tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30661876468880622052024-02-20T06:35:04.649-05:00Pittsburgh UpdatePittsburgh Update publishes weekly summaries of recent developments in the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, The Episcopal Church, and the Anglican Communion that affect or could affect Pittsburgh Episcopalians. Emphasis is on reporting, not interpretation. This is a service of Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh. This site is in no way affiliated with the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh or the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh.Lionel Deimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363018512775944659noreply@blogger.comBlogger781125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066187646888062205.post-50156756886955339902023-03-09T01:47:00.003-05:002023-03-09T01:47:24.458-05:00Week Ending 3/6/23<p>This is the last weekly posting for the Pittsburgh Update. Future Updates will appear only if there is a major breaking story. The original intent of the Update when it began 15 years ago, was to track the attempted withdrawal from the Episcopal Church of a number of parishes and several dioceses, and provide analysis from a progressive point of view. Those legal issues are now largely settled. The weekly Update began over time to cover a wider range of matters of interest to progressives. The one remaining part of the original focus is the slow train wreck that seems to be leading to withdrawal from the Anglican Communion of a number of provinces who have already begun forming their own alternative organization. <br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">All Stories Are Continuing Threads</h2>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">Pennsylvania Bishops Join Gun Control Coalition</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Update <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2023/03/week-ending-22723.html#1">carried a post last week</a> on the pastoral letter signed by the diocesan bishops of all five Pennsylvania dioceses. This week, the Episcopal News Service <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2023/03/07/pennsylvania-bishops-lead-interfaith-call-for-gun-reforms-pressing-state-lawmakers-to-act/" target="_blank">has a follow-up article</a> on subsequent actions by the bishops and others in Pennsylvania to create an interfaith action group and to lobby the state legislature. It also notes the leadership of Episcopalians in other dioceses on similar actions. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Parish Refurbishes and Converts House to Homeless Shelter</h3><div style="text-align: left;">St. Edwards Parish in Lawrenceville, Georgia had a house that had been used for parish programs until its maintenance needs became too great, <a href="https://episcopalatlanta.org/news/promise-haven/" target="_blank">has found a new use for the building</a> as a homeless shelter, and was able to use that focus to fundraise and get grants to cover the costs needed to refurbish the building. The local churches had been spending a lot of money housing homeless families in motels. The pandemic let them interfaith group rethink their approach and work with St. Edwards on a new solution. The house is now rented for $1 a year to a non-profit that runs the shelter. The shelter houses up to 3 families plus a resident caretaker. Update has had other posts about work Episcopal parishes have done with the homeless (most recently <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2021/10/week-ending-10112021.html#3">here</a>), and the <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/05/week-ending-52322.html#7 ">impact of the pandemic</a> on these ministries. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Southern African Increases Pastoral Duties to LGBTQA But No Blessings</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Southern Africa bishops meeting in Synod were unable to come to agreement over a proposal that would have allowed a diocesan level option allowing blessing of same-sex unions. South Africa is the only African nation to have approved civil marriage for LGBTQA couples. Although the local option proposal did not pass, the <a href="https://anglicanchurchsa.org/statement-on-human-dignity-and-marriage-march-2023/" target="_blank">bishops did appoint a subcommittee </a>to focus on writing prayers that might used in blessing homes and children, and other pastoral settings for LGBTQA people. The Southern Africa province has been debating this <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2017/09/week-ending-091817.html#5">for a long time</a>, and at least one diocese has <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2018/11/week-ending-11518.html#8">gone on record</a> as wanting to bless same-sex civil unions. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">More Fallout From the Church of England Synod</h3><div style="text-align: left;">The Church of England Synod's vote to allow local option of blessing same-sex couples fell short of changing the marriage canon, but was enough of a statement <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2023/03/week-ending-22723.html#4">to set off alarm bells</a> among the Global South and GAFCON. The fallout continues. This week the <i>Church Times</i> <a href="https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/3-march/news/uk/london-conservatives-look-for-support-from-breakaway-anglicans" target="_blank">carried a story</a> about a parish inviting ACNA Archbishop Foley Beach to talk about alternatives to the Church of England. On the other side of the controversy, a group of English Evangelicals put together a statement supporting the Synod action and pointing out there are a large number of evangelicals who welcome and support LGBTQA people. Thinking Anglicans <a href="https://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/evangelicals-support-the-bishops-llf-proposals/" target="_blank">has more</a> on the evangelicals' statement. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Atlanta Parish Is the Center of Refugee Work in Atlanta</h3><div style="text-align: left;">All Saints Parish in Atlanta has made refugee work central to its ministry and has been at it for decades. Because the state of Georgia and Atlanta provide no government funds for refugees, the parish became the center for coordinating all activities related to the greeting, settlement (including finding housing, jobs, schools, medical care, etc.) for refugees. The parish has enlisted volunteers from the community who held walk the refugees through all of the challenges of creating a life in a new place. The Episcopal News Service has a <a href="https://episcopaljournal.org/for-atlanta-church-ministering-to-refugees-is-at-the-heart-of-mission/" target="_blank">new background article</a> looking at this ministry effort. Update has regularly carried notices on the Church's work with refugees. The most recent previous post is <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/12/week-ending-121922.html#1">here</a>. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Religion News Follows Up on Two Issues</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Last week Update carried stories on the violence and legal harassment directed at Christians in India, and on the partnering of Episcopal Parishes with RIP Medical Debt. In India, over 20,000 attended a protest aimed at calling attention to the persecution of Christians my militant Hindu groups. <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2023/03/week-ending-22723.html#6">Update carried that story last week</a>. This week, Religion News <a href="https://religionnews.com/2023/02/09/how-america-can-stop-indias-anti-christian-crusade-in-its-tracks/" target="_blank">has more on the rally</a> and the persecution. <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/11/week-ending-11722.html#2">Update also noted </a>in November that a third Pittsburgh Parish had concluded its drive to fund a buyout of medical debt. In that case, RIP was able to buy even more debt than expected with the money raised. This week <i>Religion News</i> <a href="https://religionnews.com/2023/03/01/for-many-congregations-wiping-out-medical-debt-has-become-a-popular-calling/" target="_blank">had a story</a> on churches of several denominations (focused on a Presbyterian Congregation, but also noting Episcopal parish efforts) who had worked with RIP Medical Debt. <br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h3><h3 style="text-align: center;"> <br /></h3><h3 style="text-align: center;"> <br /></h3><h3 style="text-align: center;"><br /></h3><p><br /></p>Joan R. Gundersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250917614108590714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066187646888062205.post-15329302622294085772023-03-01T14:33:00.000-05:002023-03-01T14:33:14.284-05:00Week Ending 2/27/23<a html name="1"></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Pennsylvania Bishops Issue Pastoral Letter on Gun Control </h2><div style="text-align: left;">The bishops of the five Episcopal Dioceses in Pennsylvania issued a joint pastoral letter that responds to the very high rate of gun deaths in Pennsylvania compared to other states. The bishops ask individuals to advocate for laws that limit purchases of guns to one a month, endorse extreme risk protection orders, ban sale of assault weapons and large capacity ammunition, and prohibit sale or possession of ghost guns. The letter includes an invitation to a March 6 event at the state capitol. The whole letter is <a href="https://www.episcopalpgh.org/pastoral-letter-from-pennsylvania-bishops/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;">Chicago Parish Becomes Electric Vehicle Charging Stop</h2><div style="text-align: left;">In a move designed both to support renewable energy and the reduction of fossil fuel use, St. Paul and the Redeemer Episcopal Church in Chicago's South Side, has partnered with Community Charging to install an electric vehicle charging station in the church parking lot. Drivers pay $.15 a kilowatt hour and the charger has had a steady stream of users. It also has introduced some of those using the charger to the Episcopal Church. <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2023/02/27/chicago-episcopal-church-installs-electric-vehicle-charging-station-part-of-growing-national-trend/" target="_blank">Episcopal News Service's longer story</a> begins with charging station efforts the United Methodist Church is making in Maryland. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;">Galveston Episcopalians Find Long-Lost Grave of Black Priest</h2><div style="text-align: left;">The Reverend Thomas White Cain, one of the earliest blacks to study at a seminary and who led the first black parish, St. Augustine of Hippo, in Galveston was among the victims of the 1900 Galveston hurricane. The hurricane sent waters sweeping over almost the whole of Galveston island and killed over 6000. Cain's body was recovered and eventually buried in the Lakeview Cemetery. However, the grave marker was lost and the location of the grave forgotten until a recently discovered map of the cemetery plots allowed Episcopalians to locate Cain's grave. St. Augustine was joined by 2 other Episcopal parishes, all within 1 mile of each other, in a social media campaign that overnight raised the money necessary to place a stone marker on the grave. Born a slave, Cain had attended both the Episcopal Seminary in Philadelphia and Bishop Payne Seminary (blacks only) in Virginia. He was the first black ordained a priest in Virginia (1879) The Diocese of Texas elected him an alternate Deputy to General Convention in 1892 and 1895, and at both conventions he took the place of a deputy about half-way through the meeting. He was the first black priest to assume a deputy's seat. The Episcopal News Service <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2023/02/24/galveston-churches-discover-pioneering-black-priests-unmarked-grav" target="_blank">has more on Cain's life</a> in their longer article. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;">Continuing Threads</h2><h3 style="text-align: center;">Global South Claims It No Longer Recognizes Welby</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Update posted <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2023/02/week-ending-22023.html#2">last week</a> the statements made by a number GAFCON and Global South Primates. These statements have now been taken to mean that the whole Global South no longer recognizes Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby as an instrument of union in the Anglican Communion, and they are <a href="https://livingchurch.org/2023/02/23/gsfa-demands-anglican-communion-reset/" target="_blank">demanding a "reset"</a> of the way the Communion is governed. While they are free to leave the Communion, their demands are not easily met since there are both English laws and the Constitution of the Anglican Consulting Council standing in the way. Also, several of the "provinces" that they recognize are actually schismatic entities not recognized as part of the Communion, in particular in Brazil and ACNA. However, it is clearly another step in a process that may well result in a formal split in the Anglican Communion. For a deft commentary on these claims, <a href="http://anglicanfuture.blogspot.com/2023/02/gafcon-and-global-south-fellowship-want.html" target="_blank">see the blog post</a> by the Rev. Mark Harris. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>More on the Florida Court of Review Report </h3><div style="text-align: left;">The report by the Court of Review <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2023/02/week-ending-22023.html#5">was leaked last week</a>. The Court was empaneled to investigate claims of irregularities in the second attempt of the Diocese of Florida to elect a bishop.The Standing Committee of the diocese has said it is taking time to craft a reply, but last week the Deputies of Color to General Convention issued a letter to all diocesan Standing Committees and Diocesan Bishops urging them to vote against the result of the election during the on-going approval process. A letter from a large group of LGBTQA Episcopalians and supporters last week documented <a href="https://livingchurch.org/2023/02/23/bp-howard-accused-of-pattern-practice-of-discrimination/" target="_blank">discrimination in the diocese</a> and again urged disapproval of the election results. The argument is that the current Bishop manipulated the results by refusal to grant canonical status to LGBTQA priests living in his diocese, and refusing to allow into the ordination process any LGBTQA candidates who did not promise to remain celibate. Howard denies he has done this, but a number of <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2023/02/24/gay-lesbian-priests-describe-expectation-of-celibacy-to-serve-in-diocese-of-florida-under-howard/" target="_blank">witnesses have come forward</a>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Thousands Gather to Protest Persecution of Christians in India</h3><div style="text-align: justify;">Over 20,000 people gathered in an <a href="https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2023/february/india-protest-delhi-christians-persecution-government.html" target="_blank">interdenominational event</a> in India to protest violence and other forms of persecution against Christians that have led to destruction of entire villages, murder, and legal harassment. The meeting brought together various branches of Catholicism, evangelicals, and the United Church that includes Anglicans. Persecution has increased under the militant Hindi government currently in power in India. Muslims are also facing persecution. Update has carried stories of persecution of Christians in India on several occasions, most recently <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2023/02/week-ending-21323.html#4">here</a>. <br /></div></div></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h2></div></div>Joan R. Gundersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250917614108590714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066187646888062205.post-73712795513180217972023-02-21T17:15:00.000-05:002023-02-21T17:15:16.207-05:00Week Ending 2/20/23<a href name="1"></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">ACC Elects Lay Woman to Top Post</h2><div style="text-align: left;">While the Anglican Consultative Council <a href="https://livingchurch.org/2023/02/18/welby-received-strong-pushback-to-slavery-fund/" target="_blank">dealt with some tension</a> arising from the recent vote of the Church of England Synod to allow blessings of same-sex couples, and while the Archbishop of Canterbury related that the decision to use church money for reparations in recognition of the Church of England's long involvement in slavery had resulted in some push back, the meeting generally focused on things that brought the different independent provinces together. One of those actions was the election of Canon Maggie Swinson of Liverpool as the Chair of the Anglican Consultative Council. <a href="https://www.anglicannews.org/news/2023/02/liverpool-lay-canon-elected-unopposed-as-chair-of-global-anglican-consultative-council.aspx" target="_blank">She was unopposed</a>. Swinson was well-know to members of the ACC and had served as vice-chair of the ACC since 2016. As chair of the ACC, Swinson will also chair the Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion. The <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2023/02/20/anglican-consultative-council-vote-shapes-new-anglican-communion-standing-committee/" target="_blank">Standing Committee</a> is made up of the Archbishop of Canterbury (president), the ACC Vice Chair, 5 primates, and 7 members elected by the ACC. The Standing Committee is a diverse body with members from the independent provinces of Jerusalem, the Congo, Brasil, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, Bangladesh, New Zealand, </div><div style="text-align: left;">Tanzania, Canada, Pakistan, Ireland, and Kenya, as well as England. </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;">Continuing Threads</h2><h3 style="text-align: center;">Some GAFCON Primates Reject Canterbury</h3><h3 style="text-align: center;"></h3><div style="text-align: left;">As might be expected <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2023/02/week-ending-21323.html#2">following the announcement</a> by ACNA Archbishop Foley Beach as chair of the Global South group, the GAFCON leadership also has now <a href="https://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Statement-of-GSFA-Primates-on-the-CofEs-Decision-regarding-Blessing-of-Same-Sex-Unions_20-2.pdf" target="_blank">issued a statement</a> saying that they <a href="https://religionnews.com/2023/02/20/some-anglican-bishops-reject-leader-welby-over-gay-marriage/" target="_blank">can no longer recognize</a> the Archbishop of Canterbury as one of the "Instruments of Unity" for the Anglican Communion. The Global South and GAFCON have overlapping leadership and membership. Although the Church of England synod passed a very moderate resolution allowing individual clergy the right to bless individuals or couples, it is widely understood to allow blessing of same-sex couples.
