Educated Americans are Highest Church Attenders // Revival: Is it Really Happening? // 500 GAFCON Anglicans to Meet in Abuja // Canadian Primate Goes to Jerusalem

Cancellation of ACNA Conference on Women Causes Uproar // ACNA Bishop Julian Dobbs Sues JAFC Bishop Derek Jones for Defamation // Bishop FitzSimons Allison Turns 99

QUOTES THAT ENLIGHTEN

"The Gospel should never become old to us. If the life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ is true, it changes everything. It changes time. It changes history. It changes our eternity." — Tim Tebow

Grok predicts that within the next ten years, Artificial Intelligence will completely disrupt life as we know it — not primarily through people using AI chatbots, but through the symbiosis of Artificial Intelligence with humanity. – J.M. Robinson

An unchurched Christian is a grotesque anomaly. The New Testament knows nothing of such a person, for the church lies at the very center of the eternal purpose of God. It is not a divine afterthought. It is not an accident of history. On the contrary, the church is God's new community. -- John R.W. Stott

Lent always leads us into the wilderness — not merely symbolically, but spiritually and existentially. The Church, in her ancient wisdom, does not invent this movement; she follows Christ. Immediately after His baptism — immediately after the heavenly declaration, "Thou art my beloved Son" — the Spirit drives Him into the wilderness. Mark's language is strikingly forceful: the Spirit does not gently invite; He compels. The wilderness is not accidental to discipleship. It is formative. – Rev. Dr. Ronald Moore

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

www.virtueonline.org

February 27, 2026

Who Is Telling the Truth About American Religion?

According to Ryan Burge — an American political scientist, statistician, and leading analyst of religion and politics in the U.S. — it all depends on who is doing the survey.

Using the Cooperative Election Study (CES) estimate versus the Gallup survey, the number of "Nones" (individuals without religious affiliation who may nonetheless hold beliefs in a higher power or spirituality) ranges from 75 million (Gallup) to 115 million (CES) — a difference of 40 million.

The Pew Research Center reports that about 28% of U.S. adults identify as Nones, and they exhibit a range of beliefs and values, with some viewing religion as having both positive and negative influences on society.

Here are some facts: the better educated you are, the more likely you are to be religious. Among those who stopped at high school, 28% are non-religious. For those who completed a four-year college degree, that figure is four points lower. But the level of education that yields the lowest percentage of Nones is clearly the master's degree — only 20% of those holders are non-religious.

Education clearly matters. Neither the inroads of science and technology, nor employment pressures, nor the vagaries of economics, change this equation. If you are well educated, religion matters.

Here is the takeaway: the share of Americans who are non-religious has been increasing over the last fifteen years. That is undeniable, regardless of which instrument you examine.

America is now Christian only in a nominal sense. It is instructive to consider what the Bible has to say about nominalism.

In Revelation 3:16, Jesus addresses the church in Laodicea, criticizing them for being lukewarm — neither hot nor cold. He says, "So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." This metaphor highlights the rejection of a faith that is half-hearted or indifferent, symbolizing Christ's disgust toward spiritual complacency.

Furthermore, when the gospel is allied with a particular political agenda, God will continue to reject it. Christian nationalism is an oxymoron — it cannot be found in Scripture and is a contradiction in terms. "Pure faith is to visit the fatherless" (James 1:27), caring for the vulnerable in society. It stems from a commitment to Christ that is unalloyed, free of duplicity, deceit, and self-aggrandizement.

The CES results show that in every single survey year, those with four-year degrees are significantly less likely to be non-religious. Because the CES sample size is so large, the confidence intervals are tight and do not overlap. The unmistakable conclusion — from both the CES and the aforementioned Nationscape survey — is that educated people are actually more likely to be religious.

REVIVAL?

There is a great deal of talk about revival in America, particularly among Gen Z men and highly educated people. Most of the revivals appearing here and there are short-lived. Historically, revivals lasted from four to ten years. The Welsh Revival lasted two years, from 1904 to 1905. Other revivals — including the Great Awakening, charismatic renewal, and Pentecostalism — endured for many years.

Much of what passes for revival may be little more than emotionalism with a veneer of Christian faith. We should be careful before we declare something a "revival." The Toronto Blessing, in which people fell on their backs laughing hysterically, was criticized by John Stott, who observed that when people encountered the living God, they fell on their faces — not their backs.

