NACDP NETWORK: HOB OVERSIGHT PLAN WILL TAKE 'EXTRAORDINARY NEW LEVELS OF TRUST' 3/24/2004 NETWORK MEMBERS, MODERATOR, RESPOND TO ECUSA PLAN The national Episcopal Church's just-released plan for "Delegated Episcopal Pastoral Oversight" will require "tremendous generosity and charity on the part of the bishops and an extraordinary new level of trust on the part of the people and clergy," if it is to work, said the Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan, Bishop of Pittsburgh, and moderator of

BISHOPS OFFER NEW PLAN TO GAY DISSENTERS RICHARD N. OSTLING Associated Press Winding up three days of closed-door talks, the Episcopal Church's bishops offered a new plan Tuesday for ministering to conservative congregations that feel bound to reject the leadership of bishops who support gay clergy. The head of the denomination, Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold, said the decision shows the hierarchy's commitment to reconcile the two sides. "We are coming to a new place of mutu

Submitted by David W. Virtue SUPPLEMENTAL EPISCOPAL PASTORAL CARE The Church is the body of Christ. Striving to be the limbs of Christ, as fully as possible, and acknowledging and appreciating the tension such diversity may bring, the Episcopal office offers the Church a source of unity. Representing these limbs, we who are called to be bishops, recognize that diversity may require extending our charity with one another in new directions and through creative forms of care and

By Julia Duin THE WASHINGTON TIMES The Episcopal bishop of Washington has named two priests — the former national chairman of the church's homosexual caucus and a divorced mother of two sons — to head a new diocesan task force on same-sex blessings. The Revs. Michael W. Hopkins and Susan N. Blue favor same-sex blessings and have both performed several in the 40,000-member diocese. The rite, requested by Bishop John B. Chane, should be ready by June. The six-member task force

By RICHARD N. OSTLING Associated Press 3/22/2004 The Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop weathered a firestorm of controversy on his way to being consecrated, but with some colleagues still refusing to accept him, the tension has hardly been quelled. On Friday, New Hampshire's V. Gene Robinson was to take part in his first meeting as part of the denomination's hierarchy, a gathering aimed at easing the strain. The bishops begin the closed-door meeting in Navasota, Texa

Tuesday, March 23, 2004 ENS 032304-1 [ENS] In response to the different points of view that exist in the dioceses and congregations of the Episcopal Church concerning issues of human sexuality, the House of Bishops, meeting March 19-25 in Camp Allen, Texas, have issued a document entitled "Caring for all the Churches." The full text follows: Caring For All The Churches A Response of the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church to an expressed need of the Church The church is

By Frederica Mathewes-Green The term "high concept" refers to a movie with a striking plotline that can be described in one sentence (eg, Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwartznegger are long-lost "Twins"). In high-concept movies things explode. Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman specializes in another kind of high-concept movie, one in which a strange premise unfolds in surreal ways. Things don't explode; they melt, like Dali's watch. His first film, "Being John Malkovich" (1999) sought

By Julian Coman in Washington The Telegraph 3/21/2004 The fierce battle over same-sex unions, which has split American public opinion during the past month, has now pitched the Vatican into an unlikely alliance with Islamic countries against officials of the United Nations. A proposal by the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, to extend spousal benefits to the partners of gay UN officials has outraged representatives of the organisation's 51 Islamic nations, some of which outla

COMMENTARY By Kevin Myers The Telegraph Dr. Williams has made an art of imprecision. The conversation between Phillip Pullman, the author of His Dark Materials, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, published in The Daily Telegraph last week, like almost anything emanating from the leader of the Church of England, reads like a master-class in ecclesiastical imprecision. I have read the exchange many times, and it remains as clear as porridge. Chew this: "And if th

By Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent The TIMES 3/20/2004 THE Church of England could disappear "within a generation of two" without an immediate change of direction, according to a senior bishop. The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt. Rev. Nigel McCulloch, said that the Established Church was in danger of becoming a minority sect. "We will, unless there is a turn in the tide, be a church that gradually disappears from this land," he said. Bishop McCulloch said clergy were bein

