Book Review by Robin G. Jordan
This is the first in a series of articles in which I propose to examine An Anglican Prayer Book that was released this month. An Anglican Prayer Book was published for The Anglican Mission in the Americas by Preservation Press of the Prayer Book Society of the USA. The editors of An Anglican Prayer Book hope that the services in the book will also be used by other Anglicans and Episcopalians both in North America and elsewhere in the English-speaking world. The services are described as "contemporary English services based on those in The Book of Common Prayer and The Ordinal, in their English 1662, American 1928, and Canadian 1962 editions." An Anglican Prayer Book is a revision of the services that were authorized for restricted trial use in Anglican Mission churches in 2006.
As forms for public worship and private devotions the services of Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer in An Anglican Prayer Book suffer from much the same weaknesses as did the trial services. They are even more disappointing than the trial services because the editors of An Anglican Prayer Book had every opportunity to remedy these weaknesses but did very little.
In the services of Morning and Evening Prayer in An Anglican Prayer Book seasonal introductory sentences replace the penitential introductory sentences that are an important feature of The Book of Common Prayer of 1662 and its reformed predecessors—the 1552, 1559, and 1604 Prayer Books. The replacement of penitential introductory sentences with seasonal ones it must be noted is a feature of The Episcopal Church’s The Book of Common Prayer of 1979 and the Church of England’s Alternative Service Book 1980.
The penitential introductory sentences are as Swiss scholar-pastor Samuel Leuenberger points to our attention in Archbishop Cranmer’s Immortal Bequest—The Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England: An Evangelistic Liturgy one of a number of "revivalistic elements" in the Prayer Book. These sentences with the Exhortation help to prepare the congregation for the General Confession that follows. They focus the attention of the congregation upon the depravity of humanity, their own sinful condition, and the need for repentance. They are an integral part of the Biblical and Reformation theology of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.
While seasonal introductory sentences may be desirable, they do not serve the same function as the penitential introductory sentences. In recognition of the different functions of seasonal and penitential introductory sentences a number of the more recent service books such as An Australian Prayer Book (1978) follow the seasonal introductory sentence with one or more penitential introductory sentences.
An Anglican Prayer Book retains a number of rubrics in the services of Morning and Evening Prayer, which prescribe postures that might be better determined by local circumstances and custom. The rubrics, for example, direct the whole congregation to "keel" [sic] with the minister for the General Confession, a posture that may be impractical in many of the non-traditional settings in which Anglican Mission congregations frequently worship.
An Anglican Prayer Book makes no provision for the substitution of metrical psalms for prose psalms. An Anglican Prayer Book unfortunately, like the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, when it comes to the Daily Offices, appears to presuppose that every congregation has a choir of trained singers, and worships in the setting of a cathedral or college chapel. An Anglican Prayer Book also adopts the unfortunate practice of requiring the singing or recitation of the Gloria Patri after each Psalm. Most Anglicans and Episcopalians in the United States, who regularly pray the Daily Offices, using the 1928 or 1979 American Prayer Book, are accustomed to saying the Gloria Patri after the last Psalm.
An Anglican Prayer Book makes no provision for the use of other versions and forms of the Canticles printed in the book. Nor does it make any provision for the substitution of hymns or other songs of praise for the canticles. Congregations that do not have a choir, cannot chant, contain a significant number of children, or worship in a setting with acoustics not conducive to chanting are left with no alternative but recite the Canticles, which is thoroughly unsatisfactory when Morning Prayer or Evening Prayer is the main service on the Lord’s Day.
The versions of the Canticles in An Anglican Prayer Book do not particularly lend themselves to singing or recitation. A number of them are taken from the English Standard Version of the Bible and contain obscure and awkward phrasing. They are ill suited for liturgical use. For example, "And has raised up a horn of salvation for us," "Because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from high…" and "Lord, now you are letting…." Other versions of these Canticles better suited for use in the liturgy are available. I am mystified why the editors of An Anglican Prayer Book did not make use of them since the shortcomings of the Canticles printed in the book were drawn to their attention.
Users of An Anglican Prayer Book are limited to the Canticles from the 1662 Prayer Book—Te Deum, Benedicite, Benedictus Dominus Deus, Jubilate Deo, Magnificat, Cantate Domino, Nunc Dimittis, and Deus Misereatur and one additional Canticle from the 1928 American Prayer Book—the Benedictus es. An Anglican Prayer Book makes no provision for abbreviating the Benedicite (1928 English Prayer Book) or substituting the shorter Laudate Dominum—Psalm 148 (1926 Irish Prayer Book). Canticles such as The Song of Isaiah—Isaiah 12:26 (1929 South African Prayer Book; 2004 Irish Prayer Book) and Great and Wonderful—Revelation 5:3,4 and 5:13b (An Australian Prayer Book 1978) for which a number of excellent contemporary settings already exist and which might have greatly enriched the worship of Anglican Mission churches did not make the cut.
An Anglican Prayer Book betrays a lack of familiarity with the development of the monastic Daily Offices from which Anglican services of Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer were derived. In the early monastic morning office the Lord’s Prayer formed the conclusion of the office. Over the centuries the monastic morning office accumulated a series of collects and an anthem to the Blessed Virgin Mary after the Lord’s Prayer. The Lord’s Prayer that begins the services of Morning Prayer and Evening in the 1549 Book of Common Prayer and follows the Absolution in the 1552 Prayer Book is a later addition to the monastic morning office. An Anglican Prayer Book permits the omission of the Lord’s Prayer before the Prayers, the original Lord’s Prayer, from Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer if the initial Lord’s Prayer, the later addition, is said. If one of the Lord’s Prayers should be optional, it ought to be the initial Lord’s Prayer.
The Collect for Peace in the service of Morning Prayer is a poor alternative for Cranmer’s translation of the Latin original. It show how greatly impoverished the English language has become in the last 100 years. The Collect for Grace compares poorly with other contemporary versions of this collect. The petition asking God to guide and govern the congregation so that they do right in God’ sight sounds like an afterthought.
The rubrics on page 17 are poorly written and in regards to the sermon appear to contradict the introductory notes on page 2. They permit an anthem or hymn after the Third Collect, followed by the Litany. However, the use of the Litany at this point renders redundant the Suffrages and Collects that precede the Litany. It also makes the Prayers and the Thanksgivings unnecessarily lengthy. A much better option would be to permit the use of the Litany after the Apostles’ Creed and omit the remainder of Morning or Evening Prayer.
A Prayer for the Clergy and People lacks the poetry of other contemporary versions of the same prayer. Here is an example:
"Almighty and eternal God, you alone work great marvels: send down the health-giving spirit of your grace on all bishops and pastors and the congregations committed to their care. And, so that we may all truly please you, pour on us the continual dew of your blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honor of our advocate and mediator, Jesus Christ. AMEN."
A Prayer for All People contains a number of awkward phrases. Better contemporary versions of this prayer are available. For example:
"O God, the creator and preserver of all mankind, we pray for people of every race, in every kind of need: make your ways known on earth, your saving health among all nations. We pray for your Church throughout the world: guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace and in righteousness of life. We commend to your fatherly goodness all those who are in any way afflicted or distressed in body, mind or spirit [especially …]; comfort and relieve them in their need, give them patience in their sufferings, and bring good out of all their troubles; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN."
The inclusion of A Prayer for God’s Continual Help in the services of Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer is an innovation carried over from the trial services. This collect is found in a number of Anglican service books after the Service of Holy Communion. It is one of several collects that may be used to conclude that service when there is no communion. It is also the collect used at the conclusion of ordinations. In the 1926 Irish Prayer Book it is one of a number of collects that may be used in the Communion Service after the Collect of the Day or before the Blessing, as a concluding prayer. Its inclusion in the Daily Offices in An Anglican Prayer Book appears to be largely idiosyncratic.
An Anglican Prayer Book makes no provision for the congregation to join with the officiating minister in the General Thanksgiving or the Grace, two widespread practices in the Anglican Communion in the 21st century.
An Anglican Prayer Book contains no occasional prayers or thanksgivings for use with Morning or Evening Prayer. It makes no provision for open prayer at either service.
I hope that the services in An Anglican Prayer Book are not intended in their present form to be a permanent Liturgy of any Anglican jurisdiction. Rather they will be further revised and polished. In their present form the services of Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer in An Anglican Prayer Book do not represent Anglican common prayer at its best. They are amateurish and clumsy. For congregations for whom Morning Prayer or Evening Prayer is the main service on the Lord’s Day the services are likely to form another barrier or obstacle that they must overcome in advancing the cause of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Church and the world. They are certainly not friendly to congregations with limited musical resources worshiping in non-traditional settings with less than ideal acoustics.
Recommended Reading:
Paul F. Bradshaw, Daily Prayer in the Early Church: A Study of the Origin and Early Development of the Divine Office, New York: Oxford University Press 1982
Stella Brooks, The Language of The Book of Common Prayer, London: Andre Deutsch Limited 1965
Samuel Leuenberger, Archbishop Cranmer’s Immortal Bequest—The Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England: An Evangelistic Liturgy, Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company 1990
James Hasting Nichols, Corporate Worship in the Reformed Tradition, Philadelphia: The Westminster Press 1968
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Archbishop Peter Jensen’s Address to his Standing Commitee about the Lambeth 2008 Decision
http://acl.asn.au/pdf/Lambeth2008.pdf
[Anglican Church League] 20 Feb 2008--The decision of our Bishops not to attend the Lambeth Conference in 2008 is the culmination of ten years of thought, prayer and action. We have played our part in challenging false teaching and practice, always hoping that those who have flouted the strong position taken by the last Lambeth Conference would turn back in repentance. As part of this, we have developed strong fellowship links with the many Anglican christians all over the world who feel as we do that the crisis over human sexuality is of momentous significance, and who are determined not to accept unbiblical teaching and sinful practice.
[Anglican Church League] 20 Feb 2008--The decision of our Bishops not to attend the Lambeth Conference in 2008 is the culmination of ten years of thought, prayer and action. We have played our part in challenging false teaching and practice, always hoping that those who have flouted the strong position taken by the last Lambeth Conference would turn back in repentance. As part of this, we have developed strong fellowship links with the many Anglican christians all over the world who feel as we do that the crisis over human sexuality is of momentous significance, and who are determined not to accept unbiblical teaching and sinful practice.
Anglican Archbishop: too intellectual to lead?
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0220/p07s01-woeu.htm
[Christian Science Monitor] 20 Feb 2008--When it comes to leadership in the Church of England, the former Bishop of Norwich once reportedly said: "If you want to lead someone in this part of the world, find out where they're going. And walk in front of them."
Rowan Williams, who celebrates five years as Archbishop of Canterbury next week, could never be accused of doing that.
[Christian Science Monitor] 20 Feb 2008--When it comes to leadership in the Church of England, the former Bishop of Norwich once reportedly said: "If you want to lead someone in this part of the world, find out where they're going. And walk in front of them."
Rowan Williams, who celebrates five years as Archbishop of Canterbury next week, could never be accused of doing that.
Anglican split could spread worldwide
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=319772
[National Post] 20 Feb 2008--The battle taking place inside the Anglican Church of Canada is a microcosm of a larger problem that could see the worldwide Anglican Communion end in division, said the South American archbishop who has been taking dissident churches under his wing.
In the past week, seven Canadian parishes in five dioceses have split from the national church and have put themselves under the authority of Archbishop Gregory Venables, head of the Province of the Southern Cone, which encompasses parts of South America. This week, the Diocese of Niagara in Ontario said it will replace the clergy at its two churches that voted to separate and went on to say that breakaway parishes "are no longer considered officially Anglican." Two ministers in British Columbia have also been suspended.
Archbishop Venables, speaking from Buenos Aires, said he is not happy about the potential for a global division, or what is happening in Canada, but he believes the worldwide Anglican Church has been on this course for more than 100 years, and he is becoming less hopeful for a resolution.
"It ends up you have two versions of Christianity," he said. "There are two positions that have moved apart over the last century: the Bible-based orthodox Christianity that goes back to the early years of the Church and a post-modern Christianity that believes everybody can find their own truth. And those two things cannot work together."
[National Post] 20 Feb 2008--The battle taking place inside the Anglican Church of Canada is a microcosm of a larger problem that could see the worldwide Anglican Communion end in division, said the South American archbishop who has been taking dissident churches under his wing.
In the past week, seven Canadian parishes in five dioceses have split from the national church and have put themselves under the authority of Archbishop Gregory Venables, head of the Province of the Southern Cone, which encompasses parts of South America. This week, the Diocese of Niagara in Ontario said it will replace the clergy at its two churches that voted to separate and went on to say that breakaway parishes "are no longer considered officially Anglican." Two ministers in British Columbia have also been suspended.
Archbishop Venables, speaking from Buenos Aires, said he is not happy about the potential for a global division, or what is happening in Canada, but he believes the worldwide Anglican Church has been on this course for more than 100 years, and he is becoming less hopeful for a resolution.
"It ends up you have two versions of Christianity," he said. "There are two positions that have moved apart over the last century: the Bible-based orthodox Christianity that goes back to the early years of the Church and a post-modern Christianity that believes everybody can find their own truth. And those two things cannot work together."
Gafcon conference 'rearranged'
http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=1643
[Religious Intelligence] 20 Feb 2009--The Gafcon organizing committee, which is arranging an alternative to the Anglican Lambeth Conference, has announced that the dates and venue of the Jerusalem conference have been changed.
Following consultations with the Bishop in Jerusalem, the Rt Rev Suheil Dawani, the conference will now be broken into two parts: a consultation for church leaders in Jordan from June 18-22 and a pilgrimage to Jerusalem from June 22-29.
[Religious Intelligence] 20 Feb 2009--The Gafcon organizing committee, which is arranging an alternative to the Anglican Lambeth Conference, has announced that the dates and venue of the Jerusalem conference have been changed.
Following consultations with the Bishop in Jerusalem, the Rt Rev Suheil Dawani, the conference will now be broken into two parts: a consultation for church leaders in Jordan from June 18-22 and a pilgrimage to Jerusalem from June 22-29.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Open Letter to the Primates and Faithful Anglicans of the Global South
http://www.evangelicals.org/news.asp?id=829
[EV News] 19 Feb 2008--Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Anglican Communion is a voluntary association of national and provincial churches.
The Bible teaches that Christians should not be in fellowship with those who are false teachers*.
By any reasonable reading of the Bible views held by the present Archbishop of Canterbury are such as to mean that sincere Christians should not be in fellowship with him.
We therefore call on you, as leaders within the Anglican Communion, to break fellowship with the present Archbishop of Canterbury until such time as he renounces his published teaching.
It is apparent to us as members of the Church of England that we, and our national Church, have failed to live up to the great privileges and blessings granted to us by God. We for our part repent of our failings. We also recognise that without the grace of God we cannot prevent the continuing spiritual decay in our church nor the moral decay in our nation and all that will follow from it. We ask you therefore to pray for us. More than that, mindful of our own weakness, of the spiritual decay throughout Europe we ask you to do all that you can to support us in proclaiming the gospel and upholding Biblical truth.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
David PhillipsGeneral Secretary,
on behalf of the Council of Church Society
* Matthew 18.17, Romans 16.17, 1 Corinthians 5, Ephesians 5.7, 2 Thessalonians 3.6, 1 Tim 6.5, 2 John 10 etc.
[EV News] 19 Feb 2008--Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Anglican Communion is a voluntary association of national and provincial churches.
The Bible teaches that Christians should not be in fellowship with those who are false teachers*.
By any reasonable reading of the Bible views held by the present Archbishop of Canterbury are such as to mean that sincere Christians should not be in fellowship with him.
We therefore call on you, as leaders within the Anglican Communion, to break fellowship with the present Archbishop of Canterbury until such time as he renounces his published teaching.
