ENGLAND: ANGRY EVANGELICALS TO MEET WITH BISHOP OF ST. ALBANS

Evangelical leaders will meet the Bishop of St Albans after 40 clergy and laity protested the appointment of Canon Jeffrey John as Dean.

Some threaten to cap parish giving or boycott confirmations. Philip Lovegrove, longtime Diocesan Board chair, said: “Big givers will leave or redirect funds.”

The Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship called the appointment “a serious error of judgment,” accusing the bishop of creating division contrary to Scripture, tradition, and reason.

Open evangelical group “Fulcrum” supported the appointment, noting John’s role as Dean—not Bishop—means no canonical obedience is required. They welcomed his pledge to uphold (not campaign against) church teaching.

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ANGICAN COMMUNION MOVES TOWARDS PRECIPICE

News Analysis

By David W. Virtue

A Lambeth Commission leak suggests a formal split is inevitable due to irreconcilable views on homosexuality—culminating in ECUSA’s consecration of Gene Robinson.

A proposal is on the table to restructure the Communion as a loose confederation—similar to the World Lutheran Federation—allowing provinces to form new alliances based on shared doctrine.

All would remain tied through communion with Canterbury. Provinces that “go too far” could be downgraded to observer status or excluded from Lambeth Conferences.

This would satisfy conservatives demanding discipline for ECUSA and Canada, while allowing mutual non-recognition of clergy—without full schism.

Canon lawyers will test this model at Kanuga, NC next month.

Archbishop Robin Eames has urged conservatives to delay forming new structures until the Commission reports year-end.

Meanwhile, another leak describes a proposed “star chamber” led by Archbishop Rowan Williams—with enhanced authority (but not papal powers) to arbitrate disputes across the 77-million-member Communion.

Professor Norman Doe (Cardiff University) previously suggested a final appeal to Canterbury, backed by a panel of theologians. Defiant provinces could be expelled.

What does this mean?

Liberals lose: pansexual Anglicans, empowered since Lambeth ’98, will resist any discipline, citing provincial autonomy.

Orthodox gain: they could formally recognize only faithful provinces/dioceses, legitimizing existing breaks. Already, 21 provinces have declared impaired communion with ECUSA.

The Network (NACDP)—spearheaded by Bishop Robert Duncan—could be recognized by Canterbury as North America’s authentic Anglican voice, isolating ECUSA’s liberal bishops.

Geographic boundaries would blur, enabling Global South bishops to minister freely to orthodox parishes in revisionist dioceses (e.g., Pennsylvania).

Challenges remain:

Property disputes: The Dennis Canon’s validity must be tested. The Church of the Good Shepherd in St. Louis is already suing.

African loyalty: Will Global South bishops stay with Canterbury if he remains in communion with Griswold? Unclear—but a full realignment may be unstoppable.

Canon David Anderson (AAC) and Canon David Roseberry (Plano) are past negotiation. Their focus: What will the future Episcopal Church look like?

One thing is certain: the Anglican Communion edges closer to the abyss. Unless revisionists repent of moral apostasy and theological heresy, the Communion’s end is near.

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ALABAMA: BISHOP PARSLEY BLASTS NETWORK. THREATENS JOINERS

Bishop Henry Parsley issued a pastoral directive condemning the Network as “divisive” and “outside canonical structures,” citing five concerns:

The Network omits reference to Canons (only cites Constitution).

It appeals to Canterbury and foreign provinces over ECUSA authority.

It places parishes under bishops approved by its Steering Committee—violating geographical episcopacy.

Its confessional theology exceeds Anglican norms rooted in the Creeds and Prayer Book.

It diverts funds and risks alienating parish property.

He also cited a letter by Rev. Geoff Chapman describing the Network’s goal as a “replacement jurisdiction”—a claim not disavowed by Network leaders.

Parsley forbids Alabama rectors from joining the Network or signing parish applications. He urges affiliated parishes to reconsider.

He insists Alabama has upheld Lambeth 1998 and shown no cause for such affiliation.

