YEAR IN REVIEW - Part Five (Part 5)

By David W. Virtue

VIRTUOSITY

In the orthodox DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH, bishop Robert Duncan was called evil at a special diocesan convention by pro-sodomite revision is forces with bleeding heart liberal laity writing letters saying that he had stolen the church from them. Duncan had said he would allow parishes who did not agree with General Convention election ofRobinson to choose their own pathway. In the DIOCESE OF ALBANY, a small faction of liberal priests unhappy with the way Bishops Dan Herzog and David Bena voted at GC2003 tried to pull off a coup d’etat hoping to turn the diocese towards sexual inclusion (read perversity) with an alternative vision for the diocese. They tried and they failed.And in the DIOCESE OF COLORADO the new bishop Robert J. ONeill who came in on a ticket of moderation and inclusion to replace thecompromised Jerry Winterrowd asked two of the most revisionist bishops in the Episcopal Church - Tom Shaw of Massachusetts and the former suffragan Barbara Harris to co-consecrate with James Jelinck at his own consecration.Griswold threw down the gauntlet and told the ANGLICAN COMMUNION DROP DEAD! He told Associated Press that he openly supported Gene Robinson's confirmation because Episcopalians in New Hampshire had overwhelmingly chosen him in their local election and had the right to make thatchoice. Griswold also argued that Scripture does not condemn same-sex relationships, a position conservatives vehemently reject.In the UK The Church Society, an evangelical organization within theChurch of England, called for the expulsion of the Episcopal Churchfrom the Anglican Communion for promoting a non-celibate homosexual to the episcopate. In a letter addressed to the Primates of the AnglicanCommunion dated September 15, the Church Society argued that therecent action by the Episcopal Church of the USA in agreeing toconsecrate Gene Robinson is not an isolated incident but it serves toshow how that body acting corporately has set themselves outsidehistoric Christianity. The denomination has become a (North American)sect.Then news came that CANON JOHN PETERSON of the Anglican Consultative Council was attempting to manipulate the agenda of the primates October meeting in order to nullify conservative outcomes. Some classified documents were inadvertently given to Dr. Paul Zahl, an American orthodox Dean and a member of the International Anglican Doctrinal and Theological Commission [IADTC]. This deep-sixed Peterson control of the Primates meeting.ECUSA were untenable. There must be one Anglican Province in thecountry-regin in fellowship with Canterbury, not two the concept oftwo overlapping jurisdictions is untenable for several reasons. For theArchbishop of Canterbury to remain in communion with those bishops,clergy and congregations that endorse the election and consecration ofBishop-elect Robinson would morally and doctrinally corrupt theAnglican Communion itself.SYDNEY ARCHBISHOP Peter Jensen weighed in suggesting that the American arm of the worldwide church be expelled. He said time was running out for the Archbishop of Canterbury to act on homosexual issues dividing the worldwide Anglican Church.A GATHERING OF NEARLY 3,000 ORTHODOX ESPICOPALIANS IN DALLAS still shell-shocked by GC2003 decision to confirm Robinson, heard the Rev. David Roseberry issue a clarion call, we are finally free and we know what is at stake. God still does change lives and that we declare. We declared our support at General Convention on August 5 and we stood up on the votes and we asked for the intervention of the Primates.At Dallas, A PLACE TO STAND - A CALL TO ACTION was distributed to the attendees. The statement upheld the Great Commission, repudiated the actions of General Convention, repented for its part in the sins of the Episcopal Church, and called upon the Episcopal Church to repent and to reverse the unbiblical actions of the General Convention, stating its objection to the consecration of Canon Robinson as a bishop of theChurch.FORWARD IN FAITH LEADER Fr. David Moyer called for full cooperation with Evangelical and Charismatic wings of the ECUSA, to achieve the goal of cleansing the Church and working towards renewal and reform.THE POPE SENT PRAYERS TO THE AAC meeting through Cardinal Ratzinger, bypassing  815 and a rebuke to Frank Griswold, a pointed at that did not go unnoticed by revisionists. A wrenching split in the fabric of the Communion if the Primates did not act it was predicted. Couragebreeds courage, said the Bishop of Pittsburgh to the 2,700 attendees.THE PRIMATES also said they would intervene in the Episcopal Churchthen they met in Lambeth, and move to throw Frank Griswold and theEpiscopal Church out of the Anglican Communion.THE LAMBETH CONFERENCESome 37 Primates were ready to act as they gathered in Lambeth. And act they did. What emerged was the most honest, most difficult meetingany could recall reflected Robert Duncan with reports of the power ofprayer and the falling of the Holy Spirit reported. Questions of lawand constitutionality nearly derailed the meeting. The Communionscenter and its power shifted to the Global South. The Primates Meetingreplaced the Anglican Consultative Council as the Communion’s keydecision-making body (between Lambeth Conferences). Rowan Williams achieved presidency on his terms and his turf and the limits ofAnglican diversity were clearly delineated. Scripture and LambethConference teaching were determinative and Provinces could breakcommunion with errant partners and Ecumenical and Inter-Faithconsiderations mattered profoundly. It was also a time to organizeprovincial responses to schism.Midway into their deliberations an unscripted press conference was held on the grounds of Lambeth Palace. Irish Archbishop Robin Eames told reporters that the Primates were telling their stories