It is apparent to us as members of the Church of England that we, and our national Church, have failed to live up to the great privileges and blessings granted to us by God. We for our part repent of our failings. We also recognise that without the grace of God we cannot prevent the continuing spiritual decay in our church nor the moral decay in our nation and all that will follow from it. We ask you therefore to pray for us. More than that, mindful of our own weakness, of the spiritual decay throughout Europe we ask you to do all that you can to support us in proclaiming the gospel and upholding Biblical truth.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
David PhillipsGeneral Secretary,
on behalf of the Council of Church Society
* Matthew 18.17, Romans 16.17, 1 Corinthians 5, Ephesians 5.7, 2 Thessalonians 3.6, 1 Tim 6.5, 2 John 10 etc.
Rwandan archbishop visits Anglican Mission church
http://www.thestate.com/local/story/320350.html
[The State] 19 Feb 2008--The Anglican Archbishop of Rwanda, who has served as a refuge for conservative American Anglicans and Episcopalians, told a congregation Sunday that while he is tired of church politics he remains committed to a vision of the Gospel that would end what he calls “spiritual terrorism.”
“God is changing the world and he is changing the church,” said the Most Rev. Emmanuel Kolini, who delivered the sermon at Columbia’s Church of the Apostles and spoke to parishioners at a lunch afterwards. “Because the world is lost. It is godless.”
The congregation, which meets at the State Museum, is one of five Anglican Mission in America churches in South Carolina. Four of the five are Anglican mission plants, operating under Kolini’s authority as Episcopal primate of Rwanda. The fifth, All Saints Church on Pawleys Island, split off from the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina and is now part of the AMIA.
[The State] 19 Feb 2008--The Anglican Archbishop of Rwanda, who has served as a refuge for conservative American Anglicans and Episcopalians, told a congregation Sunday that while he is tired of church politics he remains committed to a vision of the Gospel that would end what he calls “spiritual terrorism.”
“God is changing the world and he is changing the church,” said the Most Rev. Emmanuel Kolini, who delivered the sermon at Columbia’s Church of the Apostles and spoke to parishioners at a lunch afterwards. “Because the world is lost. It is godless.”
The congregation, which meets at the State Museum, is one of five Anglican Mission in America churches in South Carolina. Four of the five are Anglican mission plants, operating under Kolini’s authority as Episcopal primate of Rwanda. The fifth, All Saints Church on Pawleys Island, split off from the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina and is now part of the AMIA.
Open Letter to Brian Farran, Anglican Bishop of Newcastle
http://www.lionelwindsor.net/bibleresources/topical/Open_Letter_to_Brian_Farran_re_GAFCON.htm
[lionelwindsor.net] 19 Feb 2008--I write concerning your public Statement regarding the GAFCON conference (which I viewed at http://www.angdon.com/gafcon/) organised by conservative Anglicans and critical of the Archbishop of Sydney, Peter Jensen’s involvement in it.
I appreciate the fact that your diocesan website invited responses.
So I raise several matters of concern.
Firstly, there is a surprising reliance on pejorative language in a letter where you commend “grace” and “respectful exploration” and “conversation” regarding the issues being debated. So that others can assess for themselves, I will simply list the descriptors used to characterise the position of the Global South conservatives with whom you disagree....
Related article:
http://www.angdon.com/gafcon/
GAFCON: A full statement by Bishop Brian Farran - Anglican Diocese of New Castle
[lionelwindsor.net] 19 Feb 2008--I write concerning your public Statement regarding the GAFCON conference (which I viewed at http://www.angdon.com/gafcon/) organised by conservative Anglicans and critical of the Archbishop of Sydney, Peter Jensen’s involvement in it.
I appreciate the fact that your diocesan website invited responses.
So I raise several matters of concern.
Firstly, there is a surprising reliance on pejorative language in a letter where you commend “grace” and “respectful exploration” and “conversation” regarding the issues being debated. So that others can assess for themselves, I will simply list the descriptors used to characterise the position of the Global South conservatives with whom you disagree....
Related article:
http://www.angdon.com/gafcon/
GAFCON: A full statement by Bishop Brian Farran - Anglican Diocese of New Castle
Uganda's Anglicans hail boycott of Lambeth meeting
http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL17730728.html
[Reuters] 19 Feb 2008--Uganda's Anglican worshippers praised on Sunday their archbishop's decision to boycott a once-in-a-decade global Church meeting over a row over gay clergy and same-sex unions.
Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi said on Thursday his bishops would shun the Lambeth Conference in June to protest against invitations sent to leaders from the pro-rights U.S. Episcopal Church to the same summit.
"The whole issue of homosexuality is evil," said Robert Rujuga, 47, who attends All Saints Church in Kampala.
"Our leaders have done the right thing to boycott that conference and if possible they should secede from the Western Anglican Church," he added.
Rujuga, a life-long Anglican, said he had "never seen such a dark moment in the church."
[Reuters] 19 Feb 2008--Uganda's Anglican worshippers praised on Sunday their archbishop's decision to boycott a once-in-a-decade global Church meeting over a row over gay clergy and same-sex unions.
Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi said on Thursday his bishops would shun the Lambeth Conference in June to protest against invitations sent to leaders from the pro-rights U.S. Episcopal Church to the same summit.
"The whole issue of homosexuality is evil," said Robert Rujuga, 47, who attends All Saints Church in Kampala.
"Our leaders have done the right thing to boycott that conference and if possible they should secede from the Western Anglican Church," he added.
Rujuga, a life-long Anglican, said he had "never seen such a dark moment in the church."
William Wantland on the Communion of the Unbaptized
http://www.kendallharmon.net/t19/index.php/t19/article/10172/#more
[TitusOneNine] 19 Feb 2008--Much has been said and written in recent months about “open communion” for all Christians, and even for unbaptized persons. Of course, those who advocate this idea of hospitality do so in all good conscience. However, such actions are really spiritually dangerous, and not permitted in the Episcopal Church.
First, as to unbaptized persons, Canon I. 17. 7 states, “No unbaptized person shall be eligible to receive Holy Communion in this Church.” This simply continues the declared teaching of the Church Catholic at least since the second century, as set forth in the Didache: “Do not let anyone eat or drink of your eucharist except those who have been baptized in the name of the Lord.”
The basis for this principle is found in Chapter 11 of St. Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians: “Therefore, whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body” (vs. 27-29).
[TitusOneNine] 19 Feb 2008--Much has been said and written in recent months about “open communion” for all Christians, and even for unbaptized persons. Of course, those who advocate this idea of hospitality do so in all good conscience. However, such actions are really spiritually dangerous, and not permitted in the Episcopal Church.
First, as to unbaptized persons, Canon I. 17. 7 states, “No unbaptized person shall be eligible to receive Holy Communion in this Church.” This simply continues the declared teaching of the Church Catholic at least since the second century, as set forth in the Didache: “Do not let anyone eat or drink of your eucharist except those who have been baptized in the name of the Lord.”
The basis for this principle is found in Chapter 11 of St. Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians: “Therefore, whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body” (vs. 27-29).
Church members locked out of church
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=5962794
[abc13.com] 19 Feb 2008--People went to their church for Sunday services and they were locked out. Now, they're left wondering if they'll have to find a new place to pray.
It all stems from an ongoing dispute with their church pastor. The St. Joseph's Episcopal Church is about 400 members strong. They're praying this will all get resolved and they'll be able to stay at the church and keep the congregation together.
They gathered to sing and pray on the outside drive, locked out by steel gates, where inside they have celebrated god every Sunday for years.
"We haven't seen anything like this before," said church member Paul Chukwujekwu.
[abc13.com] 19 Feb 2008--People went to their church for Sunday services and they were locked out. Now, they're left wondering if they'll have to find a new place to pray.
It all stems from an ongoing dispute with their church pastor. The St. Joseph's Episcopal Church is about 400 members strong. They're praying this will all get resolved and they'll be able to stay at the church and keep the congregation together.
They gathered to sing and pray on the outside drive, locked out by steel gates, where inside they have celebrated god every Sunday for years.
"We haven't seen anything like this before," said church member Paul Chukwujekwu.
Calls for Archbishop to cancel Jerusalem conference
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/18/2165039.htm?section=justin
[ABC News] 19 Feb 2008--Anglican Archbishop of Sydney Peter Jensen has been asked to cancel a conference of Bishops in Jerusalem that is being viewed as a rival to a major meeting of Bishops in England.
Dr Jensen announced last month he would join other Bishops boycotting the Lambeth Conference later this year.
By whom?
[ABC News] 19 Feb 2008--Anglican Archbishop of Sydney Peter Jensen has been asked to cancel a conference of Bishops in Jerusalem that is being viewed as a rival to a major meeting of Bishops in England.
Dr Jensen announced last month he would join other Bishops boycotting the Lambeth Conference later this year.
By whom?
Which churches are the country's largest?
http://video1.washingtontimes.com/beliefblog/2008/02/which_churches_are_the_country.html
[The Washington Times] 19 Feb 2008--It's always intriguing to see which churches have grown and which denominations have faded in the past year. According to the 2008 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches (a Bible of sorts for us religion writers), the fastest-growing religious body in 2007 was the Jehovah's Witnesses at 2.25 percent.
Following them were the Mormons at 1.56 percent and the Roman Catholics at .87 percent. Compare this to last year's states that had the Catholics out front at 1.94 percent, followed by the Assemblies of God at 1.86 and the Mormons at 1.63.
The denomination with the biggest decrease is the Episcopalians at 4.15 percent.
[The Washington Times] 19 Feb 2008--It's always intriguing to see which churches have grown and which denominations have faded in the past year. According to the 2008 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches (a Bible of sorts for us religion writers), the fastest-growing religious body in 2007 was the Jehovah's Witnesses at 2.25 percent.
Following them were the Mormons at 1.56 percent and the Roman Catholics at .87 percent. Compare this to last year's states that had the Catholics out front at 1.94 percent, followed by the Assemblies of God at 1.86 and the Mormons at 1.63.
The denomination with the biggest decrease is the Episcopalians at 4.15 percent.
Anti-Christian Barrage at the Movies
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080218/31241_Anti-Christian_Barrage_at_the_Movies.htm
[The Christian Post] 19 Feb 2008--The United States is the most deeply religious country in the western world, but movies and television programs are portraying a different picture, Christian media groups say.
Ever since the Protestant Film Office closed its advocacy offices in Hollywood in 1966, media portrayals of Christianity have become increasingly negative, even to the point where regular churchgoers seem almost nonexistent.
"Christians who are intelligent, educated, modern, sophisticated in modern urban America are nonexistent as far as modern television and movies are concerned," the late Dr. D. James Kennedy, founder of Coral Ridge Ministries, said in a broadcast aired on the "Coral Ridge Hour" Sunday.
"If you go back 30 years or more, Christianity was almost always portrayed by Hollywood and the media in a very positive and affirming way," Kennedy said. "Today, that is a rare exception."
[The Christian Post] 19 Feb 2008--The United States is the most deeply religious country in the western world, but movies and television programs are portraying a different picture, Christian media groups say.
Ever since the Protestant Film Office closed its advocacy offices in Hollywood in 1966, media portrayals of Christianity have become increasingly negative, even to the point where regular churchgoers seem almost nonexistent.
"Christians who are intelligent, educated, modern, sophisticated in modern urban America are nonexistent as far as modern television and movies are concerned," the late Dr. D. James Kennedy, founder of Coral Ridge Ministries, said in a broadcast aired on the "Coral Ridge Hour" Sunday.
"If you go back 30 years or more, Christianity was almost always portrayed by Hollywood and the media in a very positive and affirming way," Kennedy said. "Today, that is a rare exception."
Church of Uganda Still a Part of Anglican Communion
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/digest/index.cfm/2008/2/19/Church-of-Uganda-Still-a-Part-of-Anglican-Communion
[Anglican Communnion News Service] 19 Feb 2008--“The Church of Uganda is not seceding from the Anglican Communion,” said Rev. Canon Aaron Mwesigye, church spokesperson.
“Some press stories have misrepresented our position.” “The plain fact is that we are simply not attending the Lambeth Conference in July 2008, but we are still very much a part of the Anglican Communion.”
The Church of Uganda broke communion with the Episcopal Church in the United States of America in 2003 after they elected and consecrated as Bishop Gene Robinson, a divorced man living in a same-sex relationship. But, the Church of Uganda has remained a consistently active member of the Anglican Communion.
Related article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/19/religion.usa
Ugandan Anglicans in ultimatum to US church over gay marriages - Guardian Unlimited
[Anglican Communnion News Service] 19 Feb 2008--“The Church of Uganda is not seceding from the Anglican Communion,” said Rev. Canon Aaron Mwesigye, church spokesperson.
“Some press stories have misrepresented our position.” “The plain fact is that we are simply not attending the Lambeth Conference in July 2008, but we are still very much a part of the Anglican Communion.”
The Church of Uganda broke communion with the Episcopal Church in the United States of America in 2003 after they elected and consecrated as Bishop Gene Robinson, a divorced man living in a same-sex relationship. But, the Church of Uganda has remained a consistently active member of the Anglican Communion.
Related article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/19/religion.usa
Ugandan Anglicans in ultimatum to US church over gay marriages - Guardian Unlimited
Sydney backs bishops on Lambeth
http://your.sydneyanglicans.net/sydneystories/sydney_backs_bishops_on_lambeth/
[your.sydneyanglicans.net] 19 Feb 2008--The Standing Committee of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney has given its full support to Archbishop of Sydney Dr Peter Jensen’s decision not to attend the Lambeth Conference.
The decision was announced earlier this month and this was standing committee’s first meeting since then.
The committee stated it “wholeheartedly supports the Archbishop and his Bishops in their decisions relating to Lambeth and GAFCON, recognising the cost to them of such decisions.”
Related article:
http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/10202/
++Jensen address to Sydney Standing Committee re GAFCON - Stand Firm
[your.sydneyanglicans.net] 19 Feb 2008--The Standing Committee of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney has given its full support to Archbishop of Sydney Dr Peter Jensen’s decision not to attend the Lambeth Conference.
The decision was announced earlier this month and this was standing committee’s first meeting since then.
The committee stated it “wholeheartedly supports the Archbishop and his Bishops in their decisions relating to Lambeth and GAFCON, recognising the cost to them of such decisions.”
Related article:
http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/10202/
++Jensen address to Sydney Standing Committee re GAFCON - Stand Firm
Why, then, the law? Christianity in a changing legal environment, Part 1
http://ugleyvicar.blogspot.com/2008/02/why-then-law-christianity-in-changing.html
[The Ugley Vicar] 19 Feb 2008--Ever since Dr Rowan Williams made his remarks about Shari’ah law, I have been saying that although the suggestions he made were wrong, the questions he raised were entirely right.
Until quite recently, English law developed and functioned under the influence of an explicitly Christian moral framework. At one stage, our divorce laws, laws against Sunday trading and restrictions on homosexual practice all derived essentially from this standpoint. However, as each of these examples shows, since the 1950s there has been a substantial drawing back from this Christian basis for lawmaking.
Related articles:
http://www.townhall.com/Columnists/DineshDSouza/2008/02/18/anglican_archbishop_embraces_sharia_law
Anglican Archbishop Embraces Sharia Law - Townhall.com
http://www.townhall.com/Columnists/KenConnor/2008/02/17/the_muddle-headed_archbishop
The Muddle-Headed Archbishop - Townhall.com
[The Ugley Vicar] 19 Feb 2008--Ever since Dr Rowan Williams made his remarks about Shari’ah law, I have been saying that although the suggestions he made were wrong, the questions he raised were entirely right.
Until quite recently, English law developed and functioned under the influence of an explicitly Christian moral framework. At one stage, our divorce laws, laws against Sunday trading and restrictions on homosexual practice all derived essentially from this standpoint. However, as each of these examples shows, since the 1950s there has been a substantial drawing back from this Christian basis for lawmaking.
