NEWS ANALYSIS By David W. Virtue Two American Episcopal bishops and a seminary Dean are in Africa trying to understand why African Anglican Provinces and their bishops will have nothing to do with ECUSA's theological and moral innovations. The three are John Lipscomb, Diocesan Bishop of Southwest Florida, Ted Daniels, Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Texas and Titus Pressler, Dean of the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest. Dr. Pressler wrote a letter from Nairobi, Kenya, which Virtuosity has obtained, explaining their 12-day mission. "The purpose of the trip is to have conversations with African bishops in the context of the current tensions in the Anglican Communion. We hope to build relationships that can strengthen our communion in Christ, even as we aware of differences." Pressler says that formal statements publicized by many parties are not as good as "face-to-face conversation." The trip is being pushed by Frank Griswold, ECUSA's Presiding Bishop, who is now persona non grata in most of Africa. "We view the trip as a pilot project in having conversation and building relationships. The keynotes are listening and vulnerability." Pressler positions it theologically on the "incarnation of God." Pressler writes: "We are seeking to communicate that there is a diversity of views within the Episcopal Church and that dialogue is ongoing. We are inviting conversation...we are sharing our confidence that most Episcopalians are committed to unity of our church amid current disagreements." Pressler argued for what he called "companionship in mission." Titus Pressler is either ignorant, a fool, or he thinks he can pull the wool over the eyes of bishops and Primates of the Global South. "Pressler's assumption that the good ship ECUSA can stay afloat because part of the hull is intact is simply wrong. Just because ECUSA shares some things with the Christian Faith, the places where it doesn't, leave gaping holes below the water line," said EKKLESIA leader Canon Bill Atwood who acts as a go between for orthodox bishops in the West with those in the Global South. "The trip is a pernicious strategy to use weak bishops that voted against Robinson but support Frank Griswold. Griswold is clearly behind this whole trip in an effort to find weak links in Africa," said Atwood. And Pressler's own seminary, The Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest recently approved of homosexuals and lesbians who come to his seminary to cohabit in the dorms, something that is totally anathema to Global South Primates and bishops. Why then should the Africans listen to anything Pressler has to say? He goes to Africa as head of a morally flawed seminary and expects graceful conversation. All these "wise men" are doing is running interference for Frank Griswold, because he has been declared anathema on that continent. Pressler says he views the trip as being about "conversation" -- a buzzword for: we'll listen to you, if you listen to us, and then you agree that you are wrong and we are right. The three not so wise men should have stayed at home. They will get nothing but smiles, nods and hospitality from the Africans, because the Africans are unfailingly hospitable and polite even to those who disagree with them, but that is all they will get. Come October and they will learn just how far off base they have been, and by next February they will be crying in their empty cupcakes. But no one can say they were never warned.

By R. Albert Mohler Jr. | Louisville, Ky. (BP) In this strange postmodern age, heretics find themselves in a very strange predicament. Various skeptics, revisionists, liberal theorists and atheists have been undermining the faith for more than a century. By this time, virtually every heresy has been expounded by numerous proponents. The creative heretic of the contemporary age has to come up with some new angle or bizarre new theory to promote. Nevertheless, never discount the diabolical ingenuity of those who intend to subvert biblical truth and the Christian faith. The latest evidence of the heretical imagination comes from Professor Theodore W. Jennings Jr. of Chicago Theological Seminary. Just when you think you've encountered just about every possible heresy, along comes something so shocking that it demands painful attention. In "The Man Jesus Loved: Homoerotic Narratives From the New Testament," Ted Jennings argues not only that Jesus approved of same-sex relationships -- but that He was involved in one. Jennings explains that his book is "an attempt to carefully and patiently explore texts from the Gospels that suggest something about Jesus' own erotic attachments and the attitude toward same-sex relationships that may be fairly extrapolated from the traditions about Jesus." He admits that his argument "departs from what has been the norm of discussion." That qualifies as a disingenuous understatement. What Jennings proposes is a radical re-reading of the New Testament material in order to claim Jesus not only as a proponent of the homosexual movement but as a man involved in homoerotic relationships. He intends to appropriate the Bible for a "gay-positive perspective." Of course, the Bible contains explicit statements condemning homosexual activity in all forms. Jennings explains that the biblical material dealing with homosexuality can be reduced to five texts -- two verses from Leviticus and three from the New Testament. Liberal theologians determined to find support for theological behavior must deal with these specific texts, and Jennings acknowledges that these texts seem "to require additional work." Additional work, indeed. What Jennings proposes is to ignore those specific texts and to jump over the entire argument by appealing to an absurd reading of the entire New Testament for evidence justifying homoerotic relationships and attraction. Jennings, a United Methodist, argues that his approach is "pro-gay" rather than defensive in dealing with the biblical texts. Reading the Old Testament, he finds parallels in the relationship between Jonathan and David or Ruth and Naomi. The biblical texts should be read "from the perspective of a contemporary gay or clear sensibility." He explains: "Here the aim is to discover how the text appears when it is read from a standpoint affirmative of gay or queer reality -- that is, what the text means now, when viewed from this perspective." Those unfamiliar with the bizarre science of liberal theology and modern biblical studies may be unfamiliar with the way the post-Christian scholars approach the text. Rather than dealing with the text as it is given and clearly intended to be understood, they look for hidden "strategies" by which the text can be read to mean the opposite of what it clearly states. Anyone reading the Bible in an honest and straightforward manner will come face to face with the reality that the Bible communicates an unequivocal and clear message concerning homosexuality. The Bible not only condemns same-sex attraction and acts but also explains that the whole complex of homosexuality is a form of direct rebellion against God's Word and God's design in creation. But Theodore Jennings and others like him will have nothing to do with this unmistakable truth. Jennings teaches at Chicago Theological Seminary in the field of biblical and constructive theology. He is also credited with being a founder of their gay and lesbian studies program. But even in this company Jennings presents a radical argument. The concept of a homosexual Jesus has been promoted by peripheral figures such as playwright Terrence McNally in his infamous 1998 play "Corpus Christi" and Robert Williams, the late Episcopal priest ordained by Bishop John Shelby Spong. Jennings is the first to argue for Jesus' participation in homoerotic relationships from within the mainstream academy. In order to make his case, Jennings turns especially to the Gospel of John and to its author, described as the disciple "whom Jesus loved." Jennings turns this into an assertion of homosexual attachment and relationship. Jesus, explains Jennings, was "fundamentally critical of marriage and family values." This, he says, "may be heard as good news by those who are regularly denigrated because their very existence is regarded as a threat to 'family values.'" In order to justify homosexual relationships, Jennings also must sever sex from procreation. As a matter of fact, Jennings accuses the church of linking sexuality and procreation in a way that distorts true humanity. "The realignment of sexuality and procreation together with the extreme suspicion that tradition has directed against the sexual sphere has produced the monstrosity that is traditional Christian sexual ethics." Clearly, Jennings' obscene theory is the monstrosity. His book is not only an assault upon traditional Christian sexual ethics, but upon the person of Jesus Christ. His work is properly identified as heresy because it is explicit denial of the true humanity and true deity of Christ. We should note that the publication in this book tells us as much about the world of liberal theological education as it does about Professor Jennings and his demented agenda. Chicago Theological Seminary is affiliated with the United Church of Christ, a denomination that grew out of American Congregationalism and has been on a steady march leftward over the last half century or more. Professor Jennings and his horribly offensive new book are prime exhibits of the anti-Christian ideologies accepted by the theological left and its fellow travelers. Determined to undermine Christianity at every turn, liberal theology is losing its mind. R. Albert Mohler Jr. is president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.

