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We are in a Spiritual War*Pope Francis: Compassion without Compromise*Nigerian Anglicans nix Same-Sex Marriage*Confusion over Canterbury Agenda*LA Bishop Bruno Turns up heat on dissident Parish*Diocese of Montreal Plummets*ACoC Clergy expunge Hell

We are full of faults and flaws because we are full of sinners, but a papal visit reminds the world that there are more people who care about religion than those who don't and even in decline, the Catholic Church is a force to be reckoned with. - Fr. Dwight Longenecker

You don't change the culture by fighting one battle at a time. You fight the culture by converting it. --- Michael Voris

Sodomy is not a right. It's a behavior. --- Anonymous

Well did Pope St. John Paul, well did Pope Benedict, well does Pope Francis speak when they each say that the much-needed reform of the Church needs to come from the laity. Implicit in that is not only that many members of the hierarchy are unable to lead a reform, but more importantly, it is precisely the members of the hierarchy that need reforming themselves. --- Michael Voris

Radical and conservative. It is not sufficiently understood that our Lord Jesus Christ was at one and the same time a conservative and a radical although in different spheres. There is no question that he was conservative in his attitude to Scripture. 'The Scripture cannot be broken', he said, 'I did not come to abolish the law and the prophets, but to fulfil them.' Again, 'not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished' (Jn. 10:35; Mt. 5:17-18). One of Jesus' chief complaints against contemporary Jewish leaders concerned their disrespect for Old Testament Scripture and their lack of a true submission to its divine authority. But Jesus may also be truly described as a radical. He was a keen, fearless critic of the Jewish Establishment, not only because of their insufficient loyalty to God's Word, but also because of their exaggerated loyalty to their own human traditions. Jesus had the temerity to sweep away centuries of inherited traditions ('the traditions of the elders') in order that God's Word might again be seen and obeyed. He was also very daring in his breaches of social convention. He insisted on caring for those sections of the community who were normally despised. He spoke to women in public, which in his day was not done. He invited children to come to him, although in Roman society unwanted children were commonly 'exposed' or dumped, and his own disciples took it for granted that he would not want to be bothered with them. He allowed prostitutes to touch him (Pharisees recoiled from them in horror) and himself actually touched an untouchable leper (Pharisees threw stones at them to make them keep their distance). In these and other ways Jesus refused to be bound by human custom; his mind and conscience were bound by God's Word alone. Thus Jesus was a unique combination of the conservative and the radical, conservative towards Scripture and radical in his scrutiny (his biblical scrutiny) of everything else. --- John R.W. Stott

Here is the bottom line. If the January gathering of Primates does not fully address the real issues, the Communion will not survive--nor should it --- Bishop Bill Atwood

President Obama would like to use the power and prestige of church and state to promote a heretical strain of Christianity, a false Christ that embraces his own political agenda. This false Christ will bless his views on abortion and same-sex "marriage" and lull Christians to sleep. This alternate Christ will also ensnare Christian's souls by leading them away from the true Christ. --- Ben Johnson, Charisma magazine

Dear Brothers and Sisters
www.virtueonline.org
October 2, 2015

Pope Francis has come and gone, but he has left an indelible impression on millions of lives, my own included. We who live in the Washington, New York, Philadelphia triangle of cities will never forget his coming into our city.

He was a pope who exuded compassion without compromise. He revealed a compassionate orthodoxy few can match. His visit also revealed that liberals and revisionists are on the wrong side of history and truth and if you cling on to truth tightly enough you will prevail. The rest are little more than kissing Judases.

If there are lessons for liberal U.S. denominations like The Episcopal Church to be learned about Pope Francis's visit to the US it is this: you can (still) believe the gospel -- that people are sinners in need of a savior -- and at the same time address environmental issues like climate change, respect for human life (oppose abortion), hold the line on the Church's teaching on sexuality, and refuse to cave into its post-modern despizers.

Pope Francis addressed a nation that is rapidly post-modern, post evangelical, and many believe, is now post Christian, slowly being ruled by Nones. It is addressed to the Episcopal Church and to all mainline churches that have abandoned a transcendent gospel in favor of secular social initiatives posing as salvation, and watch as they slowly disintegrate and die.

The welcome given to Pope Francis was nothing short of inspiring, putting even rock stars in the shadows. In truth he came as a servant and not as a "star." That makes all the difference in the world. As one columnist observed, "He is a remarkable Pontiff, in many ways exactly what Catholics need. Humble, generous, thoughtful, hands-on and transparently ordinary, he is the closest the faith has come to finding accommodation with the irreversible liberalism of much of modern life."

