Saturday Night at the Cafe: It's All Over Now, Baby Blue

Here's a bootlegged version of the classic song (and inspiration for this blog) by Bob Dylan from the Manchester, England concert at the Free Trade Hall in 1965. A year later, Dylan would return to the Free Trade Hall with his band for possibly one of the greatest rock concerts of all time (erroneously called the Concert at Prince Albert Hall for decades - even the official release of the long-coveted bootlegged concert called it under that name as well, though identified the concert as actually having taken place in Manchester rather than London). At that Free Trade Hall concert in 1966 Dylan hears a disgruntled member of the folk-inspired and disappointed audience shout out at him "Judas!"

Dylan heard the epithet and sarcastically hurled back from the stage, saying into the mic "I don't believe you," in his hipster drawl of the time, strumming his electric guitar several times and then adding, "You're a liar." Then he colorfully directed his band to go into a most amazing performance of Like a Rolling Stone (another extraordinary full performance of the song from that period is here).

It's hard not to recall in his response of "I don't believe you," of another song he wrote two years earlier with that title, I Don't Believe You. The closing stanza of that song reads:

I'm leavin' today,
I'll be on my way
Of this I can't say very much.
But if you want me to,
I can be just like you
An' pretend that we never have touched.
An' if anybody asks me, "Is it easy to forget?"
I'll say, "It's easily done,
You just pick anyone,
An' pretend that you never have met."
B. Dylan 1964

Even here in tonight's featured recording made a year earlier in 1965 at the Free Trade Hall, Dylan knew that it was all about to change for him - he'd all ready recorded Like a Rolling Stone and about two months after this concert, Dylan would plug in his guitar  at Newport and change the face of American popular music. In this 1965 recording, he warns that same audience that would call him Judas a year later that it was indeed, if they had ears to hear, all changing with the performance of the song that concluded his landmark album, Bringing it All Back Home.

Here's It's All Over Now, Baby Blue:



Leave your stepping stones behind, something calls for you.
Forget the dead you've left, they will not follow you.
The vagabond who's rapping at your door
Is standing in the clothes that you once wore.
Strike another match, go start anew
And it's all over now, Baby Blue.

B. Dylan 1965

Excellent analysis on recent outbreak of "friendly fire" now up at Hills of the North

BB NOTE: An excellent analysis on the recent oubreak of friendly fire (check out here and here and here) from the author of the blog Hills of the North. The author offers an in-depth commentary from someone still inside The Episcopal Church on the recent outbreak of "friendly fire" between the remnant of ACI and some supporters of the new Anglican province in North America - as well as those that have left the Anglican Communion all together.

What is friendly fire? Wiki describes it as "a term originally adopted by the United States military, refers to fire from one's own side or allied forces, as opposed to fire coming from enemy forces." Most incidents of friendly fire come from the "fog of war" (errors of position and identification and position - and we've known both along this journey) and some are far worse as intentional acts of retribution from inside the ranks.

One difference I might have with the author is that I do believe that there are strategies for the orthodox remnant inside TEC, but it's far more stealth-like, a kind of French Resistance - what I might call the Swamp Fox Strategy (both theologically and politically). Such a strategy, though, means remaining engaged in the structures of TEC and not just keeping one's head down to avoid the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune - rather being deliberate and wise about when to speak and when to be silent, tuning in, not tuning out. And to remember that one does have friends. Even the Swamp Fox had the French as allies. Those friendships and their descendants must endure - it's our calling as brothers and sisters in Christ, the Blood that ties us together runs deep, very deep indeed, as we continue to learn.

Here's an excerpt from Hills of the North:

At the end of the day, though, the ACI lost the argument about whether a new province should be brought into being. They lost less because of the weakness of their arguments, or their small and shrinking constituency, than because of the mendacity and corruption of the Episcopal Church and the bulk of its bishops. The political reality was that there was a determined and orchestrated marginalization and purge of the orthodox from the Episcopal Church that was not going to be stopped--not by the plain language of the canon of Scripture, not by the plain language of the canons of the church, and certainly not by ACI white papers. Even if the ACI's arguments were the better ones, they never had a chance of success. This was not the ACI's fault (although I suspect even they would admit to some naivete about how corrupt the Episcopal Church had become). It was likewise not the fault of those leaving the Episcopal Church.

