"A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger."
Proverbs 15:1 KJ21
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Message from Bishop David Anderson
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Bishop and MaryAnne Anderson
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Dearly Beloved in Christ, Last week I wrote in part about the gay and lesbian backlash against Chick-fil-A restaurants after its president voiced his support for traditional marriage (i.e. one man-one woman for life). I mentioned that many were planning on showing their support on August 1 for Dan Cathy, president of Chick-fil-A, and his free speech and freedom of religion rights to speak of his belief on the subject. According to many reports, lines at most Chick-fil-As were very long and some of the franchisees ran out of chicken or other supplies. Some people were there to support the traditional marriage stand of Dan Cathy, others were there because they wanted to support the right of free speech or the right to freedom of religion, and others were there because they felt it was wrong to punish a business for the stance of one of its owners. All in all a powerful statement was made. It has become commonplace for the militant homosexual activists and their supporters to label as hate speech any disagreement with their push for full normalization and legal status of everything they advocate. If you stop short of full agreement with them you are hateful, your speech is hate speech, and you have no right to be heard. If you have a job or business, that, too, should be punished so you lose your job and livelihood. The true goal is to silence anyone and everyone who does not fully approve of sex between men or sex between women, with or without marriage. This becomes a real problem on several levels. One level is that it denies individuals of their freedom of speech and freedom of religion. On another level, it denies everyone the platform for open and respectful civil discourse on subjects of interest and importance to the common life of the community. Todd Starnes has written an interesting opinion piece on this subject.
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In a perfect world, which admittedly we seldom approach, every child would grow up being nurtured by both a loving father and a loving mother in an intact, stable family. Little boys need to experience the femininity of their mother as well as other women in the family, and very much need to experience healthy masculinity from their father and other men in their life. Having both is the best scenario for a boy to learn how to be a good and responsible husband to his future wife, faithful to her and supportive of the family they raise together. The same can be said for a little girl. She needs to see healthy femininity modeled by her mother as well as other women in her family, and healthy masculinity modeled by her father and other men in her family. Having both is the best scenario for her as well to learn how to be a good and responsible wife to her future husband, faithful to him and supportive of the family that they raise together. If only all children could experience this ideal! When a single parent raises her or his child or children alone, it is simply harder, and there is less modeling available. To those parents who have had to fill both sets of shoes, or who are doing it now, may God come alongside you and assist you in every way, because it isn't easy....
Read the rest of Bishop Anderson's article here.
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The Chaplain's Corner
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 | | Canon Ashey |
By The Rev. Canon Phil Ashey
Chief Operating and Development Officer, American Anglican Council
Will a new Archbishop of Canterbury change the status quo?
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Many Anglicans around the world are wondering: "Will the appointment of a new Archbishop of Canterbury provide new leadership that effectively
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Archbishop Williams
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addresses the crisis in the Anglican Communion?" "Now that the proposed Anglican Covenant is dead-eviscerated of its disciplinary provisions and unsupported by the Church of England- what will a new Archbishop of Canterbury do to address the crisis precipitated by The Episcopal Church (TEC) and Anglican Church of Canada's (ACoC) violation of Lambeth Resolution 1.10?" "What will the new Archbishop of Canterbury do to preserve the faith and order of the Anglican Communion over and against the continuing election of non-celibate gays and lesbians as bishops in TEC, the permission for same sex blessings in certain ACoC dioceses, and now the approval of provisional rites for same sex blessings in TEC?" "Will the new Archbishop of Canterbury work with the Primates of the Communion together to preserve faith and order-or will he continue to dialogue it to death through phony "continuing Indaba?"
The prognosis is not good for effective Communion leadership through Canterbury, for the following reasons:
1. The process for appointing a new Archbishop of Canterbury is a vestige of British colonialism.
The Church of England has a unique process for selecting the Archbishop of Canterbury. Let me say that were the Archbishop of Canterbury only the leader of the Church of England and not the leader of the Anglican Communion there would be fewer concerns about the selection process. As it is, each communion province is an independent province with its own unique processes for selecting its leadership. However, the Archbishop of Canterbury is not only the leader of the Church of England but is also, for all intents and purposes, the leader of the Anglican Communion.
With that in mind I think it appropriate to call in to question the process by which he next ABC will be selected....
Read the rest of Canon Ashey's article here.
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Americans flock to support Chick-fil-A
| Source: Worldnetdaily
August 1, 2012
By Joe Kovacs
STUART, Fla. - Across the country today, Americans are flocking to Chick-fil-A restaurants in a national show of support for the eatery after the company's president publicly stated his support for the biblical definition of marriage between one man and one woman....
