"Offer unto God thanksgiving, and pay thy vows unto the Most High, and call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me."
Psalm 50:14-15 KJ21
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Message from Bishop David Anderson
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Bishop Anderson
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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, I want to continue my comments on the dire state of affairs in the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina and draw upon some expert legal and procedural analysis by the "Anglican Curmudgeon," which we have included in this Update. I would like for you to stop here at this point, and read the Curmudgeon article titled " Bishop Henderson: It's 'business as usual' in the church." When you are finished, come back to this analysis of what happens next. Note: throughout my article, the acronym TEC stands for The Episcopal Church, meaning the one which now claims it is multinational, but has executive offices at 815 2nd Avenue, in New York City. With Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori now in possession of almost unchecked power in TEC, and with her judgment clouded by her animus toward Bishop Mark Lawrence and the Diocese of South Carolina, it appears that even sober advice from those around her and the Executive Council will not stop her from drawing first blood. The Curmudgeon suggests that the likely course of action for her to take will be Title IV.16 which allows her to slap a restriction on Bishop Lawrence. From there, he has sixty days to retract or deny his acts "of abandonment," and if Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori decides they aren't adequate or in "good faith," then she formally presents Bishop Mark to the TEC House of Bishops for deposition and disposal. No appeal under this section is allowed. If this unfolds, Jefferts Schori will be busy, for as soon as she places +Mark Lawrence on restriction, she will also file similar action against the South Carolina Standing Committee, and because she can, she will determine that both bishop and standing committee constitute an immediate threat of harm to the church and to the fiduciary interests of the ecclesial body, and so will replace them with loyal stand-ins.
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She will appoint a retired bishop who would be best received by at least some of the South Carolinians as the acting bishop, and draw upon some of the TEC loyalists to constitute a new Standing Committee. Immediately, they will authorize a few loyalist individuals to take signature cards to all of the banks that hold diocesan assets, and present the new cards as replacement cards for the "former" signatories. This is called an ecclesiastical coup d'état.
If the bank protests, the new officials will advise the bank that they could be held liable for any losses caused by their failure to recognize the lawful signatories, and especially if they permit the former signatories to have access to any of the funds or assets held by that bank. Even bank presidents strongly supporting Bishop Lawrence may blanch at the thought of being sued themselves, and their bank sued, and all of the bad publicity, and perhaps even being demoted over a mistake, so they would do the prudent thing that Jefferts Schori is counting on - they freeze the assets.
Her immediate intention would be not to take possession of the funds, though she would be happy to do so. Her intention would be to freeze the assets pending a court determination of which party is the lawful representative, and thus to deny financial resources to the actual Bishop and Standing Committee. The immediate effect is that the diocese won't have money to make the next payroll, or pay the attorneys representing them. This tactic has sometimes been referred to as "standing on their air hose," and it has immediate and harmful consequences.
Unfortunately for the lawful Diocese of South Carolina, the Supreme Court of South Carolina's ruling that the so-called Dennis Canon is null and void won't help them with this question, as it brings up the "True Church" issue - the courts will be asked to determine which entity, the TEC Jefferts Schori-appointed bishop and Standing Committee or Bishop Lawrence and his diocesan Standing Committee are the true Diocese. This will commence a costly legal battle for both sides with the outcome uncertain even in South Carolina. The TEC side has money for litigation from their reconfiguring of the TEC trust fund names and purposes, but Bishop Lawrence and the Diocese have their assets frozen. Not a pretty picture.
Meanwhile, the churches of the Diocese of South Carolina will start to decide where they want to be and how much stomach they have for bitter, protracted litigation. They will be pressured by the TEC Bishop appointee to fall in line, pay their assessments, and stop supporting Mark Lawrence. Some will fall in line, others will continue to support Bishop Lawrence and others will increasingly look to their own situation and the SC Supreme Court ruling on the Dennis Canon, and decide now is the time to move over to the emerging ACNA Diocese in Formation in the Carolinas, which is centered for the time being in Mount Pleasant with the Rev. Steve Wood as Vicar General.
One thing that all parishes and clergy who are standing with Bishop Lawrence and any that are even remotely thinking of moving to the ACNA should do is to pull your legal papers together. Determine whose name is on your title and deeds. Whose 501(c)(3) non-profit number are you using? Which insurance company provides your health coverage? Which insurance company provides your Officers' and Directors' Commissions and Omissions coverage? Who provides your general liability coverage?
If you wind up in protracted litigation and estrangement with TEC, it might be uncertain to depend on their insurance coverage to represent you against them. I have found that the best time to negotiate insurance coverage is pre-need, and if there are any title issues, for them to be dealt with before its a life and death situation. And yes, it is terribly sad that this is what life in the Episcopal Church has come to, but what is, is. As Jesus advises us, be wise as serpents and yet gentle as doves.
