Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Anglican Church At Crossroads Over Gay Bishop

http://www.jonesbahamas.com/?c=45&a=11198

[The Bahama Journal] 18 Jan 2007--The Anglican Church is still at a "crossroads" and could split as the bitter debate rages on about how to resolve the issue of ordaining homosexual clergy, according to Archbishop Drexel Gomez.

Great Britain: the Anglican Church faces schism

http://www.tenerifenews.com/cms/front_content.php?client=1&lang=1&idcat=11&idart=5508

[Tenerif News] 18 Jan 2007--Whenever the Church in Britain has been threatened with serious division before, there has been some apocalyptic reason, which may be accepted or discarded, for the sake of religious unity. Now, as explained by none other than the Archbishop of Canterbury, a grave division in the hierarchy of the Church of England is under way because of gay marriage.

Nigerian Bishops Warn of Schism in Anglican Church

http://english.gospelherald.com/article/church/2029/section/nigerian.bishops.warn.of.schism.in.anglican.church/1.htm

[The Gospel Herald] 18 Jan 2007--Anglican leaders from the Church of Nigeria have warned the worldwide communion that they "cannot walk together" with provinces that do not repent of their departure from Scripture.

Churches request Anglican diocese, bishop

http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/local_columnists/article/0,2845,MCA_25341_5280508,00.html

[Memphis Commercial Appeal] 18 Jan 2007--Delegates from a dozen churches in Memphis and across the South will ask the Anglican Church of Kenya to form a diocese and appoint a bishop for them in America.

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

CA Church Splits With Anglican Communion

http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/80702.aspx

[CBNNews.com] 3 Jan 2007--An Episcopal church north of San Francisco has become the latest parish to break ties with the national church over gay marriage.

So Much in a Few Words

http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=2843

[The Living Church] 3 Jan 2007--Q. How many members of The Episcopal Church are there in this country?

A. About 2.2 million. It used to be larger percentagewise (sic), but Episcopalians tend to be better educated and tend to reproduce at lower rates than other denominations.

New York Times Magazine. Sunday Nov. 19, 2006

The New York Times was lobbing soft balls to the new Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori, when this exchange took place. The more I have thought about her answer to this simple question, the more I am convinced that in a single sentence the Presiding Bishop illustrates rather dramatically the crisis that faces The Episcopal Church. She does so in three ways.

The Letter, Lambeth, and a Little Bit More - David Roseberry

http://www.globalsouthanglican.org/index.php/comments/the_letter_lambeth_and_a_little_bit_more_david_roseberry/

[Global South Anglican] 3 Jan 2007--As an American, I have been looking for the ABC to settle the very important matter before the Anglican Communion like a strong father in a family filled with fighting children and wayward sons. But I sensed for the first time that the role of the ABC at Lambeth will not ever be that of a ‘father,’ but of a ‘grandfather.’ His ‘historic office’ is there, like Lambeth Palace itself, to give wisdom and weight and representation to the years of the past and the hope of unity ahead.

My posts last weeks about the AMiA and CANA preceded the controversial letter from the Archbishop of Canterbury by only a few days. The letter took me by great surprise simply because of its clear tone and direction. (I thought it was a fake at first… sorry Matt.) Knowing it’s genuine, I am greatly encouraged by it. The content of the letter was consistent with everything I had learned on my travels. And the direction of the letter confirmed my recollections of the conversations I had at Lambeth just a few weeks earlier.

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Split in Episcopal Church prompts meeting

http://www.dailynews.com/religion/ci_4921194

[Los Angelos Daily News] 2 Jan 2007--Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams may invite representatives of the conservative wing of the Episcopal Church to meet with Anglican leaders ahead of a key February gathering on the future of their embattled global fellowship.

Split in Episcopal Church prompts meeting

http://www.dailynews.com/religion/ci_4921194

[Los Angelos Daily News] 2 Jan 2007--Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams may invite representatives of the conservative wing of the Episcopal Church to meet with Anglican leaders ahead of a key February gathering on the future of their embattled global fellowship.

Episcopal bishop to Christ Church: Pay up or get out

http://savannahnow.com/node/204680

[Savannah Morning News] 2 Jan 2007--"The Mother Church of Georgia" has six months to decide whether to remain affiliated with the Episcopal Church in the USA or risk losing the historic house of worship.

The bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia has given Christ Church until June 30 to "choose your path."

God with Whom There Are No Impossibilities

http://www.anglican-nig.org/christmas06newyear07.htm

[Church of Nigeria News] 2 Jan 2007--Christmas and New Year message from Archbishop Peter Akinola

New Year's Resolution for Traditional ECUSAns: Learn from the Best -- the 2002 Integrity Handbook

http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/1784/

[Stand Firm] 2 Jan 2007--It's always helpful to be reminded of the calculated, methodical, long-term political strategy that has gone into the takeover of the Episcopal church by revisionist activists.

Church of England Set for ‘Crunch’ Synod as Reports Reveal 51 Gay Priests

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/church.of.england.set.for.crunch.synod.as.reports.reveal.51.gay.priests/8927.htm

[Christianity Today UK] 2 Jan 2007--Renewed divisions over the issue of homosexuality are set to drag the Church of England further into crisis at the start of the new year. A disclosure revealed that more than 50 gay and lesbian priests from the Church of England have been “married” under the Civil Partnership Act.

