandered clergy pensions in 'reckless' stock market gamble

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 01:50:00 -0500

Church of England squandered clergy pensions in 'reckless' stock market gamble

By Steve Doughty
The Daily Mail
http://tinyurl.com/yf38njf
November 4, 2009

The Church of England was accused today of squandering its clergy pensions through reckless betting on the stock market.

Its deepening crisis over how to pay the pensions for retired vicars is 'largely self-inflicted', a leading analyst said.

The criticism is an embarrassing new blow to the CofE at a time when it faces divisions over women bishops and homosexuality, a campaign by Roman Catholics to recruit disaffected Anglicans, and the need to ask churchgoers to put more into collection plates to ease its financial worries.

Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams has been strongly critical of bankers and financiers over their behaviour during the recession.

NEWPORT BEACH, CA: ACNA Bishop is ordained before hundreds

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 15:00:00 -0500

NEWPORT BEACH, CA: ACNA Bishop is ordained before hundreds
Pageantry and song accompany Long Beach rector's three-hour welcome to the Diocese of Western Anglicans. The church's first bishop will preside over 22 churches.

By Brianna Bailey
http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2009/11/01/religion/dpt-ordination110109.txt
November 1, 2009

Anglican clergymen from as far away as Uganda and Newfoundland visited Newport Beach on Saturday to ordain a new bishop in the fledgling Anglican Church of North America.

Formed in 2008, the church is made up of congregations in the United States and Canada that have broken away from the Episcopal Church over differing views on homosexuality and the Scriptures.

The movement includes Newport's St. James Church on Via Lido.

"This is an important, historical day for the whole church," said Archbishop Robert Duncan of the Anglican Church of North America, who presided over the incense-drenched ceremony at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church on Saturday. "You can see the excitement in the people today."

SWEDEN: Lutheran decision on same-sex marriage draws flak from Africa, England

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 10:30:00 -0500

SWEDEN: Lutheran decision on same-sex marriage draws flak from Africa, England

By Trevor Gundy and Fredrick Nzwili,
Ecumenical News International, London/Nairobi
October 26, 2009

A decision by the (Lutheran) Church of Sweden to allow same-sex marriages to be celebrated in churches has been criticized by Lutheran churches in Africa and also by the (Anglican) Church of England.

A majority of the Church of Sweden's general synod meeting in Uppsala decided on October 22 to allow same-sex weddings in church from November 1, six months after the state changed the law on marriage to encompass homosexual people.

Cardinal: New Vatican move not a reflection on Anglican Communion

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 08:10:00 -0500

Cardinal: New Vatican move not a reflection on Anglican Communion

By Simon Caldwell
Catholic News Service
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0904867.htm
November 2, 2009

LONDON (CNS) -- An English cardinal said Pope Benedict XVI's decision to receive entire groups of Anglicans into the Catholic Church did not represent a comment on the state of the Anglican Communion.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, retired archbishop of Westminster, said a forthcoming apostolic constitution to establish "personal ordinariates" should not be seen as an attempt by the Vatican to poach Anglicans disaffected by such issues as the ordination of women and sexually active homosexuals as priests and bishops.

PITTSBURGH: Diocese Completes Non-Disciplinary Release Of Clergy

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 07:10:00 -0500

PITTSBURGH: Diocese Completes Non-Disciplinary Release Of Clergy
Diocese releases 135 clergy

November 3, 2009

Today the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh formally released 135 priests and deacons who have not been active in the Episcopal Church since October of last year.

In letters being mailed today from Bishop Kenneth L. Price, Jr. to each of the affected clergy, the diocese is making good on its offer to release the individuals from their licensed ministry in the Episcopal Church in a way that does not involve disciplinary action.

"The Diocese will proceed to notify the Recorder of Ordinations to remove you from the list of clergy licensed to exercise ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church," Bishop Price writes in his letter.

He continues, "I confirm that it was for causes which do not affect your moral character [and] does not affect your ordination, which is indelible."

