Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth. - Psalm 26:1-3 NIV
|
|
|
|
|
|
Message from Bishop David Anderson
|
 | |
Bishop Anderson
|
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, A strange letter has found its way across our desks, and it deserves a read and comment. It appears that when the majority of the Episcopal congregation of St. Mark's on the Mesa voted to leave the American Episcopal Church and the local Diocese of Rio Grande and form a new congregation affiliated with orthodox Anglican bodies, they chose to leave both the property and the endowment behind to avoid litigation and hard feelings. They could have taken them and the corporate name of the congregation and then endured protracted legal assault by the TEC diocese, but they decided to just leave and start over. You would think that should have been the end of it, but no. Besides taking the property and endowment, the new bishop and Diocesan Council decided that they should dun the departed members for that part of the diocesan assessment that the Episcopal remainder of St. Mark's can't afford to pay. Huhh? Yes, they decided that Christ the King Anglican Church should pay the shortfall of St. Mark's Episcopal since there aren't enough Episcopalians left to pay the high amount demanded by the diocese. Apparently it never crossed the diocese or St. Mark's minds to take it out of the endowment fund or put a mortgage on the property or give a forbearance for the full amount. The problem is that the Diocese of the Rio Grande is almost broke. When the faithful Anglicans left, they moved their tithes and offerings to their new churches, and those faithful to the Presiding Bishop of TEC don't have enough money to pay for all that they want out of a diocese. We are sorry that they are experiencing this difficulty; shortfall in financing is a common experience for families as well as churches these days, but really the gall of Bishop Vono to write such a letter! I would suggest to the bishop and Diocese of the Rio Grande that they ought to move on to more productive endeavors.
|
|
|
|
Listening to the pre-General Convention chatter that is beginning among lay and clergy deputies of TEC, it seems that shrinkage is a topic of the day or how to consolidate small dioceses together so you can get enough people to pay the bills. A once robust denomination that has turned aside from God's Word and God's Savior is stunned when God's hand of blessing no longer rests on them, and the God they have fashioned out of their own imagination just doesn't seem to be coming through for them. Maybe the TEC Diocese of Rio Grande needs to consolidate with the TEC Dioceses of Arizona or West Texas or Northwest Texas, rather than passing the hat to former Episcopalians.
Statistics in the United Kingdom seem to indicate that the recent visit of the Roman Catholic pope increased the number of people who felt a spiritual component to their life, much to the dismay of the atheist Dawkins crowd.
Dr. Rowan Williams of course just dithers when the sad state of the church is brought up, but one visit by the pope - and yes he does carry some controversy himself - does more in the UK than all of Dr. Williams' tenure as Archbishop of Canterbury. That says something, I think.
If Dr. Williams would have let the entire Anglican Communion have an honest conversation about faith and belief, the issues of sexuality might not have become the toxic brew that they are. Instead, his versions of Ubuntu, Indaba, and Yabba-dabba-do over-empower the faithless West and under-represent the faithful majority of the Communion. Now in Ireland, sexuality as an issue threatens to tear the Church of Ireland apart according to some leaders in that province. It looks like they either need to clean house or divide along faith lines, and we will be following this situation as it develops.
 | |
Bishop Righter
|
Within the homosexuality movement, one of their greatest champions has died. This last week, the Rt. Rev. Walter Righter, former bishop of Iowa and self-proclaimed heretic, died. If he hadn't broken the rules and ordained an openly homosexual young man, Barry Stopfel, to the diaconate, there probably would never have been a gay Bishop Gene Robinson to vex the church either.
Although Bishop Righter was charged as a heretic, his trial court ruled that the Episcopal Church had "no core doctrine," ergo, he couldn't have violated it by doing what he did. Interestingly, the Rt. Rev. Fred Borsch, bishop of Los Angeles at the time, sat on the trial court. Bishop Borsch had already ordained several homosexuals himself and should have recused himself from the court or joined Walter at the defendant's table. Liberals don't do that however, and Borsch stayed on the court and helped find that TEC had no core doctrine. Actually they do, but it's all about property, money and litigation.
In a curious footnote to history, in 1971, as I was being ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Washington D.C., the priest and rector of an Episcopal Church in Nashua, N.H., the Rev. Walter Righter, tried to convince me to come up and join his church staff. Clearly he didn't know me, nor did I know him, nor did either of us know the different paths that we would travel. I do thank God for causing me to decline Walter's offer. Neither of us would have been happy.
May God bless and preserve you in your faithfulness to Him.