Friday, December 22, 2006

Real moral courage

http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061222/OPINION/212220309/1030/OPINION01

[OCALA.com] 22 December 2006--More Episcopal parishes voted over the weekend to leave the U.S. church, and perhaps those responsible for the parishioners' anguish over the direction of this Christian denomination feel little remorse. Perhaps they think they stood tall for the moral good when they decided as they did in national conventions on the question of homosexuality.

Virginia Diocese Will ‘Assert’ Canonical and Legal Rights

http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=2827

[The Living Church] 22 December 2006--Following a joint Dec. 18 meeting of the executive board and standing committee, the Diocese of Virginia began the process of sorting through options to recover the property of seven churches where the majority voted to leave.

Related article:
http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=2830
Bishop Lee: Extension to 30-Day Standstill Agreement Possible - The Living Church

Two Important Letters from CANA

http://www.globalsouthanglican.org/

[Global South Anglican] 22 December 2006--This pastoral letter and a number of articles upon recent developments within The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion can be found at the Global South Anglican website.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Bishop eyes sanctions at All Saints

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2006/12/13/news/news3.txt

[The Sun Chronicle] 13 Dec 2006--A strongly-worded letter from their bishop has led the Rev. Lance Giuffrida and parishioners of All Saints on North Main Street to face the possibility that they may have to leave their parish property if they continue to operate as a separated Anglican congregation.

American Anglicans visit Nigeria

http://www.anglican-nig.org/networkvisit.htm

[Church of Nigeria News] 13 Dec 2006--A team of missionaries from the Anglican Communion Network in the United States (ACN-US) recently completed a partnership working visit to Nigeria, home of the largest concentration of the 70 million Anglicans worldwide.

Not All San Joaquin Parishes Plan to Leave

http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=2806

[The Living Church] 13 Dec 2006--At least four congregations in the Diocese of San Joaquin will probably remain with The Episcopal Church if clergy and lay delegates to the 2007 annual convention in the Diocese of San Joaquin approve a second reading of constitutional changes that would effectively remove the California diocese from the denomination.

National Church May ‘Retain Interest’ in Virginia Church Properties

http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=2804

[The Living Church] 13 Dec 2006--Beginning Dec. 10, eight congregations representing slightly less than 10 percent of communicants in the 90,000-member Diocese of Virginia began voting on whether to leave The Episcopal Church and previously cordial relations between the diocese and the parishes have grown acrimonious.

Bishop-elect Lawrence Sees Election Resistance in Broader Context

http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=2799

[The Living Church] 13 Dec 2006--The Very Rev. Mark Lawrence, rector of St. Paul’s Church, Bakersfield, Calif., recognizes that he is in a difficult position. Elected Bishop of South Carolina Sept. 16, Fr. Lawrence must receive consent from a majority of standing committees and bishops with jurisdiction within 120 days from Nov. 9, the date they were formally notified of an election.

Tanzanian Bishops declare they are in severely impaired communion with Episcopal Church

http://www.globalsouthanglican.org/index.php/comments/tanzanian_bishops_declare_they_are_in_severely_impaired_communion_with_epis/

[Global South Anglican] 13 Dec 2006--The House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Tanzania (ACT) issued a statement December 7 saying that its “communion with the Episcopal Church (USA) is severely impaired” in light the 75th General Convention’s response to the Windsor Report.

It is not a crime to hold traditional values

http://www.thes.co.uk/story.aspx?story_id=2034475&window_type=print

[The Times Higher Education Supplament] 13 Dec 2006--The belief among conservative Christians that some behaviour is sinful does not amount to an expression of hate, says Rowan Williams, so why have some student unions withdrawn recognition from religious societies?

Daniels of the Year: Men of the Hard Cloth

http://www.worldmag.com/articles/article.cfm?eid=62E5EB73-FD71-A9AF-F644DF350600324D

[World] 13 Dec 2006--Jesus asked His disciples, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A man clothed in soft garments?" John the Baptist, of course, was no such man, and neither are WORLD's 2006 Daniels of the Year Peter Jasper Akinola and Henry Luke Orombi. Their biblical stands are making a difference not only in Africa but in the United States, as the crisis in the oldest American denomination reaches its climax.

Another Diocese of Virginia Parish Disaffiliates with Diocese and National Church

http://www.allsaintsdalecity.org/index.cfm

[All Saints' Church] 13 Dec 2006--The Rector, Wardens and Vestry have announced that the motion to disaffiliate from The Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Virginia has carried with 402 votes in favor and 6 against. This being more than the required two-thirds majority, the motion is carried!

Related article:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20061211-110654-7707r.htm
Episcopal Church sees first defection - The Washington Times

A Statement from Bishop Peter Lee

http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/1643/

[Stand Firm] 13 Dec 2006--Bishop Lee appeals for "unity through diversity".

The Clergy and Wardens of Church of the Apostles, Fairfax, Virginia, write Bishop Peter Lee

http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/1647/

[Stand Firm] 13 Dec 2006--Originally posted at TitusOneNine.

A Covenant for the Church of England

http://www.evangelicals.org/news.asp?id=565

[EV News] 13 Dec 2006--Text of the Covenant released yesterday (Tuesday 12th December 2006). At this stage an initial list of signatories is not available.

Saturday, December 09, 2006

Episcopal bishop bids goodbye to congregants

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/12/08/faith/19_28_2212_7_06.txt

[North County Times] 9 Dec 2006--In what may be described more as an amiable parting than a stormy divorce, two priests from St. Timothy's Episcopal Church turned in their keys Wednesday night and left the local diocese to begin a new church.

