I have heard from many leaders in business and finance that when a graduate from Catholic elementary and secondary schools applies for an entry-level position in their companies, the employer can be confident that the applicant will have the necessary skills to do the job. Joseph Viteritti, a professor of public policy at Hunter College in New York who specializes in education policy, recently said, “If you’re serious about education reform, you have to pay attention to what Catholic schools are doing. The fact of the matter is that they’ve been educating urban kids better than they’re being educated elsewhere.”

The evidence is not just anecdotal. Researchers like Helen Marks (in her 2009 essay “Perspectives on Catholic Schools” in Mark Berends’s “Handbook of Research on School Choice”) have found that students learning in a Catholic school, in an environment replete with moral values and the practice of faith, produce test scores and achievements that reliably outstrip their public-school counterparts.

This is why, to the consternation of our critics, we won’t back away from insisting that faith formation be part of our curriculum, even for non-Catholic students.

Read it all.

Q: Why did you write this book?

A: I’ve always been curious about why people believe one thing rather than another. In America you can believe anything you want, unlike in a lot of other countries where there’s only one religion. So why would people be drawn to Scientology, one of the most esoteric and stigmatized religions?

Q: And what did you find?

A: Oftentimes people who go into Scientology are dealing with a personal problem. If you enter a Church of Scientology building you’ll be asked, “What is your ruin?” That is, what is standing in the way of your financial, spiritual and emotional success? And they will talk through things with you and offer a menu of courses designed to help. And many people do feel that they are helped by the courses or therapy.

Read it all.

From a letter to the editor in the local paper:

I was saddened and appalled, but not surprised, by the vindictive and mean-spirited language Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori used in her sermon on Saturday.

Alluding to Bishop Mark Lawrence as a “tyrant” and comparing him to “citizens’ militias deciding to patrol … the Mexican border for unwelcome visitors” was unconscionable.

And to say, “It’s not terribly far from the state of mind evidenced in school shootings, or in those who want to arm school children, or the terrorism that takes oil workers hostage,” was despicable.
That any Christian, much less a presiding bishop, would use such invective and incendiary words says more about the speaker than the person she is attempting to vilify.

However, she is the same person who has spent over $22 million to sue churches over their property, who refused to sell a church back to its congregation and instead sold it to a Muslim organization, and who sued beloved, retired bishops because they challenged her authority.

It is not surprising that the fruits of Bishop Jefferts Schori’s leadership of TEC are a significant decline in members, controversy and confrontation with the majority of the Anglican Communion, and financial problems resulting in the need to sell prized land in Manhattan.

“They Will Know We Are Christians by Our Love” has been a favorite hymn of mine for over 50 years.

It is also a good barometer of a person’s Christian character. The language used by Jefferts Schori from the pulpit is as unloving and un-Christian as it gets.

Still, as one who believes in a forgiving God and in spiritual transformation, I will continue to pray that TEC and Jefferts Schori may be inspired and imbued with the Holy Spirit and in the process may rise above petty name-calling and invective and embrace the love of Christ in what they say and do.

Dr. Peter T. Mitchell

Broad Street

Georgetown

I will take comments on this submitted by email only to at KSHarmon[at]mindspring[dot]com.

This is a highly unusual development, and will doubtless sow consternation among the SCEpiscopalians and their ilk: It shows that Chancellor Tisdale can read the writing on the wall, and knows that ECUSA cannot succeed in any plan to assume the DSC’s identity through its own actions. Since the injunction now accomplishes nearly all of the objectives Bishop Lawrence had when he authorized the lawsuit (all that remains is a judgment declaring that his Diocese is the lawful and exclusive owner of the registered marks), it will be interesting to see whether or not ECUSA stipulates to the entry of such a final judgment in the weeks ahead. In short, there is nothing left worth litigating. Yes, ECUSA reserved the right to request a modification in the injunction, but at most it would be only to tinker with the fine points (and I can’t think of any). That stipulation was probably included to assuage Mr. Tisdale’s clients.

Where things will go from here is now the question. Bishop vonRosenberg has his work cut out for him — he has to walk a tightrope between keeping the Presiding Bishop happy, and not violating the injunction in any way.

Read it all.

My question for you, kind GetReligion readers, is this: Did the newspaper reports bury the lede? Rather than sales figures and charity donations, is the bigger story here that two humans got together and found common ground? Or am I naive to expect that such dialogue might make headlines?

Read it all.

The finances of the US’s multi-employer pension schemes have deteriorated so quickly over the past year that the body that insures them will almost certainly run out of cash in 20 years, according to a new report.

The chances of the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation ”“ the publicly created but privately funded body that insures the nation’s occupational pension schemes ”“ going bust went from 1 in 3 at the end of 2011 to more than 9 in 10 by the end of 2012, a report prepared for the PBGC and released on Tuesday said.

Read it all (may require subscription).

Children’s ministry is a busy ministry that often needs lots of people to get involved for it to work well. People are needed to lead groups at church, teach SRE, help in after school clubs, prepare materials, and so on. It is a ministry that gives lots of opportunities for people to be involved in serving their community. But not everyone in a church is gifted, available or interested in getting involved in these ways.

However, prayer is an essential part of children’ ministry, and it is something that every Christian can do. When church members pray for children’s ministry they invite God into all our planning, programs and people. Praying also connects people with a ministry that they may otherwise have no involvement in. It helps them to understand the complexity, challenges and joys of children’s ministry. Sometimes, as people pray they become more interested in the ministry and choose to get more involved.

Read it all.

Thinking about Google over the last week, I have fallen into the typically procrastinatory habit of every so often typing the words “what is” or “what” or “wha” into the Google search box at the top right of my computer screen. Those prompts are all the omnipotent engine needs to inform me of the current instant top 10 of the virtual world’s most urgent desires. At the time of typing, this list reads, in descending order:

What is the fiscal cliff
What is my ip
What is obamacare
What is love
What is gluten
What is instagram
What does yolo mean
What is the illuminati
What is a good credit score
What is lupus

It is a list that indicates anxieties, not least the ways in which we are restlessly fixated with our money, our bodies and our technology ”“ and paranoid and confused in just about equal measure. A Prince Charles-like desire for the definition of love, in my repetitive experience of the last few days, always seems to come in at No 4 on this list of priorities, though the preoccupations above it and below it tend to shift slightly with the news.

Read it all.

In a move unprecedented in the American Catholic Church, Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez announced Thursday that he had relieved his predecessor, Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, of all public duties over his mishandling of clergy sex abuse of children decades ago.

Gomez also said that Auxiliary Bishop Thomas J. Curry, who worked with Mahony to conceal abusers from police in the 1980s, had resigned his post as a regional bishop in Santa Barbara.

