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May 4, 2004 The Most Rev & Rt Hon The Archbishop of Canterbury Lambeth Palace London SE1 7JU Dear Dr. Williams, We the Council of Church Society are profoundly shocked that you have permitted Dr. Jeffrey John to be Dean of the Cathedral of St. Albans. We had understood that after the appointment of Gene Robinson you had called for a moratorium on such appointments until the Lambeth Commission has conducted its work. We therefore see it as deeply hypocritical that you and the Bishop of St. Albans have failed to oppose the appointment as Dean of a man who openly advocates same-sex sexual activity. The clear teaching of both Scripture and the Church of England is that sexual activity should be confined to a man and a woman within marriage. Anyone who teaches to the contrary is clearly unfit for ministerial office in this Church. We therefore call on you to urge Dr. John to resign. Yours sincerely, David Phillips (Revd) on behalf of the Council of Church Society END

Statement from the Council of Church Society We the Council of Church Society are shocked and appalled by the recent appointment of Canon Jeffrey John to be Dean of St. Albans. Mr. John's open advocacy of same-sex sexual activity flies in the face of the clear teaching of the Bible and the Church of England and therefore ought to exclude him from ministerial office. We are astonished that Archbishop Rowan Williams has apparently failed to oppose the appointment of a clergyman who so shamelessly flouts the teaching of Scripture that sexual activity should be confined to a man and a woman in marriage. We therefore call on Archbishop Williams to urge Dr. John to resign.

BBC News Gay Church of England cleric Jeffrey John has been given the backing of St Albans Cathedral where he has been appointed as the new dean. A group of evangelicals had called for Dr. John to withdraw his acceptance. But their hopes were dealt a blow on Tuesday when the cathedral's chapter said it welcomed the appointment and had received messages of support. Dr. John was forced to withdraw his acceptance for the post of suffragan Bishop of Reading last year. Canon Stephen Lake, sub-dean and acting dean at St Albans, said: “Jeffrey John brings to the abbey a track record of scholarship and preaching, and a commitment to mission. “The support for Jeffrey John from the cathedral chapter and congregation is clear. The vast majority of the congregation have shown their support for the appointment and are looking forward to his installation and ministry here.” Dr. John, who is gay but celibate, is currently canon theologian at Southwark Cathedral. He will be installed as Dean of St Albans on July 2. He withdrew his acceptance of the post of suffragan Bishop of Reading last summer after a storm of protest from conservatives in the Church of England. © BBC MMIV