Episcopal bishop revokes 6 priests

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/120906/met_6717140.shtml

[The Florida Times-Union] 9 Dec 2006--Six of the first seven North Florida priests to join overseas Anglican provinces have had their ordinations revoked by the leader of the Jacksonville-based Episcopal Diocese of Florida.

Episcopal Parishes May Split From National Denomination

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061209/NEWS/612090421/1326

[The Ledger] 9 Dec 2006--They are two of the biggest churches in the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, with roots stretching back to Colonial times.

Archbishop of Nigeria prevented from preaching in Sheffield

http://www.evangelicals.org/news.asp?id=562

[EV News] 9 Dec 2006--The Church of England Newspaper reports that the Bishop of Sheffield has been accused of preventing the Archbishop of Nigeria from preaching at a church in his diocese.

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Simon Vibert: a New Booklet entitled Why I am an Anglican

http://titusonenine.classicalanglican.net/?p=16570

[titusonenine] 6 Dec 2006--Published October 2006, “Why I am an Anglican” has contributions from 12 of today’s evangelical leaders (FWS Orthos booklet 23). The authors range from leaders of large and small churches, leaders of Anglican evangelical networks, a Bishop (Wallace Benn) and a theological college principal (Richard Turnbull). The collective conclusions should encourage a fresh commitment to Anglican Evangelicalism today as: a place for Gospel proclamation; a desire to reach the nation, under God, for Christ; a commitment to the godly reform of the denomination; and a network of relationships across the nation and around the world.

Bishop-Elect Mark Lawrence Answers TEC Bishops and Standing Committees

http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/1590/

[Stand Firm] 6 Dec 2006--1. In what ways will you work to keep the Diocese of South Carolina in The Episcopal Church? Although this appears to be a reasonable and straightforward question, it is actually anything but. I might as well have been asked while I was engaged to my wife, Allison, “In what ways will you work to keep your wife from leaving her commitments?” The question assumes something that has yet to be demonstrated by any prior action. Unless, of course, one makes the assumption that the request of the Standing Committee for Alternative Primatial Oversight was an initial step of departure, which I do not believe it needs to be. As you are well aware, The Episcopal Church, because of its reliance on constitutional and canonical autonomy, rather than the bonds of affection, has acted not merely unilaterally, but also precipitously towards the considered position of the vast majority within the Anglican Communion, and is now itself in a state of increasing disarray. This action of TEC is quite different from a respectful request made by an aggrieved diocese to the acknowledged Spiritual Leader of our Communion. Certainly we concede that the Archbishop of Canterbury has, heretofore, no jurisdictional authority in these matters. Yet we also know The Episcopal Church’s action in 2003, unlike the APO request, has caused more than a few Episcopalians, as well the worldwide Communion, much consternation. I would ask you to consider the fact that many of us want to remain in the Anglican Communion as well as The Episcopal Church. I would also suggest that you consider that the Diocese of South Carolina, in its recent request for APO, is actually seeking to find a way to remain at one and the same time in TEC and in covenant with the Communion. It serves none of us well to ignore the developing crisis and take refuge in polity which is proving to be no longer sufficient for the challenges we presently face....

With that said, back to your question. I shall commit myself to work at least as hard at keeping the Diocese of South Carolina in The Episcopal Church, as my sister and brother bishops work at keeping The Episcopal Church in covenanted relationship with the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Uganda Field Worship

http://www.pbs.usa.org/Mandate/Mandate_2006-09-10_pp13-16.pdf

[Prayer Book Society of USA] 6 Dec 2006--The Christians in the village churches are poor.
Most of them do not own a prayer book or bible. You can buy a local language prayer book (1662
BCP translated) in Kampala, a day’s trip from most of the country, but it is of very poor quality and quite likely out of print. There is a market for prayer books, of course, but almost no printer will undertake the effort to print 5000 copies of the prayer book in, say, Lugbara or Runyoro, when he cannot be sure of recovering his investment. So most of the Christians have never thumbed their fingers through the pages of a prayer book, a hymnbook, or even a bible. Everything they know about Christianity and about the Lord has come to them orally
or through fellowship with other believers. And is this not as it should be?

You will need an Acrobat Reader to read this article. You will also need to scroll down to the article.

Christianity under siege

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/html/20061205T220000-0500_116263_OBS_CHRISTIANITY_UNDER_SIEGE.asp

[The Jamaica Observer] 6 Dec 2006--Christianity is under siege the world over and Christians everywhere need to come together urgently, whether they like it or not, to defend against further erosion of the common faith.

Archbishop Venables: Primates Coalition Will Support Second U.S. Jurisdiction

http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=2797

[The Living Church] 6 Dec 2006--In a message to the Dec. 1-2 convention in the Diocese of San Joaquin, the Primate of the Southern Cone assured clergy and lay delegates that the Global South primates’ coalition will support pleas for a second Anglican jurisdiction in the United States—one independent of The Episcopal Church.

Archbishop Williams: Existing Communion Links No Longer Effective

http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=2796

[The Living Church] 6 Dec 2006--The Archbishop of Canterbury has defended the selection of the Primate of the West Indies, the Most Rev. Drexel Gomez, as chair of the Anglican Covenant drafting committee.