The announcement came as the church posted on its website tens of thousands of pages of previously secret personnel files for 122 priests accused of molesting children.

Read it all.

Among the very few things on which our diverse church can agree is the sorry state of biblical literacy. The complaint comes, not unexpectedly from biblicist precincts, that lay people lack sufficient familiarity, and clergy sufficient facility, with the Bible’s narratives and precepts. Meanwhile, on the “left” comes the rejoinder, not without basis, that the self-styled advocates of scriptural authority construe its contents selectively and self-interestedly, and especially that biblical cries for justice go unheard in favor of a too tidy account of “orthodoxy” and an unreflective fortification of the status quo. And from the academy comes the more recent observation that the standard academic approaches to Scripture are so mired in historical and comparative questions that the results are scarcely useful to the Church at all.

That there is not only a problem but even a crisis is agreed by most. And that there need to be resources to reinvigorate the Church’s engagement with Scripture is a matter of common sense. Surely we ought to be able to bridge biblical scholarship to address the practical life of the Church and formative needs of her clergy and members. But here the picture complicates, for it turns out that the task of producing such resources is more difficult than might be supposed. If, as some allege, biblical scholars are not carrying out an agenda useful to the Church, then it will do little good to translate their results into a more accessible form. But “amateur” reflections too often perpetuate interpretive “urban myths,” for good reason long abandoned in the guild. With the deceptive difficulty of the task in mind, here we sample some recent, diverse offerings on the Lukan corpus which seek and succeed to various degrees to fill the gap between biblical scholarship and the Church.

Read it all.

One of the ministers responsible for steering the same-sex-marriage legislation through the House of Commons denied this week that the Government was acting hastily or without a mandate.

Speaking on Monday, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, and Women and Equalities, Helen Grant (right), said that she did not think that the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill had been “rushed”.

“The consultation on this matter actually started in March 2012, and the consultation itself was comprehensive. We received something in the region of 228,000 responses to that consultation, including 19 petitions. The consultation was open, fair, [and] transparent. Every- thing was looked at very carefully indeed.”

Read it all.

Research by FICO Labs into the growing student lending crisis in the U.S. has found that, as a group, individuals taking out student loans today pose a significantly greater risk of default than those who took out student loans just a few years ago. The situation is compounded by significant growth in the amount of debt that new graduates are carrying.

The delinquency rate between 2005-2007 on student loans that were originated in the three months after October 2005 is 12.4 percent. The comparable figure between 2010-2012 for student loans that were originated in the three months after October 2010 is 15.1 percent, representing an increase in the delinquency rate by nearly 22 percent.

While the delinquency rate is climbing, the average amount of student loan debt is increasing even faster. In 2005, the average U.S. student loan debt was $17,233. By 2012, it had ballooned to more than $27,253 ”“ an increase of 58 percent in seven years. By contrast, the average credit card balance and the average balance on car loans owed by U.S. consumers actually decreased during the same period.

Read it all.

Everliving God, we rejoice today in the fellowship of thy blessed servant Brigid, and we give thee thanks for her life of devoted service. Inspire us with life and light, and give us perseverance to serve thee all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end.

We offer to thee, O Lord our God, the work which thou hast appointed for us. Help us to do it heartily and faithfully, as in thy sight and for thy glory, that so we may be drawn nearer to thee and confirmed in thy service, which alone is true freedom; in the name of our Master and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

–William Bright

Thus says the LORD:
“Where is your mother’s bill of divorce,
with which I put her away?
Or which of my creditors is it
to whom I have sold you?
Behold, for your iniquities you were sold,
and for your transgressions your mother was put away.
Why, when I came, was there no man?
When I called, was there no one to answer?
Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem?
Or have I no power to deliver?
Behold, by my rebuke I dry up the sea,
I make the rivers a desert;
their fish stink for lack of water,
and die of thirst.
I clothe the heavens with blackness,
and make sackcloth their covering.”
The Lord GOD has given me
the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with a word
him that is weary.
Morning by morning he wakens,
he wakens my ear
to hear as those who are taught.
The Lord GOD has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious,
I turned not backward.
I gave my back to the smiters,
and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;
I hid not my face
from shame and spitting.
For the Lord GOD helps me;
therefore I have not been confounded;
therefore I have set my face like a flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame;
he who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand up together.
Who is my adversary?
Let him come near to me.
Behold, the Lord GOD helps me;
who will declare me guilty?
Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment;
the moth will eat them up.
Who among you fears the LORD
and obeys the voice of his servant,
who walks in darkness
and has no light,
yet trusts in the name of the LORD
and relies upon his God?
Behold, all you who kindle a fire,
who set brands alight!
Walk by the light of your fire,
and by the brands which you have kindled!
This shall you have from my hand:
you shall lie down in torment.

–Isaiah 50:1-11

According to the Assad regime, Israeli warplanes have violated Syrian airspace and bombed a scientific research facility. According to Western security sources, the attack was against a convoy of sophisticated heavy weapons destined for Lebanon and Hezbollah. Israel itself is saying nothing; nor, officially, is the US. For all the obfuscation and confusion, however, what is chillingly clear is the danger of Syria’s vicious civil war spilling over into a regional conflict.

The situation inside the country is dismaying enough. More than 60,000 people have been killed in the near two years since the rebellion against Bashar al-Assad began. Although the regime’s grip is weakening, the fight only gets bloodier; and as many as four million civilians have been displaced ”“ many of whom are now starving, freezing and dying from disease.

Read it all.

St. George, SC, January 31 – The Episcopal Church (TEC) opted to forgo court on Friday and not put up a fight as South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Diane S. Goodstein today issued a Temporary Injunction to replace the Temporary Restraining Order she signed on January 23 to block TEC, its continuing parishes, individuals, organizations or any entity associated with it from, using, assuming or adopting, in any way, directly or indirectly, the registered names and the seal or mark of The Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of South Carolina.

Read it all.