I have written and posted some closing stories on his unique visit here in Philadelphia, plus a number of other pieces by VOL's own special correspondent Mary Ann Mueller.

*****

The church is at war. It is impossible not to come to this realization in light of the atrocities committed against Christians throughout the world. While we should be thankful to the Lord for providing a secure place for us to grow in our spiritual disciplines, we would do well to remember that the church in America is also at war.

Whether we acknowledge it or not, does not change this theological fact. When we reflect on the strategies that Satan would implement against the church, we should keep in mind that the evil one is shrewd.

Just as he manipulated the situation in the Garden so many millennia ago to lead God's people astray, so he remains devious in his tactics today. Militant oppression against the church would not be effective in silencing the preaching of the gospel in our society, which is already horrified by the brutality of ISIS and other terrorist organizations. This would lead to a greater outcry and sympathy for the cause of the church in America.

The Episcopal Church is at war with the Anglican Church in North America. The Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC) is at war with the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC). Religious freedom in America is at war with the whole pansexual lobby who want, nay demand, full acceptance of their behavior, even when there is not a scintilla of evidence that the behavior is safe or life giving and that is truly narcissistic and self-absorbed.

The Anglican Global South is at war with the liberal/progressive/revisionist northern Anglican Church over, not just sex, but the very nature and meaning of the gospel. Traditional marriage is at war with gay marriage. You will read a number of stories in today's digest that reflect on this theme.

*****

The Anglican Church of Nigeria issued a communique this week saying that there is no change on Same-Sex Marriage within that province.

Archbishop Nicholas Okoh called on Anglican Communion leaders to repent of revisionist theologies. He said he would consult with GAFCON archbishops before deciding on the Archbishop of Canterbury's call to come to Canterbury next January.

The communique also called on its members to defend the orthodox biblical teaching on marriage and family. They also urged the Federal Government to continue to resist "foreign pressure" to make it rescind its stand on same-sex marriage.

The bishops and archbishops condemned the "revisionist theologies" of some Anglican provinces and called on the leadership of the Anglican Communion to repentance and renewed faith in Christ as expressed in the Bible, the Articles of Religion, and the Jerusalem Declaration. They also reaffirmed their commitment to those Anglicans throughout the Communion who abide by these truths.

You can read the full story in today's digest.

*****

There have been no refusals so far to the call of the Archbishop of Canterbury to Canterbury next January, except we have not heard from the leader of the most powerful Anglican province, the Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh of the Anglican Church of Nigeria.

Responses, so far, range from mildly enthusiastic to heavily caveated with most of the West (Global North) positive.

The one thorn is how to interpret the appearance of Archbishop Foley Beach of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). The Episcopal Church's yet to be installed Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will attend.

The Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, the Most Rev. Archbishop Fred Hiltz welcomed the meeting as "a good thing." He described the decision to invite ACNA -- it is understood that the representative will be present for one day, before the formal meeting gets under way -- as "an opportunity for some conversation, in the ultimate hope that we might be able to find a way forward towards reconciliation."

Therein lies the problem. Hiltz is treating Beach's pre gathering appearance like a nuisance mosquito bite. That is not how Kenyan Primate Eliud Wabukala sees it.

The central issue for the GAFCON archbishops is the heretical stance of the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada. The ONLY reason the Global South archbishops will attend is if Archbishop Beach is invited to come.

That's a whole different take on the matter. Needless to say, climate change will not be on the minds of the Global South Primates. They want to know if TEC and ACoC are going to repent of their apostasies. If they don't, what sort of future does the Anglican Communion have?

You can read the full story in today's digest.

*****

Los Angeles Episcopal Bishop J. Jon Bruno is turning up the heat on the priest and parishioners of St. James the Great Episcopal Church in Newport Beach. VOL broke the story about the lawsuits back in August; things have only gotten worse in the meantime. Both sides are digging in for the long haul.

A misconduct complaint, filed against Bruno by members of St James, has been handed back to the national church's disciplinary panel for bishops after the parties were unable to reach an amicable resolution.

A FACEBOOK blurb, written by a spokesman for the parish, reported on Sept. 23, 2015, "We are sad, however, to report that we were unable to reach an accord in our presentment involving Bishop Bruno. The Episcopal Church (TEC) appointed an able, extremely dedicated and experienced conciliator to try to mediate a solution. His efforts are deeply appreciated by the St. James the Great congregation and we are glad to have worked with him and supported his efforts. At this point, TEC will either seek a conference or more likely, begin an investigation of Bishop Bruno based on the matters included in our presentment."