Related articles:
http://www.townhall.com/Columnists/DineshDSouza/2008/02/18/anglican_archbishop_embraces_sharia_law
Anglican Archbishop Embraces Sharia Law - Townhall.com
http://www.townhall.com/Columnists/KenConnor/2008/02/17/the_muddle-headed_archbishop
The Muddle-Headed Archbishop - Townhall.com
Brilliant Blunder
http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=12756
[The American Spectator] 19 Feb 2008--Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams is floundering over his suggestion early this month in Britain that a "constructive relationship between Islamic law and the statutory law of the United Kingdom" not only merits consideration but is perhaps "unavoidable." Even his predecessor as chief prelate of the Church of England has criticized Williams.
"His erudite and nuanced acceptance of some Muslim laws within British law would be disastrous for the nation and, to some degree, a direct challenge to the values of the Christian/ Jewish ethic on which our laws have been constructed," pronounced Lord George Carey. The former archbishop may not be the towering intellect that Williams is reputed to be. But Carey's low-church simplicity helped him to avoid his successor's proclivity for intellectual and verbal diarrhea.
[The American Spectator] 19 Feb 2008--Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams is floundering over his suggestion early this month in Britain that a "constructive relationship between Islamic law and the statutory law of the United Kingdom" not only merits consideration but is perhaps "unavoidable." Even his predecessor as chief prelate of the Church of England has criticized Williams.
"His erudite and nuanced acceptance of some Muslim laws within British law would be disastrous for the nation and, to some degree, a direct challenge to the values of the Christian/ Jewish ethic on which our laws have been constructed," pronounced Lord George Carey. The former archbishop may not be the towering intellect that Williams is reputed to be. But Carey's low-church simplicity helped him to avoid his successor's proclivity for intellectual and verbal diarrhea.
Bishop Kelshaw Affiliates With Ugandan Church
http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2008/2/18/bishop-kelshaw-affiliates-with-ugandan-church
[The Living Church] 19 Feb 2008--The Rt. Rev. Terence Kelshaw, retired Bishop of the Rio Grande, has joined the Church of the Province of Uganda. Bishop Kelshaw sent a letter to Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori on Feb. 14 to inform her of the development. He wrote, “I have therefore requested and been received into the Province of the Church of Uganda (where I once lived for two years) and I believe I sense a certain security and unity with that decision and with that Province.”
Bishop Kelshaw, who served as the diocesan bishop from 1989 to 2005, is the second bishop in the Rio Grande to leave The Episcopal Church. The Rt. Rev. Jeffrey N. Steenson resigned in September to join the Roman Catholic Church. A native of England, Bishop Kelshaw, 71, transferred to The Episcopal Church in 1980 to become a faculty member of Trinity School for Ministry.
[The Living Church] 19 Feb 2008--The Rt. Rev. Terence Kelshaw, retired Bishop of the Rio Grande, has joined the Church of the Province of Uganda. Bishop Kelshaw sent a letter to Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori on Feb. 14 to inform her of the development. He wrote, “I have therefore requested and been received into the Province of the Church of Uganda (where I once lived for two years) and I believe I sense a certain security and unity with that decision and with that Province.”
Bishop Kelshaw, who served as the diocesan bishop from 1989 to 2005, is the second bishop in the Rio Grande to leave The Episcopal Church. The Rt. Rev. Jeffrey N. Steenson resigned in September to join the Roman Catholic Church. A native of England, Bishop Kelshaw, 71, transferred to The Episcopal Church in 1980 to become a faculty member of Trinity School for Ministry.
Anglican Network in Canada News Release
http://www.anglicanessentials.ca/wordpress/index.php/2008/02/17/anglican-network-in-canada-news-release/
[Anglicans Essentials Canada] 19 Feb 2008--Seven Anglican congregations voted this weekend to accept the episcopal oversight of Bishop Donald Harvey, Moderator of the Anglican Network in Canada, under the Primatial authority of Archbishop Gregory Venables and the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone. Most churches accepted this option with decisive majorities.
What this means is that these congregations are requesting spiritual care from and will come under the authority of Bishop Harvey and Archbishop Venables, rather than their former Anglican Church in Canada diocese and bishop who are walking away from established Christian teaching and globally recognized Anglican doctrine.
Today, six churches voted to accept Bishop Harvey’s spiritual care.
[Anglicans Essentials Canada] 19 Feb 2008--Seven Anglican congregations voted this weekend to accept the episcopal oversight of Bishop Donald Harvey, Moderator of the Anglican Network in Canada, under the Primatial authority of Archbishop Gregory Venables and the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone. Most churches accepted this option with decisive majorities.
What this means is that these congregations are requesting spiritual care from and will come under the authority of Bishop Harvey and Archbishop Venables, rather than their former Anglican Church in Canada diocese and bishop who are walking away from established Christian teaching and globally recognized Anglican doctrine.
Today, six churches voted to accept Bishop Harvey’s spiritual care.
Metchosin Anglicans vote to split from church
http://www.globalsouthanglican.org/index.php/comments/metchosin_anglicans_vote_to_split_from_church/
[Global South Anglican] 19 Feb 2008--Eighty-six per cent of participating parishioners at Metchosin’s St. Mary the Incarnation Anglican Church voted yesterday to separate from their national body over the issue of same-sex marriage, part of a pattern that has developed across the country.
Meanwhile, St. Matthew’s Anglican parish in Abbotsford became the second Lower Mainland congregation in a week to split from the Vancouver-area diocese overseen by Bishop Michael Ingham.
The Abbotsford parish followed in the footsteps of Vancouver’s St. John’s Shaughnessy—the largest Anglican congregation in Canada—which voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to break with Ingham, primarily over the issue of same-sex blessings.
St. Mary will now align with the parallel Anglican Network in Canada, said Rev. Andrew Hewlett, the church’s assistant priest.
Related articles:
http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=7748
Archdeacon Makes Pre-emptive Strike on Fleeing Orthodox Parish - VirtueOnline
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=7c069b96-85ad-4810-ac19-23a0a0b2daf1&k=83743
'Church order' at stake in Anglican dispute - Times Colonist
[Global South Anglican] 19 Feb 2008--Eighty-six per cent of participating parishioners at Metchosin’s St. Mary the Incarnation Anglican Church voted yesterday to separate from their national body over the issue of same-sex marriage, part of a pattern that has developed across the country.
Meanwhile, St. Matthew’s Anglican parish in Abbotsford became the second Lower Mainland congregation in a week to split from the Vancouver-area diocese overseen by Bishop Michael Ingham.
The Abbotsford parish followed in the footsteps of Vancouver’s St. John’s Shaughnessy—the largest Anglican congregation in Canada—which voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to break with Ingham, primarily over the issue of same-sex blessings.
St. Mary will now align with the parallel Anglican Network in Canada, said Rev. Andrew Hewlett, the church’s assistant priest.
Related articles:
http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=7748
Archdeacon Makes Pre-emptive Strike on Fleeing Orthodox Parish - VirtueOnline
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=7c069b96-85ad-4810-ac19-23a0a0b2daf1&k=83743
'Church order' at stake in Anglican dispute - Times Colonist
Saturday, February 16, 2008
GAFCON Primates Reply to English Bishops' letter
http://www.evangelicals.org/news.asp?id=827
[EV News] 16 Feb 2008--The Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion website reports that Five GAFCON Bishops have responded to an open letter sent recently by twenty one Church of England bishops urging them to attend the Lambeth Conference.
GAFCON Response to Evangelical English Bishops
To Bishop David James and colleagues
Brethren
We have received your letter encouraging us to attend the Lambeth Conference with you. We trust that we are united in faithful obedience to the Scriptures and also to the Anglican Formularies. We understand your desire to continue to support the efforts of the Archbishop of Canterbury. As GAFCON Bishops and primates, we share with you a commitment to the communion and its future. We ask you to understand that we have reached a different conclusion and request you to understand our decision....
[EV News] 16 Feb 2008--The Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion website reports that Five GAFCON Bishops have responded to an open letter sent recently by twenty one Church of England bishops urging them to attend the Lambeth Conference.
GAFCON Response to Evangelical English Bishops
To Bishop David James and colleagues
Brethren
We have received your letter encouraging us to attend the Lambeth Conference with you. We trust that we are united in faithful obedience to the Scriptures and also to the Anglican Formularies. We understand your desire to continue to support the efforts of the Archbishop of Canterbury. As GAFCON Bishops and primates, we share with you a commitment to the communion and its future. We ask you to understand that we have reached a different conclusion and request you to understand our decision....
Five primates announce Lambeth Conference boycott
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_94975_ENG_HTM.htm
[Episcopal ife Online] 16 Feb 2008--Five Anglican Primates, four from Africa and one from South America, have publicized their intentions to boycott the 2008 Lambeth Conference in a letter responding to a group of English bishops who had urged them to attend the once-a-decade gathering.
Archbishops Peter Akinola of Nigeria, Emmanuel Kolini of Rwanda, Benjamin Nzimbi of Kenya, Henry Orombi of Uganda, and Gregory Venables of the Southern Cone -- who make up five of the 38 Anglican Primates -- told the 21 English bishops that they would not attend Lambeth in protest to the invitations extended by the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Episcopal Church's bishops. Akinola, Kolini and Orombi had all previously announced that they intended to boycott the conference.
Neva Rae Fox, the Episcopal Church's public affairs officer, noted that Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori is saddened by the primates' decision not to attend Lambeth.
[Episcopal ife Online] 16 Feb 2008--Five Anglican Primates, four from Africa and one from South America, have publicized their intentions to boycott the 2008 Lambeth Conference in a letter responding to a group of English bishops who had urged them to attend the once-a-decade gathering.
Archbishops Peter Akinola of Nigeria, Emmanuel Kolini of Rwanda, Benjamin Nzimbi of Kenya, Henry Orombi of Uganda, and Gregory Venables of the Southern Cone -- who make up five of the 38 Anglican Primates -- told the 21 English bishops that they would not attend Lambeth in protest to the invitations extended by the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Episcopal Church's bishops. Akinola, Kolini and Orombi had all previously announced that they intended to boycott the conference.
Neva Rae Fox, the Episcopal Church's public affairs officer, noted that Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori is saddened by the primates' decision not to attend Lambeth.
Does Shariah Promote Human Rights?
http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/02/does_shariah_really_promote_hu.html
[The American Thinker] 16 Feb 2008--The Archbishop of Canterbury says that implementing or permitting some parts of Shariah (Islamic law) is unavoidable. Is this wise?
It may be true that some parts of Islamic law are only about halal (permitted) foods, but other parts - not so.
The Archbishop says he would not recommend incorporating Islamic punishments (hudud) in English law or permitting them in informal but binding Islamic courts in the UK. But are these fine line distinctions possible in Islam? Is all of Shariah eventually destined, as many millions of Muslims believe, to cover all parts of society, gradually, over the years - around the globe? Is it possible to take multiculturalism and cultural senstivity, though positive in many ways, too far?
[The American Thinker] 16 Feb 2008--The Archbishop of Canterbury says that implementing or permitting some parts of Shariah (Islamic law) is unavoidable. Is this wise?
It may be true that some parts of Islamic law are only about halal (permitted) foods, but other parts - not so.
The Archbishop says he would not recommend incorporating Islamic punishments (hudud) in English law or permitting them in informal but binding Islamic courts in the UK. But are these fine line distinctions possible in Islam? Is all of Shariah eventually destined, as many millions of Muslims believe, to cover all parts of society, gradually, over the years - around the globe? Is it possible to take multiculturalism and cultural senstivity, though positive in many ways, too far?
Have we forgotten the lessons of appeasement?
http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080216/OPINION/802160415/1015
[The News-Press] 16 Feb 2008--As Americans begin a two-year celebration of the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth, another anniversary approaches with far more significant and immediate implications.
This fall will mark the 70th anniversary of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's accord with Adolf Hitler at Munich, a bargain with the devil that sought to buy "peace for our time" but cost Czechoslovakia its freedom and led to World War II.
Some elements in modern Britain refuse to learn from the past and what happens when human nature is misdiagnosed.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, moves from one controversy to another; from approval of same-sex marriage, to a proposal that Islamic Sharia law should co-exist with British common law. In a radio interview, Williams said that integration of parts of Muslim law in Britain is "unavoidable."
[The News-Press] 16 Feb 2008--As Americans begin a two-year celebration of the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth, another anniversary approaches with far more significant and immediate implications.
This fall will mark the 70th anniversary of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's accord with Adolf Hitler at Munich, a bargain with the devil that sought to buy "peace for our time" but cost Czechoslovakia its freedom and led to World War II.
Some elements in modern Britain refuse to learn from the past and what happens when human nature is misdiagnosed.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, moves from one controversy to another; from approval of same-sex marriage, to a proposal that Islamic Sharia law should co-exist with British common law. In a radio interview, Williams said that integration of parts of Muslim law in Britain is "unavoidable."
Rowan's Laugh-In
http://www.edmontonsun.com/Comment/2008/02/16/4851497-sun.html
[Edmonton Sun] 16 Feb 2008--A friend of mine went to high school with Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
"He was a nice enough fellow," the friend told me in his lyrical Welsh tones. "But whenever we had rugby or gym he seemed to have a note from his mother saying that he was ill and couldn't do sport."
Never trust a man who won't show his knees or run around a field. And never trust an arrogant liberal, especially one who makes a public statement that the British should introduce a form of Sharia law to their country.
[Edmonton Sun] 16 Feb 2008--A friend of mine went to high school with Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
"He was a nice enough fellow," the friend told me in his lyrical Welsh tones. "But whenever we had rugby or gym he seemed to have a note from his mother saying that he was ill and couldn't do sport."
Never trust a man who won't show his knees or run around a field. And never trust an arrogant liberal, especially one who makes a public statement that the British should introduce a form of Sharia law to their country.
Anglicans stay silent
http://www.thisischeshire.co.uk/display.var.2041758.0.anglicans_stay_silent.php
[This Is Cheshire] 16 Feb 2008--Knutsford's Anglican leaders this week declined to comment on remarks made by The Archbishop of Canterbury in a BBC Radio 4 interview.
The Reverend Nigel Atkinson, vicar of st John's Church, said he did not have time to speak about Dr Rowan Williams' call for the UK to adopt certain aspects of Sharia law because he was going on holiday.
And the Reverend Phil Highton said he would rather not comment. St John's Church office was also unavailable.
[This Is Cheshire] 16 Feb 2008--Knutsford's Anglican leaders this week declined to comment on remarks made by The Archbishop of Canterbury in a BBC Radio 4 interview.
The Reverend Nigel Atkinson, vicar of st John's Church, said he did not have time to speak about Dr Rowan Williams' call for the UK to adopt certain aspects of Sharia law because he was going on holiday.
And the Reverend Phil Highton said he would rather not comment. St John's Church office was also unavailable.
Last thing west needs is Sharia 'justice'
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/viewpoints/story.html?id=6a39d36d-5c45-40f9-8811-4c35fa611ebf
[Leader-Post] 16 Feb 2008--The recent musings of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, caused a furore in the UK so intense that it reverberated throughout Europe and even as far as Canada.
It all started when this misguided cleric suggested that, because many immigrants do not relate to the British legal system, some civil aspects of Sharia law should be adopted in Britain. This, he believes, would help to create social cohesion, because Muslims should not have to choose between the "stark alternatives of cultural loyalty or state loyalty".
The result was a backlash of epic proportions. Hundreds of outraged citizens phoned in to talk shows and Anglican clergy called for the Archbishop's resignation.
[Leader-Post] 16 Feb 2008--The recent musings of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, caused a furore in the UK so intense that it reverberated throughout Europe and even as far as Canada.
It all started when this misguided cleric suggested that, because many immigrants do not relate to the British legal system, some civil aspects of Sharia law should be adopted in Britain. This, he believes, would help to create social cohesion, because Muslims should not have to choose between the "stark alternatives of cultural loyalty or state loyalty".
The result was a backlash of epic proportions. Hundreds of outraged citizens phoned in to talk shows and Anglican clergy called for the Archbishop's resignation.