Related article:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_80247_ENG_HTM.htm
Archbishop of Canterbury says he has no 'pre-cooked' agenda for resolving conflict - Episcopal News Service

Departure of Seventh San Diego Parish Called ‘Totally Respectful’

http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=2793

[The Living Church] 6 Dec 2006--After consultation with the Rt. Rev. James R. Mathes, Bishop of San Diego, the clergy leadership at St. Timothy’s Church, San Diego, have resigned in order to begin a new Anglican congregation to be named Resurrection Community Church in Poway. The decision was announced to the parish in a joint letter to parishioners as well as during services on Dec. 3.

Presiding Bishop ‘Laments’ San Joaquin Action

http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=2791

[The Living CHurch] 6 Dec 2006--Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said she “laments” the action taken by the annual convention of the Diocese of San Joaquin this weekend to “repudiate their membership in The Episcopal Church.”

"Shall the Fundamentalists Win?"

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/decemberweb-only/149-22.0.html

[ChristianityToday.com] 6 Dec 2006--An excerpt from Philip Jenkins' new book, The New Faces of Christianity: Believing the Bible in the Global South.

Christian Convert: 10 Things Everyone Needs to Know About Islam

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20061129/23754.htm

[The Christian Post] 6 Dec 2006--The son of a devout Islamic leader who converted to Christianity in 1982 listed ten points he believes everyone should know about Islam in order to better understand who Muslims are and how to reach them.

Missional Bricks and Mortar

http://blog.christianitytoday.com/outofur/archives/2006/12/missional_brick.html

[Out of Ur] 6 Dec 2006--Can a church be truly missional and own a building?

Friday, December 01, 2006

'Asian Tiger' to discuss Anglican missions in U.S.

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/scn-sa-anglican7dec01,0,3794325.story?coll=stam-news-local-headlines

[The Stamford Advocate] 1 Dec 2006--The recently retired leader of a Christian missionary organization that was borne out of a rift between the worldwide Anglican Communion and its American wing will speak at a conference in Fairfield this weekend.

Open Letter Attacks Requests for Alternative Primatial Oversight

http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=2783

[The Living Church] 1 Dec 2006--Five retired bishops are among the more than 140 Episcopalians who have signed an open letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury that urges him to reject all requests for alternative primatial oversight.

Bishops develop proposal responding to 'Appeal to the Archbishop of Canterbury'

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_80010_ENG_HTM.htm

[Episcopal News Service] 1 Dec 2006--A group of bishops, including Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, has developed a proposal responding to "An Appeal to the Archbishop of Canterbury" addressing what other petitioning bishops and dioceses have termed "alternative primatial oversight" or "alternative primatial relationship."

Related article:
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20061201/23786.htm
Episcopalians Reach Out to Conservatives - The Christian Post

Observations on the new Presiding Bishop and the Anglican Communion (Jordan Hylden, First Things)

http://www.globalsouthanglican.org/index.php/comments/observations_on_the_new_presiding_bishop_and_the_anglican_communion_jordan/

[Global South Anglican] 1 Dec 2006--The problem is that… [Katharine Jefferts Schori] is on a direct collision course with the rest of the Anglican Communion. And, while she will not admit it in so many words, it has become increasingly clear that Bishop Schori and her supporters know perfectly well that their actions will end in a final break with Canterbury and the Global South. The church’s Executive Council has already proposed the formation of an “Anglican Convocation of the Americas,” comprising liberal churches such as ECUSA, Canada, and Brazil. Even the Episcopal Church’s name no longer officially includes reference to the United States, which Bishop Schori has stated reflects the “transnational” character (better put, “ambition”) of the church. Liberal voices from England and elsewhere have signaled their desire to join such a convocation, which almost certainly will set itself up as a “progressive” alternative to mainstream Anglicanism.

AAC Responds to 'Primatial Vicar' Proposal

http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/1554/

[Stand Firm] 1 Dec 2006--“The proposal does not take into account the heart of the issue and problem which is that Katharine Jefferts Schori has adopted a form of faith, theology and Christology that is so seriously out of step with historic Anglicanism and Christianity that it calls into question her capacity to give appropriate leadership on this matter. It keeps all the power in her hands. The proposal is to be in consultation with not the consent of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Thus she makes all the decisions. It is a non-starter.”

Episcopal Church APO Proposal Dead on Arrival

http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/1555/

[Stand Firm] 1 Dec 2006--We are heartened that the national leadership of The Episcopal Church has realized the time has come for structural change. We will study this proposal,” said Bishop Robert Duncan, bishop of Pittsburgh and moderator of the Anglican Communion Network. “However, at first glance what is proposed is neither primatial, nor oversight, nor is it an alternative to the spiritual authority of one who, by both teaching and action, has expressly rejected the Windsor Report and its recommendations. This is obviously not what was asked for.”

Bishop Iker Writes His Clergy about TEC's Proposal

http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/1556/

[Stand Firm] 1 Dec 2006--While I am grateful for the efforts of those who crafted the proposal, I find it unacceptable and unworkable in its present form.

Perhaps it needs to be clarified that we have not requested someone to serve as “the Presiding Bishop’s designated pastor” to us; we have appealed for an alternative primate. Nor has this appeal been made to the Presiding Bishop, but to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Primates of the Anglican Communion. We expect a suitable response from them at the Primates’ Meeting in February.

