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"He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his life, but he that openeth wide his lips shall meet destruction." Proverbs 13:3 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, In England, the General Synod of the Church of England (CofE) has been meeting and seeking a way forward on the troublesome issue of women bishops - that is, to have them or not to have them. Everyone seems to feel that women bishops will be approved eventually, but at what cost? Those in favor see it as a justice and fairness issue: men can be bishops, so its only fair to let women be bishops, too. Added to the equation is an ongoing tally of probable votes. No one wants to advance the issue to the point of a vote if they feel they might lose and suffer a significant setback. The reality is that if it is approved without realistic, binding safeguards for those who oppose women bishops (a position represented by Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches as well) those clergy and laity may well break with the CofE and leave. Or, many in the middle who don't want them to leave may vote "not now," and cause the vote to fail. Various proposals have been and are being discussed, and Archbishop Rowan Williams, in a moment of clear and lucid speech, addressed the issue at this link. Proposals to have some churches report to male bishops instead of the local female diocesan seem, in the mind of some, to denigrate the women's office of bishop. Proposals to have the women bishops have a male bishop assisting them for such congregations would put safeguarding the entire process at the whim of the local bishop, who might decide she didn't want to make such provision. Some parts of the Anglican Communion, notably the American Episcopal Church (TEC) do have women bishops, while the majority of the Anglican global provinces do not.
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There is good news in New York regarding a concern I mentioned previously, that New York City was poised to prohibit churches from renting school facilities for worship during non-school days. This would have resulted in the possible eviction of hundreds of churches in greater New York City. Now, the New York State Senate seems to be coming to the churches' rescue. The New York Senate passed Senate Bill S6087 by a vote of 52-7 on Monday. If the Senate bill reaches Gov. Andrew Cuomo's desk and receives his signature before Feb. 19, the congregations would be allowed to continue to meet in schools without any disruption. Otherwise, this coming Sunday will be the final day that religious organizations will be allowed to use space in the schools. See this article.
The President of the United States, Barack Obama, is trying to force the Roman Catholic Church to provide certain health care features, such as birth control, in their health insurance coverage to all of the employees of their affiliated organizations such as hospitals, universities, etc. The Roman Catholic Church has never been willing to accept birth control, and to use it is considered a sin, yet President Obama is trying to jam this down the Catholic Church's throat. For him and other ultra-liberals, it is a fairness issue and a justice issue as well as a health care issue. Although Anglicans don't, by and large, hold the same position on birth control, we must stand with our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters as they resist the government's attempt to force organizations associated with a church to cave in on this issue. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida has introduced the "Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 2012" (S.2043). His bill's intention is to look after religious institution's legitimate faith needs and to defend your right of conscience. This is not a Republican vs. Democrat issue, it is a people of faith issue vs. those who wish to make our faith subservient to the government rather than God. You might want to let your senators and representatives know of your support of S.2043. This is Chapter One, now for Chapter Two.
Frank York, writing for Christian Response Alerts, reports that "Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who heads up the Roman Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services, has sent a letter of concern over ObamaCare that he has asked be read at all Sunday Masses for military personnel around the world." Similar letters were read at masses in Catholic parishes all over the US at the request of their Archbishops, and Archbishop Broglio was simply directing that the same be done at the military masses under his jurisdiction. You can read Archbishop Broglio's letter here.
According to Jeffrey, the message from the archbishop touched off a controversy both in and outside the military when the Army's Office of the Chief of Chaplains told the service's senior chaplains that Catholic priests serving as Army chaplains should be told not to read the archbishop's letter from the pulpit.
The Archdiocese for the Military Services has described that move as a violation of the archbishop's First Amendment rights as well as the First Amendment rights of the Catholic chaplains involved and their congregations. After "vigorous fellowship" with the Secretary of the Army, Archbishop Broglio obtained agreement to have the letter read, but one phrase was not to be read aloud because it "could be misunderstood in a military environment." Read the full report on cnsnews.com at this link.
This is shaping up to be a real power struggle over the right of churches to live out their historic belief and be able to speak it clearly to those who belong to their faith, including the military. Does this affect the military's ability to maintain full command and control? Yes, it certainly does, but as a nation, do we want to muzzle a major denomination such as the Roman Catholic Church so that the church's teachings don't contradict the unconstitutional power grabbing of the commander in chief? We should all remember that in considering God and Country, God comes first, country comes second. That simply is the way it is for all who call themselves Christian, not just for Roman Catholics. Let's pray for Rubio's bill and the situation in the military, before things get really stupid and damage is done that can't be undone.
