First Woman Bishop is New 106th Archbishop of Canterbury///CofE has Israel Problem///ACNA in Fight Over Firing of JAFC Bishop///Queer Woman Dean to lead NY Cathedral///
- Charles Perez
- Oct 3
- 11 min read
Bishop Howard Case Dropped by PB. He resigns TEC///Anglican Church of Southern Africa Supports Palestine, Blasts Israel
The concept of substitution lies at the heart of both sin and salvation. For the essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man. --- John Stott
The parish communion movement did not appeal solely to a tradition of frequent communion. They claimed to be building also on a primitive Christian tradition valuing communion as the central reality of Christian life. But in fact, few ancient documents support their claim. Indeed, if the eucharist was central to the early Christians, it seems inexplicable that Church leaders mentioned it so seldom in the hundreds of treatises and letters that have come down to us. The parish communion movement did not discover a tradition but invented one --- Professor Alan L. Hayes, Wycliffe College, Toronto
The modern Church isn’t being crucified because it’s not preaching the Christ who was. It’s preaching a Christ who pleases. – Rev. Dr. Ronald Moore
If we have seen that St. Peter had no proper supremacy, and that he was not Bishop of Rome; then, the premises being gone, the consequence must fall with them. If St. Peter had no supremacy, it could not be inherited. If he was not Bishop of Rome, the Popes could not inherit from him. – James Clark
Prayer wasn’t our substitute for action; it was our preparation for the difficult work ahead -- Rabbi Steven Burg
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
October 3, 2025
THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND has a new 106th Archbishop of Canterbury. She is the Bishop of London, the Rt. Rev. Sarah Mullally, 63, a former nurse. A source told VOL that she has little parish experience; it is where the CofE is based. The ABC along with all the bishops is there to support clergy in the parishes! Dame Sarah was former chief nurse for which she got her Damehood. She is another manager with minimal theological training. Mullally was ordained as a deacon in 2001 after theological training at the South East Institute of Theological Education, at the University of Kent. She has no Oxford, Cambridge, Wycliffe Hall, Oak Hill, Ridley Hall, or St. John’s College education or any reputable seminary training. So that’s the new ABC!
The Global South reacted badly to the news. A GAFCON headline ran: CANTERBURY APPOINTMENT ABANDONS ANGLICANS. “The Church of England has chosen a leader who will further divide an already split Communion,” said GAFCON chairman The Most Rev. Dr. Laurent Mbanda.
“We had hoped that the Church of England would take this into due consideration as it deliberated over the choice of a new Archbishop of Canterbury and would choose someone who could bring unity to a divided Anglican Communion. Sadly, they have not done so.”
“The majority of the Anglican Communion still believes that the Bible requires a male-only episcopacy. Therefore, her appointment will make it impossible for the Archbishop of Canterbury to serve as a focus of unity within the Communion.”
“More concerning is her failure to uphold her consecration vows. When she was consecrated in 2015, she took an oath to “banish and drive away all strange and erroneous doctrine contrary to God’s Word.” And yet, far from banishing such doctrine, Bishop Mullally has repeatedly promoted unbiblical and revisionist teachings regarding marriage and sexual morality.”
You can read the full report here: https://www.virtueonline.org/post/canterbury-appointment-abandons-anglicans
The GSFA also responded to the appointment with South Sudan Archbishop Justin Badi lamenting the decision saying; “We are deeply saddened that the person still perceived by many to be the spiritual leader of now some 100 million Anglicans worldwide has played a leading role in the Church of England’s departure from Anglican tradition and the clear teaching of Scripture in matters of marriage and sexuality.
“Sadly therefore, our position must remain as it was in our Ash Wednesday statement of February 2023 when we stated that we were no longer able to recognise the then Archbishop of Canterbury as the ‘first amongst equals’ leader of the global Communion.”
You can read their statement here: https://www.virtueonline.org/post/gsfa-statement-on-the-appointment-of-the-rt-revd-dame-sarah-mullally-bishop-of-london-as-the-archb
In her first address at Canterbury Cathedral, she addressed "profound global uncertainty", saying "the possibility of healing lies in acts of kindness and love."
Addressing the deadly attack on a synagogue in Manchester, she said: "As a Church, [we] have a responsibility to be a people who stand with the Jewish community against antisemitism in all its forms."
PM Keir Starmer wished her success, saying she will play "a key role in our national life."
She is opposed to Assisted Suicide bill currently before parliament.
However, there are senior bishops in the Church of England who are openly opposed to women joining the priesthood at all, never mind leading the institution.
The Church had been without someone in the top job for almost a year, after Justin Welby resigned over his failure to report a prolific child abuser.
With the recent appointment of a lesbian archbishop to the Church in Wales it looks very much like both churches are on a suicide mission to see who can swallow the ecclesiastical cyanide tablet first.