The English Synod votes, however were too much for the die-hard leaders in provinces, most of which still define as a crime same sex relationships and identity. Some of the African Primates <a href="https://religionnews.com/2023/02/16/we-cannot-walk-with-you-unless-you-repent-african-archbishops-tell-church-of-england/" target="_blank">demanded a statement of repentance</a> from the Church of England. The GAFCON sponsored group of parishes in Europe that have left the
Church of England and Wales and the Episcopal Church of Scotland issued a
statement telling individual parishes that they were ready to provide <a href="https://www.anglicannetwork.org/resources/alternative-episcopal-oversight">"alternative oversight,"</a> (i.e. inviting parishes to leave the Church of England). The <a href="https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/news/news-and-statements/lambeth-palace-responds-gfsa-statement" target="_blank">Archbishop of Canterbury</a> and the <a href="https://www.anglicancommunion.org/communications/press-and-media/press-releases/statement-by-the-secretary-general-of-the-anglican-communion.aspx" target="_blank">Office of the Anglican Communion</a> have issued statements, the latter suggests that the statements are an over-reaction. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Afghani Refugees Still Making Home in Newburyport Parish</h3><div style="text-align: left;">In December of 2021, Update <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2021/12/week-ending-12621.html#6">carried a post</a> that the St. Paul's Episcopal Parish in Newburyport, Massachusetts was converting their church hall basement into temporary living quarters for refugee families from Afghanistan. Update did a <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/02/week-ending-022122.html#3">follow-up pos</a>t in February 2022, but a year later, the refugees are still living in the church undercroft. In other ways the family has settled in with the adult members having found work and the children attending school. <a href="https://www.wbur.org/news/2023/02/02/afghanistan-families-newburyport-church-housing" target="_blank">But the longer-term housing options are still more a wish than a reality.</a> The 2 families living at St. Paul's have a total of 16 children (the youngest born in the U.S. 3 months ago). There is a long waiting list for subsidized housing in Massachusetts, and few units are large enough to house a family with 8 children. The minister of St. Paul's has now taken on the role of housing advocate, working with non-profits and the city to find a stable, long-term housing solution for the families. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Methodist Congregations Leaving Are a Small Percentage </h3><div style="text-align: left;">Update <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2023/01/week-ending-1923.html#2">has been reporting</a> on the withdrawal of conservative congregations from the United Methodist Church. In some areas it has included the largest congregations in a conference. Reporting piecemeal, however, does not give insight into how big the split actually is. Since 2019, only 1831 congregations have voted to disaffiliate with the United Methodists. The denomination has over 30,000 congregations in the U.S. and the parishes that have disaffiliated are just under 7% of the total. The impact, however, is very different depending on the region. Texas has been the hardest hit, with the North Texas Conference losing 72% of its congregations. The 5 regions with the highest percentages of disaffiliations were (in order from greatest to least) were North Texas, Texas, North Carolina, Alabama, and Indiana. These 5 conferences account for over half of all disaffiliated parishes. For more, see the <a href="https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2023/january/umc-churches-leave-global-methodist-denomination-schism.html" target="_blank">article</a> in <i>Christianity Today</i>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Probe of Second Election in Florida Notes Discrimination</h3><div style="text-align: left;">A second election for Bishop coadjutor in the Diocese of Florida had the same outcomes as the first, with the Rev. Charles Holt being declared the winner, and also having the result challenged by a group that filed a formal complaint. The Committee of Review that investigated the second election has had part of its report released. While the Committee found the technical issues of possible voting mistakes to have no substance, they <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2023/02/20/probe-questions-integrity-of-floridas-second-bishop-election-citing-anti-lgbtq-discrimination/" target="_blank">did find that there had been discrimination </a>against LGBTQA members in ways that excluded some of them from voting. The biggest problems were the refusal of the current bishop to grant canonical residency to LGBTQA clergy, to exclude candidates for ordination from the process unless they would pledge to remain celibate, and the exclusion of some LGBTQA lay members whose parishes had chosen them as delegates to the electing convention. This report may affect the way the approval process plays out as the elected candidate mus receive consents from a majority of diocesan bishops and Standing Committees from all the dioceses of the Church. Update has reported on the various twists and turns of Florida's attempts to elect a bishop. The most recent post is <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/12/week-ending-121222.html#4" target="_blank">here</a>. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Joan R. Gundersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250917614108590714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066187646888062205.post-35971114497684672912023-02-15T11:36:00.000-05:002023-02-15T11:36:20.043-05:00Week Ending 2/13/23<a href name="1"></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">George Werner Dies</h2><div style="text-align: left;">The Very Reverend George Werner, who served two terms as President of the Episcopal Church's House of Deputies and was the Dean of Trinity Cathedral in Pittsburgh for twenty years has died. In retirement, he had moved to North Carolina.Werner was denied a third term when the group heading towards schism in Pittsburgh was able to prevent him in 2004 from being re-elected as a Deputy to General Convention. He worked diligently to bridge the growing gap in the diocese, and remained a faithful member of the Episcopal Church. As dean he was very active in the Pittsburgh Community helping to start numerous groups that worked to better the lives of workers, battered women, improve health care, revitalize the downtown, and interfaith relations. He also mentored many in the Church, including the women who followed him as President of the House of Deputies. None of the posted obituaries does complete justice to his life and ministry. The Episcopal News Service <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2023/02/07/rip-george-werner-past-house-of-deputies-president-dies-at-85/" target="_blank">has the most on mentoring</a>. The <i>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</i> covers <a href="https://obituaries.post-gazette.com/obituary/the-very-rev-george-l-w-werner-1087132422" target="_blank">his local leadership the best</a>, and <i>The Living Church</i> gives <a href="https://livingchurch.org/2023/02/07/george-werner-former-house-of-deputies-president-1938-2023/" target="_blank">more detail on the schism</a>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;">Continuing Threads</h2>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">More Fallout From the English Synod Vote</h3><div style="text-align: left;">After heated debate, all three orders of the Church of England Synod <a href="https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/10-february/news/uk/bishops-proposals-to-bless-same-sex-couples-carried-by-synod-despite-sustained-opposition" target="_blank">agreed to allow the blessing</a> of same-sex civil marriages and approved trial liturgies for that. The result was that the current head of GAFCON, Foley Beach, who is also the Archbishop of ACNA, <a href="https://anglicanchurch.net/6843-2/" target="_blank">issued a statement</a> suggesting that it was time to change how the Anglican Communion chose its symbolic head by having the Primates choose their own chair. This is an interesting comment since ACNA is not recognized as part of the Anglican Communion by any of the four instruments of union of that body, but continues to claim it is part of the "real" Anglican Communion. The Pittsburgh ACNA bishop issued his <a href="https://www.pitanglican.org/blog/letter-anglican-bishop-pittsburgh-response-church-england-general-synod" target="_blank">own statement criticizing</a> the decision in England and referring people to the statement by Beach. Meanwhile, one of the actual four instruments of union, the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) began meeting on February 13 in Ghana. The ACC has a charter and is comprised of delegates (both clergy and lay) from the independent provincial churches it recognizes as part of the Anglican Communion. At the meeting, Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby <a href="https://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/anglican-consultative-council-meets-in-ghana/" target="_blank">continued to try to soften opposition</a> to the English synod's action, pointing out that each province is independent and its decisions do not apply anywhere beyond that province. He also claimed that the Church of England had been threatened with consequences if they did not pass the blessings measure. Update has been following the furor around the Church of England proposal. The latest previous post is <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2023/02/ending-020623-all-stories-pick-up-on.html#5">here</a>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Episcopal Relief and Development Helping in Turkey and Syria</h3><div style="text-align: left;">As is its usual practice, Episcopal Relief and Development has partnered with Church groups on the scene to provide aid to the earthquake devastated areas of Turkey and Syria. They have concentrated on providing food, medical supplies and shelter to the survivors. Because they are partners in a larger effort, the major news agencies have not noted ERD participation. the <i>Episcopal Journal </i><a href="https://episcopaljournal.org/episcopal-agency-engaged-in-earthquake-relief/" target="_blank">has a good summary</a> of the ERD role here, and how to contribute. Update has noted many previous relief efforts by ERD. A recent one is <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2021/08/week-ending-083021.html#5">here</a>. The agency often stays long after the initial weeks and aids in long-term rebuilding of the area. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Hindu Radicals Continue Persecution of Christians in India</h3>
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<div style="text-align: left;">Persecution by a radical group of Hindus in India continues. Several months ago Hindus filed charges of forced conversion against a Christian congregation and its pastor. When the church members called for police help when a mob surrounded their small church on Maundy Thursday 2020, the police arrested the whole congregation rather than members of the mob. When the church's pastor finally was granted bail after months in jail, new charges were soon filed so that he was rearrested and when granted bail after 3 months in jail, <a href="https://www.christianpost.com/news/india-pastor-granted-bail-but-remains-in-jail-over-new-conversion-claim.html" target="_blank">another set of charges</a> was filed so he could not leave jail. The radicals are claiming that normal charity such as offering work or feeding the poor is forcing those helped to convert. Update has carried <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/08/week-ending-082222.html#1">other stories</a> about attacks on Christians in India. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Update on Shelter for LGBTQA Youth</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Update <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2021/05/week-ending-051021.html">carried a story</a> in May 2021 when Trinity Church in Indianapolis opened the only shelter designed specifically for LGBTQA youth who needed a home. The project has matured, bought a larger house away from Church grounds and incorporated as a non-profit. Trinity Parish members continue to be deeply involved. The Episcopal News Service <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2023/02/10/founded-by-an-episcopal-parish-the-first-shelter-for-lgbtq-youth-in-indiana-offers-refuge-to-the-rejected/" target="_blank">has a follow-up story</a> on the work that the shelter has done and the difference it has made for those it has served. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Anglican Church of Wales Launches Net Zero Project</h3><div style="text-align: justify;">The Anglican Church of Wales has <a href="https://www.churchinwales.org.uk/en/news-and-events/church-launches-10-point-plan-towards-net-zero/" target="_blank">launched a program</a> designed to help its parishes reach a Net Zero environmental impact. The province has developed a set of tools to help parishes assess standing and design next steps to meet this important environmental goal. What is of special interest is that the tools are available on line for parishes or dioceses anywhere in the world to use. The Anglican Communion has made reducing environmental impacts a major concern and taken the lead in a variety of ways. Update has reported on other actions, including Anglican Communion <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2021/11/week-ending-11821.html#6">leadership at the recent UN conference</a>. <br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div></div>Joan R. Gundersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250917614108590714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066187646888062205.post-75526969431868776212023-02-08T18:10:00.006-05:002023-02-08T18:10:55.417-05:00<a href name="1"></a>
<p> Week Ending 02/06/23</p><p>All stories pick up on issues or events we have previously covered.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Continuing Threads</h2><h3 style="text-align: center;">Parish Deals with Bias Incident and Vandalism</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Update has carried notices of previous times when vandals have struck Episcopal parishes for their inclusive stands, especially concerning immigrants , the homeless, or LGBTQA support. See the previous posts <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2016/11/week-ending-111416.html#2">here</a>, <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2017/02/week-ending-022017.html#2">here</a>, and <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2020/04/week-ending-040620.html#1">here</a>. The latest incident involves Trinity Episcopal Church, Asbury Park, New Jersey. On the night that <a href="https://outinjersey.net/rainbow-pride-flag-ripped-and-a-group-is-pepper-sprayed-outside-an-asbury-park-church/" target="_blank">Trinity hosted a concert </a>to benefit an anti-racism group in New Jersey, the parish's rainbow coalition flag was torn down and ripped, and an individual tried to pepper spray a group of people outside the church's community building after the concert. Police are investigating the incidents as possible hate crimes. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Group Criticizes Diocese of Rhode Island for Use of Cathedral Complex</h3><div style="text-align: left;">A group posted criticism of the Rhode Island diocese after Archdeacon Grace Swinski raised concerns about growing numbers of unhoused people in a talk in the Rotunda of the State House. <a href="https://www.golocalprov.com/news/episcopal-church-chided-ri-leaders-on-homeless-while-sitting-on-millions-of" target="_blank">The group claimed</a> that the diocese was sitting on millions of dollars of unused property, namely the St. John's Cathedral complex in Providence and several nearby houses. The group claimed the building has been vacant since 2010, and that the diocese could sell the historic property for redevelopment, move the graves from the historic graveyard and use the funds to care for those without housing. Update has carried notices of several different diocese and parishes
making creative use of church property to address the homeless (See <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/05/week-ending-52322.html#7">here</a>, <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2021/10/week-ending-10112021.html#3">here</a>, and <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/01/week-ending-012422.html#3">here</a>.) However, the <a href="https://www.episcopalri.org/about/the-cathedral-of-st-john/" target="_blank">Rhode Island diocesan web site</a> documents that the site is not vacant and unused. In fact the diocese is making creative use of the historic space. The Cathedral site is home to four different groups offering various kinds of outreach and hosting a variety of events. In addition, the building is on historic registers as is its cemetery and there is a committee working on how best to stabilize and restore the property. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Another Possible Diocesan Reunion</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Over the last decade, <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/05/week-ending-52322.html#10">several dioceses have explored</a> possible mergers or reunions as program needs, staffing, and finances made the actions attractive, Two of the five diocese that suffered major schisms had reunited with larger dioceses within their states. (<a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2013/09/news-for-week-ending-922013.html#3">Quincy</a> became a deanery of the Diocese of Chicago, and most recently The faithful remnant of the Diocese of Fort Worth (i.e. the Diocese of North Texas) reunited with the Diocese of Texas, once again becoming a deanery of the much larger diocese. The three diocese of Wisconsin (Milwaukee, Eau Claire, and Fond du Lac) are in the <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/12/week-ending-12522.html#1">midst of exploration</a> of a variety of partnerships and sharing of resources, but have not formally sought permission from General Convention to merge. Now the bishops of the two dioceses in Indiana (Northern Indiana and Indianapolis) <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2023/01/30/two-episcopal-dioceses-in-indiana-begin-reunification-discernment/" target="_blank">have announced</a> that they will be appointing members to work with a consultant on what are the best questions to use in discernment of reunification. The bishops have already had conversations with their staffs and diocesan governing bodies, so the formation of the study group is not a surprise to those in the diocese. <br /></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">Problems in Israel</h3><div style="text-align: left;">The Christian community in Jerusalem has been <a href="https://episcopaljournal.org/heads-of-churches-in-jerusalem-speak-out-on-escalating-violence/" target="_blank">increasingly concerned</a> about attacks on their institutions and the violence between Israelis and Palestinians. Christian religious leaders issued a <a href="https://j-diocese.org/wordpress/2023/01/30/statement-on-the-increasing-cycle-of-violence-in-the-holy-land/#" target="_blank">statement</a> on January 30 decrying the unwarranted violence and deaths of 32 Palestinians and 7 Israelis since the start of 2023, and tied it to the need to respect the religious traditions and sites of all religions if a lasting peace is ever to occur in the Holy Land. Among those signing the statement was the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, Hosum Nasoum. Part of the context for that statement was a series of recent attacks by ultra right members of Jewish sects on Christian sites and gathering places, including a restaurant. One of the sites mentioned in <a href="https://religionnews.com/2023/02/03/is-jewish-supremacy-translating-into-anti-christian-violence-in-jerusalem/" target="_blank">the essay</a> in<i> Religion News</i> exploring the attacks was the Protestant (Anglican) cemetery. Update had carried <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2023/01/week-ending-1923.html#1">an earlier post</a> on the vandalism at the cemetery. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">The Church of England and Same Sex Blessing Debate</h3><div style="text-align: left;">This week the Church of England Synod took up the report that has recommendations in it allowing the creation of liturgies to bless same sex unions. The <a href="https://religionnews.com/2023/02/03/church-of-englands-submits-blessings-for-same-sex-couples-to-fierce-debate-in-synod/" target="_blank">debate has been very heated</a> because the proposal is a compromise, not going far enough for many supporters of full inclusion of LGBTQA people in the Church, and those who see same sex unions as sinful and contrary to scripture. Meanwhile Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby spent time traveling with the leader of the Scottish Presbyterian Church and Pope Francis on a tour where the pope made <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-lgbtq-people-south-sudan-religion-ddd1e52de12a95216e798a9ddd103ade" target="_blank">additional statements</a> about LGBTQA rights. He was urging countries to end laws criminalizing LGBTQA people, their supporters, and activities. He drew a line between civil rights and church doctrines precluding same-sex marriage. Welby had already used the tour to make a statement that while he was happy to see the church offer liturgies for blessing same-sex marriages, he would not authorize or perform them in order to respect the beliefs of some Anglican Communion leaders. Update reported that statement <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2023/02/week-ending-13023.html#3">last week</a>. <br /></div>Joan R. Gundersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250917614108590714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066187646888062205.post-72378545693143997152023-02-02T13:50:00.001-05:002023-02-06T15:11:38.786-05:00Week Ending 1/30/23<a href="" name="1"></a>