Have a blessed weekend, and keep these thoughts in mind.
+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
Chief Operating and Development Officer, American Anglican Council
Canon Ashey is traveling today, and will not write an article.
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Obama administration offers "accommodation" on birth control
| Source: USA Today
February 10, 2012
By Richard Wolf
President Obama announced a plan today that attempts to accommodate certain religious employers opposed to a rule that would require them to provide access to birth control for women free of charge. Obama announced that the rule would be tweaked so that in cases where non-profit religious organizations have objections, insurance companies would be required to reach out to employees and offer the coverage directly.
"Under the rule, women will still have access to free preventive care that includes contraceptive service no matter where they work," Obama said. "That core principle remains.
"But if a woman's employer is a charity or a hospital that has a religious objection to providing contraceptive services as part of their health plan, the insurance company -- not the hospital, not the charity -- will be required to reach out and offer the woman contraceptive care free of charge without co-pays, without hassle."
With that distinction, those organizations won't have to provide the coverage, pay for it or refer their employees to it. The requirement will rest with insurers....
White House officials took pains to avoid the word "compromise," noting that under the accommodation, no woman who wants access to contraceptives should be denied.
Experts on religion said the accommodation isn't enough. "It's a shell game," says Robert Destro, law professor at Catholic University....
The rest of the article may be found here.
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Texas: Brief asks Court to establish Neutral Principles in Texas
| Source: Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth (ACNA)
February 6, 2012
In a 49-page brief filed today with the Texas State Supreme Court, attorneys for the  Diocese, Corporation, and congregations asked the Court to uphold several previous Appellate Court decisions and establish Neutral Principles as the method for resolving church property disputes in the state.
Neutral Principles, accepted in 36 states and approved by the U.S. Supreme Court since 1979, is a method of settling questions of church property ownership using the same rules that govern ownership of other types of private property, and it removes courts from wading into doctrinal disputes.
The brief also asked the Court to reverse the Fort Worth trial court's February 2011 decision in favor of the Episcopal parties' claims to diocesan property, and instead to uphold well-established state codes on trust instruments and non-profit corporations. The brief asks the Court to grant the Diocese's summary judgment claims and prevent a hostile takeover of diocesan property by outside parties.
The brief concludes:
If given a chance, this case might have been settled amicably with five or six churches leaving the Diocese with their church buildings intact and the vast majority continuing in it. But that opportunity was lost when TEC demanded everything held by anybody, even if that included local churches where TEC had not a single adherent. Based on the deeds, the church constitutions and canons, and Neutral Principles of Texas law, the Plaintiffs are not entitled to any of this.
This case is not a contest about which bishop or group TEC can claim as its own; it is about what property TEC can claim as its own. The only way it can take property it has never owned or paid for is if Texas courts defer to whatever TEC says - even if that is contrary to its own church rules. Under Neutral Principles of Texas law, the Defendants are entitled to summary judgment against the Plaintiffs' claims.
Following today's filing, the TEC parties have until Feb. 27 to submit a reply; a response from the Diocese is due by March 13. Oral argument has been requested; a date has not yet been set by the Court.
Read the Brief:
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| Holland: Mobile euthanasia units activated next month | Source: MailOnline
February 10, 2012
By Simon Caldwell
The world's first mobile team to administer euthanasia in patients' homes will be launched next month. Units will be dispatched when family doctors refuse to administer lethal drugs on 'ethical' grounds.
They are expected to send the number of euthanasia cases in Holland soaring, with pro-campaigners claiming they will end the lives of an additional 1,000 patients a year. Officially, 2,700 Dutch people a year choose assisted suicide, but critics say the real figure is far higher.
The launch of the first unit, which will consist of at least a doctor and a nurse, was confirmed on Radio Netherlands by the country's Right to Die Association.
The group confirmed the unit in The Hague will be the first of six that will target borderline cases in which family GPs are reluctant to administer euthanasia....
In Holland, euthanasia is carried out by administering a strong sedative to put the patient in a coma, followed by a drug to stop breathing and cause death. The Dutch government insists 'the greatest care' is taken to offer euthanasia only to patients 'who are suffering unbearably with no prospect of improvement'.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, said in a General Synod debate this week that it would be a 'disaster' if assisted suicide was legalised in Britain.
'To change the law on this subject is, I believe, to change something vital in our sense of the value of life itself,' he said.
The rest of the article may be found here.
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CAPA Communiqué
| Source: Anglican Communion News Service
February 8, 2012
The Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa has challenged itself to harness untapped resources and strengthen intra-continental relationships to benefit God's mission.