RealClearInvestigations notes that the decline of religion remains a fundamental reality in most Western countries, particularly in Europe, where over 50% of those under age 40 do not identify with any faith. Even in more religious America, some estimate that as many as 100,000 churches will close in the near future. Meanwhile, the ranks of "Nones" have grown so large that their numbers rival those of Catholics and evangelical Protestants.

However, a new report from the Chapman Center for Demographics and Policy suggests that religion is enjoying more than a nascent revival. Data from the 2020s indicate a complex spiritual restructuring that intersects with economic mobility, demographic resilience, and a profound intellectual realignment.

For the first time in decades, Pew Research notes that in the U.S., at least, Christianity has stopped its nosedive as more people begin to see the efficacy and rewards of religious faith and practice.

Even among cognitive elites, there is a growing trend toward embracing religious activity. In a rebuke of the aggressive New Atheism of the early 2000s — advanced by thought leaders such as Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens — a counter-movement appears to be growing among scientists, philosophers, and public intellectuals who view religious tradition not as a delusion to be eradicated but as a sustainable civilizational operating system.

As our politics splinter along gender lines — with women increasingly forming the base of the Democratic Party and men of the Republican — it is men who are leading the return to church. Reversing a 25-year trend, men reported higher church attendance than women in 2025. This growing divide may continue to separate men and women, with grave implications at a time when rates of marriage and parenthood are already declining.

Even in places where religion continues to decline, the remaining faithful are shifting away from more liberal denominations toward those adhering more closely to traditional values. For many, more orthodox sects provide existential security and a sustainable sense of community.

As the report makes clear, the budding religious revival in the U.S. reflects a global trend, especially strong in Africa, which is now the most demographically robust region on the planet.

Anglicans reading this should take note: the future of Anglicanism lies in the Global South, not the Global North. Over 80% of Anglicanism remains faithful to Scripture on pressing issues of doctrine and sexuality. Twisting Scripture to make it mean what you want it to mean is a non-starter for Africans and Asians who believe in the veracity and authority of Holy Writ.

GAFCON IN ABUJA

Next week, some 500 orthodox Anglicans will gather in Abuja, Nigeria, for what has been described as a G26 Mini-Conference. The conference will be held from March 3rd to 6th and hosted by the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). GAFCON primates and senior leaders will assemble before the conference for preliminary meetings.

GAFCON primates have rejected the appointment of Dame Sarah Mullally as the Archbishop of Canterbury, declaring that her appointment will further divide the Anglican Communion. They have formed a new network known as the Global Anglican Communion, which will elect a new chairman to replace the Archbishop of Canterbury as "first among equals" of the world's Anglican bishops. This move reflects GAFCON's desire to restore the original structure of the Communion as a fellowship of autonomous provinces, moving away from the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

While GAFCON has never declared a formal schism, the situation is de facto a schism, if not de jure. The Global South has repeatedly — from one Lambeth Conference to the next — insisted that the actions of their Western colleagues constitute a rejection of Scripture in all matters of faith and practice, particularly regarding homosexuality. Western provinces such as TEC, ACoC, and the CofE have not listened and have in fact gone their own way, ordaining homosexuals and lesbians to all orders of ministry.

What is troubling about this conference from a press standpoint is that Bishop Paul Donnison, the conference's media coordinator, has created a two-tier media system. There is the officially invited press corps (which VOL is seeking to join), and a second tier who can gather at a separate venue to watch proceedings via Zoom. Who is going to spend $5,000 on airfare and hotels for that? One way or another, we will find out what happened and bring the news to you.

One thing is certain: the current occupant of Lambeth Palace will not be singing the Hallelujah Chorus, whichever way it goes. Stay tuned.

CANADIAN PRIMATE GOES TO JERUSALEM

Canadian Primate Shane Parker paid a visit to the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem and addressed the concerns of Palestinian Christians — but he overlooked certain key realities, including the concerns of Israel and the roles of Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS, and Iran, which went entirely unmentioned.

Archbishop Parker expressed strong concern for Palestinians in Gaza, describing the situation as "the squeezing out of a people, the crushing of a people." While he did not explicitly assign blame, his remarks were widely interpreted as critical of Israel.

