"Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:8 NASB
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Message from Bishop David Anderson
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Bishop Anderson
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Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ Jesus, As surely as the topics of SEX or MONEY grab most people's attention in newspapers and magazines, and when used in a sermon can wake the dead from their sound pew slumber, the subjects of DEATH or TAXES instill fear and dread in many. At my own peril, let me address the clergy among us and bring up TAXES in a helpful and positive way and offer you something that will be useful to you in your life and ministry. The AAC is conducting a webinar series on Clergy & Their Taxes, designed to give you tons of information while there is time to make changes before the end of the fiscal year and before it is time to file next year. If you do full or part time ministry, you will not want to miss these webinars, starting late in October, 2011, and consisting of a three-part series on minister's tax issues. Many clergy have their taxes done by a local preparer who doesn't specialize in clergy taxes, and thus they may be unaware of the many nuances involved. Each webinar is presented by representatives of Capin Crouse LLP, a firm with more than 700 not-for-profit organizations as tax clients. They are the country's leading accounting and advisory firm which primarily serves the Christian not-for-profit community. Topics include what to do and not to do when filing a tax return and what things trigger red flags. The webinar topics build on each other. The date and time for the first webinar is Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at 2:00 PM EST. These webinars are provided free of charge to you as a joint project by the AAC and Capin Crouse, and we hope that you will be blessed. Find out more at www.AmericanAnglican.org/taxes. If you aren't interested in taxes but are interested in future webinars, sign up for our webinar emails and we will keep you informed of future topics. The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has just completed meeting in Lagos, Nigeria and they have consecrated two new (and younger) bishops for CANA (Convocation of Anglicans in North America) and have received into the Nigerian House of Bishops the Rt. Rev. Derek Jones, who has been assisting CANA in the area of chaplaincies for some time. The Church of Nigeria has a mandatory bishops' retirement age of 70, and many of the current CANA bishops, including yours truly, are approaching that time. Additionally, CANA Missionary Bishop Martyn Minns has been asked by the GAFCON Primates to set up a London office and work more closely with them on global Anglican affairs.
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All of this pointed to the need for CANA to refill their bishop ranks, and to this end, Bishop Julian Dobbs will lead clergy and congregations primarily in the eastern USA, and play a key role in supporting the Anglican 1000 church planting movement, assisting the Rev'd Canon David Roseberry. Additionally, he will oversee CANA's operations in the absence of Bishop Minns.
Bishop Felix Orji will provide episcopal oversight for clergy and congregations in the western USA and will strengthen both CANA and the ACNA by expanding his teaching ministry on cross-cultural ministry and other topics. Bishop Derek Jones, who is based in Alabama, will continue his well-established ministry of shepherding CANA's chaplains, and serving as an endorsing agent. He will also assist CANA with other episcopal functions as needed.
Now on to a different subject entirely, and one not at all happy. John Roberts has an excellent article from which I've quoted, and he documents the good work of the Christian Legal Society in trying to stop miscarriages of justice and religious rights in some universities. It is becoming more difficult to speak out publicly about your Christian beliefs in the United States, where freedom of speech and religion are embedded in the Bill of Rights. At this time, students at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee are seeing their Christian organizations harassed and limited by the university when they try to define themselves as Christian. If an organization has a checklist of things that it believes in and requires its leaders to believe those things, then they're in trouble. As one student said, "At the point where they're saying we can't have Bible studies and prayer meetings as part of our constitution - if we go beyond that - we're compromising the very identity of who we are as Christians and the very thing we believe as religious individuals." The university issued a statement saying in part, "We are committed to making our campus a welcoming environment for all of our students." And concerning the offending Christian student organizations, the university will "continue to work with them to achieve compliance."
Now, let's take this apart. Christian organizations stand for something, but the university won't let them put that in their constitution or require it of their leaders because someone might be offended. It clearly is OK with Vanderbilt to offend Christians, just not anyone else. Is Vanderbilt prepared to apply this same standard to Muslim groups? I think not. I would say that if a student doesn't like what the Christian student group believes, let him or her go join some other organization which believes something different.
Speaking of Muslims, how do they handle those who seek religious liberty? Well, in Iran they give them three chances to denounce their "infidel" religion and convert to Islam, and then if they persist, they kill them, and this is sanctioned by the Iranian religious courts. An article by Jordan Sekulow is about a Christian pastor, Youcef Nadarkhani, who faces likely execution at any moment because he won't abandon Jesus Christ. Read the article, pray for pastor Youcef, and be inspired by his faith. If Youcef is willing to face death for Jesus Christ, what are you and I prepared to face for our Lord? For me that is the gold standard that I keep looking at. "O Lord, spare the life and family of your servant Youcef, and let his witness to you bring many to faith. In Jesus' name. Amen"
Blessings and Peace in Jesus our Lord,
+David
The Rt. Rev. David C. Anderson, Sr.