One can infer from the words of ACI supporters, though, that they attribute this failure precisely to who have left. This is certainly an understandable perspective, and as a purely mathematical proposition it probably is true--if none of the orthodox had left through the years we would not be where we are today. It does become progressively more difficult to argue an inside strategy when there's virtually no one left inside. And surely they must feel abandoned. Not only have the orthodox left by the thousands, many, if not most, of those orthodox once fully shared the ACI perspective of staying in and at least making a witness (about all that can be done now, as the ACI admits; there really is no inside strategy, and can't be.) It is easy to understand how they must feel, since there's hardly an orthodox American Anglican who has not been exactly where they find themselves: trying their darnedest to be an authentic orthodox voice within the Episcopal Church while all around everyone else is bailing.

What the ACI did not seem to understand was that for many the decision to leave has been a gut-wrenching one, involving not just grown-up, mature believers who could have perhaps make the sacrifices to continue fighting within what has become an apostate church. No, this was a decision involving children and those not so mature in the faith, where positive and lifelong harm was likely to be done if they stayed. It was not an issue of being more comfortable--indeed, the effect of leaving the church of one's birth or choice was often to be thrown into a wilderness of sorts, without any Anglican church of any sort. For those leaving it was almost always simply an issue of faithfulness.

Moreover, the decision to create a new Anglican province was an affirmative decision to remain Anglican, with the alternative being to abandon Anglicanism entirely (as many, perhaps most, of those who have left had done). However flawed the new province may be, it is in fact an effort to maintain an Anglican witness, and not have all North American Anglicanism disappear as the Episcopal Church descends into irrelevancy.

It always seemed the ACI viewed the entire matter mainly as an issue of ecclesiology. But to most of those leaving it has been a quintessentially pastoral matter, begging for a pastoral response--something seemingly outside the ACI's ken and reflex and remit. To be fair, the ACI has been trying to approach the issues dispassionately and in scholarly fashion, so in their view to maximize their effectiveness. At some point, though, such an approach seems very much stuck in an ivory tower, and very much removed from what's happening to individual families in real churches. To those reading the various ACI missives, it was akin to going to a doctor to get treatment for a painful condition, only to have the physician review with you all the great scientific work that was happening in the area and its many implications--before sending you on your way no better off.

Or, perhaps, referring to James 2 as I was advised to do, it seems a bit like being told to "go in peace, be warm and filled" without having been given any means to accomplish that.

In short, it's pretty easy to understand why the ACI vexes so many as they do, even though for some reason it's not so easy for ACI sorts to grasp.

The ACI lost the argument. That's lost--past tense. The argument is over because the province is here. Discussion now about whether the province was a smart thing or not is purely academic. And as an academic matter it belongs to the historians, and it's far too soon to start making historical judgments now. Which is to say there's very little at this point the ACI can say about the new province that will be constructive, either to the situation at hand or to history (that is, unless they accept the province as reality and begin to offer thoughts as to how it can be assimilated into the Communion).

But still one gets the sense that some on the ACI side feel it necessary to justify their criticism of the new province, doing so even long after it was clear that the effort would proceed. ACI quotations critical of the new province showed up in press reports of the new province's launch. One has to wonder what possibly is motivating them at this point to spend such energy against the new province, instead of against the heterodoxy, canonical abuse, and Communion-breaking actions of the Episcopal Church. As the ever-irenic Dean Munday earlier wrote, "I believe the ACI's efforts would win the support of a greater number of people if they spent more time telling us how they propose to save the ship and less time knocking holes in other people's lifeboats." Surely he was right.

Read the whole thing - please - here.

Public Rites for Blessings of Same Gender Unions gets Bishop's Approval at Diocesan Convention for the Diocese of Los Angeles

Susan's got her story here. And with this in mind - the next in a series of recent rulings by diocesan councils and conventions and their TEC bishops to open the floodgates for public rites for same gender unions and marriages in The Episcopal Church (and we wonder why Rowan Williams is not shutting down the creation of a new Anglican province in North America?) - this song comes to mind:

Storytime at the Cafe: It all began with a young son who wanted to play football ...

Our guest storyteller for today's Storytime at the Cafe is Roger Schellenberg, rector of Church of the Spirit in Alexandria, VA. He brings a timely and rather humorous story about, well, playing the game of football. And then things go awry, as they often do when grownups get involved. So grab a bowl of popcorn and your hot mugs of chai and butterbeer and listen as Roger tells the story:

Imagine for a moment that your son plays on the local football team. He's only 14 years old, but he loves the sport and wants to improve so he can play in High School and later in College. You have been helping him along with his "career" for years, playing with him in the backyard after school, watching games on TV together on weekends, supporting him at his games, helping to raise money for uniforms and equipment for his team. During that time you've made friends with the other parents and supporters of the team.

