Phil Ashely: "Look Not to the Episcopal Church" (No Kidding!)

http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=16466

Look Not to The Episcopal Church
By Canon Phil Ashey
The following is from the August 28 edition of the AAC's International Update http://www.americananglican.org/
August 28, 2012

I recently read an article by Dr. Michael Poon in The Living Church (August 26, 2012), "Look Beyond England." Dr. Poon, director of the Centre for the Study of Christianity in Asia (Singapore), has been a frequent critic of "post-Western colonialism"-especially those quarrels and disputes "exported and internationalized" by British and American (read "Western") Anglicans upon "institutionally weak" Anglican churches particularly in the Global South.

I was therefore astonished by his conclusion: "For me, as those in the Oxford Movement once saw, the disestablished American Episcopal Church, holding out the vision of a catholic and missionary church, offers a more promising future of spiritual renewal for the Anglican world.

The Episcopal Church, a spiritual forebear of Anglicans in Asia, will continue to occupy a central place in God's unfinished plans for Anglicans." Surely Dr. Poon must know that The Episcopal Church of today bears little resemblance to the spiritual forebears of Anglicans in Asia-the missionaries and others who came believing in an Anglicanism rooted in the Bible, the Creeds and the Thirty Nine Articles.

Surely he knows that those Anglican forebears believed in the uniqueness and universality of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of all people-quite unlike the leadership of The Episcopal Church USA and other western, post-modern Anglicans. Surely he must know that it is not the Bible but Post-Modernism that shapes the thinking and governance of post-Western colonial Anglicans in The Episcopal Church, The Anglican Church of Canada, the mother Church of England and elsewhere among Anglicans in the West.

Post-Modernism is the current Western cultural ideology that has been shaping revisions to the Christian faith among Anglicans dominating the governing structures of the Anglican Communion-especially those from The Episcopal Church to whom he invites us to look for hope and a future. How could he have missed the death spiral in average Sunday attendance, baptisms, and confirmations in the Episcopal Church simultaneous with its violations of Lambeth Resolution 1.10 (1998) in the consecration of partnered homosexuals as bishops, the provision of rites for same sex blessings, and now the access of transgendered persons to holy orders?

All of this is the result of (mostly) western Anglican leaders in the grip of Post-Modernism rather than in being in the grip of the Holy Spirit. Post-Modernism emerged in the 20th century especially among French philosophers like Jacques Derrida who emphasized the "deconstruction" of language so that no text-including the Bible-can be understood as having anything but multiple and conflicting interpretations.

The result is a rejection of any kind of "objective and absolute truth," (except for the absolute dogma that "there is no absolute truth".). What this means for Anglicans like you and me is that among western leaders who have embraced post-modernism, there is a lack of confidence in God's word, the Bible, as being the final authority in matters of faith, order and discipline.

It means that words like "grace," "salvation," "sin," "catholic," "missionary" and even "Lord and Savior," can mean quite different things to those who use them divorced and deconstructed from any sense of divine revelation. This is one reason why genuine dialogue and listening have been so elusive in all of the discussions around The Episcopal Church's violations of Biblical, catholic and Anglican communion teaching.

Because there is no Biblical standard for what is right or wrong when language is "deconstructed" and divorced from objective truth, truth itself becomes a moving target based on what is culturally acceptable in a particular context. And, according to post-modernism, no context is better than another.

This week I read a compelling article on "Why Post-Modernism won't win." In it, the author, Philip Rosenthal, lists several reasons why post-modernism is just another "ism" that will follow its predecessors of Marxism, National Socialism and Soviet Communism into the dustbin of history. Those reasons include: -

Western ideological empires are falling faster: "Just as the Western world is changing its clothing fashions and technology faster and faster, so ideologies are rising and falling faster and faster." -

Western Racial dominance is in question and decline: "Recently, for example, the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans called for a restructuring of the global Anglican communion away from 'British empire' dominance to an elected chairman. Reality is most of the world's Anglicans will vote for a more biblical leader than will the British." -

Post-Modern Churches are shrinking: "Even at home in the West, postmodern denominations face a crisis: the more postmodern they are, generally the more their numbers are shrinking - the opposite of what they are telling pastors." -

Demographic shrink: "The more post-modern the country, the fewer are getting married. Children are delayed. Confused gender roles discourage parenting. Postmodernists are murdering millions of their children by abortion... The result is that in a few generations, unless they can win over the immigrants to Postmodernism (which they are not), these Postmodern nations will become minorities within their own countries."