President and CEO, American Anglican Council
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Chaplain's Corner
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By The Rev. Canon Phil Ashey, J.D. Chief Operating and Development Officer, American Anglican Council  | |
Canon Ashey
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Canon Ashey is away from the office and will not write an article this week. Back to Top |
| Professor Says Vanderbilt Suppressing Christian Student Groups | Source: Fox News
September 26, 2011
By John Roberts
Is Vanderbilt University flirting with the suppression of religion? Yes, according to Carol Swain, a professor at Vanderbilt's Law School.
Specifically, Swain is referring to four Christian student groups being placed on "provisional status" after a university review found them to be in non-compliance with the school's nondiscrimination policy.
Vanderbilt says the student organizations cannot require that leaders share the group's beliefs, goals and values. Carried to its full extent, it means an atheist could lead a Christian group, a man a woman's group, a Jew a Muslim group or vice versa.
If they remain in non-compliance, the student organizations risk being shut down.
So what's behind this? Flashback to last fall. An openly gay undergrad at Vanderbilt complained he was kicked out of a Christian fraternity. The university wouldn't identify the fraternity, but campus newspaper the "Hustler" reported it was Beta Upsilon Chi. As a result, the school took a look at the constitutions of some 300 student groups and found about a dozen, including five religious groups to be in non-compliance with Vanderbilt's nondiscrimination policy. All were placed on provisional status.
Among the groups threatened with shut down is the Christian Legal Society. It ran afoul with this language from its constitution. "Each officer is expected to lead Bible studies, prayer and worship at chapter meetings." CLS President Justin Gunter told me, "We come together to do things that Christians do together. Pray, and have Bible studies."
To that, Rev. Gretchen Person - interim director of the Office of Religious Life at Vanderbilt - responded "Vanderbilt policies do not allow this expectation/qualification for officers." Gunter has been negotiating with the university and has taken some language out of the CLS constitution - including the requirement that Student Coordinators "should strive to exemplify Christ-like qualities." But he says he has to draw the line at the requirement regarding Bible studies, prayer and worship.
He told me, "At the point where they're saying we can't have Bible studies and prayer meetings as part of our constitution - if we go beyond that - we're compromising the very identity of who we are as Christians and the very thing we believe as religious individuals."
Vanderbilt officials refused to be interviewed, and instead released a statement saying in part "We are committed to making our campus a welcoming environment for all of our students." In regard to the offending student organizations, officials said they "continue to work with them to achieve compliance."
CLS's Gunter says his group's membership is open to anyone, but leaders have a different requirement. "CLS is a Christian organization", he told me. "That means to preserve our integrity, we need Christian leaders."
Carol Swain is CLS's faculty advisor. She insists the university has gone way beyond political correctness with its actions and demands. "It seems reasonable", she told me, "to require that leaders share the beliefs of the organizations that they seek to lead."...
Read the rest of the story here.
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| Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani faces potential execution | Source: American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ)
September 26, 2011
By Jordan Sekulow
Just days after Iran released two Americans accused of spying, an Iranian court has
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Pastor Nadarkhani
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upheld the apostasy conviction and execution sentence of Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani.
The 11th branch of Iran's Gilan Provincial Court has determined that Nadarkhani has Islamic ancestry and therefore must recant his faith in Jesus Christ. Iran's supreme court had previously ruled that the trial court must determine if Youcef had been a Muslim before converting to Christianity.
However, the judges, acting like terrorists with a hostage, demanded that he recant his faith in Christ before even taking evidence. The judges stated that even though the judgment they have made is against the current Iranian and international laws, they have to uphold the previous decision of the 27th Branch of the Supreme Court in Qom.
When asked to "repent" by the judges, Youcef stated, "Repent means to return. What should I return to? To the blasphemy that I had before my faith in Christ?" The judges replied, "To the religion of your ancestors, Islam." To which he replied, "I cannot."
It is reported that Youcef was able to see his children for the first time since March and was in good spirits, speaking of how he longed to serve the church upon his release.
Pastor Youcef will be brought to the court for two additional "hearings" on September 27th and 28th for the sole purpose of being called upon to recant his Christian faith. The ACLJ's sources report that although Pastor Youcef's attorneys will attempt to appeal the case, there is no guarantee that the provincial court will not act on its own interpretation of Sharia law and execute pastor Youcef as early as Wednesday....
Read the rest of the story here.
Update as of Sept. 30 from the ACLJ:
Early this morning, the ACLJ received this troubling news from Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani's attorney in Iran, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah. Mr. Dadkhah firmly denies that the court has agreed to overturn Pastor Youcef's death sentence. He believes this is a lie spread by the Iranian secret service, even to members of his own family, to stop the media from reporting on this case.
Pastor Firouz Sadegh-Khandjani, a Member of the Council of Elders for the Church of Iran and a close personal friend of Pastor Youcef, said that "until we have official notification we must be cautious. In June we were told the [Supreme] Court had canceled the sentence and [Pastor Youcef] would be released, but after that we received another verdict. Before we receive a formal verdict we must proceed. . . If we don't keep up the pressure they may turn it into a life sentence or send him to a worse prison. In Iran about 18 years ago, they had released a pastor, but then came and assassinated him and his bishop later. We cannot stop the pressure."...
