AFRICAN BISHOP DECRIES ECUSA'S TAINTED MONEY

By David W. Virtue

LONG BEACH, CA (6/3/2004) — A bishop from Western Kenya, the Rt. Rev. Joseph Wasonga, blasted the Episcopal Church saying, “we will never accept money from anyone who does not acknowledge the authority of Scripture or believe that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.”

Speaking to more than 800 orthodox Episcopalians, the bishop said that any part of the Anglican Communion involved in homosexuality is in disunity.

“The devil is always against the will of God. We have three enemies, the world, the flesh and the devil. We should not allow the world to swallow us up.”

The bishop said the African Church would never again accept money from The Episcopal Church under its present leadership.

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STATEMENT FROM THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY ON THE DEFERRAL OF A DECISION OVER THE BLESSING OF SAME-SEX UNIONS BY THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA

3 June, 2004

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Dr Rowan Williams, has welcomed the decision by the Canadian General Synod to defer a decision on the question of same sex blessings until 2007.

“The decision to defer the question of the right of dioceses over same sex blessings offers hope for the continuing collegiality of the Anglican Communion.

“It is important that the Canadian church has held back from a structural shift that would have run counter to the pleas and wishes of the Primates’ meeting last Autumn and of so many around the Communion. In doing so, it has avoided complicating still further the work of the Lambeth Commission.”

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NINE BISHOPS “EXPRESS SORROW” AT SYNOD’S ACTIONS

STAFF — ANGLICAN JOURNAL

St. Catharines, Ont., June 3, 2004 — Nine bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada issued a statement saying Synod committed an error when it approved a statement affirming “the integrity and sanctity of committed, adult same-sex relationships.”

They said the decisions may cause confusion and appear to pre-empt theological work already underway.

They urged Anglicans across Canada not to despair and to take part in diocesan and provincial synods.

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THE FATAL DECISIONS OF CANADA'S GENERAL SYNOD

Commentary

By David W. Virtue

The Anglican Church of Canada made two serious blunders this week: electing an ultra-liberal archbishop and passing same-sex blessings via an amendment affirming the “sanctity” of same-sex relationships.

These actions, the author argues, will alienate the Canadian Church from the wider Anglican Communion and accelerate decline.

The commentary criticizes liberal theology, leadership decisions, and perceived departures from historic doctrine, contending that these choices threaten unity and faithfulness within the church.

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