A warning that cannot be ignored
http://www.spectator.co.uk/melaniephillips/506401/a-warning-that-cannot-be-ignored.thtml
[The Spectator] 16 Feb 2008--The stark warning published today by the Royal United Services Institute about Britain’s catastrophic failure to deal with the issue of terrorism and extremism is of the highest importance. Written by group of former military chiefs, diplomats, analysts and academics for a body which is an internationally recognised authority on defence and security issues and which has been described by Gordon Brown as ‘leading the debate about homeland security and global terrorism’, it is an absolutely devastating condemnation of the government’s failure to even conceptualise the problem let alone deal with adequately. It argues that
The UK presents itself as a target, as a fragmenting, post-Christian society
which is increasingly divided on its history, national aims, values and political identity.
[The Spectator] 16 Feb 2008--The stark warning published today by the Royal United Services Institute about Britain’s catastrophic failure to deal with the issue of terrorism and extremism is of the highest importance. Written by group of former military chiefs, diplomats, analysts and academics for a body which is an internationally recognised authority on defence and security issues and which has been described by Gordon Brown as ‘leading the debate about homeland security and global terrorism’, it is an absolutely devastating condemnation of the government’s failure to even conceptualise the problem let alone deal with adequately. It argues that
The UK presents itself as a target, as a fragmenting, post-Christian society
which is increasingly divided on its history, national aims, values and political identity.
Homophobia: report it now!
http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/index.php/2008/02/16/homophobia-report-it-now/
[Anglican Mainstream] 16 Feb 2008--According to the newly published God, Gays and the Church, ‘homophobia’ is a “Pejorative term which may be applied to people who exhibit an entire range of negative attitudes to same-sex attraction, and also to those who experience and act upon it. The view that same-sex sexual behaviour is sinful is considered homophobic in certain realms.”
Already in this country there is such a thing as ‘homophobic crime’, with homophobic ‘incidents’ being defined as anything anyone perceives to be homophobic (eg here).
Now the London Underground is featuring a poster campaign, organized by the Gay Men’s Partnership and the Home Office, encouraging people to report not just ‘homophobic crime’, but ‘homophobia’.
The definition of ‘homophobia’ is uncertain, but is rapidly being extended to include attitudes to homosexuality, not just actions.
How long can it be before more Christians find themselves facing police interviews, cautions and even prosecution on the basis of expressed beliefs about same-sex relationships? And what does this say about our once much-vaunted freedom of speech and belief?
[Anglican Mainstream] 16 Feb 2008--According to the newly published God, Gays and the Church, ‘homophobia’ is a “Pejorative term which may be applied to people who exhibit an entire range of negative attitudes to same-sex attraction, and also to those who experience and act upon it. The view that same-sex sexual behaviour is sinful is considered homophobic in certain realms.”
Already in this country there is such a thing as ‘homophobic crime’, with homophobic ‘incidents’ being defined as anything anyone perceives to be homophobic (eg here).
Now the London Underground is featuring a poster campaign, organized by the Gay Men’s Partnership and the Home Office, encouraging people to report not just ‘homophobic crime’, but ‘homophobia’.
The definition of ‘homophobia’ is uncertain, but is rapidly being extended to include attitudes to homosexuality, not just actions.
How long can it be before more Christians find themselves facing police interviews, cautions and even prosecution on the basis of expressed beliefs about same-sex relationships? And what does this say about our once much-vaunted freedom of speech and belief?
Does Islamic Law Have A Place In The U.K.?
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/15/london/main3835560.shtml
[CBS News] 16 Feb 2008--The Archbishop of Canterbury sure kicked up a storm when he suggested Islamic Shariah law has a place in British society. His words upset a lot of people, including the Queen, politicians, the media and even some Muslims - one of whom said, "It is not Muslims calling for this, it's a Christian. But once again we are being demonized."
Dr. Rowan Williams is the Church of England's spiritual leader. Some contend he has enough problems among his own flock - a row over gay clergy and other issues that threaten to split his church - without stirring up more controversy about someone else's religion.
Shariah law is the dominant legal force in some Muslim countries, though others have both secular and religious courts. It regulates much of day-to-day Muslim life: economics, banking, legal contracts and family and social issues.
[CBS News] 16 Feb 2008--The Archbishop of Canterbury sure kicked up a storm when he suggested Islamic Shariah law has a place in British society. His words upset a lot of people, including the Queen, politicians, the media and even some Muslims - one of whom said, "It is not Muslims calling for this, it's a Christian. But once again we are being demonized."
Dr. Rowan Williams is the Church of England's spiritual leader. Some contend he has enough problems among his own flock - a row over gay clergy and other issues that threaten to split his church - without stirring up more controversy about someone else's religion.
Shariah law is the dominant legal force in some Muslim countries, though others have both secular and religious courts. It regulates much of day-to-day Muslim life: economics, banking, legal contracts and family and social issues.
Unity and Diversity in the Lambeth Conference
http://episcopalmajority.blogspot.com/2008/01/brief-history-of-lambeth-conference.html
[The Episcopal Majority] 16 Feb 2008--In this multi-part essay, Christopher Webber raises questions about the history and future of the Lambeth Conference: Where did Lambeth begin? What was the original purpose? What has it accomplished? His essay is not intended as a full history of Lambeth, but a summary of the origins and main developments that may be instructive today.
Due to its length, Father Webber's essay will be published in four parts over the next few days.
[The Episcopal Majority] 16 Feb 2008--In this multi-part essay, Christopher Webber raises questions about the history and future of the Lambeth Conference: Where did Lambeth begin? What was the original purpose? What has it accomplished? His essay is not intended as a full history of Lambeth, but a summary of the origins and main developments that may be instructive today.
Due to its length, Father Webber's essay will be published in four parts over the next few days.
Second church set to split
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=4089a9c8-6def-4256-8eca-d2dc8d45aac4&k=93350
[The Vancouver Sun] 16 Feb 2008--Members of an Anglican church in Abbotsford are expected to become the second local congregation in a week to split from Vancouver-area Bishop Michael Ingham over his support for same-sex blessings.
And two more Anglican churches -- St. Matthias/ St. Luke and The Church of the Good Shepherd -- in Vancouver are poised to fill out similar ballots later this month as orthodox followers openly challenge Ingham's liberal vision for the church.
[The Vancouver Sun] 16 Feb 2008--Members of an Anglican church in Abbotsford are expected to become the second local congregation in a week to split from Vancouver-area Bishop Michael Ingham over his support for same-sex blessings.
And two more Anglican churches -- St. Matthias/ St. Luke and The Church of the Good Shepherd -- in Vancouver are poised to fill out similar ballots later this month as orthodox followers openly challenge Ingham's liberal vision for the church.
Large Vancouver Church Votes to Join Southern Cone
http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2008/2/15/large-anglican-church-in-canada-votes-overwhelmingly-to-join-the-southern-cone
[The Livin g Church] 16 Feb 2008--One of the largest congregations in the Anglican Church of Canada voted overwhelmingly to leave the Diocese of New Westminster and affiliate with the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone at a parish meeting Feb. 13.
More than 97 percent of members at St. John’s Church, which claims more than 2,000 members in Vancouver’s Shaughnessy neighborhood, voted to leave, according to the National Post of Canada. St. John’s has an assessed value of $12.5 million, according to the Post, which noted that the parish also owns adjacent property worth $1.1 million and two rectories worth a combined $2.6 million.
[The Livin g Church] 16 Feb 2008--One of the largest congregations in the Anglican Church of Canada voted overwhelmingly to leave the Diocese of New Westminster and affiliate with the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone at a parish meeting Feb. 13.
More than 97 percent of members at St. John’s Church, which claims more than 2,000 members in Vancouver’s Shaughnessy neighborhood, voted to leave, according to the National Post of Canada. St. John’s has an assessed value of $12.5 million, according to the Post, which noted that the parish also owns adjacent property worth $1.1 million and two rectories worth a combined $2.6 million.
Southern Cone Canons Translated into English
http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2008/2/15/southern-cone-canons-translated-into-english
[The Living Church] 16 Feb 2008--An English translation of the canons and constitution of the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone has recently been completed. Translating the 20-page document from Spanish to English was accomplished by staff members from the dioceses of Fort Worth and San Joaquin.
The Diocese of Fort Worth has published the translation on its website. Bishop Jack Leo Iker of Fort Worth and the standing committee recently prepared a second report concerning the possibility of aligning with the Province of the Southern Cone. This comparative report reflects on key points of difference between the constitution and canons of The Episcopal Church and those of the Southern Cone. The report concluded that affiliation with the Southern Cone would provide Fort Worth with “greater self-determination” than it currently has under The Episcopal Church.
[The Living Church] 16 Feb 2008--An English translation of the canons and constitution of the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone has recently been completed. Translating the 20-page document from Spanish to English was accomplished by staff members from the dioceses of Fort Worth and San Joaquin.
The Diocese of Fort Worth has published the translation on its website. Bishop Jack Leo Iker of Fort Worth and the standing committee recently prepared a second report concerning the possibility of aligning with the Province of the Southern Cone. This comparative report reflects on key points of difference between the constitution and canons of The Episcopal Church and those of the Southern Cone. The report concluded that affiliation with the Southern Cone would provide Fort Worth with “greater self-determination” than it currently has under The Episcopal Church.
Property at risk, Canada's rebel Anglicans warned
http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnN15351669.html
[Reuters] 16 Feb 2008--The Anglican Church of Canada has warned conservative members who split with the Canadian church in protest against the blessing of same-sex unions, that they will lose their church buildings and church funds.
"Individuals who choose to leave the church over contentious issues cannot take property or other assets with them," Archbishop Fred Hiltz wrote his bishops this week, in a letter the church published in a news release on Friday.
[Reuters] 16 Feb 2008--The Anglican Church of Canada has warned conservative members who split with the Canadian church in protest against the blessing of same-sex unions, that they will lose their church buildings and church funds.
"Individuals who choose to leave the church over contentious issues cannot take property or other assets with them," Archbishop Fred Hiltz wrote his bishops this week, in a letter the church published in a news release on Friday.
Kenya's bishops join boycott of Anglican meeting
http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL1511266.html
[Reuters] 16 Feb 2008--Kenya's Anglican bishops will join the boycott of a major church gathering this year because of a rift over gay clergy and same-sex unions, Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi said on Friday.
The announcement is another setback for the Archbishop of Canterbury, leader of the world's 77 million Anglicans, who is struggling to heal divisions between liberals and traditionalists.
"We are not attending the forthcoming Lambeth (Conference)," Nzimbi told local broadcaster NTV. "We are not pulling out of the Anglican communion."
Related article:
http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=48240
Anglican bishops boycott Lambeth conference - Kenya Broadcasting Company
[Reuters] 16 Feb 2008--Kenya's Anglican bishops will join the boycott of a major church gathering this year because of a rift over gay clergy and same-sex unions, Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi said on Friday.
The announcement is another setback for the Archbishop of Canterbury, leader of the world's 77 million Anglicans, who is struggling to heal divisions between liberals and traditionalists.
"We are not attending the forthcoming Lambeth (Conference)," Nzimbi told local broadcaster NTV. "We are not pulling out of the Anglican communion."
Related article:
http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=48240
Anglican bishops boycott Lambeth conference - Kenya Broadcasting Company
Diocese of Hereford fined in gay discrimination case
http://www.evangelicals.org/news.asp?id=828
[EV News] 16 Feb 2008--The Christian Institute reported earlier in the week that the Diocese of Hereford has been ordered to pay £47,000 in compensation to John Reaney who was turned down for a job as a youth worker because of his homosexual lifestyle.
John Reaney brought the Diocese to an employment tribunal after being questioned by the Bishop of Hereford about his homosexual lifestyle during a job interview.
The tribunal found that Mr Reaney, whose claim was funded by homosexual campaign group Stonewall, had been wrongly discriminated against on the grounds of sexual orientation.
The original ruling was issued in July 2007, but it has taken until now to decide the level of compensation.
[EV News] 16 Feb 2008--The Christian Institute reported earlier in the week that the Diocese of Hereford has been ordered to pay £47,000 in compensation to John Reaney who was turned down for a job as a youth worker because of his homosexual lifestyle.
John Reaney brought the Diocese to an employment tribunal after being questioned by the Bishop of Hereford about his homosexual lifestyle during a job interview.
The tribunal found that Mr Reaney, whose claim was funded by homosexual campaign group Stonewall, had been wrongly discriminated against on the grounds of sexual orientation.
The original ruling was issued in July 2007, but it has taken until now to decide the level of compensation.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Clergy renew allegiance; former bishop saddened
http://www.christianweek.org/stories.php?id=81
[ChristianWeek] 15 Feb 2008--For Don Harvey it was a “dark, disturbing day” when Anglican clergy in Newfoundland renewed their licences and took new vows under his successor, Cyrus Pitman, the new bishop of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador.
What grieves Harvey the most is that not one priest objected to it.“If anyone had wanted to, they could very easily have… signed it under protest,” says Harvey. “I don't know why I have to sign something I've already agreed to and sworn before God I would obey.
[ChristianWeek] 15 Feb 2008--For Don Harvey it was a “dark, disturbing day” when Anglican clergy in Newfoundland renewed their licences and took new vows under his successor, Cyrus Pitman, the new bishop of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador.
What grieves Harvey the most is that not one priest objected to it.“If anyone had wanted to, they could very easily have… signed it under protest,” says Harvey. “I don't know why I have to sign something I've already agreed to and sworn before God I would obey.
Islam critic asks for protection
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7245729.stm
[BBC News] 15 Feb 2008--Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the former Dutch MP and outspoken critic of Islam, has appealed to the EU to create a fund to help protect people in her position.
She told the European Parliament in Brussels her life was in greater danger because the Dutch government had stopped paying for her security.
"I don't want to die, I want to live and I love life," she said.
[BBC News] 15 Feb 2008--Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the former Dutch MP and outspoken critic of Islam, has appealed to the EU to create a fund to help protect people in her position.
She told the European Parliament in Brussels her life was in greater danger because the Dutch government had stopped paying for her security.
"I don't want to die, I want to live and I love life," she said.
Pleas for condemned Saudi 'witch'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7244579.stm
[BBC News] 15 Feb 2008--Human Rights Watch has appealed to Saudi Arabia to halt the execution of a woman convicted of witchcraft.
In a letter to King Abdullah, the rights group described the trial and conviction of Fawza Falih as a miscarriage of justice.
The illiterate woman was detained by religious police in 2005 and allegedly beaten and forced to fingerprint a confession that she could not read.
[BBC News] 15 Feb 2008--Human Rights Watch has appealed to Saudi Arabia to halt the execution of a woman convicted of witchcraft.
In a letter to King Abdullah, the rights group described the trial and conviction of Fawza Falih as a miscarriage of justice.
The illiterate woman was detained by religious police in 2005 and allegedly beaten and forced to fingerprint a confession that she could not read.
Canada vote encouraging, says bishop
http://your.sydneyanglicans.net/sydneystories/canada_vote_encouraging_says_bishop/
[your.sydneyanglicans.net] 15 Feb 2008--Retired Sydney bishop Ken Short says the strength of the vote to break with the Anglican Church in Canada by the Vancouver congregation led by his son, the Rev David Short (pictured), will encourage other congregations considering a similar move.
“I understand from David that there are 13 other parishes in Canada who are poised to take this position at their vestry meetings and the fact that 98 per cent have voted so strongly at St John’s, is a very strong encouragement for them,” says Bishop Short, who has been in phone contact with his son since the groundbreaking vote.
[your.sydneyanglicans.net] 15 Feb 2008--Retired Sydney bishop Ken Short says the strength of the vote to break with the Anglican Church in Canada by the Vancouver congregation led by his son, the Rev David Short (pictured), will encourage other congregations considering a similar move.
“I understand from David that there are 13 other parishes in Canada who are poised to take this position at their vestry meetings and the fact that 98 per cent have voted so strongly at St John’s, is a very strong encouragement for them,” says Bishop Short, who has been in phone contact with his son since the groundbreaking vote.