Our prayers continue to go out to Bishop Mark Lawrence, the Standing Committee of South Carolina, and her lovely and faithful people. The battle you are fighting is not for today, it is for the ages, and you do not fight it alone. May God's blessing be upon you.
Blessings and peace in Christ Jesus,
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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Therefore since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. (2 Corinthians 4:1) Dear Friends in Christ, I am writing from Ft. Worth where we have just finished our first gathering of the Clergy Leadership Training Institute (CLTI) with 17 priests, most of them from the Diocese of Ft. Worth. With Bishop Iker's blessing and encouragement, the Rev. Dr, Doug McGlynn (Nashotah House), Dr. Jim Osterhaus and I shared in this first gathering the first of the four "C's" of leadership that we address in CLTI: the character of the leader. After a brief overview of the four "C's" of leadership that we cover in CLTI - Character, Competency, Compound results (multiplying leaders) and Conflict management, Doug McGlynn began his series of meditations on character. I have known Doug since he and I shared time together in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, and value both his friendship and practical wisdom from years of parish ministry. Doug shared what he called a "kaleidoscopic change" in the way that we are called as ordained leaders to view our ministry - namely, that priesthood or diaconate or church planting is not just what we do; rather, it is by God's mercy the very thing God is using to transform us increasingly into the likeness of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:18). Dr. Jim Osterhaus shared his years of insight as a professional counselor with a personal mission to help clergy. I speak from personal experience when I say that Jim's passion is deep and real, and that he has superb insights into how clergy leaders can remain a "non-anxious" presence in the middle of church conflict. Many of his insights are contained in a book he co-authored, "Thriving Through Ministry Conflict - By Understanding Your Red and Blue Zones" (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005). Doug and I had the privilege of sharing from real experiences of church conflict that God redeemed and, more especially, used to change us from the inside out. To use a phrase from Dallas Willard, God uses conflict to enable us to "lead as Jesus would if he were in our shoes." I wrapped up our time together with a teaching, "Seven Last Words on Leadership," based on Jesus' leadership of all of us from the Cross. One of the great joys of the CLTI is the afternoon time we provide to go on walks with the clergy, to listen, pray and offer counsel. I enjoyed many a walk with the Ft. Worth clergy who have deep roots at Camp Crucis where we met. For both younger and older clergy who were there, Camp Crucis is prayer-soaked, holy ground where many of them were formed along the way as they grew up, and where they began to hear God's call to ordained ministry. The outdoor Chapel of the Transfiguration is a wonderful holy place to walk to, listening along the way, to stop and pray. I also found our times together in the main Chapel in daily Mass and the Offices deeply refreshing and renewing as we slowed down to listen to the Lord, His word to us, and receive his grace and strength. Permit me to share just one comment that sums up the evaluations from this CLTI group: "This was certainly what I needed more than anything else. I felt a high level of spiritual re-awakening and renewal. This was CERTAINLY a Christian Clergy Leadership Program, not just some "leadership" program that draws from the secular worldly experience only. [My son] has Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership. I would love to have him attend this program!" Almost without exception, the Ft. Worth clergy in this CLTI will be moving into small groups to meet together around the EQUIP leadership bible studies I wrote about last week, and for mutual encouragement and prayer. One priest shared with me that he wanted the studies in Spanish so that he can begin to distribute them through the Ft. Worth Hispanic Ministries Commission to develop leaders in Hispanic congregations. Another priest who is a chaplain at a church school shared that he will be breaking the bible studies down into smaller segments and sharing them with his students weekly over lunch! Already the vision of "compound results" - multiplying leaders for the harvest (John 4:36-38) - is becoming a reality! God willing and providing, and with Bishop Iker's blessing, we will hold the second of our three CLTI gatherings in the Spring of 2012 in Ft. Worth, after Easter. We will gather to address the second "C" of leadership: Competency (leadership skill development). As I write, I am enjoying the fellowship and hospitality of dear friends Dr. Glenn and Debbie Petta, of SOMA USA. We are exploring how AAC and SOMA might partner together as we did for the Hold Fast tour of Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, this time, to bring our CLTI to Anglican leaders in the Global South. Please pray that God will open both doors of opportunity and doors of provision for this kingdom work! Yours in Christ, Phil+ Back to Top |
Anglican Perspective: Steve Jobs
| This week, Canon Ashey discusses the passing of Steve Jobs and something we can learn from his life. Key scripture: Psalm 139:13-14
View Anglican Perspective here.