May 3, 2004 On August 5, 2003, the Episcopal Church USA abandoned the clear teaching of Holy Scripture as well as the faith and order of Anglicanism. Since that time, events have unfolded which prove that ECUSA has lost its moral compass. Recently we have seen a juxtaposition of significant incidents that illustrate ECUSA’s continued slide into a secularized religion scarcely resembling the spiritual and moral foundation upon which Christ formed His Church. On April 25, 2004, the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) sponsored the “March for Women’s Lives” on the Mall in Washington, DC. One of the primary purposes of RCRC outlined in its mission statement is support of the constitutional right to abortion, and participants carried signs with slogans demeaning the sanctity of life in a chilling fashion. Both the Episcopal Church USA and the Episcopal Women’s Caucus are members of RCRC and were listed as co-sponsoring organizations for the event. Episcopal News Service (ENS) ran a story applauding participation by individual Episcopalians: “Also marching behind the Episcopal Church banner were the Rev. Margaret Rose, director of the Episcopal Church Office of Women’s Ministries; Executive Council members Louie Crew and John Vanderstar; long-time women's rights activist and General Convention deputy Marge Christie; and Maureen Shea, director of the Government Relations Office.” Under the banner of “justice,” the Episcopal Church’s official news service justifies, in fact blesses, participation in a blatant pro-abortion activist rally. Also over last weekend, Otis Charles, the 78-year-old retired bishop of Utah and former president of the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass., “married” his homosexual partner Felipe Sanchez Paris. The so-called “wedding ceremony” was held before several hundred people at St. Gregory’s of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco. Mr. Paris had been married and divorced four times previously. The bishop had been married 42 years and fathered five children before reaching the conclusion he was gay in 1976. He did not make a public announcement until after his retirement in 1993, and he and his wife divorced shortly after that. According to news accounts, the bishop was “guided by his belief that all human beings are called upon to live as fully as they can.” These accounts also describe details of the 2-hour-and-45-minute service, depicting theatrics in no way reminiscent of the sacramental nature of marriage. The news reports failed to note that marriage is a holy institution ordained by God—a sacramental union of a man and a woman. According to Scriptural standards, anything else is mockery. For several weeks, CLAIMING THE BLESSING has been publicizing an event entitled, “It’s All About Love: A Celebration of Music, Faith and Equality,” scheduled for May 2, 2004 at All Saints Episcopal Church, Pasadena. The event is billed as a benefit for CLAIMING THE BLESSING, “a national collaborative of organizations that advocate for gay rights in the church and same-sex marriage.” “It’s All About Love” also boasts a bevy of stars gathered to honor special guest V. Gene Robinson, and tickets range in price from a modest $100–$200 for open seating to higher levels of reserved seating: Bronze ($1,000), Silver ($2,500), and Gold ($5,000). For those willing to “benefit” CLAIMING THE BLESSING with a $10,000 donation, the prize is two tickets at a private dinner with V. Gene Robinson. The first and obvious problem is interaction with a bishop for sale—no matter how noble a cause might be, selling access to a bishop is reprehensible. A more subtle but perhaps more disturbing concern, however, is the fundraiser itself. Why does CLAIMING THE BLESSING need such massive funds? On their website, we read: “Our initial commitment was obtaining approval of a liturgical blessing of the faithful, monogamous relationship between two adults of any gender at General Convention 2003. The results were history-making, and CLAIMING THE BLESSING was instrumental in making that history happen: • Resolution C051 was passed, recognizing for the first time that ‘local faith communities are operating within the bounds of our common life as they explore and experience liturgies celebrating and blessing same-sex unions.’ • Gene Robinson was confirmed by General Convention and consecrated Bishop Coadjutor in the Diocese of New Hampshire: the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion. What CLAIMING THE BLESSING offers is an alternative to those presuming to speak for Christian values—an alternative desperately needed as the Religious Right responds not only to General Convention 2003 but to the recent decisions by the civil courts in Texas and Massachusetts and to President Bush's call for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.” Note that this is CLAIMING THE BLESSING’s initial commitment. The word “initial” begs the question, “what’s next?” Did the organization not succeed in its goals at General Convention 2003? Was not their very raison d'être fulfilled? We see a hint of the answer on the website: “There is much reason to rejoice—and much hard work left to do. Perhaps the greatest indicator of how much we have achieved is how mobilized our opposition has become: they are well financed, well organized, and well focused. Never has CLAIMING THE BLESSING's organized, recognized progressive collaborative voice been more important.” Clearly the work of CLAIMING THE BLESSING has only begun, and it is essential that we understand that sexuality is only the presenting problem—the real issue is the authority of Scripture as the foundation of Christian theology and doctrine. For orthodox Christian Anglicans, these three events illustrate unequivocally that we face an unparalleled attack on the sacrament and sanctity of life and marriage in both civil and religious arenas. Those involved with these incidents would claim they uphold marriage, family, and morality. The distinction lies in definition and interpretation. As Susan Russell, Executive Director of CLAIMING THE BLESSING, said about Scripture, there is a “crucial difference between contradicting God’s revelation and expanding our understanding of God’s revelation.” From the AAC perspective, if revisionists succeed in altering or destroying the traditional theology of sexuality, marriage, and family, we stand to lose all truth—for the final target will be the salvation message itself. As Bishop Ingham of Canada has predicted, the horizon holds a not-too-distant battleground centered on the exclusivity of Christianity—is Jesus truly the way, the truth, and the life, or will He be reduced to “one of the ways” to fulfillment and self-actualization? We hope and pray that the Lambeth Commission and the Primates of the worldwide Anglican Communion will consider the often unseen and rarely spoken goals of revisionism and their threat to morality. END