This new proposal is deficient in that it seeks to reinforce the PB’s authority over us rather than provide an acceptable alternative. We cannot accept a Primatial Vicar appointed by her and accountable to her, who “could” function for her only when so delegated by her. In addition, the provisional nature of the proposal does not meet our needs for a long-term solution to our irreconcilable differences.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Massachusetts Congregation Joins AMiA

http://www.theamia.org/index.cfm?id=EBBCF4DA-2255-47AA-9FAE10A93B4A8859

[Anglican Mission in America] 21 Nov 2006--On Sunday October 29th, All Saints Anglican of Attleboro was received into the Anglican Mission in America under the episcopal oversight of the Rt. Rev. Thaddeus Barnum. The Anglican Mission in America is a missionary outreach of the Anglican Church of Rwanda, begun with a desire to plant churches and reach out to the un-churched in North America. The Sunday service of reception followed a Saturday meeting of Common Cause partners in the North East.

Related article:
http://www.anglicanmissioninamerica.org/index.cfm?id=78D11E4B-E7B6-4921-8FF99C22223EB8A2
The Episcopal Church of Rwanda - Anglican Mission in America

New Michigan Churches

http://www.theamia.org/index.cfm?id=3EF322CE-9C71-4542-B5E9E55C4C8E636D

[Anglican Mission in America] 21 Nov 2006--Michiganders often will point out their relative location by using a hand--a proximation of the shape of their home state. Now two new congregations are raising hands in celebration over their mission journey, and their new home with the Anglican Mission in America and its Heart of America Network.

FORT WORTH: Diocese withdraws from Province VII, adopts procedure for parishes to leave Anglican Communion Network

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_79856_ENG_HTM.htm

[Episcopal News Service] 21 Nov 2006--The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, meeting in its 24th annual convention on November 17 and 18, adopted four resolutions, including one that withdraws the diocese's consent to membership in Province VII of the Episcopal Church, and another that provides a mechanism for parishes to remove themselves from membership in the conservative Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes, also known as the Anglican Communion Network (ACN).

Episcopal split reaches Mass. diocese

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/11/19/episcopal_split_reaches_mass_diocese/

[The Boston Globe] 21 Nov 2006--The wave of defections that has rocked the Episcopal Church since the ordination of the first openly gay Episcopal bishop in 2003 has reached the liberal Diocese of Massachusetts, where one congregation has severed its ties to the national church. Nearly two dozen others across New England have disassociated themselves from the church's teachings on gay clergy, homosexuality, and salvation.

Hallelujah, they're standing up for Jesus

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3561-2460047,00.html

[Times Online] 21 Nov 2006--The example of Islam in this country, for better and for worse, has powerfully concentrated Christian minds. Confronted with Muslim convictions, Christians — and particularly Anglicans — find themselves and their own faith renewed. There is nothing like a strong consciousness of a different identity for clarifying one’s own. Years of milksop tolerance and ecumenical dither have given way, here and there, to a new conviction. The church strikes back!

New Anglican Parish Birthed Outside of ECUSA

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20061120/23584.htm

[The Christian Post] 21 Nov 2006--An interdenominational church in Richmond, Va. started a new Anglican congregation under the oversight of an offshore bishop. The church plant is one of a number of new congregations that was never a part of the Episcopal Church.

Bishop Sauls: Not All APO Requests Violate Canons

http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=2770

[The Living Church] 21 Nov 2006--The members of the House of Bishops’ Task Force on Property Disputes have come to no conclusions as to impermissible dissent from General Convention by diocesan leadership, but the acting chair said the six official and four informal members have been asking that question.

Pursuing the desired outcome of the 'Windsor process' - a GSSC report

http://www.globalsouthanglican.org/index.php/comments/pursuing_the_desired_outcome_of_the_windsor_process_a_gssc_report/

[Global South Anglican] 21 Nov 2006--The Global South Steering Committee, at the request of the Global South Primates, recently met with bishops and representatives of eight Anglican Communion Network Dioceses who have appealed to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Global South Primates for various forms of Alternative Primatial Oversight. Representatives of other Windsor-compliant Dioceses and the more than one hundred congregations that are now separated from the Episcopal Church also joined us.

Schori writes +Schofield: "Seek a home elsewhere"

http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/1495/

[Stand Firm] 21 Nov 2006--I certainly understand that you personally disagree with decisions by General Conventions over the past 30 and more years. You have, however, taken vows three times over that period to uphold the "doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Episcopal Church." If you now feel that you can no longer do so, the more honorable course would be to renounce your orders in this Church and seek a home elsewhere. Your public assertion that your duty is to violate those vows puts many, many people at hazard of profound spiritual violence. I urge you, as a pastor, to consider that hazard with the utmost gravity.

For more articles from Stand Firm, go to http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/index.

Related article:
http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=2772
Presiding Bishop Urges San Joaquin Bishop to Reverse Course - The Living Church

Burned by Branding

http://blog.christianitytoday.com/outofur/archives/2006/11/burned_by_brand.html

[Out of Ur] 21 Nov 2006--What churches can learn from the anti-Starbucks movement.

Friday, November 17, 2006

Bishops' Task Force Identifies 'Problem' Dioceses

http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=2762

[The Living Church] 17 Nov 2006--The House of Bishops’ Task Force on Property Disputes has identified eight “problem dioceses” and will maintain contact persons within those dioceses who wish to “remain loyal to The Episcopal Church,” according to a report presented to The Episcopal Church’s Executive Council. The Rt. Rev. Stacy Sauls, Bishop of Lexington, presented the written report to the council on Nov. 15.