Bruno is taking no prisoners in dealing with complaints of bullying and dishonesty levelled against him by ignoring a request from the national church that he not prejudice the proceedings. The Bishop's attorneys have not relented in their legal campaign, and have sought to depose a Girl Scout leader whose troop had planted an herb garden at the parish, and the daughter of a woman whose ashes are interned at the church.

The Rt. Rev. Clayton Matthews informed the complainants that the "reference panel" had recommended the dispute be resolved with "conciliation pursuant IV.10" of the church's disciplinary canons. That apparently is not going to happen.

Under the church's disciplinary canons, if the parties are unable to reach an agreed settlement, the matter returns to the panel, which may dismiss the charges, investigate them further, or pass the matter onto the Presiding Bishop's office.

The letter from Bishop Matthews to the Save the St James the Great coalition further asked all parties to refrain from actions that would jeopardize the conciliation process. "[I]t is our desire that all parties will enter into this process in good faith," the letter stated. Bruno has ignored this advice and continues to harass members of the congregation, even though they do not have access to the property but meet in a park across the road.

What makes this story so interesting is that the former occupants of the church were the Rev. Richard Crocker who, as an Anglican, fought for the property against Bruno, lost, and then left with 90% of the congregation. When the remainder stayed, Bruno wanted them out so he could sell the property. That is not going to happen any time soon. Meantime, he is running up a huge legal bill estimated to be about $9 million. He wants them out. So the liberal stayers are getting a taste of a revisionist bishop. How ironic.

So the Presentment process moves to the next step. He is determined that we should just go away, said the woman priest. "We will not. With love and grace, we will stay together. Truth is on our side. We will persevere."

*****

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has announced the members of the newly-formed Episcopal Church Commission on Impairment and Leadership in the wake of the Heather Cook fiasco. Cook is the besotted bishop who killed a cyclist while driving under the influence and texting. She has pled guilty and will do time. Church leaders finally looked down and saw the bottom of the barrel and decided they could do better. Really. A gay bishop with a drinking problem! Oh no...think Vicky Gene.

Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori, in consultation with President of the House of Deputies, the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, appointed its members. The Rev. Martha Horne will serve as chair of the Commission. Some questions come to mind:

Do you have a drinking problem? Check
Have you ever been arrested for drunk driving? Check
Do you or have you ever smoked or used an illegal substance while preaching a sermon? Check
Have you ever texted while driving and been drunk all at the same time? Check
Are you living with a man who is not your husband? Check
If you are an alcoholic, how long have you been sober? Check
How many years do you think you should serve in prison if you are caught drinking, driving, and kill a cyclist? Correct answer: at least 20 years. If you came up with less than that, you don't qualify to be a bishop.

*****

The Bishop of Niassa (Anglican Church of South Africa), the Rt. Rev. Mark Van Koevering, has announced that he will be resigning effective October 31, 2015 on the occasion of his 10th anniversary as Bishop of Niassa. According to all available sources, he is a pretty out there evangelical. He has actually worked very hard - gifted in the area of church planting - for many years in Mozambique, where he has spent 28 years of lay and ordained ministry. Always touted by the synod of bishops as a model Evangelical.

So the question must be asked why has he accepted a nomination to become the Assistant Bishop for the Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia (a very liberal diocese) with a special mandate for mission?

This diocese, under Bishop Michie Klusmeyer, has voted consistently and positively on all the gay issues, including blessing same sex unions, so why would he invite a known evangelical unless it is out of sheer desperation.

From 2003 to 2014, Average Sunday Attendance has gone from nearly 4,000 to 2,300, the size of one decent sized Episcopal parish in Texas. Desperate times apparently call for desperate measures.

*****

Michael A. Bird, the mousy Bishop of Niagara, has shown once again what a narrow-minded, litigious, and mercenary-minded little man he is.

The following was reported in the Guelph Mercury News. The headline ran:
Contrasting tale of two churches compelling. It was written by someone called Stephen Runge.

Ethiopian church finds spiritual home in Breslau -- Sept. 26.

Last Saturday's feature on the Ethiopian congregation in Breslau was heartwarming.

Not only did the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church consider fellow Christians seeking worship space as worthy purchasers, they actually donated the church they no longer use to a congregation without a place to call home.

What generosity of spirit, what kindness and forethought, what admirable consideration for the entire community.