By Lawn Griffiths The Tribune Arizona Episcopalians opposed to the election in August of an openly gay bishop in New Hampshire have formed the Arizona Anglican Council and are aligning with a new national network they believe adheres to biblical standards and Anglican traditions. Lay members of St. James the Apostle Episcopal parish in Tempe and Christ Church of the Ascension in Paradise Valley have been at the forefront of the organizational effort, which the council's vice

by Michael J. McManus I'm a numbers guy, who finds publications like the new Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches 2004 - absolutely fascinating. Published annually by The National Council of Churches, it provides a quick snapshot of the major denominations with their histories, current leadership, seminaries and financial data for 59 denominations. Of course, the largest is The Catholic Church (which is no longer called the Roman Catholic Church) with 66.4 million membe

March 20, 2004 Dublin, Mar. 19 (CWNews.com) - A sharp disagreement on homosexuality has given rise to tensions between Catholic and Anglican leaders in Ireland. The dispute arose last week when the Church of Ireland (Anglican) Archdeacon of Dublin, Gordon Linney, argued in a public speech that the government should allow homosexual couples to "have registered stable relationships with all the benefits and rights that go with that status." The archdeacon stopped short of advoc

Dear Brothers and Sisters, LONDON, UK-The Archbishop of Canterbury is worried. In a moment of candor about problems facing the church and his leadership over homosexuals in the priesthood and the recent consecration of Gene Robinson, he said, "I have to admit that over the past twelve months I'm not sure what God has in mind for the Church of England or the Anglican Communion. Half the time I haven't any idea. But in the end, I believe it will work itself out." Yesterday he r

Bishop William Wantland, retired bishop of Eau Claire, now lives in Oklahoma. He is a long-time FIF/NA Council Member and FIF/NA Chancellor. He was chosen to be the Celebrant at the historic Confirmation Service for the "Ohio Cluster" of parishes on March 14, 2004. forwardNOW! interviewed the Bishop shortly after the event. forwardNOW! - How were the Bishops chosen to provide the "Ohio cluster" with these "emergency measures" this past Sunday? Who did the asking? Do you think

By Ruth Gledhill Religion Correspondent THE TIMES 3/19/2004 VACANT: one see with large house, £30,000 stipend, 70 priests, 7,000 souls and thousands more sheep. Must be able to speak Welsh. Hoffwch chi fod yn Esgob Bangor? For the first time in its history, the oldest diocese in the country has failed to elect a bishop. After a three-day conclave, the electoral college of the Church in Wales last night failed to reach a decision over who should succeed the Right Rev Saunders

By Peter C. Moore The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown's blockbuster novel, gives us a hauntingly mystical view of Christ. In The Code, Jesus is married to Mary Magdalene and has children with her. Along the way, he also spawns a cult of secret goddess worshippers. According to the novel, in the modern age, the rigidly orthodox Catholic order of Opus Dei fanatically suppresses a group of cultists who keep alive Jesus' ancient and "true" vision of Christianity. If you suspect that thi

By Jan Nunley 3/25/2004 [ENS] The Rt. Rev. Neptali Larrea Moreno, Bishop of Ecuador Central, has been deposed from the ministry by a unanimous vote of the House of Bishops, meeting at Camp Allen, Texas, on March 23. According to the resolution, the deposition was made on the ground that Larrea abandoned the communion of the Episcopal Church by "an open renunciation of the Doctrine, Discipline and Worship" of the church under canon IV.9(1). On January 21, Presiding Bishop Fran

March 15, 2004 A Letter to the Clergy of the Diocese of Oregon My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, As you well know, many churches and communities in our diocese continue to struggle with issues coming out of our recent General Convention. In recent weeks, the Massachusetts state legislature and the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners here in Oregon have made it possible for persons of the same gender to be married. Both of these prescriptive actions continue to be di

By Robert M. Moody To the Clergy and Laity of the Diocese of Oklahoma: On Sunday, March 14, 2004, five retired bishops of the Episcopal Church and a bishop of the Episcopal Church of Brazil, in the words of the Presiding Bishop, "arrogated to themselves the right to perform episcopal and sacramental acts without the permission of the diocesan bishop." In an act of Constitutional and Canonical disobedience planned by the American Anglican Council, Bishops C. FitzSimons Allison