Archbishop Williams: ‘Full Support’ for Women’s Ordination

http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=2765

[The Living Church] 17 Nov 2006--Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has denounced British press reports that he was rethinking the Church of England’s decision to ordain women to the priesthood.

Related article:
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/archbishop.of.canterbury.reopens.debate.on.women.priests/8350.htm
Archbishop of Canterbury Reopens Debate on Women Priests - Christianity Today UK
http://www.evangelicals.org/news.asp?id=546
Williams admits doubts over ordination of women - EV News

Truro and The Falls Church Vestries recommend severing ties with The Episcopal Church

http://www.globalsouthanglican.org/index.php/comments/truro_and_the_falls_church_vestries_recommend_severing_ties_with_the_episco/

[Global South Anglican] 17 Nov 2006---The following is the official press release that the Global South Anglican website received by e-mail from the vestries of Truro and The Falls Church. The text is also available online at BabyBlue’s blog. An earlier entry about Falls Church is also posted on the Global South Anglican website.

Related article:
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20061116-120201-8497r.htm
Episcopal leaders vote to leave - The Washington Times
http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/1475/
Falls Church and Truro: Protocol Does Exist; We are Following It - Stand Firm

Churches Saving the Wrong 'Lost,' Says Youth Leader

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20061112/22831.htm

[The Christian Post] 17 Nov 2006--More youth leaders are preaching the alarming exit of college students from the church yet churches don't seem to be grasping the significance of the loss of even one youth.

Bible-Based Youth Ministry Bumps Out Pop Culture

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20061116/23499.htm

[The Christian Post] 17 Nov 2006--Sugarcoated, MTV-style youth ministry is over, Time magazine reported. The current trend that is packing teens in pews: Bible-based worship.

Opening the Bible for Seekers

http://www.christianitytoday.com/biblestudies/areas/biblestudies/articles/061115.html

[ChristianBibleStudies.com] 17 Nov 2006--Discussion Bible studies are powerful agents of change.

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Kendall Harmon Interviewed on the Albert Mohler Radio Show

http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/1440/

[Stand Firm] 11 Nov 2006--Stand Firm provides a link to this interview at its web site.

Chancellor Sees Hopeful Outlook For TEC On Church Property Issues

http://www.challengeonline.org/modules/news/article.php?storyid=137

[The Christian Challenge] 11 Nov 2006--Though some have cultivated the opposite impression, there is no "epidemic" of church property lawsuits in the U.S.-based Episcopal Church (TEC), and TEC has won or is winning most of the property disputes of recent years.

"Episcopal Majority" Mobilizes To Defend TEC

http://www.challengeonline.org/modules/news/article.php?storyid=136

[The Christian Challenge] 11 Nov 2006--A November 3 gathering of moderate and progressive Episcopalians in Washington is evidence, it seems, of a perhaps-surprising phenomenon: Though last June's Episcopal General Convention was widely seen as failing to change the liberal course of the U.S. Episcopal Church (TEC), some who have supported that course still think their church may be "overtaken" by reforming forces.

Indeed, they are concerned enough - despite having another co-religionist as presiding bishop - to conclude that a nationwide effort is needed to "defend" TEC and "combat" the Anglican Communion's 2004 Windsor Report, in the words of the Rev. William Coats, a retired Diocese of Newark priest.

Friday, November 10, 2006

IRD: New Episcopal Bishop Fails to Bridge Gap Within Splintering Church

http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/735411471.html

[ChristianNewsWire] 10 Nov 2006--"Sadly, Bishop Jefferts Schori's investiture may exacerbate tensions already existing in the Anglican Communion, which is still deeply wounded as a result of TEC's actions in consecrating an openly gay bishop and approving same-sex blessings as a local option subject to the approval of the diocesan bishop...."

'Separated' Anglicans may get alternative bishop

http://www.canadianchristianity.com/cgi-bin/na.cgi?nationalupdates/061109bishop

[canadianchristianity.com] 10 Nov 2006--ARCHBISHOP Terry Buckle has offered to appoint an alternative bishop for B.C. Anglican parishes which still refuse to accept Bishop Michael Ingham's approval of the blessing of same-sex unions.

Battersea vicar causes stir by remarks about Global South

http://www3.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=28820

[Church Times] 10 Nov 2006--A vicar of a south-London parish where one of the Church of England’s most senior officials is a Reader explained this week why he asked for the tape-recording system to be turned off at the end of a Sunday service so that he could talk about supporting the Global South.

Episcopal congregations seeking spiritual shelter in Africa

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/15972312.htm

[The Mercury News] 10 Nov 2006--Angry over their U.S. church's position on homosexuality, a growing number of Episcopal congregations are seeking spiritual shelter thousands of miles away, in the Anglican churches of Africa.

Legal Setback for San Diego Diocese

http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=2741

[The Living Church] 10 Nov 2006--Last summer, the rector of St. John’s, Fallbrook, and the bulk of the congregation voted to disassociate from the diocese and The Episcopal Church. Now, a California court has handed a legal setback to the Diocese of San Diego in its attempts to regain possession of the property.

