To a layman, it seems obvious that what unites the Evangelical and the Anglo-Catholic against the 'Liberal' or 'Modernist' is something very clear and momentous, namely, the fact that both are thoroughgoing supernaturalists, who believe in the Creation, the Fall..."the Incarnation, the Resurrection, the Second Coming, and the Four Last Things. This unites them not only with one another, but with the Christian religion as understood ubique et ab omnibus." -- C. S. Lewis

The Transgender Moment is the shattered landscape after a perfect storm of new philosophies and technology: Christianity's decline, philosophical dualism, post-modernism and the Pill. --- Michael Cook.

It will be very difficult to have open dialogue in many workplaces without putting oneself in danger. One Christian professor on a secular university's science faculty declined to answer a question I had about the biology of homosexuality, out of fear that anything he said, no matter how innocuous and fact-based, could get him brought up on charges within his university, as well as attacked by social media mobs. Everyone working for a major corporation will be frog-marched through "diversity and inclusion" training and will face pressure not simply to tolerate LGBT co-workers but to affirm their sexuality and gender identity. ----- Rod Dreher

There are aspects of what the secular culture calls 'homosexual orientation' that are ... morally neutral." I do not believe this to be the case. I believe my same-sex attraction to be a movement of indwelling sin within me which I seek to mortify daily. I believe that original sin, like actual sin, is properly called sin. I believe that even my internal temptations are sin whether I act on them or not. I have been clear on this question in my public preaching and teaching. I follow Calvin closely in his reading of James 1. ---- TE Greg Johnson, Lead Pastor, Memorial PCA St. Louis

There are already more Christians in Africa than any other continent and by 2060 six of the countries with the top ten largest Christian populations will be in Africa, up from three in 2015. -- Quartz News

Liberalism long ago captured the seminaries and centers of control but never fully persuaded the local church in America even after a century of trying. Meanwhile, as the USA church shrinks thanks to decades of theological schizophrenia, the African church has arisen bold and strong, untouched by and unintimidated by USA theological liberalism. --- Mark Tooley of IRD

New birth, new behavior. The new birth results in new behaviour. Sin and the child of God are incompatible. They may occasionally meet; they cannot live together in harmony --- John R.W. Stott

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
July 12, 2019

FROM time to time I receive stories from Episcopalians who have clashed with their local Episcopal parish and what these clashes have done to them and their families. I usually ignore them, but these three tugged at my heart, and so I share them with you. I am not revealing their names to protect them.

"My husband's family goes back five generations at the local Episcopal Church...his faith has always been strong thanks to his mother and father and his ancestors. Today this same beautiful cathedral-like church is being turned into a hotel/bar restaurant after being destroyed by the politics of the left, forcing many to leave. He is now very ill, and at a time when he needs the Faith he was raised with...in a church he loved...no more...it exists no more. He has no refuge."

Then there is this; "Yes, I remember well, when I left TEC, people had already begun changing where their funds went or either just stopped all together. The church I left is in a small town in the South and had become one of the most popular churches in the area, and I was very active in it. Then the homo and same-sex issue began to raise its ugly head more and more...there was an exodus from there, and extreme hurt. However, to stay was not an option to some of us: I could no longer sign off on TEC. We planted an Anglican Church and I was ridiculed and called names and my friends dropped by the wayside. They were so angry that I left, but there was no reason to stay. The female priest was very liberal but managed to conceal it to a large degree. Then when she came out, she came OUT! Now they have a married same-sex couple and he (or she...not certain of the roles) serve on the vestry. I feel TEC truly lied to me and deceived me. I don't know if I will ever really put it behind me. I am shocked when I see and read about TEC now."

And then there was the Episcopal gentleman who turned up to church in full military regalia around the time of the Vietnam War and was told by the rector that wearing the uniform sent a bad message to his people and don't come back wearing it. He never darkened the door of an Episcopal Church again.

There are countless stories like this, most of it caused by the pain of brokering sodomy into the Episcopal Church. The spiritual, psychological and personal cost to lives has been enormous; the financial cost has run to the tens of millions of dollars in lost income, plate and pledge and lawsuits over properties. Churches have been split forever. We will never know the full extent of the cost that pansexuality has done to the Episcopal Church. The lives of people broken by the Episcopal Church will never be the same again, they have been spiritually maimed for life. Mercifully they will be sorted out at the Last Judgment...and judgement begins first with the household of God. (1 Peter 4:17).

