| "And at the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me. And I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored Him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His Kingdom is from generation to generation." Daniel 4:34 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, This email publication goes out weekly to thousands of people interested in the Anglican Communion and Anglican church life, and many of you forward this email to friends and associates as well. It is hard to tell how far this article reaches, although we purposefully send it to many Anglican Archbishops, Primates, and other leaders. Because this Weekly Update is so widely read, I want to use this venue to make a special request this week, in addition to the usual commentary on selected events. The American Anglican Council (AAC), formed in 1996, is now fifteen years mature, with my own presidency of it finishing its eleventh year. The AAC is uniquely positioned and staffed to work directly with international, national and local Anglican communities, based upon the years of trust that have been built up. For example, we often work directly with the GAFCON Primates and Global South leaders, providing them with both information and strategic counsel. Our work domestically, on both a national and local level, is crucial. No other Anglican body provides the parish growth and clergy development training that we provide. We are currently working with several African Primates to bring this training to their clergy and congregations as well. We go where other Anglican organizations do not go, provide assistance no other organization is providing, and are an essential multi-level resource to orthodox Anglicans. There is simply no one else who can or will do what we are able to do, and we are ready and equipped, and in most ways already deployed. For orthodox Anglicans that is the good news, but there is bad news as well, and that is the finances. The global economic meltdown of the last few years has strongly impacted nonprofit Christian organizations, and the AAC is no exception. Our giving from local churches has suffered as the churches have suffered, and our giving from "mom and pop" has declined as many have lost their jobs and are not able to give as they once did. We need your help if the AAC is to continue to function in the vital role that it has.
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If you can write a check for any amount, please do so today. We are trying to close a $125,000 shortfall projected for this year's end. Secondly, ask us for a mission partner package of information, and take it to your church's mission committee and ask for the AAC to be written in for a 2012 grant. Some churches can give only $250, while others can give thousands, but it all adds up to support our vital work. Talk to your friends at church and pass along our critical need. I know that one reader forwards his Weekly Update to twenty of his friends every Friday, and maybe one of his friends might be moved to help keep the AAC in full operation. We haven't asked for your help in this way before, but now is a critical time; partner with us if you can.
Now to this week's business at hand.
I was concerned that the following was someone's ill attempt at humor, or a hoax, but in the revisionist TEC diocese of Atlanta, anything is possible. So I called the Church of the Epiphany and asked the receptionist if she was aware of this proposal being put forward under Fr. Pattison's name. Yes, she was. I asked if he was serious about this, and she said "Oh, yes." Honestly, we couldn't make this stuff up - the Diocese of Atlanta moving to restore the heretic Pelagius all on their own! Here is a resolution submitted for consideration at the upcoming annual diocesan council:
Contributions of Pelagius
Whereas the historical record of Pelagius's contribution to our theological tradition is shrouded in the political ambition of his theological antagonists who sought to discredit what they felt was a threat to the empire, and their ecclesiastical dominance, and whereas an understanding of his life and writings might bring more to bear on his good standing in our tradition, and whereas his restitution as a viable theological voice within our tradition might encourage a deeper understanding of sin, grace, free will, and the goodness of God's creation, and whereas in as much as the history of Pelagius represents to some the struggle for theological exploration that is our birthright as Anglicans, Be it resolved, that this 105th Annual Council of the Diocese of Atlanta appoint a committee of discernment overseen by our Bishop, to consider these matters as a means to honor the contributions of Pelagius and reclaim his voice in our tradition And be it further resolved that this committee will report their conclusions at the next Annual Council.
Submitted by the Rev. Benno D. Pattison, Rector, the Church of the Epiphany Diocese of Atlanta, Georgia, USA
I will leave my readers to contemplate the hubris and spiritual arrogance of Fr. Pattison and the Diocese of Atlanta on this one, assuming that the resolution will be accepted.
Last week, we had no sooner reported on the nefarious activity of Bishop Dorsey Henderson and his number one hired attorney gun, Ms. Josephine Hicks, than an announcement came out that due to a possible perceived conflict of interest, she was stepping down for this one case only. Mr. J.B. Burtch, who had previously worked on Title IV investigations concerning Bishop Mark Lawrence, is to take her place. This raises a whole host of issues noted by A.S. Haley in an article we have included in this Update. Please take time to digest what he is saying when you finish my article.
Mary Frances Schjonberg, writing for the Episcopal News Service, advises us that the TEC Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music has agreed to propose to the 2012 General Convention the trial use of same sex blessing rites. They fill up the page with paragraphs on "reflecting" and "discussing" and "reporting," but all that this means is the Titanic is listing so far to the left that water is coming in on deck. One of the phrases that they use in describing trial same sex rites is "generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this church." You should note, however, that this phrase does not apply to anyone who is of contrary opinion.
