Anglican Mainstream

By Robert Lundy, AAC

From AAC

My attendance at the "Mere Anglicanism" conference in Charleston, SC last weekend was well worth the effort and cost. To have bishops Michael Nazir-Ali and Mouneer Anis in the same room, both speaking on global Anglicanism and the leadership of the current Archbishop of Canterbury, was very informative.

Orthodox Anglicans experienced something of a fracture at the time of the Jerusalem Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON). Many bishops who attended GAFCON went on to boycott the Lambeth Conference later that year. Presiding Bishop Mouneer Anis did not attend GAFCON but did attend Lambeth, and the same was true of Archbishop John Chew of Southeast Asia. The fracture, not a break but a stress fracture, really had to do with two ways of approaching the besetting problem of the American Episcopal Church's (TEC) misconduct and the Archbishop of Canterbury's action or lack thereof.

Those who were aligned with GAFCON generally felt that Dr. Rowan Williams had failed in leadership, deceived the primates by promising actions that he never took or enforced following their meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and would thus not do the right thing in the future. Some other bishops, led by John Chew and Mouneer Anis, felt that Archbishop Williams could be worked with and that he would finally come around for the salvation of the Anglican Communion. Williams, however, abused this additional chance afforded him by some of the orthodox primates, and there is now probably little differentiation between the GAFCON primates and those bishops led by Chew and Anis. A majority of primates within the Global South, those provinces south of the equator, are orthodox. However, some, certainly including South Africa, are very much supportive of TEC and aligned with the Archbishop of Canterbury. This divide in the Global South will have to be addressed at some point.

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From AAC

Raymond Dague, attorney and legal counsel for St. George's Anglican Church in Helmetta, New Jersey, tells about how his client and The Episcopal Church amicably settled their disputes. Mr. Dague says this outcome gives hope that future and current lawsuits can be avoided or ended. Read more about the story of St. George's Anglican here.

From AAC

Dearly Beloved in Christ,

It is clear from Holy Scripture that God intended marriage to be between a man and a woman. It is also true that the Bible reports mankind inventing all kinds of permutations on God's intended ideal, but God's blessing and endorsement rested then and still rests exclusively on a marriage between one man and one woman. The other combinations that mankind has tried and still tries are generally called sin, and God's blessing is withheld from them.

With this in mind, it is interesting that the American Episcopal Church (TEC), which does provide for the blessing of same-sex unions, does not yet provide for a Prayer Book marriage of people of the same sex. Nevertheless, the Very Rev. Katherine Ragsdale, the dean of the TEC General Theological Seminary in New York, and a priest in good standing in TEC, has this past week married a person of her own gender, in a fully religious ceremony, and nothing is going to be done about this transgression by the TEC authorities.

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From AAC

First and foremost, let me use this last update before Christmas to wish each of my readers God's blessing upon you personally. We will not publish an Update next week so that our AAC staff can all enjoy time at church and with our families, making this my last best chance before Christmas to remind you that God loves you.

We're aware that a few of our readers hold beliefs and opinions very opposite from ours on matters theological, spiritual and social, and they read our material to keep their communities informed of what the bad old orthodox Anglicans are up to. That's actually OK with us, though we wish God's grace might break through in something said or posted that might change their minds and hearts to align more closely with God's Word and God's heart. Meanwhile, though, in this celebration of the Holy Nativity there is ample and abundant grace and blessing from our holy and loving Father, such that we all might be especially touched by Him.

An important part of our weekly update often comes from other parts of the Anglican world, and this week is no exception. In the area of the bizarre, in the UK a heterosexual couple had their application for a civil partnership refused at the Registry Office. The reason? Well, they are heterosexual and civil partnerships were designed to compensate for the fact that homosexual couples cannot be legally married, so the civil partnership allows them to be – ah, "partners," I guess. The heterosexual couple's application for a civil partnership was politely turned down on December 14.

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From AAC

Dearly Beloved in Christ,

It's about now that in many Anglican homes where there is an Advent wreath someone will be asking, "When do we light the pink candle?" If your wreath has a pink candle, wait no longer. This Sunday is Gaudete Sunday, and in the Anglican Communion and many other traditions, we light the pink candle of the Advent wreath. In churches that can afford several sets of seasonal vestments, the pink vestments come out this Sunday. For those congregations and dioceses that don't use Eucharistic vestments, the pink Advent candle will be the clue that something is going on.