representing the cultural differences, while saying that there was a tremendous anxiety to maintain the Anglican Communion on a basis of collegiality,cooperation and the common faith.The UK movement REFORM urged the Primates to stand firm.A Statement at the conclusion of the meeting by the Primates said theactions of New Westminster to authorize a Public Rite of Blessing forthose in committed same sex relationships, and by the 74th GeneralConvention of the Episcopal Church (USA) to confirm the election of apriest in a committed same sex relationship to the office and work of aBishop, threatened the unity of the Communion as well as relationshipswith other parts of Christ Church, as well as mission and witness,and relations with other faiths, in a world already confused in areasof sexuality, morality and theology, and polarize Christian opinion.The Primates of the Communion were given enhanced responsibilityentrusted to them by successive Lambeth Conferences, and they re-affirmed their common understanding of the centrality and authority ofScripture in determining the basis of their faith.In a unanimously-agreed statement, they strongly reaffirmed the globalAnglican teaching on homosexuality, with the Primates concluding thatif this consecration proceeds, we recognize that we have reached acrucial and critical point in the life of the Anglican Communion. Theysaid that the future of the Communion itself would, therefore, be putin jeopardy. If Robinson is made a bishop, the statement said, hisministry would not be recognized by most of the Anglican world, withmany provinces likely to consider themselves out of communion with the U.S. Episcopal Church (ECUSA).AMERICAN CONSERVATIVES SAW VICTORY AT LAMBETH with Frank Griswold being told in clear and blunt terms that if appeared at, and/or consecrated Gene Robinson he would be declared anathema by the Archbishop of Canterbury and in time expelled from the Anglican Communion. Lines hardened and there was no way back for the leader of the theologically liberal Episcopal Church if he went through with the consecration of Gene Robinson.In an effort to put the best spin on the Lambeth meeting the Diocese ofNew Hampshire issued a statement saying, we echo their affirmationthat what we hold in common is much greater than that which divides usin proclaiming Good News to the world. We commend their resolve tofollow the 1998 Lambeth resolution calling for the Church to listen tothe experience of homosexual persons, and ... to assure them that theyare loved by God and that all baptized, believing and faithful persons,regardless of sexual orientation, are full members of the Body ofChrist.But the Coptic Orthodox Church at its Annual Clergy convention presided by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark formally condemned Homosexuality, the Ordination of Homosexuals and Same-Sex Marriages.In the meantime, The AMERICAN ANGLICAN COUNCIL prepared for arealignment. We are beginning the process of realignment ofAnglicanism in North America that the Primates laid out for us in theirstatement. Our course is getting clearer each week, said the Rev.Canon David Anderson, AAC President. With the Archbishop ofCanterbury encouragement, the AAC Bishops Committee on AdequateEpiscopal Oversight is coordinating requests for oversight, said CanonAnderson. We are proceeding deliberately and carefully to insure thatthis oversight is available sooner rather than later. The AAC Boardalso moved forward with the establishment of a Network of ConfessingDioceses and Parishes in the Episcopal Church.In a separate note Archbishop Drexel Gomez who attended theExtraordinary emergency meeting of primates said the appointment ofRobinson was  unacceptable by an overwhelming majority of Primates,and said dreadful consequences of sodomy to a state, and on the extent to which this abominable vice may be secretly carried on and spread, we cannot, on the principles of sound policy, consider the punishment as too severe.ROBINSON CONSECRATEDAmidst much hoopla Robinson was consecrated on an ice hockey rink in Durham, NH Nov. 2, 2003.  First came the objectors. The Rev. Dr. Earle Fox launched into a statement about the high percentage of homosexuals who engage in anal and oral sex. After he began to talk about rimming he was interrupted by Griswold who asked him to get to the main point of his speech. Fox then talked about the physical and spiritual consequences of homosexual behavior and that God would never bless such a behavior. Next up was a woman parishioner from the parish of St. Mark Episcopal Church in Ashland, NH. Meredith Harwood read a prepared statement that said to press forward with this consecration was to turn one back on almighty God, and the clear teaching that sexual activity outside of marriage was wrong. Inclusivity without transformation is not the gospel of Jesus Christ, she said. Finally the Suffragan Bishop of Albany, David Bena stood up and read astatement on behalf of 38 ECUSA and Canadian bishops, and said thechosen lifestyle of Robinson was incompatible with Scripture and thatto proceed with this consecration stands at odds with that teaching.Krister Stendahl read a letter from the Archbishop of Uppsala commending the occasion. In his speech Robinson spoke of those who find themselves on the margins and who have not known the year of the Lord’s favor.Following the objections a group of dissenters left the ice rink and attended an alternate Eucharist at Durham Evangelical Free Church.Worldwide outrage reached fervor pitch.The AMERICAN ANGLICAN COUNCIL protested the consecration and twenty Anglican primates who opposed the ordination of homosexuals announced that they would split from their North American counterparts. The primates made public their decision to break away from the Episcopal Church of the USA.THIRTY-EIGHT BISHOPS signed a letter of objection to the consecration.

