"You are My witnesses," declares the Lord, "And My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me." Isaiah 43:10 NASB
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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,
The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts Schori, has once again publicly announced that a bishop has renounced his ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church (TEC). The problem is that Bishop Mark Lawrence of South Carolina didn't renounce his ordained orders in TEC - he was shoved out by Jefferts Schori and her gang. At the time charges were brought against him, he was still committed to meeting with her again in New York along with the bishop of Upper South Carolina, as part of a reconciliation effort. Without cancelling the New York City appointment or waiting for the meeting to take place, her office announced his suspension and the placing of charges against him. This triggered pre-existing legislation in the Diocese of South Carolina that took the Diocese and Bishop Lawrence out of TEC.
Jefferts Schori's announcement on December 5 occurred only a few days before Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, when we remember the sneak attack by the Imperial Navy of Japan on the United States' naval base in Honolulu, Hawaii. Jefferts Schori's claim to have accepted Bishop Lawrence's "renunciation" shows that, in an ecclesiastical way, even the church - or at least the Episcopal Church - is capable of sneak attacks designed to put someone underwater before they know the blow is coming. |
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The truth, of course, is that Bishop Lawrence knew she intended to do him harm, but the first time she tried, she didn't succeed, and Bishop Lawrence then agreed to a series of mediation efforts. It turns out that this was just a ploy on her part to divert his attention. The play book she is using is one she has developed over the last several years and she is confident that she can do what she wants to whomever she wants and she will get away with it. The Anglican Curmudgeon, A.S. Haley, has written a clear analysis that is worth your read, and you can find it here. Those in leadership in the Episcopal Church should note that their freedom of speech and thought no longer exist under Title IV Canons and Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori's rule; the next sneak attack may well target you. Although I am now in the Anglican Church in North America, I am concerned for and hold up in prayer many friends who are still in TEC, and pray that none of them will be the next victim.
From the opposite coast we do have some good news, although it is not all good. The Oregon State Supreme Court has ruled that the Presbyterian version of the Dennis Canon has no effect. In a case of Hope Presbyterian Church of Rogue River versus the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Presbytery of the Cascades, the high court ruled that denominational trust clauses do not automatically encumber local church property unless the local church takes explicit steps to place a lien or trust on their property in favor of the denomination. This is simple common sense and what is amazing is that so many judges and courts seem blind to the obvious. Only the owners of property can alienate it, and the owners are shown by the names on titles, deeds and bills of sale.
This ruling is good news indeed for many Presbyterian and Episcopalian/Anglican churches which are leaving or may consider leaving their denomination. Unfortunately for Hope Presbyterian Church, at some point they apparently did add an amendment to their bylaws creating a trust on their property in favor of the denomination, and it would seem from the high court's ruling that it either wasn't rescinded properly, or simply wasn't rescinded at all. The net effect is that the ruling went against them in the matter of their property, but against the Presbytery and the denomination with regard to their assertion of the denomination's right to the property absent a specific lien or trust. Although we grieve with the people of Hope Presbyterian over the church property that they held title to, we pray that the larger ruling will bring relief to churches caught up in litigious attack by the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Episcopal Church (TEC), to name but two denominations that have afflicted their own members and former members.
The ecclesiastical reign of terror that the current Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church has unleashed against her own people and churches may run as long as 2015, when her term ends. Alternatively, those Episcopal bishops who are concerned about truth, fairness, honesty, good government and true Anglican comprehensiveness will have ample opportunity to resist her efforts during the remaining three years, if they are willing. If they don't organize and resist, she will pick them off until they are all gone. Perhaps I'm an optimist, but I want to believe that at some point enough of them will stand up and resist, and that at least the climate of fear and suppression of free speech will cease. Whether the denomination can finally be saved has a great deal to do with whether repentance, re-direction, and re-dedication to core Christian principles can ever be effected.
We are now in Advent, and as such we have an opportunity to think about Jesus Christ's return to earth, and about our own personal state of preparedness for either that return, or our own death if his return should delay. May the peace, not of this world, but that of the Lord which passes all human understanding, abide with you and assist you in this season of preparation.
Blessings and peace in Christ Jesus,
+David
The Rt. Rev. David C. Anderson, Sr.
President and CEO, American Anglican Council
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| Message from Canon Ashey: Anglican Perspective |
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Canon Ashey
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December 7, 2012 Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori doesn't play by the rules. Specifically, she and her Council of Advice decided that the Bishop of South Carolina had renounced his orders as a bishop without following the canons, or laws, of the church. For example, the church's canons state that in order to renounce your orders, one must do so "in writing." The Bishop of South Carolina never wrote the Presiding Bishop, or any one for that matter, claiming to renounce his orders. This is just one example of the current state of lawlessness in The Episcopal Church. Canon Phil Ashey reflects on these recent events in this week's Anglican Perspective. View this week's Anglican Perspective here.