Only as time went by, you noticed some of the parents were not of the same opinion when it came to the games. It turned out that there were enough parents who felt the same way they were a majority and voted in a new leader for the Sponsor's Committee. With the new season about to start, they replaced the retiring coach with a new guy who had some fresh, progressive ideas about practice and game play. With the support of the other parents, they chose to make changes to the team.

In the future, the rules would state that tackling was no longer allowed, since it tended to cause injuries and hurt feelings. Instead, the team would wear flags and many of the rules from flag football would be incorporated into the games, in the belief that this would be better for everyone, and that such a development was more in line with the needs of children who were still growing. These changes would also allow greater participation on the team of people who were not as large or as aggressive as were needed in the old days. This would give other people a chance to enjoy being on the team. Indeed, the parents felt that not to allow others to participate was inappropriate in some way. Physical requirements for strength and size, for gender or even for talent, seemed all too restrictive for a team to be truly inclusive.

Of course, this was not what you had signed up for or worked for all these years. How would your son learn the skills he needed to use on future football teams ... teams where flags were not used and tackling was the standard operating principle? When you spoke up at the team meetings, you soon found your comments were dismissed because you were not in the majority, and you no longer had the support of the coach. Instead the other parents suggested that you were not being very sensitive or progressive or supportive. In fact, the other parents stated clearly that you no longer seemed to be "loyal" to the team. One even remarked that if you didn't like it you could leave, just make sure you don't take the team jersey or your son's pads or anything else that might belong to the team.

You heard later the Sponsor's Committee and Coach had suggested the only people who were upset with the changes were a small, no, a very small group, as if the wishes or concerns of small groups was too small to be of interest to the rest of the group.

It was remarks like this that seemed so jarring, so odd. You looked back and could see all the work you had done raising money to support the team, sitting through the rainy days on cold, metal bleachers to cheer for the team even when they were losing 48-9. What's more, the changes made no sense ... The team was no longer really playing football, at least not football anyone else would recognize.

And what would the League say about these changes?

Certainly, a large majority of the other teams in the league did not agree to the rules changes. A few did, because there were also parents on other teams hoping for a less traditional approach to the sport. That's when the League stepped in. The League officials wanted to remind each and every team of the League rules, under which each team had to abide. However, your Coach and team parents stated there was no need for such rules since it spoiled the creative nature of the game, and that the kids should be allowed to play instead of having the league official intervene. After all, it was their team. Of course this response only baffled the League officials who started fielding complaints from other teams who stated they no longer want to play against your son's team, that the team should be kicked out of the league for not playing by the same rules to which everyone else had agreed.

Of course all of this made it into the local press, with the corresponding articles reporting on how the new developments in football might be worth considering since more people would be allowed to play and there would be fewer injuries. The League was seen as interfering, and yes, there were a couple of comments from those not supporting the changes but again they were referred to as a very small group, as if the size of the group of dissenters meant their opinions were of little regard.

The suggestion by League officials that your son's team start it's own league was met with a cool rejection from your Coach. He wondered why the other teams in the league had not been sensitive or wise enough to accept the new developments as so very worthwhile. "And we're not going anywhere," he commented, "We have every bit as much a right to play in this league as anyone else."

The longer the impasse continued, the more confusing it was to your son who wanted to learn how to play football, and instead practiced something else and had to listen to endless arguments over rules developments and League interference. It was no surprise your son asked to join a different team in the League for the following season began. It was also no surprise that the team he had left behind seemed to have half the players it once had on the field. Of course the players who were there were very clear that they were playing football the way it should be played, even if sometimes the other teams simply chose not to show up for the games instead of play by a new set of rules. When the other teams did show up things were quite confused, and the home team lost time and again.

One good thing happened, though. Because of all those times when the other teams did not show up, the Coach congratulated the team for winning by forfeit. This meant the home team finished their season 8-4 and boasted of a winning season. As the coach was heard to say at the year end banquet, "I want to thank all of you who have been loyal to the team. With our first winning year behind us now I can clearly state, all is well."

Ordained in the Episcopal Church in 1984, Roger Schellenberg has served in churches in New York, Virginia, Maine and Massachusetts before starting Church of the Spirit in his home in 1997. Learn more about Roger's parish, Church of the Spirit in Alexandria, VA (Diocese of Virginia) here.

