Beloved in Christ,
As is usual each week, there are some positives to look at and some negatives. In the negative column is the decision by Archbishop Mouneer Anis not to attend GAFCON, but instead to go to Lambeth where he hopes his orthodox voice will be heard. He has tried repeatedly to have his voice heard, speaking of the outrages of the American Episcopal Church, and Dr. Rowan Williams has turned a deaf ear, as have the revisionist bishops and primates of the Communion. Nevertheless, Archbishop Mouneer will try yet again at Lambeth, though there is little chance of success. His words about his decision to absent himself from GAFCON, blaming the trouble on northern agitators, are poorly chosen as well as factually wrong. GAFCON is the creation of some Global South Primates, and in their invitation to other orthodox bishops, clergy and laity, naturally some come from the north, even as Egypt is north of Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, and Rwanda.
Another negative is the decision by the California State Supreme Court to allow homosexual marriage. Although the Episcopal Church has maintained that they don't have any rites for "gay" blessings, and haven't given permission for any, the unspoken message is "full speed ahead!" And although the Diocese of Los Angeles doesn't officially have any "gay rites", they have been used for a decade or more (even though they don't exist). Now All Saints' Episcopal Church in Pasadena (the long-standing home of revisionist and homosexual activists such as the Rev. Ed Bacon, rector and the Rev. Susan Russell, Senior Associate for Parish Life) has announced that they will do homosexual marriages, officially. This of course blows the Diocese of Los Angeles' charade and puts Bishop J. Jon Bruno on the spot. Will Bishop Bruno do anything? No, for he has announced that he will ride again in the Gay Pride Parade, and that should indicate that once again, canon law is to be winked at when inconvenient but massively enforced when favorable. For All Saints' Church, the only thing new about this is that it is now more open, and they claim that they are satisfying both California Law and the Baptismal Covenant.
The Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori spoke recently at the University of the South, saying "Diversity is a vital part of the Anglican Communion. That can be a problem for those who think their way is the only way." She goes on to make a comparison of those who believe in a specific Christology of Jesus as "the Way, the Truth, and the Life," as sinning against the Holy Spirit, "It's like the sin against the Holy Spirit, believing that there is no other possibility. Believing that we've got the whole thing right now and God can't possibly do anything else, anything unexpected." Although Schori earned a Ph.D in marine biology, her grasp of the Holy Scriptures and her comprehension of theology are far removed from her area of learned expertise, and it would appear from her remarks that if you believe what Jesus said about himself, you are sinning against the Holy Spirit. It simply takes your breath away. The leadership of TEC has become so much like the characters in "Alice in Wonderland."
Also on the downside are the actions of many Christian denominational leaders in the United States who are joining the litigation effort of TEC against the departing Virginia Anglican parishes. Many denominations which have always portrayed themselves as non-hierarchical are suddenly wanting to take rights away from local congregations where property and bank accounts are concerned. Why the interest? Because churches join a denominational structure, or create such, to further the ministry of the local church, but once formed, the denominational structure becomes interested in power and position, and they see the local churches as their own property. It is the ecclesial example of Lord Acton's saying, "...power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely..." An AAC Board of Trustees member comments on this in an article on the StandFirm blog entitled "Diocese of Virginia plays dress up with Seventh Day Adventists: Let's Pretend We're Hierarchical" and lists all the denominations trying to "pile on" in the case. If they are joining the litigation on TEC's side, are they are afraid that their own people might want to leave? They have inadvertently given testimony against themselves, and their own churches should take careful note.
On the positive side, we note that Bishop John Howe, whom we criticized in a recent posting, together with the Diocese of Central Florida have protested the handling of the depositions of bishops John-David Schofield and Bill Cox in a vigorous letter to Katharine Jefferts Schori. If more of the orthodox dioceses would follow this South Carolina-Central Florida lead, the TEC leaders might better consider the illegality of their previous actions, and set about to correct them instead of continuing them.
Another positive is word that the attendance of Colorado Bishop Rob O'Neill at GAFCON was falsely reported by the Episcopal Church news sources. Although Presiding Bishop Schori asked him to attend on her behalf to be her eyes and ears, she does not have the authority or power to invite him, or get him into the meetings. AAC inquiry into the invitation list reveals that Bishop O'Neill has not been invited or registered. Once again, TEC acts with the arrogance of presumed power and place. O'Neill is, after all, the bishop who just rescinded seven-year-old Letters Dimissory of clergy from Colorado, done by his predecessor Bishop Winterrowd, and deposed those clergy in absentia for abandonment of communion. Seven years after the legal departure letters were signed, yet!
This weekend in the United States we remember our soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen and merchant marines who helped defend the United States against her enemies, and gave their service and often their life in this defense. This Memorial Day weekend we extend our honor and respect to those defenders.
Blessings and peace in Christ Jesus,
The Rt. Rev. David C. Anderson, Sr.
President and CEO, American Anglican Council
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