AFRICA: ARCHBISHOPS REJECT US CASH IN GAY CLERGY ROW

By Jonathan Petre

The Telegraph

April 17, 2004

African archbishops representing over 40 million Anglicans—more than half the global Communion—have declared they will refuse millions in annual funding from the U.S. Episcopal Church in protest of its consecration of Gene Robinson.

Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria, chair of the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA), said ECUSA’s leadership must “repent” within three months—or face decisive action.

The bishops stated plainly:

“We will not sacrifice our faith and conscience on the altar of money.”

The move signals accelerating momentum toward formal realignment—and disillusionment with Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams’s efforts to preserve unity.

END

“TRUE LOVE WAITS” LOWERS TEEN BIRTH RATE

By Michael J. McManus

Ethics & Religion Column

April 18, 2004

Ten years ago, Southern Baptist churches launched True Love Waits—urging teens to pledge sexual purity until marriage. Critics, including Planned Parenthood, dismissed it as naive.

Yet the data tell a different story:

% of sexually active high schoolers: ↓ from 54% to 46%

Teen birth rate: ↓ 31%

Teen suicides: ↓ 13.5%

Meanwhile, comprehensive sex education and condom distribution—funded with $1.73 billion annually by government—failed to curb teen pregnancy or emotional distress (teen suicide quadrupled from 1955 to 1995).

Federal funding for abstinence programs: $144 million. Ratio: $12 for contraception per $1 for abstinence.

85% of parents believe abstinence should be emphasized at least as much as contraception.

Call to action:

Attend school board meetings—demand abstinence-based curricula

Support legislation doubling federal abstinence funding

Equip youth groups: truelovewaits.com

An international display of 200,000+ pledge cards is planned for the Athens Olympics—August 22, 2004.

Will yours be among them?

© 2004 Michael J. McManus

END

TALLAHASSEE: CHURCH FIRE RULED ARSON; BLAZE DESTROYS SANCTUARY

By Gerald Ensley

Democrat Senior Writer

April 17, 2004

The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit in Tallahassee was destroyed by arson early Friday morning.

The 6,000-square-foot sanctuary was reduced to ashes; the adjacent administrative building suffered smoke and water damage. Investigators found evidence of burglary and vandalism (> $200), triggering a felony arson charge—even if the fire itself was accidental.

Damage: ~$750,000. Fully insured.

The church had been in turmoil since February, when its rector, the Rev. Dennis Ackerson, resigned over ECUSA’s direction—including the Robinson consecration. Roughly two-thirds of the 150-member congregation left with him.

Yet both current and former leaders rejected any link between the schism and the fire.

Ackerson:

“None of us are bitter… I would be very surprised if anyone who left started the fire.”

Sterling Henderson (priest-in-charge with her husband, Michael):

“There was no rancor, no anger, no good-guy/bad-guy thing. If someone’s angry, they’re angry at God.”

The congregation—now ~50 members—held a parking-lot service Friday evening and plans to rebuild on-site.

Ackerson’s new congregation meets at a Seventh-Day Adventist church and is exploring affiliation with global Anglican bodies.

END