The name Gaudete comes from the first word in Latin of the traditional introit, the antiphon used at the beginning of the Eucharist, or Holy Communion. The introit for Gaudete Sunday traditionally came from Philippians 4:4,5: "Gaudete in Domino semper" ("Rejoice in the Lord always"). Indeed we should rejoice, for the time of our savior's returning, not as in Christmas, but as in the second coming, is hoped for and anxiously awaited. Too often the Advent season is transmogrified into the pre-Christmas shopping season.

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From AAC

Anglican Perspective is a weekly 2-minute teaching video produced by the American Anglican Council. Each week, the Rev. Canon Phil Ashey, AAC Chief Operating Officer, looks at current events from an orthodox, biblical Anglican perspective.

From AAC

Dearly Beloved in Christ,

In the old days when my parents were young, people bought their meat for the evening meal from the butcher shop on the corner, and the purchase was weighed out by putting it on the counter scale. The purchaser had to watch the butcher when the meat was weighed so that the butcher's thumb wasn't weighed along with the meat, thus adding more weight and distorting the cost in the butcher's favor.

In today's terms, the real weight of a purchase and the real outcome of a survey are both subject to the distortion of either the merchant on one hand, or the politically liberal media and/or polltaker on the other. In the United States, one of the hot military questions is whether the previous government policy of not allowing openly homosexual persons to serve in the military (the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy) should be repealed, and sexual orientation and practice not be made a factor in military service.

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From AAC

When we think of the word "martyr," we might well think of Emperor Nero throwing Christians to the lions in the Coliseum in Rome, or other horrible fates that befell the faithful in the early centuries of the Christian church. Others might recall the Huguenot persecutions in France, or the torture and executions of Anglicans in England under Queen Mary. The original meaning of the word "martyr" in Greek meant "witness," and the extreme form of witnessing to one's faith in Jesus Christ often meant suffering death on behalf of one's faith in him.

In today's world which is often hostile to the message of Jesus Christ, Christians are being persecuted and killed for their faith in very large numbers. In total numbers, today's martyrs may exceed on a yearly basis the martyrdoms of earlier times. From Islamic countries where Christians may be hunted down by mobs and just killed, to trumped-up charges which allow for Sharia execution, or Christian children stolen to be raised as Muslims, to situations in Hindu areas where Christians are persecuted or killed, the number of those faithful to Jesus unto death continues to climb. No one should deliberately seek martyrdom and death for their faith, but blessed are those who persevere in their Christian faith, even if death is the price, knowing that the Church is built on the blood of the martyrs.

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From AAC

We note with joy the election of Bishop Hector "Tito" Zavala, the bishop of Chile, who will now also function as the new Primate of the Southern Cone. The Most Rev. Gregory Venables, Bishop of Argentina and North Argentina, completed his second three year term and was ineligible to run for a third term, so he will step down from his primature. The AAC gives thanks to God for the faithful, steadfast and courageous leadership of Bishop Venables, and we wish him well in his continued ministry as Bishop of Argentina and North Argentina. We look forward to the leadership of Bishop Zavala as he assumes the mantle of Primate.

With the date in January for the next Primates' Meeting in Dublin drawing ever closer, one has to wonder what kind of a Primates' Meeting Dr. Rowan Williams will have if 60-75% of the Anglican Communion is not represented. An impressive list of Primates have said that they will not attend. Will Dr. Williams be able to divide their solidarity by offering some of them positions of honor to help him with the meeting? The answer is undoubtedly yes, and it will probably produce a small fracture, but most of the primates are resolute and won't attend.

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By Philip Ashey, AAC

Part 1 is here)

Last week I wrote to you about the facts surrounding the breakdown in communication between the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, Kenneth Kearon, and the Province of the Southern Cone regarding alleged "border crossing violations."  As I wrote last week, these facts raised troubling questions about (1) the nature of the alleged "border crossings" by the Southern Cone; (2) the incoherent standards that led to the removal of Bishop Tito Zavala from the Inter Anglican Standing Commission on Unity Faith and Order (IASCUFO) without any actions against Canada; and (3) the discrepancy between Presiding Bishop Venables' assurances that responses were given to both Secretary Kearon and Dr. Williams, and Kearon's claims that they were not.

Since then there have been two interesting developments.  First, the Province of the Southern Cone House of Bishops met and elected Bishop Tito Zavala as its next Primate, replacing Bishop Gregory Venables.  Please note:  The role of Primate is a three year renewable term in the Southern Cone.  Bishop Venables is not retiring, but will maintain his present position as Bishop of Argentina and North Argentina.