Parker's assessment overlooks crucial context. We contend that Hamas — not Israel — is primarily responsible for the ongoing suffering in Gaza. If Hamas were to lay down its arms and surrender, the war would end immediately. Yet Hamas has repeatedly rejected ceasefire terms, including key provisions of former President Trump's proposed peace plan, and has affirmed it will not relinquish control of Gaza or its weapons.

During his visit, Archbishop Parker described dire conditions near Gaza: "It was cold and wet, the nights were long and dark… people were living in meagre tents and children were dying from exposure. It's appalling. It is a true humanitarian crisis, and the solution is within reach — but the forces at play are simply not engaging."

That last claim is simply false. There is a peace deal on the table. The Gaza peace plan — officially the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict — is a multilateral agreement between Israel and Hamas aimed at addressing the ongoing war and the broader Middle Eastern crisis. Led by President Donald Trump and negotiated in consultation with many Arab and Muslim countries, it represents a serious and documented effort. Parker appears to have overlooked this entirely. Even if the plan ultimately fails, no one can say that no attempt was made. You can read more here: https://www.virtueonline.org/post/canadian-primate-speaks-on-palestinian-christians-but-critics-say-he-overlooks-key-realities

As one observant Church of England leader noted: "Anglican bishops hear only the views of Arab Christians in Jerusalem — not the political reality on the ground."

ACNA CONFERENCE ON WOMEN CANCELLED

A brouhaha erupted in the Anglican Church in North America this past week over the cancellation of a planned conference on sexism and the empowerment of women. The conference was to feature several ACNA clergy and bishops and to promote a book called Safe Church — and that book proved to be the problem. It apparently argued that declining to ordain women is, by its very nature, sexist and abusive. That position is untenable for the ACNA, since at least half of its dioceses and bishops would, by that logic, be classified as sexists and abusers. Once this was sufficiently noticed, the conference was cancelled. The Living Church has an excellent report here: https://livingchurch.org/news/cancelled-sexism-panel-ignites-acna-conflict/

BISHOP DOBBS SUES BISHOP JONES FOR DEFAMATION

In other news, ACNA Bishop Julian Dobbs is suing JAFC Bishop Derek Jones for unspecified damages arising from false and defamatory statements allegedly made by Jones about Dobbs, the current interim ecclesiastical authority of the ACNA. The lawsuit claims that the split in the JAFC following Jones's inhibition has cost the ACNA $1.2 million per year in lost revenue.

On September 21, 2025, then-Archbishop Steve Wood (who faces his own trial on multiple charges) announced that he had inhibited Bishop Jones of the Special Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy for sixty days, "subject to further extension as provided by canon while an investigation is conducted into the complaints received." Jones subsequently terminated his relationship with the ACNA.

Dobbs alleges character assassination by Jones through "completely false, misleading, highly defamatory statements" based on allegations more than five years old.

Jones charged Dobbs with financial irregularities, which Dobbs vigorously denies. The charge that he absconded with approximately $48,000 was described by Dobbs as involving "mismanaged" funds, and he expressed regret for the bookkeeping error. He was later cleared by an ACNA court. These "false and defamatory allegations" were subsequently leaked to the Washington Post's global readership.

In his suit, Dobbs claims damage to his reputation and states that he has "suffered severe emotional distress and mental anguish as a result of these accusations," adding that they have badly tarnished his standing in the Anglican community. He charges that Jones's statements are "completely false."

On February 4, Dobbs demanded that Jones "publish a full retraction of the defamatory statements in writing." To date, Jones has not done so. Dobbs alleges that Jones "intentionally, maliciously, and/or recklessly published false and defamatory statements" about him, and is seeking general, compensatory, and punitive damages to be determined by a jury.

BISHOP FITZSIMONS ALLISON TURNS 99

We are delighted to report that Bishop C. FitzSimons Allison (SC, ret.) will turn 99 in March. He is the oldest bishop in the Episcopal Church, which he served for more than 30 years. Born March 5, 1927, he is the published author of five books, the most famous of which is The Cruelty of Heresy. He is known for his role in the Anglican realignment and his participation in the controversial 2000 consecration in Singapore of two bishops opposed to the blessing of same-sex unions by the Episcopal Church. He resides in Georgetown, South Carolina, where he serves as a retired bishop of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina in the Anglican Church in North America since 2022. We congratulate Bishop Allison on reaching this remarkable milestone.

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