Virtue Online

BALLARAT, Australia: 'Prickly, obnoxious' bishop must go, say alienated priests
Bishop Michael Hough has allegedly upset Ballarat's clergy, who accuse him of bullying and intimidation

by Barney Zwartz
http://www.theage.com.au/national/prickly-obnoxious-bishop-must-go-say-alienated-priests-20090102-794g.html?page=-1
January 3, 2009

ANGLICAN clergy in Ballarat are trying to depose their bishop - a first in the church's Australian history - accusing him of bullying and harassment that have damaged relations beyond repair. The clergy say at least half the diocesan priests have made formal complaints, while Bishop Michael Hough says it is "five and a half - five full-time priests and one part-time".

UPPER SOUTH CAROLINA: Bishop Dorsey Henderson disappointed in split
St. John's Episcopal can rebuild, he says

By Kelly Jasper| Staff Writer
http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/01/06/met_506665.shtml
January 06, 2009

The bishop overseeing the splintered congregation of Saint John's Episcopal Church said Monday he was saddened and shocked upon learning most of its members have left the Episcopal Church.

The pastor of the North Augusta church and a majority of the 90-member congregation cut ties with the national denomination on Sunday in a dispute over church teachings on gay clergy and the authority of scripture.

UK: Church accuses Labour of failing to support the family

The Church of England backs the decision of five bishops to criticise the Government over its economic and social policies, a survey by The Sunday Telegraph has found.

By Jonathan Wynne-Jones, Patrick Sawer and Christopher Hastings
The Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/4092611/Church-accuses-Labour-of-failing-to-support-the-family.html
January 4, 2009

In the straw poll of members of the General Synod, the Church's parliament, an overwhelming majority of those questioned said that the bishops were right to speak out.

WHY THE CODE OF PRACTICE IS NO GOOD FOR TRADITIONALISTS IN THE C. OF E.

By Roland W. Morant
Special to VirtueOnline
www.virtueonline.org
January 6, 2009

The General Synod of the Church of England met in July 2008 to further the wish of its majority for women to be admitted to the episcopate. It affirmed that special arrangements should be made available within the existing structures of the Church for traditionalists, that is, those who will not accept women as bishops or priests.

It decided that these special arrangements should be contained within a statutory code of practice (COP) to which all concerned would be required to have regard. It therefore instructed the Legislative Drafting Group (LDG) under the chairmanship of the Bishop of Manchester to get on with preparing its first draft of this new code in time for presentation to the General Synod in February 2009.

NEW ORLEANS: Not a crisis, a moment of faith

by Sheila Stroup
http://www.nola.com/timespic/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-32/1231222828177150.xml&coll=1
January 6, 2009

Visiting the Free Church of the Annunciation always makes me feel hopeful. Even now, when it's having its worst financial crisis since the storm, it's a happy, uplifting place.

"This is just another moment of faith," Duane Nettles said. "We kind of feel like this is what folks in New Orleans go through all the time."

Duane, 31, runs the Annunciation Ministry at the Episcopal church in the heart of Broadmoor. He also crunches numbers, helps parishioners solve problems and tries to keep up with the Rev. Jerry Kramer, pastor of the church.

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA: North Hollywood church parish may lose its home

By Dana Bartholomew, Staff Writer
The Daily News
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_11382159?source=email
1/6/2009

When the Rev. Jose Poch learned a high court ruling Monday could spell eviction of his 78-year-old parish from St. David's Church, he was prepared to pack his bags and Bibles.

The California Supreme Court unanimously decided that a breakaway parish like his could not hang onto church property.

"We have to find a place," said Poch, rector of the North Hollywood church. "We must worship the Lord in any way we can."

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona: Rick Warren foes aren't practicing tolerance
Jordan Lorence says Rick Warren's views on marriage shouldn't bar him from Barack Obama's inauguration.