A Sober View of the Anglican-Roman Kerfuffle - William Wheatley

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 02:50:00 -0500

A Sober View of the Anglican-Roman Kerfuffle

By William A. Wheatley
Special to Virtueonline
www.virtueonline.org
November 2, 2008

After Cardinal Levada announced the impending release of a new Constitution that will offer groups of the Anglican tradition a vehicle for corporate and sacramental union with Rome, there has been a flurry of speculation in the press, some of it joyously positive, but much of it bitterly negative.

Entrenched Anglicans of the "Affirming" Catholic mindset (most of whom are Anglo-Catholic in style) are upset. Evangelical Anglicans are amused at the battles in the Anglican Communion between the two camps of their traditional foes, the Anglo-Catholics. Traditional Roman Catholics are (a) happy that their conservative allies on the Anglican side of the schism may join them, bolstering the numbers of traditional Catholics in the Roman Catholic Church; and (b) worried that the influx of married clergy may undo the tradition of a celibate clergy. Liberal Roman Catholics are (a) angry that there will be an influx of theologically conservative Anglo-Catholics; and (b) happy that the influx of married clergy may undo the tradition of a celibate clergy. Almost all of the articles offer speculation on what the Constitution will - or won't do. I note in passing that traditional Anglo-Catholics and Evangelicals have more in common with each other and with Rome than do "affirming" Catholics (both those in the Anglican Communion and those in the Roman Catholic Church). We should sort out the facts from fiction in this grand kerfuffle.

Episcopal Dioceses Face Downsizing, Closing Parishes, More Departures

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 20:40:00 -0500

Episcopal Dioceses Face Downsizing, Closing Parishes, More Departures

By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
November 4, 2009

A number of congregations in the Episcopal Diocese of Maine are on the brink of bankruptcy with over 50% of its parishes receiving grants-in-aid. This has lead to the curtailing of funding for mission programming at the diocesan level and no money left to support the buildings or their budgets.

The Rt. Rev. Stephen T. Lane, in an address to his diocese, said that several of his congregations face "literal bankruptcy" and that tweaking the system and the budget will no longer work. He argued that what is needed is something he called "Adaptive Change."

"What we're always trying to do is tweak the system, tweak the budget, so it works a little better, a little more efficiently. We're always trying to build a better mouse trap or give ourselves a little more breathing room. We're trying to make the old system work as well as it possibly can work. But what if things have changed so much that the system itself no longer will serve? What if we've squeezed every penny out of every dollar? What if, instead of tweaking the system, we have to adapt to the change? What if we have to build a new system? What if we have to learn a new way to be church? That work is called Adaptive Change."

LONDON: Six Episcopal bishops portray church's 'broad center' with Williams

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 15:10:00 -0500

LONDON: Six Episcopal bishops portray church's 'broad center' in meeting with Williams

By Matthew Davies
Episcopal News Service
October 23, 2009

Describing themselves as representing the "broad center" of the Episcopal Church, six bishops were welcomed Oct. 23 as guests of Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams at his London residence, Lambeth Palace.

"Our message was to say that the Episcopal Church is not a perfect church, but ... it is alive, it is well, it is vital, it is pursuing the mission that God has set before it," said Bishop Clifton Daniel of the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina in an interview with ENS following the meeting. "I came away as thankful for the Episcopal Church at this meeting as I did for the Archbishop of Canterbury -- and I'll continue to give it everything I have to further its mission and its life."