Related article:
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/11/10/news/inland/21_20_8211_9_06.txt
Judge tentatively rules against diocese in Fallbrook church dispute - North County Times

Diocese of Virginia, All Saints’ Church Agree on Disposition of Property

http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/1437/

[Stand Firm] 10 Nov 2006--The Diocese will lease the property to the congregation for five years at $1 rent per year while All Saints’ proceeds with a building program on other property. The congregation will bear responsibility for all costs associated with use of the Saratoga Lane property, including utilities, insurance, routine maintenance and capital repair.

Jim Naughton on TEC's Membership Problem

http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/1435/

[Stand Firm] 10 Nov 2006--Jim Naughton questions 815's handling of TEC's recent grim membership statistics....

Outside the Bounds of Christian Orthodoxy: Many Mediators or One Mediator of the Divine?

http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/1433/

[Stand Firm] 10 Nov 2006--I was and remain surprised that neither Fr. Jake nor Mr. Naughton seem to have actually read the criticism in full or grasped its content. Nor do they seem to understand the nature of the wider debate within Christendom.

Survey: How Americans View Christian Groups, Muslims

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20061109/25903.htm

[The Christian Post] 10 Nov 2006--Americans generally have a positive outlook on some Christian groups, a new survey revealed, while their view on Mormons and Muslims are less favorable.

5 Moral Fences

http://www.ctlibrary.com/le/1999/summer/9l3045.html

[ChristianityTodayLibrary.com] 10 Nov 2006--Fact: Some kids like to play "near the edge," and some kids don't. I always did! Whether the "edge" was rock jumping into a cool mountain lake or "bumper jumping" moving cars to slide along an icy winter street, the potential of peril invigorated me.

But "when I became a man, I put away childish things" (1 Cor. 13:11). I was a pastor and in seminary when the moral failures of the late '80's hit the news. In addition to the big names, I heard a shocking number of similar tragedies from my own circle of pastor/friends.

5 Keys to Explosive Growth

http://www.christianitytoday.com/outreach/articles/5keystoexplosivegrowth.html

[ChristianityToday.com] 10 Nov 2006--Doubling the size of your church may sound fantastic, but feel impossible. Bil Cornelius, senior pastor of Bay Area Fellowship in Corpus Christi, Texas, and church growth consultant Bill Easum, share the multiplication secrets they've learned along the way.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Mere Comments: What Katharine Jefferts Schori Does Not Say

http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/1429/

[Stand Firm] 8 Nov 2006--David Gustafson on omission....

More articles from Stand Firm can be found at http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/index.

Chancellor: Episcopal Church Will Prevail in Communion and Courts

http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=2735

[The Living Church] 8 Nov 2006--Although The Episcopal Church currently finds itself in uncharted territory both legally over ownership of diocesan property and with respect to its standing within the Anglican Communion, the Presiding Bishop’s chancellor, David Booth Beers, does not anticipate that the Archbishop of Canterbury will make any formal change in the church’s membership status in the Communion nor does he expect any dioceses affiliated with the Anglican Communion Network to attempt to leave.

"...a badly behaved and vocal minority has left some Episcopalians with the mistaken idea that their church is under siege"?! Denial?!

Research Director Calls Membership Loss ‘Precipitous’

http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=2733

[The Living Church] 8 Nov 2006--C. Kirk Hadaway, the director of research for The Episcopal Church, told the magazine that “we were actually doing better than most other mainline denominations in the 1990s through 2002, with a few years of growth. So it is a precipitous drop in losing 36,000 in both 2003 and 2004, and now 42,000 in 2005.” The losses bring the church’s reported active membership to just over 2.2 million.

A Statement by the Global South Steering Committee on Consultations with bishops requesting APO

http://www.globalsouthanglican.org/index.php/comments/a_statement_by_the_global_south_steering_committee_on_consultations_apo/

[Gobal South Anglican] 8 Nov 2006--As indicated in the Kigali Communiqué (September 2006), we will be holding a consultation with the leadership of Episcopal dioceses requesting Alternative Primatial Oversight (APO). Our aim is to investigate their appeal in greater detail and identify possible responses.

Episcopal Forum calls for caution in consent process

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_79434_ENG_HTM.htm

[Episcopal News Service] 8 Nov 2006--A second group of Episcopalians has called on bishops and standing committees to consider seriously South Carolina Bishop-elect Mark Lawrence's stance toward the diocese's continued affiliation with the Episcopal Church, as they decide whether or not to consent to his ordination.

Anglican Church split on gay marriage

http://iafrica.com/news/sa/390500.htm

[iafrica.com] 8 Nov 2006--Cracks persist within the leadership of the Anglican Church over the same-sex marriage bill that is to be signed into law next month, Dispatch Online reported on Tuesday.

Saturday, November 04, 2006

New era in Episcopal Church

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0611040223nov04,1,5066924.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

[Chicago Tribune] 4 Nov 2006--When Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori takes hold of the staff that symbolizes her rise in rank on Saturday, she will turn the tables on five centuries of Anglican history and quite possibly alter its course.

"a new Pentecost"?!

Related article:
http://newsbyus.com/more.php?id=6000_0_1_0_M
Satanic Female Eipscopal Bishop Installed - News By Us Or "a new phenomena in the world where there are Christian leaders who no longer believe the Christian faith, and yet stay on as leaders"?

New Anglican Head Beyond Heresy

http://cripescorner.blogspot.com/2006/11/new-anglican-head-beyond-heresy.html

[Cripe's Corner] 4 Nov 2006--When Schori was elected on the fifth ballot, I predicted her appointment pretty much as a guarantee of future schism within the disunified denomination. Last week, I believe she sealed that eventuality by stating that Jesus Christ is not the only way to heaven.

