"If the liberals have a death wish, I think they should stop trying. They've got what they wished for." Global South Orthodox Anglican Primate

In his death Jesus did something objective, final, absolute and decisive; something which enabled him to cry on the cross, "It is accomplished"; something which was described by the author of the epistle to the Hebrews as "one sacrifice for sins for ever"; something which turns Christianity from pious good advice into glorious good news; which transforms the characteristic mood of Christianity from the imperative (do) into the indicative (done); which makes evangelism not an invitation for men to do something, but a declaration of what God has already done in Christ -- From 'The Meat of the Gospel', "Decision" (January 1962) (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
12/13/2007

The U.S. Episcopal Church is an apostate institution that has minted a new religion irreconcilable with the Anglican faith. Thus spake John-David Schofield Bishop of San Joaquin as his diocese exited from the Episcopal Church this week, making history as he and the majority of his diocese departed to come under the authority of the Province of the Southern Cone.

"This is the start of a rebirth of faithful Anglicanism within this part of the country. It will be a reunification of churches who have felt alienated," said the Rev. William Gandenberger, assistant to the San Joaquin Bishop.

What happened in the Diocese of San Joaquin was the news of the week, perhaps the news of the YEAR.

A second diocese, The Diocese of Recife, also announced that it was joining the Church of the Southern Cone, as an extra-territorial diocese, making for two dioceses in one weekend!

I spoke with Archbishop Venables in the Argentine by phone this week and he seemed very humbled by it all. There was not a hint of pleasure or one-upmanship in the whole discussion. He was, in fact, somewhat saddened that what he was doing was what needed to be done. He is NOT trying to upstage the Archbishop of Canterbury or send him any "message". All he is doing is rescuing flocks from false shepherds -- out of necessity.

In many ways Archbishop Venables, who is British, is a much understated, indeed underrated, humble man. He is not given to schismatic talk or action. He doesn't like what is going on and wishes it were not happening. He is simply offering himself as an Anglican beacon in the stormy and troubled sea of a communion gone terribly awry.

He also believes the derogatory remarks made by liberal Episcopal and Anglican bloggers about his province are both unkind and inaccurate. He told VOL, "We go back a long way. The cathedral in Buenos Aires was built in 1831 and the first bishop was consecrated in 1869. It's now mainly Spanish speaking but with several other languages. It's growing in all seven dioceses and has lots of youth who will be at a number of youth camps this January. We have an outstanding historical work amongst the very poorest Amerindian groups here especially in Argentina, Chile and Paraguay. For example in the north of Argentina there are 120 congregations among the Wichi, Toba and Chorote tribes all under Indian clergy. We commissioned 17 evangelists in a remote Indian village just a couple of weeks ago. Our social program is outstanding particularly in Peru with centers in the shanty towns. There is an AIDS care centre in Uruguay, a unique Indian housing project in South Chile and we have a very strong voice in the land rights and deforestation situation in the north of Argentina. Bolivia has grown from nothing to a church with a high proportion of national clergy in less than twenty years.

"It's also a very diverse province but united since within differing churchmanship we are one biblically and in mission. If it has a British primate it's because the national church chose and elected him."

You can read my interview with Archbishop Venables here or in today's digest: http://tinyurl.com/2b5dht

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A VOL reader traveling in California happened, by pure coincidence, to be in the Diocese of San Joaquin during their historic vote. He wrote, "The Fresno Bee featured the decision as the lead story on page one above the fold with a very large color photo of delegates voting overwhelmingly to secede. The headline from the Fresno Bee was 'Diocese Secedes' in very large bold type across 4 of the 5 columns on the page. Above the headline was a break down on the vote, with separate clergy and lay votes, as well as total votes 'The vote: Clergy delegates 70-12; lay delegates 103-10.' The subtitle from the Fresno Bee read as follows: 'In a historic vote, the conservative Diocese of San Joaquin becomes the first in the nation to split from the more liberal Episcopal Church in a debate over the role of gays, women in the church.

'The story, written by Ron Orozco, was mostly even-handed and accurate, he wrote. "I was in Stockton the day of the vote and The Record of Stockton featured the upcoming vote in its Saturday edition. On Sunday, The Record also gave top coverage to the issue, based on their web site, where it was the third article from the top of the list.