By Pat Hurst, PA News. 8/1/2004 A new Archbishop of York must stand firm on the divisive issue of gay clergy, traditionalists in the Church of England said today. The present Archbishop David Hope famously described his own sexuality as a "grey area" when confronted by Peter Tatchell's gay right's group Outrage. Crucially for the church he also said he led a celibate life. At the time he was the Bishop of London and the leading opponent of women priests. He went on to become the Archbishop of York. Today Reverend Rod Thomas, a spokesman for Reform, an evangelical group on the traditional wing of the Church opposed to gay priests, said: "He was someone who played to different parts of the church. He has a slightly mixed history. What is crucial is not looking back but looking forwards. In many ways the out going Archbishop has been a friend to evangelicals and to anybody that believes in orthodox Christian church. The question for the future is, who will succeed him? It is vital the person who succeeds him clearly stands by the authority of the bible." Richard Kirker, a spokesman for Lesbian and Gay Christians, said: "I think his contribution has been ambiguous at best." Mr Kirker, a former curate in the Church of England, said the appointment of the next archbishop may be a liberal in the same way of thinking as the current Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. "It is widely believed that David Hope was largely responsible for Rowan Williams' appointment and got his way. I think that if Rowan Williams were now to find that his number two was antagonistic towards opening up these issues then he would be put in a very difficult position. The Archbishop of Canterbury would not be well served by David Hope's successor being a person with any homophobic views. He would have to be a masochist to wish to have as his closest working colleague someone who fundamentally disagreed with him."

ARCHBISHOP 'TO RETURN TO PARISH' BBC News The Church of England's second most senior bishop has resigned and will return to being a parish priest. Dr. David Hope, who has been Archbishop of York for nine years, will be invested in a more junior role by one of his own bishops in March 2005. The archbishop will swap his palace in York and a £60,000 salary for the rectory at St Margaret's, in Ilkley near Bradford, and just £18,500-a-year. But Dr. Hope insisted he won't miss any of the luxuries of a bishop's life. He told BBC News he felt it was time to move on. He said: "It has been something that has been rumbling around in my mind and heart for a couple of years. "I will have done nearly 20 years as a bishop. It is the sort of time that you ought to be moving on." During his time as archbishop Dr. Hope has aligned himself with traditionalists in the Anglican church. He has opposed the ordination of women and has warned that the internet could limit human interactions. He said St Margaret's in Ilkley, a town of around 5,500 people, was attractive to him because of the "traditional values" of its people. "Clearly I sympathise with their background. I'm looking forward to it. It is clearly a change and a challenge," he said. "I thought it would be good to conclude my ministry where I began - as a parish priest," he added. Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams described Dr. Hope as "unfailingly effective" and "one of God's great gifts to the church". Dr. Williams said: "In every post he has filled he has brought to bear a deep common sense, a complete unpompous attitude, a ready sympathy for all and an irrepressible dead-pan humour. "I shall miss him more than I can easily say, as a colleague whose wise advice and constant support have made a huge difference to my own ministry." He added: "Everyone in the Church of England will want to wish him all good things in the next stage of his ministry." BBC correspondent Jane Little said Dr. Hope has made no secret of his desire to return to what he has called the "real ministry" of parish practice. She said: "Dr. Hope, as an opponent of women priests, has had the support of traditionalists within the church and some have seen him as a counterweight to the more liberal Archbishop of Canterbury. His departure could not come at a more sensitive time for the embattled church." Dr. Hope, 64, can continue as a parish priest until the age of 70.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Three major events shook the life of the Anglican Communion this week. The first was the announcement that Dan England, Director of Communications for the national Episcopal Church suddenly, and unexpectedly resigned. There had been no inkling of this. An official statement put out by Pat Mordecai at the church's headquarters said it was for "personal reasons." Griswold said that "the creative initiatives begun by Dan England during his approximately four years on the staff have been much appreciated and will continue to serve our ongoing communications efforts." His position will go temporarily to Robert Williams a homosexual from California who directs the Episcopal News Service and oversees media relations for the Episcopal Church. He will assume the title of Acting Director of Communications. But his departure immediately triggered speculation by the American Anglican Council who put out a press release, IS THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH LEADERSHIP IN DISARRAY? "Does Mr. England's resignation signal an acknowledgement that the approach chosen by ECUSA has proven ineffective, unsuccessful or even a complete failure? Does Mr. England's resignation indicate that the leadership of ECUSA is questioning its own direction, decisions and leadership? Did he in fact 'resign'?" Ironically part of Mr. England's job description was to deal with Internet communication which had gotten away from the revisionist leadership of the Episcopal Church. Griswold had moaned on several occasions about so called Internet communicators that were harming ECUSA's cause. The Presiding Bishop had obliquely attacked Virtuosity for its ability to get the word out about what ECUSA's revisionists are really doing to its faithful orthodox parishes and rectors in America, and clearly England had failed to dent this news ministry. Is the Episcopal Church leadership actually in serious disarray, and can ECUSA no longer afford to denigrate the voice of the Communion? Is 815 merely shifting the deck chairs on the Titanic? We will know more in time. An orthodox bishop who agreed to speak to Virtuosity on grounds of anonymity said England, who was a Baptist, was always friendly to the orthodox bishops, and there had been a very definite and growing friction between the official policies post general convention and the communications director. The bishop said that England was more on the conservative side of things and talked about marriage being exclusively between a man and a woman. I am not totally surprised he left, said the bishop. Attempts to reach England by this writer were unsuccessful. THE SECOND BOMBSHELL came late Friday night when a two-page letter was faxed to Virtuosity by a Nigerian priest in the US. The letter was a stunning rebuke by Nigerian Primate Peter Akinola of Dr. Rowan Williams over the appointment of yet another white male, and liberal at that, to the Anglican Communion Office in London to replace Canon John Peterson when, according to Akinola, there are any number of qualified Global South persons who would have been better suited for the job, and one who would have better reflected their theological outlook. Akinola was particularly incensed, accusing the Archbishop of "marginalizing and treating as irrelevant a very large segment of the Anglican Communion." Now Virtuosity has learned that Canon Kenneth Kearon, Director of the Irish School of Ecumenics, Trinity College Dublin who will succeed Canon John L. Peterson as general secretary of the ACC is from the same liberal school when it comes to homosexual behavior. In an interview with BBC in Northern Ireland Canon Kearon said sex had been individualized and commercialized, but the Christian tradition said much about sexuality in relationship that would "resonate with many others". He did not explain what he meant by "many others." Gays perhaps? Furthermore he did not publicly repudiate homosexual behavior, a failure that could rebound on both him and the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Global South Bishops and orthodox bishops of the West have publicly repudiated this behavior both at the 1998 Lambeth Conference and in subsequent primatial statements. One wonders how long all this can go on for. The deliberate snubbing of the Global South by Williams in this recent appointment; the deliberate effort to put Canon Jeffrey John, an openly gay man into a place of serious leadership in the