COMMENTARY

By Jordan Lorence
Special to CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/06/lorence.warren/index.html
January 5, 2009

Proponents of redefining marriage couldn't wait for the new president to be sworn in before demanding that he erase from the inauguration ceremony a prominent American who disagrees with them.

The target of their rhetorical bombardment is Rick Warren, the popular Christian pastor from Southern California.

NEWPORT BEACH, CA: St. James Anglican Church to take Legal Fight to Superior Court

January 5, 2009

CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT RULES THAT NEUTRAL PRINCIPLES OF LAW, NOT "DEFERENCE" TO CHURCH "HIERARCHIES," GOVERNS CHURCH PROPERTY DISPUTES; ST. JAMES CHURCH'S LEGAL BATTLE TO CONTINUE IN THE SUPERIOR COURT

The California Supreme Court today ruled in Episcopal Church Cases that church property disputes must be resolved by "neutral principles of law," not by civil courts merely deferring to the decrees of church "hierarchies."

This ruling has wide and favorable impact for churches throughout California that seek to change their denominational affiliation. While adopting this "non-religious" method of resolving property disputes between churches, the Court seemed to defer to the Episcopal Church's alleged "trust canon," which purports to create a trust interest in church property owned by local congregations.

NEWPORT BEACH, CA: Church that split off over gays can't keep property
California Supreme Court rules that St. James Anglican Church, 3 other parishes that broke with diocese don't control their houses of worship.

By Jeff Overley
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/beach-church-episcopal-2273505-newport
January 5, 2009

A breakaway parish that left its parent church because of differences over doctrine and homosexuality can't take its seaside place of worship with it, the California Supreme Court ruled today.

NEW YORK: Congregations aim to ease recession fears

By Gary Stern
The Journal News
http://www.lohud.com/article/2008901030340
January 3, 2009

As the recession casts a shadow, creating layers of anxiety for everyone from the working class to the affluent, religious congregations are trying to fashion a response that addresses day-to-day worries and finds meaning in what might appear to be a hopeless time.

Houses of worship are only beginning to come to terms with the economic angst pulsing across the Lower Hudson Valley and through the nation. Religious leaders are encountering frightened congregants who are worried about losing their jobs and their savings or seeing their standard of living slide like a runaway sleigh.

TWIN FALLS, ID: Defender of the faith

By Andrew Weeks
Times-News writer
http://www.magicvalley.com/news/
January 5, 2009

Some people believe the Bible is a figurative book with multiple meanings. Others believe there is only one interpretation - that it is the word of God and should be taken literally.

For Twin Falls resident Dean Hodges, the Bible is infallible. But his former church isn't.

Two reasons why he left the Episcopal Church a little more than five years ago.

Anglicans and Their Unwelcome House Guests

by John Mark Reynolds
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/john_mark_reynolds/2008/12/the_unwelcome_house_guest.html
January 4, 2009

Imagine a fan so full of admiration that he takes your name and moves into your house. Your family has always tried to reach out to others and so you allow him to stay with you as an act of kindness.

Weirdly, after this fan moves in he becomes quite critical. He decides that many of your costumes and ways are unworthy of the family name and begins to demand that you change them. Your own children stop coming home, because the interloper has become so obnoxious.

Presidential election yields 2008's Top 10 Religion Stories
Sixth ranked story is Episcopal Split with formation of ACNA

January 3, 2009
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009901030311

The U.S. presidential election was the impetus for the nation's top religion stories of 2008, according to a survey of more than 100 religion journalists.

The religion specialists chose the controversy surrounding the Rev. Jeremiah Wright as the No. 1 story, with Democratic outreach to faith communities and GOP vice presidential running mate Sarah Palin's selection as the second and third top stories, respectively.

Patient Endurance - On Living Faithfully in a Time of Troubles

Written by The Anglican Communion Institute, Inc.
http://www.anglicancommunioninstitute.com/?p=345
January 1st, 2009

I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance (Rev. 2:2a)

When referring to the response given to the tumult within The Episcopal Church (TEC) by those with more traditional theological and moral commitments, it is at present a matter of common parlance to speak of an "inside" and an "outside" strategy.