This post is “sticky” – look for new entries below. last update: October 13th, 2013 at 11:30 AM UK / 6:30 AM Eastern
You can find all the latest official news from the Diocese of South Carolina here and all T19 posts about the conflict in South Carolina using this link TEC Conflicts: South Carolina category

Videos for Mere Anglicanism 2013 are here

LATEST:
(Local Paper) Historic S.C. Diocese retains right to use names and seal, new TEC Diocese Can’t, October , 2013
Judge Rejects TEC’s Request to Remove Injunction Protecting S.C. Diocesan Names and Seal. October 11, 2013
Prayers Requested for the Diocese of South Carolina. October 11, 2013
Diocese of South Carolina””The real story behind our withdrawal from The Episcopal Church, October 3, 2013
Judge Denies TEC Request to Expand South Carolina Lawsuit, October 3, 2013
A.S. Haley on the recent TEC House of Bishops Meeting””Fiddling While Rome Burns, September 28, 2012
(ACNA via Anglican Ink) Assorted South Carolina Bishops meet, September 20, 2013
Crucial Documentation available to Readers””TEC’s so called “Expert” under Fire from the Quincy Case, September 20, 2013
A.S. Haley on the Latest South Carolina TEC Legal Maneuver to Appeal Judge Houck’s Decision, September 19, 2013
The ENS Article on the legal request of the new S.C. TEC Bishop to reconsider dismissal, September 19, 2013
(AP) Bishop of the new TEC South Carolina Diocese asks the judge to reconsider in Episcopal case, September 19, 2013
Where I am going this Evening with Bishop Mark Lawrence, September 18, 2013
Flashback Bishop Jefferts Schori Supported the Authority of Diocesan Bishop, September 16, 2013
Reformed Episcopal Church Diocese of the Southeast Expresses Support for the Diocese of S. Carolina, September 15, 2013
A Local Paper Profile of South Carolina Diocesan Bishop Mark Lawrence, September 15, 2013
ACI – Affidavit of Mark McCall on TEC’s Polity, September 14, 2013
Over 85 Clergy Gather for Diocese of South Carolina Clergy Day, September 13, 2013
Your Prayers requested for Today’s Clergy Day in the Diocese of South Carolina, September 12, 2013
A.S. Haley””Decision in Quincy: ECUSA Has no Rule against Dioceses Withdrawing, September 10, 2013
(Diocese of South Carolina) La Iglesia de San Juan””The Church On the Move, September 10, 2013
Worried new S.C. TEC Diocese Brings in Bishops in visits to New Parish, September 9, 2013
A Local Paper Article on the Bishop of the new TEC Diocese in S.C., Charles vonRosenberg, September 9, 2013

Full chronological entry listings are continued here and Click below to see an index of Key Entries and all the recent stories and documents.
[Note: due to capacity limits on this entry, the chronological list of past entries has been moved to a dedicated separate post here – most recent entries are still available below]

Myrtle Beach Episcopalians take first step toward new parish in new TEC Diocese, September 6, 2013
The Latest Edition of the Diocese of South Carolina Newspaper is now available, September 5, 2013

A Local Paper Article on the new TEC Diocese in South Carolina’s recent action, August 31, 2013
(AP) Judge: South Carolina Episcopal issues belong in state court, August 27, 2013

(Anglican Ink) Trademark violation lawsuit against Mark Lawrence dismissed, August 25th, 2013
Local Paper Article””Federal judge dismisses Episcopal Church complaint, August 24, 2013
A.S. Haley””Court Dismisses Federal Trademark Action against S.C.”˜s Bishop Lawrence, August 24, 2013
Federal Judge Dismisses Case Against Bishop Mark Lawrence, August 23, 2013
(CEN) South Carolina clergy deposed by TEC, August 19, 2013
A.S. Haley””More Episcopal Church related Court Proceedings in South Carolina, August 12, 2013
Court Battle Over Who Is Bishop of Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina After Schism, August 11, 2013 at 12:45 pm
(Diocese of SC) Judge Houck Hears Arguments in Motion to Dismiss, August 9, 2013 at 1:34 pm
(AP) Judge again weighs issues in South Carolina Episcopal schism, August 9, 2013 at 6:00 am
(AP) Attorneys back in court today in South Carolina Episcopal schism, August 8, 2013 at 6:20 am
An AP profile of the Bishop of SC churches remaining with the national Episcopal Church, August 3, 2013 at 2:30 pm
David Faulkner (Diocese of Dallas TEC priest) Chimes in, July 13, 2013 at 7:26 pm
(Living Church) Mark McCall””A Provisional Solution for South Carolina, July 2, 2013 at 4:05 pm

A PR from the brand New TEC Diocese in South Carolina on the recent Legal Ruling, June 12, 2013
An ENS Article: Federal judge remands lawsuit to state court, June 11, 2013
Alan Haley Analyzes Senior District Judge C. Weston Houck’s reasoning in Yesterday’s S.C. Ruling, June 11, 2013
An AP Article””Battle between SC Episcopalians back to State Court, June 11, 2013
A Local Paper Article””Federal judge remands Episcopal Church case back to state court, June 11, 2013
(SC Now) Episcopal case to be tried in state court, June 11, 2013
Federal Judge Remands Diocese of SC Case to State Court, June 10, 2013
(Anglican Ink) Federal Judge remands South Carolina Episcopal Case to State Court, June 10, 2013

A.S. Haley on the South Carolina Episcopal Contretemps Court Hearing this week, June 8, 2013
(AP) Federal court considers S.C. Episcopal division, June 6, 2013
Your Prayers requested for Today’s Hearing in the South Carolina Diocesan Dispute, June 6, 2013
(AP) Federal court hearing set in South Carolina Episcopal schism, June 6, 2013
(Island Packet) South Carolina Episcopal diocese alleges retirement savings held hostage, June 5, 2013
The Episcopal Church Holds Hostage Pensions of More Than 80 Disassociated Staff Members in S.C., June 3, 2013
The Latest Edition of the Diocese of South Carolina Enewsletter, May 30, 2013
Living Church Essays on South Carolina (III): Colin Podmore””Beyond Provincialism, May 28, 2013
Living Church Essays on South Carolina (II): William Witt””Don’t Cheat the Prophet, May 18, 2013
Living Church Essays on South Carolina (I): Jesse Zink””Why Provinces Matter, May 18, 2013
The Sermon of Rob Martin, Anglican Bishop of Marsabit, at the Charleston, S.C., Cathedral recently, April 28, 2013
The Latest Edition of the Diocese of South Carolina Newspaper is now available, April 20, 2013
A.S. Haley””An Overview of the Complex Situation between TEC and the Dioc. of S.C. in South Carolina, April 18, 2013
George Conger Unpacks the South Car. Legal Fracas and the recent WSJ article’s poor Coverage Thereof, April 17, 2013
A copy of the Letter the New TEC Bishop in South Carolina sent to Diocese of S.C. clergy, April 16, 2013
(WSJ) South Carolina Episcopal Church Fight Heads to Court, April 15, 2013
(Christian Post) Bishop of new TEC in S.C. Diocese Sends Letters to Various Ordained Ministers, April 14, 2013
A Video of the Four Anglican Bishops visiting Charleston, S.C., this past week, April 13, 2012
Anglican Bishops Express Strong Support for Bishop Lawrence and the Diocese of South Carolina, April 12, 2013
(The State) South Carolina Episcopal dispute may play out in two courts, April 10, 2013
Big Night for the Diocese of S. Carolina””An Evening with Bishops from East Africa, April 9, 2013
An ENS Article on the Ongoing Legal toing and Froing in South Carolina, April 5, 2013
Local paper””New TEC Diocese in South Carolina asks for federal jurisdiction, April 5, 2013
Local Paper Article””Countersuit filed in [South Carolina] Episcopal dispute, April 1, 2013
TEC counterclaim filed on Maundy Thursday in South Carolina case, April 1, 2013

