"No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also."
        1 John 2;23 NIV

Note from the editor:  Today is Jenny Abel's final day as AAC Communications Assistant. We would like to thank her for 2+ years of service to the American Anglican Council. 

• Message from the Rev. Canon David C. Anderson
• Press Release: AAC Supports Kenya’s Appointment of U.S.-based Bishop
• Church of Uganda to Consecrate an American Bishop
• Diocesan Chancellors Rebuff Council Accession Declaration
• San Diego Diocese Sues Churches

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Message from the Rev. Canon David C. Anderson

Recent days have seen the announcement by the Church of Kenya concerning the upcoming ordination to the episcopate of the Rev. Canon Bill Atwood to oversee the work of the Kenyan Province in the Americas, and now the announcement from the Church of Uganda that they will ordain the Rev. John Guernsey to the episcopate to oversee the Ugandan Churches in the States. Some have nervously suggested that these announcements are a sign of the fracturing of the conservative orthodox into smaller and smaller entities and the beginning of the end of any hope for a unified orthodox American Province.

I see it the opposite way and am quite encouraged. The orthodox have all been wanting a new Province, but the question is how to get from where we are to where we need to be. I would hope that with bishops to oversee the work for Kenya and Uganda, and bishops already in place and perhaps more to come for AMiA and CANA, we are seeing the birthing of what will be the future House of Bishops of a new entity, albeit a little ways still down the road. One of the dilemmas of being Anglican is that we need bishops, both for sacraments and for bold orthodox leadership, and we need a critical mass to be acquired to help things really move. With these new bishops in place and perhaps a few more, together with the ACN bishops who might with their dioceses chose to realign away from TEC, a critical mass would be in place for some dramatic things to happen.

Yes, TEC will probably sue everyone - that is to be expected. Even if TEC can't win consistently on law or on facts, it appears that they will sue anyway, to bankrupt parish churches and perhaps dioceses in legal defense. If a church or diocese can't afford to stay in court, however well they may (or may not) have law or facts on their side, they lose by default. The other side of the same question is where will TEC's money come from to do all this litigation? Will someone crack open the Church Pension Fund and raid the pensions of liberals and conservatives to fund the litigation? Only time will tell. Will someone crack open the Trust Funds of TEC and use their money for the litigation? A conversation with Ellen F. Cooke might be useful prior to such action. Two things are certain, TEC will continue litigating, and the faithful will not be deterred by such action.

In looking toward a new Anglican orthodox entity, a major factor will be the Common Cause. With the Common Cause bishops and churches and the transprovincial congregations and bishops all working together I believe some exciting things are ahead. I would encourage my readers to be finally optimistic, though real battles are obviously also ahead.

Now we move to the bizarre world of liberal revisionist TEC: an article appeared the other day written by Janet I. Tu, a Seattle Times religion reporter. Tu’s article begins, "Shortly after noon on Fridays, the Rev. Ann Holmes Redding ties on a black headscarf, preparing to pray with her Muslim group on First Hill. On Sunday mornings, Redding puts on the white collar of an Episcopal priest. She does both, she says, because she's Christian and Muslim."

The AAC has previously stated that the trend in TEC is toward polytheism and syncretism with other non-Christian faiths. Seldom has an example been provided for us that is as clear as this one. How does the TEC religious establishment react to this news? Jim Naughton, Canon for Communications for the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, wrote on the Episcopal Communicators listserv, "I fervently hope that it will be possible to ignore this story until it slips back beneath the radar." When the AAC posted the story and Jim Naughton's comment on the AAC Blog, Naughton was clearly embarrassed that his desire to sweep this latest scandal under the rug was exposed. Friends of the AAC and orthodoxy who are on the Episcopal Communicators listserv can send the AAC material that needs to get out; we do protect our sources so that the light of day can shine on some of the unseemly things that TEC is up to. The latest word is that Jim Naughton is setting up his own, more pure, more secure, more NON-INCLUSIVE listserv so that only like-minded Episcopal Communicators can talk to each other.

Closer to our home here in Atlanta, the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta is promoting the Gay Pride Parade for Atlanta, encouraging its members to come out and participate. Diocesan writer John York announced, "Atlanta's Pride Festival will be June 22-24, and for the fourth year in a row, Episcopalians from throughout the diocese will be taking part, staffing a booth in Piedmont Park and marching in the parade on Peachtree Street. Everyone is invited to participate, at whatever level you can, and help to spread the message that the Episcopal Church welcomes everyone! For Episcopalians, the weekend will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 21, with Atlanta Integrity's 19th annual Gay Pride Eucharist, featuring as preacher Dr. Louie Crew, founder of the national Integrity organization. At the parade, starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 24, spectators have learned to expect the "Episcopal Church Welcomes You" banner - and they cheer us as we go by. We'll need your help to keep our numbers strong and to show a good cross-section of Episcopalians, gay and straight, single people, families, laity, clergy, all of us together." What is also true is that any number of Atlanta area Episcopalians will see this Episco-spectacle, and decide to leave the Episcopal Church and perhaps Anglicanism as well.

Coming back to a positive note, the AAC applauds the actions of Kenya and Uganda in naming bishops-elect, and raises a question. When will the time come for cross licensing of clergy and bishops within our American Anglican community? When will the time come for an orthodox Anglican House of Bishops (as well as of clergy and laity) here in North America? It is just a question, but a question I wish to leave with you for now.

Press Release:  AAC Supports Kenya’s Appointment of U.S.-based Bishop

Date:  June 21, 2007

The American Anglican Council (AAC) fervently applauds the bold and courageous act by Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi of the Anglican Province of Kenya in appointing a suffragan bishop to oversee the province’s U.S.-based congregations. Last week’s announcement of the Aug. 30 consecration of the Rev. Canon Bill Atwood serves as one more important step toward the long-anticipated realignment of North American Anglicanism.