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AAC Webinar: Clergy & Their Taxes
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If you are a full-time or part-time minister, you will not want to miss these classes. Starting at the end of October, 2011, the AAC will sponosor a three-part webinar on clergy tax issues. From the basics like "how to file a tax-return" to "what tax laws have been changed recently," these free webinars will help clergy brush up on an often overlooked subject - taxes.
The first one-hour session will be held on Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. (EST). Each webinar is presented by representatives of Capin Crouse, a leading accounting and advisory firm primarily serving the Christian not-for-profit community.
Find out more on our website at www.AmericanAnglican.org/Taxes or go ahead and sign-up here. We have only about 50 spots left for the first webinar so don't delay.
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| Bishop urges calm over Lawrence inquiry | Source: The State
October 12, 2011
By Carolyn Click
Retired Episcopal Bishop Dorsey F. Henderson Jr. sought Wednesday to quell tensions among S.C. Lowcountry clergy, saying the national church is not attacking its bishop, the Right Rev. Mark Lawrence.
Henderson, who heads the national Episcopal Church's Disciplinary Board for Bishops,
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Bishop Henderson
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told Lawrence Sept. 29 that the board is investigating allegations, made by churchgoers within Lawrence's diocese, that he abandoned the doctrine, discipline and worship of the Episcopal Church.
But Wednesday Henderson made clear that the inquiry is in its earliest stages and in no way implies that Lawrence may have committed any wrong. Henderson said he notified Lawrence and shared all the information the board had received....
Henderson said he understands that emotions are running high in the diocese. Clergy met Tuesday with Lawrence to discuss the ramifications of the inquiry.
But Henderson said, "The idea that the Episcopal Church is after Bishop Lawrence and after the diocese is incorrect. I'm going to keep the board focused and, as much as humanly possible, to stay narrowly focused on the canon and to see if that information fits the definition of abandonment."...
The rest of the article may be found here.
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Presbyterians ordain first openly gay minister
| Source: Marquette Tribune
October 13, 2011
By Andrea Anderson
Last Saturday, the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Madison made history when it ordained the Rev. Scott Anderson, 56, as the first openly gay Presbyterian minister.
Anderson left ministry in the Presbyterian Church in 1990 after a couple threatened to reveal his sexuality. In doing so, he took it upon himself to tell his sacramento, Calif. congregation, who he had been with since 1983, that he was gay before resigning.
Anderson's re-ordination was made possible by a modification in church law. In summer 2010, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) made official changes to its constitution which now allow gays and lesbians to serve as ministers. Anderson was shortly thereafter approved for ordination by a vote of 81-25 by the John Knox Presbytery, a group of 60 congregations in Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota....
Christopher Wolfe, a political science professor at Marquette, said the ordainment is no surprise.
"(This is) another example of the mainline Protestant denominations abandoning traditional Christian beliefs in order to accomplish prevailing views of secular intellectuals," Wolfe said....
The rest of the article may be found here.
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| Canada: "Hate speech" provision faces the chopping block | Source: LifeSiteNews
October 12, 2011
By Peter Baklinski
OTTAWA, Ontario - A private members bill introduced into the Canadian House of Commons is seeking to delete the controversial "hate speech" provision in the Human Rights Act that has been used to silence Christians and conservatives who express politically incorrect opinions.
"I've been working with colleagues to try to make sure that we make some changes to a piece of legislation that is flawed and - quite frankly - has been abused over the last several of years," said Conservative MP Brian Storseth (Westlock-St. Paul, AB) who introduced the bill, to Sun News.
Bill C-304 proposes to delete Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA) to ensure that there is no "infringement on freedom of expression" as guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It received its first reading on September 30th, 2011.
Critics of section 13 have long argued that the clause creates the precise equivalent to a 'thought crime.' The provision defines a discriminatory practice as "any matter that is likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or contempt" if the person or persons affected are "identifiable on the basis of a prohibited ground of discrimination."...
"This is really about freedom of speech in our country and pushing back on the tyrannical bureaucracy need to censor speech in our country," said Storseth, calling "free speech" a "fundamental bedrock of our society."...
The rest of the article may be found here.
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Re-trial for Iranian pastor sentenced to death for apostasy
| Source: Christian Today
October 12, 2011
Iran's Supreme Court in has ordered a re-trial for a pastor sentenced to death for
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Pastor Nadarkhani and family
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apostasy. Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has refused to recant his faith in Jesus Christ in appeals hearings, despite being told that the death sentence would be overturned if he did so.
The sudden turn-around by the Supreme Court reflects doubts surrounding the conduct of the initial investigation in the case. The court has now sent Nadarkhani's case back to the lower courts to be looked at again.
Iranian student news agency ISNA has released a statement saying: "If there is an appeal and the case is returned to the Supreme Court, the case will be reviewed."
