Week Ending 2/6/17

Anglican Communion News Service Caught Rewriting Facts

It doesn't happen often, but the Rev. Mark Harris and GAFCON Executive Secretary Peter Jensen both agree that the Anglican Communion News Service is trying to rewrite what happened at the meetings of the Anglican Consultative Council last year.  The ACNS published a recent story claiming that the Episcopal Church members of the Council had abided by the conditions in a communique issued at the close of a gathering of Anglican Communion primates last January.  First claiming the TEC members did not vote on issues and then that since matters were done by consensus, not votes were taken, both Harris and Jensen have labelled that false.  Jensen remains upset that the TEC members participated and thus ignored the primates.  Harris applauded their participation.  You can find the original update stories on the confusion surrounding the primate's gathering here and the account of the ACC meeting here.

Presiding Bishop Draws Crowds in Pittsburgh

Originally invited to be the preacher at the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh's Absalom Jones Day Service, Presiding Bishop Curry turned the trip into the initial launch of his Jesus Movement revival.  Billing it as a Pilgrimage for Reconciliation, Healing and Evangelism, Curry met with groups and preached four times in three days, gathering crowds for each.  The initial interdenominational service of repentance involved a number of religious leaders in Pittsburgh and  was held Friday night at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Over 200 attended it.  Saturday there was a breakfast for youth, the Absalom Jones service and afternoon workshops. The service and breakfast, held at Holy Cross in Homewood had a standing room only crowd.   On Sunday Bishop Curry first preached at Calvary Church in Pittsburgh  to a crowd of nearly 500 and then at St. Stephen's McKeesport.  The McKeesport service attracted a worshipers from nearly every parish in the diocese with attendance near 400.

Bishop Sauls Sues Presiding Bishop and Church

Last spring, the Presiding Bishop announced that three senior staff members at the Church Center had been asked to leave.  All three had been placed on administrative leave in December 2015 pending an investigation.  While two were let go for cause following the investigation, the third,  Bishop Stacy Sauls, was cleared, but was let go in April  because the new Presiding Bishop was reorganizing his staff.  Apparently they were unable to agree on a termination compensation package and now Sauls has sued.  Presiding Bishop Curry and President of the House of Deputies, Gay Jennings jointly issued a statement on the litigation this week.

Long Island Priest Arrested for Drugs and Child Porn

Bishop Lawrence Provanzano of Long Island moved quickly to withdraw the license and remove the Rev. Christopher King from St. James of Jerusalem in Long Beach, NY following King's arrest on drug charges and for possession of child pornography.  Various drugs were found at King's residence and the porn was on his computer.

Army Corps Announcement Brings Vows of Continued Resistance at Standing Rock

The Army Corps of Engineers has announced that they intend to issue the permits needed for the completion of the Dakota Pipeline without completing the environment impact studies.  The Standing Rock tribe has vowed to continue to fight construction which threatens its water supply.  There are protests planned around the country against the Army's decision. Update had just reported on a new round of arrests of protesters in Standing Rock last week.

Diocese of Georgia Plans Student Residence at Chapel Site

The Diocese of Georgia has started the permitting process so it can build a multi-use building on the site of its current chapel at the University of Georgia.  The site would include retail, a private dorm, and a chapel.  It is not clear how long the permit process might take, but as the local news story indicates, local residents, students and the university all have questions about the project.

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