West Texas Episcopalians reject bishop’s plan for gay blessings

One of the purposes of the Bishop Elliott Society is to uphold traditional Anglican Doctrine and Christian Faith.  As such, we are compelled to issue a clear statement regarding Bishop Lillibridge’s “generous pastoral response” to the three congregations seeking permission to offer same sex blessings. In brief, while empathetic and thoughtful, we find the Bishop’s letter to […]

Continue reading about West Texas Episcopalians reject bishop’s plan for gay blessings

Remarks Delivered Friday, May 15, 2015: Mister Attorney General, Mr. Sears, and distinguished guests, it is a great honor to accept the Edwin Meese III Award for Originalism and Religious Liberty. That honor is greatly magnified by the presence of Attorney General Meese and by the fact that this award bears his name. He is […]

Continue reading about The Gathering Storm: The Eclipse of Religious Liberty and the Threat of a New Dark Age

By Roger Salter Special to Virtueonline www.virtueonline.org Almighty Father and ever-living God, we truly believe that your only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ has ascended into heaven: Grant, we pray, that we may also in heart and mind ascend there, and continually dwell with him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, […]

Continue reading about WE TRULY BELIEVE: The Ascension

I want to commend to you an article with up to the minute relevance, “If you’re going to be a Christian, you might as well go all the way.” Its author points out that the churches that have actually grown in North America from 2007-2014 are those that have embraced an uncompromising, Biblical definition of […]

Continue reading about The Church Grows When…

Canon George Sumner opposes same-sex marriage Theology cannot follow the dictates of the surrounding culture, he says By David W. Virtue DD www.virtueonline.org A self-described “conservative Episcopalian” on the issue of same-sex marriage, the Rev. Canon George Sumner has been chosen to lead the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas following the retirement of Bishop James Stanton. […]

Continue reading about DALLAS: Diocese Elects Orthodox Anglican to be next Bishop DALLAS: Diocese Elects Orthodox Anglican to be next Bishop Canon George Sumner opposes same-sex marriage Theology cannot follow the dictates of the surrounding culture, he says By David W. Virtue DD www.virtueonline.org May 17, 2015 A self-described “conservative Episcopalian” on the issue of same-sex marriage, the Rev. Canon George Sumner has been chosen to lead the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas following the retirement of Bishop James Stanton. He will become its 7th bishop. Sumner was chosen bishop-elect of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas after 77 votes from clergy and 107 votes from laity on the fourth ballot during a Special Convention on May 16, 2015 held at the Episcopal School of Dallas. Sumner, 60, is currently the Principal of Wycliffe College in Toronto, Canada, and was one of four nominees on the ballot. “I am humbled and grateful to God for my election,” Sumner said. “It will be a great privilege to share in the ministry Christ has given us all together in the Diocese of Dallas. I would like to express my appreciation for my fellow candidates and the remarkable transition team. I ask for your prayers and help in the days to come.” Canon Sumner, an American, is currently Helliwell Professor of World Mission and principal of Wycliffe College, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Anglican Diocese of Toronto). He has also served in Africa and the Navajoland. From 2008-2011 as member of the Episcopal Church Committee on the Theology of Marriage he debated the conservative side of the marriage question because he believed as a “loyal churchman” to take part in deliberations which resulted in the House of Bishops document: “Same-Sex Relationships in the Life of the Church.” He helped pen the conservative traditionalist viewpoint “Same-Sex Marriage and Anglican Theology” along with John E. Goldingay, Fuller Theological Seminary; Grant R. LeMarquand, Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry; and Daniel A. Westberg, Nashotah House. The progressive liberal perspective “A Theology of Marriage including Same-Sex Couples” was authored by Deirdre J. Good, General Theological Seminary; Cynthia B. Kittredge, Seminary of the Southwest; Eugene F. Rogers, University of North Carolina, Greensboro; and Willis J. Jenkins, Yale Divinity School. However he is committed to seeing that the Diocese of Dallas has an open door to “everyone” and an open door to “gay and lesbian Episcopalians” and an open door for “gay and lesbian people who are searching for God.” “The Gospel applies to everyone,” he said. “And that is incumbent upon people who are of the more conservative opinion to say.” However for reasons of conscience and theology, as bishop, he could not approve of same-sex blessings or same-sex marriage under any circumstance. “The theology of the church and the view of society do not always coincide” he said, however he explains that the church must be cognizant of societal norms and think about them while listening sympathetically as a part of the goal of evangelizing the Gospel message in the world while realizing that theology cannot follow the dictates of the surrounding culture. Sumner holds a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard College, a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School and a Ph.D., in theology from Yale University. He is married to wife, Stephanie, and has two children. The Rev. Dr. Robert Munday has known the bishop-elect for a number of years and speaks highly of him. [This is] good news about George Sumner winning election as Bishop of Dallas on the fourth ballot. “George is a fine scholar with a pastoral heart who will make an excellent bishop,” he told VOL. The election must also be approved through a majority of consents from the bishops and standing committees of the dioceses in The Episcopal Church. If Sumner receives the majority of consents, he will be consecrated as bishop on Nov. 14. Bishop Suffragan Paul E. Lambert has been serving as bishop pro-tem since Bishop James Stanton retired May 2014 after serving 21 years.

General Assembly of The Church of Scotland Photo: Andrew O’Brien By John Bingham, Religious Affairs Editor 7:36PM BST 17 May 2015 The Church of England is facing renewed pressure to reconcile its divisions over homosexuality after the Church of Scotland agreed plans it hopes will enable openly gay clerics to serve as ministers without a split in the […]

Continue reading about Church of Scotland plan for gay ministers offers possible ‘template’ for Anglicans

From Christian Concern: Thank you for your prayers for yesterday’s (12 May) hearing at the Court of Appeal. In an encouraging development, the Christian couple whose adopted children were taken into care have been granted permission for their case to be heard in full before the Court of Appeal. We are grateful to Paul Diamond, […]

Continue reading about Permission granted for Christian parents at Court of Appeal