"In Bakersfield, the decision by the diocese was also the lead story on page one above the fold of the Bakersfield Californian, with the title: 'Diocese votes to split from church."' An over line above the title stated 'Episcopal Breakup.' The subtitle was 'Talk of schism heated up after gay bishop was installed in 2003.'

"The lead sentence in the Bakersfield Californian also properly placed the issue in perspective. 'The central California Episcopal diocese voted Saturday to split with the national denomination over disagreements of interpretation of Scripture, most recently homosexuality.' One could not imagine one of the liberal 'mainstream' papers ever being that even handed.

"In the fourth paragraph of the story, with no by-line, but attributed to staff and wire reports, the Bakersfield newspaper was more explicit: 'The Fresno-based unit is the first full diocese to secede because of a conservative-liberal rift that began decades ago over the interpretation of core Christian beliefs, [diocesan spokesman the Rev. Van] McAlister said. Recently, that divide has widened over differences of opinion of what the Bible says about homosexuality.'"

Both the Fresno Bee and the Bakersfield Californian told readers in the first few paragraphs that the diocese was joining the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone.

MRS. KATHARINE JEFFERTS SCHORI came out with a statement saying, "The Episcopal Church will continue in the Diocese of San Joaquin, albeit with new leadership." This was not exactly surprising news. Her legal pit bull David Booth Beers will move into high gear now that an entire diocese has chosen to flee the revisionist shackles of the Episcopal Church. Bonnie Anderson, House of Deputies president also expressed regret that not all of the members of the San Joaquin diocese were willing or able "to live within the historical Anglican understanding of comprehensiveness."

That's choice. Since when did multiple sexualities (LGBT) ever become "Anglican comprehensiveness?"

Forward in Faith International was delighted to hear of the courageous decision made by the 48th Convention of the Diocese of San Joaquin on Saturday, 8th December. "We rejoice with Bishop John-David Schofield and the people of God in his care that they are, at last, free of the burden under which they have laboring in The Episcopal Church and we assure them of our fervent prayers for them as they begin a new life in the Province of the Southern Cone." The letter was signed by Geoffrey Kirk, Secretary and Stephen Parkinson Director.

The Diocese of Sydney, Australia echoed similar sentiments.

As one shrewd observer noted, with a wry sense of humor, "that's not really a hole in the bottom of the TEC ship you're seeing; that's a new opportunity for us all to learn how to do the backstroke after the ship finally sinks."

And, oh, the buzz that Bishop John-David Schofield is a self-loathing ex-gay, another "cured homosexual". Well then, his opponents might want to consider that healing for all manner of diseases and afflictions occurs regularly in the lives of Christians, even Episcopalians, and the fact that this godly man should leave an abhorrent lifestyle is to his credit not discredit. Is it any wonder that he cannot support liturgies which purport to celebrate a lifestyle which he sees as destructive? Bishop Schofield sees "waverers" falling into the homosexual lifestyle because of the "mixed message" which the Church is giving them. He has written, "The Church will be held responsible ultimately for the lives that have been destroyed, emotionally and spiritually as well as physically." Indeed.

*****

Some of the pre-trial testimony in the DIOCESE OF VIRGINIA case makes for interesting reading. VOL has excerpted testimony from both Mrs. Jefferts Schori and David Booth Beers. You can read it here or in today's digest: http://tinyurl.com/2sm54g At the trial in VIRGINIA following Jefferts Schori's testimony, a TEC attorney was heard to comment "CANA just won". One can but hope.

*****

This week VOL uncovered just how much is being spent on lawyers in the battle for church properties. The National Church will have spent over $1 million in lawsuits in 2007. Sources tell VOL that this is the tip of the iceberg. If three other dioceses flee the spiritual shackles of TEC in 2008, along with dozens of other orthodox parishes, that figure could triple. You can read that story here or in today's digest: http://tinyurl.com/2dpjyh

Also in Virginia this week, CANA consecrated four bishops, putting another nail in the coffin of American Episcopalianism. Is the Anglican experiment finally over? Is it time to call it quits, set up another alternative Anglican Communion? Many believe that time is now. Bishops from the US and Nigeria lead in the service attended by over 600 and presided over by Nigerian Primate The Most Rev. Peter Akinola. Consecrated at the December 9th service were Roger Ames, David Anderson, Amos Fagbamiye, and Nathan Kanu. These four will join Missionary Bishop Martyn Minns and Suffragan Bishop David Bena in leading CANA.