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HOMOSEXUALITY, THE CHURCH, TRUTH AND JUSTICE FOR CHILDREN – BY LEANDER HARDING

The debate is often framed as justice for adults—but what about justice for children?

While many bracket the origins of same-sex attraction, clinicians (e.g., NARTH) suggest early childhood trauma—including parental dynamics and sexual abuse—may contribute significantly.

If true, the Church must avoid implying homosexual orientation is “from God” or purely innate—lest we ignore children’s suffering.

Justice begins with truth-telling—even when it implicates parents unintentionally.

Any ideology that declares orientation “natural” without rigorous inquiry risks becoming a blindfold to child suffering.

The Church must prioritize truth over comfort.

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CAREY: FAITH CAN DEFEAT EVIL OF TERRORISM

Former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey warned that Britain must reclaim its spiritual heritage—or risk despair amid rising terrorism.

Speaking in Wales, he said: “Islam is being exploited by evil people. Our antidote is reconnection with Christ’s universal values.”

He lamented the Church’s weak Bible engagement compared to Muslim devotion to the Qur’an.

At a conference, he’ll urge renewed Bible centrality in preaching and liturgy—calling Scripture “the backbone of British culture since the Reformation.”

He noted The Lord of the Rings and The Passion of the Christ reflect enduring hunger for sacred narrative.

“People today can rediscover the Bible with fresh eyes—outside traditional church structures.”

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VIRGINIA: DIOCESE SPLIT OVER GAY BISHOP

Six months after Gene Robinson’s consecration, Virginia remains deeply divided.

Bishop Peter Lee’s support cost the diocese $900,000 as 24 parishes withheld funds. A “task force on giving” now seeks to restore contributions.

Parishes are polarizing:

Liberal-leaning Christ Church (Alexandria) lost a $900K donation and 10% in pledges.

Conservative St. Andrew’s gained 75 members and added a third service.

The Falls Church (orthodox, 2,200 members) now out-budgets diocesan headquarters ($3.9M vs. $3.8M) and revived its $25M capital campaign.

St. George’s (Arlington, pro-Robinson) saw giving rise 4% and attendance grow.

Most are trying to hold together—but the exodus continues.

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NIGERIA: PRIMATE EVASIVE ABOUT CAPA ACTIONS. ECUSA MUST REPENT

Archbishop Peter Akinola, chair of CAPA, refused to detail next steps if ECUSA ignores its three-month ultimatum to repent over Robinson’s consecration.

“We’ll cross that bridge if we get there,” he said. “If ECUSA does what we want, fine. If not, we’ll do what we must.”

He expressed hope the Lambeth Commission will enforce CAPA’s stance.

Loss of ECUSA funding? “A blessing in disguise—it will make Africa self-reliant.”

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WESTERN NEW YORK: BISHOP LOWERS BOOM ON ORTHODOX RECTOR

Bishop J. Michael Garrison has imposed harsh restrictions on Fr. Arthur Ward of St. Bartholomew’s (Tonawanda)—the diocese’s largest parish—after Ward requested Delegated Episcopal Pastoral Oversight (DEPO).

Garrison’s demands include:

Submitting financial records and vestry minutes

Preparing three sermons on the “Heresy of Donatism”

Reflecting on loyalty to ECUSA’s doctrine and discipline

Surrendering control of his deacon, associate priest, and an ordinand

He also forbade Ward from inviting other bishops for confirmations or sacraments.

Two other orthodox rectors received similar bans after refusing to present confirmands to Garrison.

Fr. Roger Grist (Buffalo) said: “He only allows bishops of his choosing. This isn’t reconciliation—it’s control.”

Garrison faces a $220,000 deficit as 30 of 63 parishes withhold “Fair Share” payments—now unilaterally enforced as mandatory.

Orthodox parishes report growth; revisionist ones decline.

A coalition of five AAC-aligned parishes is pushing back—but Garrison shows no sign of compromise.

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