KEY ENTRIES (including those that were formerly “sticky” at the top of the blog)
Federal Judge Dismisses Case Against Bishop Mark Lawrence, August 23, 2013 at 6:21 pm
(Diocese of SC) Judge Houck Hears Arguments in Motion to Dismiss, August 9, 2013
Federal Judge Remands Diocese of SC Case to State Court, June 10, 2013
A Video of the Four Anglican Bishops visiting Charleston, S.C., this past week, April 13, 2012
Anglican Bishops Express Strong Support for Bishop Lawrence and the Diocese of South Carolina, April 12, 2013
TEC Lawsuit Asks Federal Judge to Overturn State Court Order and Strip Diocese of SC of its Identity, March 16, 2013
Diocese of SC Convention””Remain Steadfast in Faith, Firm in Conviction, Resolute in Will, March 13, 2012
Bishop Mark Lawrence’s Address to the 222nd Convention of the Diocese of South Carolina, March 11, 2013
Three More Diocese of S.C. Parishes Join in Suit to Prevent TEC from Seizing Property, March 2, 2013
TEC Agrees to Injunction that Prohibits Them From Using Diocese of SC Identity, January 31, 2013
Unaffiliated TEC Group in South Carolina Still not Complying with Court Order, January 25, 2013
Circuit Court Blocks the Use of Diocese of South Carolina Identity By Anyone Outside of the Diocese, January 23, 2013
Another 15 South Carol. Parishes Join the Diocese Suit to Block TEC from Seizing Local Property
Diocese of South Carolina””Diocesan Identity/Legal Response Requested to unauthorized email, January 9, 2013
A.S. Haley””DioSC in Preemptive Strike against ECUSA’s Attempted Identity Theft, January 5, 2013
A Message to Clergy in the Diocese of South Carolina Regarding the Declaratory Judgment, January 4, 2013
Bishop Mark Lawrence Writes Regarding the Declaratory Judgment, January 4, 2013
S.C. Diocese Seeks Declaratory Judgement to Prevent Episcopal Church from Seizing Local Parishes, January 4, 2013
The Diocese of South Carolina is the Only Authority to Convene a Convention in the Diocese, December 22, 2012
Global South Primates Steering Comm. Recognizes Mark Lawrence’s Oversight in S.C.and the Communion, December 16, 2012
The Diocese of South Carolina Responds to the Announcement of a January TEC Meeting, December 10, 2012
Presiding Bishop of Episcopal Church coming to SC in Jan. 2013 for “Special Convention”, December 8, 2012
AnglicanTV Interviews South Carolina Bishop Mark Lawrence about Recent Developments, December 6, 2012
South Carolina Bishop Mark Lawrence Writes Regarding his Alleged “Renunciation”, December 6, 2012
A.S. Haley””The Presiding Bishop Flouts the Canons Again, December 5, 2012
Presiding Bishop Says Mark Lawrence Says what he did not Say, right out of George Orwell, December 5, 2012
The Bishop of Upper South Carolina’s Pastoral Letter for Advent 2012, November 4, 2012
Anglican Communion Institute””An Open Letter to the Bishops of The Episcopal Church, November 28, 2012
Diocese of South Carolina Announcement in Today’s State Newspaper (Columbia, South Carolina), November 25, 2012
(Anglican Ink) Church of Eng. will not make any “premature” statement or judgment re:South Carolina November 20th, 2012
Diocese of South Carolina Turns the Page; Looks Forward, November 17, 2012
Bishop Lawrence’s Address to the Special Convention, November 17, 2012
Kendall Harmon””Attempted Liveblog of Bishop Lawrence’s Diocesan Convention Address, November 17, 2012
Please Pray for the Diocese of South Carolina Special Convention to be Held Tomorrow, November 16, 2012
A Message from Bishop Mark Lawrence to the Diocese of South Carolina, November 15, 2012
(Anglican Communion Institute) Consumed By Litigation: TEC In South Carolina (Part Two), November 14, 2012
11 New Posts About Developments in the Diocese of South Carolina, November 13, 2012
Anglican Communion Institute””Consumed By Litigation: TEC In South Carolina, November 12, 2012
Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (FCA) Primates Council Writes in Support of Bishop Lawrence, October 31, 2012
Letter of Support from Global South Primates Steering Committee to Bishop Mark Lawrence October 25, 2012
Frequently Asked Questions About the Assault on the Diocese of South Carolina October 24, 2012
South Carolina Diocese Releases Statement Regarding Disassociation from the Episcopal Church October 20, 2012
Local Paper page 3””The Episcopal Church Abandons South Carolina Bishop and Diocese October 19, 2012
Episcopal Church Takes Action Against the Bishop and Diocese of South Carolina October 17, 2012

***
COMPLETE INDEX:

Obviously the latest events are part of a long running series of attacks by the national office upon the dioceses and the constitution of The Episcopal Church and the index posts relating to
1. the earlier attacks on South Carolina may be found here, and
2. the attacks on the Communion Partner Bishops and dioceses and Dr Philip Turner [still unresolved officially] here, and
3. General Convention 2012 resolutions and events here

