Orthodox Score Three Significant Goals this week
News Analysis
By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
6/29/2008
It was a week that orthodox Episcopalians and Anglicans in the U.S and around the world might justly feel proud and not just a little vindicated.
The first major event was the guilty charges found against the revisionist Bishop of Pennsylvania, Charles E. Bennison. An ecclesiastical court declared that he knowingly did nothing while his brother John Bennison, also a cleric, engaged in sexual relations with a minor. A court found him guilty 9 - 0. A second charge that he covered up his brother's sexual misbehavior also got a guilty verdict of 6 - 3, garnering the necessary two-thirds necessary vote for a guilty verdict.
He will appeal, of course. Bennison is a narcissist and sociopath so he sees he has done nothing wrong. A number of Episcopal bishops I spoke with here in Jerusalem say Bennison is toast. He will never get his See back again. He will fight the conviction, but he will not win. He walked away from charges that he mismanaged the diocese. In September, he faces civil charges, brought against him by Fr. David L. Moyer, that he committed fraud. He will be cross-examined by one of Philadelphia's most astute lawyers. It is being said that what Bennison experienced in the ecclesiastical court is just a taste of what he can expect at his civil trial.
The second major event, for which orthodox Anglicans in the US are rejoicing, is that a court decision in Fairfax, Virginia saw 11 faithful orthodox Anglican congregations, which broke with the U.S. Episcopal Church, win a second court decision. The latest ruling by a Virginia judge is part of the larger upheaval over orthodoxy in the global Anglican community.
These congregations broke with the Episcopal Church over the authority of Scripture and the consecration of Gene Robinson, the openly homoerotic Bishop of New Hampshire.
On Friday, Judge Randy Bellows of the Fairfax County Circuit Court ruled that the Virginia law under which the congregations want to keep the property is constitutional.
"We have maintained all along that our churches' own trustees hold title for the benefit of these congregations. It's also gratifying to see the judge recognize that the statute means what it says -- it's 'conclusive' of ownership," said Jim Oakes, vice chairman of the Anglican District of Virginia, to which the traditionalist churches now belong.
The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and its Bishop, Peter Lee promptly labeled the decision "regrettable" and said it still believes the law violates the U.S. Constitution's guarantee of church-state separation. They will, of course, continue to pursue every legal option available to them. They will need to raise several more millions of dollars to do so. They have already mortgaged a number of properties in the diocese to meet current legal bills, but sources tell VOL that, unless the national church steps in with a blank check book, Lee is on the hook for more fire sales to pay the fees. Two parishes, Falls Church and Truro, are said to be worth at least $25 million.
The third and most significant goal attained this week occurred here in Jerusalem where some 1200 pilgrims gathered to reaffirm the historic Christian Faith in the land of its birth.
Today, this fellowship of Confessing Anglicans has affirmed by acclamation a Declaration that they will uphold the faith, maintain the sanctity of marriage, use the classic Book of Common Prayer and form a Primates' Council to "oversee the transition process." In effect, they told the Archbishop of Canterbury that they don't need to go through him to get to Jesus and that the Anglican Communion is his to lose, if he does not discipline theologically and morally errant provinces like the U.S. Episcopal Church. For the future, they will no longer look to him for leadership of the Anglican Communion.
This is the worst-case scenario a leader of 56 million Anglicans could possibly face on the eve of the decennial gathering of bishops in Canterbury. To be told that he no longer speaks for 70% of the Anglican Communion is a personal humiliation that is hard to imagine.
This week is one that orthodox Anglicans around the world can rejoice in. They have been beaten down (but not out) and now they are on their way up. There is light at the end of the tunnel. A new day has dawned in the Anglican Communion, and as one Archbishop noted, "we have seen the good hand of God work mightily."
END
| Poster | Thread |
|---|---|
| Howell | Posted: 2008/6/29 17:12 Updated: 2008/6/29 17:12 |
Home away from home   Joined: 2007/1/13 From: Colorado Posts: 441 |
 Re: Orthodox Score Three Significant Goals this weekThere is a God in Heaven after all!!!
|
| daveball | Posted: 2008/6/29 17:48 Updated: 2008/6/29 17:48 |
Home away from home  Joined: 2004/12/18 From: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2281 |
Re: Orthodox Score Three Significant Goals this week Well said, David. Thank you for your reporting this past week.