Church of England; the consecration of a sodomite to the episcopacy in the US, and on and on it goes. There has to be an end to all this. Clearly the Global South and those orthodox remnants in the West are waiting on pins and needles for the Lambeth Commission to deliver itself of a verdict on Western revisionism, and Irish Primate Robin Eames will not be able to charm this one away. A British observer said his sticky fingers were all over the new ACC appointment in London. Why are we not surprised? THE THIRD BOMBSHELL came this week when the Church of England Evangelical Council made a submission to the Lambeth (Eames) Commission detailing a carefully reasoned, closely argued condemnation of recent theological and moral innovations in the US, Canada and the UK. By acting now the CEEC has adopted a first strike policy, retaliating quickly before the liberals swing into action. This group, like REFORM and others have seen what has happened in the ECUSA by waiting too long, prevaricating and trying to cut deals with revisionists. They know it won't work and so they are getting their oar in first and quickly. British Evangelicals also have another advantage. They are the largest, most powerful and richest segment of the Church of England and they can withhold money to make their point. And this week Britain's evangelicals intensified their battle over homosexuality by calling on hundreds of parishes to reject the spiritual authority of liberal bishops. REFORM the conservative evangelical network, announced plans for a national campaign in the statement to its 1,700 members. The group called on parishes to test whether their diocesan bishops held "orthodox" beliefs on homosexuality. If their bishops' views proved unacceptable, they were urged to declare themselves in "impaired communion" and to cap their contributions. The bottom line is that an apostate church that will not listen to its members voices will eventually hear from their pocketbooks. The Reform statement warned that the crisis would deepen if the Lambeth Commission failed to avert schism. IN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH USA the beat goes on in various dioceses across the country. In the DIOCESE OF CONNECTICUT, the Bishop Andrew Smith, is ratcheting up the pain on half a dozen orthodox parishes that won't fall into line with his revisionist agenda. Conform or get out, he says. You can read that story today. One church, St. Paul's Darien, is one of the ECUSA's church's largest evangelical/charismatic churches. If he blows them off it will be a signal that charismatics have no future in the ECUSA. It is interesting to note that as ECUSA's revisionist bishops lower the theological standards and accept looser morals they are tightening up by using the church's canons and constitutions to keep their priests in line. Can one imagine for a moment that that is how Jesus would operate? Increasingly the ECUSA House of Bishops is like the "Top Gun" school for bores. It takes people who have certain natural facilities for pomposity, dresses them in purple, and turns them, by putting them in small groups at general conventions, into weapons of mass narcolepsy. In the DIOCESE OF SOUTHERN VIRGINIA, the rector and congregation of Grace Episcopal Church, Newport News, left The Episcopal Church. The Rev. R. Bolling "Bo" Bryant, the rector, and the wardens said they now wanted to be under the authority of the Anglican Mission in America. "Therefore, it is with a heavy heart that we the Rector and Vestry of Grace Church do resign as the official governing body of this parish and sever our connections with the Episcopal Church USA," they wrote the bishop. Reached for comment, "Bo" Bryant told Virtuosity that the parting from the diocese and the Bishop, David C. Bane, Jr. was amicable with the bishop declaring, "I want you to know that the people of Grace Church have been incredibly gentle, caring, and compassionate in this difficult process. They realize and fully accept that the physical property belongs to the Diocese of Southern Virginia and are doing everything within their power to insure that there is an orderly transition that reflects the fact that all of us are disciples of Jesus Christ. As difficult as this situation is I ask that you keep Bo and the people of the congregation in your prayer." The church, all 100 percent, walked out leaving the keys at the front door. They had no endowment. Word has it that a black church group will probably buy the building. Score another loss for revisionism. In the DIOCESE OF COLORADO a newspaper article provoked a heated debate between an orthodox priest and the head of the Diocesan Standing Committee with charges being traded about the cause for the potential closure of two parishes reported in the secular press. Money and bad theology is at the heart of the problem. And a lay person in the DIOCESE OF COLORADO, Deb Tenney who is involved with Communion Laity and Clergy of Colorado, A Voice for Orthodox Episcopalians, wrote Virtuosity to say that Bishop Rob O'Neill told her that he would not allow her to purchase ad space in the Episcopalian to publish the short article below on the Communion Laity and Clergy "because he considers us an Episcopal parachurch group such as a pro-life or an environmental group who also would not make the editor's cut. Publishing our article under any circumstances was a precedent he did not want to set. At the last CLC meeting we decided to contact all the orthodox clergy and ask their assistance in passing the word of our existence along to the more remote Episcopal members of our state. Now that need is even more critical." Fascism with a smiley, revisionist face. Here is what she wrote that the bishop wouldn't allow to be published: "The Episcopal Church is known for its divergent and tolerant views; however, the decisions of General Convention 2003 have pushed liberal theology too far to the left for thousands of Colorado Episcopalians. Those who wholeheartedly embrace the traditional practice of our faith as handed down from Scripture and the church fathers and as outlined in the Book of Common Prayer and its Thirty-nine Articles have taken a stand against the current liberal trends to discount Scripture and endorse same sex relationships. Here in Colorado, the orthodox presence is organized as Communion Laity and Clergy of Colorado. It was formed by Episcopalians from across Colorado who felt called to be the voice for orthodox believers. Its mission is to encourage orthodox Episcopalians and support orthodox ministry and leadership in this diocese. It is important to note the focus of the Communion Laity and Clergy is not to be against any group; but rather, it is to stand firm in the faith as understood by the vast majority of the Anglican Communion and other Christians around the world. The Communion Laity and Clergy accomplishes this mission by focusing on five areas: Communication, Education, Leadership, Fellowship, and most of all, Prayer. Since forming at the end of last year, the Communion Laity and Clergy has sponsored a conference at Christ Church Denver in February. There is now regional leadership in place in these areas: Denver/Central; Ft Collins/North; South; Mountain; and Western Slope. As this regional concept matures, there will be numerous opportunities for fellowship and encouragement, for orthodox education, and for worship. The Communion Laity and Clergy has developed an email list serve to provide news and state updates on the committee's work to its subscribers. If you would like to be included, please contact Fr. Eric Zolner at ezolner@adelphia.net." And in the DIOCESE OF CENTRAL GULF COAST, a book written by the Rev. Dr. David McDowell-Fleming outlines why a diocese can get into trouble. His book The Deconstruction of a Diocese, How Defensive Responses and Controlling Personal Agendas lay the Groundwork for a Schism in the Church, is an excellent read. The Episcopal Church's official homosexual organization Integrity is hopping mad these days. Their financial support of $30,000 to the Uganda chapter has gone. Integrity-Uganda is no more. The Ugandans saw the light and gave the whole operation over to the new archbishop who will have nothing to do with sodomy. Integrity lost a small bundle. And from the DIOCESE OF TENNESSEE, the Rt. Rev. Bert Herlong writes in the Jul/Aug 2004 issue of the Cross and Crozier that it is not news to anyone that there continues to be significant fallout and disruption in the Episcopal Church from the actions of the 74th General Convention. "Laity and clergy are continuing to react in ways that demonstrate their dissatisfaction. Then, of course, there is an equal and opposite reaction by those who disagree with them, contributing to the continuing unrest." You can read his full statement today. This writer has