Their statement read in part said, In keeping with our consecrationpledge to guard the faith, we, the undersigned bishops are registeringour objection to the consecration of a person whose chosen lifestyleis incompatible with Scripture and the teaching of this church. Weendorse the assessment of the Primates of the Communion who wrote that as a result of this consecration...The future of the Communion itselfwill be put in jeopardy. In this case, the ministry of this one bishopwill not be recognised by most of the Anglican world, and manyprovinces are likely to consider themselves to be out of Communion with the Episcopal Church (USA).A number of Primates of the Global South responded to the consecration of Gene Robinson saying, It is with profound sadness and pain that we have arrived at this moment in the history of the Anglican Communion.

We are appalled that the authorities within the Episcopal Church USA(ECUSA) have ignored the heartfelt plea of the Communion not to proceed with the scheduled consecration of Canon Gene Robinson. They have ignored the clear and strong warning of its detrimental consequences for the unity of the Communion...CENTRAL FLORIDA BISHOP JOHN W. HOWE blasted Griswold saying he should resign.  My heart is breaking over yesterday consecration of the Bishop Coadjutor of New Hampshire, he wrote. By virtue of this action, we in the Episcopal Church, USA have ignored the counsel of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Meeting of the Anglican Primates (as recently as two and a half weeks ago, which you yourself signed!), the Anglican Communion Council, the most recent Lambeth Conference (in 1998), and the Theology Committee of the House of Bishops.IN THE DIOCESE OF NEW JERSEYa pregnant lesbian priest who runsDiocesan happenings, a sort of Cursillo for youth was exposed byVirtuosity with both bishops approving her position, seeing nothingcontrary to Scripture or even common sense, to allow this awful rolemodel to run a youth program.WHILE IN CANADA the New Westminster Bishop came down hard on seven orthodox parish priests and said he was bringing them up on charges. The bully of Vancouver, Michael Ingham, officially charged all seven clergy with disobedience.AND IN THE DIOCESE OF PUERTO RICO, The Rev. David Alvarez was inhibited, one of three orthodox priests including a universityprofessor for standing up to the bishop there, a bishop who supportedECUSA same-sex blessings and the ordination of an avowed sodomite.MEANWHILE ECUSA LEADERS WRESTLED OVER the meaning of Episcopal oversight. The first view, that of adequate episcopal oversight, was being pushed by the American Anglican Council with the blessing of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Primates. ECUSA Presiding Bishop had a different take on what that means. He argued for alternative Episcopal care, a different notion altogether. What the orthodox wanted was a flying bishop arrangement not unlike that in the Church of England. The AAC created an application process for congregations seeking adequate episcopal oversight.AN OPEN LETTER TO THE DIOCESE OF EL CAMINO REAL from The Standing Committee revealed a totally dysfunctional bishop in the person of Richard L. Shimpfky which saw financial shortfalls and clear canonical violations by the bishop. This matter will be resolved by his removal me time in 2004.Following his consecration V. Gene Robinson, the new activist homosexual bishop of New Hampshire said he believed a split was possible and if there must be a parting of the ways then so be it. He said it may be time for his denomination to split because of theological differences.ONE OF THE GREAT EFFORTS AT RECONCILING OPPOSING VIEWS to come out of the recent Lambeth Conference was a commission set up by Dr. Williams and headed up by Irish Primate Robin Williams to explore diverse views on homosexuality. A group of scholars was put together and told to come up with a report by September 2004.DIOCESE OF FT. WORTH, Bishop Jack Iker opined at his diocesan convention that he had about had enough and told his people so. I am weary of the battles and debates, but I will not be silenced or intimidated. I will not give up or give in or go away. Like many faithful Episcopalians across the United States, I am alarmed by the relentless efforts in this Church to create a new religion - call it Episcopalianism - which is increasingly at variance with the teaching of Holy Scripture and historic Christianity. I am tired of the General Convention religion that attempts to give us a new and improved version of Christian faith and practice every three years.TWO BISHOPS and a major orthodox Episcopal organization called on the Presiding Bishop to resign following his consecration of a non-celibate homosexual to the episcopacy. Central Florida Bishop John W. Howe, Bishop William Wantland (Eau Claire ret.) and a national Episcopal ministry called Communion Parishes with more than 6,000 signed up members, said Griswold should step down as ECUSA leader. Just under half of Colorado clergy are part of the Communion clergy of that diocese. They said Griswold was leading the Episcopal Church away from the historic Christian Faith and towards increasing isolation both in the Anglican