I have posted a number of stories on this appointment which you can read here including my own take:
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The Church of England does have an Israeli problem. Baroness Ruth Deech, DBE a British academic, bioethicist and politician, argues that the next Archbishop of Canterbury ought to acknowledge the historic role of the Church in the spread of antisemitism; accept the moral duty to protect the Jewish community; and ensure that children’s lessons are not passing on antisemitism in the guise of religious teaching.
She writes, “For nearly 2,000 years, Jews around the world suffered persecution, forced conversion, expulsion and expropriation at the hands of the Church. Only as recently as 1965 did the Catholic Church repudiate the charge of Jewish collective guilt for the death of Jesus. I well remember from my education at both a church primary and secondary school that condemnation of Jews permeated everyday worship and teaching.”
Today it is “anti-Zionism” – the 21st century’s version of antisemitism – that is driving a deplorable surge in anti-Jewish violence and discrimination. The willingness of some church figureheads to entertain and even adopt this corrosive ideology makes them culpable in this dangerous situation.
“All too often, she writes, church leaders single out Israel for the ongoing tragedy, when it is Hamas that started the war, Hamas that has rejected ceasefire offers, and Hamas that insists on fighting to the last Gazan, for whom they care so little. Statement after statement from bishops makes only fleeting reference to the plight of the hostages, followed by a “but” and unevidenced, devastating allegations against Israel.”
You can read more here: https://davidvirtue2.substack.com/p/does-the-church-of-england-have-an
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Anglican Church in North America bishops are up to their miters in a punch up between the ACNA and Bishop Derek Jones of the Special Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy (SJAFC).
As of this writing it is getting downright nasty and legal. Here’s the story.
Bishop Jones was issued a Godly admonition, followed by a special inhibition by ACNA Archbishop Steve Wood regarding accusations of misconduct (not related to any sexual misconduct). Bishop Jones then chose to declare himself separated from the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). Wood pushed back saying he had no authority to do that and appointed his own bishop to run the JAFC - Bishop Jerome R. Cayangyang.
This was confirmed by the newly anointed Bishop Phil Ashey who said Bishop Jones has no authority under the Constitution and Canons of the ACNA to declare that all ACNA Chaplains in the SJAFC are no longer a part of the ACNA. Period.
Not so fast, said Bishop Jones. He got a law firm to write a “Cease and Desist” letter to Wood saying JAFC had no ecclesiastical relationship with the ACNA, accusing Wood of “malicious” intent and “potential legal liability”.
I have posted a number of stories on this ongoing saga. It is hard to know how this will all pan out, but it is bad optics for the ACNA which is about to see a resumption of the Bishop Ruch trial and the Damoclean sword of women’s ordination hanging over the ACNA.
You can read more here: https://www.virtueonline.org/post/acna-archbishop-inhibits-armed-forces-bishop-derk-jones
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QUEER WOMAN TO LEAD ST. JOHN THE DIVINE. Nearly 700 people packed the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine on Manhattan’s Upper West Side on Saturday (Sept. 27) to witness the installation of the Rev. Winnie Varghese, the first queer woman of color named dean of the world’s largest Episcopal Gothic cathedral.
The ceremony, planned for an hour and a half, blended tradition and interfaith witness, with readings from the Torah, Quran, a Hindu saint and the Book of Revelation. Music ranged from a Sufi melody to a traditional spiritual, alongside a three-piece Indian band — a nod to Varghese’s Indian heritage and a tribute to her family in the front row. And you wonder why TEC is heading downhill.
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The flagship parish in the Diocese of New York – St. Thomas Fifth Avenue is up to its nave in homosexual scandal.
After being publicly exposed by Anglican Watch, Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue announced an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse, nine months after it first learned about these issues and retaliated against the complainant.
“We are calling BS on Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue following the church’s announcement that it is conducting a third-party investigation into allegations of sexual assault. Specifically, while the church claims in an email sent today that “the safety of all those in our communities is of paramount importance to Saint Thomas Church, and we adhere to safe church practices,” the reality is it has spent all of 2025 doing its utmost to ignore the underlying allegations while violating safe church policies by retaliating against the alleged victim of sexual assault,” said Anglican Watch.
In other words, St. Thomas’ claim is a fabrication, a lie. You can read more here:
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The Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church has finally given up pursuing the former Bishop of Florida, John Howard. Enough is enough and it’s getting too expensive with the charges brought against a bishop who has already retired from the church.
This is the same diocese that derailed the Rev. Charlie Holt from being approved after his election to succeed Howard. The panxsexualists won’t ever let up on anyone who does not yield complete fealty to their cause.
After years of conflicts about same-sex marriage and two Title IV cases with one case involving allegations that Howard discriminated against clergy based on their sexual orientation, with another charging him with wrongful handling of diocesan money, PB Sean Rowe had had enough. He brought the protracted conflict to a sudden halt by signing an accord with Howard.