had occasion to bump into Bishop Herlong at two recent events and I can assure you this bishop is made of the right stuff. He is tough and unyielding in dealing with revisionists in his diocese. He could teach some of the fence sitters a lesson. He brushes off threats of a presentment. "Let em try," he says. "I'm ready." Making their way across the African continent looking for love and understanding are three Episcopalians including two bishops, John Lipscomb of the DIOCESE OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, Ted Daniels, Assistant Bishop of the DIOCESE OF TEXAS and Titus Pressler Dean of the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest. They say they have no agenda; they are just out there promoting "conversation," "listening" and "being vulnerable", the liberal trinity of ECUSA's Vain Hopes. These are all favorite buzzwords of men with little or no theology or understanding of what the Africans really believe in and won't compromise on. Oh God, how much more of this rubbish do we have to listen to or put up with? They are wasting their time and our money. They could stay at home and read Virtuosity for free to know what the Africans believe and think, and they could send the plane fare to Africa to fight AIDS. AND A VIRTUOSITY NUMBERS CRUNCHER came up with this little item. The 74% of bishops who voted for Quincy Bishop Keith Ackerman's GC Resolution B001 affirming basic doctrines of the faith voted AGAINST Robinson. 92% of those who voted against B001, voted for Robinson. The correlation is plain to see -- orthodoxy produces orthopraxis and vice versa. Why are we not surprised. According to the current issue of "First Things", no one is to be ordained in the Church of Sweden unless he (or she) supports the ordination of women. In response, the presiding bishop of the Lutheran Church in Kenya has indicated his willingness "on the basis of emergency legitimacy set forth in the Lutheran Confessions" to ordain men in Sweden who object to WO. "As Lutherans," he says, "we must recognize that this kind of calling comes from the Head of the Church himself. Who dares disobey him?" The Kenyan bishop is quoted as referring to WO as "this Gnostic novelty that is obviously claiming, not only autocracy in the church, but tyranny, since it cannot tolerate even minimal coexistence with classical Christianity." And in Honolulu this week the American Psychological Association's Council of Representatives backed gay marriage. The nation's largest association of psychologists made its support official at the first day of the group's annual convention in Waikiki. The council also expressed opposition to discrimination against lesbian and gay parents. It also found same-sex and heterosexual couples remarkably similar, and parenting effectiveness and children's psychological well-being unrelated to parental sexual orientation. The positions, drawn up by the APA Working Group on Same-Sex Families and Relationships, are meant to guide psychologists in the public debate over civil marriage for same-sex couples. But an orthodox Episcopal psychiatrist in South Carolina retorted that the American Psychiatric Association has not stooped that low. He wrote Virtuosity to say that the American Psychiatric Association has never said homosexuality is good or right. "The only official thing they ever did on homosexuality was to say they were not going to consider it a medical issue, and I agree with them. Homosexuality is like adultery - it's a wrongful behavior; neither homosexuality nor adultery is a disease, and if a person is drawn to either of those behaviors, I doubt a doctor is the best place to seek help from." QED. AND A STUDY ON SEXUALITY is scheduled to come t

Special Report By David W. Virtue ALEXANDRIA--The first ALPHA conference to be held on Arab soil took place in March with more than 300 church leaders participating from numerous countries across the region, according to the May-July Alpha News, the official news organ of Alpha. The occasion was hosted by the Anglican Bishop of Egypt and North Africa, Dr. Mouneer Anis, who told the conference, "This Alpha course is a tool in the hand of the Holy Spirit to transform lives - many, many lives." "The Alpha course can reach nominal Christians who don't go to any church in Egypt. Try it, and it will bear fruit." The Anglican bishop warned church leaders that welcoming newcomers may lead to tough choices for existing congregations - and he recommended that they tell their church council. "When you start Alpha, youth will come to your church. They will come with their problems. They will come with clapping and noise." The bishop said it was worth it. "If you have new people, we have to open our arms to them. We need to leave space for them in our worship." A Christian youth leader in Alexandria, Mikhail Farid Wahby said that he was greatly encouraged by Bishop Mouneer three years ago to implement Alpha. "I can say that every time we ran an Alpha course, it's a real blessing. Don't put obstacles in your way before you start - just start and you will learn from that point." A team from Holy Trinity, Brompton, the home of Alpha, included Nicky Gumbel and assistant pastor Archie Coates. END

By Bonnie J. Fisco You scramble to agree on an Oversight Plan that will enable you to stay in the Episcopal Church. You have identified yourself as "conservative". Well, I ask you this.... Would Jesus or Paul or Peter or any one of the apostles describe themselves as "conservative"? Webster says conservative is "tending to oppose change." "Cautious and restrained". The church of Jesus Christ is militant, opposing the enemies of God in constant spiritual warfare. We are Christian soldiers who are not timid about carrying the cross of our Lord, Jesus Christ until He comes. And what about your frantic struggle to obtain "Alternate Oversight" so that you can remain in the Episcopal Church that has become exceedingly corrupt over the past years. The sin of the Anglican Communion and the Episcopal Church far exceeds the single issue of ordaining a homosexual Bishop. This is a manifestation of its most egregious sin, which is its lack of faith. The Church is willing to revise the truth for the sake of unity. The Episcopal Church is puffed up and proud about what it is doing. It is lifted up by tolerance, prideful about its inclusivity, pleased with itself for celebrating and accepting that which God has clearly revealed is disgusting to His own heart. The Church has revised and interpreted scripture that has sustained us and fed us for thousands of years. She has arrogantly challenged His word with as much deceit and cunning as Satan when he said to Adam and Eve, "Yea, Hath God said ye shall not?" The church uses words such as dialog, conversation, inclusiveness, tolerance, compromise, celebrate, and acceptance to define her plans, purposes, and very nature. The Episcopal Church has re-defined sexual activities that are spoken of by God as abominations as loving and committed relationships and has tried to re-interpret scripture to answer the needs of a fleshly, pragmatic and Me-First Generation. But in the Episcopal Church and yea, even revealed in the writings of Archbishop Rowan Williams, there is no toleration for the Word of God. Its "Inclusivity" has left TRUTH knocking at its door and it cannot get in. There is no celebration or joy over a loving and committed relationship with Scripture. There is no acceptance of the New Covenant, and Scripture is no longer exalted and extolled as being the absolute and unchanging Word of God. The only conversation and dialog that takes place in the Church is designed to change the hearts and minds of the people to agree with their own perversities. With smooth words and silken tones, the Church leadership has taught and seduced the people to commit fornication with a higher degree of expertise than Ahab's Jezebel. And to my beloved brethren, I say this: "Scramblers" You make haste to negotiate a Delegated Episcopal Oversight (DEPO) but fail to see and perceive that you already have the most excellent and perfect oversight. He is among you now. Don't you recognize him? The one who shed His blood on Calvary's hill is the Bishop and Shepherd of our souls and He is our oversight. He is the High Priest of all Ordinations. He is the one who consecrates. He is our Mentor and our Teacher, and yes, even our Boss. And His visitation is Unscheduled. Where two or three are gathered in His name, He has promised to be in our midst. What a perfect visitation schedule is that! You scramble for Alternate Oversight in order to keep your place in the Anglican Communion which is become as a "harlot". Your faith is misplaced. You are putting your trust in a DEPO Plan while you ignore what is already yours. I see you as children in the market place. He