+David
Back to Top |
Chaplain's Corner
|
By The Rev. Canon Phil Ashey, J.D. Chief Operating and Development Officer, American Anglican Council  | |
Canon Ashey
|
Dear Friends in Christ, I'd like to share with you a letter from the Bishop and Diocesan Council of The Episcopal Church's (TEC) Diocese of the Rio Grande. But first, a little background so that you can appreciate the letter in all its fullness. This time two years ago, approximately 80% of the parishioners of St. Mark's on-the-Mesa (TEC) left the parish and formed Christ the King Anglican, Albuquerque, NM (Anglican Church in North America). When those parishioners left the parish, the Diocese of the Rio Grande, and the Episcopal Church, they left everything. They left the property, building, endowments, bank accounts - even paperclips and pencils. They did so in good conscience, with generosity, and with love for those who in good conscience could not leave The Episcopal Church. Based on their reading of scripture, these parishioners did not want to fight over buildings and property in civil courts. Instead, they walked away and began a new life together as Anglican followers of Jesus Christ at Christ the King Anglican Church. Not only did the new parish draw former Episcopalians, but also Christians from other denominations who wanted to worship and serve at Christ the King Anglican. Fast forward two years to August 31, 2011 (about three weeks ago). The congregation's rector, the Rev. Roger Weber, former priest at St. Mark's, received this letter from TEC Bishop Michael Vono of the Diocese of the Rio Grande: August 31, 2011
 | |
Bishop Michael Vono
|
Dear Father Weber,
RE: St. Mark's on the Mesa, Albuquerque Fair Share Obligation, Third Quarter 2009 I pray that this finds you well in the Lord! Summer is always such a gift in the ministry, a time for reflection, refreshment and anticipation for the end of the liturgical year. On July 12 of this year, the Diocesan Council had a meeting here a [sic] Diocesan House. At that time, a group from St. Mark's-on-the-Mesa, Albuquerque came before the Council to request forgiveness for their Fair Share obligation from the third quarter of 2009. As I am sure you are well aware, it was during this time that a good number of the clergy and congregation at St. Mark's-on-the-Mesa left to form a new congregation, leaving the remaining members with quite a financial and emotional burden to carry. What follows is the motion as it was amended and passed that afternoon. Motion, that the -$25,000 Fair Share obligation for St. Mark's on-the-Mesa, Albuquerque for the third quarter of 2009 be forgiven. Moved and seconded to amend the motion by replacing it with the following: that the -$25,000 Fair Share obligation for St. Mark's-on-the-Mesa, Albuquerque for the third quarter of 2009 be adjusted to $5,000 and that the Diocesan Council write a pastoral letter to the leadership of Christ the King Anglican Church appealing to them to cover $20,000 of the original Fair Share obligation for St. Mark's on-the-Mesa, Albuquerque for the third quarter of 2009. The amendment passed. The amended motion passed. As you can see, it was the decision of Council to hold St. Mark's-on-the-Mesa responsible for the entire Fair Share payment for the third quarter in 2009, requesting that the burden be split between the members that left and the members that stayed, dividing the responsibility roughly along the lines of how the congregation self-selected. I would ask that you would prayerfully consider accepting the responsibility of paying the portion of the Fair Share that was required by the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact me here at Diocesan House, or in my absence, Mr. Fred Winter or Ms. Lisa Katz-Ricker, 505-881-0636. Your brother in Christ, The Right Rev'd Michael L. Vono IX Bishop, Diocese of the Rio Grande
cc: Ms. Debi Lester
Ms. Lisa Katz-Ricker, Business Manager Mr. Fred Winter, Assistant Treasurer The Rev'd Canon Kathleene McNellis The Rev'd Canon Daniel Gutierrez The Most Rev'd Robert Duncan  | |
Rev. Roger Weber
|
Now as a life-long student of the Bible, I searched in vain for some scriptural basis for this request. There is none. As someone familiar with the laws governing non-profits, I am not aware of any fiduciary duty Fr. Weber or the Board/Vestry of Christ the King Anglican would have to support an organization they left. In fact, would it not be a breach of their fiduciary duties to the new parish to support an organization they left? As a practicing attorney, I can't think of any legal principles that would support this request. But just to be safe, I called my good friend, Shelby Sharpe, who has practiced non-profit law in this region for a while. I asked him to look at this letter and here is his reply (with his permission): "In the 25 years that I have been involved in litigation involving religious bodies, I have never seen or heard of a request that those who leave a religious organization have any continuing financial obligations to support the organization they left. I know of no passage in the Bible or legal theory that supports the request made by The Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande."