You can find all the latest news from the Diocese of South Carolina here

Key Documents from the Diocese of South Carolina
Federal Judge Dismisses Case Against Bishop Mark Lawrence, August 23, 2013 at 6:21 pm
(Diocese of SC) Judge Houck Hears Arguments in Motion to Dismiss, August 9, 2013 at 1:34 pm
Federal Judge Remands Diocese of SC Case to State Court, June 10, 2013
The Latest Edition of the Diocese of South Carolina Newspaper is now available, April 20, 2013
A Video of the Four Anglican Bishops visiting Charleston, S.C., this past week, April 13, 2012
Anglican Bishops Express Strong Support for Bishop Lawrence and the Diocese of South Carolina, April 12, 2013
Clergy of the Diocese of South Carolina Renew their Vows, March 20, 2012
TEC Lawsuit Asks Federal Judge to Overturn State Court Order and Strip Diocese of SC of its Identity, March 16, 2013
Diocese of SC Convention””Remain Steadfast in Faith, Firm in Conviction, Resolute in Will, March 13, 2012
Bishop Keith Ackerman’s Sermon at the 222nd Convention of the Diocese of South Carolina, March 12, 2012
Bishop Mark Lawrence’s Address to the 222nd Convention of the Diocese of South Carolina, March 11, 2013
Three More Diocese of S.C. Parishes Join in Suit to Prevent TEC from Seizing Property, March 2, 2013
The Latest Edition of the Diocese of South Carolina Enewsletter, February 28, 2013
South Carolina Rectors Speak Out Against TEC’s Attempt to Seize Local Property; “Hijack” Identity, February 4, 2013
TEC Agrees to Injunction that Prohibits Them From Using Diocese of SC Identity, January 31, 2013
Circuit Court Blocks the Use of Diocese of South Carolina Identity By Anyone Outside of the Diocese, January 23, 2013
Another 15 South Carol. Parishes Join the Diocese Suit to Block TEC from Seizing Local Property
The Latest Edition of the Diocese of South Carolina Enewsletter, January 11, 2013
The Latest Edition of the Diocese of South Carolina Newspaper is now available, January 11, 2013
Diocese of South Carolina””Diocesan Identity/Legal Response Requested to unauthorized email, January 9, 2013
A Message to Clergy in the Diocese of South Carolina Regarding the Declaratory Judgment, January 4, 2013
Bishop Mark Lawrence Writes Regarding the Declaratory Judgment, January 4, 2013
S.C. Diocese Seeks Declaratory Judgement to Prevent Episcopal Church from Seizing Local Parishes, January 4, 2013
The Diocese of South Carolina is the Only Authority to Convene a Convention in the Diocese, December 22, 2012
The Diocese of South Carolina Responds to the Announcement of a January TEC Meeting, December 10, 2012
Reminder in the Midst of the TEC Disinformation Campaign””Can a Diocese Legally Withdraw from TEC?, December 9, 2012
Spokesman for Withdrawn S.C. Episcopal Diocese Disputes Renunciation Order, December 8, 2012
AnglicanTV Interviews South Carolina Bishop Mark Lawrence about Recent Developments, December 6, 2012
South Carolina Bishop Mark Lawrence Writes Regarding his Alleged “Renunciation”, December 6, 2012
Diocese of South Carolina Announcement in Today’s State Newspaper (Columbia, South Carolina), November 25, 2012
Diocese of South Carolina Turns the Page; Looks Forward, November 17, 2012
Bishop Lawrence’s Address to the Special Convention, November 17, 2012
Kendall Harmon””Attempted Liveblog of Bishop Lawrence’s Diocesan Convention Address, November 17, 2012
A Message from Bishop Mark Lawrence to the Diocese of South Carolina, November 15
The Latest Edition of the Diocese of South Carolina Enewsletter, November 11
(Diocese of SC) Group Attempts to Mislead Clergy; Unauthorized Use of Diocesan Seal and Name, November 8, 2012
+ Frequently Asked Questions About the Assault on the Diocese of South Carolina October 24, 2012
+ South Carolina Diocese Releases Statement Regarding Disassociation from the Episcopal Church October 20, 2012
+ Episcopal Church Takes Action Against the Bishop and Diocese of South Carolina October 17, 2012
+ Episcopal Forum Members Initiate Attack on South Carolina Bishop October 20, 2012
+ Local Paper page 3””The Episcopal Church Abandons South Carolina Bishop and Diocese October 19, 2012
+ A.S. Haley Analyzes the Changes Signaled by the Latest Charges against Bishop Mark Lawrence October 19, 2012
+ The 14 names of those who Brought Charges Against Bishop Mark Lawrence October 19, 2012
+ One South Carolina Parish Rector writes his Parish about recent developments October 19, 2012
+ Please Pray for the Diocese of South Carolina Clergy Day to be Held Tomorrow October 18, 2012

Other Key Documents
A copy of the Letter the New TEC Bishop in South Carolina sent to Diocese of S.C. clergy, April 16, 2013
Old Saint Andrew’s Parish in Charleston, S.C., Votes to Align with Bishop Lawrence and the Diocese, February 24, 2013
Unaffiliated TEC Group in South Carolina Still not Complying with Court Order, January 25, 2013
Global South Primates Steering Comm. Recognizes Mark Lawrence’s Oversight in S.C.and the Communion, December 16, 2012
Presiding Bishop of Episcopal Church coming to SC in Jan. 2013 for “Special Convention”, December 8, 2012
Spokesman for Withdrawn S.C. Episcopal Diocese Disputes Renunciation Order, December 8, 2012
More from A.S. Haley on South Carolina””But sue, TEC certainly will, December 7, 2012
(Anglican Ink) South Carolina’s sorrow and pity for Katharine Jefferts Schori, December 7, 2012

A.S. Haley””The Presiding Bishop Flouts the Canons Again, December 5, 2012
Presiding Bishop Says Mark Lawrence Says what he did not Say, right out of George Orwell, December 5, 2012
Anglican Communion Institute””An Open Letter to the Bishops of The Episcopal Church, November 28, 2012
(Anglican Ink) Church of Eng. will not make any “premature” statement or judgment re:South Carolina November 20th, 2012
A.S. Haley on the Meeting in South Carolina and Two Bishops Letters recently Released, November 16, 2012
(Anglican Communion Institute) Consumed By Litigation: TEC In South Carolina (Part Two), November 14, 2012
Anglican Communion Institute””Consumed By Litigation: TEC In South Carolina, November 12, 2012
Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (FCA) Primates Write in Support of Bishop Lawrence, October 31, 2012
Letter of Support from Global South Primates Steering Committee to Bishop Mark Lawrence October 25, 2012

Letters from Bishops and Clergy
Peter Mitchell Chimes in on the Presiding Bishop’s recent South Carolina Sermon, February 1, 2013
One S.C. Parish Rector Writes about recent Developments, January 23, 2013
Saint Andrews, Mount Pleasant, S.C., Writes about the recent Lawsuit by S.C. Against TEC, January 23, 2013
One South Carolina Parish Rector writes his Parish about the new Protection Initiative taken Friday, January 5, 2013
One South Carolina Rector writes his Parish about Recent Events and Questions about them, December 19, 2012
Global South Primates Steering Comm. Recognizes Mark Lawrence’s Oversight in S.C.and the Communion, December 16, 2012
Mike Clarkson, the Rector of our Saviour, John’s Island, S.C.””Where I Stand on the Diocese of S.C., December 9, 2012
Anglican Communion Institute””An Open Letter to the Bishops of The Episcopal Church, November 28, 2012
Shay Gaillard on the Diocese of South Carolina Misreporting””Who Is Welcome in the church?, November 27, 2012
A Message from Bishop Mark Lawrence to the Diocese of South Carolina, November 15, 2012
Statement from the Communion Partner Bishops on the South Carolina Situation, November 15, 2012
Presiding Bishop issues Pastoral Letter to the Diocese of South Carolina, November 15, 2012
One South Carolina Parish Rector writes his Parish today about recent developments, November 15, 2012
The Bishop of Springfield on the Diocese of South Carolina/Mark Lawrence Developments, October 29, 2012
The Bishop of Georgia on the Diocese of South Carolina/Mark Lawrence Developments October 29, 2012
Bishop William Love of Albany””Response to the Inhibition of Bishop Mark Lawrence of South Carolina October 29, 2012
Another South Carolina Rector Writes his Parish About recent Developments (2) October 26, 2012
Another South Carolina Rector Writes his Parish About recent Developments October 26, 2012
The Rector of Saint Michael’s Charleston, S.C., writes his Parish About recent Developments October 23, 2012