Williams may suffer lasting damage
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/12/nbishop112.xml
[Telegraph] 15 Feb 2008--After three days suffering the torments of hell over his ill-judged remarks on Islamic law, the Archbishop of Canterbury has metaphorically risen again.
In his presidential address to the General Synod, Dr Rowan Williams refused to modify his admittedly ambivalent views on the place of sharia in the English legal system. At the same time, he displayed sufficient humility over his presentational skills to placate many of his critics.
[Telegraph] 15 Feb 2008--After three days suffering the torments of hell over his ill-judged remarks on Islamic law, the Archbishop of Canterbury has metaphorically risen again.
In his presidential address to the General Synod, Dr Rowan Williams refused to modify his admittedly ambivalent views on the place of sharia in the English legal system. At the same time, he displayed sufficient humility over his presentational skills to placate many of his critics.
Real Life Examples Of Why The Archbishop Of Canterbury Needs To Apologize And Withdraw His Remarks
http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/10095/
[Stand Firm] 15 Feb 2008--If the Archbishop of Canterbury is truly confused about why his comments have upset so many, the following articles may shed some light on the subject for him.
Muslim man’s frustrated desire to marry a young Christian woman resulted in him accusing her of “blasphemy,” triggering violence in this town in Bauchi state on February 2 that left one person dead, seven Christians hospitalized and destroyed five churches.
[Stand Firm] 15 Feb 2008--If the Archbishop of Canterbury is truly confused about why his comments have upset so many, the following articles may shed some light on the subject for him.
Muslim man’s frustrated desire to marry a young Christian woman resulted in him accusing her of “blasphemy,” triggering violence in this town in Bauchi state on February 2 that left one person dead, seven Christians hospitalized and destroyed five churches.
Debate on a Covenant for the Anglican Communion
http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/1591
[The Archbishop of Canterbury] 15 Feb 2008--I wanted to make three points as briefly as I can, partly in response, partly to open up one dimension of the language of covenant itself.
The first point is what we heard concerning mechanisms of exclusion. That is a very unpleasant term, and I agree with those who said that they feel that discomfort and that unpleasantness in it. Behind it lies the very difficult but I think unavoidable question 'Are there limits plurality infinitely extendable?' Put in those terms I doubt whether we would any of us say that they were, but our problem in the Communion is that there are some things we know we can disagree about and that some things we don't quite know that we can disagree about. I'm tempted to quote Donald Rumsfeld wasn't it on 'known unknowns' and 'unknown unknowns' and all that so on; but I think it would be a dangerous assumption that there are no areas where that question doesn't arise, the question of limits.
[The Archbishop of Canterbury] 15 Feb 2008--I wanted to make three points as briefly as I can, partly in response, partly to open up one dimension of the language of covenant itself.
The first point is what we heard concerning mechanisms of exclusion. That is a very unpleasant term, and I agree with those who said that they feel that discomfort and that unpleasantness in it. Behind it lies the very difficult but I think unavoidable question 'Are there limits plurality infinitely extendable?' Put in those terms I doubt whether we would any of us say that they were, but our problem in the Communion is that there are some things we know we can disagree about and that some things we don't quite know that we can disagree about. I'm tempted to quote Donald Rumsfeld wasn't it on 'known unknowns' and 'unknown unknowns' and all that so on; but I think it would be a dangerous assumption that there are no areas where that question doesn't arise, the question of limits.
As Camp as a Row of Tents
http://www.dougwils.com/index.asp?Action=Anchor&CategoryID=1&BlogID=5113
[Blog and Mablog] 15 Feb 2008--During this visit, I was speaking with a pastor here who said, quite accurately, that quite apart from theology (on which we did not differ) women's ordination in the CoE has been a disaster. We were not differing on the theology of the thing (God says not to do it), but rather agreeing that disobedience has consequences far more substantive than simply having a check mark against your name indicating technical non-compliance of some sort or other.
Last year more women than men were ordained in the CoE. Why were they ordained? What led them to seek it? What theological standards are being ignored for the sake of this diversity-advance? What might happen as a result? Let us assume for the sake of discussion that she is middle-aged, wants to help people, was recently divorced, needs something to occupy her time, and that because of her station in life a number of the ordinary theological requirements were waived. What might happen in the broader church as a result? Other than churches continuing to empty out?
[Blog and Mablog] 15 Feb 2008--During this visit, I was speaking with a pastor here who said, quite accurately, that quite apart from theology (on which we did not differ) women's ordination in the CoE has been a disaster. We were not differing on the theology of the thing (God says not to do it), but rather agreeing that disobedience has consequences far more substantive than simply having a check mark against your name indicating technical non-compliance of some sort or other.
Last year more women than men were ordained in the CoE. Why were they ordained? What led them to seek it? What theological standards are being ignored for the sake of this diversity-advance? What might happen as a result? Let us assume for the sake of discussion that she is middle-aged, wants to help people, was recently divorced, needs something to occupy her time, and that because of her station in life a number of the ordinary theological requirements were waived. What might happen in the broader church as a result? Other than churches continuing to empty out?
Hitchens: To Hell With the Archbishop of Canterbury
http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/10119/
[Stand Firm] 15 Feb 2008--I think Christopher Hitchens could not be more wrong in the way he arrives at his atheism (short version: Absence of evidence is evidence of absence), but there's no denying that the man possesses a formidable intellect, so whenever he gets Rowan Williams in his sights, I usually pay close attention to what he has to say, mainly because he seems to be able to identify and articulate Williams' failings like few people can.
Last year Hitchens happened to find himself seated at a Georgetown restaurant near the Archbishop during William's sabbatical in Virginia....
[Stand Firm] 15 Feb 2008--I think Christopher Hitchens could not be more wrong in the way he arrives at his atheism (short version: Absence of evidence is evidence of absence), but there's no denying that the man possesses a formidable intellect, so whenever he gets Rowan Williams in his sights, I usually pay close attention to what he has to say, mainly because he seems to be able to identify and articulate Williams' failings like few people can.
Last year Hitchens happened to find himself seated at a Georgetown restaurant near the Archbishop during William's sabbatical in Virginia....
Three-way split in San Joaquin
http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=1621
[Religious Intelligence] 15 Feb 2008--The dispute over the secession of the Diocese of San Joaquin has led to the formation of three de facto ecclesiastical authorities for the California diocese: one loyal to Bishop John-David Schofield, one loyal to Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, and a third to the diocese’s Standing Committee.
On Dec 8 the San Joaquin Synod voted to transfer the primatial oversight of the diocese to the Province of the Southern Cone, and Bishop Schofield was received as a bishop of that province by the Primate, Presiding Bishop Gregory Venables.
[Religious Intelligence] 15 Feb 2008--The dispute over the secession of the Diocese of San Joaquin has led to the formation of three de facto ecclesiastical authorities for the California diocese: one loyal to Bishop John-David Schofield, one loyal to Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, and a third to the diocese’s Standing Committee.
On Dec 8 the San Joaquin Synod voted to transfer the primatial oversight of the diocese to the Province of the Southern Cone, and Bishop Schofield was received as a bishop of that province by the Primate, Presiding Bishop Gregory Venables.
Gomez—Scandalous if gay Bishop attends meeting with his partner
http://www.thenassauguardian.com/national_local/291129056602098.php
[The Nassau Guardian] 15 Feb 2008--It would be "scandalous" if gay Anglican Bishop Canon V. Gene Robinson appeared at the upcoming Anglican Lambeth Conference in July with his partner, Archbishop Drexel Gomez told The Guardian Monday.
The upcoming conference, held once every 10 years, is expected to see the coming together of a number of Anglican Bishops at the University of Kent in Canterbury. But because of the on-going schism within the Communion as a result of the ordination of Robinson almost six years ago, Gomez said some provinces recently indicated they would not attend the upcoming conclave.
[The Nassau Guardian] 15 Feb 2008--It would be "scandalous" if gay Anglican Bishop Canon V. Gene Robinson appeared at the upcoming Anglican Lambeth Conference in July with his partner, Archbishop Drexel Gomez told The Guardian Monday.
The upcoming conference, held once every 10 years, is expected to see the coming together of a number of Anglican Bishops at the University of Kent in Canterbury. But because of the on-going schism within the Communion as a result of the ordination of Robinson almost six years ago, Gomez said some provinces recently indicated they would not attend the upcoming conclave.
Lambeth Boycott 'is not the end of the Anglican Communion'
http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=1622
[Religious Intelligence] 15 Feb 2008--The boycott of the 2008 Lambeth Conference does not mark the end of the Anglican Communion, the Archbishop of Sydney has said. However, the Lambeth Conference’s role as an “instrument of unity” is no more.
Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald on Feb 5, Dr Peter Jensen said he and his suffragans would not attend the July 16 to Aug 3 gathering out of “faithfulness” to Scripture and in solidarity with Africa’s Anglicans.
On Jan 30 Archbishop Peter Akinola stated the Nigerian bishops along with those of Rwanda and Uganda “are not going to the Lambeth Conference.”
[Religious Intelligence] 15 Feb 2008--The boycott of the 2008 Lambeth Conference does not mark the end of the Anglican Communion, the Archbishop of Sydney has said. However, the Lambeth Conference’s role as an “instrument of unity” is no more.
Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald on Feb 5, Dr Peter Jensen said he and his suffragans would not attend the July 16 to Aug 3 gathering out of “faithfulness” to Scripture and in solidarity with Africa’s Anglicans.
On Jan 30 Archbishop Peter Akinola stated the Nigerian bishops along with those of Rwanda and Uganda “are not going to the Lambeth Conference.”
Uganda bishops join boycott of Lambeth Conference over gay priests
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article3370909.ece
[Times Online] 15 Feb 2008--The Anglican bishops of the Church in Uganda are to boycott the Lambeth Conference in protest at the liberal direction the Anglican Church is taking on homosexuality.
The province, which has more than 30 bishops, joins Nigeria in boycotting the ten-yearly gathering, which takes place in Canterbury this summer. The diocese of Sydney in Australia has also decided not to attend.
[Times Online] 15 Feb 2008--The Anglican bishops of the Church in Uganda are to boycott the Lambeth Conference in protest at the liberal direction the Anglican Church is taking on homosexuality.
The province, which has more than 30 bishops, joins Nigeria in boycotting the ten-yearly gathering, which takes place in Canterbury this summer. The diocese of Sydney in Australia has also decided not to attend.
More B.C. churches plot gay-rights rebellions
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=308962
[National Post] 15 Feb 2008--Members of an Anglican church in Abbotsford, B.C., are expected to become the second Vancouver-area congregation in a week to split from Lower Mainland Bishop Michael Ingham over his support for same-sex blessings.
And two more Anglican churches - St. Matthias/ St. Luke and The Church of the Good Shepherd -- in Vancouver are poised to fill out similar ballots later this month as orthodox followers openly challenge Ingham's liberal vision for the church.
[National Post] 15 Feb 2008--Members of an Anglican church in Abbotsford, B.C., are expected to become the second Vancouver-area congregation in a week to split from Lower Mainland Bishop Michael Ingham over his support for same-sex blessings.
And two more Anglican churches - St. Matthias/ St. Luke and The Church of the Good Shepherd -- in Vancouver are poised to fill out similar ballots later this month as orthodox followers openly challenge Ingham's liberal vision for the church.
Pakistani pastor murdered in North West Frontier Province: part of a pattern of anti-Christian threats and violence
http://www.barnabasfund.org/news/archives/article.php?ID_news_items=382
[Barnabas Fund] 15 Feb 2008--Threatened by murder, kidnapping and intimidation, Christians are coming under pressure both from lawlessness and from Islamic radicalism in Pakistan`s North West Frontier Province which borders Afghanistan. Most recently, on January 17th a church minister, Sajid William, was shot dead in Peshawar, the capital city of the province.
Over recent years the North West Frontier Province has steadily become a hotbed of Islamic radicalism. The strength of Islamic radicalism throughout Pakistan was recently indicated by the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. As well as the murder of Sajid William, there have been many recent attacks on the North West Frontier Province`s Christians. There have been several cases in recent months of Christians being kidnapped in the province, often by militants or criminals linked to Taliban, who demand ransoms or the release of militants held in Pakistani jails. Christian schools have suffered bomb attacks for failing to adhere to Islamic values. The continuing persecution of Christians in the province was shown by the series of threats made against Christians in 2007 to convert to Islam or be killed.
[Barnabas Fund] 15 Feb 2008--Threatened by murder, kidnapping and intimidation, Christians are coming under pressure both from lawlessness and from Islamic radicalism in Pakistan`s North West Frontier Province which borders Afghanistan. Most recently, on January 17th a church minister, Sajid William, was shot dead in Peshawar, the capital city of the province.
Over recent years the North West Frontier Province has steadily become a hotbed of Islamic radicalism. The strength of Islamic radicalism throughout Pakistan was recently indicated by the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. As well as the murder of Sajid William, there have been many recent attacks on the North West Frontier Province`s Christians. There have been several cases in recent months of Christians being kidnapped in the province, often by militants or criminals linked to Taliban, who demand ransoms or the release of militants held in Pakistani jails. Christian schools have suffered bomb attacks for failing to adhere to Islamic values. The continuing persecution of Christians in the province was shown by the series of threats made against Christians in 2007 to convert to Islam or be killed.
Yes Rowan’s a jolly good fellow, but who backs his ideas?
http://ugleyvicar.blogspot.com/2008/02/yes-rowans-jolly-good-fellow-but-who.html
[The Ugley Vicar] 15 Feb 2008--Earlier on this blog I was rather scathingabout the founding of a Facebook group titled, “The Archbishop of Canterbury is a good man.” Signing up to this group means you think not only that the Archbishop is a good man, but that he has been badly handled by the press over his speech on Shari’ah law.
Actually, as Clive James observed on Question Time during the week, he was rather badly handled by the tabloids, but the broadsheets by and large gave careful consideration to his remarks, and mostly came down against him. One of my questions about the Facebook group was its blanket assertion that ‘the media’ “has misinterpreted the spirit of what Dr Williams was talking about in his lecture”, which failed to take this distinction into account.
[The Ugley Vicar] 15 Feb 2008--Earlier on this blog I was rather scathingabout the founding of a Facebook group titled, “The Archbishop of Canterbury is a good man.” Signing up to this group means you think not only that the Archbishop is a good man, but that he has been badly handled by the press over his speech on Shari’ah law.
Actually, as Clive James observed on Question Time during the week, he was rather badly handled by the tabloids, but the broadsheets by and large gave careful consideration to his remarks, and mostly came down against him. One of my questions about the Facebook group was its blanket assertion that ‘the media’ “has misinterpreted the spirit of what Dr Williams was talking about in his lecture”, which failed to take this distinction into account.
CANA Clarifies Status of Suffragan Bishop
http://transfigurations.blogspot.com/2008/02/cana-clarifies-status-of-suffragan.html
[Transfigurations] 15 Feb 2008--On February 12, it was announced that the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church had accepted four bishop’s renunciation of ordained ministry and included in the list of bishops was the Rt. Rev’d David Bena, Suffragan Bishop of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA).
CANA Bishop Martyn Minns responded by saying, “This announcement is misleading because Bishop Bena has most definitely not renounced his ordained ministry nor has he been ‘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’ as stated in the news release. Bishop Bena is a faithful bishop in good standing within the Anglican Communion and continues to fully exercise his ordained ministry.”
[Transfigurations] 15 Feb 2008--On February 12, it was announced that the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church had accepted four bishop’s renunciation of ordained ministry and included in the list of bishops was the Rt. Rev’d David Bena, Suffragan Bishop of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA).
CANA Bishop Martyn Minns responded by saying, “This announcement is misleading because Bishop Bena has most definitely not renounced his ordained ministry nor has he been ‘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’ as stated in the news release. Bishop Bena is a faithful bishop in good standing within the Anglican Communion and continues to fully exercise his ordained ministry.”