HP Watch: The Lexicon is finally going to be published - next month!

All four hundred and something pages! Read the whole story on the upcoming publication of the Harry Potter Lexicon - finally - over at Shell Cottage here. In the meantime, we're toasting Steve with rounds of Butterbeer for all. Check out the story!

That being said, we're in the throws of reading the just-published Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling. For some reason, we keep thinking of this as we read the tales. Stay tuned.

Primates Council releases statement on the Province of the Anglican Church in North America

via e-mail. Primates of the GAFCON Primates’ Council meeting in London have issued the following statement about the Province of the Anglican Church in North America:

We welcome the news of the North American Anglican Province in formation. We fully support this development with our prayer and blessing, since it demonstrates the determination of these faithful Christians to remain authentic Anglicans.

North American Anglicans have been tragically divided since 2003 when activities condemned by the clear teaching of Scripture and the vast majority of the Anglican Communion were publicly endorsed. This has left many Anglicans without a proper spiritual home. The steps taken to form the new Province are a necessary initiative. A new Province will draw together in unity many of those who wish to remain faithful to the teaching of God’s Word, and also create the highest level of fellowship possible with the wider Anglican Communion.

Furthermore, it releases the energy of many Anglican Christians to be involved in mission, free from the difficulties of remaining in fellowship with those who have so clearly disregarded the Word of God.

6th December, 2008 AD
GAFCON Communications Office, Sydney

Rowan Williams hosts Anglican primates at Canterbury Cathedral for emergency summit

BB NOTE: This is a general overview of early observations of what happened today in Canterbury. Stay tuned for more details. And please keep up the prayers.

Observers now report that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, hosted five other Anglican primates representing the majority of the membership of the Anglican Communion today at the historic Canterbury Cathedral for an emergency summit.

Early reports indicate that The Most Rev'd Peter Akinola, Primate of Nigeria, The Most Rev'd Gregory Venables, Primate of The Southern Cone, The Most Rev'd Emmanuel Kolini, Primate of Rwanda, The Most Rev'd Benjamin Nzmibi, Primate of Kenya, and The Most Rev'd Henry Orombi, Primate of Uganda (not sure about West Africa and Tanzania) joined the Archbishop of Canterbury for a focused time of prayer, conversation, as well as to share a meal together as they discussed the current state of the Anglican Communion and the establishment of the new Anglican province in North America. Observers report that the prayers and conversations continued into the afternoon and were deliberate, comprehensive, and open.

Other Anglican primates have signaled they will also officially recognize the creation of a new Anglican province in North America, called the Anglican Church in North America, including the primate of the Middle East, The Most Rev'd Mouneer Anis, and the primate of South East Asia, The Most Rev'd John Chew, as well as others. In addition, senior bishops in the Church of England and The Episcopal Church itself, as well as bishops from other provinces from around the world have also indicated their support for the establishment of the new province.

Mouneer Anis will host the Primates Meeting, one of the four official Anglican "instruments of unity" as the primates meet together for the first time in two years in Egypt (Jan. 31-Feb. 5).

Ruth Gledhill has more at her blog here, though not sure why she thinks nothing happened. She's British after all - she should know that British-forms of diplomacy are not like the American-sort, which apparently is one reason why we have new President of the United States. Of course, she does then say her headline is not quite accurate. What's up, Ruth? Rather have Wimpy's than Whoppers?

Time Out: It all started with a deer antler

What does one do when one has an unexpected encounter with a Deer Antler? Why, go late night shopping at WalMart, of course!

Join BabyBlue and her old friend Amy as they take to the aisles of WalMart, knowing that when the going gets tough, the tough go shopping.

Christianity Today: The sound of a shofar haralds creation of the Anglican Church in North America

From here. Excerpts below:

In a history-making gesture, conservative evangelical Anglicans, deeply alienated by the decline of the U.S. denomination, sounded a shofar to herald the creation of the Anglican Church of North America.

On a snowy Wednesday evening, about 1,000 worshipers, mostly from the U.S. and Canada, gathered in Wheaton, Illinois, for a worship service to celebrate the creation of the new entity, which comprises 656 congregations, 800 clergy, 30 bishops, and 100,000 people in regular worship. They represent the evangelical, charismatic, and Anglo-Catholic traditions within Anglicanism.

...

Over the last 10 years, the worldwide Anglican Communion, representing about 75 million Christians, has been embattled due to controversies over sex, power, theology, and money. The 2003 consecration of the openly homosexual Gene Robinson as the bishop of New Hampshire was one of many flashpoints.