News and Analysis
A PR from the brand New TEC Diocese in South Carolina on the recent Legal Ruling, June 12, 2013
An ENS Article: Federal judge remands lawsuit to state court, June 11, 2013
Alan Haley Analyzes Senior District Judge C. Weston Houck’s reasoning in Yesterday’s S.C. Ruling, June 11, 2013
An AP Article””Battle between SC Episcopalians back to State Court, June 11, 2013
A Local Paper Article””Federal judge remands Episcopal Church case back to state court, June 11, 2013
(SC Now) Episcopal case to be tried in state court, June 11, 2013
Federal Judge Remands Diocese of SC Case to State Court, June 10, 2013
(Anglican Ink) Federal Judge remands South Carolina Episcopal Case to State Court, June 10, 2013
A.S. Haley on the South Carolina Episcopal Contretemps Court Hearing this week, June 8, 2013
(AP) Federal court considers S.C. Episcopal division, June 6, 2013
Your Prayers requested for Today’s Hearing in the South Carolina Diocesan Dispute, June 6, 2013
(AP) Federal court hearing set in South Carolina Episcopal schism, June 6, 2013
(Island Packet) South Carolina Episcopal diocese alleges retirement savings held hostage, June 5, 2013
The Episcopal Church Holds Hostage Pensions of More Than 80 Disassociated Staff Members in S.C., June 3, 2013
The Latest Edition of the Diocese of South Carolina Enewsletter, May 30, 2013
Living Church Essays on South Carolina (III): Colin Podmore””Beyond Provincialism, May 28, 2013
Living Church Essays on South Carolina (II): William Witt””Don’t Cheat the Prophet, May 18, 2013
Living Church Essays on South Carolina (I): Jesse Zink””Why Provinces Matter, May 18, 2013
The Sermon of Rob Martin, Anglican Bishop of Marsabit, at the Charleston, S.C., Cathedral recently, April 28, 2013
A.S. Haley””An Overview of the Complex Situation between TEC and the Dioc. of S.C. in South Carolina, April 18, 2013
George Conger Unpacks the South Car. Legal Fracas and the recent WSJ article’s poor Coverage Thereof, April 17, 2013
A copy of the Letter the New TEC Bishop in South Carolina sent to Diocese of S.C. clergy, April 16, 2013
(WSJ) South Carolina Episcopal Church Fight Heads to Court, April 15, 2013
(Christian Post) Bishop of new TEC in S.C. Diocese Sends Letters to Various Ordained Ministers, April 14, 2013
A Video of the Four Anglican Bishops visiting Charleston, S.C., this past week, April 13, 2012
Anglican Bishops Express Strong Support for Bishop Lawrence and the Diocese of South Carolina, April 12, 2013
(The State) South Carolina Episcopal dispute may play out in two courts, April 10, 2013
Big Night for the Diocese of S. Carolina””An Evening with Bishops from East Africa, April 9, 2013
An ENS Article on the Ongoing Legal toing and Froing in South Carolina, April 5, 2013
Local paper””New TEC Diocese in South Carolina asks for federal jurisdiction, April 5, 2013
Local Paper Article””Countersuit filed in [South Carolina] Episcopal dispute, April 1, 2013
TEC counterclaim filed on Maundy Thursday in South Carolina case, April 1, 2013
[SC Now] The Diocese of South Carolina Holy Eucharist for the 222nd meeting of the convention, March 11, 2013
(SCnow) Diocese of South Carolina””Without TEC, but not without hope, March 10, 2013
[SC Now Morning News] Episcopal diocese kicks off convention with flair despite national divides, March 8, 2013
Allan Haley: ECUSA’s Desperation in South Carolina Knows No Bounds, March 8, 2013
“In, But Not of, the World” How Far Would You Go to Preserve the Faith You Love so Much?, February 16, 2013
The Latest Edition of the Diocese of South Carolina Enewsletter, February 12, 2013
South Carolina Episcopal diocese headed to Florence for its Convention, February 11, 2013
(Living Church) Eric Turner””Speaking of Reconciliation, February 8, 2013
Jack Cranwell offers Thoughts on the South Carolina Episcopal Church Conflict, February 7, 2013
James Ueberroth Chimes in on the Presiding Bishop and her recent South Carolina sermon, February 6, 2013
Anglican Unscripted Episode 64, February 4, 2013
(Hilton Island Packet) St. Mark’s Chapel visited by new Episcopal bishop of new S.C. TEC Diocese, February 4, 2013
Lowcountry bishop wins skirmish over Episcopal diocese name, January 2, 2013
(AP) Judge makes order permanent in SC Episcopal schism, January 1, 2013
Peter Mitchell Chimes in on the Presiding Bishop’s recent South Carolina Sermon, February 1, 2013
A.S. Haley on the Latest in the Ongoing South Carolina Episcopal legal Battle, February 1, 2013
Bart Gingerich””Two Very Different Episcopalianisms Meet in Charleston, January 31, 2013
An Anglican Ink Article on the Presiding Bishop’s recent sermon in South Carolina, January 29, 2013
(Christian Post) ”˜Continuing Episcopalians’ in Breakaway Diocese Elect Temporary Leader, January 29, 2013
A.S. Haley on the Latest in the Ongoing South Carolina Episcopal Church Mess, January 29, 2013
The AAC’s Phil Ashey Comments on the Presiding Bishop’s recent sermon in South Carolina, January 29, 2013
An ENS Article on the new TEC Diocese and its First Bishop, January 27, 2013
TEC Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori’s Sermon from Yesterday, January 27, 2013
Article from The State Newspaper on the New TEC Diocese in South Carolina and its First Bishop, January 27, 2013
Local Paper Article on the new TEC affiliated South Carolina Diocese and its first Bishop, January 27, 2013
A.S. Haley: An Open Letter to my Fellow Episcopalians in South Carolina, January 26, 2013
Bagpiper outside St. Philip’s Charleston SC, January 26, 2013
Frank Larisey””The Episcopal Church conflict in South Carolina is not (primarily) about sex, January 26, 2013
An ENS Article on the South Carolina Order to Refrain from Assuming the Diocese’s Identity, January 26, 2013
Malicious prosecution warnings for Episcopal clergy from a prominent Lawyer and Lay Leader, January 26, 2013
(Ang. Ink) South Carolina TEC loyalists defy ban on using diocesan name and shield, January 26, 2013
(Christian Post) Episcopal Leader to Visit ”˜Continuing Episcopalians’ in SC Diocese, January 25, 2013
(AP) Presiding Episcopal Bishop coming to SC, January 25, 2013
Local paper””Judge issues restraining order against Episcopal Church, January 25, 2013
(RNS) S.C. Episcopal diocese claims a victory in theology and polity struggle, January 25, 2013
A.S. Haley””SC Circuit Court Issues Temporary Restraining Order to Protect Diocese’s Identity, January 25, 2013
(Living Church) Deference vs. Neutral Principles, January 24, 2013
(Anglican Ink) 15 more parishes join South Carolina lawsuit against the Episcopal Church, January 23, 2013
Saint Paul’s, Summerville, S.C., joins suit against Episcopal Church, January 18, 2013
St. Matthias joins South Carolina lawsuit against The Episcopal Church, January 16, 2013
Anglican Unscripted Episode 63, January 14, 2013
(AP) Bishop of SC diocese that disaffiliated from TEC says split brings clarity for followers, January 12, 2012
In Total Contrast to TEC, a Presbyterian Story of a genuinely gracious Parting, January 1, 2012