has mourned for you, and He has danced for you, but you would not have it. Are your eyes upon the prize? And, again, when asked why you don't leave the Episcopal Church, you say: "Where would I go?" Don't you trust the same God that leads you each day can keep you and deliver you from this unholy alliance with the Anglican Communion? Don't you trust that He will direct your path if you acknowledge Him in all your ways? And cannot God bring you to another place? What about Abram when God called him out of the land of Ur to a place He would show him? What about Noah when he and his family closed the doors on the ark and they didn't know where they would be going? What about the Hebrew Children when they left Egypt? Were they sure about where they were going? And what about the apostles when they left Jerusalem to preach God's word to all the earth? And what about Paul when He left his home and suffered throughout all of Asia Minor to preach the word? And why do you, "Pilgrim", think there should be an itinerary for you, or a place for you to nest, or a special church name to keep you safe? Cannot the same God that called you to belong to Him lead you onward to your eternal home? Jesus said that the birds of the air have nests and the foxes have holes, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. Why should it be better and more comfortable for you? Can you identify with the souls that went before you and never lived to see the promise, but left their homes and families to follow Christ and the commandment of the Father? Do you trust Him who is able to deliver you and keep you? This is FAITH. (Action, based upon belief, sustained by confidence). And what happens to a church that has lost its "faith"? The Church will not preach the whole word of God. It will not want to "offend" anyone and thus will not allow the whole Word of God to be taught among the people. It will not identify with the words of Paul who spoke boldly to the Christians at Galatia... "do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10) The church will continue to rationalize and compromise truth for the sake of "staying with the buildings" to its own final destruction. And the church will continue to bow before the altar of "toleration and compromise." Hate Crimes Legislation, enacted in the State of Connecticut in May 2004 to include gender-based crimes, will soon work to silence the truth of God's word in our churches. Some churches have already been involved in litigation concerning homosexuality and its Biblical references being taught from the pulpit. There will be a "gag order" imposed by Federal and State legislators and courts to prevent Churches from offering the hope Christ offers homosexuals to turn from their perverse desires and be transformed by the renewing of their minds by the power of the Word of God. This will be labeled as "hate-speak" and discrimination against the "gay lifestyle" and will be the subject of many lawsuits. Because of these lawsuits, or the potential for them, the church could be sued, and eventually closed for lack of funds. The church will scramble to get insurance policies to protect them against these suits. There are two churches in Pennsylvania that are seeking to obtain this insurance today. They are Episcopal Churches. And when such cases occur, the pre-requisite for getting this coverage will be mandated by the State Insurance Commission. The church will have to submit to the insuring agency by taking part in seminars and programs. Anyone that teaches or has a position of leadership in the Church will have to prove that they have taken a class in Diversity Training, Anti-Violence and Discrimination Training, and possibly Sensitivity training in order to assure the agency that we know how to treat homosexual people. Of course this training will be based upon the values and truths held by the insuring agency, and the State and not the values based upon "Thus Saith The Word Of God". This is not much different than the seminars that are held now in order to have the church insured against lawsuits concerning "child abuse" or other sexually oriented events that may take place in the church. The church will be taught, instructed, and judged by the world! It will continue to give itself over to the worldly powers. And once again, the church will bow at an altar, but this time before the government. This lack of faith leads to the worst kind of idolatry. But, WHO do you trust? The world, the government, the church leaders, the insurance policies, alternate oversight? Do you scramble in fear, not knowing or believing in His power to save you? And you say, "Where would we go?" Shouldn't you be more terrified about where you would STAY? Don't be afraid of where you'll go. Be of good courage. It is my most heartfelt prayer that you will quickly acknowledge the oversight that you already have in Christ Jesus, trust Him with your whole being and let Him lead you out from among them. There is no fellowship, no respect, no friendship with those that are the enemies of God. Yes, I feel angry toward the Bishop. A perfect anger rooted in my love for His Word. Put your trust totally in Him and He will direct your path. Bonnie J. Fisco has attended Christ & The Epiphany Church in East Haven, CT since 1997. She recently left the church with a number of other Episcopalians two months ago and has formed a small group where they are studying the Scriptures discerning God's will for their future. END

By Bucky Chapman Rome News-Tribune Staff Writer 07/30/04 Imagine walking into an Episcopal Church and seeing kids learning how to pray to Allah. Kids and adults got the chance to learn about different faiths this week at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Rome during Vacation Bible School with a twist. This year the church taught their members, and members of other congregations, about other faiths and how they relate to Christianity. The World Peace Village looked at Islam on Thursday night. The week-long event also investigated Buddhism, Native American beliefs, Hinduism, Judaism and briefly touched on Christianity. "It's a study to promote peace and understanding and tolerance of other beliefs," said Wanda Hodges, coordinator of the event. Kids were taught that the "Golden Rule" of treating others how you would want to be treated applies to all six religions. "The Islamic faith has respect for all religions," said Widad Akrayee, a Kurd whose family fled Northern Iraq in 1996. She was joined by her daughter-in-law, Hileen Akrayee, who showed the kids how to use a prayer rug. She also explained that Muslims stop to pray several times each day. Widad Akrayee also spoke about how many of the differences between religions are manmade. "We are all created by one god, and only one belief," she said. For each night, food was made associated with that night's religion. The food served Thursday was Fool Ma' Rizz Rice, pumice and pita bread, and apple blossom punch. Following dinner, adults attended a discussion led by Rob Nash, dean of the school of religion at Shorter College. "It's been a meaningful experience for a congregation to open to other religions," said Nash, "simply for what they are, and not evangelizing but understanding." Nash discussed the ideals of monotheism in Islam and how it relates to other religions. While the adult discussion was going on, one group of kids made prayer mats made of burlap, another group learned about Ramadan, a Muslim holy celebration that includes fasting, and a third group were learning a mixture of songs from the six religions. "It was a new experience..." said Alexandra Carlton, 9. "It was fun hearing stories, singing songs and doing the crafts." END

Daniel B. England has resigned as Director of Communication for personal reasons. The Presiding Bishop has accepted his resignation, which is effective immediately. Bishop Griswold said that "the creative initiatives begun by Dan England during his approximately four years on the staff have been much appreciated and will continue to serve our ongoing communications efforts." The process toward naming a successor in accordance with the procedures of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society has begun, and a position announcement will be posted in early September. Bishop Griswold has asked Robert Williams, who directs the Episcopal News Service and oversees media relations for the Episcopal Church, to assume the title of Acting Director of Communication. Prior to coming to the Episcopal Church Center, Williams was Director of Communication for the Diocese of Los Angeles. Bishop Griswold said: "Those overseeing the various aspects of our communications work are seasoned professionals, and I am confident that our programs will continue to develop in ways that serve the growing needs of our church."