The centerpiece of Wednesday's service was public affirmation of the Jerusalem Declaration, drafted by 1,100 conservatives, including 291 bishops, this past June when they gathered for GAFCON, the Global Anglican Future Conference. The declaration condemns "overt heterodoxy" as well as the lack of discipline against anyone teaching a "false gospel," such as full inclusion for noncelibate homosexuals.

After the bishops at Wednesday's service signed the declaration, hundreds of worshipers lined up to sign it as well. At the beginning of the service, a young man walked to the center of the stage and blew a shofar that had been purchased in Jerusalem. The service was punctuated by ecstatic worship and two standing ovations for Duncan, who was removed from Episcopal office by his former fellow bishops in September. Duncan is among four diocesan bishops who have taken their dioceses out of TEC. Those four dioceses are in San Joaquin, California; Quincy, Illinois; Fort Worth, Texas; and Pittsburgh.

New Constitution
Earlier in the day on Wednesday, top leaders adopted a provisional constitution that will allow continued existence for current organizations, continued oversight by overseas archbishops from South America and Africa, the use of different prayer books, and the ordination of women.

It commits the leaders to involvement in a diocese, cluster of churches, or a church-based network within the new province. The constitution creates a provincial council, a tribunal, a joint operating budget, and the office of provincial archbishop.

The next steps forward for the new province come quickly. Today, December 4, top Anglican archbishops who support the creation of the new province are meeting in London. Mostly from the Global South, the archbishops are expected to begin the process of official recognition of the new province and later meet with Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the foremost leader of global Anglicanism.

Read the whole thing here. Tip of the tinfoil to ElfGirl.

Prayers as Primates Council meets with the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams

Gracious Father, we pray for they holy Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen.

Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to thy never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come, knowing that thou art doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light riseth up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what thou wouldest have us to do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in thy light we may see light, and in thy straight path may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Almighty God, who pourest out on all who desire it the spirit of grace and of supplication: Deliver us, when we draw near to thee, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind, that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections we may worship thee in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Almighty God, who hast promised to hear the petitions of those who ask in thy Son's Name: We beseech thee mercifully to incline thine ear to us who have now made our prayers and supplications unto thee; and grant that those things which we have faithfully asked according to thy will, may effectually be obtained, to the relief of our necessity, and to the setting forth of thy glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Off to the Bookstore: The Tales of Beedle the Bard on sale today!

We're off to pick up our copy today. If you've all ready read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, you will be quite familiar with this book, a collection of children's stories, with Hermoine Granger inheriting Albus Dumbledore's personal copy which she read constantly while on the road, as it were, with Ron and Harry. Apparently this edition comes complete with Dumbledore's own annotations.

The original edition was seven personally handwritten and illustrated copies by author J. K. Rowling which she gave to special friends. One of these copies, however, was set aside for a charity auction which went for just under $4 million by the online bookseller Amazon.com, making it the highest selling price achieved at auction for a modern literary manuscript.

All of the proceeds for the officially published edition will also go to charity.

What is better will not be taken away

Caught this gathering of some of the ordained women as they gathered with Bob Duncan last night after the celebration service marking the birth of the new Anglican Church in North America. I am reminded of that wonderful passage in the tenth chapter of the Gospel of Luke where Jesus comes to visit the home of Mary and Martha.

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Luke 10"38-42

Amen.

Bishop Bob Duncan chosen to lead new Anglican church in North America

LIVE: Celebration of the launching of a new Anglican province in North America

The Celebration Service begins at 8:30 p.m. (EST).

Farewell Odetta

Can we just take a moment and bid farewell to one of the greatest of American singers, Odetta, who passed away yesterday. God bless you, great lady - what an amazing gift of music - and of life - you gave us.

LIVE: Launch of constitution for new Anglican province in North America TONIGHT!

LIVE BLOGGING NEWS CONFERENCE

7:17 p.m. - Bishop Duncan: The question on founding a province on theological or scripture grounds - if you look at the all the founding documents on the Church of England you'll find that all the documents are scriptural and theological, like the 39 Articles, which all the clergy were bound to subscribe to. The creation of the American church that those articles were no longer were required to be subscribed to. That theology was enshrined in the Book of Common Prayer. In the 20th century, the Book of Common Prayer no longer binds the commuion together and provinces think they no longer have to do like everyone else, or subscribe to the same creed. So in this province, if you no longer have to subscribe to the creed, then you have others that say, no the church is about creed and about who Jesus is. Which is what the reformation was all about - and what is happening now, a new reformation all over the West, and Benedict would say the same thing.

