Scripture passages the group read included Leviticus 18:22, which says, "Do not lie with a male as one lies with a woman; it is an abhorrence." And Romans 1:26-27, which refers to homosexual acts as "shameless." The interpretation of these and other verses creates the chasm that divides conservatives and liberals on the issue. Conservative Christians apply the Bible literally and say it's clear that homosexuality is a sin like greed, anger or lust. And no religious leader who

Special Report By David W. Virtue Orthodox Episcopal clergy across the US can now give input to the Lambeth (Eames) Commission and speak directly to the commissioners with their views and opinions as the report is being shaped. The Letter to the Eames Commission is the brainchild of Canon David Roseberry, rector Christ Church, Plano, one of the largest orthodox parishes in ECUSA. (You can see and sign the petition at www.virtuosityonline.org) “I felt that the voices of thousa

Memorandum to: The Clergy and People of the Diocese of Central Florida From: Bishop John W. Howe Regarding: The Church of the New Covenant Dear Brothers and Sisters, As you know, on February 5, 2004 the Rector and representatives of the Vestry of the Church of the New Covenant in Winter Springs informed the Chancellor and the Bishop of the Diocese that they had unanimously passed two resolutions the previous month. The first claimed that the Episcopal Church, USA, had abandon

BBC News Gay Church of England cleric Jeffrey John is coming under pressure to step down from his new position of Dean of St Albans. A group of around 40 evangelical clergy and laity in the St Albans diocese met on Tuesday to express their "dismay" at his appointment. It comes less than a year after he was forced to withdraw his acceptance of the post of Bishop of Reading. His appointment had sparked a storm of protest from Anglican conservatives. Since then, the first openly

Dear Archbishop Eames: Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are clergy of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. We are very grateful for your faithfulness and willingness to serve the Communion during these very trying times. These days have been very difficult and demanding for all of us and we make our appeal to you based on our love for the Lord Jesus, our fellowship in the Gospel, and our devotion to the unity of the Anglican Communion. We ar

The Rev. Julian Rush watched the headlines as 13 United Methodist pastors in the Pacific Northwest judged the fate of one of their colleagues. Few, if any, facts were in dispute. The Rev. Karen Dammann was living openly in a lesbian relationship and leveled with her superiors. And everyone knew, after a generation of bitter strife, that their Book of Discipline banned "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" from ministry, because gay sex is "incompatible with Christian teachings

St Alban's Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship reacts to Jeffrey John appointment 27th April 2004 Reflecting the widespread concern over the appointment of Canon Jeffrey John to be Dean of St. Albans, a meeting of the Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship committee, together with a large number of clergy and laity from across the St Albans Diocese, expressed dismay at this appointment and the consequences that will flow from it. We recognise that the ministry of the Dean is confined pr

Ethics & Religion Support for Federal Marriage Amendment Grows by Michael J. McManus This week an Oregon judge gave advocates of gay marriage an historic victory - the nation's first recognition of same-sex marriages. Multnomah County Circuit Judge Frank Bearden told the county to stop issuing licenses for same-sex marriages. But he ordered Oregon's legislature to recognize the 3,022 marriage licenses issued since March 3 to gay couples, and to pass a new law legalizing same-

Church of Apostles no longer funds diocese, national church By Frank E. Lockwood HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER PRESTONSBURG - Leaders of a Lexington Episcopal congregation, objecting to the consecration of openly gay bishop Gene Robinson, are no longer sharing communion with Lexington Bishop Stacy Sauls. Church of the Apostles, a 7-year-old evangelical parish, has stopped giving money to the Lexington diocese and the Episcopal Church USA. The congregation, with an average attend

News Analysis By Uwe Siemon-Netto UPI Religion Editor WASHINGTON, April 26 (UPI) -- As soon as Sheikh Mohammed Mohammed Ali leaves his house in Baghdad for a drive around town, he takes off his white turban that marks him as a Shiite Muslim scholar, and places it on the seat next to him in his Toyota. "Many Shiite clerics are doing this. It's safer that way," he told United Press International Monday in a telephone interview from his London home where he had just returned aft