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TEC Presiding Bishop "accepts Lawrence's renunciation"
| Source: The Episcopal Church
December 5, 2012
Citing Title III, Canon 12, Section 7 of the Constitutions and Canons of The Episcopal
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Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori
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Church, and following thorough discussion with the Council of Advice, with their advice and consent, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has accepted the renunciation of the ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church of Mark Lawrence as made in his public address on November 17 and she has released him from his orders in this Church.
The Presiding Bishop made the announcement December 5. The Presiding Bishop informed Lawrence by phone, email and mail on December 5. Following that, the House of Bishops was notified.
According to the documents, Lawrence "is therefore removed from the Ordained Ministry of this Church and released from the obligations of all Ministerial offices, and is deprived of the right to exercise the gifts and spiritual authority as a Minister of God's Word and Sacraments conferred on him in Ordinations. This action is taken for causes that do not affect his moral character."
The renunciation is effective immediately on December 5.
The renunciation was consented to by the members of the Presiding Bishop's Council of Advice, who are the presidents or vice presidents of the nine Provinces of the Episcopal Church: Bishops Stephen Lane of Maine (Province I), Lawrence Provenzano of Long Island (Province II), Neff Powell of Southwestern Virginia (Province III), Dabney Smith of Southwest Florida (Province IV); Wayne Smith of Missouri (Province V), Rob O'Neill of Colorado (Province VI), Larry Benfield of Arkansas (Province VII), James Mathes of San Diego (Province VIII) and Francisco Duque of Colombia (Province IX). Also members of the Council of Advice are Bishop Dean Wolfe of Kansas, vice president of the House of Bishops and Bishop Clay Matthews of the Office of Pastoral Development. Note: Bishop Dabney Smith was not present at the meeting because of illness....
The rest of the article may be found here.
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Bishop Lawrence Writes Regarding Claimed "Renunciation"
| Source: Diocese of South Carolina
December 5, 2012
Dear Friends in Christ,
"For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake." 2 Corinthians 4:5
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Bishop Lawrence
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The Presiding Bishop called me this afternoon to inform me that she and her council of advice have "accepted my renunciation of ordained ministry." I listened quietly, asked a question or two and then told her it was good to hear her voice. I did not feel any need to argue or rebut. It is the Presiding Bishop's crossing of the T's and dotting of the I's-for their paper work, not my life. I could point out the canonical problems with what they have done contrary to the canons of The Episcopal Church but to what avail? TEC will do what they will do regardless of canonical limitations. Those canonical problems are already well documented by others and hardly need further documentation by me. She and her advisers will say I have said what I have not said in ways that I have not said them even while they cite words from my Bishop's Address of November 17, 2012.
Quite simply I have not renounced my orders as a deacon, priest or bishop any more than I have abandoned the Church of Jesus Christ. As I am sure you are aware, the Diocese of South Carolina has canonically and legally disassociated from The Episcopal Church. We took this action long before today's attempt to claim a renunciation of my orders, thereby making it superfluous.
So we move on-onward and upward. As I write these words in the vesper light of this first Wednesday of Advent, the bells of the Cathedral of St. Luke and St. Paul ring in the steeple beside the diocesan office, and I remain the Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina. We shall continue to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ in Word and Deed to a needy world, as well as ourselves. We need to experience afresh its power to set us free from sin, death, guilt, shame and judgment and to transform our lives to be like Christ's from one degree of glory to another. As the Apostle has written: "The Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."
I am heartened by the support of the vast majority of those within this Diocese as well as that of the majority of Anglicans around the world and that of many in North America who have expressed in so many ways that they consider me to be an Anglican Bishop in good standing and that this Diocese of South Carolina is part of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
My prayers for a wakeful and watchful Advent,
The Right Reverend Mark Joseph Lawrence
XIV Bishop of South Carolina
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Oregon rejects the Dennis Canon
| Source: Anglican Ink
December 5, 2012
By George Conger
The Oregon Supreme Court has handed down a decision in a Presbyterian Church property dispute that effectively nullifies the Episcopal Church's Dennis Canon in its jurisdiction.
In a 29 Nov 2012 decision in Hope Presbyterian Church of Rogue River v the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Presbytery of the Cascades the Oregon Supreme Court held that a denominational trust does not encumber parish property unless the parish takes an explicit action to place a trust or lien on the property on behalf of the denomination.
Last week's rule had immediate ramifications for Episcopal Church property disputes as lawyers for Bishop Jack Iker and the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth filed a letter brief with the Texas Supreme Court reporting the Oregon Supreme Court's ruling in favor of "neutral principles of law" in adjudication church property disputes.