Bishop Howard returned the favor by requesting release and removal from ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church under Canon III.12.8. Rowe accepted the request. Rowe still had to appease the LGBTQ+ crowd in the diocese and extended an apology to them. You can read Doug LeBlanc’s piece here:
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THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF SOUTHERN AFRICA put a resolution on Palestine on the table - PSC 2025 - noting the following:
1. on-going humanitarian crisis in Gaza with deaths in that territory nearing 60 000 people through war, starvation and lack of access to medical resources;
2. genocidal actions of the Israeli Defence Force in preventing the delivery of food, water and medicines to the people of Gaza;
3. intensifying attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians and the illegal expansion of settlements, both of which bear no legal consequences;
4. continued export of coal to the Israeli state by South-African based companies fuels the energy grid, illegal settlements and genocidal actions of the Israeli Defence Force;
5. 24 June 2025 Statement by the World Council of Churches (WCC) which inter alia calls for the implementation by states, institutions and churches of targeted sanctions and divestment;
6. international non-violent actions such as the Freedom Flotilla and the March to Gaza;
The church resolved to:
1. Commend and affirm all non-violent actions against the Israeli occupation of Palestine;
2. Call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and end to the occupation and the cessation of the killing of inhabitants;
3. Call upon the government of Israel and the Israeli Defence Force to immediately allow the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza;
4. Call upon the South African Football Association (SAFA) to request that FIFA bans Israel from participation in all FIFA approved events;
5. Respectfully request the Archbishop to address a letter in this regard to the SAFA administration communicating this request;
6. Call upon all sports bodies, schools and universities in South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini and Namibia to cut all ties with Israeli institutions;
7. Call upon the government of South Africa to strengthen its principled stance against apartheid and genocide by following Colombia’s example in banning all coal exports to the Israeli state;
8. Respectfully request the Archbishop to address a letter in this regard to the President and relevant cabinet ministers communicating this request;
9. Thank the WCC for its affirmation that Israel is an apartheid state;
10. Call upon all member churches of the WCC to affirm the WCC Statement on Palestine and Israel of 24 June 2025;
11. Respectfully request the WCC Secretariat to explore ways to recommend to member churches that they engage their governments with a view to formal recognition of a Palestinian state;
12. Commend the Lent 2025 Provincial Bible Studies on Peacemaking for study at parish and school level.
13. Support the call for the Global Sumud Flotilla as a non-violent attempt to break the siege on Gaza for humanitarian aid and encourage similar initiatives.
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Corporations are cutting funding for LGBT initiatives left and right, a trend attributed to both the Trump administration and public pressure.
(LifeSiteNews) reports that Tampa and Ft. Myers won’t be holding their yearly LGBT “Pride” events this year due to lack of donor funding, reflecting a national trend of declining corporate support for the celebration of perversion.
The board of Tampa Pride, the LGBT event in the largest city on Florida’s west coast, announced in a letter to its president that it would take a yearlong “hiatus” due to a funding shortfall, and that it was unable to renew his contract.
Tampa Pride president Carrie West told WFLA that the decisive reason for the hiatus was the reduction or complete cancellation of donations from their largest sponsors.
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It’s time to admit that Christians are being persecuted in two-tier Britain.
No one has yet been killed in the UK for their Christian faith as Charlie Kirk was in the US. But many are aware that an attack on Christianity is going on.
Just last month a street preacher was arrested in Congleton because someone objected to his preaching. But when an elderly Christian woman objected to preachers of Islam she was the one the police arrested.
Concerned that the ability of Christians in the UK to practise and manifest their faith is deteriorating, Voice for Justice UK set up the Commission of Inquiry into Discrimination Against Christians (CIDAC). Tasked with investigating the nature, context and scale of this discrimination, CIDAC would arrive at solutions for what could be done. Its final report will be published in spring 2026 and will be sent to all MPs.
For the past two years, CIDAC has been collecting disturbing and at times harrowing testimonies from a range of respondents. Those working in education, healthcare, politics and business have found themselves on the receiving end of hate-filled communications, loss of job, position or training. Some have even been harassed by the police.
The extent of discrimination, even persecution, which Christians are facing in this once Christian country is more befitting of a communist regime.
Perhaps the most egregious and infamous actions of the police have been their custom of arresting individuals praying silently on the street.
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My Substack on the Middle East continues to grow. It is drawing a lot of interest and attention from across the globe. You can access it here: https://davidvirtue2.substack.com/ I am a strong supporter of the state of Israel’s right to exist and prosper while confronting her enemies both foreign and domestic. My latest report can be seen here: https://davidvirtue2.substack.com/p/does-the-church-of-england-have-an