Such selfless motivation is sorely lacking in the saga of the former St. Matthias Church property in Guelph, which is owned by the Anglican Diocese of Niagara. In this case, the diocese outright refused a $1.2-million purchase offer from a local congregation for the redundant Anglican Church at Kortright and Edinburgh roads. Rather, they continue to favor a bidder who proposes to demolish the church and replace it with high-density housing.

Anglican claims of putting ministry ahead of money ring hollow when you see the opportunities the Lutherans (and some other denominations) create for other faith groups.

Why is it so difficult for the Anglican diocese to see through the shallow advice they are being given? Why advocate mercenary practices that preclude serious offers from other congregations because they cannot compete with developers?

This is exactly what is happening there in spite of community objections, in spite of Guelph city council questioning the entire process, and in spite of a developer using the Ontario Municipal Board process to get its own way.

What a sad commentary on the state of affairs in the Anglican Church of Canada.

The Guelph community expects more and will do their best to hold the diocese accountable for their decisions.

I wouldn't count on it. Bishops have way too much power and levering them out takes a three ton ecclesiastical bomb or a declaration that Jesus is the only way to the Father.

*****

The new Bishop of Montreal wants to make the church relevant. Bishop Mary Irwin-Gibson is the new bishop of the Diocese of Montreal, a diocese whose membership has plummeted from 93,000 in 1960 to 11,000 in 2015.

How does she intend to make the diocese "relevant?" Well, she is going to carpet bomb the diocese with cliches. We have: "think outside the box" -- a phrase I've heard used by witless business executives hundreds of times when they have run out of ideas -- "build up their [the clergy's] sense of engagement" and..... wait for it, "make ministry viable and sustainable". She does mention "sharing the Gospel,"which is odd since I'd have thought it too far inside the box to be worthy of attention. She is a liberal, so it is probably a gospel of the viable and sustainable rather than the real thing.

Needless to say, she has no "problem with same-sex marriage."

One newspaper wrote, "Irwin-Gibson, 59, said there are no easy answers on how to ensure the viability of Anglicanism in Quebec but she is up for the challenge."

With fewer than 11,000 members in the Montreal diocese, down from about 93,000 in 1960, the denomination faces an uncertain future.

"Often we get stuck in the patterns of how we've been doing it," said Irwin-Gibson, who replaces retiring bishop Barry Clarke.

Irwin-Gibson acknowledged the challenges are daunting, but said she is ready to think outside the box to keep the Anglican Church relevant, even if the model of a traditional church and full-time priest in every parish is no longer possible.

"How do we do ministry in a meaningful way without the model of some old guy (who) lives in the house next door?" she asked.

"My goal is to encourage the clergy, to build up their sense of engagement, to ... make ministry viable and sustainable for the next generation," said Irwin-Gibson, whose last posting was Kingston, Ont., where she was the dean of St. George's Cathedral for six years.

*****

Anglican Hell hath no fury at all. How many Anglican Church of Canada clergy believe in the reality of Hell? I suspect the number is very small.

When Hell is expunged from Christianity, there is no longer any need for a Saviour since there is nothing to save us from; sins are neither judged nor punished, so Jesus didn't need to take them upon himself and die for them. Since Jesus didn't die for our sins, he wouldn't need to be God incarnate, physically resurrected, born of a virgin or sinless. Perhaps, as Anglican priest manque Tom Harpur suggests, Jesus never actually existed. As you can see, without Hell, the whole thing falls apart -- just like the ACoC. Not to worry, though, there is still social justice.

Here is an interview with a clergyman who isn't at all interested in being saved from Hell:

"I came to be passionate about justice through Jesus, as I was introduced to him by figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Desmond Tutu. They introduced me to a Jesus that I wanted to give my life to -- not because if I didn't, I would go to hell, but because he was showing a way of life that was life, that was truth! When I hang out with my homeless friends, when I engage in social action, to me it is like a spiritual practice, I feel closer to Jesus."

I trust everyone has noticed my restraint in not making any cheap jokes about how the ACoC has invented - or "reimagined," to use the in vogue non-word - its own particularly torturous version of hell. Try sitting through an ACoC sermon.

*****

If you think that those afflicted with same sex attraction are all caving in, believing that people are defined by their sexuality. It's not true. Listen to this:
http://www.whitehorseinn.org/whiarchives/2015whi1277sep27.mp3

*****

The former Bishop of Harare, the Rt. Rev. Sebastian Bakare, has denounced claims in Zimbabwe's government backed newspapers that he is a tool of the US government and an enemy of the regime.