Yes, there is cause for hope and thanksgiving for the wisdom of those who have lead the effort to free the faithful from the ecclesiastical tyranny of the revisionists but the occasion is not joyous. It is a time for deep and careful contemplation of how we will move forward because the way will not be easy. Aside from resolving the very many differences that still exist within the group presumed to be "Confessing Anglicans", I think it safe to assume that Satan is not through his work with the revisionist element. DBB has not filed his last lawsuit nor has Katie deposed (or at least attempted to) her last priest or bishop. A difficult time is before us, a time requiring faith and prayer and a lot of work. Please pray that God gives us the strength and wisdom to follow his commands. |
| Strider | Posted: 2008/6/29 19:08 Updated: 2008/6/29 19:08 |
Home away from home Joined: 2007/5/26 From: Posts: 339 |
Re: Orthodox Score Three Significant Goals this week Virtue speaks!!!... (Pun intended <G>)
Strider <*)))>< <*)))>< <*)))>< <*)))>< <*)))>< <*)))>< <*)))>< |
| Cennydd | Posted: 2008/6/29 19:12 Updated: 2008/6/29 19:13 |
Home away from home  Joined: 2005/10/30 From: Los Banos, CA, Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin Posts: 6684 |
Re: Orthodox Score Three Significant Goals this week There have been rumors of Rowan Cantuar's possible departure for weeks....and they been just that: rumors.
Now that the GAFCON bishops and primates have issued the Jerusalem Declaration, the going is not going to be easy for him at Lambeth, and this might be all that will be needed for him to leave. If I were him, and if I knew that I had lost the support of 70% of the Anglican Communion, I'd have to re-think my decision to stay in office. Doing this would, in my opinion, send a very clear and concise message to The Episcopal Church and their friends that the jig is up, and it's all over. Cennydd |
| otispage2 | Posted: 2008/6/29 19:23 Updated: 2008/6/29 19:24 |
Home away from home Joined: 2007/3/14 From: Posts: 602 |
Re: Orthodox Score Three Significant Goals this week There is a forth significant victory: and that is that of David Virtue's.
His is a victory of "righteous perseverance" in the quest for truth -- an objective truth honoring God. I know I share a deep gratitude with others for David's historic and invaluable witness for Christ in establishing and setting the record straight on TEC's apostasy. |
| Howell | Posted: 2008/6/29 22:04 Updated: 2008/6/29 22:08 |
Home away from home Joined: 2007/1/13 From: Colorado Posts: 441 |
Re: Orthodox Score Three Significant Goals this week It will be interesting to see how the official TEC Newsletter reports these three events. What is reported will probably appear on page 15 under the Gulden Mustard tombstone Ad as follows:
1. GAFCON - "In a meeting in Jerusalem, some minor changes in personnel and proceedures were approved by a rowdy group that had been kicked out of Jordan." 2. VIRGINIA CHURCHES - "A judge in Virginia refused to ignore an archaic law about property, thus throwing thousands of progressive Episcopalians out on the street." 3. BENNISON - "An Ecclesiastical Court in Pennsylvania, obviously distracted by the upsets at Wimbeldon, failed to fully appreciate the pioneering methods of Bishop Bennison in healing the psychological wounds of a child sex-abuse victim. He will attempt to rectify this by publishing his theories in the New England Journal of Medicine." |
| daveball | Posted: 2008/6/29 22:34 Updated: 2008/6/29 22:34 |
Home away from home Joined: 2004/12/18 From: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2281 |
Re: Orthodox Score Three Significant Goals this week Why should any of us care whether Ruin Williams stays or goes? 70% of the Anglican communion has said that Canterbury is a quaint historic site and not much more. They have said Lambeth is something that used to be important but is no longer. They have said that the Anglican Council is, well, something but not important.
Suppose Ruin does resign? Then what? The Queenie (or probably more to the point, the PM, will appoint another Brit. So what? If the new appointee is a reasonable person, he can be the head honcho in Blimey. No more than that. 70% of Anglicanism have said that, by extension, Schori and Hirz and now personna non-grata. What more message do they need? No one is listening to them any more. 70% of Anglicanism has said to the LGBT crowd that marriage is between a man and a woman and homosexuality is sinful. They won't like that, of course, but I certainly don't care what they think. Either they get over it and repent or just keep on sinning - pretty much the choice anyone has. So, with a bright future ahead, let's concentrate on resolving the many huge obstacle before us and let TEc, Ruin Williams, Spong, Susie, Louie and the rest to do whatever it is that they do. I don't care what Williams does. Canterbury is another diocese. That's all. |
| stcecilia | Posted: 2008/6/29 22:36 Updated: 2008/6/29 22:36 |
Just popping in  Joined: 2007/10/6 From: Posts: 14 |
Re: Orthodox Score Three Significant Goals this week All I can add is "Praise the Lord!!!!!"
|
| Buckwheat | Posted: 2008/6/29 22:45 Updated: 2008/6/29 22:46 |
Not too shy to talk  Joined: 2007/10/4 From: Posts: 25 |
Re: Orthodox Score Three Significant Goals this week Great news, but what about WO? Will we soon see defections?
|
| Ikerliker | Posted: 2008/6/29 23:20 Updated: 2008/6/29 23:20 |
Home away from home  Joined: 2007/1/16 From: PA Posts: 2046 |
Re: Orthodox Score Three Significant Goals this week "We uphold the classic Anglican Ordinal as an authoritative standard of clerical orders."