An Article from the Local Paper about the proposed new Leader for the yet to be formed TEC diocese, January 11, 2012
(AP) Bishop nominated for parishes seeking affiliation with TEC in the yet to be established Diocese, January 10, 2013
(ENS) Charles vonRosenberg nominated to be Bishop for a Diocese that Does Not Exist Yet, January 10, 2013
(Onenews Now) Diocese of South Carolina Seeks to Preserve its Freedom, Faith and History, January 10, 2013
An ENS Story on the Lawsuit Between the Diocese of South Carolina and TEC, Jnauary 8, 2013
Dean of Charleston, South Carolina’s, Cathedral discusses lawsuit against Episcopal Church, January 8, 2013
Myrtle Beach, Conway parishes join lawsuit against The Episcopal Church, January 6, 2013
(Anglican Ink) South Carolina fires first salvo in legal battle with TEC, January 5, 2013
A.S. Haley””DioSC in Preemptive Strike against ECUSA’s Attempted Identity Theft, January 5, 2013
(Orangeburg, S.C. Times and Democrat) South Carolina Episcopal diocese files lawsuit over property, January 5, 2013
Local South Carolina Story on the Diocesan Action Yesterday to prevent a Hostile Takeover, January 5, 2013
(AP) SC Episcopal diocese files lawsuit to protect beliefs, people and heritage, January 4, 2013
RNS Quote of the Day: Episcopal Bishop Mark Lawrence of South Carolina, January 4, 2013
(Ang. Ink) Global South Coalition states Jefferts Schori’s actions toward S.C. of no legal account, December 21, 2012
(CEN) South Carolina schism descending into farce, December 14, 2012
Peter Carrell [NZ]: Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction, December 11, 2012
Anglican Unscripted Episode 59, December 11, 2012
(The State) Lowcountry S.C.congregations wrestle with whether to stay or go, December 11, 2012
(ENS) Presiding bishop to visit South Carolina diocese, December 11, 2012
Phil Ashey””Canons are Made to be Broken: Anglican Perspective, December 10, 2012
(Anglican Ink) A Note of clarification from the Bishop of Upper South Carolina, December 9, 2012
Presiding Bishop of Episcopal Church coming to SC in Jan. 2013 for “Special Convention”, December 8, 2012
Spokesman for Withdrawn S.C. Episcopal Diocese Disputes Renunciation Order, December 8, 2012
More from A.S. Haley on South Carolina””But sue, TEC certainly will, December 7, 2012
(Anglican Ink) South Carolina’s sorrow and pity for Katharine Jefferts Schori, December 7, 2012
A.S. Haley””The Presiding Bishop Flouts the Canons Again, December 5, 2012
Presiding Bishop Says Mark Lawrence Says what he did not Say, right out of George Orwell, December 5, 2012
The Bishop of Upper South Carolina’s Pastoral Letter for Advent 2012, November 4, 2012
Anglican Unscripted Episode 58, December 2, 2012
Anglican Ink: Loyalist meeting learns Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori is behind them, November 29, 2012
A.S. Haley on The Episcopal Church””Dysfunction Everywhere, November 29, 2012
Anglican Communion Institute””An Open Letter to the Bishops of The Episcopal Church, November 28, 2012
Another Christian Post Article on the diocese of South Carolina””but please note my correction, November 26, 2012
Robert Barnett isn’t pleased with Bishop Mark Lawrence, November 26, 2012
(The State) As South Car. Episcopalians move toward split, questions and painful decisions remain, November 23, 2012
An ENS story on those in the Diocese of S. Car. opposed to Bishop Lawrence and the recent decisions, November 21st, 2012
(The State) As South Car. Episcopalians move toward split, questions and painful decisions remain, November 22, 2012
Anglican Communion Institute: South Carolina: A Communion Response, November 21st, 2012
(Local Paper) Roy Hills on the Dio. of South C.””Diocese has long history of moving away from church, November 18, 2012
(Local Paper) Peter Mitchell on the Dio. of South C.”””˜diverse like me’ mind-set is killing TEC, November 18, 2012
Local Newspaper Article on the Diocese of South Carolina Convention, November 18, 2012
(ENS) South Carolina convention affirms decision to leave Episcopal Church, November 17, 2012
A Christian Post Story on South Carolina’s Special Convention today, November 17, 2012
A Sumter, South Carolina, Item Story on today’s Special Convention, November 17, 2012
(AP) South Carolina diocese meets after break with national church, November 17, 2012
A.S. Haley on the Meeting in South Carolina and Two Bishops Letters recently Released, November 16, 2012
An RNS Article on the Diocese of South Carolina Situation Heading into Special Convention Tomorrow, November 16, 2012
AP Article””Clergy and parishes meet; national bishop writes South Carolina Diocese, November 16, 2012
Anglican Communion Institute””Consumed By Litigation: TEC In South Carolina, November 12, 2012
Charleston (South Carolina) Mercury””Taking the pulse of a diocese in conflict, November 16, 2012
(Anglican Communion Institute) Consumed By Litigation: TEC In South Carolina (Part Two), November 14, 2012
Anglican Communion Institute””Consumed By Litigation: TEC In South Carolina, November 12, 2012
The Latest Edition of the Diocese of South Carolina Enewsletter, November 11, 2012
(CEN) Global South backing for the Diocese of South Carolina, November 11, 2012
A Beaufort Gazette Ad from those who Oppose Bishop Lawrence and the Diocese of S.C., November 3, 2012
(RNS) S.C. Episcopalians say split goes beyond Debate on Same Sex Unions, November 3, 2012
Edward Gilbreth””South Carolina Episcopal schism: Predictable, Understandable, November 3, 2012
(Living Church) Mark McCall on South Carolina””Dumbing Abandonment Down, October 31, 2012
(CEN) South Carolina expelled from the Episcopal Church October 26, 2012
Two Letters to the Editor of the Local Paper on the Diocese of South Carolina Situation, October 24, 2012 at 6:15 am
+ Bishop Mark Lawrence’s April Address given in England – Transcript October 22, 2012 at 12:54 pm
+ Local Paper front Page””Episcopalians on both sides of the schism feeling the pain October 22, 2012 at 7:29 am
+ John Stott on how opposition to Christian truth unfolds October 22, 2012 at 7:00 am
+ Episcopal Church Hits Bottom, Keeps Digging””Robert Munday on South Carolina Developments October 22, 2012
+ (One News Now) Bible-believing South Carolina Episcopal Bishop Penalized October 22, 2012 at 5:30 am
+ A.S. Haley””Once Again, Conflicts Galore on the Disciplinary Board for Bishops October 20, 2012 at 1:02 pm
+ (Island Packet) “Local Episcopal churches bracing for possible switch to Anglican banner” October 20, 2012 at 8:00 am
+ Church Times article on the Action Taken Against S.C. Bishop Lawrence and its Results October 20, 2012 at 7:45 am
+ A Christian Post Story on the Diocese of South Carolina Developments October 20, 2012 at 7:30 am
+ Local Paper Front Page””Episcopalians react to ongoing church conflict October 19, 2012 at 7:30 am
+ A Longer AP Story on the Action Taken Against the Bishop and Diocese of S.C. and its Results