Vatican Clarifies Celibacy Issue in Apostolic Constitution for Anglicans

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 14:00:00 -0500

Vatican Clarifies Celibacy Issue in Apostolic Constitution for Anglicans

http://212.77.1.245/news_services/bulletin/news/24594.php?index=24594&po_date=31.10.2009&lang=en
10/31/2009

CLARIFICATION BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE, FR. FEDERICO LOMBARDI, S.I., ON SPECULATIONS ABOUT THE CELIBACY ISSUE IN THE ANNOUNCED APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION REGARDING PERSONAL ORDINARIATES FOR ANGLICAN ENTERING INTO FULL COMMUNION WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

There has been widespread speculation, based on supposedly knowledgeable remarks by an Italian correspondent Andrea Tornielli, that the delay in publication of the Apostolic Constitution regarding Personal Ordinariates for Anglicans entering into full communion with the Catholic Church, announced on October 20, 2009, by Cardinal William Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, is due to more than "technical" reasons. According to this speculation, there is a serious substantial issue at the basis of the delay, namely, disagreement about whether celibacy will be the norm for the future clergy of the Provision.

Long Island's new Episcopal bishop faces strong challenges

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 10:50:00 -0500

Long Island's new Episcopal bishop faces strong challenges

By BART JONES bart.jones@newsday.com
NEWSDAY
http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/li-s-new-episcopal-bishop-faces-strong-challenges-1.1559997
November 1, 2009

AS head of the Massachusetts Corps of Fire Chaplains, the Rev. Lawrence Provenzano spent five weeks at Ground Zero saying last rites over remains brought to a makeshift morgue.

Compared to that traumatic experience, he says, taking over as bishop of the embattled Episcopal Diocese of Long Island - where his predecessor stepped aside amid a battle with alcoholism and complaints about mismanagement - is nothing.

SIOUX FALLS: New bishop ordained in the Episcopal Diocese of South Dakota

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 10:40:00 -0500

SIOUX FALLS: New bishop ordained in the Episcopal Diocese of South Dakota

by Steve Young
Argus Leader
http://www.argusleader.com/article/20091031/UPDATES/91031003/1001/news
October 31, 2009

A Michigan native who believes his church can make a difference in the staggering rate of reservation suicides was ordained Saturday as the 10th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of South Dakota.

Six hundred people gathered in the Sioux Falls Convention Center to witness the ordination and consecration of the Rev. John Tarrant in a two-hour ceremony. Tarrant will succeed the current bishop, the Rev. Creighton Robertson, who is expected to retire at the end of the year.

Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh to Leave Longtime Office

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 09:40:00 -0500

Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh to Leave Longtime Office

by Douglas LeBlanc
The Living Church
http://tinyurl.com/y9v3euc
October 30, 2009

The Pittsburgh diocese led by the Rt. Rev. Robert W. Duncan will soon leave its longtime office space in the Henry W. Oliver Building, which offers dramatic views of Trinity Cathedral in downtown Pittsburgh.

The group announced on Tuesday that it will appeal a church-property ruling by Judge Joseph M. James of the Court of Common Pleas in Allegheny County, and it will now be known as the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh. Since leaving the Episcopal Church in October 2008, the group had used the name of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh (Anglican).

UECNA Presiding Bishop Deposes Bishops Who Moved to REC

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500

UECNA Presiding Bishop Deposes Bishops Who Moved to REC
Reformed Episcopal Bishop Royal Grote Denies Irregular Transfers

By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
November 3, 2009

The Presiding Bishop of the 30-year-old United Episcopal Church of North America (UECNA) has deposed two of his bishops because they joined the Reformed Episcopal Church (REC).

Archbishop Stephen Reber wrote a letter to his clergy saying that he had deposed Bishop Wes Nolden, who now serves as a bishop of the REC/ACNA in the Missionary Diocese of the Central States, because he conspired to leave the UECNA before his consecration. He also deposed Nolden's Archdeacon, the Rev. David Straw. Another bishop, Sam Seamans also left the UECNA and was received into the REC.

As soon as the vote was taken I called Bishop Reber to inform him of the vote of my parish and I resigned effective immediately.

It was the day after I resigned that I was examined and received into the REC. I did everything by the book, as did my parish.

Both Nolden and Straw are ministers of Trinity Anglican Church in Evansville, Indiana. Both men have been received into the REC/ACNA. Both men deny any irregularity in their move from the UECNA to the REC. REC Bishop Royal U. Grote also denies any irregularity in their move to the REC.