By Associated Press CONCORD — Unable to accept their bishop's homosexuality, some Episcopalians have left their church. To others, Gene Robinson's consecration last year served as a powerful magnet. "It was a very strong symbol to us of the inclusiveness of the Episcopal Church, and that is important to us," said Martha McCabe. McCabe of Bow said she left the Catholic Church over the priest sex abuse scandal. She and her husband, who was raised a Methodist, had started looking at other denominations for a church their family could attend. Robinson's consecration drew them in as it did Maria Easton of Hillsboro. Easton had stopped coming to the church, but returned after Robinson became bishop. Her sister is gay, which made the decision personal. "For me, it was really a reminder of one of the things I like so much about the church: its inclusiveness," she said. "I always loved the fact that women could be leaders in the Episcopal Church." Church officials say they don't have a count, but they don't think a large number have joined because of Robinson. "It's a mix," said the Rev. David Jones, rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Concord. "Some are old members who have just started attending again. Others have never been to the Episcopal Church or to church at all." Robinson's election and consecration last year as the Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire caused a stir inside and outside the Anglican community. Religious leaders and church-goers in several denominations denounced the move and said it would cause the church to split. So far, about nine of the country's 107 dioceses and more than 30 congregations have joined the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes, a traditionalist group opposed to Robinson's consecration. Members of the Church of the Redeemer in Rochester cut ties to the diocese and now hold services in the basement of a nearby Baptist church. A small group continues to meet every Sunday at the Church of the Redeemer and several faces are new. April Pirsig of Dover has been attending services for a month, ever since the majority left. Raised a Lutheran, Pirsig had attended Unitarian churches for years, but decided to start attending the Episcopal Church to show support for Robinson. Last week, she filled out a card to become a member. Pirsig says the furor over Robinson is a growing pain similar to the outrage over women becoming ministers. "It makes me angry that people would leave the church over something like this," Pirsig said. "As far as I'm concerned, it's the kind of attitude that goes back to the Civil War, when blacks weren't considered real people, or women weren't allowed to do certain things." Years ago, her mother was forced to give up her position as a Lutheran pastor when it was discovered she was gay. "To me, it doesn't make any sense," said Pirsig. "God loves all his children. I've never seen it written, 'Unless they're bisexual or gay.'" McCabe said she definitely likes what she's seen of Robinson. As far as she's concerned, he is a quintessential spiritual leader: wise and thoughtful, kind and well-spoken. "I think people's obsession with his homosexuality is so out of proportion it borders on ridiculous," she said. END

Other Rectors Weigh Options By David W. Virtue SAGINAW, MI (7/24/2004) — Three biblically orthodox rectors in the Flint River Convocation (Deanery), in the Diocese of Eastern Michigan, angry and disappointed by the church's consecration of an openly homoerotic non-celibate bishop, the affirmation of same-sex blessings and other doctrinal innovations, have resigned from their parishes and one has renounced his orders in the Episcopal Church. Their departure will leave hundreds of parishioners rootless, without spiritual direction and nurture and with a theologically and morally flawed revisionist bishop in the person of Ed Leidel who voted for Robinson's consecration and who favors same-sex blessings. "It's a disaster," said one of the priests, "the bishop has no idea what he is doing. He just doesn't get it. This is a new diocese and he is its first bishop. He will probably be its last. There is no future here. No gospel is being proclaimed, and in time it will all die. The diocese was formed in the Nineties and already has financial problems." What doubly angered the priests was that Leidel allowed a non-celibate gay man and his partner to come in as an interim priest at St. Jude's in Fenton, Michigan. "We were betrayed, the bishop lied to us. He said he would never do that," they said. Then he did. The three priests are the Rev. Dr. Greg Tournoux, Christ Church, Owosso; the Rev. Dave Kulchar, Trinity Church, Flushing; and the Rev. Scott Danforth, St. Dunstan's, Davison. The priests who spoke to Virtuosity represent one third of the Flint River Convocation of nine parishes. The rectors are young, and while each is in a different space with regard to how they have acted and their future plans, the Robinson consecration was the last line in the sand for the three men. "We struggled as to whether we should remain in the ECUSA," they told Virtuosity. In the end they resigned. The Rev. Dave Kulchar, 46, of Trinity Church, Flushing, took a three month sabbatical and his parish is discerning their future. "I was told by Leidel that if I spoke to my parish about realignment I would be brought up on charges and that DEPO was not an option." This week Fr. Kulchar was inhibited by Leidel because he would not pledge loyalty to the bishop. Deposition, though not automatic, could follow. "In a season of divided loyalties, you would have thought he could have adopted a 'don't ask don't tell' policy until we heard from the international community. This means I cannot do marriages, funerals, supply, preach or in any way represent myself as a priest according to his letter. I am a PBS (Priest in Bad Standing). That is the pastoral response to those who are walking away from the church? Fortunately the Kingdom and our God is bigger than human institutions. I am now forced to look to the Network for foreign oversight or go the way of the AMIA. For one who wanted to hang in there with other orthodox folks as long as possible I was pushed out." Kulchar who recently ended a 3-month sabbatical to discern his future says his congregation has been torn apart by the actions of their bishop. "I saw an early copy of the DEPO document before it came out, and I did not see DEPO as being a viable alternative," Kulchar told Virtuosity. "Leidel asked me if I saw this diocese as being hostile, and I said not up to this point. But then Leidel said that if a priest even speaks about DEPO he will be deposed. How does he know what the priest wants to do if there is no free choice?" Kulchar, who resigned June 1, had been asked by orthodox parishes to do supply work, but Leidel requested a loyalty pledge. Kulchar refused. "It is a season of divided loyalties, and my hope was that grace would be given till we heard from the Lambeth Commission, and I had hoped to serve those people in the interim. Leidel refused." Kulchar said he briefly did supply work till he was inhibited by Leidel. Said Leidel, "The canons require the Standing Committee give their advice and consent...after reading your e-mail, they did not give their consent on the grounds that you are not willing to uphold your ordination vows and obey and be loyal to the bishop." Kulchar said his former parish had 70 souls but it was now down to 30. Over 80 percent opposed the Robinson consecration but they were divided over an appropriate response. "I said we needed to align ourselves with the Network and apply for DEPO. He could not get consensus. I felt in my conscience I should resign and try and be pastoral as well." The priest said his future was uncertain but he intended to stay and live in Flushing, Michigan. "What the bishop has done to Fr. Kulchar is utterly despicable and immoral," said Fr. Gene Geromel of St. Bartholomew's in Swartz Creek. "Here is a priest who served Leidel well and at this point he is going after