<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">Once again I was traveling with limited internet service and so this posting covers several weeks. My apologies.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">JRG <br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">New York Diocese Creates Credit Union</h2></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Diocese of New York has received a charter for a credit union designed to serve church employees, church members, and others with a connection to the Episcopal Church. It hopes to reach those low and moderate income people who have been unable to get a bank account because of fees or other barriers. The union intends to provide basic banking, check cashing, and loan services to its members. The diocese believes that some of its low income parishes may have a number of members that qualify, and church employees in low paying jobs may also benefit from the services. For more see the <i>Episcopal Journal</i> article <a href="https://episcopaljournal.org/diocese-of-new-york-receives-charter-for-credit-union-focused-on-meeting-needs-of-low-and-moderate-income-residents/" target="_blank">here</a>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;">Continuing Threads</h2>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">Another Diocese Joins Interfaith Effort to Challenge Anit-Abortion Laws</h3><div style="text-align: left;">An interfaith group of church leaders have filed a lawsuit challenging Missouri's law banning almost all abortions. Episcopalians in other dioceses, <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/08/week-ending-080822.html#3">such as Florida</a>, have been part of interfaith coalitions <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2023/01/20/amid-post-roe-restrictions-on-abortion-church-webinar-highlights-faith-based-advocacy-for-reproductive-rights/" target="_blank">challenging abortion restrictions</a>, but the Missouri suit is unique in that it is claiming the law violates several clauses of the Missouri constitution guaranteeing religious freedom and forbidding the establishment of religion. The suit claims that the current restrictive law was passed to implement particular religious views thus establishing a religion, an act forbidden by the state's constitution. Bishop Deon Johnson not only signed, but <a href="https://religionnews.com/2023/01/19/clergy-file-suit-over-missouri-abortion-ban-arguing-it-establishes-a-religion/" target="_blank">offered Christ Church Cathedral </a>as the site for the announcement. The group of 13 plaintiffs includes besides Bishop Johnson, a number of Jewish leaders, several United Church of Christ Clergy, and some Methodists and Unitarian Universalist clergy. You can read the filing <a href="https://www.au.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Rev.-Blackmon-v.-Missouri-Complaint-1.19.23.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>. The Episcopal Church has had a "choice" position on abortion for more than 40 years, and reinforced that position at the most recent General Convention. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>English Bishops Move to Allow Blessing of Same Sex Unions</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Update <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2023/01/week-ending-1923.html#3">has been following</a> the reactions to the latest study in the Church of England on same-sex marriage. The matter is before the Church of England's House of Bishops, and the step being taken is to allow blessing of same-sex civil unions. While this is a step forward, it falls short of what LGBTQA advocates and supporters sought, and is a step too far for conservatives who still see same-sex unions as sinful. Archbishop Welby has come out with his one way of splitting the difference by announcing that while blessings may occur in the church, he will not perform and authorize them. He is doing this in deference to his role as one of the instruments of union for the Anglican Communion and the fact that many of the independent provinces of the communion are opposed to any recognition of same sex couples. <i>The Living Church </i>carried a story on his announcement <a href="https://livingchurch.org/2023/01/23/welby-welcomes-but-will-not-use-same-sex-blessings/" target="_blank">here</a>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Episcopal Leaders Concerned by Attempts to Limit Black History Teaching</h3><div style="text-align: left;">The recent actions and laws limiting what can be taught about blacks and other marginalized groups has run afoul of the Episcopal Church's efforts to come to terms with its own racist past and institute a process of racial reconciliation and healing. Leaders <a href="the Rev. Ronald Byrd Sr., The Episcopal Church’s missioner for African descent ministries" target="_blank">voiced their voiced their frustration</a> with actions taken against libraries, teachers, and courses in Florida, especially the governor's forbidding of any school to offer the new Advanced Placement Course in Black history. The Episcopal Church’s missioner for African descent ministries, the Rev. Ronald Byrd Sr.,called the efforts to restrict teaching of black history "educational malpractice. Update has carried numerous stories on the efforts of the church to uncover and come to terms <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/03/week-ending-22822.html#3">with its own racist acts</a>, including encouraging every diocese and parish to carefully explore its own history. </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Presiding Bishop Speaks on the Death of Tyre Nichols</h3><div style="text-align: left;">The release of body camera tapes showing five Memphis police officers beating Tyre Nichols to death after a traffic stop, has led to the latest round of protests and demands for police reform. The Presiding Bishop, <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2023/01/28/presiding-bishop-sends-pastoral-word-on-the-death-of-tyre-nichols/" target="_blank">Michael Curry issued a statement</a> that passionately and compassionately spoke for the whole church in condemning the actions. Memphis has acted swiftly to fire and discipline police and emergency responders, and the five officers directly involved in the beating now face criminal charges. The church has tried to keep the issue of police reform and needless deaths of blacks at the hands of police before its members in a number of ways, such as memorial services for earlier such deaths, <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/03/week-ending-22822.html#3">especially that of George Floyd</a> in Minnesota. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Michigan Bishops Step Up Pressure for Gun Control</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Following the Democratic victories in state elections in Michigan, the three Episcopal Bishops <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2023/01/18/michigan-bishops-step-up-calls-for-gun-reforms-as-democrats-take-control-of-state-government/" target="_blank">have joined lobbying</a> at the state capitol to pass and implement stricter gun laws in the state. The Episcopal Church has been advocating for stronger gun laws for quite a while, and update has carried numerous stories on these efforts, most recently <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/11/week-ending-112122.html#6" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/06/week-ending-6-6-22.html#4">here</a>. <br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div></div>Joan R. Gundersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250917614108590714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066187646888062205.post-66018908932687912192023-01-10T22:33:00.000-05:002023-01-10T22:33:09.870-05:00Week Ending 1/9/23<a href name="1"></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Anglican Cemetery Vandalized in Jerusalem</h2><div style="text-align: left;">Mount Zion Cemetery in Jerusalem was vandalized by two men in conservative Jewish garb. The cemetery is owned and maintained by the Church Missionary Trust Association (an Anglican entity), and has been the site of burials since the beginning of the 19th century. To get an idea of the damage, and hear from some Israeli Jews who were appalled at the damage to the historic property, <a href="https://anglican.ink/2023/01/08/david-pileggs-reports-on-the-vandalism-of-christ-church-jerusalems-cemetery/" target="_blank">watch this news video</a>. The <a href="https://anglican.ink/2023/01/04/welby-denounces-desecration-of-anglican-cemetery-in-jerusalem-as-blasphemous/" target="_blank">Archbishop of Canterbury</a>, and many other church leaders, including <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2023/01/06/presiding-bishop-joins-world-leaders-in-condemning-jerusalem-christian-cemetery-desecration/" target="_blank">Presiding Bishop Curry</a> have condemned the vandalism. Many news stories referred to the cemetery as the "Protestant" cemetery in Jerusalem. The Israeli government is supposed to be trying to find and arrest the two men. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;">Continuing Threads</h2>
<a href name="2"></a><h3 style="text-align: center;">Largest United Methodist Church in South Carolina Begins Withdrawal Process</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church is South Carolina's largest Methodist congregation with over 5100 members. The congregation <a href="https://religionnews.com/2023/01/09/south-carolinas-largest-umc-church-set-to-leave-denomination/" target="_blank">has begun the official discernment process</a> which will end in a vote on whether to leave for a new conservative Methodist body, or stay part of the UMC. Those wishing to break away in 2023 must complete the discernment and voting process by March 1. This is the latest conservative congregation to start the process. The major issue is that the UMC is headed towards approval of same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBTQ+ people. Update has carried notices of the division because the UMC and The Episcopal Church have sent a proposal for full communion between the two bodies to their governing conventions. The most recent previous article is <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2023/01/week-ending-1223.html#3">here</a>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
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<h3>Church of England Bishop Offers Rationale for Changing Mind to Support Same-Sex Marriage. </h3><div style="text-align: left;">Update <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/12/week-ending-121922.html#3">has carried several stories </a>on the discussion around the latest Church of England study document covering possible Church approval of same-sex marriage. After a discussion at the House of Bishops, several bishops previously opposed to same-sex marriage have announced a change of heart. One of the bishops, Bishop John Inge of the Diocese of Worcester, <a href="https://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/bishop-of-worcester-writes-on-same-sex-relationships/" target="_blank">has now issued </a>an extended statement explaining his reasons for now supporting same-sex marriage. You can read the <a href="https://www.cofe-worcester.org.uk/news/an-open-letter-from-bishop-john.php" target="_blank">whole letter here</a>. It makes a number of theological points on how scripture should be interpreted in light of experience and science. </div>
<a href name="4"></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>English Church Releases Full Study on Its Complicity in Slavery</h3><div style="text-align: left;">The Church of England leaders were surprised to learn how deeply the church had benefited from the institution of slavery, especially financially. The detailed study of its complicity <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/church-commissioners-publishes-full-report-historic-links" target="_blank">has now been released</a>, and the report also includes a number of suggested action steps, including committing <strike>L</strike> 100 million to investment, research and grants with special attention to those affected by historic slavery. The whole report is <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/about/leadership-and-governance/church-commissioners-england/who-we-are/church-commissioners-links?mc_cid=d409b4696e&mc_eid=UNIQID">here</a>. The study is an outgrowth of a closer look by whole Anglican communion at the issue of slavery. Update has reported on other parts of this effort, including this <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2021/05/week-ending-051021.html#5">post. </a>
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Presiding Bishop Curry Urges Support for Historic Black Colleges </h3><div style="text-align: left;">In what has become an <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2018/02/week-ending-2418.html#5">annual appeal</a> by Presiding bishop Michael Curry, he has urged that Episcopalians consider <a href="https://www.episcopalchurch.org/publicaffairs/presiding-bishop-curry-invites-gifts-to-absalom-jones-fund-for-episcopal-hbcus-2/" target="_blank">making donations</a> to the Historic Black Colleges affiliated with the Episcopal Church as part of their commemoration of Absalom Jones Day in early February. Absalom Jones who was born enslaved, but became free, was the first African-American to be ordained deacon and later priest in the Episcopal Church. He shepherded blacks in Philadelphia through the process of founding a black congregation in the late 18th and early 19th century. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Christ Anglican Issues Its Own Statement Following Interruption of Service</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Christ Church Anglican in Irvington, New Jersey is the object of a turf battle between the Church of Nigeria's American branch and ACNA. The battle led to a physical confrontation in the midst of a service, and statements from the Anglicans. <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2023/01/week-ending-1223.html#4">Update covered these earlier stories</a>. What is clear from the account is that the congregation used a legal action required to comply with Nigerian changes in diocesan structure, as a means of trying to abandon the Nigerian Church for ACNA. The press release issued by the parish is long and appeared on Facebook. That page does not have a direct link, but David Virtue <a href="https://virtueonline.org/irvington-nj-christ-anglican-church-new-jersey-fires-rejoinder-attempted-takeover" target="_blank">reprinted the whole press release</a> on his web site. You can read it there. Despite the efforts of the church to justify its actions, it is clear that the Church of Nigeria tried to assert its authority and claims in a timely manner, is not happy that its tactics of creating schismatic parishes has been used on them.<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div>Joan R. Gundersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250917614108590714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066187646888062205.post-35525350334799754552023-01-03T21:15:00.000-05:002023-01-03T21:15:05.419-05:00Week Ending 1/2/23<a href name="1"></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"> Maine Canon To Lead Land Mine Effort</h2><div style="text-align: left;">The Canon to the Ordinary in the Diocese of Maine, the Rev. Michael Ambler, <a href="https://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from-Michael-Ambler--Canon-to-the-Ordinary.html?soid=1102254033550&aid=nIFbSh09Z1E" target="_blank">has stepped down from that role</a> to focus on a long-term project of his, clearing landmines left in Laos during the Vietnam War. Laos is the most heavily land-mined country on earth. He will be working with 80 mine-clearing teams. He also will serve as a consultant to the Maine bishop with a focus on conflict resolution in the Maine Diocese. <br />
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</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">"Winter Talk" Will Live Stream</h2><div style="text-align: left;">The "Winter Talk" is an inter-tribal annual event sponsored by the Episcopal Church's Office of Indigenous Ministries. It is a conference <a href="https://www.episcopalchurch.org/publicaffairs/episcopalians-invited-to-register-for-winter-talk-2023-livestream/" target="_blank">highlighting indigenous traditions and contributions </a>within the church and this year will include a session on the General Convention resolution directing dioceses to research and explore the treatment of native youth in church-run boarding schools. There will also be a variety of other activities. and presentations including an annual status report. Both the President of the House of Deputies and Presiding bishop Curry will attend and speak. The conference is a hybrid event, hosted on an Oneida reservation in Wisconsin with in person activities designed to mark the 200th anniversary of the reservation and events also available virtually. The "Winter Talk" is scheduled for January 21-23, 2023 and those interested in attending virtually should register for the live stream, which you can do <a href="https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_CaGMyc-YRXWCvTLzpHU4iw " target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Continuing Threads</h2><h3 style="text-align: center;">Judges Recuse Selves in Methodist Case</h3><div style="text-align: left;">At least twelve Arkansas judges have recused themselves from the law suit filed by First United methodist Church in Jonesboro. The congregation had voted to withdraw from the United Methodist denomination, but the district Conference did not approve. Update noted that the Conference <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/12/week-ending-121922.html#4">had moved to take over the congregation</a> and suspended its minister after they voted a second time to leave. What is now clear is that at the second meeting those present also voted to alter their governing documents. This is what prompted the Conference to step in. The judges have asked the State <a href="https://www.christianpost.com/news/12-judges-recuse-themselves-from-umc-church-disaffiliation-suit.html" target="_blank">to provide a special judge</a> to hear the lawsuit filed by the congregation challenging the Conference. Apparently too many of the local judges have ties to the Methodists. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Nigerian Archbishop Releases Bishop to ACNA</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Bishop Felix Orji <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/11/week-ending-103122.html#6 ">who led his U.S. parishes</a> into ACNA <a href="https://anglican.ink/2022/12/28/felix-orji-released-from-the-church-of-nigeria-as-a-bishop-in-good-standing-to-affiliate-with-the-acna/" target="_blank">has been released</a> in good standing from the Anglican Church of Nigeria and is free to affiliate with ACNA. Some of the American congregations in the entity that Nigeria set up as an alternative to the Episcopal Church chose to remain with Nigeria. Orji's move is also part of the background to the competing claims on a New Jersey congregation that <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/12/week-ending-122622.html#2" target="_blank">led to a physical confrontation</a>. The release came very shortly after the Nigerian Archbishop released a statement saying that the bishops in charge of the Nigerian missions in the U.S. had acted without his knowledge. The release seems timed to help gloss over a very awkward situation. <br /></div>Joan R. Gundersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250917614108590714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066187646888062205.post-6538688272581742662022-12-27T17:27:00.002-05:002022-12-27T17:27:32.607-05:00Week Ending 12/26/22<a href name="1"></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Both posts are updates on previous posts</h2><h3 style="text-align: center;">Florida Delays Its Convention</h3><div style="text-align: left;">With<a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/12/week-ending-121922.html"> a second challenge</a> going to the Committee on Review, the election of a Bishop Coadjutor is still unsettled. The Diocesan Convention was scheduled for late January, but given the timing of the review, the fact that in the last twelve months there have already been three conventions, and the fact that the diocese has a budget tentatively approved for 2023, Bishop Howard <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/12/21/diocese-of-florida-postpones-convention/">has decided to delay the convention </a>until later in the year, with no date set at this time. The announcement came out one day after the person elected twice and challenged twice <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/12/20/florida-bishop-elect-charlie-holt-commits-to-allowing-same-sex-marriage-gay-ordinands-if-consecrated/" target="_blank">issued a statement</a> that he would allow clergy to follow their consciences in presiding at same-sex weddings, and would follow Episcopal Church canons by treating LGBTQ persons seeking ordination like all others.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Nigeria Issues a Statement in New Jersey Church Fight</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Two weeks ago, Update <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/12/week-ending-121222.html#7">posted a notice</a> about a New Jersey parish caught between competing claims by ACNA and the Church of Nigeria in America. A service being held with the ACNA bishop in attendance was disrupted by a group led by a Nigerian suffragan bishop claiming the building ad parish was part of the Nigerian missions in the U.S. The disruption resulted in a physical blows. The initial posts were from sources aligned with ACNA, and suggested the Nigerian primate must have authorized the disruption since he had not disavowed the attack or disciplined the people involved. The Nigerian primate <a href="https://anglican.ink/2022/12/20/church-of-nigeria-responds-to-nj-parish-fracas/" target="_blank">has now issued a statement</a> saying the attack was not authorized but confirming that the parish was subject to claims by both groups. The Nigerians are trying to resolve the matter through negotiations. <br /></div></div>Joan R. Gundersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250917614108590714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066187646888062205.post-84506977929467420382022-12-20T14:58:00.005-05:002022-12-20T14:58:54.141-05:00Week Ending 12/19/22<a href name="1"></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">All postings are updates on previous ones. . . </h2><h3 style="text-align: center;">Churches Prepare for More Refugees</h3><div style="text-align: left;">At Christmas, we are reminded that for Mary and Joseph (and Jesus) there was no room in the inn. Churches today are trying to make room in their "inn" by housing and helping refugees among other projects. Update has documented many of these attempts (most recently <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/09/week-ending-091922.html#1">here</a>). Now with the expiration looming of an administrative rule allowing refugees seeking asylum to be turned away at the border and forced to wait in other countries for approval of their claims, churches and other refugee agencies are preparing to handle a much larger flow of refugees. The Episcopal News Service <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/12/15/as-episcopal-shelter-welcomes-asylum-seekers-el-paso-braces-for-surge-when-title-42-policy-ends/" target="_blank">has a story on the efforts</a> in El Paso, Texas which will be be among the cities most impacted by the change. Refugees, however affect many other parts of the world, including Europe. ENS also <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/12/16/romes-refugee-center-continues-to-serve-migrants-as-europes-episcopal-churches-work-more-broadly-to-welcome-the-stranger/" target="_blank">has a story</a> on Episcopalians in Europe and their efforts for refugees. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Reply to the Protest on Florida Bishop Election</h3><div style="text-align: left;">The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Florida <a href="https://www.diocesefl.org/news-events/newsroom/newsroom-letter-to-gods-people/" target="_blank">has published an open letter</a> to members of the diocese replying to the 4 main claims in the <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/12/week-ending-121222.html#4" target="_blank">formal complaint</a> filed against the second election of the Rev. Charles Holt as bishop. Basically the letter boils down to a statement that they looked at each of the claims and found that nothing had been done wrong. They admit that there was a problem with checking in clergy at the convention, but that 113 clergy were checked in and 113 voted. The problem with the explanation is the complaint said that one of the 113 clergy checked in did not attend (thus suggesting someone else claimed his seat and was a mystery voter). <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">More Threats Following Discussion of Same Sex-Marriage in England</h3><div style="text-align: left;">The <a href="https://religionnews.com/2022/12/12/church-of-england-bishops-head-for-showdown-on-marriage-for-same-sex-couples/" target="_blank">recent discussion</a> in the Church of England House of Bishops about a document that includes recommendations on the church's stance on same-sex marriage ,and the subsequent surprise announcement by <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/12/week-ending-12522.html#3" target="_blank">several evangelical bishops</a> who changed their position and now support the same-sex marriage, has resulted in a series of negative responses from the GAFCON/Global South contingent within the Anglican communion. The Primate of Uganda isn't waiting for the larger discussion. For him, the appointment of a priest in a same-sex union as Dean of the Canterbury Cathedral was enough to declare that Uganda would be in <a href="https://anglican.ink/2022/12/12/church-of-uganda-will-break-with-church-of-england-over-appointment-of-gay-dean-of-canterbury/" target="_blank">impaired communion</a> with the Church of England. The Global South group <a href="https://anglican.ink/2022/12/19/press-release-gsfa-proposes-removing-welby-as-first-among-equals-in-the-anglican-communion/" target="_blank">used its Christmas Letter</a> to suggest that they might no longer consider the Archbishop of Canterbury to be the first among equals in the Communion, and to suggest a reorganization of the Anglican Communion (obviously leaving out or disciplining the liberal western churches). Topping things off was the <a href="https://anglican.ink/2022/12/19/defection-from-the-coe-in-leipzig-to-the-anglican-network-in-europe/" target="_blank">defection of a Church of England parish</a> in Leipzig, Germany to the GAFCON-created, Anglican Network in Europe which has an ACNA consecrated bishop. All of this is intended to scare the Church of England Synod meeting in February to back off from any change in its policies towards LGBTQA people. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Methodist Split Has Some Bumps in the Road</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Because of the Full Communion Agreement pending between the United Methodist Church and The Episcopal Church, Update has followed the events leading to the decision of conservatives to leave the UMC and create a more conservative umbrella body. Methodist regional conferences continue to meet and grant approval for parishes requesting withdrawals. Update <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/12/week-ending-121222.html#2">has carried notices</a> on several of these, most recently here. However, in November the Arkansas Conference denied the First United Methodist Church of Jonesboro request along with 2 others, while approving 35 other requests. The senior minister of the church then held a second vote with a majority again voting to leave. The congregation is large with over 1300 members, and while the required 2/3 did vote to leave, <a href="https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/aug/06/day-of-reckoning/" target="_blank">there were still over 400 who wanted to stay</a>. The second vote was attended by a much smaller number of members. The Conference has <a href="https://www.christianpost.com/news/umc-conference-suspends-pastor-over-disaffiliation-vote.html" target="_blank">responded to the second vote by suspending the minister</a> and claiming direct control of the parish property. The congregation has another year in which it could resubmit its application and leave with its property. After the end of 2023,
however, properties will stay with the UMC if a congregation decides to