- Logical Inconsistency: First, at the core of post-modernism, "They call for 'tolerance' of their views, but are intolerant of others views. . . Secondly, they argue that nothing is absolute. But having stated this, they have just stated a belief which in their minds is absolute." The problem is that there is no logical way to argue from a post-modern perspective that anything is wrong-from pedophilia to terrorism.

The Damage of Post-Modernism is already being exposed: the fruit Postmodernism is producing in Europe and America [includes]: Dysfunctional families; divorce;abortion of babies; teen sexuality; degradation of women by pornography; spreading homosexuality; elitist arbitrary government by courts displacing democracy; population shrink - and probably it will soon slide into more problems such as legalizing sex with children and infanticide."

You can read the whole article here. http://emergingthreat.blogspot.com/2012/06/why-postmodernism-wont-win.html Surely Dr. Poon knows from the history of western ideologies that they eventually run out of steam as the intellectual elites, including church leaders,-even Anglicans-move on to the next new "ism" that will tickle their ears (quote from 2 Timothy 4:3)

Surely the future and hope of Anglicanism lies not in looking to a dying Episcopal Church and other post-modern, post-western colonial leaders in the grips of an ideology divorced not only from the Bible, but from anything meaningful and hopeful to humanity. No: the hope and future of Anglicanism lies in a return to the same values and convictions that led the spiritual forebears of Anglican believers in Asia, Africa, South America and elsewhere in the Global South to the evangelistic growth they are enjoying today.

The hope and future of Anglicanism lies in a return to the conviction that there is an objective truth which God has revealed ultimately in his word, the Holy Scriptures... in the incarnation, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ who is uniquely Lord and savior of all people... and in his supernatural transforming love through the agency of the Holy Spirit.

The Rev. Canon Phil Ashey is COO of the American Anglican Council. He is based in Atlanta

TEC Bishop Notes TEC-Seminary Graduates Deficient Intellectually (No Kidding!)

We are not surprised in the least by AZ's TEC Bishop lamenting the poor intellectual and leadership equipment and skills from/for TEC seminary graduates. No surprises there. We have seen that predominantly in our experience, despite TEC's longstanding effort to rebut that image. Anglicanism has had a long history of scholarly Rectors and Professors, but, with liberalism's eviserative impulse intellectually and propensity to mysticism's legacy, the fruits have been seen. Exhibit A--theologically, Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori.  She abhors classical, catholic, and confessional Christendom.

 http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=16474

Dear Brothers and Sisterswww.virtueonline.org
August 31, 2012

When you live in the rarefied world of Anglican politics where liberal and conservative theologians talk, think and rage publicly, where bishops offer up their wisdom, (a lot of it unmitigated rubbish) and priests move across the Anglican chess board with handwringing exculpations and reasons why they do what they must do, it is important to remember that Jesus began his earthly ministry with 12 fisherman who had little education, took three years to get the hang of the message, became His most radical disciples and then died pretty miserable deaths. Of course things changed with the much educated St. Paul, but the first disciples got first dibs on the Master and we must never forget that. The opening salvos were from fishermen not theologians.

I say this because The Living Church, a magazine for catholic, evangelical and ecumenical Episcopalians and Anglicans whose editor Dr. Christopher Wells is a man I regard highly and whose news (associate) editor Doug LeBlanc I regard as a personal friend, ran a number of articles in their August 26 issue that, frankly, blew my mind.

The Rev. Canon Michael Poon, director and Asian Christianity coordinator of the Centre for the Study, wrote an article titled LOOK BEYOND ENGLAND looking at the global picture of Anglicanism. He concluded the article, "For me, as those in the Oxford Movement once saw, the disestablished American Episcopal Church, holding out the vision of a catholic and missionary Church, offers a more promising future of spiritual renewal for the Anglican world. The Episcopal Church, a spiritual forbear of Anglicans in Asia, will continue to occupy a central place in God's unfinished plans for Anglicans. The shaping of the next generation is the key."
Say what?