The Washington-area office of WND [WorldNetDaily] ordered Chick-fil-A for the entire
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AAC employees Mary Orr and Phil Ashey at Chick-fil-A in Atlanta, GA
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staff - for breakfast and lunch!
What they found were long lines of cheerful people not concerned about the long waits of up to 30 minutes to get served.
"People were there for more than food today," said WND founder Joseph Farah. "They were there to make a statement. They were there to show their support for the Cathy family for standing up for righteous values in the face of tremendous bigotry, hatred and opposition. And they were there to stand up for marriage as an institution between one man and one woman."...
The rest of the article may be found here.
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Chick-fil-A confirms 'record-setting day'on 'Appreciation Day'
| Source: Fox News
August 2, 2012
Chick-fil-A announced Thursday morning that supporters who flocked to the restaurant for "Appreciation Day" propelled the company to a "record-setting day."
The statement confirmed anecdotal claims that the long lines seen at Chick-fil-A's across the country Wednesday fueled unprecedented sales. The turnout came after CEO Dan Cathy came under fire in some circles for his opposition to same-sex marriage.
 "We are very grateful and humbled by the incredible turnout of loyal Chick-fil-A customers on August 1 at Chick-fil-A restaurants around the country. We congratulate local Chick-fil-A Owner/Operators and their team members for striving to serve each and every customer with genuine hospitality," the company said in a statement. "While we don't release exact sales numbers, we can confirm reports that it was a record-setting day."
Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor and Fox News host who initially made the call for patrons to show up for "Appreciation Day," also said Thursday that the turnout went beyond "anything I could have imagined."...
The rest of the article may be found here.
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All Saints Pawleys Island may go ACNA
| Source: Anglican Ink
July 30, 2012
By George Conger
The flagship parish of the Anglican Mission in America - All Saints Pawleys Island - is set to vote at a special parish meeting this fall on its rector's proposal the congregation join the Anglican Church in North America.
The Rev. Robert L. Grafe, Jr., rector of the founding parish of the AMiA, told Anglican  | |
All Saints Parishioners
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Ink his congregation was entering a "season of prayer and discernment."
He noted that a "change in affiliation requires an amendment to our by-laws and a parish vote," which could take place later this year.
In a 27 July 2012 letter to the congregation, Mr. Grafe wrote that in the wake of the December split within the AMiA "it became clear that there would be other Anglican options for affiliation to consider."...
On All Saints Day (November 1, 2012) the congregation will hold a special parish meeting to consider an amendment to its bylaws that would allow it to affiliate with the ACNA, he said. In the meantime: "Pray for those with whom you disagree. Practice forbearance! Participate in the life of the church and refuse to withdraw," he said, reminding the congregation not to be "afraid. Jesus is Lord of His Church and this is a time of coming together."
The rest of the article may be found here.
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The Latest from the Diocese of South Carolina
| Source:Anglican Ink
July 30, 2012
By Kevin Kallsen
The following letter from the Rev. Canon Jim Lewis, Canon to the Ordinary, summarizing the July 25 meeting Bishop Lawrence held with the clergy of the Diocese of South Carolina was sent to the active clergy July 30, 2012.
Dear Brother and Sister Clergy,
On Wednesday, July 25th, the Rt. Rev. Mark J. Lawrence met with the clergy of the
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Bishop Lawrence
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Diocese of South Carolina at St. Paul's Church, in Summerville, to discuss decisions made at General Convention 2012 and their significance for us as a diocese. In particular, he shared the address he made to the House of Bishops, while in executive session, announcing his decision to depart from Convention with five members of our deputation.
The central purpose of his presentation to the Bishops was to convey his understanding that with the passage of Resolutions D002 and D019 (making all possible variations of "gender identity and gender expression" protected categories in the canons of the church), and the adoption of authorized provisional rites to bless same gender relationships, the doctrine, discipline and worship of this church have been profoundly changed.
He told the Bishops that the magnitude of these changes was such that he could no longer in good conscience continue in the business of the Convention. In fact, he was left with the grave question of whether he could continue as a bishop of an institution that had adopted such changes. It was with that question on the table that he took his leave from the House of Bishops.
Since that time, and in the gathering of the Diocesan Clergy, the Bishop stated that he believes the Episcopal Church has crossed a line he cannot personally cross. He also expressed to the clergy that though he might act one way if he were a priest in a diocese, as a Bishop he feels deeply his vow before God to faithfully lead and shepherd the Diocese of South Carolina. Both dimensions of this dilemma weigh upon him at this time.