“Rather than encouraging honesty, charity, clarity and harmony within the American church and within the larger Communion, the leadership of ECUSA has resolutely pursued a course of response to evangelical outrage over Robinson’s consecration (and other related matters) that has furthered obscurantist denial, malicious accusation, ecclesial confusion, and discord – something we might have been spared had disengagement from the Communion by these leaders been pursued vigorousl

Remnant Church must remain faithful and live in “internal exile”, says Missiologist By David W. Virtue COLORADO SPRINGS—(4/23/2004) A world renowned missiologist and seminary head, says the Episcopal Church should be disciplined through the instruments of unity including the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Primates, for its theological and moral apostasy. The Rev. Dr. George Sumner, Principal of Wycliffe College, Toronto, and former ECUSA missionary to Tanzania, told several

by Rev. Stephen Boissoin 4/20/2004 CALGARY, ALBERTA-- On Saturday April 17, 2004, a fundraising dinner was held on my behalf at the Coast Plaza Hotel in Calgary, Alberta. This dinner was organized and hosted by the Concerned Christian Coalition. Author of the book, Christophia, Rev. Tristan Emmanuel and myself, were the guest speakers at this event. When I arrived at the hotel, there were a few dozen protesters, picketing in front of the hotel brandishing signs and chanting t

By Elizabeth Day THE TELEGRAPH 4/25/2004 Evangelical Anglican churches are threatening the Church of England with financial ruin in protest at the appointment of Canon Jeffrey John, a homosexual, as the Dean of St Albans Cathedral. Several parish churches in the Diocese of St Albans are planning to cap their financial quota contributions after Dr John's elevation, accusing the Church of pursuing "a homosexual agenda". Their move could leave the diocese several thousand pounds

Scripture passages the group read included Leviticus 18:22, which says, "Do not lie with a male as one lies with a woman; it is an abhorrence." And Romans 1:26-27, which refers to homosexual acts as "shameless." The interpretation of these and other verses creates the chasm that divides conservatives and liberals on the issue. Conservative Christians apply the Bible literally and say it's clear that homosexuality is a sin like greed, anger or lust. And no religious leader who

THE TIMES EDITORIAL April 21, 2004 The appointment of Rowan Williams as the Archbishop of Canterbury two years ago initially appeared a positive, even inspired, development. He came to his post with a reputation as a deep thinker, yet with a useful flair for the popular touch. Here was a man equally comfortable reflecting on the symbolism of the Gospels and the parables to be drawn from the likes of The Simpsons. He seemed to be capable of making Christianity accessible and r

By Ruth Gledhill Jeffrey John says Church and State should offer couples a covenant of faithfulness JEFFREY JOHN, the gay cleric who is to be appointed Dean of St Albans, called on the Church of England yesterday to move towards blessing same-sex unions. Dr John, the canon theologian at Southwark Cathedral who had to withdraw last year from his nomination as Bishop of Reading after concerns that the appointment would damage church unity, said that Church and State should offe

By David W. Virtue COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - (4/21/2004) Dr. George Carey made an impassioned plea to several hundred orthodox Episcopalians today urging them to a deeper faith, more godly living and a steady walk with God. "Spiritual power is the mastery of life which is God's ambition for each one of us," said the former Archbishop of Canterbury. "The work of the Holy Spirit is to bring us closer to Jesus Christ." In the second of three sermons delivered on Paul's Letter to th

By David W. Virtue COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - Dr. George Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury said the Episcopal Church was in peril having lost its way and needs to unite in humility to truth and an unflinching commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Addressing several hundred Episcopalians at Grace Church & St Stephens at the beginning of a three day conference on the Future of Anglicanism in North America, Carey said, "I love my Church, I love ECUSA, it has done s

19/4/04 Tony Blair personally sanctioned the controversial appointment of Jeffrey John as the next dean of St Albans - which some say is one of the most important jobs in the Church of England reports the Guardian. According to the newspaper the Prime Minister's involvement was part of a Downing Street campaign to warn Anglican leaders that a person's sexuality should not bar them from senior positions. Number 10 officials are understood to have been dismayed by recent Church