leave. Why the second vote was taken so quickly and why the conference responded so drastically is unclear. </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>South Carolina Episcopalians Agree to Additional Property Deals</h3></div><div style="text-align: left;">Although requests for rehearings and/or the right to submit additional evidence have left the legal status of the property of 3 parishes in South Carolina unsettled, Episcopalians are moving to wrap up other loose ends in a gracious manner. Episcopalians <a href="https://adosc.org/st-andrews-mission-receives-deed-to-property/" target="_blank">relinquished the title</a> of St. Andrew's Mission to the ACNA diocese which, in turn, has handed it over to the mission parish. This mission is an offshoot of Old St. Andrew's Church (one of the <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/09/week-ending-090522.html#3 ">three whose status is not yet finalized</a>.) St. David's in Cheraw is now part of the Episcopal diocese, and the ACNA congregation is functioning in temporary quarters. The ACNA group was afraid that their minister would have to vacate the rectory and find other housing, but a <a href="https://adosc.org/25000-grant-from-jerusalem-fund-helps-st-davids-settle-with-tc/" target="_blank">sale agreement </a>between the Episcopalians and the ACNA group to sell the rectory has settled that matter. Update carried an <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/11/week-ending-103122.html#7 ">earlier notice</a> about the sale of a different parish property to ACNA (St. Matthew's in Fort Motte). <br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h2>Joan R. Gundersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250917614108590714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066187646888062205.post-23248152214400920992022-12-13T14:46:00.001-05:002022-12-20T13:10:53.843-05:00Week Ending 12/12/22<a href="" name="1"></a><h2 style="text-align: left;">Parish Helps Build Home for Teen-Aged Mothers</h2><div style="text-align: left;">In Cheyenne, Wyoming (population 60,000), there are around 300 homeless teenagers. St. Mark's Episcopal Church members have been deeply involved in a charity called Unaccompanied Student Initiative that works with these homeless youth. The latest project for USI is a home for teen-aged mothers, and St. Mark's has committed to applying for a grant from the Wyoming Diocesan foundation to buy land for the home. St. Mark's has been successful in getting past grants from the Diocese totaling nearly $200,000 for USI. Other charities and the First Christian Church have committed to raising the money to build the home. First Christian will do its fundraising as part of a celebration of its 100th birthday. A local charity that works with young mothers has committed to matching whatever First Christian raises. The Episcopal News Service <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/12/07/cheyenne-episcopal-church-community-partners-join-forces-to-build-home-for-teenage-mothers/" target="_blank">has more </a>on this combined effort. <br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Continuing Stories</h2>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">Methodists Split in Alabama</h3><div style="text-align: left;">The United Methodist Church Conferences are continuing their annual meetings, and Methodist congregations are applying at the meeting withdraw and join a new conservative organization that does not recognize LGBTQA people as clergy or same-sex marriages. <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/12/week-ending-12522.html#2">Last week</a> Update reported on the withdrawals from two Texas conferences. This week was the turn of the North Alabama Conference. The conference <a href="https://www.al.com/news/2022/12/united-methodist-split-198-churches-leave-north-alabama-conference.html" target="_blank">granted the withdrawal</a> of 198 of its 638 congregations. As other conferences meet, there will be more announcements. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">James Island Parish Reopens in South Carolina</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Over 100 people turned out December 4, 2022 for <a href="https://www.postandcourier.com/features/historic-james-island-church-returns-to-episcopal-diocese/article_cf8aa818-726a-11ed-9453-fb9fe20b19f6.html" target="_blank">the first service</a> at St. James Parish on St. James Island in the Diocese of South Carolina. The re-opening of the parish as an Episcopal Church was <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/11/week-ending-11722.html#3">delayed a month</a> waiting for the ACNA group occupying the building to move to their new location. The congregation was founded in the first part of the 18th century. The parish Facebook page <a href="https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02QPzkekAidMpXrnjqjutB7jCHkojuW2HPkthyASR9ikz9qg6CpDpmj2R61XDCGLdBl&id=538303492876496&sfnsn=mo&mibextid=6aamW6" target="_blank">has pictures</a> of the service. This is the final transition involving the 6 parishes that were clearly returned to the Episcopal Diocese by the state supreme court. Three other parishes are awaiting word if appeals (one by the parish and two by the Episcopal Church) will be heard by the supreme court and if there will then be any change in the courts decisions concerning these 3.<br /></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">Formal Challenge Filed Again in Florida Election</h3><div style="text-align: left;">The Rev. Charles Holt is now in unchartered territory. Twice a convention in the Diocese of Florida has seemed to elect him as their next bishop, and twice people have filed formal complaints that could result in the process being declared invalid. The first filing was successful, hence the second convention. Twenty-eight people <a href="https://anglican.ink/2022/12/01/objections-filed-to-charlie-holts-second-election-as-bishop-of-florida/" target="_blank">signed a formal complaint</a> listing a variety of mistakes, and decisions that made this second attempt unfair. The most serious concerns include that the official record lists a clergy person as registered and voting who was not present at the convention, and that duly elected lay deputies were denied seats. That complaint will go, as did the first, to a committee of review from the Episcopal Church. It will take a while for the process to determine if Holt's second election will stand. After the first complaint, Holt refused his "election." This time <a href="https://anglican.ink/2022/12/06/charlie-holt-writes-to-the-diocese-of-florida-following-second-round-of-objections-to-his-election/" target="_blank">he has issued a letter </a>to the diocese about the humbling nature of the process and re-pledging that if the election stands, he will serve all of the people of the diocese and implement resolution B012 of the General Convention 2018 which requires every diocese to have a means by which same-sex couples can be married at a church locally. Update<a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/11/week-ending-103122.html#6"> had an earlier story </a>on objections raised during the voting at the second convention. <br />
</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">New North India Moderator Chosen</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Earlier <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/09/week-ending-091922.html#2">Update reported</a> that the moderator (archbishop) of the Province of North India has been arrested on charges of Fraud and money laundering. After the arrest, the moderator was deposed from the ministry, and <a href="https://anglican.ink/2022/12/08/new-moderator-installed-for-the-church-of-north-india-after-the-former-moderator-deposed-for-theft-and-money-laundering/" target="_blank">now a new moderator has been chosen and installed.</a> It is the Bishop of Phulbani, The Most Rev. Bijay K. Nayak, who had served as vice-moderator. The moderator is recognized as one of the primates of an independent province in the Anglican Communion. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Some Parishes Using Women's Lectionary for Advent</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Last year, Update <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2021/09/week-ending-92021.html#1">made note</a> of a new <i>A Woman's Lectionary for the Whole Church</i> that had been prepared by the Rev.Wilda Gafney. Year A was published in 2021 by Church Publishing, and years B and C are forthcoming. Now a number of parishes <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/12/09/some-churches-adopt-womens-lectionary-this-advent-centering-womens-stories-expanding-language/" target="_blank">have chosen to use the year A</a> set of readings for the Advent season rather than the standard Revised Common Lectionary readings. Gafney has the lessons focus on the women central to the Advent story. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Nigerian bishop Tries to Forcibly Claim New Jersey Parish</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Recently Update noted that many of the U.S. congregations created by the Nigerian Anglicans Church <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/11/week-ending-103122.html#6">had decided to end any ties</a> with Nigeria and being fully incorporated into ACNA. This apparently did not sit well with some of the Nigerians, and the result was a <a href="http://christiannewswire.com/news/5399486885.html" target="_blank">physical confrontation </a>between the ACNA bishop overseeing Christ Anglican Church in Irvington, N.J. and a group including the suffragan Bishop for the Nigerian-affiliated parishes. The Nigerians tried to stop the Sunday service and people began shoving and hitting. Police had been called, and it took a while to get the Nigerians to leave. <br /></div>Joan R. Gundersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250917614108590714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066187646888062205.post-37984124566691889332022-12-06T13:59:00.002-05:002022-12-06T13:59:38.371-05:00Week Ending 12/5/22<a href="" name="1"></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Wisconsin Dioceses Start New Collaboration</h2><div style="text-align: left;">Most recently the dioceses of Wisconsin have been in the news to merge the three dioceses in to one. The announcement this last week of a plan for Fond du Lac and Milwaukee to share personnel for youth and summer camp ministries is a step towards that merger. The announcement also notes a further cooperation. The camp sessions will be held at a camp owned by the ELCA. The <a href="https://episcopaljournal.org/wisconsin-dioceses-launch-cooperative-ministry/" target="_blank">Episcopal Journal has more</a> on this effort. <br />
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</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Continuing Stories</h2><h3 style="text-align: center;">Methodists Approve Parish Withdrawals</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Both the Central Texas and Northwest Texas Conferences of the United Methodist Church met last week, and in both cases <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/439-texas-churches-split-from-united-methodist-church-as-slow-motion-schism-continues/ar-AA14Vqws?ocid=mailsignout&pc=U591&cvid=9b1a7894fd05408b949a2b9d59514151" target="_blank">approved the disaffiliation</a> of a large number of congregations. With earlier approvals the total now rests at about 45% of the Texas congregations choosing to leave the United Methodists. That still leaves over 700 congregations as a part of the United Methodist Church in Texas. Most of those leaving plan on joining the Global Methodist Church, which does not support LGBTQA ordination or same sex marriage. Update has covered the split (most recently <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/08/week-ending-082222.html#5">here</a>). Each withdrawal leaves the United Methodist Church more in the hands of its liberal wing. The Episcopal Church and United Methodists have been in conversation and have a proposal before the governing bodies of both groups for full communion. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Church of England Discussion of Same Sex Marriage Upsets Conservatives</h3><div style="text-align: left;">The fact that several Church of England bishops have <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/11/week-ending-11722.html#5">now come out in favor</a> of the church providing blessings and marriages for same sex couples, and that the Church of England Synod will be discussing the latest study document on LGBTQA status in the church, has not surprisingly elicited negative comments from those aligned with the Global South. The latest is a suggestion that should the Church of England actually provide some access to blessings for same sex couples, the Archbishop of Canterbury would no longer be able to lead the Anglican Communion. The Most Reverend Dr Mouneer Hanna Anis, the archbishop emeritas of Egypt, and an advisor to the Global South <a href="https://anglican.ink/2022/11/29/gay-marriage-in-the-church-of-england-could-disqualify-the-archbishop-of-canterbury-from-leading-the-anglican-communion/" target="_blank">made the statement</a> in a recent essay reported on by the conservative on-line journal Anglican.ink which regularly sides with ACNA and GAFCON. Given that these groups have already set up schismatic alternatives in any province that leans towards full inclusion, the statement is unsurprising, but intended to put pressure on the Church of England. Since the Anglican Communion is defined as those provinces in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the process for selecting the Archbishop of Canterbury takes place withi the English Church (although with some input from other provinces), this would be impossible to do within the current communion structures. </div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</h3><h3 style="text-align: center;">Canada Appoints New Bishop to Head Indigenous Branch</h3><div style="text-align: left;">The Anglican Church of Canada is in the middle of creating a new structure that will give indigenous people their own structure (the Sacred Circle) within the larger church. Bishop Mark McDonald had provided crucial leadership as the structures were created, but then <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/04/week-ending-42522.html#2">he had to resign </a>due revelation of a sexual impropriety. Progress on the new arrangement has been slowed while a search was conducted for a new archbishop. That <a href="https://anglicanjournal.com/chris-harper-appointed-national-indigenous-archbishop/" target="_blank">wait is now over</a> with the appointment of Bishop Chris Harper of Saskatoon as the Indigenous Archbishop. Harper, a plains Cree, came to the Anglican ministry after a career as an emergency technician. He was priested in 2016 and made a bishop in 2018. <br /></div>Joan R. Gundersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250917614108590714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066187646888062205.post-7775740650399055312022-11-29T18:38:00.003-05:002022-11-29T18:38:32.097-05:00Week Ending 11/28/22<a href name="1"></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Church of England Bishop Removed </h2><div style="text-align: left;">The Church of England <a href="https://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/retired-bishop-sanctioned-for-sexual-misconduct/" target="_blank">has recently made public</a> that in disciplinary proceedings last August retired Bishop Peter Hullah was sanctioned and forbidden to act in any capacity as a clergy person for the rest of his life. The reason for the action was charges brought by two women that he had committed sexual improprieties with them in 1984 and 1999. Hullah was already controversial for mishandling the disciplining a music director at the church school Hullah headed. The faculty member had sexually abused children at the school. This is the most serious penalty handed down under the "Safe Church" provisions of the Church of England. <br />
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</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Architect of Schism Dies</h2><div style="text-align: left;">We note the death of The Rt. Rev. John Rogers at age 92. Rogers was a founder and Dean of Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge and was one of two priests ordained as a bishop by four bishops (from Rwanda, Southeast Asia and two retired TEC bishops) in a service not associated with any diocese or the Episcopal Church in 2000. The church plants and congregations they oversaw became part of the Anglican Mission in America, and then were merged into ACNA when it formed. Several of Rogers's students are now ACNA bishops. <br />
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</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Parochial Data for TEC Released</h2><div style="text-align: left;">The parochial report data for 2020-2021 has just been released, much later than usual. The on-going pandemic affected not only the date the data came into the church, but clearly affected the data itself. Although the church membership shrank again by 3%, that was a slower decline than many larger denominations. Attendance, <a href="https://episcopaljournal.org/episcopal-church-2021-report-shows-membership-decline-but-increased-giving/" target="_blank">however, took a very large hit</a>. With parish buildings closed for part of the reporting period, and difficulty in figuring out how to count attendance of those attending via live streaming, zoom, or viewing recordings after the fact, the attendance figures took a tremendous drop. One bright spot was that giving was actually up. Worth noting since this blog is based in Pittsburgh, that diocese was one of six dioceses that actually did not show a loss in memberships. You can find more data <a href="https://extranet.generalconvention.org/staff/files/download/32040" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Continuing Stories</h2><h3 style="text-align: center;">More on the Recent Bishop Elections</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Last week update <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/11/week-ending-112122.html#4">commented on the contrasting elections</a> of bishops that had occurred over the preceding weekend, one in Ohio and one in Florida. This week, <i>The Living Church</i> took that contrast further <a href="https://livingchurch.org/2022/11/21/two-elections-separated-by-a-chasm/" target="_blank">with more detail</a>. Ohio elected the Rev. Anne Jolly on the second ballot, with a slate of all women. In Ohio the question of full inclusion of LGBTQA people is a given, and was not an issue. In Florida, although the Rev. Charles Holt was elected on the first ballot, the convention was much longer than in Ohio because of a number of protests and parliamentary maneuvers by those who challenged whether Florida's second attempt to elect a bishop was actually legal, a challenge that had sunk Florida's first attempt. Holt is a conservative who has opposed atempts to fully include the LGBTQA community in the church. Despite his promise to fully implement the resolution B012 which requires every diocese to provide a means for same sex couples to have church blessings and marriages, many of those raising objections were skeptical. <br /></div>Joan R. Gundersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250917614108590714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066187646888062205.post-89438539786077774242022-11-22T18:40:00.001-05:002022-12-13T07:45:13.715-05:00Week Ending 11/21/22<a href="" name="1"></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Faithful America Sponsors Petition Opposing Trump Run in 2024</h2><div style="text-align: left;">Faithful America, an organization founded in 2004 to oppose Christian Nationalism and ensure religious liberty for all <a href="https://act.faithfulamerica.org/cms/thanks/christians-oppose-trump?action_id=7924615&akid=.755865.t0xzXX&ar=1&rd=1&taf=1" target="_blank">has initiated a petition</a> asking that Donald Trump not be allowed to run again for president in 2024. Their goal was to get to 20,000 signatures by the beginning of December. Faithful American is an independent interdenominational Christian group currently headed by an Episcopal priest, Nathan Empsall. It is funded entirely by its membership. For those interested, the petition is collecting signatures on-line at their website. The petitions wording is short and to the point. <br />
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</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Central Florida Bishop Election Complicated by Diocesan Marriage Canon </h2><div style="text-align: left;">Central Florida is in the midst of the process of electing a new bishop to replace retiring bishop Brewer. The problem is that the canons of the diocese not only forbid clergy from participating in a marriage of a same-sex couple, but set severe penalties. General Convention passed a resolution (B 012) in 2018 requiring all dioceses to have a means to allow same-sex couples to be able to marry in a local church. Bishop Brewer has only approved one congregation using a provision of delegated oversight to another bishop,but because of the diocesan canons, other clergy are hesitant to come forward. Candidates for the next bishop <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/11/17/central-floridas-canon-prohibiting-same-sex-marriage-becomes-issue-in-bishop-election/" target="_blank">are thus caught</a> between either ignoring a diocesan canon, or being out of compliance with General Convention. The three candidates for bishop have all answered a questionnaire saying that they would obey both the canon and the General Convention resolution, despite that fact that one contradicts the other. <br />
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</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">New Jersey Parish Cooperates in K-9 Training</h2><div style="text-align: left;">The Episcopal Journal <a href="https://episcopaljournal.org/dog-blessing-leads-to-explosives-detection-training-at-new-jersey-church/" target="_blank">had a story on the outreach</a> St. John's Episcopal Church in Booton, N.J. has initiated with a local dog trainer who also is a police officer. It began with a traditional blessing of the animals for during a fall community festival, but led to the church building becoming the site for trainings sessions with a new explosive sniffing dog team. The dog, Bowie, had been blessed at the fall animal blessing and so the trainer contacted the church when looking for a site to use for certifying the dog and its owner as an explosives detection team. It is a good example of how one kind of outreach can foster others. <br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Continuing Stories</h2>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Latest Bishop Elections </h3><div style="text-align: left;">This last weekend, the Rev. Charles Holt was elected bishop of Florida on the first ballot in a <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/11/21/charlie-holt-elected-bishop-coadjutor-again-in-diocese-of-floridas-election-redo/" target="_blank">repeat election</a> held after the first was ruled to have failed to meet quorum. The election was held <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/10/week-ending-102422.html#4">despite a petition</a> requesting that the election be delayed to ensure proper certification of deputies and clergy. The conservative Holt was a controversial choice for those supportive of LGBTQA members, but has promised to implement General Convention Resolution B 012 which requires every diocese to provide access to church services for same-sex couples seeking marriage. At the other end of the spectrum, the <a href="https://www.dohio.org/newsroom" target="_blank">Diocese of Ohio elected</a> the Rev. Anne B. Jolly as bishop coadjutor, the first woman to hold that office in the diocese. Jolly has a resume filled with congregation development leadership and served as chair of the Chicago Standing Committee during the challenging period when their bishop elect was rehabilitating following a stroke. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Brazil Elects Woman As Primate</h3><div style="text-align: left;">While there are still provinces/dioceses in the Anglican Communion that do not ordain women to the priesthood, much less the episcopacy, the acceptance of women's ordained ministries continues to grow. Update reported the consecration of the first woman to serve as a bishop in Japan <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/04/week-ending-42522.html#6" target="">earlier this year</a><a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/04/week-ending-42522.html#6">.</a> Update also <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2021/11/week-ending-11821.html">reported on the election</a> in November 2021 of the first woman to serve as bishop in Mexico. Now Brazil offers a new first - first woman to serve as primate in all of Latin America. Brazil chose <span aria-describedby="tt" class="glossaryLink" data-cmtooltip="<div class=glossaryItemTitle>Right Reverend</div><div class=glossaryItemBody>The honorific for a bishop.</div>" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]">Rt. Rev.</span> Marinez Rosa dos Santos Bassotto <a href="https://livingchurch.org/2022/11/16/brazil-elects-first-female-primate-in-latin-american/" target="_blank">to be their next primate</a>. Brazil has led the way on women's ordination in Latin America, allowing ordination of women as priests since 1985. </div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Colorado Parishes Respond to Latest Mass Shooting</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Colorado has been the site of several mass shootings, the <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/11/21/episcopal-churches-in-colorado-offer-prayers-support-after-deadly-rampage-at-lgbtq-club/" target="_blank">most recent at a club</a> with a LGBTQA clientele. As in previous cases, the Episcopal Churches in have responded with numerous prayer meetings and statements of support for the LGBTQA community. Update <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2021/03/week-ending-32921.html#2">has carried notices </a>of previous shootings. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Update on Ballot Measures Supported by Dioceses</h3><div style="text-align: left;">The mid-term elections also included <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/11/11/ballot-measures-supported-by-dioceses-in-oregon-and-tennessee-pass/" target="_blank">ballot measures</a> in a number of states. <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/10/week-ending-101722.html#2" target="_blank">Update reported</a> on a constitutional amendment all the Bishops of Tennessee endorsed. It was a measure updating the wording of a clause in the constitution to that had allowed re-enslavement of blacks through penal work requirements. The rewording clearly abolished slavery and passed with an overwhelming 80% in support. The Diocese of Oregon had lent its support to a gun control measure promoted by an interfaith group. The measure passed with about 51% in favor. It will make Oregon's gun control law one of the strictest in the U.S. <br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h2>Joan R. Gundersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250917614108590714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066187646888062205.post-68338081905653365202022-11-17T09:00:00.000-05:002022-11-17T09:00:04.564-05:00Week Ending 11/14/22<a href name="1"></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Have Three Provinces Left Communion?</h2><div style="text-align: left;">Archbishop Linda Nichols, the primate of the Anglican Church of Canada's recent <a href="https://anglicanjournal.com/provinces-absent-from-lambeth-have-left-communion-primate/" target="_blank">reply to an email asking for comments</a> on the Lambeth Conference this last summer made clear that she thinks three provinces, Nigeria, Uganda, and Rwanda, have effectively left the Anglican Communion by boycotting the conference. These same three provinces were among those who also deliberately absented themselves from the 2008 Lambeth meeting of bishops. She went on to talk about the ways that the more than 650 bishops who attended the 2022 meeting found many points of mutual interest and while there was some underlying differences about LGBTQ matters, most left with a sense of hope that the Communion could work together on concerns of poverty, global warming, and other major challenges to the world. She also noted that the Archbishop of Canterbury told the conference that he did not have the power to throw any province out of the Anglican Communion. The <i>Anglican Journal, </i>the official publication of the Canadian church,followed up her statement by asking other bishops for comment, and most agreed that the summer meeting had opened lines of communication and brought bishops closer together. The Journal also contacted the primates of the 3 named countries. Only one, the Archbishop of Rwanda replied. His rely, as expected said they were in compliance with the Communion. "Those who have a problem are those who have departed from the authority