The Impact of the Archbishop of Canterbury's Comments on the Lives of Christians Living in Muslim Dominated Areas
http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/index.php/2008/02/14/the-impact-of-the-comments-of-the-archbishop-of-canterbury-on-the-lives-of-christians-living-in-muslim-dominated-areas/
[Anglican Mainstream] 15 Feb 2008--The office of the Archbishop of Canterbury is generally perceived as being that of the leader of Anglicans all over the world. What he says or does will have an effect on the Anglican Church in every continent.
It should be noted that the African view of a religious leader is that of a highly respected and spiritual figure. That is why, for example, the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) is headed by prelates of the Christian denominations, along with the Sultan of Sokoto and key leaders of the Supreme Islamic Council. There are also other bodies headed by Christian and Muslim religious leaders who are helping to keep the peace and give direction on all matters affecting religion, and this has greatly assisted Nigeria in her development and growth as a nation. It is necessary to mention this because the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury cuts across 38 Provinces in many continents. His statements and views on issues may be taken as authoritative in some countries even when they may not be seen as such in England.
[Anglican Mainstream] 15 Feb 2008--The office of the Archbishop of Canterbury is generally perceived as being that of the leader of Anglicans all over the world. What he says or does will have an effect on the Anglican Church in every continent.
It should be noted that the African view of a religious leader is that of a highly respected and spiritual figure. That is why, for example, the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) is headed by prelates of the Christian denominations, along with the Sultan of Sokoto and key leaders of the Supreme Islamic Council. There are also other bodies headed by Christian and Muslim religious leaders who are helping to keep the peace and give direction on all matters affecting religion, and this has greatly assisted Nigeria in her development and growth as a nation. It is necessary to mention this because the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury cuts across 38 Provinces in many continents. His statements and views on issues may be taken as authoritative in some countries even when they may not be seen as such in England.
Central Ecuador Reorganization Viewed as an Example for San Joaquin
http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2008/2/14/central-ecuador-reorganization-viewed-as-an-example-for-san-joaquin
[The Living Church] 15 Feb 2008--The recent visit to the Diocese of Central Ecuador has given members of Executive Council hope that the reconstitution of the Diocese of San Joaquin will be successful, according to a message made public at the conclusion of the council’s Feb. 11-14 meeting in Quito.
The previous Bishop of Central Ecuador was deposed in 2006 for failure to provide adequate financial information over the course of a number of years. Subsequently the diocese learned that title to many of its assets–including the cathedral, the diocesan office building and a school‑were listed as personal property of the former bishop. During the meeting in Ecuador council members toured a number of diocesan outreach ministry projects and congregations.
[The Living Church] 15 Feb 2008--The recent visit to the Diocese of Central Ecuador has given members of Executive Council hope that the reconstitution of the Diocese of San Joaquin will be successful, according to a message made public at the conclusion of the council’s Feb. 11-14 meeting in Quito.
The previous Bishop of Central Ecuador was deposed in 2006 for failure to provide adequate financial information over the course of a number of years. Subsequently the diocese learned that title to many of its assets–including the cathedral, the diocesan office building and a school‑were listed as personal property of the former bishop. During the meeting in Ecuador council members toured a number of diocesan outreach ministry projects and congregations.
Pittsburgh Rector Reaches Out to Group of Dissenters
http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2008/2/14/pittsburgh-rector-reaches-out-to-group-of-dissenters
[The Living Church] 15 Feb 2008--The rector of one of the largest parishes in the Diocese of Pittsburgh and a long-time critic of Bishop Robert Duncan has called a group of 12 theologically conservative members of the clergy to join liberal members to work for internal reform of the diocese and The Episcopal Church.
The decision to go public over their disagreement with Bishop Duncan has increased tensions in at least some of the congregations overseen by the 12 priests, according to a diocesan spokesman. The 12 signed the letter as individuals, not on behalf of their congregations. After the letter became public, Edith M. Humphrey, a member of the diocese and a seminary professor at Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry, wrote a public statement of support for Bishop Duncan and encouraged other Pittsburgh laity to sign. The petition has drawn nearly 300 signatures in less than a week including several from parishes where the 12 serve.
[The Living Church] 15 Feb 2008--The rector of one of the largest parishes in the Diocese of Pittsburgh and a long-time critic of Bishop Robert Duncan has called a group of 12 theologically conservative members of the clergy to join liberal members to work for internal reform of the diocese and The Episcopal Church.
The decision to go public over their disagreement with Bishop Duncan has increased tensions in at least some of the congregations overseen by the 12 priests, according to a diocesan spokesman. The 12 signed the letter as individuals, not on behalf of their congregations. After the letter became public, Edith M. Humphrey, a member of the diocese and a seminary professor at Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry, wrote a public statement of support for Bishop Duncan and encouraged other Pittsburgh laity to sign. The petition has drawn nearly 300 signatures in less than a week including several from parishes where the 12 serve.
Bishop Harvey welcomes St John’s (Shaughnessy)
http://www.anglicannetwork.ca/nr_021408.htm
[Anglican Network in Canada] 15 Feb 2008--St John’s (Shaughnessy) Vancouver, the largest Anglican Church in Canada, voted overwhelmingly on February 13 to accept the episcopal oversight of Bishop Donald Harvey, Moderator of the Anglican Network in Canada, under the Primatial authority of Archbishop Gregory Venables and the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone. The largest congregational meeting ever, voted 97.7% in favour of the motion. Of the 495 votes cast, 475 were in favour, 11 were against and 9 abstained. Other provisional votes are under consideration and may impact the final vote.
“St John’s has shown true leadership both now and over the past difficult years,” said Bishop Harvey. “I look forward to ministering with them and moving forward together in mission and in full communion with the tens of millions of orthodox Anglicans worldwide who have been so supportive of us.”
The congregation has been in “serious theological dispute” with the Diocese of New Westminster since June 2002, when the bishop approved same sex blessings after the diocese voted 62.5% in favour of the practice. The diocese’s unilateral actions were in clear defiance of the overwhelming majority of the global Anglican Communion, which had stated at the1998 Lambeth Conference (a decennial gathering of all Anglican bishops in the world), in Resolution 1.10, that such practice was contrary to scripture and could not be legitimized. St. John’s has been seeking alternative episcopal oversight ever since.
Related articles:
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=ceb2bdd9-01b6-4b2e-82bd-4e81f8590756&k=19453
Anglicans vote to split over same-sex blessings - The Vancouver Sun
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/letters/story.html?id=c8d858b2-fc1d-46ff-b7d3-4f7fe277f53e
Anglican hierarchy is out of touch - The Vancouver Sun
[Anglican Network in Canada] 15 Feb 2008--St John’s (Shaughnessy) Vancouver, the largest Anglican Church in Canada, voted overwhelmingly on February 13 to accept the episcopal oversight of Bishop Donald Harvey, Moderator of the Anglican Network in Canada, under the Primatial authority of Archbishop Gregory Venables and the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone. The largest congregational meeting ever, voted 97.7% in favour of the motion. Of the 495 votes cast, 475 were in favour, 11 were against and 9 abstained. Other provisional votes are under consideration and may impact the final vote.
“St John’s has shown true leadership both now and over the past difficult years,” said Bishop Harvey. “I look forward to ministering with them and moving forward together in mission and in full communion with the tens of millions of orthodox Anglicans worldwide who have been so supportive of us.”
The congregation has been in “serious theological dispute” with the Diocese of New Westminster since June 2002, when the bishop approved same sex blessings after the diocese voted 62.5% in favour of the practice. The diocese’s unilateral actions were in clear defiance of the overwhelming majority of the global Anglican Communion, which had stated at the1998 Lambeth Conference (a decennial gathering of all Anglican bishops in the world), in Resolution 1.10, that such practice was contrary to scripture and could not be legitimized. St. John’s has been seeking alternative episcopal oversight ever since.
Related articles:
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=ceb2bdd9-01b6-4b2e-82bd-4e81f8590756&k=19453
Anglicans vote to split over same-sex blessings - The Vancouver Sun
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/letters/story.html?id=c8d858b2-fc1d-46ff-b7d3-4f7fe277f53e
Anglican hierarchy is out of touch - The Vancouver Sun
Thursday, February 14, 2008
A Craven Canterbury Tale
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/11/AR2008021102270.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
[Washington Post] 14 Feb 2008--Is this a storm in a teacup, as the archbishop now claims? Was the "feeding frenzy" biased and unfair? Certainly it is true that, since Thursday, when Rowan Williams -- the archbishop of Canterbury, spiritual leader of the Church of England, symbolic leader of the international Anglican Communion -- called for "constructive accommodation" with some aspects of sharia law, and declared the incorporation of Muslim religious law into the British legal system "unavoidable," practically no insult has been left unsaid.
[Washington Post] 14 Feb 2008--Is this a storm in a teacup, as the archbishop now claims? Was the "feeding frenzy" biased and unfair? Certainly it is true that, since Thursday, when Rowan Williams -- the archbishop of Canterbury, spiritual leader of the Church of England, symbolic leader of the international Anglican Communion -- called for "constructive accommodation" with some aspects of sharia law, and declared the incorporation of Muslim religious law into the British legal system "unavoidable," practically no insult has been left unsaid.
Sharia show shuts down? No it doesn't. Bad luck Rowan.
http://timescolumns.typepad.com/gledhill/2008/02/rowan-round-up.html
[Articles of Faith] 14 Feb 2008--Despite the best efforts of the LamPal staff and the General Synod to pretend Rowan didn't say what they knew perfectly well he had, this story has legs again. According to The Telegraph, which we followed up for later editions, the Queen is anxious now about the Archbishop of Canterbury. She is worried about the "fall-out" from the row. I imagine she fears the authority of his office has been undermined. Which of course it has. And no doubt she's been deluged with emails from bishops in the many Commonwealth countries with large Muslim populations. I did a video vox-pop yesterday of General Synod members about Rowan Williams. The comment of Willesden's Pete Broadbent, first up, might not surprise some of you...
What is significant about this is that it is not the first time HM has been concerned. When the Jeffrey John row broke in 2003, the Archbishop was all for steaming ahead with the appointment of Dr John as Bishop of Reading. Liberals were angry and bewildered when he suddenly backtracked and forced Dr John to withdraw. As a consoltation prize, Dr John became Dean of St Albans. So what could have persuaded this most stubborn of Archbishops, as he was described by Madeleine Bunting (see below) to change his mind? Could it have been pressure then from the Queen? I am given to understand that shortly before the Jeffrey John backtrack, the Archbishop had an audience at Buckingham Palace. He has those regularly of course. But she is also understood to have twice raised the matter of Dr John's Reading appointment with the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair.
[Articles of Faith] 14 Feb 2008--Despite the best efforts of the LamPal staff and the General Synod to pretend Rowan didn't say what they knew perfectly well he had, this story has legs again. According to The Telegraph, which we followed up for later editions, the Queen is anxious now about the Archbishop of Canterbury. She is worried about the "fall-out" from the row. I imagine she fears the authority of his office has been undermined. Which of course it has. And no doubt she's been deluged with emails from bishops in the many Commonwealth countries with large Muslim populations. I did a video vox-pop yesterday of General Synod members about Rowan Williams. The comment of Willesden's Pete Broadbent, first up, might not surprise some of you...
What is significant about this is that it is not the first time HM has been concerned. When the Jeffrey John row broke in 2003, the Archbishop was all for steaming ahead with the appointment of Dr John as Bishop of Reading. Liberals were angry and bewildered when he suddenly backtracked and forced Dr John to withdraw. As a consoltation prize, Dr John became Dean of St Albans. So what could have persuaded this most stubborn of Archbishops, as he was described by Madeleine Bunting (see below) to change his mind? Could it have been pressure then from the Queen? I am given to understand that shortly before the Jeffrey John backtrack, the Archbishop had an audience at Buckingham Palace. He has those regularly of course. But she is also understood to have twice raised the matter of Dr John's Reading appointment with the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair.
Christian leaders should not advocate Sharia law - Moscow Patriarchate
http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=4272
[Interfax] 14 Feb 2008--The values of other religions, just as secular ones, should not be advocated by the heads of Christian Churches, said Bishop Hilarion of Vienna and Austria, who represents the Russian Orthodox Church at European international organizations.
"Our role is not to protect Sharia law, to glorify an alternative style of behavior or to preach secular values. Our sacred mission is to announce what Christ announced, to teach what his disciples taught," Bishop Hilarion said at the opening of a session of the World Council of Churches (WCC)'s Central Committee in Geneva.
[Interfax] 14 Feb 2008--The values of other religions, just as secular ones, should not be advocated by the heads of Christian Churches, said Bishop Hilarion of Vienna and Austria, who represents the Russian Orthodox Church at European international organizations.
"Our role is not to protect Sharia law, to glorify an alternative style of behavior or to preach secular values. Our sacred mission is to announce what Christ announced, to teach what his disciples taught," Bishop Hilarion said at the opening of a session of the World Council of Churches (WCC)'s Central Committee in Geneva.
Sharia Delusions in Canterbury
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/opinion/?id=24330
[Middle East Online] 14 Feb 2008--When it comes to Islamic law, or Sharia, words certainly do come easy if you’re a man. You can marry four wives, receive double the inheritance a woman gets and you can end your marriage simply by saying “I divorce you” three times.
So why not pontificate?
Words are especially cheap if you’re the Archbishop of Canterbury, who ignited a social storm in the UK last week by saying that the adoption of some parts of Sharia alongside Britain's legal system "seems unavoidable" in certain circumstances.
Remember please that Dr. Rowan Williams is the head of the global Anglican community, the U.S. branch of which ordained a gay priest in 2003. But the archbishop clearly does not believe in wishing unto others as you would unto your own. He extends no such progressive ideals to Muslims. Most interpretations of Sharia consider homosexuality an abomination.
He probably thinks his “tolerance” for Sharia is progressive enough in light of the rabid Islamophobia that mars parts of Europe today. But it is a tolerance that condones only the most conservative options for Muslims. It is at best a form of the racism of lower expectations -- the cheapest bargaining chip of liberal guilt.
[Middle East Online] 14 Feb 2008--When it comes to Islamic law, or Sharia, words certainly do come easy if you’re a man. You can marry four wives, receive double the inheritance a woman gets and you can end your marriage simply by saying “I divorce you” three times.
So why not pontificate?
Words are especially cheap if you’re the Archbishop of Canterbury, who ignited a social storm in the UK last week by saying that the adoption of some parts of Sharia alongside Britain's legal system "seems unavoidable" in certain circumstances.
Remember please that Dr. Rowan Williams is the head of the global Anglican community, the U.S. branch of which ordained a gay priest in 2003. But the archbishop clearly does not believe in wishing unto others as you would unto your own. He extends no such progressive ideals to Muslims. Most interpretations of Sharia consider homosexuality an abomination.
He probably thinks his “tolerance” for Sharia is progressive enough in light of the rabid Islamophobia that mars parts of Europe today. But it is a tolerance that condones only the most conservative options for Muslims. It is at best a form of the racism of lower expectations -- the cheapest bargaining chip of liberal guilt.
Executive Council reviews budgets, considers draft of letter to the Episcopal Church
http://www.ecusa.anglican.org/79901_94914_ENG_HTM.htm
[Episcopal Life Online] 14 Feb 2008--Members of the Episcopal Church's Executive Council February 13 learned that diocesan financial contributions to the wider church's budget exceeded what was expected in 2007 and will likely also increase in 2008.
Josephine Hicks of the Diocese of North Carolina, chair of Council's Administration and Finance Committee (A&F), and Episcopal Church Treasurer Kurt Barnes reviewed the performance of the 2007 budget and presented A&F's proposed 2008 budget. Council will vote on the budget February 14 during the concluding day of this four-day meeting in Quito.
[Episcopal Life Online] 14 Feb 2008--Members of the Episcopal Church's Executive Council February 13 learned that diocesan financial contributions to the wider church's budget exceeded what was expected in 2007 and will likely also increase in 2008.