At first glance, reference to an "inside strategy" and an "outside strategy" suggests two groups that have similar goals but employ different tactics to reach those goals.

LOS ANGELES, CA: Episcopal Church Wins Property Lawsuits

By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
1/5/2009

Today The Episcopal Church won in the State of California where several parishes had seceded from The Diocese of Los Angeles. Applying the neutral principles of law approach, the court concluded that the general church, not the local church, owns the property in question. Although the deeds to the property have long been in the name of the local church, that church agreed from the beginning of its existence to be part of the greater church and to be bound by its governing documents. These governing documents make clear that church property is held in trust for the general church and may be controlled by the local church only so long as that local church remains a part of the general church. When it disaffiliated from the general church, the local church did not have the right to take the church property with it, the court concluded.

BALLARAT, Australia: Parish prays for its bishop

BY PETER COLLINS
The Standard
http://www.standard.net.au/news/local/news/general/parish-prays-for-its-bishop/1399376.aspx?src=rss
January 5, 2009

WARRNAMBOOL'S Anglican parishioners have been asked to pray for their diocesan bishop Michael Hough as he tackles bullying and harassment complaints.

The 56-year-old, who is a well-known visitor to the south-west, is at the centre of Australia's first-ever attempt to depose an Anglican bishop.

There is much misunderstanding about the true nature of love. We may be sure that Jesus did not issue commands, which cannot be obeyed. Since he commanded us to love each other (even, elsewhere, our enemies), we must conclude that the loving he meant is not the victim of our emotions, but the servant of our will. We may not feel like loving somebody, but we are commanded to do so. We have to learn deliberately to set our love on people whom we do not naturally like. --- From 'The Upper Room Discourse', in "Christ the Liberator", by John Stott.

Love is supreme. Knowledge is vital, faith indispensable, religious experience necessary, and service essential, but Paul gives precedence to love. Love is the greatest thing in the world. For 'God is love' in his innermost being. Father, Son and Spirit are eternally united to each other in self-giving love. So he who is love, and has set his love upon us, calls us to love him and others in return. 'We love because he first loved us' (1 Jn. 4:19). Love is the principal, the paramount, the pre-eminent, the distinguishing characteristic of the people of God. Nothing can dislodge or replace it. Love is supreme. --- From "The Contemporary Christian" John R..W. Stott

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. Church leader steps down, congregation follows

By Arielle Clay
http://www.nbcaugusta.com/news/local/37067649.html
January 4, 2009

The Vicar of St. John's Episcopal Church in North Augusta stepped down Sunday. He says it is because he does not agree with the direction the National Church is taking.

Now dozens of his congregants are following him to a new church and new denomination.

Sunday was Phyllis Kirkland's last time in the kitchen of St. John's Episcopal Church, Susan Bafford's last time singing in the sanctuary, and Paula Wahl's last time as senior warden.

An Unworkable Theology

VOL Note: This essay was first published in 2005, VOL believes that the issues Dr. Turner raises have not gone away and this essay deserve airing at this critical jucture in the life of The Episcopal Church

by Philip Turner
First Things (June/July 2005).

It is increasingly difficult to escape the fact that mainline Protestantism is in a state of disintegration. As attendance declines, internal divisions increase. Take, for instance, the situation of the Episcopal Church in the United States. The Episcopal Church's problem is far more theological than it is moral-a theological poverty that is truly monumental and that stands behind the moral missteps recently taken by its governing bodies.

Anglican Predictions for 2009

Anglican Samizdat
http://anglicansamizdat.wordpress.com/
January 4, 2009

Anglican church attendance in North America will continue to decline.

Katherine Jefferts-Schori and Fred Hiltz will stem the tide by continuing to speak with a prophetic voice: they will apologise for their heterosexuality and will work to aspire more closely to the homosexual ideal.

Some heterosexual clergy will have a sex change operation so that they can more fully express their inner homosexuality.