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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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 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 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
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

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

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

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)

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.