Communion and in worldwide Christianity, because of his pansexual views.While in the DIOCESE OF NEVADA the clergy and laity approved a resolution permitting same-sex blessing ceremonies but then said it would not be enacted in any parish until a parish policy was adopted, the priests consented and there was a Christian community which could also bless the relationship.BUT THE BIG ISSUE IN THE COMING MONTHS WILL BE OVER PROPERTY. David Booth Beers, the Presiding Bishop’s chancellor said if a congregation leaves the ECUSA the remnant will retain title to church property for the diocese. It became apparent that ECUSA’s revisionist bishops real interests were power and property, not the gospel and mission.But revisionist bishops were not getting it all their own way. In the DIOCESE OF COLORADO, theologian Dr. Ephraim Radner and evangelical priest Don Armstrong struck the new revisionist bishop, Rob Oneill with some theological lightning bolts of their own. They wrote him a letter saying his choices were to disassociate himself from the actions of General Convention and honor his consecration vows to uphold the historic faith and order of the church, or have the integrity of your convictions and depart, leaving the Diocese of Colorado to find new leadership.FORWARD IN FAITH, NORTH AMERICA released a letter they sent to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and to certain select Primates of the Anglican Communion urgently requesting a consultation with Dr. Williams to ask his support for their plan to appropriate and implement the Primates resolve to make adequate provision for episcopal oversight by the consecration of the two men previously nominated as episcopal candidates. Dr. Rowan Williams ignored their letters.The RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH announced that it was impossible to maintain further contacts whatsoever with a church that elevated a homosexual to the post of bishop and with the bishop himself. We will not be able to co-operate with those people either in the realm of theological dialogue or in the humanitarian, religious and public spheres. We cannot afford even to a certain degree share their position, which is, in our opinion, profoundly anti-Christian and sacrilegious, read the ROC statement. The ROC burned down a church in Russia where a priest had married two gay men.And the ANGLICAN CHURCH IN NIGERIA sent Griswold another message saying you can take your money and shove it. Primate Peter Akinola said it would be preposterous for dioceses and bishops in his country to continue to receive assistance from the church in America. The Primate of the Anglican Church in Nigeria who is also President of the Nigerian Christian Association (CAN) said the severance of relationship between the Anglican Communion in his country with its counterpart in the U.S. over the ordination of Rev. Gene Robinson, a gay, was TOTAL.And Caribbean Anglicans wouldn’t accept an American gay bishop either, warning of overwhelming opposition to the ECUSA. The CARIBBEAN ANGLICAN COMMUNION will maintain a formal relationship with the Episcopal Church while keeping the matter under critical review pending the findings of a commission expected in a year, said a statement.And a meeting of the ANGLICAN ORIENTAL ORTHODOX INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION, which was to have taken place at Walsingham was postponed at the suggestion of the Heads of the Coptic Orthodox Church (His Holiness Pope Shenouda III), the Syrian Orthodox Church (His Holiness Patriarch Zakka I) and the Armenian Orthodox Church, Catholico state of ilicia (His Holiness Catholicos Aram I), who met in Antelias, Lebanon, on 17 and 18 October 2003. The reason the present time is clearly a moment of uncertainty in the life of the Anglican Communion, with the consecration of a homosexual person in a committed, same-sex relationship as a Bishop within the Episcopal Church (USA), they said.And in the DIOCESE OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA a resolution affirming the Statement of the Primates of the Anglican Communion of October 16, 2003 was defeated by an extremely small margin of 167 - 161 at their annual Convention.While in the DIOCESE OF CENTRAL NEW YORK, delegates of St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Syracuse, declined to participate in a worship service in which representatives of the diocese101 parishes were invited to pour small bottles of water into a bowl. Bishop Gladstone Skip Adams blessed the water, symbolizing the common life of the diverse diocese that stretches from Canada to Philadelphia and Utica to Waterloo. As lines of people emptied small vials of water into clear bowls, orthodox priest Raymond Dague carried a bottle of olive oil to the bishop. This is a sign of how fractured the Anglican community is, you cannot mix water and oil.And in the DIOCESE OF NORTHWEST TEXAS a good ol boy rancher named Ray Snead from Dalhart, TX did a straw poll of his diocese and learned that though the bishop who is orthodox, those surrounding him were not, but who exert a lot of power in the diocese. Of some 3,300 letters he sent out polling Robinson’s consecration 84 percent said they did not approve. END OF PART FIVE