Kulchar's livelihood. The priest has children and he will not allow him to do supply work or any ministry, anywhere," he told Virtuosity. "They don't just want us to go away, they want to obliterate us," said Fr. Geromel. "It is not enough to ignore or go your separate way; it is to destroy all that we stand for and to make an example of us to others who might stand up to their agenda. Fr. Kulchar is a case in point." The Rev. Dr. Greg Tournoux, 45, rector of Christ Church Owosso, resigned for the same reasons in mid June. "General Convention's blessing of same-sex unions and Robinson's consecration was the final straw," he told Virtuosity. "We had 400 communicants with an average attendance that grew to be the largest in the diocese. Now it is dying. We were particularly successful bearing in mind that the church was in a high unemployment area." "The parish has given me a sabbatical of six months which ends in December," he told Virtuosity. "I am doing three things — spending time with my family; working on a second doctorate in Religious Studies at Trinity in Indiana; and thirdly I am seeking the Lord's direction. I want to remain a part of the one holy, catholic and apostolic church as we Anglicans have received it." Dr. Tournoux said he had been approached by four different denominations, but had not made up his mind where to go. "I am evangelical, catholic and charismatic and a member of Forward in Faith, the traditionalist wing of the Episcopal Church." Tournoux says he opposes women's ordination and is not unsympathetic with the AMIA. The rector said that his name has even been submitted for several senior positions in The Episcopal Church, including a bishopric. Tournoux said he took his congregation from 70 to 300 and he did it through establishing 30 cell groups with leadership development using three distinct Eucharistic traditions. "We were successful bearing in mind that we were located in a rural small town with an average weekly attendance of 240 and an 11 percent unemployment rate. After the Vickie Gene fiasco a trickle of people began to leave." "One thing is for sure, I won't sit around and be a leader of a morgue or mausoleum," he told Virtuosity. "I don't believe the bishop gets it. The truth is we are a small dying dysfunctional, incompetent, inept outfit. I don't want to spend the rest of my time in an organization that doesn't want to do something great for Jesus Christ," said Fr. Tournoux. "Time is short, hell is hot and the stakes are high," he said. Since departing, Tournoux said the congregation has divided up with four different responses. "One group stayed, another group left for other churches that were not Anglican, a third group left and have not found a church home, and a fourth group comprising a new leadership base have begun a new work outside of The Episcopal Church." Despite his departure, Tournoux said he was still excited about the future, "and I intend to serve in Holy Mother Church." The Rev. Scott Danforth, 51, rector of St. Dunstan's in Davison, Michigan, chose to resign and renounced his orders. He is an evangelical and charismatic from California and has been in the diocese for nine years. "I have had an ongoing frustration with the direction and theological path of the church and I saw no hope of its ever changing," he told Virtuosity. "I am looking to teach and have found a non-Anglican congregation that my family and I now attend. I have left St. Dunstan's and ECUSA." He said he plans to pursue teaching. He said General Convention was one symptom of a much larger problem that included theology, integrity and authority. "I built a solid core of lay leadership, but the church is fractured over the issues. People have taken different directions. We lost a number of people over the issues. We had up to 120 on a Sunday; it dropped to 60 but is now down around 40. The parish will continue to struggle with the unbiblical direction of the National Church as they experience depleting numbers." The priest said he was in a process of soul searching and reflection. The Rev. Steve Dewey, 55, Grace Church, LaPeer, MI, another orthodox priest in the diocese, said he was not threatening to leave ECUSA but was considering joining the Network. "Bishop Leidel said it was schismatic, but we have ceased and desisted all funding to the diocese and the national church," he told Virtuosity. He said the Diocesan Standing Committee won't harass him about money till the Archbishop of Canterbury speaks in October following the release of the Lambeth Commission report. "We are hoping and praying for the best, but planning for the worst," he said. "My parish has sent a resolution to our Diocesan Convention in October that effectively denounces the actions of Bishop Leidel to affirm the Robinson consecration and same-sex blessings. We will see how that goes." "I have 300 souls and I have to take care of all of them and while there is some division in my congregation, we will do what we have to do to proclaim the orthodox faith." Dewey said he had lost four families since the Robinson consecration. "We have done reasonably well helping people to stay on board doing something." Fr. Dewey predicts there will be a mass exodus of parishioners and priests if the decision is not to discipline the Episcopal Church. "They have denied, delayed and hoped it would all go away. There has been some success, but it won't go away; the authority of Holy Scripture is not up for negotiation." Fr. Dewey describes himself as an evangelical catholic. Both Danforth and Dewey served as deans of the diocese and were the bishop's right hand men, representing the bishop in their respective convocations, so the betrayal is particularly hurtful. Said Fr. Danforth, "We served the diocese faithfully; we gave the bishop and the diocese committed service and this fuels the irony of the whole situation." Fr. Gene Geromel, rector of St. Bartholomew's in Swartz Creek, Michigan, left the Episcopal Church over four years ago and is now an independent congregation though it remains a Forward in Faith parish. "I have not been deposed nor inhibited," he told Virtuosity. He described the departure of the parish as an exceptional circumstance, and said the bishop would never let that happen again. "I do not minister sacramentally to any Episcopalians in the Diocese of Eastern Michigan," he told Virtuosity. Leidel has allowed Bishop Keith Ackerman, Diocese of Quincy, to do confirmations, but he is not sure how much longer that will continue, he said. "We have kept our property and Bishop Ackerman has been allowed to administer, so far. We don't know what the future holds. We have also signed up to join the Network under the Forward and Faith name." Fr. Geromel said over 70% of the parishes now had fewer than 70 persons on any Sunday. He reiterated that what Leidel had done to Fr. Kulchar was indeed despicable and immoral. "They want to obliterate us. It is not enough to ignore us; it is to destroy all that we stand for and to make an example of us to others." "They use canons to see to it that they have absolute power. No Roman bishop has the power that Leidel has seen to it that he has himself. It is very clear to me that when an organization disintegrates it tightens its control. This is precisely what is going on in The Episcopal Church." Another Anglo-Catholic Episcopal priest, the Rev. Darryl Pigeon of Trinity Parish, Croswell-Lexington, has withheld contributions to the diocese and has said he would not receive communion from Leidel. Another priest who asked not to be named said that the diocese has recognized that redirecting funds has hurt them, but there was no sense of panic as yet. The diocese does not receive money to stay afloat, but the diocese is dependent on part time and semi-retired priests and mutual ministry teams for Sunday coverage. In writing about Anglicanism, the bishop said, "The Anglican Church is a Church that is tolerant of ambiguity," apparently not enough for his orthodox priests. Leidel said that the Anglican Church is a Church that is more communal than doctrinal, but that too is a fiction. Bishop Leidel came to the Diocese of Eastern Michigan seven years ago after it split in the 90s. He is its first bishop. He will be its first and last bishop of the diocese, said a knowledgeable insider. Bishop Leidel did not return an email requesting his perspective on what is taking place in his diocese. END