*****

To make that point, COMMON CAUSE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL will meet in Orlando, Florida, December 18, to organize the formal beginning of a "separate ecclesiastical structure" in North America. The Council comprises the head bishop, a clergy representative, and a lay representative from each Partner. The assembly will elect its first officers and establish its initial committees and task forces. VOL will issue a report from this meeting.

*****

In the DIOCESE OF NEWARK, NJ, the chickens are coming home to roost. Bishop Jack Spong's spiritual rape of the diocese is bearing the bastard children of dying parishes. The once-grand St. John's Episcopal, the hilltop Gothic church with a panoramic view out over the world, is in such an advanced state of decline that Jersey City folks are considering what to do about it. The Rev. Robert Castle, a former priest, recently visited his old church and said it was like the Titanic going down.

By the first decade of the 20th century, it was the largest Episcopal Church in all of New Jersey, with the largest congregation, at 4,000 members. When a fire struck in 1914, a newspaper headline called it the "Millionaire's Church." As the Episcopal Church declined in gospel proclamation, this parish went down with it. The Diocese of Newark closed St. John's in 1994, but continued to rent space in the basement to other congregations until a few years ago, when the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy, a nonprofit preservation group, started to worry about the future of the vacant church.

Acting on an application filed by the conservancy and opposed by the diocese, the city's Historic Preservation Commission voted 5-0 to recommend placing the church on the Municipal Register of Historic Places, which would restrict the diocese's ability to demolish it. Diocesan officials "just don't want to deal with the building, and they don't want to deal with Jersey City," said John Gomez, a Jersey City native who is the founder and past president of the conservancy. The city has three Episcopal churches, down from a peak of 12 in the early 1900s. "We're letting them know that we don't agree with that, and we're going to fight for this building."

The diocese, citing "safety concerns" and placing the cost of restoration at $25 million, believes the church should be demolished. The message is clear. No gospel, no future.

*****

If you want to know why orthodox parishes are fleeing the DIOCESE OF CONNECTICUT this might explain it. Integrity/Greater Hartford will have a special Eucharist celebration on the Feast of Saint Aelred. The Rt. Rev. Andrew D. Smith, Diocesan Bishop, Presiding, will preside and The Rev. Donald L. Hamer will preach. Now if orthodox parishes wanted Bishop Bob Duncan (Pittsburgh) or an overseas Primate to celebrate in one of their churches the answer would be a flat no. Ah inclusivity.

*****

The ANGLICAN ALLIANCE OF NORTH FLORIDA now has 21 congregations with 40 clergy under its wing. The latest addition is: Historic Christ Church (www.christchurchsavannah.org ), Savannah. Under the spiritual leadership of the Rev. Marcus Robertson, it has affiliated with the AANF. "We are truly blessed to have this group of faithful and committed Anglicans join us in mutual mission and ministry." The addition of Christ Church brings the total number of AANF congregations to 21.

*****

In the DIOCESE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, Trinity Episcopal Church in Vero Beach may break from the national church. The Rev. Lorne Coyle says the national church is being unorthodox, in his estimation, on everything from interpretations of the Bible to allowing a gay bishop to be ordained in 2003. Members of the 81-year-old Trinity Episcopal parish are talking among themselves about making a decision, possibly within six months, Coyle said. Trinity Episcopal is among six parishes in the 90-parish Diocese of Central Florida that are considering going their own way. You can read two stories about what is going on in that diocese in today's digest or here http://tinyurl.com/23ymvz and http://tinyurl.com/28jyvg

*****

How do you spell fudge? The DIOCESE OF NEW WESTMINSTER says a moratorium will continue on new places of same sex blessings, but 8 parishes already authorized can continue to bless homoerotic relationships. Couples must be legally married. A moratorium that forbids the extension of the blessing to any of the diocese's other 71 parishes will continue for the time being, the bishop told Diocesan Council's regular December meeting. This is the thin end of the wedge and clearly not the intention or spirit of what the national church passed recently. It is definitely exercising "local option", something Episcopal Church revisionists regularly fall back on when they can't get their way through normal ecclesiastical channels.