News Analysis By David W. Virtue Jesus once said to would-be disciples that whoever would follow him must take up his cross daily… lose himself… forget about his own personal fulfillment, and, if necessary, lay down his life. The former Episcopal Bishop of Utah and Episcopal Divinity School president Otis Charles, at 78, believes in the exact opposite. At his recent “wedding” to a four-times-married man, Charles said his actions were “guided by his belief that all human beings are called upon to live as fully as they can.” For the believer, to live “fully” is to live fully into Christ, but that is not what Charles meant. He meant that to live “fully” was to personally fulfill oneself sexually, in this case with another man, despite the fact that neither the Christian Church, 2,000 years of church history, nor Holy Scripture gives him that right to do so. Furthermore, one must ask oneself just how much fulfillment does Mr. Charles have in mind for him and Sanchez? Between the two of them they have had five marriages, double-digit kids, and in Charles’ case, grandchildren. When or where does personal fulfillment end… does it ever? Mother Teresa lived “fully.” She spent herself in the service of others; she understood what Jesus said and meant. She, like millions of Americans, daily sacrifice their lives for others— their own personal “fulfillment” often runs a distant second. Take one Episcopal lady I know whose husband left her after a number of years, denying her children, and then one day he announces he is gay and is “in love” with Guido. He leaves, she cries, then she gets off the floor and takes care of her parents—one has Alzheimer’s, the other MS. Where is the fulfillment for her? She’s 44. Her chances of finding an understanding single man who is not in recovery from something are less than zero. She has better odds of being hit by a Mack truck. The greatest commandment is to love God and then your neighbor as yourself. We are not told to specifically love ourselves—presumably because that comes naturally to most people who can find a mirror. The Good News of the gospel is the greatest news the world has ever known. To embrace it and proclaim it in whatever form God has called you is the noblest cause of all. It is not amassing great fortunes, looking to be CEO of Disney, embracing the culture of celebrity, joining Integrity, or having sex at 78 with someone of your own sex! Those things are not worth laying down your life for, nor is the pursuit of them worth endangering the destiny of your eternal soul. “He that loses His life for My sake and the gospel will find it,” said Jesus. Otis Charles has it all wrong. In reversing Jesus’ command, he endangers his own soul and those of others—especially his 7-year-old grandson who was obliged to watch a farce of a “wedding” take place, and may well be permanently scarred as a result. The Episcopal Church may well be in its death throes, the Global South ready to pull the plug on the whole stinking mess of Griswoldian pluriformity and pansexuality. The Otis Charles “marriage” is just another example of the Gadarene slide toward the abyss. God save us all. END

American Anglican Council Washington, DC May 3, 2004 On March 14, 2004, five retired bishops—C. FitzSimons Allison (South Carolina), Maurice Benitez (Texas), William Cox (Oklahoma), Alex Dickson (West Tennessee), and William Wantland (Eau Claire)—confirmed 110 individuals at a multi-congregational service in Akron, Ohio, without the permission of the local diocesan bishop. At the March 2004 House of Bishops meeting, their actions were condemned as “unilateral,” “discourteous, disruptive, and a willful violation of our Constitution and Canons,” and accused of using confirmation “as an instrument of division and defiance.” While no discipline was imposed, the House warned that future infractions would bring “consequences.” In an April 16 letter, Bishop Charles Jenkins of Louisiana—President of the Presiding Bishop’s Council of Advice—invited the five to meet in Atlanta on May 27 to “discuss the reasons for your actions” and learn about the bishops’ “ministry of reconciliation.” Attendees would cover travel costs; lunch would be provided. Referencing the church’s crisis, Jenkins urged dissenting clergy to “share personal views with the diocesan Bishop” and warned that performing episcopal acts without consent would now trigger canonical discipline. In response, the five bishops sent the following letter: May 3, 2004 Dear Charles: We thank you for the invitation. Each of us has sworn to uphold the faith that gives birth to and unifies our Church. Territory and canons are secondary. Since we believe this faith must be the Episcopal Church’s first priority, we gladly accept—provided it is the central topic. Our concerns: Will the House hold accountable bishops who deny or rewrite core Christian doctrine? Will it address the 84 bishops who voted against Resolution B001—thereby rejecting Scripture, Creeds, Sacraments, and Apostolic Ministry? Does the House intend to restore communion with the 21 Anglican provinces that called for repentance? Will it seek to repair ecumenical relations with Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and other Christian bodies? Polity cannot be resolved until we are united in the faith we vowed to guard. We request an open meeting—nothing done in secret. Not all are available May 27, but if you agree to prioritize doctrine over polity, we will find a suitable date. In His Name, The Rt. Rev. C. FitzSimons Allison The Rt. Rev. Maurice M. Benitez The Rt. Rev. William J. Cox The Rt. Rev. Alex D. Dickson The Rt. Rev. William C. Wantland Cc: The Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold ECUSA House of Bishops Anglican Communion Primates — The American Anglican Council 1110 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20005 Phone: 800-914-2000 | Email: info@americananglican.org God Changes Lives for Good!