7:11 p.m. Christianity Today asks about the Anglican Covenant. Bishop Duncan responds: The Anglican Covenant is before the whole communion, the provinces of the Global South have been working hard on this. We will rejoice if the Anglican Covenant emerges and is embraced across the communion. The TEC primate said it would not be considered right now - that it's too soon, even though the Windsor Report calls for it. We are certainly allies with the folks who call themselves Communion Partners, dioceses who stand theologically against the direction of TEC but stand within TEC. We expect that TEC, because it has a super-majority for its theological innovations will run the Communion Partners out of town. Representatives from those dioceses have been present.

7:10 p.m - Bishop Minns: Each communion province providing oversight is different. We anticipate that the relationships will stay strong and partnerships will grow, but it is transitional, not intended to be permanent. But each province is different and each will will work differently - but the Anglican primates are the ones that asked for this.

7:03 p.m. - Updating the background on the Anglican congregations and churches in Canada. They remain under the authority of Archbishop Venables and the Southern Cone. The jurisdictions will have the promise and in the meantime remain under the covering of Archbishop Venables.

6:58 - We now have the full text of the provisional constitution and canons up below.

6:55 Bishop Duncan - the mainstream TEC has separated from mainstream Anglicanism and mainstream Christianity. TEC has been free to say that what they want to do, despite scripture, they can continue to do. Many in TEC priests and bishops are not able to say that Jesus is the only way to the Father. Our chief concerns is that TEC has taken itself to judge scripture and has been unwilling to discipline bishops, priests, theologians who teach that Jesus is not the only means of salvation. TEC is quite willing to discipline those who do believe what Christians have all ready believed.

Traditional morality and marriage are also issues that have separated TEC. The Christian Church and the NT describe marriage as a life-long union, marriage is likened to the relationship between Jesus and His Church which can't be broken, like a husband and a wife that looks like the relationship we have with our God. TEC has not been willing to hold to that standard.

6:52 Bishop Duncan - ownership of properties varies from province to province. Left the matter of Prayer Book - any Prayer Book used by the local churches will continue to be used; women's ordination - what is true among us, many of us ordain to the diaconate, to the priesthood which will continue - because the Anglican Communion has not agreed they will not make women bishops at this time because it wouldn't bring unity and not be universally accepted.


6:50 p.m. Bishop Minns: Process was a miracle with the prayers of the people. Dr. Howell - we focused on Jesus, that certainly was very much prominent in our deliberations. This is not about creating a place to just get along, but about doing the work that our Lord has set us out to do. You can a lot accomplished.

6:49: 100,000 people in the pews on Sunday morning in 700 churches.

6:47: Bishop Duncan asked about Archbishop of Canterbury: Bob Duncan and Rowan Williams are in regular communication. ABC asked for a meeting that they had. What Rowan Williams will do is for him to say. We have put ourselves forward inline with the Windsor Report and across the Anglican Communion this last five years - we stand in the mainstream of Anglicanism. Will the Archbishop recognize the mainstream Christianity?

6:45 p.m. Christianity Today: TEC has released a statement saying they are the only Anglican body. Bishop Duncan: The Lord is displacing TEC, it has been in extraordinary decline over the past fifty years. It loses more than a 1,000 people a week in Sunday attendance, 50,000 a year. We are focused on mission, growing, planting new congregation, and concerned to be an authentic Christian presence. It would be correct to say that 22 out of 38 Anglican provinces have declared that they are out of communion with The Episcopal Church.

Bishop Duncan says its their anticipation that a majority of of Anglican provinces will recognize the new province. It is not ours to determine - the Lord blesses what He blesses.

6:43: Cynthia Brust - We have here a provisional constitution. What has standout is the mission-focus. We know that the most effective means is through Church Planting. We will be driven by mission, not by structure.

6:42: Charlie Masters of Canada: 24 churches in Canada have been under the care of the Province of the Southern Cone. Fortunate to walk with Bishop Duncan and those who became the Common Cause Partnership. Speaks on the Jerusalem Declaration and statement from GAFCON and then application, the call for a North American Province. Many of us were deeply moved and now to be part of this historical day when a constitution has been drafted as the primates asked for us - this is what we are so grateful for and for Archbishop Venables giving us a home.