If we think the church has gone "nuts" over sexuality, apparently so has the Canadian province of Quebec, which has not only decided that homosexuality is a positive good, but that it needs 7 million CD of taxpayer money to combat negative attitudes toward homosexuality.
Spending the taxpayers' money to use against those who hold traditional Christian values isn't far enough for the UK; there is a report that a British Member of Parliament who is a CONSERVATIVE (whatever THAT means!?) is pushing to force religious organizations to perform same-sex marriages or civil unions. MP Mike Weatherly wrote to Prime Minister David Cameron, "As long as religious groups can refuse to preside over ceremonies for same-sex couples, there will be inequality." He goes on to note that such belief and behavior is already prohibited when it comes to other areas such as adoption. The British government already has laws on adoption which are used to discriminate against orthodox Christians and are driving many Roman Catholic adoption agencies out of business. Failure to believe that homosexuality is wonderful is reason enough to deny a couple foster-parent status. The gay and lesbian community is in the ascendancy and is not taking prisoners. It appears that Christians will endure more and more persecution from gay and lesbian activists with the support of the government itself.
It has been said before by others that in the past, when the gay and lesbian activists were less powerful, they argued for toleration and understanding. But as soon as they themselves found power, they dropped the toleration and understanding and demanded "justice" against the moral Christians for their supposed "homophobia." This derisive term, together with the word "hate," are leveled against anyone who doesn't think homosexuality should be actively promoted as a positive good. I believe those of us who are older should continue to fight for the morality of the orthodox Christian faith for the sake of our grandchildren and their right to believe and act in accordance with the Holy Scriptures. This is a fight worth fighting. May the armies of God stand with us and cause us to prevail.
May our Lord Jesus bless and sustain you in your faithful walk with Him.
+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 traveling today and not able to write an article. Back to Top |
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 next week on Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. (ET). 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 a few spots left for the first webinar so don't delay.
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| PA Supreme Court Rejects Pittsburgh Appeal | Source: Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh
On October 17, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied the request of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh to appeal the ruling of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. The following is a letter from Archbishop Duncan to the diocese.
18th October, A.D. 2011
Feast of St. Luke
TO ALL CLERGY AND LAY LEADERS OF THE ANGLICAN DIOCESE:
Dearest Brothers & Sisters in Christ,
I write to you today to inform you that our appeal to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
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Archbishop Duncan
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has been rejected. We accept that the courts have not found in our favor and will, of course, comply with all court orders.
We remain committed to reaching a negotiated settlement with the Episcopal Church diocese. In light of this judgment by the courts, we will redouble that commitment to reaching a final resolution of all issues between the Episcopal Church diocese and the Anglican diocese through negotiation.
We intend to persevere in our mission, which is to be Anglican Christians transforming our world with Jesus Christ. We do this chiefly by planting congregations. As at every annual Convention since realignment, congregations are being added to our diocese both locally and across the country, for which we give thanks to God. We pray God's continued favor on our mission, his grace towards those who remain within the Episcopal Church, and his help for our beloved Communion as we move into the challenges and opportunities of this new millennium. May the Gospel of our Lord Christ find a fresh hearing all across his Church and his world!
Faithfully your Bishop and Archbishop,
The Most Rev. Robert Duncan
Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh
Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America
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Texas: Judge Chupp Sets $100,000 Bond for Ft. Worth Appeal
| Sources: Anglican Curmudgeon
Diocese of Ft. Worth
October 20, 2011
By A.S. Haley
Today, after months and months of fruitless negotiations between the opposing sides,
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Bishop Iker
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Judge Chupp of the 141st District Court in Tarrant County, Texas used his sword to cut through the Gordian knot (h/t: Reader and commenter DDR). At issue was the appropriate amount of bond to fix to guard the plaintiffs (the Potemkin Diocese of Ft. Worth) against any loss or damage to the property of Bishop Jack L. Iker's Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, pending the current appeal to the Texas Supreme Court. The Iker Diocese has posted a good summary of how things went at the hearing:
There is progress to report today in the matter of the supersedeas bond* designed to protect property in the Diocese while the judgment against us is on appeal. After five months of negotiation without reaching agreement on the terms of the bond, attorneys returned to the 141st district court, where the Hon. John Chupp heard arguments and signed an order for a supersedeas bond and certain other injunctions and directives.
In advance of the hearing this morning, lawyers representing each side filed a motion and a new proposed order. The attorneys representing Episcopal Church interests also brought the judge three exhibits and a thick binder of material re-copied from previously-filed documents. As before, their request was for a bond of nearly $1 million.