May 3, 2004 By Ruth Gledhill The London Times Plans for a formal split in the Anglican Communion are under consideration to resolve deep divisions over homosexuality. The Lambeth Commission—an 18-member international body appointed by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams—is studying a proposal to transform the Communion into a looser “Anglican confederation,” modeled after the World Lutheran Federation. Under this model, national provinces would retain autonomy to adopt doctrines or practices as they see fit, while still identifying as “Anglican” and remaining in communion with the Church of England through the Archbishop of Canterbury. Provinces deemed too progressive—such as The Episcopal Church (USA), which ordained an openly gay bishop, or the Anglican Church of Canada, which authorized same-sex blessings—could be downgraded to “observer” status or excluded from gatherings like the Lambeth Conference. This would allow conservative provinces to effectively “excommunicate” liberal ones without full schism, maintaining a symbolic global unity. Already, plans are underway to significantly reduce the number of bishops invited to the 2008 Lambeth Conference in South Africa. Unlike the 1998 gathering—which included nearly 800 bishops—cost and controversy will likely limit attendance. Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire is unlikely to be invited. Canon lawyers are reviewing the Lutheran structure ahead of the Commission’s next meeting in Kanuga, North Carolina. “The quality of the communion depends on how far the Western Church is willing to sacrifice its lesbian and gay members,” one source noted. Recommendations are expected to circulate among primates by late July, possibly establishing tiers of membership: full members, non-voting participants, and observers—based on each province’s actions. The model is fitting: Anglicans and Lutherans already share fellowship under the 1995 Porvoo Declaration. The Anglican Communion comprises 38 provinces and nearly 70 million members across 164 countries. In a recent letter, Lambeth Commission chair Dr. Robin Eames, Primate of Ireland, urged conservatives not to form breakaway dioceses until the Commission’s report is complete by year’s end. “It is my prayer… that the report will enable the Anglican Communion to move forward together in ways that will stand the test of time,” he wrote. © 2004 Times Newspapers Ltd.

By Terry Mattingly The Rev. Julian Rush watched as 13 United Methodist pastors in the Pacific Northwest tried one of their own: the Rev. Karen Dammann, who openly lived in a lesbian relationship and disclosed it to her superiors. Their Book of Discipline clearly bans “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from ministry, declaring gay sex “incompatible with Christian teachings.” Rush wasn’t surprised by the trial—or the “not guilty” verdict. Two decades earlier, he’d faced a similar ordeal after coming out in 1981. “What surprised me was how the news reports brought it all back,” said Rush, now 67. “It was spooky, like a flashback… I remembered that feeling of powerlessness and total vulnerability. That’s probably good—we need reminding that things aren’t settled.” Rush retired with his credentials intact after regional panels twice found “insufficient evidence” to try him—largely because he refused to answer questions about his private life. “My lawyer said, ‘Make them prove it.’ What were they going to do—hire a private investigator?” Similarly, the Dammann jury exploited a technicality: while the Discipline states that “the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teachings,” it never formally “declares” this as doctrine. Instead, the jury cited another passage affirming “inclusiveness” and opposition to discrimination. Rush predicts conservative United Methodists will arrive at the April 27 General Conference “with their nostrils flared and breathing fire,” while progressives gain confidence from this high-profile win. Both sides are drafting resolutions to clarify or enforce the Discipline. Yet, as Rev. James V. Heidinger II of the Good News renewal movement notes: “We don’t need more rules. We just need people willing to abide by or enforce the will of General Conference.” Rush agrees: the real issue isn’t legal wording—it’s that the denomination houses two irreconcilable worldviews. Traditionalists hold to an “established, infallible, permanent core of doctrine.” Liberals view faith as an evolving process. “One side knows how to lay down the law; the other knows how to emote,” Rush said. Yet no one dares press the “schism” button—fearing financial and institutional collapse. “Everyone dances around that button,” he said. “They keep the Discipline vague enough to keep everyone in the tent. You end up with spiritual schizophrenia—but it holds things together.” Terry Mattingly teaches at Palm Beach Atlantic University and writes a weekly column for Scripps Howard News Service.