of Scripture and going against the teachings of the Scripture." <br />
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</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Oklahoma Bishop Signs Letter Opposing Death Penalty</h2><div style="text-align: left;">Bishop Poulson Reed of Oklahoma was among the <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/11/15/oklahoma-bishop-signs-letter-opposing-capital-punishment-as-state-resumes-executions/" target="_blank">26 original signers</a> of an interdenominational letter opposing the decision of the state's Criminal Court of Appeals to recently set dates for the executions of 25 men on death row. Other original signers included the Catholic Archbishop, numerous pastors of protestant churches, and leaders of humanitarian organizations. Since then another 198 people (including 32 identifying as Episcopalian) have added their signatures. More are invited. The letter is steeped in Biblical references, drawing heavily on the New Testament, and then goes on to point out the concerns that the Oklahoma justice system has a documented racial bias in sentencing and that 10 people on Oklahoma's death row have been exonerated and released. It also notes that almost none of the recommendations of a 2017 study of the criminal justice system in the state have been implemented. The study commission had recommended continuation of a stay of all executions until the reforms were in place. That stay, however was lifted by the court this year at the request of the state attorney general. Read the letter <a href="https://www.christandcapitalpunishment.com/#initial-signers" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Continuing Stories</h2><h3 style="text-align: center;">Massachusetts Diocese Creates Reparations Fund</h3><div style="text-align: left;">The Diocese of Massachusetts <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/10/week-ending-102422.html#2">has joined several other dioceses</a> and other church organizations who have set up funds to provide reparations to the Black community in recognition of the participation of Episcopalians in the state in the practice of slavery, including the slave trade after the state abolished slavery in 1783. The diocesan convention <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/11/16/massachusetts-diocese-creates-reparations-rund-with-11-1-million-goal/" target="_blank">passed the resolution</a> put forward by the Diocesan Commission on Racial Justice after a year of study by parishes. Beginning with a $3 million draw on existing diocesan funds the diocese committed to an annual 15% draw from diocesan funds until the goal of $11.1 is reached. Next year's convention will vote on a proposed process and guidelines for the distribution of funds. In other resolutions, the diocese recognized the need for study and further reconciliation with the indigenous peoples of the state as well. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Federal Fraud Charges Filed Against Former Priest</h3><div style="text-align: left;">In December 2021, <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2021/12/week-ending-122021.html#1">Update reported</a> that the Chicago Diocese had lifted a suspension against the Rev. Robert Smith whose financial handling of St. Francis Ministries, founded by Episcopalians in Kansas, had led to an investigation and his resignation as the head of the charity in 2020. Smith worked in Kansas, but his canonical residency was in the Diocese of Chicago. At the time of the original restoration of ministry, the Chicago diocese required he take courses in management, but noted that no criminal charges were forthcoming. However, further evidence resulted in a second suspension in February 2022 which was lifted this September. Now <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/11/14/priest-charged-with-wire-fraud-money-laundering-while-running-foster-care-nonprofit-in-kansas/" target="_blank">Smith has been charged </a>with wire fraud and money laundering as a result of a 2 year F.B.I. investigation. He has once again been suspended and barred from any access to church financial instruments of any kind. Bishop Paula Clark has pledged full support for any investigation. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Charity Commission Warns Oxford College</h3><div style="text-align: left;">The Christ Church, Oxford, problems simply will not go away. <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/10/week-ending-102422.html#7">Update has followed</a> the twists and turns of a story that began with a struggle between the faculty and dean of the college, but eventually led to other issues, including questions about the handling of a sexual harassment complaint, and misuse by the College board of College funds in pursuit of their campaign against the dean. It is this latter issue that is the <a href="https://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/charity-commission-issues-official-warning-to-christ-church-oxford/" target="_blank">subject of a formal warning</a> by the Charity Commission noting concerns of mismanagement and warning that further action might be taken if the college's board of trustees does not take steps to correct a number of management issues that surfaced as the college spent <strike>L</strike> 6.6 million on legal and other fees in its struggle with the dean. About <strike>L</strike>5.3 million of that was not approved until after it had been spent. <br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"> <br /></h3><h2 style="text-align: left;"> </h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"> <br /></h2>Joan R. Gundersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250917614108590714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066187646888062205.post-38223488336292765082022-11-07T23:04:00.000-05:002022-11-07T23:04:28.667-05:00Week Ending 11/7/22<a href name="1"></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Stained Glass to Show Jesus As Middle Eastern Man</h2><div style="text-align: left;">The Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion, in University City, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri has replaced the stained glass windows in a side chapel with ones done by a local artist with a national reputation. The artist is known for his work murals and paintings portraying African Americans. The commission, by the Church of the Holy communion, however was the first time he had done work for a religious institution. What makes the windows special is that the <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/11/03/missouri-church-commissions-stained-glass-showing-jesus-other-biblical-figures-as-people-of-color/" target="_blank">Biblical figures, including that of Jesus</a>, are brown-skinned, a certainly more accurate depiction of the figures than the customary European features and pale skin color. The congregation has grown more diverse, and wanted some of the art work in the worship space to reflect that inclusion. <br />
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</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Continuing Stories</h2><h3 style="text-align: center;">Another Pittsburgh Parish Closes Successful Medical Debt Retirement </h3><div style="text-align: left;">Update reported on the <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/10/week-ending-102422.html#1">successful conclusion</a> of a campaign by two small parishes in the Pittsburgh Diocese to raise the funds needed to forgive over $1.68 million in Medical debt owed by families in Southwest Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. A third parish, St. Paul's in Mt. Lebanon just <a href="https://www.wesa.fm/health-science-tech/2022-10-26/churches-fundraising-campaigns-wipe-out-millions-in-medical-debts" target="_blank">concluded its own campaign</a> in which they raised just under $38,000 which then was used by RIP Medical Debt to clear more the $3.32 million in medical debt. St. Paul's is a large parish with over 1000 members. The three parishes together raised over $44,000 which was then used to clear over $5 million in medical debt. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">South Carolina Delays Opening of Another Regained Church</h3><div style="text-align: left;">In their continuing attempt to make the transition of parish buildings being returned to the Episcopal Church as gentle as possible, the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina <a href="https://www.episcopalchurchsc.org/news-blog/reopening-of-st-james-charleston-delayed-to-december-4" target="_blank">has delayed the opening </a>of St. James Church in Charleston until December 4. It was originally scheduled for the first Sunday in November. The departing ACNA congregation, however, was not able to get access to their new location, and rather than leave them homeless for a month, the diocese has delayed the restart. Update <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/11/week-ending-103122.html#7">announced the earlier date</a> last week. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Presiding Bishop Signs Interfaith Request for Investigation of Christian Nationalism</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Presiding Bishop Michael Curry was one of the religious leaders <a href="https://religionnews.com/2022/11/03/major-christian-leaders-asked-jan-6-committee-to-investigate-christian-nationalism/" target="_blank">who signed a letter in June 2022</a> asking the Jan. 6 Committee of the House of Representatives include investigating Christian Nationalism as a part of its work. The letter outlines ways that Christian Nationalism served as a motivating force in the January 6 attack on the Capitol, and the many ways that this ideology is contrary to the religious liberty and freedom guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution. The letter has only been made public recently. A Baptist group opposed to Christian Nationalism began the effort, but the final letter was signed by Bishop Curry, and leaders of the ELCA, the United Church of Christ, Presbyterian, Baptist groups as well as the president of the National Council of Churches. In addition, other individual clergy who have been raising concerns about Christian Nationalism also signed the letter. Last week <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/11/week-ending-103122.html#1">Update carried a notice</a> of the panel the Presiding Bishop participated in pointing out the problems with Christian Nationalism.<br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Fallout Continues On Latest Church of England Study on LGBTQA Inclusion</h3>
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<div style="text-align: left;">Last week <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/11/week-ending-103122.html#5">Update noted</a> that responses pro and con to the latest document issued by the Church of England on inclusion, especially of the LGBTQA community, were starting to appear. This week, following <a href="https://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/college-of-bishops-debates-action-on-llf/" target="_blank">discussion of the document</a> at a meeting of the Church of England's College of Bishops, there is more. The Bishop of Oxford has <a href="https://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/bishop-of-oxford-supports-same-sex-marriage/" target="_blank">published a statement</a> saying that he supports the Church allowing clergy to bless same sex marriages and to preside at marriages. Two other bishops have followed suit. Conservatives are also weighing in. Thinking Anglicans links to a number of the comments <a href="https://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/same-sex-marriage-responses-to-the-bishop-of-oxford/" target="_blank">here</a>. <br /></div>Joan R. Gundersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250917614108590714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066187646888062205.post-79178977863043115842022-11-01T12:35:00.001-04:002022-11-07T22:48:43.153-05:00Week Ending 10/31/22<a href="" name="1"></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Presiding Bishop Calls "Christian Nationalism" Unchristian</h2><div style="text-align: left;">The growth of a particular interpretation of "Christian Nationalism" that argues the U.S. was intended to be a "Christian" nation, and that only "Christians" should be allowed to participate or hold office, and that a particular set of supposed "Christian" policies should be made law has concerned a number of religious leaders. (For more on the varieties of "Christian Nationalism," see <a href="https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2022/october/evangelical-christian-nationalism-nationalist-midterm-pew.html" target="_blank">this article </a>from an evangelical source.) Many arguing that the precepts actually go against what Christ taught. Presiding Bishop Curry used part of his remarks at a Seminar at Georgetown University to express his views on "White Christian Nationalism.," including this statement, "If you look at the complex of white Christian nationalism, as an
ideology, you lay it alongside Jesus of Nazareth and we’re not even
talking about the same thing.” For the whole panel discussion go <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/10/27/white-christian-nationalism-is-not-christianity-presiding-bishop-says-during-panel-discussion/" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Northern Michigan Church Fights for Ecology</h2><div style="text-align: left;">A joint ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in that area, is focused on appreciation and protection of the wilderness areas of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The group meets several times a month, worships in wilderness locations outdoors, and has begun an effort to prevent the building of a space launch site for satellites in the midst of an old growth forest. The Episcopal News Service (ENS) has more of the details <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/10/31/leader-of-northern-michigan-wilderness-church-fights-against-rocket-launch-site-in-old-growth-forest/">here</a>. <br />
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</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">ACNA Mission Joins Diocese of Indianapolis</h2><div style="text-align: left;">As ACNA increasing doubles down on conservative social positions, some members of that organization have become increasingly uncomfortable. One sign of this is <a href="https://indydio.org/2022/10/from-bishop-jennifer-our-journey-with-the-table/" target="_blank">the announcement</a> by Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows of Indianapolis that an ACNA mission founded in 2015 has after a year of discernment voted 44-4 to transfer from ACNA's Diocese for the Sake of Others to the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis. ENS also <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/10/06/indianapolis-congregation-leaves-acna-to-affiliate-with-episcopal-diocese" target="_blank">carried a story</a>. <br />
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</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">New Zealand Bishop Has Inclusive Take on Anglicanism</h2><div style="text-align: left;">As GAFCON continues to set up <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/10/week-ending-102422.html#5">competing organizations</a> to Dioceses or provinces that it considers too liberal, and that they represent "true" Anglicanism and are the "real" Anglican Communion, a bishop in New Zealand has penned an essay offering a different take, arguing that is the inclusion that is the real historic position of the Anglican Communion, going back to its roots in the Church of England. He notes the many times, that the church adapted in order to expand into areas with a different culture or language, and how it strove to encompass as many people as possible in a state church. For more see the full essay <a href="http://anglicandownunder.blogspot.com/2022/10/new-methodism-brethrenism-is-true.html" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Continuing Stories</h2><h3 style="text-align: center;">Responses to Church of England's Latest Document on LGBTQ</h3><div style="text-align: left;">The Church of England continues to slowly <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/10/week-ending-102422.html#6">muddle along</a> trying to find a position that will be more welcoming to LGBTQ people while not driving out those who want affirmation of traditional marriage. The latest study document was issued this fall and the Church of England Synod now awaits what the bishops of the church will propose as a response to its findings and recommendations. Thinking Anglicans has the latest responses. Same-sex marriage is the biggest sticking point with a set of alternative paths forward suggested <a href="https://www.psephizo.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/LLF-Discerning-and-Deciding-Psephizo-Articles.pdf" target="_blank">here</a> and a critique of those from the point of view of a supporter of same sex marriage <a href="https://viamedia.news/2022/10/27/marry-me-a-little/">here</a>. <br />
</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Church of Nigeria in America Groups Join ACNA</h3><div style="text-align: left;">The Anglican Church of Nigeria <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2019/05/week-ending-5619.html#8">has for a number of years been maintaining</a> a "missionary" diocese supposedly for Nigerians in america, but actually attracting many of those unhappy with the Episcopal Church's move towards LGBTQA+ inclusion. The bishop of that Missionary diocese has just announced that he, and a number of the congregations under his charge are joining ACNA because the Nigerian mission <a href="https://anglican.ink/2022/10/28/why-i-left-the-church-of-nigeria-for-acna-bishop-orji/">was only supposed to be a temporary "fix"</a> until there was a another American option. The result has been to split the missionary diocese as some congregations decided to remain as part of the Nigerian church. The Archbishop of Nigeria <a href="https://anglican.ink/2022/10/28/church-of-nigeria-suspends-bishop-felix-orji-as-he-abandons-connam-for-acna/" target="_blank">has suspended</a> Bishop Orji. This puts them in the awkward position of suspending a bishop who has joined the organization headed by the current presiding officer of GAFCON, of which Nigeria is a prominent member. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Latest on South Carolina Diocese Transitions</h3><div style="text-align: left;">The transition following the legal opinions by the South Carolina Supreme Court continue. On Sunday, October 30, Episcopalians held their first service in St. Bartholomew's Church in Hartsville. There are no pictures yet from that service, but <a href="https://www.stbartsepiscopal-hartsville.org/" target="_blank">the web page for the revived congregation</a> is up and functioning. Meanwhile, Bishop Woodliff-Stanley announced that the diocese <a href="https://www.episcopalchurchsc.org/news-blog/a-word-from-bishop-ruth-woodliff-stanley-about-st-matthews-fort-motte" target="_blank">had decided to sell</a> the building of St. Matthew's in Fort Motte to the ACNA congregation occupying it. The money will become a fund that can be used to create a new regional church that will cover a fast growing area in a neighboring county. Update has followed each step of the tranistion, with the most recent posting <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/10/week-ending-101722.html#11">here</a>. <br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><br /></h3><h2 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h2>Joan R. Gundersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250917614108590714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066187646888062205.post-1120418097742017292022-10-25T21:17:00.038-04:002022-11-01T07:42:10.169-04:00Week Ending /10/24/22<a href="" name="1"></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"> All Stories are continuing from previous posts</h2><h3 style="text-align: center;">Pittsburgh Diocese Parishes Clear $1.6 Million Medical Debt</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Update has carried several stories on the involvement of Episcopal parishes with RIP Medical Debt, a non-profit that buys up medical debt at pennies on the dollar and then forgives those debts. The <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/08/week-ending-082922.html#2">most recent notice</a> was of two parishes in the Diocese of Pittsburgh who were beginning a campaign to raise the funds to forgive medical debt in Southwestern Pennsylvania. That campaign <a href="https://www.episcopalpgh.org/1-68m-regional-medical-debt-forgiven-by-lets-be-a-blessing-campaign/" target="_blank">has come to a close</a> and 1615 families have had notices mailed to them that their medical debts have been cleared. The total debt retired was over $1.6 million. The two parishes are not large. One is a small parish in Cannonsburg, PA and the other a congregation that had to rebuild membership after the diocese recovered the building from a departing ACNA group. <br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h3 style="text-align: center;">Latest on Racial Reconciliation</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Christ
Church, Cambridge, MA was surprised to learn that not only was a former
slave buried in the church, but that many of their members before the
Civil War were slave owners. As they learned more of the background of
Darby Vassall, a former slave buried in the same vault at the church as
his former owners, <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/10/24/film-project-at-massachusetts-parish-memorializes-former-slave-buried-under-church/" target="_blank">the parish decided to make an 11 minute film</a>
about Vassall and his descendants. The film premiered at an outdoor
showing attended by many of the descendants of Darby Vassall. The film
is part of the parish coming to terms with a part of their history that
shocked many of the current members, and is another aspect of the
Episcopal Church's attempts to offer reparations and reconciliation.