Seriously, I think this letter is significant for what it tells us about the state of mind among TEC leaders: 1. They have no shame.The people who left St. Mark's-on-the-Mesa willingly surrendered their property. They literally turned the other cheek. In response, the Diocese of the Rio Grande basically said, "we have all your stuff now, but we think you owe us more." 2. They seem to think they have authority over Anglicans who have departed.We are not very far from Wonderland and Alice who cried "Curiouser and curiouser!" Apparently, the Bishop and the Diocesan Council felt that their decision, memorialized in their minutes, was of at least sufficient moral authority to cite in the letter, to persuade Fr. Weber and the Anglicans of Christ the King to accept their "responsibility." Note to Bishop and Diocesan Council: it may come as a surprise to you, but Fr. Weber, the clergy and people who formed Christ the King Anglican have moved on. They are not coming back. They really meant what they said. And when the bishop addresses them as if he were the lord of the manor, the diocesan council his advisors, and these departed Anglicans as if they were permanently indentured serfs. . .it doesn't go over very well. 3. They don't seem to believe their own justification for suing Anglicans. For years we have been hearing the mantra from TEC's legal team that "people can leave, but churches cannot." But now it turns out that TEC bishops and leaders don't actually believe their own justification for suing departing Anglicans! Even when people walk away for conscience sake, they are "indebted" for God-only-knows-what-and-how long to TEC. And never mind that supporting an organization they left is a violation of their conscience. These Anglicans are still obligated; it is "their responsibility." To the Anglicans at Christ the King Albuquerque and to all the others who have faced veiled and unveiled intimidation from TEC: "You have joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property," (Heb 10:34) and you have come to a new place, "You have come to Mt. Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. . .to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." (Heb. 12:22-24). You have come to a global fellowship of Anglicans who really believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of all. You have come to a fellowship of Anglicans who believe in the power of God's written word and the power of the Holy Spirit to change us from the inside out - now and forever! Keep moving on, further up and further in. Enjoy your freedom in Christ! Because nobody can tax it or take it away. Nobody. Yours in Christ, Phil+ This letter is also available on the AAC's website.Back to Top |
| VA: A New Start for All Saints' Church | Source: Dale City Patch
 | | Children of All Saints congregation on their new sign last Sunday after the congregation walked from their old church on Saratoga Lane to the new one on Gideon Drive and had a picnic. Credit: Courtesy Heidi Reichert |
September 22, 2011
Dale City, Virginia: Sunlight streams through the new huge windows down on the large stone cross in the foyer floor. The large white cross has four smaller crosses at each of its four corners, representing Christ's commandment to reach the four corners of the world, explains Heidi Reichert, the communications director for All Saints Church.
This "Jerusalem Cross" image reappears over and over throughout All Saints' Church's new building on Gideon Drive, next to Hylton Memorial Chapel.
All Saints moved into their new building this last Sunday and is planning a free community open house celebration - complete with a concert, moonbounce, and car show - on Friday and Saturday October 7 and 8.
This move is just one more step in All Saints' development. A descendant of the first Anglican church in Prince William County, which dates back to a chapel in Dumfries in 1667, All Saints held its first service in 1970 and has been meeting at a quant brick steeple building on Saratoga Lane.
"We were pretty crammed in the other building." said Reichert. Offices, children's ministry and just congregational fellowship were constantly overcrowded. So in 2001, the church purchased 27 acres on Gideon Drive to expand their growing church.
While they were raising funds to begin the work on the new church, however, they came to a standstill in 2003 as a result of the "crisis in The Episcopal Church following the divisive actions of its General Convention," reads a church pamphlet. After a drawn out process, 99 percent of All Saints' congregation voted to leave The Episcopal Church in 2006. That same year, the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia allowed All Saints to retain ownership of the new property, but return the property on Saratoga Lane by December 2011, meanwhile allowing All Saints to rent the old building for $1 a year.
With the negotiations finalized, All Saints restarted their campaigns to build their new building. . .
Read the entire article here.
Back to top |
| Bishops Take Different Paths in Recalling 9/11 | Source: Patheos
 | Left: Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori
Right: Archbishop Robert Duncan
|
September 21, 2011
By Jeff Walton
Here's a quick test for you. On the tenth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, the senior bishops of the two Anglican provinces in the United States gave sermons commemorating the events of that fateful day. See whether you can identify who made the following statements - a) Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori or b) Anglican Church in North America Archbishop Robert Duncan.
On recalling the societal effects of the 9/11 attack:
Ruefully told of walking past a pickup truck that featured the image of a "waving American flag" and a "sorry slogan" that stated "All I Need to Know about Islam I Learned on September 11."
Described visiting gardens in Paris that day with a fellow group of spiritually grounded pilgrims, emotionally recalling the French band playing "The Star Spangled Banner" to a crowd of Parisians who spontaneously stood in unison.
On how to respond:
"Pray for all the torturers and terrorists among us. Imagine them sitting in a vineyard, feasting in the late afternoon sun, laughing and making music with former foes, in a land where no one is afraid any more."