What world is he living in? Does he not know anything about what has and is going on in TEC or why it was necessary for the birth of AMIA, CANA and, ultimately, the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA)? Does someone need to buy him a round trip ticket (Singapore to NY) to see the state of The Episcopal Church? Does he have any idea what damage Bishop Gene Robinson and the later consecration of a lesbian bishop has been done to the integrity and gospel witness of TEC? Does he need to witness how multiple lawsuits over church property that has run into the tens of millions of dollars and has bankrupted the church? Does he not know of the more than 100,000 who have fled TEC and formed ACNA which now fast approaches 1,000 new churches? If he came to NY City, would he arrive in time to see a For Sale sign on the doors of 815 2nd Avenue in order to keep paying the legal fees of David Booth Beers? Is he aware of closing cathedrals, of aging and dying parishes with virtually no evangelizing going on at all? What "next generation" is Poon talking about?

TEC's seminaries are in deep financial trouble and the product they are turning out has even been criticized by the liberal bishop of Arizona Kirk Smith who publicly said we need to reduce the number of seminaries to three and then opined that "The graduates they turn out-and I speak from personal experience-are not exactly well-formed, either in intellectual knowledge or leadership ability. We need scholars in the church, to be sure, but even more we need young men and women who can grow the church. This clearly is not happening, which means..." What about this does Poon not understand? Even the liberals know the church is in trouble and Poon says that "TEC will shape the next generation."

If he was looking beyond England, why did he not see the rise of the GAFCON in the Global South, or the totality of the Global South that owns 80% of the Anglican Communion and is pretty solidly evangelical? Why did he ignore the Jerusalem Declaration which has more support than The Covenant?

Another article by Mark Chapman, an Oxford theologian, does a Retrospect on the tenure of Rowan Williams painting him as a sort of heroic failure, a man who consistently did not force his own views on people, or usually even given a steer. He closes with this, "Williams has carried the burdens of conflict, and has shown a huge and sometimes costly commitment to unity...".

What unity? When Robinson was consecrated in 2003, Williams did nothing about it except to say that this was not a nice thing to do and please don't do it again...that this could affect unity. Global South leaders never again broke bread at any primatial gathering with Frank Griswold, abandoning altogether such gatherings, and began forming their own more perfect unions. What about the absence of 200 bishops at the last Lambeth conference.

Both men write as though the C of E and TEC are still somehow viable players in global Anglicanism; SE Asian theologian Poon completely ignores the incredible evangelical growth of the Global South and their growing leadership role in the Anglican Communion. He praises The Covenant without mentioning The Jerusalem Declaration.

One sees the same kind of blindness in North American Anglican Communion Institute (ACI) theologians. I wonder if, perhaps, I am slowly losing my mind and that one day I will wake up from some spiritual fog -- just in time to see TEC rise up in glory as its finances dwindle, its parishes close, its aging flocks die off leading us all into the Promised Land of completed "listening", renewal, reconciliation and revival with a smear of Indaba to make it all work.

For a truly brilliant analysis of Poon's diatribe read Canon Phil Ashey's Look Not to The Episcopal Church here: http://tinyurl.com/8bfhy6v

GAFCON to Crown Commissioners: Concerning Archbishop of Canterbury

http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=16464

Posted by David Virtue on 2012/8/28 12:00:00 (1228 reads)

 

RE: Appointment of a new Archbishop of Canterbury

FROM: The Global South of the Anglican Communion Secretariat:
37 St Paul Road, Vacoas, Mauritius http://www.globalsouthanglican.org/

TO: The Rt Hon the Lord Luce KG, GCVO Chairman,
Crown Nominations Commission
20 July 2012

The Global South of the Anglican Communion, comprising more than fifty-five million of the eighty million members of the Anglican Communion, deeply appreciate our historical relation with the See of Canterbury. We therefore commend the following to the Crown Nominations Commission for your serious consideration.