Related article:
http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/1400/
Schori: Homosexuality Not a Choice, Jesus Not the Only Way - Stand Firm
http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/1401/
Bending the Map: Schori is Betraying Gays and Lesbians - Stand Firm

Resolution I Passes

http://www.pgh.anglican.org/news/local/resone110306

[The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh] 4 Nov 2006--Diocese of Pittsburgh overwhelmingly passes APO resolution.

Related article:
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20061104/25781.htm
Pittsburgh Episcopalians Vote to Withdraw from National Church - The Christian Post

Follow-up letter from Bishop Donald Harvey

http://www.anglicannetwork.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=53&Itemid=45

[Anglican Essentials Network] 4 Nov 2006--On the surface the Report seems eminently reasonable. But dig a little deeper and you’ll quickly find serious problems. At the core, the Panel failed to deal with the fundamental problem and, in doing so, failed to fulfill the mandate given them by the Primates and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Related article:
http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/wp-content/uploads/2006/11/New%20Direction%20-%20November.pdf
Sticking Plaster - Anglican Mainstream

Archbishop to meet leaders seeking split from liberal Church

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/11/02/nchurch02.xml

[Telegraph] 4 Nov 2006--Conservative Anglican leaders are to flesh out plans for a formal split in the worldwide Church at a confidential meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, later this month.

Presiding Bishop invites fellow Primates into dialogue

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_79163_ENG_HTM.htm

[Episcopal News Service] 4 Nov 2006--A remarkable public invitation has been issued by Katharine Jefferts Schori on the eve of her installation.

Dialogue?!

http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=2583
Presiding Bishop Offers to Meet Global South Visitors - The Living Church

Anglican Church in New Zealand could split if 'practicing homosexual' is ordained

http://www.evangelicals.org/news.asp?id=538

[EV News] 4 Nov 2006--The Latimer Fellowship (New Zealand) report that the ordination of a ‘practising homosexual’ in Dunedin this Saturday could split the Church in New Zealand.

Related article:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20693149-1702,00.html
Gay ordination threatens to split church - The Australian
http://www.anglican-mainstream.org.nz/amnz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2036
Protest at Dunedin Ordination - Anglican Mainstream NZ
http://www.evangelicals.org/news.asp?id=539
Latimer Fellowship press release on Dunedin - EV News
http://www.globalsouthanglican.org/index.php/comments/new_zealand_anglicans_divide_over_gay_ordination/
New Zealand Anglicans Divide over Gay Ordination - Global South Anglican
http://www.latimer.org.nz/media.htm
Constitutional Basis for objecting to the Ordination of Persons in same-sex relationships - Latimer Fellowship

Cathedral bans Carey as a 'divisive force'

http://www.evangelicals.org/news.asp?id=537

[EV News] 4 Nov 2006--The Times reports today that the former Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey has been banned from speaking at Bangor Cathedral in North Wales in February.

Related article:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/columnists/columnists.html?in_article_id=414249&in_page_id=1772&in_author_id=230
Canterbury banned, but an imam's OK - Daily Mail (You will need to scroll down to this article)

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Are we ready for Sydney's future?

http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/senior_clergy/archbishop_jensen/are_we_ready_for_sydneys_future_peter_jensen/

[sydneyanglicans.net] 1 Nov 2006--Twenty-first century peopple have lived through a tumult.

No other generations has experienced such ever-hastening transformation as we have.

Latest News from the Anglican Mission in America

http://www.theamia.org/index.cfm?id=F3BB9E5F-B40F-4DE7-B90A065719B60470

[Anglican Mission in America] 1 Nov 2006--The latest news posted on the Anglican Mission in America website.

Episcopal Church 'Regarded, Currently' as U.S. Anglican Province

http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/1383/

[Stand Firm] 1 Nov 2006--UPI uses an interesting choice of words to describe the Episcopal Church....

More articles from Stand Firm can be found at http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/index.

Dioceses' Appeal for APO Modified

http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=2573

[The Living Church] 1 Nov 2006--The dioceses which appealed to the Archbishop of Canterbury for alternate primatial oversight (APO) last summer have modified their demands and no longer seek an “alternative primate” to exercise metropolitan oversight. Instead they have asked Archbishop Rowan Williams for a “commissary” from Canterbury. The Living Church has learned that Archbishop Williams recently informed the petitioning bishops the issue will be discussed during the meeting of Anglican primates Feb. 14-19 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Williams has no answer to questions of life

http://www.evangelicals.org/news.asp?id=534

[EV News] 1 Nov 2006--In an interview on Radio 4 this morning, Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury engaged in discussion with John Humphreys.

Humphreys invited Rowan Williams to try and persuade him that God exists. Humphreys said that he used to believe in God but he has seen too much suffering in the world to believe in God now. He set about asking Williams a number of questions about suffering, God's existence, why he can't believe, life after death etc. To all these questions Williams was completely incapable of delivering a straight forward biblical answer, but instead gave very vague philosophical answers.

20 Questions to Help You Share Your Faith

http://www.christianitytoday.com/biblestudies/areas/biblestudies/articles/051012.html

[ChristianityToday.com] 1 Nov 2006--Transitions you can use to turn a conversation to spiritual things.