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CANA: Julian Dobbs and Felix Orji Made Bishops
| Source: CANA
Sept. 26, 2011
The Right Reverend Julian Dobbs and the Right Reverend Felix Orji have been made bishops of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and will serve in North America.
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Bishops Dobbs and Orji
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Dobbs and Orji were consecrated for their new leadership roles at a four-hour worship celebration on Sunday, September 25, 2011 in Lagos, Nigeria. Four additional bishops were also consecrated at the service for ministry based in Nigeria.
The Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, Primate of the Anglican Church of Nigeria, presided at the consecration service. Over 1,500 people packed into Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral in Lagos to participate in the celebration, capping a week of missional work by the Church of Nigeria's General Synod. Earlier in the week, the Church of Nigeria received the Right Reverend Derek Jones as a bishop of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). Jones is based in Alabama.
Dobbs, Orji, and Jones will all serve as suffragan (assistant) bishops in the Convocation of Anglicans in North America ("CANA"). CANA was founded in 2005 by the Church of Nigeria to ensure that orthodox Anglican clergy and congregations in North America have an authentic connection to the Anglican Communion. With over 20-million active members, the Church of Nigeria accounts for about 25% of the total active membership of the worldwide Anglican Communion....
Read the rest of the story here.
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| Texas: Teacher Placed on Administrative Leave for Punishing Christian Student | Source: Liberty Counsel
September 28, 2011
Fort Worth, TX - Last week, high school freshman Dakota Ary was given in-school suspension for telling another student that he believes homosexuality is wrong because of his Christian faith. Western Hills High School teacher, Kristopher Franks, is responsible for his suspension and has now been placed on administrative leave with pay. Liberty Counsel is representing Dakota in this case, demanding full vindication and a full retraction of the suspension.
Dakota was in Franks' German language class on Tuesday when the topic of homosexuality arose. Dakota said to one of his classmates, "I'm a Christian and, to me, being homosexual is wrong." Franks overheard the comment, wrote Dakota an infraction, and sent him to the principal's office. The class topic was religious beliefs in Germany. During the discussion, one student asked what Germans thought about homosexuality in relation to religion. Another student then asked to hear some translated terms such as "lesbian." These questions provoked the conversation about Christianity and Dakota's expression of his opinion to one classmate.
The discipline referral form says the comment was out of context, even though the lesson for the day was on religious beliefs. Franks charged Dakota with "possible bullying" and indicated, "It is wrong to make such a statement in public school." Two weeks prior to this event, Franks displayed a picture of two men kissing on a "World Wall" and told his students that homosexuality is becoming more prevalent in the world and that they should just accept it. Many of the students were offended by the Franks' actions and his continually bringing up the topic of homosexuality in a German language class.
After Liberty Counsel sent a demand letter to the school and then met with school officials, the school district reversed the in-school suspension and placed Franks on administrative leave with pay....
Read the rest of the story here.
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Major study: changing sexual orientation is possible
| Source: LifeSiteNews
September 29, 2011
by Kathleen Gilbert
WHEATON, Illinois - Therapists who favor normalizing homosexuality say that it is impossible to change sexual orientation, and that the attempt to change is inherently harmful. However, the final results of a long-term study published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy has joined hundreds of other studies in concluding that such therapy is both possible and potentially well-indicated for many individuals.
Psychologists Stanton L. Jones of Wheaton College and Mark A. Yarhouse of Regent University are the authors of the longitudinal study, which tracked individuals who sought sexual orientation change through involvement in a variety of Christian ministries affiliated with Exodus International.
The authors note that the study overcomes a primary criticism of same-sex attraction (SSA) therapy data - that the results are not adequately documented over a period of time - by assessing its 98 candidates over a period of six to seven years after therapy concluded.
Jones and Yarhouse's results show the majority of candidates were successful in their goal of changing sexual orientation, and that the attempt not harmful on average....
"These results do not prove that categorical change in sexual orientation is possible for everyone or anyone, but rather that meaningful shifts along a continuum that constitute real changes appear possible for some," states a Wheaton College press release announcing the study. The release also emphasizes, "the results do not prove that no one is harmed by the attempt to change, but rather that the attempt does not appear to be harmful on average or inherently harmful."...
Read the rest of the story here.
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Canada: Lutheran pastor appointed dean of Anglican diocese
| Source: Anglican Journal
September 27, 2011
In an historic move, the Anglican diocese of Rupert's Land has appointed a Lutheran pastor - the Rev. Paul Johnson - as dean of the diocese and incumbent for St. John's Cathedral in Winnipeg.
This is the first time that a Lutheran pastor has been appointed dean in an Anglican cathedral in Canada. A dean is the priest in charge of a cathedral ("mother church") and occupies a senior position in a diocese.
The Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) have been in full communion since 2001, which means that their clergy may serve in one another's churches....
Read the rest of the story here.
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