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FACEBOOK continues to censor VOL's stories, but not only mine but other people of orthodox conviction as well. Dr. Robert Gagnon has had his words and blog censored by Facebook. But now AMAZON is doing the same thing. A reader wrote to VOL saying that he had a friend, a very accomplished scientist, who has written about the weaknesses in the evidence for thinking that evolution is the explanation of human origins. Amazon banned his books. There is a pattern here. Free speech is slowly being eroded and destroyed in America. Religious freedom is on the line.

Perhaps the worst-case scenario is Amazon's recent banning of the late Dr. Joseph Nicolosi's books on reparative therapy. Dr. Nicolosi helped hundreds of men break free from homosexuality. Amazon, the world's largest online retailer, banned his books under pressure from homosexual activists.

Linda Nicolosi, the late psychologist's wife, told Virtueonline that Amazon had bowed to long term pressure from gay activists. Amazon agreed to stop offering Dr. Joseph Nicolosi's books for sale.

"If this ban stands, it will effectively amount to a stranglehold on the free flow of information for conservatives and people of traditional faith, because Amazon holds a virtual monopoly on book sales, the public will be unable to access information on the causes of homosexuality, and of any hope for change."

"Of course, this is what gay activists want --- to control the free flow of information. Their activism was never about tolerance-- it was about the marginalization and shaming of anyone with a different viewpoint."

Dr. Nicolosi's books--including a new book about to be published, "The Best of Joseph Nicolosi"--- will soon be available directly on his web site, www.josephnicolosi.com.

Conservative columnist Rod Dreher wrote and said while Nicolosi's books were now banned, you can still buy Mein Kampf, by Adolf Hitler. He said the pro-Stalin works of Stalin apologist Grover Furr, an American academic who argues in books and in lectures that Stalin killed nobody and committed no crimes. (Between 7-10 million Ukrainians and other Soviet citizens died in the Stalin-engineered famine called the Holodomor alone). A history of Communism by the white supremacist David Duke and The SS Leadership Guide, translated from the original German, were still available from Amazon.

"You can buy a highly influential text by the Islamist radical Sayyid Qutb, Milestones, which calls on Muslims to wage relentless global jihad against non-Muslims and insufficiently radical Muslims, until the entire world is under radical Islamic rule."

I knew Nicolosi personally and saw his handiwork. Here is what I wrote that was picked up by Rod Dreher, Rebel Priest Dr. Jules Gomes and Church Militant.

I first met Dr. Nicolosi in London and saw him in action with about 100 young homosexuals who had come from all over Europe looking to break free from their homosexual desires. They had come voluntarily without coercion. As they expressed their concerns and fears, I watched as Dr Nicolosi led them through their relationship with their fathers, sometimes mothers, which were always dysfunctional, usually absentee fathers, emotionally disconnected fathers, abusive fathers.

As they talked, I watched as grown men cried, argued and fought with Dr. Nicolosi. He held his ground. He was tough and kind in the same breath. He demanded that at all times they tell the truth about the family relationships. Were these men instantly healed? No. But they were on the way to healing and Dr. Nicolosi would always be there for them. Later I heard from some married women and could testify that reparative therapy did work.

You can read my full story here: https://virtueonline.org/amazon-bans-late-reparative-therapists-books

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A story I wrote about a complaint filed by a Roman Catholic against the retiring Episcopal Bishop of Michigan, Wendell Gibbs, got picked up by ChurchMilitant.com. The complaint was about a retirement service and mass for the pro-homosexual Episcopal bishop to be held at St. Mary Magdalen Roman Catholic Church in Brighton. The complainant thought it wrong to have someone who did not share Catholic teaching on homosexuality using an RC parish.

I wrote to the Catholic archbishop but got no response. Church Militant picked up the story and lo and behold the Episcopal diocese withdrew from the parish and said the venue was changed to the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Paul in Detroit! Protests clearly work.

Ironically, replacing Gibbs is a Chicago-area priest(ess), Dr. Bonnie Perry. Perry is an ex-Roman Catholic, noncelibate lesbian woman in a same-sex marriage. You can read my story here:
https://virtueonline.org/lansing-mi-pro-homosexual-episcopal-mass-catholic-church-draws-complaint

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A recent story about the sado-masochism of a certain Jonathan Fletcher and earlier of John Smyth prompted this response from a reader. "[These] disgusting sexual relationships and activities have been at the heart of clerical promotion in the Church of England probably since it began. But now the great secret is being exposed for all to read. Some theological colleges (seminaries) have seemed more like brothels than religious houses, and the homosexual freemasonry which flourishes in public schools (private schools in US English) has long flowed into the circles of influence and promotion such as the Iwerne Trust, and the mutual promotion society which we now hear meets at Lambeth Palace to advance all kinds of careers." Could it be more blatant?