In a Communiqué issued at the end of the 11th CAPA Council meeting in Burundi, the regional body stated that: "We are convinced that working together in mutual trust and love strengthens our capacity to bring in a transformative energy that will unlock our potential from which hope and new possibilities will emerge.
"We explored various mechanisms for mutual strengthening and collaboration in intra-
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The newly-elected officers of CAPA (photo credit Anglican Church of Burundi)
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continental partnerships in pursuit of our calling in Christ under the theme, 'Harnessing our unity to unlock our potential and secure our future.'"
It went on: "In fulfilling the objectives of our strategic plan namely the promotion of compassionate and accountable leadership; community health, HIV and AIDS; healing, forgiveness and renewal for just and peaceful societies; stewardship of resources, advancing critical theological reflection and action; and advocacy, we recognise the vast untapped resources within the continent. We challenge ourselves to explore mechanisms for optimally harnessing these various categories of resources for mission at different levels."
The statement called on Provinces and dioceses to act to ensure greater participation of young people in the life of the Church. It also recognised the need for strengthening the role of theological institutions in equipping lay and ordinands for effective ministry and supporting in-service training programmes for clergy and bishops.
However, the statement also highlighted those issues that were of concern to CAPA including the fragile nature of many of the states across Africa; the tension between Muslims and Christians; the "destructive impact" of small arms in the hands of civilians; and the recurrance of famine in the continent.
The Resolutions issued along with the Communiqué included the acceptance of the Strategic Plan for the next five years; the establishment of the Anglican Alliance as a "framework for facilitating and strengthening responses to emergencies, disasters and global advocacy initiatives"; an endorsement of UMOJA and Primary Healthcare models; and an agreement to strengthen the Communications Department.
ENDS
The Communiqué and Resolutions can be read below:
Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (C A P A)
Eleventh Council Meeting
Bujumbura, Burundi, February 2012
Communiqué
Preamble: We, the delegates representing the Provinces of Burundi, Central Africa, Congo, the Indian Ocean, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa and the Diocese of Egypt of the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA), gathered at Hotel Source du Nil, Bujumbura, Burundi between 4th and 8th February 2012 for the eleventh General Meeting of Council under the chairmanship of the Most Revd Ian Ernest hereby issue this communiqué. We have met as representatives of the Anglicans to affirm our oneness in the Body of Christ. We renewed our commitment to individual and collective witness to Christ in our respective contexts on the continent.
We are convinced that working together in mutual trust and love strengthens our capacity to bring in a transformative energy that will unlock our potential from which hope and new possibilities will emerge. We explored various mechanisms for mutual strengthening and collaboration in intra-continental partnerships in pursuit of our calling in Christ under the theme, 'Harnessing our unity to unlock our potential and secure our future.'
1. We had the opportunity to fellowship with our brothers and sisters of the Province of Burundi and celebrated the Eucharist together at Holy Trinity Cathedral. We are extremely grateful for the warm welcome and hospitality shown to us by the Primate of the Anglican Church of Burundi, The Most Rev Bernard Ntahoturi; the Bishop of Bujumbura, the Rt. Rev. Pie Ntukamazina and the local support team. We are also thankful for the words of welcome expressed by the Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon. Eduard Nduwimana, on behalf of the Government of Burundi....
The rest of the article may be found here.
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England: Women bishops law must not be changed, say campaigners
| Source: BBC News
February 9, 2012
By Trevor Timpson
Supporters of women bishops in the Church of England have hailed the latest General Synod vote but warned against further changes to the plan. A leading campaigner regretted the Archbishop of Canterbury's remark that "some bits of fine tuning" were needed.
The Church's ruling body said the House of Bishops could make some amendments to the law before a final vote in July. One opponent of women bishops said that if nothing was changed before then there would be a "train crash".
When the final vote on creating female bishops is held in July, the proposed law will require two-thirds majorities. The legislation as it stands would allow traditionalist parishes to have the right of access to an alternative male bishop appointed by a woman diocesan bishop. Opponents of women bishops fear that this means the alternative bishop would derive their authority from the woman bishop.
An amendment before the synod on Wednesday aimed to define the alternative bishops' authority in such a way that it did not derive from that of the woman diocesan bishop. Supporters of women bishops reject such a move, saying it will mean the woman bishop did not have full authority in her own diocese. The amendment, moved by Manchester diocese, was rejected by the synod, but it did allow for the House of Bishops to amend the legislation further.
Only the House of Bishops, which meets in May, has the authority to amend the legislation now. In July the General Synod must either accept or reject the law without further amendment....
The rest of the article may be found here.
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