Nadarkhani was arrested in October 2009 and has been held in Lakan Prison, Rasht, since being found guilty of apostasy in September 2010. He was sentenced to death, despite there being no such crime under Iran's penal code. Iranian state media has recently contradicted earlier reports by saying that Nadarkhani was charged and found guilty of rape, extortion and had committed crimes that posed a security threat in the country.
Worldwide attention has been given to the case, with various global leaders speaking out. In Britain, former Bishop of Rochester Michael Nazir-Ali asked President Ahmadinejad for his "urgent intervention" to save Pastor Nadarkhani.
"It appears that the court (that) sentenced Pastor Nadarkhani has chosen to impose a sentence which is beyond what is codified in the Iran Penal Code and contravenes both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and article 23 of the Iranian constitution," he said....
The rest of the article may be found here.
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Ireland: CoE bishop at gay clergy row meeting
| Source: News Letter
October 14, 2011
A conservative Church of England bishop has attended a meeting of Church of Ireland clergy increasingly unhappy at their church's response to a minister's same-sex partnership. There are few details about where Monday night's meeting, which was first revealed by this newspaper last Thursday, was held, or how many were present. However, the News Letter understands that the meeting included an address by Bishop Wallace Benn, a leading figure on the right of the Church of England.
The Bishop of Lewes is chairman of the advisory council to the GAFCON primates, a
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Bishop Benn
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group of traditional Anglican leaders from around the world who are opposed to clergy in gay unions and believe Anglicanism is becoming too liberal.
The visit by the 64-year-old, who is originally from Dublin, comes amid suggestions by some parishes that they may seek alternative bishops, believing that the Church of Ireland's 12 bishops have been too relaxed about Dean Tom Gordon's civil partnership.
Last week the church's leader in Ireland, Archbishop Alan Harper, told the News Letter that Irish bishops would not welcome any "intrusion" by episcopal colleagues from outside Ireland. Instead, the Irish bishops have set out a process which will take about six months in an attempt to be clear about what the Bible teaches on homosexuality. That will include a major conference next spring to discuss - but not decide - on what the church's position should be.
In an editorial this week, the Church of Ireland Gazette says that church is in "quite alarming circumstances".
The Gazette, which is editorially independent of the church, raises concerns about the length of time which the church plans to take to decide its position on the issue and warns that it must learn from the bitter divisions which have opened up in other parts of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
"It is not an exaggeration to say that, as a result of this whole scenario, the Church of Ireland's very unity is imperilled," the editorial says.
"For that reason, it is somewhat concerning that the bishops refer to a need for yet further study and research on related biblical, theological and legal issues, because such could be a charter for years-long argumentation. We need to study such matters, but we also need to do so expeditiously."...
The rest of the article may be found here.
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Australia: Diocese of Sydney opposes Anglican Covenant
| Source: Sydney diocesan website
October 13, 2011
By Russell Powell
The 49th Synod of the Diocese of Sydney has opposed the adoption of the Anglican Communion covenant, after being told it was 'theologically flawed' and the wrong approach to the crisis in world Anglicanism.
A motion, moved by the Head of Department of Theology, Philosophy and Ethics at Moore College, Dr Mark Thompson, opposed the adoption of the Covenant by the Anglican Church of Australia.
In September, the Sydney Standing Committee issued a report on the Covenant and that report was presented in Synod papers and supported by Dr Thompson and seconder, Robert Tong.
The report detailed five serious theological objections to the covenant, saying it was "fundamentally concerned with maintaining structural and institutional unity rather than biblical faithfulness".
"The real problem" it says "is a departure from the teaching of Scripture".
Dr Thomspon says "Undoubtedly the Anglican Communion Covenant has been put together by those with heartfelt concern for the predicament the Communion finds itself in. Undoubtedly those who made the original suggestion and drew up this covenant did so honestly and with integrity. Nevertheless, as you can see, the report prepared for our synod concludes with the recommendation that we oppose the adoption of the Anglican Communion Covenant."
He said the report found the covenant was the wrong approach, had serious theological flaws and would not solve the crisis in world Anglicanism.
"Those who have created the problem won't sign it; and if they did without repenting of the departures from the teaching of Scripture it would only demonstrate the uselessness of the covenant itself. What is more, a number of orthodox Anglican provinces throughout the world have already indicated they won't sign it for various other reasons. There are serious questions about how it could be effectively adopted under the constitution of the Anglican Church of Australia. It might be adopted by resolution but would this have any force?" Dr Thompson says.
Dr Thompson urged support of GAFCON and the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans as a better way to respond to the current issues in the communion....
The rest of the article may be found here.
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