The Rev. Fletcher was Minister of Emmanuel Ridgway Proprietary Chapel, in Wimbledon, from 1982 to 2012, and an influential figure among Evangelicals in the Church of England. The allegations involve physical beatings, reminiscent of the beatings administered by John Smyth Fletcher admitted that the beatings took place, but on Friday described them as "light-hearted forfeits" in a "system of mutual encouragement".

Southwark diocese removed Fletcher's Permission to Officiate (PTO) in 2017, after an independent safeguarding assessment had concluded that, while there was "no criminal case to answer", nor any evidence that he posed "a significant sexual or physical risk to children . . . there was a risk of him behaving towards vulnerable adults who may be seeking his spiritual guidance in a manner which may be harmful".

IN OTHER CofE news, almost 400 people in 'positions of trust' with the Church of England have been convicted of child sex offences, an inquiry heard. The Inquiry probed the Church of England's response to child sex abuse allegations. Victims who made complaints were 'discredited or belittled by congregations'. Some clergy accused of abuse were allowed to keep their jobs and get promoted. You can read more here: https://virtueonline.org/almost-400-people-positions-trust-church-england-have-been-convicted-child-sex-offences-inquiry

The Diocese of Newcastle has embraced LGBTQ Queering. Newcastle Cathedral is being confronted over a weekend-long LGBT festival that includes a panel discussion on "Queering the Church". Between Friday 19 and Sunday 21 July, the Cathedral is hosting six LGBT events. Coinciding with the city's pro-LGBT march, the Cathedral is hosting four panelists, including a Church of England curate who identifies as 'non-binary genderqueer transgender'. Colin Hart, The Christian Institute's Director, said such festivals lead people away from the good news of the Gospel.

On the subject of 'good disagreement' now permeating the Church of England and promoted as a compromise to orthodox views of sexuality, the Rev. Dr. Stephen Noll has written a brilliant critique of John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York's take on moral equivalence verses moral equivocation.

In his Presidential Address to the General Synod of the Church of England last week, the Archbishop of York, in referring to the issue of human sexuality, had something important to observe about interpreting the Bible:
"The kind of disagreement we have is exactly the kind of disagreement one would expect to find in a church where the old habits of reading the Bible consistently and thoroughly, as part of a liturgical pattern or a pattern of private devotion, had broken down. The expectations we have of Biblical literacy -- not only of laity but of clergy too -- would strike most earlier generations of Christians as sadly low."

It is hard not to say Amen to that! Indeed, that is exactly the kind of habits of reading, interpreting, and applying of the Bible which Archbishop Cranmer called for in his Scripture Collect:
Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen."

It is the kind of approach affirmed in the Jerusalem Declaration from GAFCON 2008:
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God written and to contain all things necessary for salvation. The Bible is to be translated, read, preached, taught and obeyed in its plain and canonical sense, respectful of the church's historic and consensual reading. (clause 2)

So far, it seems, the Archbishop and orthodox Anglicans are aligned, but then the alignment fails. The reason it fails is that right from the start he frames his address in terms of good disagreement™. "How," he wonders, "can people who read the same Bible and share the same baptism come to strongly diverse conclusions about human sexuality?"

The paradigm of disagreement, as he poses it, is a matter of moral equivalence. "Some say this, some say that." "Some say God made sex for marriage, some say love conquers all." "Who am I to judge?"

Noll then takes him apart. I urge VOL's readers to read his take here: https://virtueonline.org/york-interpreting-bible-moral-equivalence-and-moral-equivocation

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In a culture war victory for England's conservatives, a landmark judgment in the case of Felix Ngole, the Court of Appeal upheld the rights of Christians to freely express their faith and overturned a High Court decision. The crucial outcome represents a major development of the law which results in Christians now having the legal right to express Biblical views on social media or elsewhere without fear for their professional careers. This is the first Court of Appeal judgment regarding freedom of expression of Biblical views which sets limits on the rights of professional regulators to limit free speech on social media; the judgment will be an authoritative statement of the law which is likely to be relied upon in hundreds of current and future cases.

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Anglican evangelicals are gathering steam as GAFCON moves into high gear drawing more primates and bishops into their orb. Canon Malcolm Richards has been made the Bishop for International Relations in a ground-breaking consecration in Sydney.

Bishop Richards, who was previously the General Secretary of the Church Missionary Society -- NSW & ACT is the first to take on the full-time role without also having responsibilities as a Sydney Regional Bishop. He will also take up a parallel appointment as the Director of the Centre for Global Mission at Moore Theological College.

The former Bishop of George's River, Peter Tasker, pioneered the role of Bishop for International Relations, representing the Archbishop and the Diocese at consecrations, conferences and making pastoral visits across the globe since 2009.