Founded in 1901, Hope joined the Presbyterian Church of the USA in 1983 following the merger of the Presbyterian Church in the United States and the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America.
Upon its formation the new denomination adopted a "trust clause" that stated: "All property held by or for a particular church, a presbytery, a synod, the General Assembly, or the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), whether legal title is lodged in a corporation, a trustee or trustees, or an unincorporated association, and whether the property is used in programs of a particular church or of a more inclusive governing body or retained for the production of income, is held in trust nevertheless for the use and benefit of the Presbyterian Church (USA)."
Shortly thereafter the congregation also adopted an amendment to its bylaws stating it "holds all property as trustee for the Presbyterian Church (USA)."...
The rest of the article may be found here.
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There is no 'Trust us' clause in Constitution: NY Archdiocese wins ruling on HHS mandates
| Source: LifeSiteNews
December 6, 2012
By John Jalsevac
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a strongly worded judgment a federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit from the Archdiocese of New York against the Obama administration's HHS mandate may proceed.
The Obama administration had argued that the archdiocese's lawsuit was premature, since the administration may still make adjustments to the mandate that would stop it from having any effect on the archdiocese.
After announcing the mandate in February, the Obama administration had announced a "safe harbor" that would prevent the mandate from applying to certain religious employers until August 2013.
However, Judge Brian Cogan slapped down the "safe harbor" argument, saying, "the First Amendment does not require citizens to accept assurances from the government that, if the government later determines it has made a misstep, it will take ameliorative action."
"There is no, 'Trust us, changes are coming' clause in the Constitution," said the judge. "To the contrary, the Bill of Rights itself, and the First Amendment in particular, reflect a degree of skepticism towards governmental self-restraint and self-correction."
The judge observed that the archdiocese is preparing for the possibility of millions of dollars in damages should the mandate take effect. He also pointed out that the rule was announced 10 months ago and that "the Departments have had ample opportunity to enact a meaningful change to the Coverage Mandate. The fact that they have not further suggests the likelihood of injuries to plaintiffs."
"Ignoring the speeding train that is coming towards plaintiffs in the hope that it will stop might well be inconsistent with the fiduciary duties that plaintiffs' directors or officers owe to their members," he said....
The rest of the article may be found here.
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England: Green light for gay weddings in churches?
| Source: Telegraph via Anglican Mainstream
December 7, 2012
By John Bingham
Gay couples would be allowed to marry in churches under plans due to be unveiled by the Government next week.
The decision represents a major u-turn on the position set out in a formal Government consultation earlier this year which proposed a blanket ban. It raises the prospect of a major battle between church and state over the issue as well as a massive backbench rebellion with at least 130 Conservatives set to vote against the proposals.
The plans will be announced by the Culture Secretary Maria Miller next week and a detailed bill is expected to be put before Parliament next month. That could see the redefinition of marriage sped through the Commons before the summer.
The shift in policy came after Government lawyers came up with plans for
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David Cameron
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legal protections for churches, mosques and synagogues which do not want to marry gay couples on grounds of belief.
David Cameron said: "I'm a massive supporter of marriage and I don't want gay peopleto be excluded from a great institution.
"But let me be absolutely one hundred per cent clear, if there is any church or any synagogue or any mosque that doesn't want to have a gay marriage it will not, absolutely must not, be forced to hold it.
"That is absolutely clear in the legislation.
"Also let me make clear, this is a free vote for Members of Parliament but personally I will be supporting it."
Opponents believe that no safeguard will be able to protect them from a legal challenge at the European Court of Human Rights, which would force them to marry gay couples....
The rest of the article may be found here.
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Vatican welcomes appointment of new Anglican Centre director
| | Source: Anglican Communion News Service
December 7, 2012
From Vatican Radio
The Pontifical Council for the Promoting Christian Unity has welcomed the appointment of a new director for the Anglican Centre in Rome and representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Vatican. Archbishop David Moxon of Waikato, the senior Anglican bishop in New Zealand*, will take up his new post after Easter 2013, following the retirement of the current director, Canon David Richardson.
Following the announcement from Lambeth Palace on Tuesday, the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity issued a note saying "It is felt that Archbishop Moxon's considerable experience and gifts will suit him well for this important position which has such a significant role in relations between the Holy See and Canterbury, confirming the bonds of affection between Anglicans and Roman Catholics, and assisting our mutual understanding and work. As co-chairman of ARCIC (Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission) the appointment will lend even greater prominence to the progress of this long-standing dialogue."
Since taking on the task of Anglican co-chair of ARCIC III, Archbishop Moxon has been working closely with the Pontifical Council and other Catholic experts in the ecumenical world. During a recent visit to Rome, he told Vatican Radio's Philippa Hitchen that he's optimistic about the amount of progress already made between Anglicans and Catholics.
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