*****

A recent news report that the TRADITIONAL ANGLICAN COMMUNION was being rebuffed in its efforts to unite with Rome by Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, might not be the whole story. If one read the story carefully http://tinyurl.com/38yf3f the cardinal did not attempt a definitive reply himself, but made some "off the cuff" remarks, expressing his personal opinion. That leaves the way clear for the Pope to consider and respond to TAC's petition without "overruling" anyone.

My sources in the Vatican say a major battle is brewing in Rome between revisionists, led by Cardinal Kaspar, and conservatives, led by the Pope. The revisionists hope to delay and head off measures that would make the Church more conservative in practice and teaching. They know they can't "win" while a conservative is Pope, but they hope his reign will be short and they will be able to prevent the "undoing" of Vatican II as they interpret it. The conservatives, on the other hand, hope to establish a firm enough beachhead, during this Pope's reign, to be able to elect another conservative Pope as his successor and then build on it.

He understands that Cardinal Kaspar's remarks regarding TAC were the first public salvo in the revisionists' campaign, in a response to the Pope's ruling on the acceptability of the Tridentine Latin Mass. There is the thinking that revisionists have underestimated the strength and resolve of this Pope, and that he has no fear of a public war. His thinking (as expressed by my source) is that the public utterances of the liberals, countered by clear rebuffs from the Pontiff, will make it clear that the liberals do not control the Vatican or the Papacy, and that they are on the "outs".

There are a great many bureaucrats in Rome who lack personal conviction, one way or the other, and whose personal agenda is to build the Church, whichever way it heads. The conservatives feel that if the battles are public, this vast "middle" of the Vatican will steer toward the seat of power. If the battles are behind the scenes, and not public, the vast middle may play one side against the other to build their own power base.

In the American Church, the vast middle holds the majority of the College of Bishops. The Pope intends to start changing that, with the recent elevations to Cardinal. He may continue it by receiving TAC, in direct contradiction of Kaspar. The Pope apparently holds no hope for further "progress" in relations between the Anglican Communion, as such, and the Roman Catholic Church, so long as the Communion accepts female priests and bishops and does not discipline the liberals in England, America, Australia and Canada. Kaspar has nothing to gain if Rome accepts TAC. The Pope has nothing to lose by doing so. At least, so thinks my source.

*****

AMIA announces Emerging Network. The Council of Bishops of the Anglican Mission in the Americas announced that a new Network will emerge from the Heart of North America in early 2008. The as yet unnamed family of churches will embrace most of Michigan and surrounding works and will be lead by current HONA Co-Network Leader Allen Kannapell of Livonia, MI. In the AMiA, new Networks are born continually through a process of emergence from parent Networks. There are already 15 Networks in the US and Canada with several Emerging Networks forming.

The AMIA Winter Conference meets January 23 - 28 in The Adams Mark Hotel in Dallas and you can register here: www.regonline.com/amiawinterconference08 There deadline is Jan. 11, 2008. This writer will be there.

*****

If you haven't registered for next year's MERE ANGLICAN CONFERENCE 2008 then you can do so here: http://www.mereanglicanism.com/register.htm This conference will be held on Thursday, January 30 through Saturday, February 2, 2008 at Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul, 126 Coming Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29403.

The conference features theological analysis and advocacy by notable writers and speakers reflecting on the crisis of biblical authority, interpretation, and trustworthiness underlying current issues in the Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion. Speakers include Canon Robert Crouse, Bishop Robert Duncan, Canon Michael Green, Bishop (deo volente) Mark Lawrence, Dr. Paul Moser, Canon Ashley Null and Dr. Jerry Root. The conference will feature panel discussions, networking opportunities for laity, clergy, and in particular theological educators and bloggers, together with daily worship at the restored Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul in the historic City of Charleston. VOL will be there to cover this historic event.

*****

The first annual Traditional Anglican Military Chaplains Conference will be held at Daylesford Abbey, Paoli, PA from May 12-16, 2008. The Conference will begin with a Quiet Day and continue with presentations by Dr. Patrick Burke, retired professor of religion at Temple University, on Just War Theory; The Rev. Dr. David Ousley, Rector of the Church of St. Michael the Archangel, Bala Cynwyd, PA on Anglican Catholic spirituality; and The Rev. Dr. Alan Koller, retired Army Chaplain, on Pastoral Theology; and will conclude with a trip to Valley Forge.