The existing judgment in the case, if carried out, would give all assets to the local TEC parties. Therefore none of the property can be sold or mortgaged by the diocesan Corporation. Pressing the attorneys for TEC and referring to the Diocese and Corporation, Judge Chupp asked, "What assets do they have [to use for a bond]? ... I'm serious."
After hearing from each side and noting that the 14-page proposed order submitted to him today "is a lot thicker than the one was back in May," the judge returned to the original three-page document presented on May 19, 2011, which he said had been "sitting in my drawer since then." He announced that he already had struck out a paragraph requesting "additional security" for the TEC parties and had entered a figure of $5 million as a benchmark of "fair market rental value" of a select dozen churches in the Diocese - a value presented in May by the TEC attorneys. Lead diocesan attorney Shelby Sharpe explained that no rent ever is paid by churches for use of property owned by the Corporation. Nevertheless, said the judge, the property "does have some value."
Judge Chupp then set the bond at two percent of $5 million, or $100,000, to be paid by Nov. 20, 2011. In addition to the cash amount, the order requires each of the 48 parishes and missions involved in the judgment to present a "monthly summary of the sources, amounts and payees of any and all expenditures ..."
Bishop Iker wishes to thank the members of our legal team for their continued service. He also thanks all those who have prayed for an equitable resolution to this question. He added, "It is a shame that this money will not be used for ministry by either group, but only sit in a bank account for months or years."
The terms of today's order will be in effect as long as our appeal is pending before the Texas courts.
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*A supersedeas bond is a deposit made during an appeal process when the case involves property and the party making the appeal wishes to delay full payment until the process concludes.
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| Church Attorney Recuses Herself (from Lawrence case) | Source: The Living Church
October 14, 2011
Bishop Dorsey Henderson sent this message to members of the Disciplinary Board for Bishops on Oct. 14, and released a copy to The Living Church.
Sisters and Brothers, today I have accepted the withdrawal of Ms. Josephine Hicks
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Ms. Hicks
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from further participation in the matter before us regarding Bishop Mark Lawrence.
Ms. Hicks has withdrawn from all involvement in the Board's investigation and/or consideration of the Bishop Lawrence matter because unanticipated circumstances have created the possibility of a conflict arising regarding fiduciary responsibilities for members of her law firm as matters develop. For reasons of professional responsibility, she is not at liberty to disclose any details concerning that possibility....
Read the rest of the story here.
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The Kangaroo Court Should Resign in Toto
| Source: Anglican Curmudgeon
By A.S. Haley
In the wake of the resignation of Ms. Josephine Hicks as Church Attorney on the +Mark Lawrence matter, Bishop Dorsey Henderson, President of the new Title IV's Disciplinary Board for Bishops, has sent the following announcement to his members (H/T: Doug LeBlanc, Living Church):
Sisters and Brothers,
This message comes with the prayer that you are all well and joyful.
Because I believe that time is of an essence, I have made a command decision and today requested that J.B. Bur[t]ch assume the work of the Church Attorney in the matter of Bishop Mark Lawrence only; Josephine Hicks continues to work with the other allegations on our "docket." Mr. Bur[t]ch has accepted.
J.B. held the equivalent position with the Review Committee under the previous version of Title IV. As "Lay Assessor" to the Review Committee, he did the same work that the "Church Attorney" now does for the Disciplinary Board. While in that position, he did preliminary work on the Bishop Lawrence information, so he is already more than familiar with that information and the task which is now ours.
I have informed Ms. Hicks and she will be in communication with Mr. Burch to arrange for an orderly transfer of that labor and ministry.
Faithfully yours in our Lord, +Dorsey Henderson
Thus Bishop Henderson previously worked with Mr. Jack W. "J. B." Burtch, Jr. (h/t to Milton Finch for correcting the Bishop's misspelling of Mr. Burtch's name) when Bishop Henderson served on the former "Title IV Review Committee" (of which Bishop Waggoner was the chair). And in that capacity, Bishop Henderson tells us, "he did preliminary work on the Bishop Lawrence information . . .". [UPDATE 10/17/2011: On page 801 of the "Blue Book" for the 2009 General Convention, one may read the following: "The Title IV Review Committee, with the assistance and advice of its Lay Assessor, J. B. Burtch, Jr., Esq. (Virginia III), meets as necessary to discharge its responsibilities under Title IV of the Canons of the General Convention with regard to the ecclesiastical discipline of bishops."]
What are we to make of this? It indicates that the so-called allegations of "abandonment" against Bishop Lawrence were on the docket of the former Title IV Review Committee until that body ceased to operate as of July 1, 2011. But if that is the case, they must have been presented with the allegations in June 2011 or earlier -- possibly (as I indicated in an earlier post) as long ago as last September.