Update has carried stories on the <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/05/week-ending-5222.html#2">Sacred Ground curriculum</a>, which explores the entanglement of the Church with slavery and of various <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/05/week-ending-53022.html#1">reparation programs</a>. <br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Latest on ACNA Abuse Scandal <br /></h3></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="" name="3"></a>
<div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">Update has had several posts on the very messy sexual and spiritual abuse cases in the ACNA Diocese of the Upper Midwest. That scandal managed to taint not only the Bishop of that diocese, Stuart Ruch, but spread to include the ACNA bishop in Pittsburgh James Hobby. Ruch went on voluntary leave for a year. <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2020/11/week-ending-110220.html#1">Hobby resigned</a>, and ACNA sent <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2020/11/week-ending-111620.html#8 ">Martyn Minns to Pittsburgh</a> to serve as interim until the diocese could search for, elect, and consecrate a new bishop. A new ACNA bishop for Pittsburgh was recently consecrated. Now Minns has a new assignment, serving as a mentor/overseer for Ruch as <a href="https://religionnews.com/2022/10/21/acna-bishop-stewart-ruch-accused-of-spiritual-abuse-ends-voluntary-leave/" target="_blank">he returns to duties in Chicago</a>. The scandal and lawsuits in the diocese <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/05/week-ending-5222.html#5">are still ongoing</a>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h3 style="text-align: center;">Florida Diocese Election Going Forward </h3><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The clergy and laity who asked for <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/10/week-ending-101722.html#7">a further delay</a> in the election of a coadjutor bishop for the Diocese of Florida after the previous attempt in the spring was declared irregular for a lack of clergy quorum, received a disappointing answer. The Standing Committee of the diocese <a href="https://episcopaljournal.org/diocese-of-florida-moves-ahead-with-plans-for-second-bishop-election/" target="_blank">announced that they were going ahead</a> with the November election, and were providing transportation to a number of clergy (via busses) to try to make sure that the clergy presence would reach quorum. <br /><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h3 style="text-align: center;">GAFCON Adds to Divisions</h3><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The GAFCON presiding officer, Foley Beach, Archbishop of ACNA, <a href="https://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/anglican-network-in-europe-consecrates-more-bishops/" target="_blank">presided over the consecration</a> of 3 new missionary bishops who would serve congregations in Europe, including Scotland. A fourth consecration will take place later this year in the U.S. The addition of these bishops fosters further parish withdrawals and the creation of alternative dioceses and "provinces" to those recognized by the Anglican Communion. GAFCON has been setting up competing dioceses/provinces in several places, <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/10/week-ending-101722.html#6 ">most recently in Australia.</a> <br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h3 style="text-align: center;">GAFCON Protests Canterbury Dean Selection</h3><div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-weight: normal;">Last week Update <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/10/week-ending-101722.html#4">carried a notice</a> that the appointment of a new Dean of Canterbury Cathedral was raising some conservative hackles because the Dean had a formal civil partnership with another man. This week a group of GAFCON leaders signed a <a href="https://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/primates-criticise-appointment-of-canterbury-dean/" target="_blank">formal letter of protest</a> that this appointment made a mockery of the church's supposed position on sexual conduct of clergy and undermined the idea that marriage was reserved for heterosexual couples. The Church of England and the Anglican Communion <a href="https://www.anglicannews.org/news/2022/10/church-of-england-and-anglican-communion-respond-to-inaccurate-press-statements.aspx" target="_blank">office responded</a> saying that the protest letter included several factually incorrect statements, stressing that a Civil Partnership was not a marriage although it gave the couple legal standing and similar rights under secular law as a married couple. The response also pointed out that the Church expected clergy in civil partnerships to refrain from sexual relations. Just how the Church monitors this behavior is unclear. </span><br /><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h3 style="text-align: center;">Latest On Oxford College Battles</h3><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Christ Church, Oxford cannot seem to put the long term battle with its former dean which included several issues, including charges that he had mishandled a case involving inappropriate behavior towards a woman on the faculty. This last has been investigated several times, and the Dean was cleared of formal charges, but one further investigation <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/05/week-ending-53022.html#3">popped up this year</a> when the new Independent Safeguarding Board of the Church of England decided to conduct a review of the previous investigations. Now <a href="https://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/christchurch-review-a-statement-from-the-isb" target="_blank">it has put that review on hold</a> while it reviews the findings of the previous reviews of how the matter was handled, and whether in fact they have anything to add by doing a new review. <br /><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h3 style="text-align: center;">Bishop Allison Formally Joins ACNA </h3><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Bishop FitzSimons Allison, who had served as Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina in the 1980s, <a href="https://anglican.ink/2022/10/20/fitzsimons-allison-joins-the-acna-college-of-bishops/" target="_blank">has formally resigned</a> from the Episcopal Church and joined ACNA. The only thing surprising about this is that it didn't happen sooner. the 95 year-old Allison has been serving with an ACNA parish in the diocese since the schism and <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2017/11/week-ending-10302017.html#4">published a piece</a> supporting the claims of the ACNA group to the property of the Episcopal Church. His ability to stay in the Episcopal House of Bishops despite these actions showed the reluctance of the House of Bishops to move against a retired bishop. </span><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></h3></div></div></div></div>Joan R. Gundersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250917614108590714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066187646888062205.post-26450620435736931512022-10-19T15:53:00.005-04:002022-10-19T15:53:55.932-04:00Week ending 10/17/22<a href name="1">
</a><h3 style="text-align: left;">No Update appeared last week due to the travel schedule and illness of the editor <br /></h3><h2 style="text-align: left;">Church Offers Site for Grief Counseling in Uvalde</h2><div style="text-align: left;">St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Uvalde has been offering temporary space to the Southern Children's Bereavement Center of South Texas, (CBCST) which has been providing services badly needed in a community still reeling and angry over the school shooting last spring that killed 19 children, 2 teachers, and wounded 17 more. Now the <a href="https://stphilipsuvalde.org/building-the-kingdom-of-god-with-the-childrens-bereavement-center-of-south-texas/" target="_blank">church has offered</a> the center its former thrift store building on its grounds to give the Center a permanent location. The Center, with main offices in San Antonio <a href="https://cbcst.org/" target="_blank">has been providing bereavement counseling since 1991</a> and has several branches. The Uvalde site is their most recent. Remodeling of the building <a href="https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2022/10/05/childrens-bereavement-center-constructing-permanent-facility-in-uvalde/" target="_blank">is already under way</a>, and it should open in 2023. <br />
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</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Tennessee Bishop Jointly Encourage Yes Vote on Constitutional Amendment</h2><div style="text-align: left;">The three bishops of the dioceses in Tennessee have taken the unusual step of directly encouraging voters to vote yes on a proposed constitutional amendment by <a href="https://edwtn.org/amendment3/" target="_blank">issuing a joint letter</a>. Given the Episcopal Church's current emphasis on racial reconciliation and healing, the letter certainly makes sense. Amendment 3 on the Tennessee Ballot this fall would correct a long-term historical embarrassment in the state's constitution. Article 1, Section 33 of the state constitution, currently reads, "That slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a
punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, are
forever prohibited in this state." The Amendment would replace that section with this wording: "Slavery and involuntary servitude are forever prohibited. Nothing in
this section shall prohibit an inmate from working when the inmate has
been duly convicted of a crime." (See <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_Constitutional_Amendment_3,_Remove_Slavery_as_Punishment_for_Crime_from_Constitution_Amendment_(2022)" target="_blank">here</a> for more.)
The original language, included in the state constitution since 1870, was used to authorize forced labor (the
infamous chain gangs) which was used especially to re-enslave blacks
convicted of even minor offenses. <br />
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</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">New President of House of Deputies Appoints Staff and Advisors</h2><div style="text-align: left;">The new President of the House of Deputies, Ayala Harris <a href="https://houseofdeputies.org/2022/10/12/from-president-ayala-harris-building-a-solid-foundation/" target="_blank">has announced her staff and Council of Advice appointments</a>. She has brought together a very diverse team with experience at diocesan and provincial level, but with few carryovers from previous PoHD teams. Bishop Sean Rowe is continuing as the Bishop on the Council of Advice. In General the group is largely younger and media savvy. <br />
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</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">New Canterbury Dean Has a Same-Sex Spouse</h2><div style="text-align: left;">Normally Update would not comment on something as routine as the appointment of a new dean for the Cathedral at Canterbury, especially when the appointee was already a cathedral dean at Leicester, but this appointment, one of the last by Queen Elizabeth II, has raised conservative hackles. Despite The Very Reverend Dr David Monteith's distinguished career, what is upsetting conservatives is that <a href="https://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/dean-of-canterbury/" target="_blank">Montieth has a civil partner</a>, David Hamilton. Church of England clergy are supposed to either be married to someone of the opposite sex, or abstain from sexual activity. This is certainly the most prominent position for a clergy person in the Church of England in a same sex partnership. <br />
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</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Treasurer of Church Fund in Pennsylvania Charged with Fraud</h2><div style="text-align: left;">The Clergy Assurance Fund in Pennsylvania, a non-profit that began in the colonial period as the Widows and Orphan's Fund and provides support to clergy and their families in the 5 dioceses of Pennsylvania raised questions about $20,000 of charges with their then- treasurer, John Miller in March 2022. He chose to retire rather than be terminated. A follow-up forensic audit showed that Miller had between January 2016 and March 2022 directed $1.4 million of the charity's funds into his own accounts. The Fund has referred the matter to the F.B.I. and the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office. After two and a half centuries of investments, and payouts, the fund was valued in March of 2022 at $82 million, and so its operations have not been affected. The Living Church <a href="https://livingchurch.org/2022/10/13/1-4-million-in-fraud-alleged-for-pa-clergy-assurance-fund/" target="_blank">broke the story</a> October 13. The Episcopal News Service <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/10/14/former-director-accused-of-stealing-1-4-million-from-pennsylvania-clergy-death-benefit-fund" target="_blank">has a follow up article</a>. <br />
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</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Continuing Stories</h2><h3 style="text-align: center;">Canterbury Visit to Australia Comes Amidst Continued Divisions</h3><div style="text-align: left;">The Archbishop of Canterbury's visit to Australia, prompted statements <a href="https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2022/14-october/news/world/archbishop-of-canterbury-in-australia-church-is-shamed-by-past-and-present-divisions?utm_campaign=Church%20Times%20RSS%20Daily%20bulletin%202.0&utm_source=emailCampaign&utm_content=&utm_medium=email" target="_blank">about embarrassing past divisions</a> and blind spots for the church, but did not do much to ease the growing schism fostered by the Sydney Diocese's refusal to recognize women clergy (including an Australian Archbishop), and upset at being unable to get the Church synod to forbid any recognition of same sex partnerships or marriages. The primate for Australia, Archbishop Smith considers the formation of the GAFCON Diocese of the Southern Cross a <a href="https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2022/19-august/news/world/gafcon-diocese-is-a-new-denomination-says-australian-primate" target="_blank">"new denomination"</a> while the Sydney archbishop has welcomed the diocese. Update has reported on recent developments around the GAFCON diocese <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/09/week-ending-090522.html#6 ">here</a> and <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/09/week-ending-91221.html#4">here</a>.<br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Request Filed to Delay Vote on Florida Bishop</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Eighteen clergy deputies (including one of the candidates for bishop in the first election), 13 lay deputies and numerous parishioners <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/10/14/florida-delegates-ask-diocese-to-postpone-new-bishop-coadjutor-election/" target="_blank">have signed a petition</a> asking the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Florida to delay further the special convention called for a second try at electing a bishop for the Diocese of Florida. The first election <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/08/week-ending-082922.html#3" target="">ended up being declared irregular</a> because of a lack of a clergy quorum. The letter lists 8 concerns, among the most pertinent being that the Diocese has still not confirmed the list of canonically resident clergy, and that appeals of clergy excluded are still under way. The signers are concerned that this election may also result in canonical challenges. The large number of clergy (many of who are retired or no longer living in the diocese) makes it very hard to reach quorum. The group also considered it unfair that one of the 3 candidates (the one apparently elected in the first meeting) has been hired by the diocese and is visiting parishes, thus giving him a means of quiet campaigning. The Standing Committee has not yet responded to the letter. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Sudan Christians Face Hostile Environment</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Sudan split several years ago into two countries, Sudan and South Sudan, and the Anglican Communion has likewise recognized the Anglican/Episcopal Church in each country <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2017/03/week-ending-031317.html#7">to be a separate province</a>. Both are dealing with a Muslim majority that has made life increasingly dangerous for Christians. In South Sudan, update <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/02/week-ending-13122.html">has carried notices of attacks</a> on Anglican leaders. Now <a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/sudanese.christian.couple.accused.of.adultery.for.staying.together/139343.htm" target="_blank">a legal case in the Sudan</a> could put all Christian groups in real jeopardy. The couple has been accused of adultery for living together. They married as Muslims, then the husband converted to Christianity at a time when a secular government had removed laws forbidding any conversion by Muslims. Her family forced her to leave her husband, return home, and divorce him in a Sharia court. When a secular government returned to power and again removed the law making conversion a capital offense, the woman returned to living with her husband and converted to Christianity. Although it is not a crime to convert, the couple is being charged in separate courts for adultery (because of the divorce) and conversion. The concern is that the secular government is increasing under the influence of those who want to return to governing under strict Sharia law. This would negatively affect all Christian groups. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Churches Raise Concerns About Biden Policy for Venezuelan Refugees</h3><div style="text-align: left;">While the Biden administration's recently announced implementation for Venezuelans of a Trump policy requiring those seeking asylum to do so before entering the country, and wait for responses in Mexico, did promise entry for some, it also makes getting asylum a longer and more difficult process for most, and will permanently bar those deported from applying. Thus the major Christian organizations (including the Lutherans) handling refugees, <a href="https://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-groups-condemn-biden-policy-for-venezuelan-migrants.html" target="_blank">have signed a protest</a> of the policy. Episcopal News Service took a more positive tack on the announcement and <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/10/14/explainer-what-bidens-new-deal-for-venezuelans-means-for-other-refugees/" target="_blank">focused on those who will be admitted</a>. The announcement has left all faith based resettlement groups scrambling because the Trump era policies had so cut refugee numbers that the 24,000 Venezuelans who will be admitted will stretch resettlement services to the utmost. Update continues to follow immigration and refugee issues. The recent <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/09/week-ending-091922.html#1">surprise arrival</a> of 50 Venezuelans in Martha's Vineyard may be affected by the change. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Texas Parish Opens Building to Jewish Congregation During High Holidays</h3><div style="text-align: left;">On Halloween 2021, Congregation Beth Israel in Austin, Texas had their building burned in an apparent hate crime. The congregation has been sharing space with another smaller Jewish Congregation, but that space was too small for the numbers who attend during High Holidays. St. Matthew's Episcopal Church stepped forward and offered their building for the week of special services. The Episcopal News Service <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/10/11/austin-church-hosts-jewish-high-holy-days-services-for-synagogue-damaged-by-arson/" target="_blank">has pictures</a>. This is not the first time that en Episcopal Congregation has stepped forward in this way. <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2019/08/week-ending-81819.html#1">Update reported</a> on the 2019 High Holiday invitation by Calvary Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh to the Tree of Life Congregation which had been the object of a terrorist attack that killed eleven. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Rebuilding Goes On in Texas and South Carolina</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Three of the congregations <a href="https://edotn.org/three-congregations-change-their-names/" target="_blank">who lost their homes</a> due to the court proceedings in the Fort Worth area, have decided to mark their fresh start by choosing new names. Since the Diocese of North Texas's merger with the much larger Diocese of Texas has been implemented, it was an appropriate time for the rebuilding congregations to take on a new identities. The mission congregation in Witchita Falls has chosen to be Faith Episcopal Church; the former St. Alban's is now All Souls; and St. Mary's in Hamilton is now St. Catherine's. Meanwhile in South Carolina, the <a href="https://www.episcopalchurchsc.org/news-blog/update-on-returning-congregations-and-property-transitions" target="_blank">transfer of property back to the Episcopal Church continues</a>. One transfer (St. Bartholomew's in Hartsville) has been delayed from September to the end of October in order to accommodate the ACNA parish which is vacating the property, but had a delay in accessing their new location. Its opening with be closely followed by the first Services for St. James in Charleston will hold their first services on All Saints Sunday. The Diocese <a href="https://www.episcopalchurchsc.org/news-blog/the-rev-taylor-smith-called-as-priest-in-charge-at-st-james-charleston" target="_blank">announced separately</a> the appointment of a very experienced priest new to South Carolina for St. James. The Diocese also regained control in September of Holy Trinity in Charleston where an on-going pre-school operation continues while the diocese continues to discern how to proceed with the church building. Update has covered all the previous transitions, most recently <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/09/week-ending-091922.html#4">here</a>. <br /></div></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><br /></h3><h2 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h2>Joan R. Gundersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250917614108590714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066187646888062205.post-50788999360420617102022-10-04T11:43:00.000-04:002022-10-04T11:43:04.197-04:00Week Ending 10/03/22<a href name="1"></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Quiet Interfaith Network Aids Migrants</h2><div style="text-align: left;">Religion News has an article on the way interfaith groups are essential to provide services to migrants from initial arrivals in the U.S. to resettlement services, providing shelter, food, furnishings and the information needed to negotiate work and livinging in a community. whatholds thisnetwork together is a belefthat their faith calls them to work for social justice. The author mentions Episcopalians several times in the article. You can read more <a href="https://religionnews.com/2022/09/30/the-hidden-interfaith-networks-key-to-the-migrant-justice-movement/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;">Presiding Bishop Curry Catches Covid-19</h2><div style="text-align: left;">Presiding Bishop Curry has announced that he has an active case if covid-19 virus. He has been fully vaccinated and boosted, and is receiving appropriate treatment. He is continuing meetings by zoom until he is cleared and feeling well again. He has had a very busy schedule recently including several consecrations of bishops indifferent parts of the country. For the full announcement go <a href="https://www.episcopalchurch.org/publicaffairs/statement-on-covid-19-from-presiding-bishop-michael-curry/?fbclid=IwAR1u68Wuzuk23LwL5dJRRjTVQDI2Qk6NQjVWf03uwXwsfiYBlLPnSINBzkM" target="_blank">here</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;">Bishop of Rio Grande Decries Shooting of Migrants</h2><div style="text-align: left;">The Episcopal Church is onrecord as supporting migrants and also supporting gun control. The recent unprovoked shooting in West Texas of two migrants (one of whom died) by two brothers who had a track record of violence towards immigrants led the Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of the Rio Grande to issue a strong statement asking the FBI to investigate the shooting as a hate crime,and to investigate the conditions at private migrant detention centers lkike the oine run by the shooter. The statement linked the current migrants to several incidents inthe Bible and also to recent mass shootings. Episcopal News Service has the full statement <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/09/30/rio-grande-bishop-expresses-horror-at-deadly-shooting-of-migrants-in-west-texas/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;">Canadian Primate Says Church Shouldn't Oppose Assisted Dying</h2><div style="text-align: left;">Archbishop Linda Nicholls,primate of the Anglican Church of Canada thinks it would be unproductive for the church to objectto the 2021 law passed allowing medically assisted deaths. It has recently been extended to include mental illness. Rather the church should focus on pastoral care and making sure that appropriate care is fully available to all those with chronic illness, especially those who might be considering a medically assisted death. By ensuriing that full care is available and that they have pastoral support the church can assure that people are not feeling pushed to choose "MAID" (Medical Assistance In Dying). The Canadian Church's <a href="https://anglicanjournal.com/church-should-not-oppose-maid-law-primate-says/" target="_blank"><i>Anglican Digest </i></a>has a good discussion and critique of the Archbishop's statement.<br />
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</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;">Hurricane Ian Leaves Florida Parishes Rebuilding</h2><div style="text-align: left;">Episcopal Church members and parishes in Southwestern Florida and strugglibg to assess damages to their buildings while helping the many who were displaced and lost homes or belongings during Hurricane Ian. Several parishes sustained physical damage. Rebuilding is complicated by the fact that some parishioners and clergy are storm refugees and dealing with their own personal losses. The death toll from the storm continues to rise, and flooding in Florida and other parts of the East Coast continues to add to the storm's damages. The Episcopal News Service has an initial article on the damage <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/09/30/episcopalians-wake-up-to-devastation-in-florida-as-south-carolina-braces-for-hurricane-ian/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;">Continuing Stories <br />
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</h2><h3 style="text-align: center;">Scottish Bishop's Suspension Reinstated</h3><div style="text-align: left;">The Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney, Ann Dyer, has been facing complaints about bullying. She was suspended from duties by the Scottish Primate until the disciplinary process has been completed and she has been cleared or a suitable penalty assessed. Dyer appealed and thus was allowed to continue her duties until a Church Synod confirmed her suspension. That <a href="https://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/bishop-of-aberdeen-orkney-update/" target="_blank">happened this last week</a> and she is once again suspended until the processes have been comleted. Update reported on that <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/08/week-ending-81522.html?m=0#4">here</a>.<br/>
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>Hong Kong Police Film Attendees at Service for Queen Elizabeth</h3><div style="text-align: left;">A chilling message was sent to Anglicans in Hong Kong when the police filmed those who attended an evensong service in honor of the deceased Queen Elizabeth II. The return of Hong Kong to Chinese rule happened during Elizabeth's long reign, but since the return, the Chinese government has increasingly ignored guarantees of freedom of speech and assembly that were a part of that agreement, and cracked down on Christian churches which are seen as remnants of western colonial rule. Update has <a href="https://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2021/06/week-ending-62821.html?m=1#3">covered past issues</a> with the government. The implications of the filming of attendees is discussed in this article from <a href="https://anglican.ink/2022/09/30/police-film-those-entering-st-johns-cathedral-in-hong-kong-for-service-in-remembrance-of-queen-elizabeth-ii/" target="_blank">Anglican.ink </a><br /></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h2></div></div></div>Joan R. Gundersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250917614108590714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066187646888062205.post-46275499428167670922022-09-28T01:04:00.001-04:002022-09-28T01:04:54.741-04:00Week Ending 09/26/22<h2 style="text-align: left;">Support Urged for Federal Law on Same Sex Marriage</h2><div style="text-align: left;">The recent decision overturning Roe v Wade on abortion raised concerns about other rights discerned in Supreme Court decisions, especially the decisions barring states from blocking interracial and same sex marriages. The situation for same sex marriage is complicated by a 1996 law that declared marriage to be between one man and one woman. As a result a new Law has been proposed, the Respect for Marriage Act which would protect and affirm as legal interracial and same sex marriages. On September 16, 2022, the Episcopal Church was one of the signers of <a href="https://interfaithalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Multi-Faith-Letter-of-Support-Respect-for-Marriage-Act-Sep-16-2022.docx.pdf" target="_blank">an interfaith letter</a> sent to members of the Senate urging passage of the act, and this week the Episcopal Policy Network sent out a notice asking Episcopalians to urge their senators to vote for the measure. The Episcopal News Service has more on this effort <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/09/20/episcopalians-encouraged-support-federal-law-protecting-same-sex-marriage/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Parish Pays Voluntary Tax to Indigenous Tribe</h2><div style="text-align: left;">St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church in Madison, Wisconsin, made a study last year about how to acknowledge that they occupy land originally claimed by indigenous people. They decided to add a line item under "expenses" (not "outreach") for $3000 which they are paying as a voluntary tax for their use of indigenous land. The payment goes to the Wisconsin Inter-Tribal Reparations Committee which represents the eleven federally recognized tribes of Wisconsin. Episcopal News Service <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/09/22/wisconsin-church-pays-voluntary-tax-to-states-indigenous-tribes-as-form-of-land-acknowledgement/" target="_blank">has more</a> on this decision. <br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Tutu's Daughter Barred from Conducting Funeral in England</h2><p style="text-align: left;">The Bishop of Hereford denied Bishop Tutu's daughter, The Revd Mpho Tutu van Furth, the right to have any participation in the funeral service of her godfather, 93 year-old Martin Kenyon because she is married to another woman. Kenyon had asked her to officiate Tutu van Furth was ordained in 2003 in The Episcopal Church. In 2015 she married Marceline van Furth, a professor of medicine in the Netherlands. The church in South Africa revoked her license, but she conducts church services in Amsterdam. The funeral was moved to a marquee at the rectory near the church and Tutu van Furth conducted the service there. The denial has resulted in a flurry of posts, expecially as the Church of England is trying to find a way to be more inclusive of LGBTQ people while still maintaining a stance against church recognition of same sex marriage. <a href="https://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/mpho-tutu-denied-permission-to-officiate-at-a-funeral/" target="_blank">Thinking Anglicans </a>has more on the reactions. <br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Continuing Stories</h2><h3 style="text-align: center;">Long Delayed Celebration in Chicago for New Bishop</h3><div style="text-align: left;">In April 2021 Paula Clark, the bishop-elect of the Diocese of Chicago suffered a brain bleed. The consecration of what was to be Chicago's first Black and first woman bishop was put on hold while she went through months of recovery and therapy. The challenges of her 18 month recovery were deepened by the death of her husband from a quick-moving cancer in November 2021. The brain bleed left her with some long-term physical challenges, but on September 17, 2022 she walked down the aisle <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/09/19/paula-clark-consecrated-13th-bishop-of-chicago/" target="_blank">in a joyous rite of ordination</a>. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry was chief consecrator, Bishop Mariann Budde preached. Thirty bishops were present and the six co-consecrating bishops included 3 women (two of whom were also the first African American women to lead their dioceses), and three men (one of whom was the first African American and first gay to lead his diocese, and another the local ELCA bishop). In a service beginning an hour later in Salt Lake City, Phyllis Spiegel <a href="https://livingchurch.org/2022/09/20/against-all-odds-paula-clark-is-consecrated-bishop-of-chicago/" target="_blank">was consecrated</a> as the Bishop of Utah. Bishop Budde noted that Spiegel was watching via live stream the Chicago service until her own began, and Chicago greeted Spiegel who was also making history as the first woman to lead the Utah diocese. Spiegel's chief consecrator was former Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori. Update carried notices of Clark's initial election, stroke, husband's death and recovery, most recently <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/02/week-ending-022122.html#5">here</a>. <br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Sydney Diocese Declares Breach of Communion</h3><div style="text-align: left;">In a not-unexpected move, the Diocese of Sydney in Australia <a href="https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2022/30-september/news/world/sydney-diocese-declares-breach-of-fellowship-with-australian-church" target="_blank">has voted </a>that there is a breach of fellowship with the reset of the Anglican Church of Australia. The vote at a diocesan synod was in response to the outcome of the Australian Church's last synod where that body did not pass a resolution saying defining marriage as an rite applying only to one man and one woman. The Sydney vote moves the Australian Church one step closer to a split, following on the heels of the implementation of a <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/09/week-ending-090522.html">GAFCON sponsored diocese</a> led by the former bishop of the Sydney Diocese. <br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">South Carolina Diocese Announces Legal Settlement</h3><div style="text-align: left;">No sooner had the Diocese of South Carolina <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dioceseofsc/?__cft__[0]=AZUfo_PUhPlCWRn_0nEoSzf_TcE-zpOJ8w4QP4WI9sAPvuQy72yZsHuQXPRbEsLQGxFuPZTDytot5Jqw_-piTRswaozmSrg_wnkEkgvPmuASwBYYHJcL-V7CmRbSo6UfSQWnOEIZMBO6LZ-aW7kEsg7rlPoHC9Dj64oYs8TEAuhY3SpWWR8kW3aFtS6tdetNsSc&__tn__=kC%2CP-R" target="_blank">posted a full packet of pictures</a> on its Facebook site, celebrating the return of Christ Church, Mt. Pleasant, than it broke other news on the legal transition front. After several weeks of intensive negotiations and mediation the Episcopal Diocese and the ACNA diocese had reached a final property settlement covering a variety of loose ends involving diocesan property, but provided few details. A message to the Episcopal Diocese on September 27 <a href="https://mailchi.mp/episcopalchurchsc/e26a1vhjwp-852995?e=fa7f7f5472" target="_blank">outlined more of the specifics</a>. All real estate held by the Board of Trustees is to be returned to the Episcopal Diocese including the bishops residence, St. Christopher's Camp (including all of its assets, equipment, and banks accounts), properties in Santee and a rental site in Charleston. The records of the diocese will be available for copying by both groups and then the originals will go to the South Carolina Historical society. After time for copying, the portraits of all bishops will be returned to the Episcopalians. The historic silver without a parish claim will go to the South Carolina Museum, or another mutually agreed on museum. There are a series of quit claims executed to confirm mission properties, a turnover of additional financial assets to the Episcopal Diocese, and a pledge for no future litigation. The ACNA diocese is also withdrawing its appeal of the federal trademark decision. The Episcopal Diocese waived any claim on the leasehold of the former Diocesan Offices. The day before the details were issued, blogger Steve Scaradon posted speculations on the possible terms. His comments on several of the properties <a href="https://www.scepiscopalians.com/" target="_blank">are useful for background</a>. Update has followed the split, legal issues and return of property in a series of posts, the most recent is <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/09/week-ending-091922.html#4">here</a>. <br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"> <br /></h3><h3 style="text-align: center;"><br /></h3>Joan R. Gundersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250917614108590714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066187646888062205.post-6566575107575037662022-09-20T21:54:00.001-04:002022-09-28T01:05:12.918-04:00Week Ending 09/19/22<h2 style="text-align: left;">St. Martha's Vineyard Parish Rescues Refugees</h2><div style="text-align: left;">When the Florida Governor decided to try to embarrass northern liberals by dumping unsuspecting load of refugees northern locations, he didn't figure on the Episcopalians of Martha's Vineyard, On September 13, a private plane dropped 43 Spanish speaking refugee families seeking asylum off without any notice to the island officials. The refugees had been recruited in San Antonio with promises that they would be taken to Boston where jobs and housing awaited them. They had spent all day on the plane without meals, and after being dumped at airport on the island of Martha's Vineyard had started walking. <a href="https://episcopaljournal.org/massachusetts-episcopalians-rally-to-help-new-migrant-group/" target="_blank">Their walk ended </a>when Episcopalians at St. Andrews Church of Edgartown, quickly mobilized, turned their parish hall and basement into emergency shelter, arranged for meals, got a Spanish class from the local high school acting as translators, and began sorting out the immigration status for the migrants. The parish had some experience in housing people since it was part of a homeless shelter program during the winter. After two days, the migrants were moved to Joint Base Cape Cod which has more facilities. The Massachusetts Diocese <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/09/16/episcopal-church-on-marthas-vineyard-takes-in-migrants-flown-in-by-surprise/" target="_blank">has provided backup</a> to the parish and is
providing some continued support for the migrants after their relocation
of Cape Cod. The event backfired on those who had unceremoniously lied to the refugees and dumped them on the summer resort island with a small year-round population because the Episcopalians mobilized the community and responded with radical welcome and aid. The story was carried on national news services. The Episcopal Church has a strong commitment to helping refugees and migrants. See the most recent update stories <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2021/12/week-ending-12621.html#6">here</a> and <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/04/week-ending-41822.html#3">here</a>. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;">Moderator of North India Province Arrested for Fraud</h2></div><div style="text-align: left;">The two provinces in the Anglican Communion from India are unique bodies merging what were once three different denominations. However, each is led by a bishop as moderator who participates as a primate in the Anglican Communion. This last week the moderator of North India <a href="https://anglican.ink/2022/09/14/moderator-of-the-church-of-north-india-arrested-for-fraud/" target="_blank">was arrested and charged with fraud</a>. The government is looking at whether the leader of the province had misappropriated funds and also whether the church officials had "bought" converts. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. The moderator of South Indian <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2019/12/week-ending-121619.html#5 ">was cleared in 2019</a> of similar charges after going through the same arrest and subsequent legal processes. <br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Continuing Stories</h2><h3 style="text-align: center;">Millions Watch Ceremonies for Queen Elizabeth II</h3><div style="text-align: left;">This last week saw <a href="https://livingchurch.org/2022/09/18/an-americans-guide-to-the-state-funeral-of-queen-elizabeth-ii/" target="_blank">numerous solemn ceremonies</a> as the body of Queen Elizabeth II was brought from her Scottish home to Edinburgh and then to London. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-world-news-london-02d46942aed4734261b40f48571103f5" target="_blank">Well over a quarter of a million people </a>patiently wanted in a line that stretched at its peak to 5 miles with a potential wait of 25 hours in order to file past the Queen's coffin as it lay in state. On Monday, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-king-charles-iii-united-kingdom-winston-churchill-c16927f6230c2e6845ea26d14636b3e7" target="_blank">dignitaries gathered </a>at Westminster Abby for the official funeral service followed my a solemn procession to Windsor where for the committal service. Millions watched services on television and computers and many more in London parks where large screen T.V. provided the broadcast. It was a moment where Anglican liturgy was at its best as it laid to rest a woman who had loved the church. Update <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/09/week-ending-91221.html#1" target="_blank">carried news of her death</a> and statements by the heads of state and church last week. <br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">The Latest on the South Carolina Property Transitions. </h3><div style="text-align: left;">This last Sunday, another church building was reopened by the Episcopal Church in South Carolina. Christ Church, Mt. Pleasant has roots dating back to the early 18th century. The South Carolina Diocese prepared for the reopening by creating a set of You-Tube videos by the the Rev. Furman Buchanan who had been appointed to serve the church as priest during the rebuilding, but there were no immediate news stories available on the reopening on September 18th, and the parish web site as of this posting still is directing people to the schismatic ACNA parish. The videos are available both on the Diocese of South Carolina <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaqGzMaRsuw" target="_blank">You-Tube</a> channel and on the diocesan Facebook page. Meanwhile, the parish is preparing for the turnover of the St. Christopher's Conference Center and Camp on October 1. The Diocese has recruited a couple with impressive experience in running church conference centers to lead St. Christophers. The <a href="https://scepiscopalians.com" target="_blank">scepiscopalians.com blog</a> for September 13 has comments on how the ACNA group management has erased the center's Episcopal roots. Update has carried stories on the previous reopenings of recovered buildings. The latest is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaqGzMaRsuw">here</a>. <br /></div>Joan R. Gundersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250917614108590714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066187646888062205.post-31881244252197662522022-09-13T22:36:00.001-04:002022-09-13T22:36:44.109-04:00Week Ending 9/12/21<a href name="1"></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Churches Mark the Death of Queen Elizabeth</h2><div style="text-align: left;">The death of the 96 year old Queen Elizabeth II, has led the news all week. As the titular head of the Church of England, leaders throughout the Anglican Communion posted statements on her death. <a href="https://episcopaljournal.org/anglican-and-episcopal-church-leaders-mark-the-death-of-queen-elizabeth/" target="_blank">This article</a> has a good sampling of those statements, including one from The Episcopal Church's Presiding bishop. <br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Singapore removes last penalty on LBTQA+</h2>