In an interview published on 17 Sept 2015 with NewsDay, Dr. Bakare rejected charges leveled on 13 Sept 2015 by Bulawayo24 -- a government radio/television station in the country's second city -- that he was involved in a plot funded by the US Embassy to bring opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and former Vice-President Joice Mujuru together to form a coalition to oust President Robert Mugabe and his ruling ZANU-PF party in the 2018 elections.

Dr. Bakare, who heads up the nonpartisan National Convergence Platform (NCP) -- a civic group that seeks to bring the business, trade union, religious, political and social groups together to engage in a national dialogue on the future of the country -- denounced the stories as a smear campaign to derail the NCP. He said the 24 Oct 2015 opening meeting of the NCP would be nonpartisan and invitations would be extended to "everybody who is concerned at the meltdown of our economy, including all political parties, with no special treatment extended to any."

He added, "To associate me with the American Embassy, which I know may not have a very good rapport or relationship with the government, is trying to say to the nation: 'This is your bishop associating himself with the enemy of the nation.' I resent this to the very core of my being."

The accusations against him were from those seeking to protect their economic interests at the expense of the nation. "Such kind of maliciousness comes from those who are benefiting from the system that has denied Zimbabweans a peaceful and happy life," the retired bishop said.

*****

Three evangelical churches have been burned down in an area of northwest Tanzania where Islamist extremists have been making threats against Christian communities, according to Christian Today magazine.

The devastated churches were Living Water International, Pentecostal Assemblies of God, and Evangelical Assemblies of God, all in Kashfa in the Bukoba district. All three counted worshippers into the hundreds.

Vedasto Athanas of Living Water told Morning Star News that Christians are increasingly worried and frightened.

Tanzania is at number 33 on the Open Doors list of countries where persecution of Christians is most severe.

Athanas said, "What is worrying us is that the burning of the three churches happened within a span of two hours. What is even more worrying is that we have been receiving threats from Muslim extremists that they want churches reduced in this area.

"We have lost everything in our churches -- the buildings, the chairs and musical instruments. Our members have nowhere to worship."

One point of contention is over rules surrounding animal slaughter. Extremists in the area object to Christians slaughtering animals because they believe this is forbidden for non-Muslims.

Muslims make up about a third of Tanzania's population and Christians a little over half.

*****

Charity Commission has issued a warning against funding terrorism. The warning follows several cases where the UK charity assets have ended up in the hands of proscribed terror groups

Charity staff are being urged to act as whistle-blowers if they suspect funds are being used to finance terrorism.

The Government has issued an alert against charities that divert cash to fund terrorism and pledged to take action against trustees and charities who suspect this and fail to report it.

In guidance on the Terrorism Act, the Charity Commission says it is particularly relevant for charities in countries or areas where terrorists are active or in control.

"The intended use or diversion of charitable funds for terrorist purposes is completely unacceptable and undermines public trust and confidence in charities," the commission said.

Under counter-terrorism legislation, charity trustees and staff are obliged to report suspicions that funds are being misused, such as to fund terror. Failure to do this is punishable by fines or up to five years in prison.

The commission said it understands the risks charities and their staff face when working in unstable and dangerous countries.

In the cases where funds have been lost, there was no indication that the charities involved had knowingly allowed their assets to be used for terrorism, the commission said.

Earlier this year, the Overseas Development Institute warned that millions of pounds of donations to charities have been held up, blocked, or returned by banks over fears that the cash could end up financing terrorism. Several international banks had frozen UK charity accounts. The institute said a lack of guidance on how banks should respond to counter-terrorism legislation had caused overly risk-averse action towards UK charities in conflict zones.

*****

The next time I write to you it will be from Carthage (Tunis) in Tunisia, North Africa. I will be there to cover the SIXTH TRUMPET, the Global South to South Encounter where Anglican archbishops and bishops will engage challenges facing the future.

Among the speakers will be Archbishops Mouneer Anis (hosting the event), Ian Ernest, Tito Zavala, Eliud Wabukala, Onesphore Rwaje, Daniel Deng Bul, and a number of lay theologians and thinkers including Ashley Null, Michael Glerup, and noted sociologist Os Guinness.

Please consider a donation to help make this possible. VOL depends on its readers to keep us afloat. VOL has no corporate backers. We depend solely on you our readers to keep us afloat. Less than one per cent of you make a donation. Why? I have a small staff to pay along with web and communications bills. Yet the attraction of getting a "free service" seems overwhelming. Thousands go daily to www.virtueonline.org It is my responsibility to change that. We must have new donors to keep us going. If you have not contributed in the last year or so, please jump in and do so.

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Thank you for your support.

In Christ,

David

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