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From AAC

There was a time, until quite recently, when the AAC reported on and kept track of the many infractions of the American Episcopal Church (TEC) in areas of doctrine, belief and actions. As the list of grievances and infractions has mounted it has become more and more apparent that the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Anglican Communion Office don't care.

Recently, the Episcopal Church of St. Paul in the Desert, in Palm Springs, California, hosted a service of 30 homosexual couples saying "I do" on a Sunday morning. The Desert Sun in Palm Springs reported on the service, noting that although the words didn't bring federal recognition to the partnerships, they brought (allegedly) an affirmation from God and each other. It was the parish's fourth "Gay and Lesbian Couples in Long-Term Relationships Celebration." (This is in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, for those still keeping score).

For those godly orthodox Episcopalians momentarily safe in an orthodox diocese of TEC with an orthodox bishop to provide protection, there is cause for great anxiety on the horizon – the so-called Title IV Canon Law revisions. The kind of craziness that is going on in the Diocese of San Diego will visit you soon, and if you don't sign on, the machinery of TEC's legal system will crush your bishop, your clergy, and your congregation.

It is said that to be forewarned is to be forearmed, but whether there is still time or not is debatable. An excellent analysis of the Title IV revisions has been done by C. Alan Runyan and Mark McCall. It is posted on the Anglican Communion Institute's website at this link .

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From AAC

Last month, the Episcopal News Service (ENS) happily reported that the Southern Province of the Moravian Church had voted to enter into full communion with The Episcopal Church (TEC). ENS then quoted Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, upon learning of the decision, as saying, "I am delighted that the Southern Province has discerned the rightness of a full communion agreement with The Episcopal Church. Together we will be better able to serve Christ our chief Elder and all God's people."

This completes the Moravian voting, since the balance of the US Moravians had earlier passed similar full communion legislation. But do the Moravians have any idea of what they have just done? Previously devout and sensible Bible-believing Christians, they have now, lemming-like, followed the ELCA Lutherans in establishing full communion with TEC.

The split in global Anglicanism over the person and place of Jesus Christ and the authority of Holy Scripture proceeded more quietly than issues of human sexuality, but it paved the way to disregard the moral standards derived from the Bible. Subsequent to their full communion with TEC, the ELCA cut their moral standards down to fit the Episcopal Church's by welcoming non-celibate homosexual clergy into the ranks of their parish clergy. Will the Moravians do likewise? The departure from core doctrine, and secondarily, sexuality issues, has caused an ongoing tectonic split in Anglicanism, and now the ELCA Lutherans are experiencing a similar split, with many of those departing forming a new Lutheran Church in North America. What will be next, a split in the Moravian Church, and a more conservative Moravian Church in North America? It is sad to see another fine church falter. Let us pray for the many orthodox, biblically faithful Moravians who did not support full communion with TEC, that the Lord would support, guide, and encourage them.

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Beloved in Christ,

This past week has seen a miracle in Chile, as the trapped miners were brought to the surface alive and well after such a long time underground. The Lord used the devotion and hard work of so many relief workers to drill the escape hole and provide for the miners' needs, and then when the miners emerged from the basket one by one, I think the whole world rejoiced.

This last weekend saw the consecration of the new bishop for the Anglican Diocese of the South, the Rt. Rev. Foley Beach. As is the growing custom in the Anglican realignment in North America, Bishop Beach is also the rector of Holy Cross Anglican Church in Loganville, Georgia. The service took place in at the Church of the Apostles in Atlanta, where the Rev. Dr. Michael Youssef is the pastor. There were a number of bishops in attendance and participating. Archbishop Robert Duncan led the service, consecrating Dr. Beach as a large congregation, drawn from the four-state area of the diocese, enthusiastically joined in. The next day, the newly-consecrated Bishop Beach confirmed and received approximately 40 new members into his diocese, then on Monday he flew off to London to a meeting of Alpha leaders at Lambeth Palace.

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By Canon J Philip Ashey

Imagine: Every Sunday, your rector takes the pulpit and proclaims the same historic faith that John Wesley and George Whitfield delivered from that same pulpit almost 300 years ago. Your church has owned its property since before the Revolutionary War and before a national church existed. You have a vibrant ministry, reaching people with the Gospel. Over time, the national church begins preaching another gospel. As a matter of conscience, an overwhelming majority votes to leave the national church.

The national church then sues not only your church but individual members of its leadership! And then, on the basis of an internal church law, the court rules that your church's property belongs to the national church. The pulpit of Wesley and Whitfield will now be used to proclaim a gospel that says Jesus is simply one "savior" among many, the Holy Spirit is the inner voice of one's opinion, and human morality is simply a matter of personal preference.