It is the reality of the Anglican Communion in the 21st Century that the majority of Anglicans are found within the Global South, especially in Africa. Resulting from the faithful witness of Western missionaries over the past two hundred years, Anglicans today stand in worship and witness amidst diverse cultures, among ancient traditions and often in inter-religious tensions.

As noted in the media release of the Church of England on the appointment of the Archbishop of Canterbury, one of his responsibilities is to be "the Focus of Unity of the Anglican Communion... primus inter pares among the bishops." This role calls for the new Archbishop of Canterbury to always act in a conciliar and collegial manner with his fellow Primates because his decisions will affect the life and witness of Provinces worldwide.

The new Archbishop of Canterbury should have the experience and cross-cultural sensitivity to understand the concerns and conflicts in the worldwide Communion. Ho has to be able to communicate effectively with, and gain the respect and confidence of, his fellow Primates in the Global South. He has to be able, together with his fellow Primates, to more effectively restructure the Anglican Communion Office and the Anglican Consultative Council to better serve the Communion.

At a time when the Christian faith faces challenges from other religious as well as secular worldviews, the new Archbishop of Canterbury must be committed to uphold the orthodoxy of the Christian "faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints" (Jude 3), To fulfill his calling and vow as Guardian of Faith, he must have the capacity to collectively put into effect the decisions taken at Lambeth Conferences and Primates Meetings, especially on issues that have led to the present crisis in the Communion.

To secure the future and the unity of the Communion at a foundational level, the new Archbishop of Canterbury has to work with his fellow Primates to address the ecclesial deficit of the Anglican Communion highlighted in the report of the Windsor Continuation Group.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is also responsible to work with ecumenical partners for the unity of the "one holy catholic and apostolic Church". The new Archbishop of C4nterbury must be able to build upon the work of his predecessors while avoiding any further actions that may widen the gap between us and these partners.

In conclusion, the Global South Primates expect to be consulted on this decision of great importance for the Communion, and look forward eagerly to the new Archbishop of Canterbury to uplift God's people in the Anglican fold worldwide in obedience to God's Word.

We wholeheartedly pray and hope that the unity of our beloved Anglican Communion will be restored and strengthened.

Faithfully in Christ,

/S/ Most Rev Dr Mouneer Anis Primate,
The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem & Middle East Chairman,
Global South Primates Steering Committee

/S/ Most Rev Nicholas Okoh Primate,
The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) Vice-Chairman,
Global South Primates Steering Committee

/S/ Most Rev Ian Ernest Primate,
The Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean Honorary Secretary,
Global South Primates Steering Committee

/S/ Most Rev Bolly Lapok Primate,
The Church of the Province of South East Asia Honorary Treasurer,
Global South Primates Steering Committee

/S/ Most Rev Stephen Than Primate,
The Church of the Province of Myanmar (Burma) Member,
Global South Primates Steering Committee

/S/ Most Rev Henri Isingoma Primate,
Province de I'Eglise Anglicane du Congo Member,
Global South Primates Steering Committee

/S/ Most Rev Daniel Deng Primate,
The Episcopal Church of the Sudan Member, Global South Primates Steering Committee

/S/ Most Rev Dr Elind Wabukla Primate,
The Anglican Church of Kenya Member,
Global South Primates Steering Committee

/S/ Most Rev David Vunagi Primate,
The Church of the Province of Melanesra

/S/ Most Rev Joseph Kopapa Primate,
The Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea

/S/ Most Rev Onesphore Rwaje Primate,
Province de l'Eglise Anglicane au Rwanda

/S/ Most Rev Bernard Ntahouri Primate,
the Anglican Church of Burundi

/S/ Most Rev Valentino Mokiwa Primate,
The Anglican Church of Tanzania

/S/ Right Rev Dr Chad Gandiyh
Representing the Primate of The Church of the Province of Central Africa

/S/ Right Rev Dr Johannes Seoka
Representing the Primate of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa

/S/ Right Rev Matthias Medadues-Badohu
Representing the Primate of The Church of the Provinceof the West Africa

/S/ Right Rev Peter Bartlett
Representing the Primate of Iglesia Anglicana del Cono Sur de America

CC: Most Rev Dr Barry Morgan Primate
representing the Anglican Communion, Crown Nominations Commission