Josephine Hicks of the Diocese of North Carolina, chair of Council's Administration and Finance Committee (A&F), and Episcopal Church Treasurer Kurt Barnes reviewed the performance of the 2007 budget and presented A&F's proposed 2008 budget. Council will vote on the budget February 14 during the concluding day of this four-day meeting in Quito.
The culture of surrender
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/1874
[Canada Free Press] 14 Feb 2008--In case you’re wondering why Islam is the fastest growing religion in most western countries, it’s because our own religious leaders aren’t particularly interested in the preservation of our religious heritage.
A case in point is the stunning suggestion by Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury and head of the Church of England, that certain elements of shariah law should be recognized under British law in order to establish a principle of “plural jurisdictions”.
It’s a small wonder that Dr. Williams is presiding over a church that finds itself in steep decline. Many Christian religious leaders are prepared to sacrifice the survival of their own religions in efforts to appear “inclusive” and “accepting” of those of other faiths. Thus, the call to recognize certain elements of shariah law in the west.
[Canada Free Press] 14 Feb 2008--In case you’re wondering why Islam is the fastest growing religion in most western countries, it’s because our own religious leaders aren’t particularly interested in the preservation of our religious heritage.
A case in point is the stunning suggestion by Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury and head of the Church of England, that certain elements of shariah law should be recognized under British law in order to establish a principle of “plural jurisdictions”.
It’s a small wonder that Dr. Williams is presiding over a church that finds itself in steep decline. Many Christian religious leaders are prepared to sacrifice the survival of their own religions in efforts to appear “inclusive” and “accepting” of those of other faiths. Thus, the call to recognize certain elements of shariah law in the west.
`Shariah' stance hurts archbishop
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2008/02/14/2003401235
[Taipei Times] 14 Feb 2008--But why would Williams, whose profound intellect can result in him making gnomic -- the unkind might say impenetrable -- speeches that are open to misinterpretation, choose to confront the issue now? When the Anglican Communion is attempting to construct a fragile internal truce over the issue of gay priests and its African congregations are losing followers to Islam, speaking out on such a contentious issue was bound to have profound repercussions that would resonate thousands of kilometers beyond the walls of the Royal Courts of Justice where Williams delivered his address.
Already the ramifications are being felt. Peter Akinola, the primate of Nigeria in charge of the spiritual oversight of some 20 million Christians, called the remarks "most disturbing and most unfortunate."
[Taipei Times] 14 Feb 2008--But why would Williams, whose profound intellect can result in him making gnomic -- the unkind might say impenetrable -- speeches that are open to misinterpretation, choose to confront the issue now? When the Anglican Communion is attempting to construct a fragile internal truce over the issue of gay priests and its African congregations are losing followers to Islam, speaking out on such a contentious issue was bound to have profound repercussions that would resonate thousands of kilometers beyond the walls of the Royal Courts of Justice where Williams delivered his address.
Already the ramifications are being felt. Peter Akinola, the primate of Nigeria in charge of the spiritual oversight of some 20 million Christians, called the remarks "most disturbing and most unfortunate."
Brown Government 'like a demonic beast'
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/13/nbeast113.xml
[Telegraph] 14 Feb 2008--A senior bishop has compared the Government to a demonic seven-headed beast for imposing its morality on society.
The Rt Rev Graham Dow likened the Labour administration to the beast which appears in the Bible's apocalyptic Book of Revelation
Bishop Dow, the Bishop of Carlisle, who last year suggested the floods devastating Britain were God's judgment on immorality, is a critic of new gay equality laws which many Christians claim are restricting religious freedoms.
Speaking at a General Synod fringe meeting, the Bishop said: "I happen to believe that our Government is moving into the realm of imposing its morality and it is therefore becoming a Revelation 13 Government rather than a Romans 13 Government."
[Telegraph] 14 Feb 2008--A senior bishop has compared the Government to a demonic seven-headed beast for imposing its morality on society.
The Rt Rev Graham Dow likened the Labour administration to the beast which appears in the Bible's apocalyptic Book of Revelation
Bishop Dow, the Bishop of Carlisle, who last year suggested the floods devastating Britain were God's judgment on immorality, is a critic of new gay equality laws which many Christians claim are restricting religious freedoms.
Speaking at a General Synod fringe meeting, the Bishop said: "I happen to believe that our Government is moving into the realm of imposing its morality and it is therefore becoming a Revelation 13 Government rather than a Romans 13 Government."
Nigeria: Sharia in England?
http://allafrica.com/stories/200802140011.html
[allAfrica.com] 14 Feb 2008--Why must it be the leader of the Church of England espousing "accommodation", which is actually the adoption of a binary system of culture? Experience has shown that the entrenchment of Sharia, even in its mildest form, will eventually lead to the adoption of the ultimate aspects of it or there will never be peace.
People like Rowan, in their liberal naivete, are handing over their culture, their country and their Church over to a rival culture which is strong, focused, determined, delighted and eager to take it!
[allAfrica.com] 14 Feb 2008--Why must it be the leader of the Church of England espousing "accommodation", which is actually the adoption of a binary system of culture? Experience has shown that the entrenchment of Sharia, even in its mildest form, will eventually lead to the adoption of the ultimate aspects of it or there will never be peace.
People like Rowan, in their liberal naivete, are handing over their culture, their country and their Church over to a rival culture which is strong, focused, determined, delighted and eager to take it!
The Anglican Betrayal of Britain
http://www.thetrumpet.com/index.php?q=4836.3102.0.0
[theTrumpet.com] 14 Feb 2008--The famous Shakespearean epithet Et tu Brute? (“You too, Brutus?”) has come to symbolize the ultimate betrayal by one’s closest friend. That epithet was pronounced with dramatic emphasis in Britain last Thursday when Rowan Williams, archbishop of Canterbury, made the case for the simultaneous practice of English law and Islamic sharia law in Britain.
Et tu Anglicans?
[theTrumpet.com] 14 Feb 2008--The famous Shakespearean epithet Et tu Brute? (“You too, Brutus?”) has come to symbolize the ultimate betrayal by one’s closest friend. That epithet was pronounced with dramatic emphasis in Britain last Thursday when Rowan Williams, archbishop of Canterbury, made the case for the simultaneous practice of English law and Islamic sharia law in Britain.
Et tu Anglicans?
Anglican Covenant will unite, not divide - Sentamu
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/anglican.covenant.will.unite.not.divide.sentamu/16864.htm
[Christianity Today UK] 14 Feb 2008--The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has thrown his full support behind a covenant Anglicans are hoping will end painful divisions in their worldwide Communion and bridge the way to complete unity and fellowship in Christ.
The 70-million member Anglican Communion started the process towards an Anglican Covenant at the recommendation of the 2004 Windsor Report as one way in which trust and co-operation could be rebuilt between the churches of the Anglican Communion in light of serious tensions over a number of issues, most notably homosexuality.
[Christianity Today UK] 14 Feb 2008--The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has thrown his full support behind a covenant Anglicans are hoping will end painful divisions in their worldwide Communion and bridge the way to complete unity and fellowship in Christ.
The 70-million member Anglican Communion started the process towards an Anglican Covenant at the recommendation of the 2004 Windsor Report as one way in which trust and co-operation could be rebuilt between the churches of the Anglican Communion in light of serious tensions over a number of issues, most notably homosexuality.
San Diego Asks Church to Cut Abortion Rights Ties
http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2008/2/13/san-diego-asks-church-to-cut-abortion-rights-ties
[The Living Church] 14 Feb 2008--Delegates to the convention of the Diocese of San Diego approved all 11 resolutions introduced, including one calling on the 76th General Convention to “end the officially sanctioned affiliation of The Episcopal Church with the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice” (RCRC). Convention met Feb. 8-9 at St. Margaret’s Church, Palm Desert, Calif.
The RCRC resolution was a substitute for the original which called on the diocese to dissociate from a decision made by Executive Council in January 2006 to join the RCRC on behalf of The Episcopal Church. During hearings about the resolution, a consensus emerged among some who had procedural concerns about the way the decision to join the RCRC was made as well as those delegates opposed to abortion.
[The Living Church] 14 Feb 2008--Delegates to the convention of the Diocese of San Diego approved all 11 resolutions introduced, including one calling on the 76th General Convention to “end the officially sanctioned affiliation of The Episcopal Church with the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice” (RCRC). Convention met Feb. 8-9 at St. Margaret’s Church, Palm Desert, Calif.
The RCRC resolution was a substitute for the original which called on the diocese to dissociate from a decision made by Executive Council in January 2006 to join the RCRC on behalf of The Episcopal Church. During hearings about the resolution, a consensus emerged among some who had procedural concerns about the way the decision to join the RCRC was made as well as those delegates opposed to abortion.
Second ‘Interim Pastoral Presence’ Appointed for San Joaquin
http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2008/2/13/second-interim-pastoral-presence-appointed-for-san-joaquin
[The Living Church] 14 Feb 2008--The Rev. Canon Brian Cox, rector of Christ the King Church, Santa Barbara, Calif., has been appointed by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori to serve as an “interim pastoral presence” in the Diocese of San Joaquin. He joins the Rev. Canon Robert Moore, who was named in January.
“I think the Presiding Bishop’s desire was to have a balanced pastoral presence as we seek to rebuild relationships on all sides,” Canon Cox told a reporter from The Living Church. He added that he hopes to begin “meeting people from all perspectives” and earning their trust during a listening tour of the diocese Feb. 19-22.
[The Living Church] 14 Feb 2008--The Rev. Canon Brian Cox, rector of Christ the King Church, Santa Barbara, Calif., has been appointed by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori to serve as an “interim pastoral presence” in the Diocese of San Joaquin. He joins the Rev. Canon Robert Moore, who was named in January.
“I think the Presiding Bishop’s desire was to have a balanced pastoral presence as we seek to rebuild relationships on all sides,” Canon Cox told a reporter from The Living Church. He added that he hopes to begin “meeting people from all perspectives” and earning their trust during a listening tour of the diocese Feb. 19-22.
Has the Anglican Split Begun?
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/archives/2008/02/has_the_anglica_1.html
[Christianity Today] 14 Feb 2008--Events in the global Anglican Communion are going from bad to worse. On Feb. 12, an official governing body of the Anglican Province of Uganda announced that they will not be attending the once-per-decade Lambeth gathering of Anglican bishops from around the world. (Nigeria and Rwanda have also indicated they will not attend. Kenya will decide in April.)
Ugandan Anglicans place the blame at the feet of revisionist and "unrepentant" American Episcopal Bishops and a compromised, ineffective Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, saying:
This decision has been made to protest the invitations extended by the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Rowan Williams, to TEC Bishops whose stand and unrepentant actions created the current crisis of identity and authority in the Anglican Communion.
[Christianity Today] 14 Feb 2008--Events in the global Anglican Communion are going from bad to worse. On Feb. 12, an official governing body of the Anglican Province of Uganda announced that they will not be attending the once-per-decade Lambeth gathering of Anglican bishops from around the world. (Nigeria and Rwanda have also indicated they will not attend. Kenya will decide in April.)
Ugandan Anglicans place the blame at the feet of revisionist and "unrepentant" American Episcopal Bishops and a compromised, ineffective Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, saying:
This decision has been made to protest the invitations extended by the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Rowan Williams, to TEC Bishops whose stand and unrepentant actions created the current crisis of identity and authority in the Anglican Communion.
Ugandan bishops to boycott global Anglican meeting
http://africa.reuters.com/top/news/usnBAN445659.html
[Reuters] 14 Feb 2008--Uganda's Anglican bishops will boycott a major church summit this year because a rift over gay clergy and same-sex unions remains unresolved, Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi said on Thursday.
The consecration of openly gay U.S. Bishop Gene Robinson in 2003 has split the 400-year-old church -- setting a liberal minority against a conservative majority, mostly from Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Related articles:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7244196.stm
Uganda boycotts Anglican meeting - BBC News
http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5j90kmCpt8HhzzJRQ2C8K55WaJiLQ
Uganda boycotts Anglican conference - The Press Association
[Reuters] 14 Feb 2008--Uganda's Anglican bishops will boycott a major church summit this year because a rift over gay clergy and same-sex unions remains unresolved, Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi said on Thursday.
The consecration of openly gay U.S. Bishop Gene Robinson in 2003 has split the 400-year-old church -- setting a liberal minority against a conservative majority, mostly from Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Related articles:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7244196.stm
Uganda boycotts Anglican meeting - BBC News
http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5j90kmCpt8HhzzJRQ2C8K55WaJiLQ
Uganda boycotts Anglican conference - The Press Association
Vancouver Anglicans split from bishop
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2008/02/14/vancouver_anglicans_split_from_bishop/2087/
[United Press International] 14 Feb 2008--Members of a Vancouver, British Columbia, Anglican church voted to split from their bishop because of his support for same-sex marriages.
In balloting closed to the public Wednesday, 495 members of St. John's Shaughnessy voted to split from Anglican Church of Canada's Bishop Michael Ingham and join the conservative Diocese of the Southern Cone, which includes Argentina and Paraguay, the Vancouver Sun reported Thursday.
Eleven people voted against the shift and nine people abstained, church spokeswoman Lesley Bentley told the newspaper.
Bentley said the church received a warning letter Wednesday from Archbishop Fred Hiltz saying if a parish separates, there would be costly property disputes.
[United Press International] 14 Feb 2008--Members of a Vancouver, British Columbia, Anglican church voted to split from their bishop because of his support for same-sex marriages.
In balloting closed to the public Wednesday, 495 members of St. John's Shaughnessy voted to split from Anglican Church of Canada's Bishop Michael Ingham and join the conservative Diocese of the Southern Cone, which includes Argentina and Paraguay, the Vancouver Sun reported Thursday.
Eleven people voted against the shift and nine people abstained, church spokeswoman Lesley Bentley told the newspaper.
Bentley said the church received a warning letter Wednesday from Archbishop Fred Hiltz saying if a parish separates, there would be costly property disputes.
Head of the Canadian Church urges parishes to remain within the Anglican Church in Canada
http://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/News/tabid/27/ctl/ViewArticle/ArticleId/626/mid/486/Default.aspx
[Diocese of New Westminster] 14 Feb 2008--The Primate (Chief Bishop) of the Anglican Church of Canada is urging all parishes to try to work out their differences with their diocesan bishops while staying within the Church.
Archbishop Fred Hiltz said he very much aware of the possibility that at Annual Meetings some congregations might vote to leave and join the Anglican Church in another country.
[Diocese of New Westminster] 14 Feb 2008--The Primate (Chief Bishop) of the Anglican Church of Canada is urging all parishes to try to work out their differences with their diocesan bishops while staying within the Church.
Archbishop Fred Hiltz said he very much aware of the possibility that at Annual Meetings some congregations might vote to leave and join the Anglican Church in another country.
Statement by the Provincial Assembly Standing Committee, Uganda on Lambeth Conference 2008
http://www.globalsouthanglican.org/index.php/comments/statement_by_the_provincial_assembly_standing_committee_uganda_on_lambeth_c/
[Global South Anglican] 14 Feb 2008--...Since this crisis has not yet been resolved, the Bishops of the Church of Uganda have resolved that they will not be participating in the Lambeth Conference to be held in July 2008 in Canterbury, England, a position that the Provincial Assembly Standing Committee strongly endorses. This decision has been made to protest the invitations extended by the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Rowan Williams, to TEC Bishops whose stand and unrepentant actions created the current crisis of identity and authority in the Anglican Communion.
[Global South Anglican] 14 Feb 2008--...Since this crisis has not yet been resolved, the Bishops of the Church of Uganda have resolved that they will not be participating in the Lambeth Conference to be held in July 2008 in Canterbury, England, a position that the Provincial Assembly Standing Committee strongly endorses. This decision has been made to protest the invitations extended by the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Rowan Williams, to TEC Bishops whose stand and unrepentant actions created the current crisis of identity and authority in the Anglican Communion.
