PRIMATES PUSH DEADLINE FOR ECUSA REPENTANCE… OHIO… RIO GRANDE… LONDON NEWS

By David W. Virtue

April 17, 2004

“We will not, on the altar of money, mortgage our conscience, mortgage our faith, and mortgage our salvation.”

—Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria

African Anglican Primates meeting in Nairobi have issued their strongest warning yet to The Episcopal Church (ECUSA): repent within three months of the consecration of Gene Robinson—or face formal consequences.

Their statement preempts the Lambeth Commission’s report (due late 2004) and demands immediate action. They further declared they will no longer accept funding from ECUSA, stating it is neither “morally right nor spiritually proper” to take money from those who “have failed to respect the Word of God.” Approximately 70% of CAPA’s funding comes from Western sources—primarily the U.S.

Meanwhile:

Ohio: Bishop Mark Hollingsworth was installed on April 17. Within ten days, he was scheduled to address a revived chapter of Integrity, the Episcopal LGBT advocacy group, at a special Choral Evensong. Five Northeast Ohio parishes have asked him not to visit; their future worship sites may include movie theaters and high school gyms.

Illinois: Assistant Bishop Victor Scantlebury told conservatives at St. Mark’s, Glen Ellyn, to “work within the framework of ECUSA”—then claimed no canonical barrier exists to ordaining active homosexuals. A laywoman reminded him of Resolution 1979-A59, which prohibits such ordinations. He ignored her.

Florida: The sanctuary of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit in Tallahassee—recently vacated by 80% of its congregation and its priest over the Robinson consecration—was destroyed by fire, ruled arson. Investigation is ongoing.

Rio Grande: Revisionist leaders, fearing the election of an orthodox successor to Bishop Terence Kelshaw, enlisted retired Bishop John Shelby Spong—a leading theological revisionist—for counsel. His advice? Wait. Time, he promised, would prove orthodox believers “out of date.”

New Hampshire: Bishop Robinson, addressing a crowd in Nashua, framed his consecration as “the end of patriarchy”:

“For a very long time, straight white men have pretty much run the world… I knew that the liberation of people of color in the ’60s, and women in the ’70s, would somehow become linked to my liberation.”

Many Black Episcopalians were angered by the equation of racial justice with homosexual practice.

London: Jeffrey John’s appointment as Dean of St. Albans—confirmed in this digest—drew immediate condemnation from global conservatives.

Canada: Svend Robinson, MP and chief sponsor of Bill C-250 (which would criminalize “hate speech” against sexual orientation), admitted to stealing a $50,000 ring. He blamed workplace stress—including opposition to his bill. His partner offered moral support:

“Svend’s inner strength must be applied to a very personal inner challenge. I have every confidence he will overcome.”

France: A new Anglican parish—Christ the Good Shepherd—has been inaugurated in Poitou-Charentes, serving ~25,000 British expatriates across a region the size of Wales.

Canada (Primate Election): Of four candidates, only two (Victoria Matthews and Ron Ferris) may be remotely orthodox—but sources doubt either has a viable path. Michael Ingham of Vancouver remains on the shortlist.

Atlanta vs. Plano: A comparative study in this issue examines two large parishes—one thriving under orthodox leadership, the other declining post-Robinson.

Encouragement: Dr. Michael Green reports that Archbishop Rowan Williams, at a recent UK mission, delivered “a fresh explanation of the gospel and a strong ransom theory of atonement”—leading several to commitment.

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All blessings,

David W. Virtue, D.D.

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