The Rt. Rev. Bill Atwood holds the title of Bishop of the International Diocese of the Anglican Church in North America and is coordinating efforts with Richards to bring him up to speed. Lambeth Palace and the Anglican Communion Office should take note. They no longer hold all the cards.

"God's plan is international and intercultural in scope. Go with God's plan - what God is already doing - making peace among the nations," said the preacher.

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Melanesia has a new primate. Leonard Dawea, Bishop of Temotu, was elected Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Melanesia at last week's meeting of the Provincial Electoral Board. He will be installed at Saint Barnabas Provincial Cathedral in Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, on September 15. Like his predecessors, the primate will also serve as Bishop of Central Melanesia, the province's largest diocese.. Dawea succeeds Archbishop George Takeli, who had also been his predecessor as Bishop of Temotu. The easternmost province in the Solomons, Temotu is a double chain of seventeen islands, with a combined population of just under 30,000 people. Bishop Dawea is a native of one of the Reefs Islands in Temotu Province. HT to TLC

Dawea was a member of the Melanesian Brotherhood for twelve years before his ordination to the priesthood. This missionary monastic order has played a central role in the spread of the Christian faith in the region and helped to broker an important peace agreement between rival factions in 2000. Members of the Brotherhood commonly serve between seven and twenty years and are then released from their vows and permitted to marry and raise a family. Bishop Dawea married after his time in monastic life, and he and his wife, Dorah, have two children. Hat Tip - TLC

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Atheism and Islam is on the rise in the UK as Christianity suffers 'dramatic decline', according to The Telegraph. Christian belief has halved in Britain in 35 years, with just one in three people now identifying as Christian - while atheism and Islam continue to rise. Figures published by the British Social Attitudes Survey reveal the widest ever margin between staunch atheists and believers who are certain that God exists.

Of almost 4,000 people polled by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), 38 per cent described themselves as Christian - a fall from 50 per cent in 2008 and 66 per cent in 1983.

Those identifying as Muslim increased from 1 per cent in 1983 to 3 per cent in 2008, and 6 per cent in 2018.

The survey shows that the biggest change is in the number of people who define themselves as "confident atheists", which rose from 10 per cent in 1998 to 18 per cent in 2008 and its record high of 26 per cent in 2018.

In contrast, researchers found that an overall 55 per cent of the population express some sort of belief in some kind of God.

Nancy Kelley, deputy chief executive at NatCen, said that the steady decline in religion and belief among the British public is "one of the most important trends in post-war history".

Dave Male, the Church of England's director of evangelism and discipleship, said: "For many people ticking a box marked 'Church of England' or 'Anglican' is now an active choice and no longer an automatic response. In spite of this, the Church of England remains at the heart of communities."

It might also signal to the Global South just how irrelevant the Church of England is and how the center of Anglicanism has moved decisively to Africa. It should come as no surprise that GAFCON owns the communion, not the Lambeth conference or the Archbishop of Canterbury.

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FACTOID. On the subject of the Anglican Centre in Rome, VOL was told that the newly appointed chairman of its council (in succession to Stephen Platten) is the ultra-liberal Michael Burrows, Bishop of Ossory, Cashel and Waterford. He supported abortion in last year's Irish referendum.

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This week, Church Pension Group (CPG) released their annual report. The report, which has the subtitle "A Stable Presence," details trends in investments, shares current statistics about their services, introduces new board members and employees, and gives a snapshot of current priorities for the organizations that fall under its purview. Church Pension Group includes The Church Pension Fund, Church Life Insurance Corporation, The Church Insurance Companies, The Episcopal Church Medical Trust, and Church Publishing Incorporated.
At the of the end of 2018, CPG pension plans had 6,000 active clergy participants and 19,881 active lay participants and boasted a portfolio with assets totaling $13.5 billion. During 2018, CPG took in $85 million in assessments, but paid $380 million in clergy pension benefits, relying on its investment returns to make up the difference. In that same time, CPG also offered 75 conferences, The Church Insurance Companies insured 90% of Episcopal churches and Church Publishing managed 2,753 products and titles. H/T to Episcopal Cafe

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The Anglican Church of Canada's motion to change the Marriage Canon was defeated. The 2/3rds majority needed to allow same-sex marriage was passed by the laity and clergy but defeated by the bishops.
As predicted, there was much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth by progressives. David of Samizdat, an orthodox Canadian Anglican blogger wrote, "There was a lot of emotion following the vote. The final prayer was delivered by a lady who had tears trickling down her face. Like a zombie that just won't die, the possibility of a new motion to revisit the Marriage Canon resolution was raised from the floor at the end of the evening."

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