6:40 p.m. Dr. Michael Howell: Wonderful this day is - some have been praying for this day for decades. The important thing is that God has given us a new opportunity, many of us thought this would not be possible. Instead of focusing on those things that divide us, but on the things that unite us - the uniqueness of Jesus Christ and the trustworthiness of Holy Scripture. Looks forward working together to establish the biblically-driven Anglican church for mission for God's glory.

6:38 p.m. Bishop Martyn Minns: Thanks for the support to all those around the world who have offered support and inspiration during this time. Now we move to a new phase and grateful for the covering of the leading archbishops and for their care.

6:35 Bishop Bob Duncan: The Common Cause Partnership was asked by the Primates Council to present them with a constitution. It was done in a spirit of unity, every article of the constitution was examined individually and passed unanimously as were all the canons by all the partners of Common Cause.

The work will be completed in Texas in six months (June 2009) for the provincial assembly to ratify the constitution by representatives of all the networks and jurisdictions.


6:32 p.m. Bishop Bob Duncan, Bishop Martyn Minns, Dr. Michael Howell, and Cynthia Brust are speaking at the press conference. Bishop Bob Duncan is up first.

6:27 p.m. We'll be live blogging both here and on Twitter and a bit on Facebook tonight.

Provisional Constitution

Preamble

In the Name of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

We are Anglicans in North America united by our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the trustworthiness of the Holy Scriptures and presently members of the Common Cause Partnership.

We know ourselves to be members of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

We are grieved by the current state of brokenness within the Anglican Communion prompted by those who have embraced erroneous teaching and who have rejected a repeated call to repentance.

We are grateful for the encouragement of Primates of the worldwide Anglican Communion who gathered at Jerusalem in June 2008 and called on us to establish a new Province in North America.

We believe that this Constitution is faithful to that call and consistent with the Historic Faith and Order of the Church and we invite the prayers of all faithful Anglicans as we seek to be obedient disciples of Jesus Christ our One Lord and Savior.

ARTICLE I – FUNDAMENTAL DECLARATIONS OF THE PROVINCE

As the Anglican Church in North America (the Province), being a part of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church of Christ, we believe and confess Jesus Christ to be the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no one comes to the Father but by Him. Therefore, we identify the following eight elements as characteristic of the Anglican Way, and essential for membership:

1. We confess the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments to be the inspired Word of God, containing all things necessary for salvation, and to be the final authority and unchangeable standard for Christian faith and life.
2. We confess Baptism and the Supper of the Lord to be Sacraments ordained by Christ Himself in the Gospel, and thus to be ministered with unfailing use of His words of institution and of the elements ordained by Him.
3. We confess the godly historic Episcopate as an inherent part of the apostolic faith and practice, and therefore as integral to the fullness and unity of the Body of Christ.
4. We confess as proved by most certain warrants of Holy Scripture the historic faith of the undivided church as declared in the three Catholic Creeds: the Apostles', the Nicene, and the Athanasian.
5. Concerning the seven Councils of the undivided Church, we affirm the teaching of the first four Councils and the Christological clarifications of the fifth, sixth and seventh Councils, in so far as they are agreeable to the Holy Scriptures.
6. We receive The Book of Common Prayer as set forth by the Church of England in 1662, together with the Ordinal attached to the same, as a standard for Anglican doctrine and discipline, and, with the Books which preceded it, as the standard for the Anglican tradition of worship.
7. We receive the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion of 1562, taken in their literal and grammatical sense, as expressing the Anglican response to certain doctrinal issues controverted at that time, and as expressing fundamental principles of authentic Anglican belief.
8. We affirm the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) Statement and Jerusalem Declaration issued 29 June 2008.

In all these things, the Anglican Church in North America is determined by the help of God to hold and maintain, as the Anglican Way has received them, the doctrine, discipline and worship of Christ and to transmit the same, unimpaired, to our posterity.

We seek to be and remain in full communion with all Anglican Churches, Dioceses and Provinces that hold and maintain the Historic Faith, Doctrine, Sacraments and Discipline of the one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

ARTICLE II – THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE PROVINCE

1. The founding entities of the Anglican Church in North America are the members of the Common Cause Partnership namely:
   
   
   • The American Anglican Council
   • The Anglican Coalition in Canada
   • The Anglican Communion Network
   • The Anglican Mission in the Americas
   • The Anglican Network in Canada
   • The Convocation of Anglicans in North America
   • Forward in Faith – North America
   • The Missionary Convocation of Kenya
   • The Missionary Convocation of the Southern Cone
   • The Missionary Convocation of Uganda
   • The Reformed Episcopal Church
2. New dioceses, clusters or networks (whether regional or affinity-based) may be added to the Province by invitation of the Provincial Council, pursuant to the process outlined by canon.
3. Member dioceses (or groups of dioceses organized into distinct jurisdictions) are free to withdraw from the Province by action of their own governing bodies at any time.