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<div style="text-align: left;">When Singapore removed the criminal statutes on oral and anal sex several years ago, they did not remove the ban on sex between two men, but they stopped enforcing it. Now the government <a href="https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2022/september/singapore-evangelicals-377a-repeal-marriage.html" target="_blank">has lifted that ban</a>, but evangelical Christians are opposing removal and want guarantees that marriage will remain legal only for a man and a woman. The issue has divided Christians, some approving of the removal of the final criminal penalty. Evangelicals (including Anglicans) are worried that the government wants to reserve marriage for heterosexual couples in a process that is easier to change than a constitutional protection. Given that the Anglican province of South Eastern Asia has been one of the strongest opponents of LGBTQA rights and is active in GAFCON, the change begins a process of eroding that position.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;">Continuing Stories. </h2></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Florida Sets Date on Redo for Bishop Election</h3><div style="text-align: left;">The Diocese of Florida's Standing Committee <a href="https://episcopaljournal.org/florida-standing-committee-shares-details-of-do-over-bishops-election/" target="_blank">has announced</a> that the Diocese will hold an in-person convention on November 19 to elect a bishop coadjutor. There are 3 candidates, including Charles Holt, whose May election was ruled invalid because of a lack of a quorum in the clergy order. The Standing Committee has set a period for additional nomination by petition, and has said there will be one round of meetings to introduce the candidates. More details will soon be available. Update carried notices of the earlier failed election, the protest, investigation, Holt's decision to rescind his acceptance of election, and the decision to hold another election. The most recent post is <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/08/week-ending-082922.html#3">here</a>. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Two Queensland Clergy Join GAFCON Diocese</h3><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Two clergy <a href="https://anglican.ink/2022/09/13/now-there-are-two-a-second-queensland-minister-jumps-ship-to-breakaway-diocese-of-the-southern-cross/" target="_blank">have announced</a> they are resigning their parishes in the Queensland diocese, as a result of the Australian Anglican Church's failure to endorse resolutions limiting ordination of and marriage by LGBTQ+ members. The result left decisions on these matters to individual bishops and dioceses. The clergy and parts of their congregations are joining GAFCON's schismatic new diocese the Diocese of the Southern Cross. In Australia, the legal status of property is clear. It remains with the Australian Church. At this point, there has been no major rush of conservative clergy to leave dioceses. Update <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/09/week-ending-090522.html#6">has carried earlier stories</a> announcing the creation of the GAFCON Diocese. These are the first two clergy to join. </span><br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">ACNA Parish Asks for Rehearing </h3><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In South Carolina, eight parishes that the South Carolina Supreme Court returned to the Episcopal Church, asked for a rehearing. The Court dropped one of eight immediately but seven of the parishes got a rehearing. and the court reversed its two earlier rulings and said they could remain in the ACNA diocese. The court's new "final" opinion granted six of the parishes the right to stay in ACNA with their property. As <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/09/week-ending-090522.html#3">Update reported earlier</a>, the Episcopalians then filed paperwork asking for a rehearing on two of the six because the court decision was based on evidence that had not been litigated, and Episcopalians had not had a chance to present evidence. Now it has been announced that the one parish whose rehearing was denied at the final stage <a href="https://adosc.org/petitions-for-rehearing-filed/" target="_blank">has asked for another rehearing</a>. The ball is now fully in the South Carolina Supreme Court's court. They may be regretting their decision to allow any rehearings given that this is becoming a case which simply won't end.</span><br /></div>Joan R. Gundersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250917614108590714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066187646888062205.post-60661815394243695312022-09-06T20:15:00.002-04:002022-09-28T01:06:39.159-04:00Week Ending 09/05/22<a href="" name="1"></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Diocese Brings Water to Jackson MS</h2><div style="text-align: left;">Jackson Mississippi has long suffered with a crumbling infrastructure, including its water system. A recent flood, however, has resulted in the shutdown of the system, orders to boil water before using it, and many sections of the city without any water service at all. The Diocese of Mississippi <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/09/02/diocese-of-mississippi-helps-bring-water-to-jackson-residents-during-crisis/?mc_cid=e53136832e&mc_eid=0525fc4715" target="_blank">sent an 18 wheeler truck</a> filled with cases of bottled water to the New Horizons Church which was situated in a key area for distribution. The Presiding Bishop and the Bishop Brian Seage of Mississippi came up with the $8000 it cost to fill the truck. Bishop Seage lives in Jackson and his household was among those without water. The diocese has also consulted with Episcopal Relief and Development to prepare for what might be "forgotten issues" in this kind of emergency. <br />
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</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Haitian Diocesan Officials Arrested</h2><div style="text-align: left;">A priest, Frank Cole who serves as the diocesan executive secretary for the Episcopal Church's Diocese of Haiti, and the accountant for the diocese, Jean Gilles Jean Mary, have been arrested by Haitian authorities for gun trafficking. They are accused of using diocesan funds to import and sell guns and ammunition in large quantities for several years. The arrests followed the seizure at the airport of a large shipment of weapons and ammunition. Haitian Society is in chaos and the diocese is divided after a failed election for a new bishop. The chair of the Diocesan Standing Committee cooperated in the investigation, and issued a statement denying that the diocese had anything to do with the actions of the two employees. For more see, <i>The Living Church</i> article <a href="https://livingchurch.org/2022/08/30/2-diocesan-officials-arrested-in-haiti-for-arms-trafficking/" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Continuing Stories</h2><h3 style="text-align: center;">South Carolina Episcopalians Appeal Decision on Two Properties </h3><div style="text-align: left;">When the South Carolina Supreme Court's latest decision gave the last 6 contested properties to those who had left the Episcopal Church, it seemed that litigation <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/08/week-ending-082222.html#2">had reached its end</a>. However, that turns out not to be the case for two of the parishes, the ones that the court said had acceded to the Episcopal Church Constitution and Canons after 2006, but also then had properly revoked that accession. The Episcopal Diocese however has filed papers asking the court to reconsider because the issue of when the accession was made had not been litigated for these two parishes and the Episcopalians had never had a chance to show that the parishes had affirmed an accession after 1979 when the Dennis Canon was added and before 2006 when South Carolina law changed. The two parishes are Old St. Andrews in Charleston, a parish with origins in the colonial period and The church of the Holy Cross in Stateburg. The Episcopal Diocese <a href="https://www.episcopalchurchsc.org/news-blog/diocese-files-petition-for-rehearing-and-a-motion-for-relief-from-judgment-with-the-sc-supreme-court" target="_blank">news article</a> has links to the full filings. Historian Ron Caldwell has comments on this latest action <a href="http://episcopalschismsc.blogspot.com/2022/09/episcopal-church-seeks-reversal-of-scsc.html" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;"></h3><h3 style="text-align: center;">Property Transitions Continue in South Carolina </h3><div style="text-align: left;">Meanwhile, the ACNA diocese has begun the process of handing over the properties that were returned to the Episcopal Church. The ACNA congregations are mostly moving to nearby rented space in schools while keeping their names. The Episcopal Diocese <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/08/week-ending-81522.html#5">has been naming the clergy</a> who will care for each of the returned properties and Episcopalians who will once again be able to worship in the historic spaces. The transition date for the St. Christopher's Camp site is the <a href="https://adosc.org/event/beach-day-at-st-christopher/" target="_blank">beginning of October</a>. <a href="https://www.scepiscopalians.com/09.02.22-retuning-parishes.html" target="_blank">Blogger Steve Skardon notes </a>that the congregations leaving are not necessarily doing so with any kind of grace. Clergy have dredged up old claims of Episcopal heresy and there has been some vandalism of buildings, while Episcopalians returning are trying to put behind them memories of mistreatment that forced them from the parishes in 2013. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">More Feeding the Hungry</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Update has carried numerous stories about Episcopal parishes and dioceses feeding the hungry and poor. (See, for example <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2021/12/week-ending-12621.html">this story.</a>) However,t he Diocese of Northern California has started a process <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/09/01/northern-california-diocese-encourages-churches-to-cultivate-land-to-benefit-others/" target="_blank">on a much larger scale</a> that will both provide food and help the environment. The diocese is encouraging parishes to use their land to create gardens that will provide both food and be more environmentally sound that large expanses of mowed grass. Parishes in Northern California often were able to buy generous tracts of land as they built their buildings. Now they are being encouraged to invite the community to create gardens on the land. This kind of community garden program has been done on much smaller scale in a number of other dioceses. In a more traditional approach to feeding the hungry, St. Luke's Parish in Stephenville, Texas has been featured on the Episcopal Church's North Texas web site for a food pantry that feeds 500 families every month. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">More Fallout and Comment on GAFCON's Australian Diocese</h3><div style="text-align: left;">George Browning, a retired bishop in the Australia Anglican Church <a href="https://johnmenadue.com/the-anglican-breakaway-cult-a-swan-that-quacks-like-a-duck-must-be-a-duck/" target="_blank">has written a blog article</a> that on the GAFCON-created "diocese" to be led by Retired super low-church Glen Davies. Browning's point is simply that this is schismatic and it is not Anglican, no matter what GAFCON wants to call it. Browning makes clear that the Diocese of the Southern Cross is outside the Anglican communion, and that if the Australian primate (also a member of GAFCON) tries to treat it as somehow inside the church, he is creating a real mess. Meanwhile the ACNA Archbishop and current head of GAFCON, Foley Beach, <a href="https://anglican.ink/2022/09/03/archbishop-beach-writes-to-the-archbishop-of-canterbury-on-developments-in-australian-anglicanism/" target="_blank">has written to Archbishop Welby</a> of the Anglican Communion, almost as if he is a part of the that Communion (which he is not) about the Australian developments. Beach claims the new structure is just a "safe haven" for those who cannot stay within dioceses that have begun "unbiblical" practices and that they are not schismatic. It would be hard to explain how an organization not authorized by the Australian Church and not part of the Anglican Communion could be seen as anything other than schismatic, but Beach is trying to claim that. Update covered <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/08/week-ending-082922.html#4">the earlier responses</a> to the announcement of the GAFCON diocese. <br />
</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Albany Begins Process of Communion Across Differences</h3><div style="text-align: left;">The Diocese of Albany <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2021/11/week-ending-11821.html#5">had announced earlier</a> that it was going to try a version of the conversations held before the schisms of 2008-2012. The conversations of "communion across difference" had brought together Episcopalians with very different positions of theological and social issues. The purpose of the Albany conversations would be to try to find a path for the diocese to follow that owuld allow those with very different positions to contribute a the diocese. Assisting bishops Smith and Gallagher were charged with getting the conversation going, and they have now <a href="https://albanyepiscopaldiocese.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2022-08-23-TFCAD-statement-v-A-04.pdf" target="_blank">asked for volunteers</a> from the diocese to form the core group of discussants. Both clergy and laity are being sought. It seems that the diocese may actually be serious about finding ways to repair the damage done by years of divisiveness. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><br /></h3><h3 style="text-align: center;"></h3><h3 style="text-align: center;"><br /></h3>Joan R. Gundersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250917614108590714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3066187646888062205.post-85686422980662252052022-08-30T23:58:00.009-04:002022-08-30T23:58:58.957-04:00Week Ending 08/29/22<a href name="1"></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Climate Action Park Created in Ireland</h2><div style="text-align: left;">A Church of Ireland priest in Galway <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/3066187646888062205/8568642298066225205" target="_blank">has led an effort</a> to convert 4 acres of land next to the rectory for the Aughrim and Creagh Parish Union into a "climate action park." The goal is to plant it with native plants, trees, and hedgerows, lace the area with trails and engage the town in thinking about biodiversity and climate issues. The clergyman, John Godfrey is involving groups in the town, and the churches of other denominations to make it a true community effort. The land previously was used to graze cattle and is a large open field. Some meadow areas have been planted, but the plans are on hold for an archeological review before they can start building trails or planting trees. Eventually the park will have several different zone of plants, including an area with a creek running through it. <br />
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</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Continuing Stories</h2><h3 style="text-align: center;"> Pittsburgh Parishes Join Medical Debt Forgiveness Plan</h3><div style="text-align: left;">Update has carried a number of stories about Episcopal parishes that teamed up with a non-profit called RIP Medical Debt to extinguish the medical debts of a large number of people in an area picked by the parish. The most recent story is <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2021/07/week-ending-072621.html#2">here</a>. Now two parishes in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, St. David's in Peters Township and and St. Thomas in Canonsburg have launched a campaign and invited others in the diocese to join them in raising funds to extinguish debts for people in western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and northern West Virginia. The non-profit buys the debt at a greatly discounted rate with money raised by their partners and then retires the debt. The two parishes, both in Washington County, south of Pittsburgh hope to extinguish $500,000.00 of debt. You can learn more <a href="https://www.episcopalpgh.org/lets-be-a-blessing-help-release-our-neighbors-medical-debt/" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Florida to Re-Do Election of Bishop</h3><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The Diocese of Florida will hold a new election for Bishop, according to Bishop Howard. His statement <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/08/26/diocese-of-florida-bishop-says-diocese-will-hold-new-coadjutor-election/" target="_blank">was in a video</a> posted to You-Tube, but not linked to the Diocesan website. (In fact, the website <a href="https://www.floridabishopsearch.org/" target="_blank">still has Holt featured</a> as Bishop-Elect.) Howard did not give a timetable for when that convention might be held, but he did express a hope that the Rev. Charlie Holt, whose election was ruled irregular because of a lack of quorum would remain a candidate. Holt had left his post in Houston, TX and moved to Florida where is working for the diocese in anticipation of a fall consecration, which has of course been cancelled. Last week Update <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/08/week-ending-082222.html#3">carried the notice</a> that Holt had withdrawn his acceptance of the election in response to the findings of irregularity by the Court of Review. </span><br />
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</div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Conservative Dioceses Not Leaving Australian Church</h3><div style="text-align: left;">The bishops of two conservative Australian dioceses have made it clear that they are not joining the GAFCON sponsored schismatic diocese. Both are in the Province of New South Wales where conservatism is strong, especially in Sydney. The Archbishop of Sydney (i.e. the bishop over all of the dioceses in the province, is Kanishka_Raffel. Rafel is the bishop of the Diocese of Sydney, serves as the Metropolitan for the Province of New South Wales, and the primate for the Anglican Church of Sydney. He <a href="https://sydneyanglicans.net/mediareleases/response-to-the-creation-of-the-diocese-of-the-southern-cross" target="_blank">made a statement</a> saying that conservatives in conservative dioceses had no reason to leave for the new GAFCON Diocese of the Southern Cross since conservative dioceses would continue to uphold what they considered orthodox theology, and would work from the inside to "restore" the church to "orthodox" theology. He could understand if some clergy in liberal diocese might need to find an "orthodox" haven [read "orthodox" as anti-LGBTQ].</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Bishop of Armidale had basically <a href="http://www.armidaleanglicandiocese.com/our-bishops-response-to-the-launch-of-the-diocese-of-the-southern-cross/" target="_blank">the same message</a> to his diocese. The Diocese of Sydney also has at least one liberal diocese (Newcastle) where the bishop is prepared to bless same-sex unions. The announcement does suggest there will only a small, slow trickle of clergy and congregations to the GAFCON group. Update <a href="http://update.pittsburghepiscopal.org/2022/08/week-ending-082222.html#4">last week posted</a> about the formal implementation of the GAFCON diocese. <br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><br /></h3>Joan R. Gundersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250917614108590714noreply@blogger.com