"What the righteous can do is share about Jesus Christ: what he's done in my life, what he's done in your life, what he can do in any life to set it right no matter what it faces, including death itself. For that's the last enemy, but already that enemy has been conquered."
And lastly, on loving our enemies:
"When Jesus says love your enemies and pray for your persecutors, he's challenging his listeners to turn and change their hearts. He's speaking directly to people who are being victimized by capricious power mongers addicted to violent methods of control. His own eventual public execution was only one example of the terrorizing used to keep people in line. Yet the ability to align one's heart with peace changes reality."
Recounting being in Rwanda soon after the genocide, the bishop met with rural Christian leaders and asked about the hope and future of Rwanda. A young pastor said clearly, "The only hope for Rwanda is Jesus Christ. The only hope for America is Jesus Christ. The only hope for your life and for my life is Jesus Christ."
If you guessed that the odd numbers are Jefferts Schori, and the even numbers Robert Duncan, then congratulations, you passed the test. . .
Read the entire article here.
Back to top |
Canterbury's international agenda in tatters
| Source: Church of England Newspaper
September 23, 2011
By George Conger
The Archbishop of Canterbury's strategy to hold together the Anglican Communion was left in tatters this week after the primates representing the Global South coalition of churches gave his leadership a vote of no confidence.
The Global South primates - representing the majority of the Anglican Communion's members - have repudiated the course chosen by Dr. Rowan Williams for the "instruments of communion", saying it lacked moral and theological integrity.
With the Anglican Covenant process under increasing pressure from liberals and conservatives, and his programme of dialogue around the topics dividing the church, but not addressing the divisions within the church, rejected by a majority of the Communion, Dr. Rowan Williams' international agenda appears to have all but collapsed.
The latest blow came in a statement released after Aug 30 to Sept 10 Global South meeting in China. While the primates said they were "wholeheartedly committed to the unity of Anglican Communion and recognize the importance of the historic See of Canterbury," they were not pleased with what Dr. Williams' subordinates were doing.
The instruments of communion: the Lambeth Conference, the Primates Meeting, the Anglican Consultative Council, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, "have become dysfunctional and no longer have the ecclesial and moral authority to hold the Communion together." . . .
Read the entire article here.
Back to top |
| Texas School Punishes Boy for Opposing Homosexuality | Source: Fox News
 | |
Fox News video here
|
September 22, 2011
By Todd Starnes
An honors student in Fort Worth, Texas, was sent to the principal's office and punished for telling a classmate that he believes homosexuality is wrong.
Holly Pope said she was "absolutely stunned" when she received a telephone call from an assistant principal at Western Hills High School informing her that her son, Dakota Ary, had been sent to in-school suspension.
"Dakota is a very well-grounded 14-year-old," she told Fox News Radio noting that her son is an honors student, plays on the football team and is active in his church youth group. "He's been in church his whole life and he's been taught to stand up for what he believes."
And that's what got him in trouble.
Dakota was in a German class at the high school when the conversation shifted to religion and homosexuality in Germany. At some point during the conversation, he turned to a friend and said that he was a Christian and "being a homosexual is wrong."
"It wasn't directed to anyone except my friend who was sitting behind me," Dakota told Fox. "I guess [the teacher] heard me. He started yelling. He told me he was going to write me an infraction and send me to the office."
Read the entire article here.
Back to top |
The Science of Shacking Up
| Source: Christianity Today
September 19, 2011
By Caryn Rivadeneira
Glenn T. Stanton has made a career studying the role of families in our society - both as a consultant in the George W. Bush administration and today as director for family formation studies at Focus on the Family. His latest book, The Ring Makes All the Difference: The Hidden Consequences of Cohabitation and the Strong Benefits of Marriage (Moody), explores the many downsides of an increasingly popular practice among young couples: living together before marriage. Caryn Rivadeneira, an author and regular contributor to the CT women's blog, Hermeneutics, spoke with Stanton about his research findings and why they matter to men, women, and children.
Why did you focus on the scientific data about the dangers of cohabitation, rather than Scripture?
There's a natural theology in creation that we need to observe. My use of science and data is a pounding on the pulpit. As Christians we read out of two books: the book of Scripture and the book of nature. That's how godly people - and smart people - should look at the world.
Should pastors, for instance, cite academic research to counsel people who are considering living together?
We already know ideologically that marriage is a different relationship than cohabitation, but we need to know that research data support God's Word. The Bible is not some antiquated thing that we need to keep as far as we can from science, lest science overshadow it. It's really quite dramatic how science confirms the scriptural understanding of marriage. . .
Read the entire article here.
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