April 27, 2004 Clergy and lay leaders of the Diocese of South Carolina voted during their annual convention (March 5–6, North Charleston Convention Center) to affiliate with the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes. In his address, the Rt. Rev. Edward Salmon, Jr., Bishop of South Carolina, attributed the crisis in The Episcopal Church—sparked by the 2003 consecration of a gay bishop—to the improper resolution of a profound theological issue by popular vote. He described the Network’s purpose as upholding orthodoxy and providing mutual support during this turbulent period. “The Network also provides a means for primates and others to support us more effectively in this struggle,” Bishop Salmon said. “Its purpose is to provide a place of strength and witness within the American Church.” Bishop Salmon helped draft and signed the Network charter. Both the standing committee and diocesan council had previously approved affiliation, though some delegates opposed it. “I believe this resolution would continue the divisiveness… because it would institutionalize a movement that not all parties agree with,” said Andy Brack of St. Stephen’s Church, Charleston, suggesting individual parishes—not the whole diocese—should decide. The resolution passed by show of hands, with roughly 24 of 296 clergy and lay delegates voting against. Convention also approved a $2.3 million budget—$200,000 more than the prior year—but reduced payments to the national church from $120,000 to just over $32,000. END

By Michael J. McManus An Oregon judge recently delivered a historic victory to advocates of same-sex marriage—the nation’s first judicial recognition of such unions. Multnomah County Circuit Judge Frank Bearden ordered the county to stop issuing same-sex marriage licenses but directed Oregon’s legislature to recognize the 3,022 licenses already issued since March 3 and to pass a law legalizing same-sex unions. This echoes the November 2003 ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, which declared that gay couples have a constitutional right to marry and ordered the state legislature to implement same-sex marriage within 180 days—by May 17, 2004. Instead, the legislature began drafting a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman—but also creating civil unions, effectively “marriage by another name.” The amendment must pass again in 2005 and then win voter approval in 2006. Governor Mitt Romney, a Republican, asked the court to delay implementation pending this process, but the Democratic Attorney General supports the ruling—making a stay unlikely. Both cases reflect judicial activism: courts ordering legislatures to enact laws on deeply moral and social issues—traditionally the domain of elected representatives. Meanwhile, San Francisco’s mayor unilaterally directed clerks to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, despite a statewide referendum affirming traditional marriage. In response, Matt Daniels—a lawyer raised in Spanish Harlem by a single mother after his father abandoned the family—proposed a long-shot solution: a Federal Marriage Amendment stating, “Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution nor the constitution of any state shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman.” Having witnessed firsthand the consequences of fatherlessness—crime, poverty, instability—Daniels believes marriage is foundational to societal health. He founded the Alliance for Marriage and secured early support from Rev. Walter Fauntroy, a former aide to Martin Luther King Jr., as well as Black denominations, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the National Association of Evangelicals. Public support for the amendment has grown from 55% in July 2003 to 64%. President George W. Bush, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, and 118 members of Congress back it. However, some conservatives, like Concerned Women for America’s Janet LaRue, worry the amendment allows states to create “phony marriage” through civil unions—as Vermont has done. Few Democrats support the measure, and public engagement remains low. Yet unless citizens actively defend traditional marriage through constitutional means, same-sex marriage may become widespread by judicial fiat. END © 2004 Michael J. McManus Michael J. McManus is Co-Founder & President of Marriage Savers, Potomac, MD.