One wonders why it took so long for Bishop Lawrence to be informed of the allegations made against him, if that chronology is true. Bishop Henderson did not write to him about them until mid- to late-September of this year -- but now we find out that they had a "Lay Assessor" working on them in the first half of 2011, or possibly earlier? And it is only now -- after the charges have become public -- that Bishop Henderson "believe[s] that time is of the essence"??...
Read the rest of the story here.
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TEC Standing Commission agrees to ask convention for trial use of same-gender blessing rite
| Source: Episcopal News Service
October 17, 2011
By Mary Frances Schjonberg
The Episcopal Church would spend three years using a rite for same-gender blessings and studying its application under a resolution that the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music has agreed to propose to the 2012 meeting of General Convention.
During that same time period the church also would reflect on its understanding of marriage in light of changes in both societal norms and civil law if convention agrees to a related resolution the commission will propose, according to the Rev. Ruth Meyers, SCLM chair.
The SCLM's decisions are the outcome of 18 months of work in response to General Convention's mandate (via Resolution C056) that it work with the House of Bishops to collect and develop theological resources and liturgies for blessing same-gender relationships, and report to the 77th General Convention in 2012 in Indianapolis.
The commission will present convention with 176 pages of material, including a rite of blessing, a theological essay on the issues involved in blessing same-gender relationships, a pastoral resource to guide clergy and trained lay people who would prepare same-gender couples to receive a blessing (the church requires heterosexual couples to engage in pre-marital counseling as well) and a discussion guide for helping congregations and other groups to discuss the rite and other materials.
The resolution that would authorize a three-year trial use of the liturgy also will ask for the continuation of the "generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this church," called for in C056, Meyers said, including allowing for adaptation of the rite for local use. And, the resolution would have the commission report to the 2015 meeting of convention on how all the materials are used....
Read the rest of the story here.
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England: Reform calls on church leaders to publicly back marriage
| Source: Anglican Mainstream
October 20, 2011
Church of England clergy need to take "urgent and significant and steps" publicly to speak out in support of marriage as being between one man and one woman, said Reform chairman Rev'd Rod Thomas at the network's annual conference this week.
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Mr. Thomas
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Mr Thomas encouraged church leaders to do "everything within their power" to oppose Government attempts to "redefine marriage" to include relationships between homosexuals. "This is a generation-defining moment," he said. "When the history books are written we will want to be known as those who spoke up publicly for Jesus's teaching on marriage and against any Government attempts to redefine this God-given institution."
"Our churches, our communities and especially our children need us to provide both clarity and compassion in this age of confusion surrounding sexual identity and relationships."
Mr Thomas praised Roman Catholic bishops who have spoken so clearly in support of marriage, and encouraged their Anglican counterparts to be as bold: "Many of our bishops support the Bible's teaching on marriage. Well now we want to hear them say so publicly, loud and clear."
Acknowledging that Reform's own clergy may not have always publicly promoted marriage as clearly as they should, Mr Thomas urged the network's 1,600-strong membership to act now in advance of the Government's consultation on homosexual marriage in March 2012....
Read the rest of the story here.
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The Chicago Consultation Does South Africa
| Source: StandFirm
October 19, 2011
By Matt Kennedy
...The Chicago Consultation, which is a front group for liberal activists and ideologues, is co-sponsoring a conference in South Africa with the "The Ujamaa Centre" which bills itself as,
"an interface between socially engaged biblical and theological scholars, organic intellectuals, and local communities of the poor, working-class, and marginalised..."
I've never met an "organic intellectual" before but I will assume they are locally grown.
The conference is the latest in a series of attempts by North American liberal activists to export western sexual fads to Africa. Homosexuality is inherently narcissistic - ah, to be with someone just like me - which may explain why political/theological liberals, who love nothing more than undermining the moral fabric of non-western societies in order to recreate them in their own image, are so drawn to it.
The method by which this purpose will be forced forward in this particular conference is, of course, indaba....
Read the rest of the story here.
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Quebec pledges $7 million to combat 'negative attitudes' against homosexuality
| Source: LifeSite News
October 19, 2011
By Patrick B. Craine
QUEBEC - The Quebec government's all-out campaign to normalize homosexuality, labeled a "war" on traditional morality by pro-family critics, is going full-steam ahead with their announcement this week that they will disburse $400,000 to homosexual activist groups. All told, the government says it intends to distribute $3.6 million to these groups over the next five years.
The funding, part of $7 million the government has allocated towards the "anti-homophobia" campaign, is available to groups dedicated to combating "homophobic attitudes and behavior." They are eligible for up to $50,000 for projects lasting two years, and must apply by December 1st....
Read the rest of the story here.
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