Sadly, this is not an imaginary story. It's the story of Christ Church, Savannah and The Episcopal Church. It's a story that far too many other churches know as well.

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From AAC

Dearly Beloved in Christ,

We now know that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, has called for the next meeting of the Anglican Communion Primates (head archbishops of each Anglican Communion Province) to be held at the end of January 2011 at a site near the Dublin, Ireland airport. The sites chosen for these meetings are usually able to lock down the participants in a compound to keep the press and advocacy groups out, and the Primates in, and we imagine that the site now chosen will fulfill those requirements.

Although at times Dr. Williams seems to grasp the severity and danger of the Anglican crisis over which he is presiding, he doesn't seem to be able to keep the facts all in focus. Having told TEC Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori not to come to a recent Anglican leaders meeting, and having her ignore him, he has apparently not bothered to tell her to stay away from the Primates Meeting. Even if he did advise her to absent herself, she will come anyway, for she believes she has a right to attend, has done nothing wrong, and knows that one on one she can out talk him, out bluff him, and out push him, and frankly, she is right on all three counts.

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From AAC

Dearly beloved in Christ,

Recently I wrote of the harm that abortion does to the mother and father who take the life of their unborn child, and the healing that can come from confession and repentance. A reader wrote me almost immediately as follows:

"Thank you for your articulate and straightforward article on the harm that abortion has on mothers and fathers as well as the unborn child. I was one of those women that received God's forgiveness, grace, and mercy through the Forgiven and Set Free program at St. James and not a week goes by that I am given an opportunity to sharing this healing ministry with others in agony over their actions. Thank you for reaching out to those who are still burdened and in pain for their earlier decision, especially the fathers who are often forgotten about in the process and for letting each of them know there is hope on the other side of all the tears. May the Lord continue to bless you as you speak out on this issue and may the lives of many be made whole once again by our Lord's love and forgiveness."

God's grace in action can touch many lives where the door is left open even just a crack.

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From AAC

Within the orthodox Anglican family there are a number of issues that have general agreement, and some that don't. Within the family, there seems to be general agreement on the sanctity of life. This subject encompasses concern for the unborn child and also concern over capital punishment. There is broad agreement about the sacredness of the life of the not-yet-born child, innocent and helpless within the safety of his or her mother's womb. There is less agreement on the issue of capital punishment, with some entirely against it …and others strongly supportive. The orthodox Anglican family in the United States is divided on the latter issue, but increasingly committed to the former, where the innocent unborn are at risk.

By Robert H Lundy, AAC

The Anglican Communion Standing Committee met in London from July 23-27 for what proved to be a telling event. As the meeting progressed and information from sources inside and outside the meeting emerged, the dominance of biblical revisionists and Episcopal Church allies within the committee was made clearer and clearer.

Before the meeting began, the orthodox voice and witness on the committee had already been diminished by the resignations of the Bishop of Iran, Azad Marshall, and the Archbishop of West Africa, Justice Akrofi. These two resignations from the 14-member group only compounded the effect of the earlier resignations of Archbishops Henry Orombi (Uganda) in December, 2009 and Mouneer Anis (Jerusalem and the Middle East) in February of this year. These resignations were not the only concerns going into this meeting.

At its last meeting in December of 2009, the Standing Committee violated its own constitution in electing a priest, the Rev. Canon Janet Trisk (South Africa), as a replacement for a lay representative to the committee.

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From AAC

There is much positive progress to report in the Anglican realignment, with the orthodox Anglicans coming together and becoming stronger. The maturing of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) is proceeding apace and showing that it has real staying power. At our recent meeting in Amesbury, Massachusetts, the ACNA gathering took part in the installation of Bishop Bill Murdoch as the diocesan in his new pro-cathedral. The feeling as the service progressed was "this is us"-this is the ACNA growing and expanding, and now the New England area has a cathedral and a settled bishop.

Additionally the ACNA approved and welcomed two applicant dioceses, the Anglican Diocese of the Great Lakes (ADGL) and the Anglican Diocese of the South (ADOTS). These dioceses have the potential of having some churches fully seated as members, and other churches maintaining ties to another ACNA judicatory for the time being-having dual citizenship if you will. In ADOTS, some of the churches that I have covered as a CANA bishop are maintaining ties to CANA, but are also partner parishes with the new diocese. This allows a transition time that avoids abrupt endings of established relationships.

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