The Rev. Canon David Anderson, AAC president and CEO, who was traveling overseas when the news of Atwood’s appointment broke, said he was very encouraged by the development.

“The oversight and pastoral care offered by Global South provinces to 250-plus Anglican churches in America are vital during this time of deep crisis in the U.S. Episcopal Church,” Anderson said. “With local bishops on the ground now for the provinces of Kenya, Nigeria and Rwanda, we hope to see tremendous growth among Anglican churches in the U.S., as well as increased collaboration in ministry efforts.

“Our prayer is that the faith and zeal of Global South leaders like Archbishop Nzimbi will spread through the American churches and result in a renewed dedication to the proclamation of the Gospel, both domestically and abroad,” Anderson continued.

Anderson added that the AAC looks forward to future cooperation with the Kenyan coalition as well as with the Rwandan-affiliated Anglican Mission in the Americas (AMiA) and the Nigerian Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA), and with all other Anglican Common Cause Partners.

Church of Uganda to Consecrate an American Bishop

Source: Church of Uganda Press Release (Via E-Mail)

Date: June 21, 2007

The Most Rev’d Henry Luke Orombi, Archbishop of Uganda, with the consent of the House of Bishops of the Church of Uganda, given in December 2006 and reaffirmed today, will consecrate the Rev. John A.M. Guernsey, an American priest canonically resident in North Kigezi Diocese, Church of Uganda, as a Bishop in the Church of Uganda.  He will be consecrated in Mbarara on 2nd September 2007, together with Rev. George Tibesigwa, Bishop-elect of Ankole Diocese.
 
Bishop-elect Guernsey will provide local episcopal oversight to the 26 congregations in the United States that are part of the Church of Uganda, on behalf of the ten Ugandan Bishops currently providing episcopal care to Biblically orthodox American congregations.  He will also continue to serve as Rector of All Saints Church, Dale City, Virginia.
 
Archbishop Orombi said, “Rev. Guernsey has a long history with the Church of Uganda, including many short visits to Uganda for teaching and preaching missions.  He is highly respected by clergy and Bishops in the Church of Uganda, and has also been a pastoral and strategic leader in the Anglican Communion Network as Dean of the Mid-Atlantic Convocation.  He is the ideal candidate to pioneer this new ministry.”
 
Archbishop Orombi’s fellow Primates, who are also providing episcopal oversight to Biblically orthodox congregations in the United States, are supportive of the move.  Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi of the Anglican Church of Kenya also recently announced the consecration of the Rev. Canon Dr. Bill Atwood, an American priest, as a Bishop in the Church of Kenya, a decision applauded by Archbishop Orombi. 
 
Archbishop Nzimbi said, “It is a new day for the pastoral and episcopal care of the orthodox congregations in America.  We look forward to working with our Ugandan neighbours in mutual collaboration in providing apostolic and missional support to our orthodox brothers and sisters in America.”
 
The election and consecration of Rev. Guernsey as a Bishop in the Church of Uganda has the support of the Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan, Moderator of the Anglican Communion Network and Convener of Common Cause.
 
“John Guernsey’s consecration is an answer to our prayers,” said Duncan, “that we would be able to provide a domestic bishop for the Ugandan churches that are part of the Network’s International Conference.”
 
Duncan added, “In my capacity as the Convener of Common Cause, we will enthusiastically welcome him to the Council of Bishops meeting in September.”

 Diocesan Chancellors Rebuff Council Accession Declaration

Source: The Living Church

Date:  June 18, 2007

The chancellors of the dioceses of Fort Worth, Quincy, Pittsburgh and San Joaquin have rejected the Executive Council’s assertion that changes the dioceses had made to their accession clauses are null and void.

At its meeting last week, Executive Council approved a resolution declaring “null and void” attempts by the dioceses to revise their constitutions to qualify their accession to the Constitution and Canons of the General Convention.

“The Episcopal Church (TEC) has declared the authority of Holy Scripture null and void so we are not surprised that its Executive Council attacks our diocesan constitutions because we reserve the right not to accede to TEC’s unbiblical actions,” the chancellors responded in a prepared statement. “The Executive Council does not have the authority to make decisions or pass resolutions of this type on behalf of TEC. Furthermore, the Executive Council does not have the right to interfere in internal diocesan constitutional processes. The Executive Council's declaration is contrary to the law and to the historic Anglican faith.”

 San Diego Dioceses Sues Churches

The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego is suing former parishes, one for a second time.  The San Diego Diocese lost its first lawsuit against St. John's Anglican Church in 2006; however, that hasn't stopped them from trying again. Two of the churches being sued, St. John's Anglican Church and St. Anne's Anglican Church, released responses to the diocesan action; you will find excerpts from the responses and links to the full articles below.

St. John’s Anglican Church(Fallbrook, CA)

"...we are deeply disappointed that the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego and its Bishop, James R. Mathes, have been caught up in the national tidal wave of lawsuits being filed by The Episcopal Church against local church congregations that have realigned with other Provinces of the Worldwide Anglican Communion, and instead have filed another senseless and intolerant lawsuit against St. John’s in an attempt to confiscate all of its church property, including the sanctuary, Bibles, hymnals and office files..." Full Article Here  

St. Anne's Anglican Church (Oceanside, CA)

"...We are amazed at the disregard of the religious  and property rights of St. Anne’s church members who overwhelmingly voted their conscience to end their affiliation with The Episcopal Church and The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego over a year ago...Over many decades, St. Anne’s members have given sacrificially to maintain the property and operate the church without any financial support from the Diocese..." Full Article Here