The Bishop has asked for a period of grace as he prayerfully seeks the face of the Lord, and asks for God's direction (Psalm 27:7-9,14 or BCP Ps 27: 10-13, 18). He left yesterday evening, July 29, to begin several weeks of vacation. It will be a time spent on mountaintops and in deserts where the Bishop will seek refreshment and discernment. Upon his return at the end of August he will meet with the Standing Committee and the clergy of the diocese to share that discernment and his sense of the path forward.
In the interim, the Bishop has asked that we hold this process in our prayers and pledge that there will be "no golden calves" or departures during his absence. Those present heartily agreed to both requests. He would also encourage the clergy as they are able to gather in deaneries for prayer and intercession. I commend the prayers below as pillars around which to order your prayers for the Diocese in the coming weeks.
The Rev. Canon Jim Lewis
Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina
Canon to the Ordinary
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Anglican Mission Inaugural Assembly Adopts Constitution
| Source: Anglican Mission
August 1, 2012
Contact: H.G. Miller
ATLANTA - The Anglican Mission today formally adopted its Constitution in a celebratory Inaugural Assembly, which marked the last step in a 15-month process toward formation of A Society of Mission and Apostolic Faith. A group of 156 individuals gathered for the event held at the Renaissance Concourse Airport Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, July 31-August 1, which began with a worship service Tuesday evening and continued with the business session on Wednesday....
During Wednesday's business session, assembly participants reviewed, discussed and adopted the Constitution, and a majority present declared their membership in the Mission Society. Archbishop Yong Ping Chung, on behalf of the College of Consultors, announced the appointment of Bishop Murphy as the first Apostolic Vicar of the Society....
The rest of the article may be found here.
Editor's Note: Below is a helpful summary of this event by B. Gauthier:
Yesterday at its inaugural assembly in Atlanta, the Anglican Mission officially rebooted as "A Society of Mission and Apostolic Faith" by ratifying a new constitution. This completes its process of becoming a missionary society that will operate independently as a complementary alternative to the traditional institutional church model. The new Society will be under the direct authority of the three now-retired archbishops who were instrumental in forming AMiA a dozen years ago. Their first order of business was to appoint Bp. Chuck Murphy as Vicar General of the new reorganized society.
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Syria: Dual threat to Christians from sectarian conflict
| Source: Church Times
August 3, 2012
By Gerald Butt
The growing intensity of the conflict in Syria, and the increasing signs of the rebels' success, are leaving the country's Christian minority in a doubly dangerous position. Like all civilians, they are caught in the crossfire; and they are also at risk from the way in which the rebels are being boosted by Islamic extremist fighters.
It is impossible to say how many Christians are among the 17,000 people who have been killed, or the 120,000 who have been forced to flee their homes, but there are indications that many thousands are being affected by the conflict.
The Barnabas Fund, which supports Christians where they are in a minority and suffer discrimination, says that "tens of thousands of Christians have been driven from their cities by threats and violence. Almost the entire Christian populations of Homs and Qusayr have fled to surrounding villages or further afield. . . They are in urgent need of food and other essentials."
There is also danger facing Christians from the rebel movement's being aided by Islamic extremist soldiers from Syria and surrounding countries. As the Barnabas Fund says: "The opposition forces and the militant groups that support them are largely hostile to Christians, believing them to be supporters of the government. An Islamist takeover is likely to generate further violence against Christians."...
The rest of the article may be found here.
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Why Christians are dying in Nigeria: understanding Boko Haram
| Source: Mission Network News
August 1, 2012
Nigeria - They're responsible for murdering 32 people on Christmas Day. They set off 10 car bombs in 24 hours to kill over 250 people. They've owned up to bombings, drive-by shootings, anti-Christian and anti-government warfare. For the last several months, they've aimed deathly explosives at churches on an almost weekly basis.
Hundreds have died at the hands of this terror group, but who exactly are they?
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Nigeria
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After all the talk on Mission Network News about Boko Haram targeting Nigerian Christians, we wanted to give our readers and listeners a profile of this terror sect. With Ramadan still in its beginning days, this is a crucial time to understand and pray.
Findings vary about when the Boko Haram (translated "Western education is a sin") was started, but dates vary between the mid 1990s and 2002. In a special report on the threats of Boko Haram to the United States, the U.S. House of Representatives noted that Boko Haram began as a religious study group. But when Nigerian civil service worker Mohammad Yusef took over, the group made a radical shift. In no time, they were calling themselves the Nigerian Taliban.
From 2002 to 2009, Boko Haram laid moderately low, engaging in only small scale run-ins with local police. But in July 2009, Boko Haram members launched an attack against a police station, resulting in a five-day stand-off and over 700 deaths.
Although the group was forced underground after that pestilent encounter, in 2010 they re-emerged more radical and violent than ever before. Most agree the group has gained a great deal of outside funding, and violence has been escalating ever since....
The rest of the article may be found here.
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