Chaplains from all traditional Anglican jurisdictions are invited and urged to attend. A full schedule for the Conference will be forthcoming. For details please contact The Rt. Rev. Dr. David L. Moyer, Bishop of the Armed Forces (ACA/TAC) at 610 525-7070, or Captain Jerry Sherbourne, US Army at 706 575-1239.

*****

With sadness we announce that the Anglican Communion's leading authority on the Book of Common Prayer, the REV. DR. PETER TOON suffered a mild stroke this week. We ask your prayers for this godly saint who continues to do much to keep the Anglican Communion on track. He is the editor of Mandate, President of the Prayer Book Society and a frequent contributor to VirtueOnline.

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We also announce the passing this week of THE VERY REV PROFESSOR THOMAS TORRANCE who died on December 2, aged 94. He held the chair of Christian Dogmatics at Edinburgh University from 1952 to 1979, and was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1976-77. He was one of Scotland's foremost theologians of the last century and enjoyed an international reputation as the leading exponent of the work of Karl Barth, the Swiss Protestant scholar whom Pope Pius XII described as the greatest theologian since St Thomas Aquinas. Torrance's output of published work continued into old age. The bibliography of his writings consists of nearly 650 items.

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CHRISTIAN FORMATION PRESS announces new materials to make true disciples of Jesus Christ. Proven for nearly 30 years in many countries, their materials meet the urgent need for good teaching and disciple making. You can drop an e-mail to Carolyn Fouse at ccfouse7@aol.com for more information or phone her at 940-455-2397. Here is what some priests in the US have to say about this course, "I have used these materials for many years for Confirmation preparation and would never use anything else...This teaching is 'right on.' It achieves what the Primates have asked for." Bishops in Africa have this to say: 'CFM is growing in Uganda and it is indeed a God sent Mission in our midst at a time when the whole world is going crazy spiritually. People who have undergone CFM training are grounded scripturally, are rooted, built and established in the word of God. We are thankful to God for this Ministry.'

*****

ROGER STEER (author of "Guarding the Holy Fire" Baker Books) has been commissioned by IVP Books to write a new biography of John Stott. The book will be shorter than Timothy Dudley-Smith's 2 volume biography and is designed to reach a wider audience. If you have a reminiscence of John to share, or a particular perspective on him, Roger is anxious to hear from you. Please contact Roger on rs@rogersteer.com

As you know, VOL regularly features quotes from the works of John R.W. Stott and we are delighted that Mr. Steer is writing a book about this great man who kept the faith alive in the Anglican Communion, especially the UK, in the later half of the Twentieth Century.

*****

HUMOR. There might not be a Christmas this year in Canada ... As you know the North Pole is in Canada. This puts Santa under the rule of Canadian law.

In a recent Human Rights Commission ruling, it was determined that Santa's use of elves as cheap labor is oppressive and substantially represents a "sweat shop" industry. As a consequence, the elves formed their own union under the umbrella of the AFL-CIO and have gone on strike. A second blow hit the North Pole workshop when the Animal Rights Coalition of Canada determined that the use of reindeer in pulling heavy sleighs through cold winter nights was cruel and abusive to a protected species. It looks grim for this Christmas. It was also reported that Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori supported these findings and has banned Christmas festivities in TEC.

*****

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, gave a wide-ranging lecture recently in Singapore, at the Building Bridges Conference. In his lecture Dr. Williams discussed the position of the "absolute truths" of faith over and above political power, and how this plays out in a society where several faiths coexist: "Does disagreement about truth necessarily mean the violent disruption of social cooperation? I shall be arguing that it does not, and that, on the contrary, a robust view of disagreement and debate between religious communities may play a major role in securing certain kinds of social unity or cohesion". You can read his full lecture here: http://tinyurl.com/38qqwe

*****

I have posted a number of 'must read' stories in today's digest including an assessment of TEC by attorney Brad Drell. Other columnists include Michael Heidt Albert Mohler, who gives VOL an honorable mention and Fleming Rutledge.

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