I take this to mean WO is out of the picture. The classic Anglican Ordinal is an all male priesthood as far as I know. WO is a recent innovation. |
| mcb123 | Posted: 2008/6/30 0:36 Updated: 2008/6/30 0:49 |
Home away from home  Joined: 2004/8/10 From: St. James Anglican Church, OKC, OK Posts: 182 |
Re: Orthodox Score Three Significant Goals this week I'm sure the Archdruid of Canterbury will soon be "allowed" to retire to...his home planet? The unfortunate thing is that you have a left-wing loser of a PM who will appoint another disaster, no doubt. Then again, who cares now?
The Jerusalem Declaration is really the removal of the apostate North American millstone from the neck of the Communion...the real work of transformation and salvation can proceed apace without the dead weight of Biblical revisionism and GLBT sin dragging behind. As concerns WO, I would expect that no further female ordinations will be allowed, with the probable exception of vocational deacons, there being some slight biblical authority for that office. Current female priests are in for a tough ride...if allowed to remain as priests, they will face the question of legitimacy if no further WO is permitted. I predict a few very unhappy women shortly in this regard. They shouldn't be too surprised, though...WO was the first crack in what eventually brought the whole facade crashing down for the former AC. But, no matter...as it says in the Lord's Prayer: "THY WILL be done, on earth, as it is in heaven." God speaks; we listen, not vice-versa. And, thank God for David Virtue! |
| sabigail | Posted: 2008/6/30 1:59 Updated: 2008/6/30 1:59 |
Just popping in Joined: 2008/6/30 From: Posts: 2 |
Re: Orthodox Score Three Significant Goals this week Sorry, but I don't think anything has changed in a post-GAFCON world. Williams will show up at Lambath, smile, talk about maintaining a dialog and all will be the same. Many of the people who went to GAFCON will once again hold out the hope that dialog will change something. If they had declared themselves to be in communion with faithful Anglicans everywhere, but no longer in communion with Canterbury, I would believe that something significant had happened.
|
| mgooch | Posted: 2008/6/30 8:28 Updated: 2008/6/30 8:28 |
Quite a regular  Joined: 2004/1/5 From: Posts: 68 |
Re: Orthodox Score Three Significant Goals this week ...The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and its Bishop, Peter Lee promptly labeled the decision "regrettable" and said it still believes the law violates the U.S. Constitution's guarantee of church-state separation.
****************************** Peter Lee has proven that his grasp of the U.S Constitution is on par with his grasp of the Holy Scriptures. As a Revisionist, he must feel that he has the authority to interpret whatever is written to his own liking. Somebody needs to tell Lee that the Constitution has no such guarantee of the separation of church and state. (If there was such a church-state clause, how then could it be applied to synagogues, temples and mosques?) What is actually written is: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." (First Amendment of the Bill of Rights, ratified by Congress, 1791) It was Thomas Jefferson, as president, who wrote a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association of Connecticut in 1802 that contains the first known reference to the "wall of separation". The essay states in part: "...I contemplate with solemn reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, thus building a wall of separation between Church and State..." With the love of Christ to all… mgooch |
| PB1928US | Posted: 2008/6/30 20:24 Updated: 2008/6/30 20:24 |
Not too shy to talk  Joined: 2007/9/6 From: Posts: 40 |
Re: Orthodox Score Three Significant Goals this week Ikerliker
I agree that is looks like WO has been dealt with..but why didn't they come right out and say the ordinal of 1662? Lex Orandi Lex Credendi |
| MichaelA | Posted: 2008/7/1 11:07 Updated: 2008/7/1 11:09 |
Home away from home Joined: 2006/5/29 From: Posts: 869 |
Re: Orthodox Score Three Significant Goals this week "The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and its Bishop, Peter Lee promptly labeled the decision "regrettable" and said it still believes the law violates the U.S. Constitution's guarantee of church-state separation."
Talk about not picking the right battles! If ever TEC was heading for a hiding it was in Virginia, given the local statutes. But they insisted on charging Marye's heights at Fredericksburg, so to speak... And, winning was never going to help them much anyway - they just would have grabbed a lot of properties that they couldn't maintain. Whereas the faithful can nurture and build up a congregation in a bark hut, if needs be. Still congratulations to the successful congregations, and I pray that you will successfully defend the appeal. |