By David Phillips Following the announcement that Jeffrey John would become the next Dean of St. Albans, contradictory messages emerged from the diocese. Richard Inwood, Bishop of Bedford, had previously signed a letter urging Jeffrey John not to accept the post of Bishop of Reading in 2003. Under normal protocol for dean appointments, Bishop Inwood was not consulted but learned of the decision just days before it was made public—presented with a fait accompli. In his statement, he said: “The appointment of Canon Jeffrey John as the Dean of St. Albans means we shall have a gifted preacher and teacher in this key position. He also brings a commitment to mission, both within the Cathedral community and beyond, which I welcome warmly. Jeffrey John has made certain undertakings to the Diocesan Bishop regarding the Bishops’ statement Issues in Human Sexuality. This assures me that none of the issues that caused concern last summer—to so many people, including myself—will arise.” However, during a PM radio program, interviewer questions revealed that Christopher Herbert, the Diocesan Bishop, clarified: “The undertakings were exactly those made by Jeffrey John before… nothing has changed.” When pressed to specify, Herbert explained: “He is the first person to say, ‘Yes, I am homosexual,’ and secondly, ‘I have a celibate lifestyle.’ For me, that stays within the boundaries of what the House of Bishops Statement is about for clergy. I don’t see the problem—it seems a perfectly honourable situation, achieved perhaps at great personal cost.” Thus, Jeffrey John’s only “undertaking” is his continued assertion of celibacy—something he claimed the previous year. Yet he and his partner, another Anglican clergyman, have acknowledged past homosexual activity, which contravenes House of Bishops policy. No disciplinary action was taken, and there is no indication of repentance. This appointment effectively endorses their past behavior and undermines official church teaching. Moreover, Jeffrey John has consistently taught against the Issues in Human Sexuality statement—both before and after his non-appointment to Reading. Therefore, claiming he “abides by” the statement is misleading at best. David Phillips is General Secretary of Church Society General Synod and Representative for the St. Albans Diocese. END

By David W. Virtue ATLANTA, GA—The Rt. Rev. Frank Lyons, Bishop of Bolivia, baptized, confirmed, received, and reaffirmed over 330 people during two services at Holy Cross Anglican Church in Loganville, Georgia. This marked the first time an overseas bishop from the Southern Cone has conducted ecclesiastical functions on U.S. soil—a sign of the growing fragmentation within The Episcopal Church. “They were received into the church as Founding Members,” said the Rev. Dr. Foley Beach, the church’s new rector and a recent departure from The Episcopal Church (ECUSA). More than 450 people attended Easter Sunday worship at Holy Cross. When the church launched, it officially had only one member—a young girl baptized several weeks earlier, according to Beach. Holy Cross Anglican Church began on February 8 after Beach left the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta and was received into the Anglican Diocese of Bolivia and the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone under Bishop Lyons. Bishop Lyons explained that due to the current state of The Episcopal Church, USA, he was offering temporary, emergency pastoral and episcopal oversight to Fr. Beach and the congregation of Holy Cross. “The National Episcopal Church’s departure from Biblical Christianity on theology and morality was the basis for my leaving the Diocese of Atlanta and receiving spiritual refuge and oversight from the Province of the Southern Cone and Diocese of Bolivia,” Beach told Virtuosity. “On this, our 11th Sunday holding worship services, Bishop Lyons baptized 6 people, confirmed 38 who publicly proclaimed their allegiance to Jesus Christ, received 44 into the Anglican Communion, and accepted over 250 from other Anglican or Episcopal churches via Letter of Transfer.” Bishop Lyons preached from the Book of Revelation, urging congregants not to lose their “first love”—defined as one’s personal relationship with Jesus and the joy experienced upon entering that relationship. Commenting on the enthusiasm surrounding Holy Cross, Fr. Beach said: “We have a politically correct, compromised, and unbiblical gospel that has entered the Church in North America. God will not honor or bless a church that proclaims sin in His name. Holy Cross proclaims the Gospel as taught by the apostles of Jesus Christ in the New Testament and affirmed by the historical councils of the early Church. We make no apologies for standing on the time-tested, truth-proclaiming, and Spirit-nurturing Word of God.” One parishioner remarked after the service, “It’s great to be under a bishop who promotes Jesus instead of promoting sodomy.” Beach noted the congregation is growing rapidly and expects it to double within the next 18 months. After holding two capacity-filled services in a rented middle school cafeteria, the congregation celebrated on the grounds of a ten-acre site recently deeded to the church free and clear. An 18,000-square-foot Phase One building—including 14 classrooms and a temporary auditorium—is soon to be constructed. END