The Archbishop Goes Muslim
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/EmmettTyrrell/2008/02/14/the_archbishop_goes_muslim
[Townhall.com] 14 Feb 2008--Islam has a new convert. Some will be surprised, but I am not. The newest convert to the religion of the unshaven face is Archbishop Rowan Williams. Dr. Williams has been the spiritual leader of the Anglican Church in the U.K. However, after his Feb. 7 interview on the BBC, I think we all can agree that he is not so much a spiritual leader as a spiritual capitulator.
In his wonderfully wooly-headed interview, derived from a public lecture delivered by him at the Royal Courts of Justice, Williams called on his countrymen to arrive at "constructive accommodation" with Shariah, which is Islamic law. According to his calculations, the inclusion of Shariah into the British code of law is "unavoidable." Thus if you are visiting London in the future and you appear in a British court, do not be surprised if it is presided over by a smiling mullah. Actually, it is not clear what Rowan knows about Shariah law, and in his BBC interview, he admitted: "I'm no expert on this." Nonetheless, he is calling for the institutionalization of Islam into at least some areas of his country's legal code. Doubtless soon the forward-looking archbishop will be seen lugging a prayer rug over to his local mosque at the appointed hours -- his wife, veiled and obedient, in tow. Shariah law can be pretty demanding.
[Townhall.com] 14 Feb 2008--Islam has a new convert. Some will be surprised, but I am not. The newest convert to the religion of the unshaven face is Archbishop Rowan Williams. Dr. Williams has been the spiritual leader of the Anglican Church in the U.K. However, after his Feb. 7 interview on the BBC, I think we all can agree that he is not so much a spiritual leader as a spiritual capitulator.
In his wonderfully wooly-headed interview, derived from a public lecture delivered by him at the Royal Courts of Justice, Williams called on his countrymen to arrive at "constructive accommodation" with Shariah, which is Islamic law. According to his calculations, the inclusion of Shariah into the British code of law is "unavoidable." Thus if you are visiting London in the future and you appear in a British court, do not be surprised if it is presided over by a smiling mullah. Actually, it is not clear what Rowan knows about Shariah law, and in his BBC interview, he admitted: "I'm no expert on this." Nonetheless, he is calling for the institutionalization of Islam into at least some areas of his country's legal code. Doubtless soon the forward-looking archbishop will be seen lugging a prayer rug over to his local mosque at the appointed hours -- his wife, veiled and obedient, in tow. Shariah law can be pretty demanding.
Daughters of the King President Embroiled in Politically Charged Accusations
http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=7711
[VirtueOnline] 14 Feb 2008--A political row has erupted inside the Order of the Daughters of the King. A group of disgruntled members, working with a group of "progressive" Episcopalians and with the blessing of Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, are leading an effort to oust the current leadership in order to expel all the Anglicans, Lutherans, and Roman Catholics from the Order.
A letter written by the Bishop of Atlanta, the Rt. Rev. J. Neil Alexander, and signed by the 19 diocesan bishops in Province 4 of The Episcopal Church (TEC), blasts Joan Dalrymple, president of the DOK, charging her with financial irregularity and amending the constitution and bylaws without approval of the full membership.
[VirtueOnline] 14 Feb 2008--A political row has erupted inside the Order of the Daughters of the King. A group of disgruntled members, working with a group of "progressive" Episcopalians and with the blessing of Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, are leading an effort to oust the current leadership in order to expel all the Anglicans, Lutherans, and Roman Catholics from the Order.
A letter written by the Bishop of Atlanta, the Rt. Rev. J. Neil Alexander, and signed by the 19 diocesan bishops in Province 4 of The Episcopal Church (TEC), blasts Joan Dalrymple, president of the DOK, charging her with financial irregularity and amending the constitution and bylaws without approval of the full membership.
Britain's Encounter with Islamic Law
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Printable.aspx?GUID=814D88E3-96C9-4BB0-9F9F-79C25A4E3826
[Front Page Magazine] 14 Feb 2008--Beneath the deceptively placid surface of everyday life, the British population is engaged in a momentous encounter with Islam. Three developments of the past week, each of them culminating years' long trend – and not just some odd occurrence – exemplify changes now underway.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith describes terrorism as "anti-Islamic."First, the UK government has decided that terrorism by Muslims in the name of Islam is actually unrelated to Islam, or even anti-Islamic. This notion took root in 2006 when the Foreign Office, afraid that the term "war on terror" would inflame British Muslims, sought language that upholds "shared values as a means to counter terrorists." By early 2007, the European Union issued a classified handbook that banned jihad, Islamic, and fundamentalist in reference to terrorism, offering instead some "non-offensive" phrases. Last summer, Prime Minister Gordon Brown prohibited his ministers from using the word Muslim in connection with terrorism. In January, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith went further, actually describing terrorism as "anti-Islamic." And last week the Home Office completed the obfuscation by issuing a counter-terrorism phrasebook that instructs civil servants to refer only to violent extremism and criminal murderers, not Islamist extremism and jihadi-fundamentalists.
[Front Page Magazine] 14 Feb 2008--Beneath the deceptively placid surface of everyday life, the British population is engaged in a momentous encounter with Islam. Three developments of the past week, each of them culminating years' long trend – and not just some odd occurrence – exemplify changes now underway.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith describes terrorism as "anti-Islamic."First, the UK government has decided that terrorism by Muslims in the name of Islam is actually unrelated to Islam, or even anti-Islamic. This notion took root in 2006 when the Foreign Office, afraid that the term "war on terror" would inflame British Muslims, sought language that upholds "shared values as a means to counter terrorists." By early 2007, the European Union issued a classified handbook that banned jihad, Islamic, and fundamentalist in reference to terrorism, offering instead some "non-offensive" phrases. Last summer, Prime Minister Gordon Brown prohibited his ministers from using the word Muslim in connection with terrorism. In January, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith went further, actually describing terrorism as "anti-Islamic." And last week the Home Office completed the obfuscation by issuing a counter-terrorism phrasebook that instructs civil servants to refer only to violent extremism and criminal murderers, not Islamist extremism and jihadi-fundamentalists.
FT. WORTH: Second Report from the Bishop and Standing Committee on the possibility of re-aligning with the Province of the Southern Cone
http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=7722
[VirtueOnline] 14 Feb 2008--In this second report from the Bishop and Standing Committee on the possibility of re-aligning with the Province of the Southern Cone, we would like to offer a brief analysis of some of the basic differences between the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church as compared with those of the Province of the Southern Cone (PSC). An English translation of the Constitution and Canons of the PSC can be found on the diocesan Web site, fwepiscopal.org.
In our Preliminary Report of January 9, 2008, we arrived at the following conclusion: Based on our review, we have concluded that the structure and polity of the Province of the Southern Cone would afford our diocese greater self-determination than we currently have under the General Convention of The Episcopal Church.
[VirtueOnline] 14 Feb 2008--In this second report from the Bishop and Standing Committee on the possibility of re-aligning with the Province of the Southern Cone, we would like to offer a brief analysis of some of the basic differences between the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church as compared with those of the Province of the Southern Cone (PSC). An English translation of the Constitution and Canons of the PSC can be found on the diocesan Web site, fwepiscopal.org.
In our Preliminary Report of January 9, 2008, we arrived at the following conclusion: Based on our review, we have concluded that the structure and polity of the Province of the Southern Cone would afford our diocese greater self-determination than we currently have under the General Convention of The Episcopal Church.
Synod Report Wednesday 13th
http://www.evangelicals.org/news.asp?id=824
[EV News] 13 Feb 2008--After the morning communion service the Archbishop spoke about a recent visit to Kenya.
Anglican Covenant.
This was a peculiar debate. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York were mandated by the General Synod in July to produce a submission to the Covenant Design Group. That submission was made by the end of the year and taken into account by the Group when they produced a revised draft last week. Most of the submissions to the CDG came from liberal dominated provinces, as do most of the Group.
The majority of speakers argued that the Covenant should not be used to exclude anyone. What is needed, they claimed, is for everyone to keep together, which appears to be the attitude of the Archbishop of Canterbury as well. The last thing they want is any notion of disciplines. Paradoxically some of the speakers did appear content that people who do want discipline should leave the Communion.
Being a take note motion with no substance it was approved without much issue.
[EV News] 13 Feb 2008--After the morning communion service the Archbishop spoke about a recent visit to Kenya.
Anglican Covenant.
This was a peculiar debate. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York were mandated by the General Synod in July to produce a submission to the Covenant Design Group. That submission was made by the end of the year and taken into account by the Group when they produced a revised draft last week. Most of the submissions to the CDG came from liberal dominated provinces, as do most of the Group.
The majority of speakers argued that the Covenant should not be used to exclude anyone. What is needed, they claimed, is for everyone to keep together, which appears to be the attitude of the Archbishop of Canterbury as well. The last thing they want is any notion of disciplines. Paradoxically some of the speakers did appear content that people who do want discipline should leave the Communion.
Being a take note motion with no substance it was approved without much issue.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
RCRC and Uniqueness Of Christ Resolutions To Go Before Diocese Of Louisiana Convention
http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/10029/
[Stand Firm] 13 Feb 2008--The Diocese of Louisiana convention is set to be held the end of February. Prayers are asked for the success of two very important resolutions. One is on the uniqueness of Christ and the other is on disaffiliation from the RCRC. Lent and Beyond has already begun posting prayers. Your participation is humbly requested. Here are the two resolutions:
[Stand Firm] 13 Feb 2008--The Diocese of Louisiana convention is set to be held the end of February. Prayers are asked for the success of two very important resolutions. One is on the uniqueness of Christ and the other is on disaffiliation from the RCRC. Lent and Beyond has already begun posting prayers. Your participation is humbly requested. Here are the two resolutions:
Death by Committee
http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/10055/
[Stand Firm] 13 Feb 2008--There are, on the face of it, two issues to be addressed by this committee: 1. the failure of certain North American bishops to place a moratorium on same sex blessings and 2. the consecration and ministry of extra-jurisdictional bishops. Both problems identified in this letter are assumed to be equally inconsistent with the Windsor Report. The ACO and the Archbishop have worked hard to create this perceived parity. It does not exist, however, in either the Report itself or the subsequent Primates' meetings that received, accepted, amended, and applied the Report. It is true that the Windsor Report was quite negative toward interventions, calling for them to cease. But it is also true that the Windsor Report was quite clear with regard to the cause of Communion division; that the interventions, though considered grievous, came largely as a result of and in response to the Communion dividing actions of the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada.
[Stand Firm] 13 Feb 2008--There are, on the face of it, two issues to be addressed by this committee: 1. the failure of certain North American bishops to place a moratorium on same sex blessings and 2. the consecration and ministry of extra-jurisdictional bishops. Both problems identified in this letter are assumed to be equally inconsistent with the Windsor Report. The ACO and the Archbishop have worked hard to create this perceived parity. It does not exist, however, in either the Report itself or the subsequent Primates' meetings that received, accepted, amended, and applied the Report. It is true that the Windsor Report was quite negative toward interventions, calling for them to cease. But it is also true that the Windsor Report was quite clear with regard to the cause of Communion division; that the interventions, though considered grievous, came largely as a result of and in response to the Communion dividing actions of the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada.
The Archbishop of Canterbury: Up To Looney Leftness Again!
http://hummersandcigarettes.blogspot.com/2008/02/archbishop-of-canterbury-up-to-looney.html
[Hummers & Cigarettes] 13 Feb 2008--First, last week the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, called for a "carbon fast" during Lent to enhance believers' awareness of their carbon footprint on the environment (yawn!). [See my post from Thursday.] Then, on Friday called for parts of Sharia (Islamic) law to be incorporated into English law. He called for “supplementary jurisdiction” of Sharia for aspects of marital and financial law and for mediation and conflict resolution.
In the wake of the Anglican Church's big dispute over homosexuality, Williams' moral authority looked further in jeopardy as prelates from overseas provinces of the Anglican Communion joined in the criticism with some calling for his resignation. According to FoxNews on Friday,
[Hummers & Cigarettes] 13 Feb 2008--First, last week the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, called for a "carbon fast" during Lent to enhance believers' awareness of their carbon footprint on the environment (yawn!). [See my post from Thursday.] Then, on Friday called for parts of Sharia (Islamic) law to be incorporated into English law. He called for “supplementary jurisdiction” of Sharia for aspects of marital and financial law and for mediation and conflict resolution.
In the wake of the Anglican Church's big dispute over homosexuality, Williams' moral authority looked further in jeopardy as prelates from overseas provinces of the Anglican Communion joined in the criticism with some calling for his resignation. According to FoxNews on Friday,
Four bishops' renunciations of ministry accepted by Presiding Bishop
http://www.episcopal-life.org/79901_94866_ENG_HTM.htm
[Episcopal Life Online] 13 Feb 2008--Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has accepted four bishops' renunciations of ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church, a senior representative of her office has confirmed.
The Rev. Dr. Charles Robertson, canon to the Presiding Bishop, said the Presiding Bishop --- in letters dated January 23 and sent to related General Convention, diocesan, pension and deployment offices --- has accepted the renunciations made by David J. Bena, resigned bishop suffragan of the Diocese of Albany, N.Y.; Andrew H. Fairfield, resigned bishop of the Fargo-based Diocese of North Dakota; and Howard S. Meeks, resigned bishop of the Diocese of Western Michigan, based near Kalamazoo.
A similar letter was sent January 14 regarding the renunciation made by Jeffrey N. Steenson, resigned bishop of the Diocese of Rio Grande, an Albuquerque-based jurisdiction encompassing New Mexico and a portion of Southwest Texas including El Paso.
[Episcopal Life Online] 13 Feb 2008--Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has accepted four bishops' renunciations of ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church, a senior representative of her office has confirmed.
The Rev. Dr. Charles Robertson, canon to the Presiding Bishop, said the Presiding Bishop --- in letters dated January 23 and sent to related General Convention, diocesan, pension and deployment offices --- has accepted the renunciations made by David J. Bena, resigned bishop suffragan of the Diocese of Albany, N.Y.; Andrew H. Fairfield, resigned bishop of the Fargo-based Diocese of North Dakota; and Howard S. Meeks, resigned bishop of the Diocese of Western Michigan, based near Kalamazoo.
A similar letter was sent January 14 regarding the renunciation made by Jeffrey N. Steenson, resigned bishop of the Diocese of Rio Grande, an Albuquerque-based jurisdiction encompassing New Mexico and a portion of Southwest Texas including El Paso.
Archbishop faces fresh pressure over Queen’s ‘worry’ at Sharia speech
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article3360742.ece
[Times Online] 13 Feb 2008--The Archbishop of Canterbury faces renewed pressure today after the Queen was reported to be concerned about his comments on the use of Islamic law in Britain.
The Queen was said to be worried about the continuing controversy surrounding Dr Rowan Williams’ belief that it was “unavoidable” that aspects of Sharia would be incorporated into the English legal system.
The Times has learnt that the Prince of Wales has already distanced himself from the Archbishop’s speech last week, fearing that his comments have damaged multi-faith relations.
According to The Daily Telegraph today, the Queen is also distressed over the controversy which she fears threatens to undermine the authority of the Archbishop and damage the Church of England, which already faces schism over homosexual clergy.
[Times Online] 13 Feb 2008--The Archbishop of Canterbury faces renewed pressure today after the Queen was reported to be concerned about his comments on the use of Islamic law in Britain.
The Queen was said to be worried about the continuing controversy surrounding Dr Rowan Williams’ belief that it was “unavoidable” that aspects of Sharia would be incorporated into the English legal system.
The Times has learnt that the Prince of Wales has already distanced himself from the Archbishop’s speech last week, fearing that his comments have damaged multi-faith relations.
According to The Daily Telegraph today, the Queen is also distressed over the controversy which she fears threatens to undermine the authority of the Archbishop and damage the Church of England, which already faces schism over homosexual clergy.
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