"We are cataloging the horror stories and we will, in time, make those horror stories known. I see a season ahead when the persecution will get worse. If you wait for the Holocaust to come, it will be too late. Orthodox Episcopalians must band together under the AAC for their own protection. There will be no retreat from the realignment." — Canon David C. Anderson, AAC President. Dear Brothers and Sisters, The Church of England is now beginning to face, in earnest, what the American Episcopal Church has been facing for some time — the possibility of a split over homosexuality. Recently a network of English Evangelicals called Anglican Mainstream met with Prime Minister Tony Blair at Downing Street to tell them of their concerns, and then they did a double header. They called on the Primates of the Anglican Communion to challenge the Bishop of St. Albans, the Rt. Rev. Christopher Herbert over the Jeffrey John appointment as Dean of the cathedral. The Mainstream leaders said they want a conservative bishop to minister to their parishes. "The Bishop of St Albans has shown contempt for the Archbishop of Canterbury's call for calm," they said. "It is breathtaking that the Bishop can make this appointment and simultaneously expect those who oppose it to submit to his Episcopal authority as a mark of authentic Anglicanism." The Council, the governing body of evangelicals in the Church of England, argued that the Bishop's approval does not need to be sought for oversight. "This action is legitimate precisely because the abuse of power that has led to this crisis is illegitimate, and Provincial or Diocesan consent is unnecessary, and to a great extent undesirable, because it serves to legitimate the abusers." The Mainstream stepped up the heat by calling the consecration of Gene Robinson "an abuse of power and an act of ecclesiastical tyranny." Virtuosity has been saying for some time now that the pansexual agenda being pushed by revisionist bishops in the Episcopal Church would spread to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and, inevitably, the Church of England itself. It is a classic struggle between East and West, or the North versus the Global South. Dr. Louie Crew, the Episcopal Church's most articulate homosexual activist layman, has some tough things to say about what might happen if ECUSA is ostracized by the world body. There was a changing of the guard this week at the ACC when the Archbishop of Canterbury announced the appointment of a new Anglican Communion Secretary General. The position went to a sleeper candidate, the Rev. Canon Kenneth Kearon, Director of the Irish School of Ecumenics, Trinity College Dublin, to succeed Canon John L. Peterson who steps down in December. A source in London told Virtuosity that they went for Dr. Kenneth Kearon, an Irishman, because his thing is medical ethics and he doesn't appear to have made any pronouncements on the topic that dare not speak its name. Lambeth Palace contacted all the Standing Committee members before confirming who it was, including Nigerian Primate Peter Akinola. They went for someone neutral, said the source. Another source said Kearon was selected because he comes from the Eames School of Latter-Day Latitudinarianism. There were a number of candidates who were in line for the job including Canon Gregory Cameron, who presently works in the ACC office as the ecumenical officer; Canon Bill Atwood, EKKLESIA head; and another American, a liberal, being pushed by Frank Griswold. In the end it went to an outsider that the Africans hope they can live with. But the Church of England faces more problems. There is a proposal to divide the Church of England into two — one part with female clergy and one without — to avert an exodus of traditionalists when women become bishops. The Archbishop of York, Dr. David Hope, has said he believes such a scheme, although highly controversial, is probably the only way to hold the church together if it decides to consecrate women. He has privately won support from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, who agrees the options facing the church are limited. Both are worried that more than 300 traditionalist clergy could quit in protest, potentially costing tens of millions of pounds in hardship payments to those who leave. The diehards are demanding a "third province," a church-within-a-church with its own archbishop, bishops and training colleges operating in parallel with the remainder of the church, but with no female clergy. In the U.S. things go from bad to worse. North Carolina Bishop Michael Curry recently told churches in his diocese they were authorized to bless homosexual unions. He is not the first to do this as other revisionist bishops follow similar moves in Nevada, Utah, Los Angeles, Washington DC, and Vermont. American Anglican Council member Dr. Kendall Harmon, who serves as Canon Theologian for the Diocese of South Carolina, says Curry is the first southeastern bishop to okay same-sex blessings since the denomination's General Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota. "It's discouraging," Harmon says, "because a lot of his diocese is opposed to his vote, and now he's not simply voted for the New Hampshire election, but he's going further than that. And it's going to further divide the diocese." The answer is for Anglican conservatives to realign themselves with the AAC and the Network. One of the things that might happen once the Lambeth report is released is that the Network might be recognized as the legitimate voice of Anglicanism in the U.S., which will certainly be a humbling moment for ECUSA and Frank Griswold. It won't come as a surprise that the Presiding Bishop opposed the Federal Marriage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, his argument being that "questions of sexuality are far from settled." In the Diocese of Pennsylvania things just go from bad to worse for Bishop Charles Bennison. The law firm of Drinker Biddle & Reath, home of Diocesan Chancellor William Bullitt, has announced it will not represent Bennison and the Diocese in the lawsuit brought by the Diocesan insurance company to cancel the Diocesan insurance for Father Moyer's lawsuit because of Bennison's fraud. The law firm cited an unidentified "conflict." The question now remains how Bullitt and his law firm can continue to represent both the Standing Committee and Bennison in view of the growing conflict between the Standing Committee and Bennison. In the Diocese of Chicago a new parish has formed in Evanston, Illinois that will come under the AMIA. The new pastor is the Rev. Dr. Joe Murphy, who has agonized for months about whether or not he would stay in the ECUSA. And in the Diocese of Eastern Michigan three orthodox rectors have resigned and one has renounced his orders. The revisionist bishop, Ed Leidel, voted for same sex blessings and for V. Gene Robinson. He is the first bishop of that diocese and will probably be its last. The Network is looking for partner parishes. They want non-ECUSA "independent Anglican congregations or a congregation within another tradition entirely" to become a formal part of the Network. This is being actively encouraged. To do this the Network has established a category called "Partner Parishes." This is for non-ECUSA congregations which wish to become affiliated with the Network but which do not wish to become subject to the Constitution of ECUSA. Such Partner Parishes will have all the rights and responsibilities of Affiliated Parishes, but would retain the necessary legal distance from ECUSA. The Network itself makes no claim on the property of its affiliated parishes. All blessings, David W. Virtue DD END