Message from Bishop David Anderson  Bishop Anderson Dear Anglican Brothers and Sisters and those who wish us well, The world is becoming an increasingly dangerous place for all Christians, and especially for Anglicans. In some places our property and churches are being taken from us by misguided judges who are unwilling to go beyond the rhetoric of Episcopal Church assertions to find the facts, justice and fairness that would protect us. In other cases Anglicans are being hurt and killed for their faith by Islamists intent on terror, such as in Sudan and Northern Nigeria. In still another case, a Christian 15 year old boy in Wisconsin is being threatened with suspension because he wrote an article at the school's request on why he didn't think homosexual adoption was a good idea. Although I am not anticipating the end of the world this coming December, as some Mayan calendar theorists are postulating, I do believe that the time we are living in is approaching a time of tribulation for sincere Christians. If you really believe that Jesus is the Christ, and that our God is the only God, and that salvation comes uniquely through the work of Jesus Christ, and that the Holy Bible is the Word of God, then you already know that the media is hostile to you, the schools are hostile to you, much of the business world is hostile to you, and increasingly you will be portrayed as ignorant, hateful, atavistic and out of touch with modern life. Your and your family's ability to live your lives unmolested by government, business, and public school will grow increasingly difficult, unless by divine intervention and a huge change in American culture, the trend is reversed. It is important to push back politically, and one place to start is with the local school boards. If your elected representatives in government are not supportive of your free exercise of your Christian faith, vote them out of office. Pray fervently and become politically aware. Our U.S. government from the president on down needs to be willing to pressure other governments to protect their religious minorities from persecution and attack. Although democracy is an important ideal to urge countries to uphold, advocating for their Christian citizens to be free from attack and death is an even deeper and more precious ideal to advance. Pray for the Christians in Sudan and in Northern and Central Nigeria as they fear for their lives because of Islamists' Jihad against believers in Christ.

Pray for the Anglicans in North America who are being forced from their houses of worship because they left the apostate and heretical leadership of TEC and wanted to take their own property with them. Even now Bishop Seabury Church in Groton, CT and Christ Church, Savannah, GA are contemplating whether they should appeal adverse court decisions to the United States Supreme Court. A Presbyterian church in Georgia is also considering the same SCOTUS appeal, for much the same reason. Todd Starnes from FOX NEWS Radio reports that a 15-year old Wisconsin boy, Brandon Wegner, who wrote an op-ed article at the request of the school concerning homosexual adoptions has been censored and threatened with suspension. It is reported that the superintendent of the Shawano School District called the student ignorant and called the article disrespectful and a form of bullying. The young man used scripture references in citing why he believed that it was unadvisable for gay adoptions to take place, and this apparently added to the superintendent's fury at the student. Having read the young man's essay, I concede that he could have used less volitile phrasing, which although quoted from the Bible, generally makes an argument less receptive by the unconvinced public. It could have been an essayist's learning moment on argument, debate, and convincing presentation, but instead the school system which asked him specifically for the writing, nuked him for what he said which, although rough, is factually true. Another student was asked to write an article favoring gay adoption, and this student was left alone. Matthew Staver, the founder of Liberty Counsel who has intervened on the student's behalf, said "The superintendent wants everyone to accept homosexuality as normative and homosexual adoption as something that should be standard practice. In doing so, he's belittling the views and the biblical views of many people across this country." Todd Starnes of FOX assessed it, "He (Superintendent Todd Carlson) wants to cram his view down the throat of everyone else and will not tolerate an opposing viewpoint." How intimidating for this 15-year old; how amazing that he stood up to these threats including suspension and did not recant, but rested his case on the word of God. The Todd Starnes article can be found here. Like many high school epistles, Brandon could have used some coaching on the best ways to present his point of view and how to shape his argument, but the reaction by Superintendent Carlson shows that the bias of the system is to indoctrinate the young and impressionable to a very certain and narrow pro-homosexual point of view. It raises the question of why the superintendent responded with such anger and poor judgement toward the young student. Another fair question is whether Superintendent Todd Carlson is fit to continue in his role as school superintendent with this level of animus and bias. I suppose a take away for student Brandon is how to shape and mature an argument in a compelling and winsome manner, stating the truth in ways that invite a second look and change of mind, but that is for his future. Until the Lord returns, stay strong in the faith and filled with the Holy Spirit. Faithfully in Christ, +David The Rt. Rev. David C. Anderson, Sr. President and CEO, American Anglican Council