[Earlier entries are being reconstructed]

WELCOME TO TITUS ONE NINE – this entry is sticky – new entries below

Thanks to Kevin Kallsen at Anglican TV for these videos from the Mere Anglicanism Conference 2013 which you may watch below in the order they were given in together with text where available. We will be rotating them so that one shows above the fold. Also here are the Speaker Biographies and the Conference Schedule

[7] THE WITNESS OF DIETRICH BONHOEFFER – ERIC METAXAS

________________________________________________________________

Thursday, January 24
[1] ST PAUL: PASSIONATE FOR CHRIST – DR PETER WALKER – SERMON AT EVENSONG [Acts 22 and 2 Corinthians 5]

“even I cannot miss the fact that Mere Anglicanism this year, meets at a critical time in the history of the life of the Diocese of South Carolina, where clergy and people are having to make tough decisions about how to turn and face those who are opposed to them; and about precisely where to take their stand. And when faced with tough decisions, we all need in the words of Psalm 77 which I was reading myself this morning to seek the Lord and for our spirits to make a diligent search, to be asking hard questions even of God himself; but then going back to find a bedrock of conviction on which we can take a firm stand, going back to God’s clear actions in redemption history in the past.

Well that hard bedrock of conviction I suggest for all of us can be found by looking together at our other New Testament reading from 2 Corinthians 5 where we see deep truths which Paul had been relying on……”
Transcript may be found here.

Friday, January 25
[2] EPIPHANY – FIVE EUREKA MOMENTS – BISHOP PAUL BARNETT

“… I do not intend to dwell on the negatives but the positives and to do so in terms of my personal discoveries over the 55 years of my Christian journey. ”˜Discovery’ is not the right word because it puts the emphasis on me. ”˜Epiphany’, or ”˜epiphanies’ would be better because these discoveries are really ”˜revelations’ from God, God-given insights. ”˜Flesh and blood’ does not discover truth about God; God must reveal it….”
Text from which talk is taken

[3] BEHOLD THE MAN, WHOSE NAME IS BRANCH – DR ALLEN ROSS

[4] THE UNIQUE AND UNIVERSAL CHRIST – BISHOP MICHAEL NAZIR-ALI

[5] JESUS IS THE KING – FESTIVE EUCHARIST SERMON – BISHOP PAUL BARNETT [John 19:1-16]

Saturday, January 26
[6] PAUL’S WITNESS TO TO JESUS THE SON OF GOD – DR DAVID WENHAM

[7] THE WITNESS OF DIETRICH BONHOEFFER – ERIC METAXAS

The Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University publishes a very informative electronic newsletter about religious developments all over the world. On January 12, 2013, the newsletter carried a story originally published in the Buffalo News, about Joelle Silver, a high school science teacher in a community in upstate New York called Cheektowaga. This melodiously named place, now a suburb of Buffalo, is located in the general vicinity of the so-called Burnt-Over District, which in the nineteenth century was a hotbed of Protestant revivals and other charismatic movements (the Mormons originated in the same neighborhood). Silver (a photo shows her to be an attractive young woman) is a committed Evangelical Christian, thus more or less in continuity with the regional religious history (although the town now has a large Polish community unlikely to be strongly Protestant).

It so happens that Cheektowaga, or at least its high school, also contains a militantly secularist teenager. This individual (no name given in the story) took umbrage at Silver’s displaying a variety of religious objects in the classroom, including posters with religious messages and a “prayer request box” belonging to a students’ Bible study group. The offended student alerted the Freedom from Religion Foundation, a militantly secularist organization operating out of Madison, Wisconsin. In response to its intervention the school ordered Silver to remove her religious materials from the classroom.

Silver sued the school authorities in U.S. district court for violating her constitutional right to the free exercise of religion.

Read it all.

Last week, orthodox Christians convened at the historical St. Philip’s Church to participate in theological discussions at the Mere Anglicanism Conference. Most of the attendees expressed support for the Diocese of South Carolina under Bishop Mark Lawrence, which has been forced out of the Episcopal Church through heavy-handed persecution against traditional Christians within the denomination. Ironically, revisionist Episcopalians met only eight blocks away to reorganize the rump diocese loyal to the national Episcopal Church, USA under Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori.

Mere Anglicanism started off on January 24th with a traditional evensong from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer with the Rev. Dr. Leander Harding of Trinity School of Ministry acting as officiant. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Paul Barnett lectured the next morning on five epiphanies that convinced him of the historicity of Christ. The former Anglican Bishop of North Sydney emphasized the powerful manuscript evidence, the archaeological-geographical credibility of the Biblical record, the multiple attestation to miracles, and the existence of external hostile sources. He likewise excoriated the textual skepticism and deconstructionism that dominates many seminaries today. “The health in the seminary influences the health of the ministers, and the health in the ministers influences the health in the churches,” he surmised.

Read it all.