ARTICLE III – THE MISSION OF THE PROVINCE

The mission of the Province is so to present Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit that people everywhere will come to know Him as Lord and serve Him as King in the fellowship of the Church. The chief agents of this mission to extend the Kingdom of God are the people of God.

The work of the Province is to equip each member of the Province so that they may reconcile the world to Christ, plant new congregations, and make disciples of all nations; baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and, and teaching them to obey everything commanded by Jesus Christ.

The Province will seek to represent orthodox North American Anglicans in the councils of the Anglican Communion.

ARTICLE IV – THE STRUCTURE OF THE PROVINCE

1. The fundamental agency of mission in the Province is the local congregation.
2. Congregations and clergy are related together in a diocese, cluster, or network (whether regional or affinity-based), united by a bishop.
3. Each diocese, cluster or network (whether regional or affinity-based) shall be represented in the Provincial Assembly.
4. Dioceses, clusters or networks (whether regional or affinity-based) may band together for common mission, or as distinct jurisdictions at the sub-Provincial level.
5. Each bishop in active episcopal ministry shall be included in a Provincial College of Bishops as provided by canon.
6. There shall be a Provincial Council elected by the Provincial Assembly.
7. This Constitution recognizes the right of each diocese, cluster or network (whether regional or affinity-based) to establish and maintain its own governance, constitution and canons not inconsistent with the provisions of

ARTICLE V – AREAS OF PROVINCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

The Provincial Council, subject to ratification by the Provincial Assembly, has power to make canons ordering our common life in respect to the following matters:

1. Safeguarding the Faith and Order of the Province
2. Supporting the mission of the Province
3. Common Worship
4. Standards for ordination
5. Clergy support and discipline
6. Ecumenical and international relations
7. Norms for Holy Matrimony
8. Providing for the proper administration of the Province

ARTICLE VI – THE PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY

1. The chief work of the Provincial Assembly shall be strengthening the mission of the Province.
2. The Provincial Assembly shall ratify Constitutional amendments and Canons adopted by the Provincial Council. The process of ratification is set forth by canon.
3. The Provincial Assembly shall elect the Provincial Council.
4. The Provincial Assembly shall be composed of representatives of all the dioceses, clusters and networks (whether regional or affinity-based) in balance and in number from the laity, bishops and other clergy as from time-to-time determined by canon.
5. The Provincial Assembly may meet as often as annually, but shall meet as an Electing Assembly at least quintennially. Meetings shall be called as provided for by canon.

ARTICLE VII – THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

1. The Provincial Council is the governing body for the Anglican Church in North America and shall have the authority to establish the program and budget of the Province.
2. The Provincial Council shall be composed of an equal number of bishops, clergy and lay persons, chosen by the Provincial Assembly from among its members. Initially, the Provincial Council shall be composed of the members of the Common Cause Leadership Council, as constituted under the Common Cause Articles.
3. Provincial Council members hold office for five years. The term of office ends at the close of the Provincial Assembly meeting which elects the successor.
4. A retiring member of the Provincial Council is eligible for re-election for one additional term, but not for a third.
5. The Provincial Council may appoint up to six persons as full members.
6. The Provincial Council may appoint a deputy chair, a secretary, a treasurer and such other office bearers as it deems necessary.
7. The Provincial Council will meet at least once in each calendar year. A minimum of fifteen days notice must be given for each meeting.
8. Special meetings of the Provincial Council may be called by the Chair or by the request of one-third of the Provincial Council's membership.
9. The Chair with the assistance of the other office bearers will be responsible for the agenda of each Provincial Council meeting. Any member has a right to have items of business placed on the agenda for consideration.
10. The Provincial Council shall have an Executive Committee, whose membership and duties may be established by canon. Initially the Executive Committee shall be composed of the members of the Common Cause Executive Committee, as constituted under the Common Cause Articles.

ARTICLE VIII – THE LIMITS OF PROVINCIAL AUTHORITY

1. The member dioceses, clusters or networks (whether regional or affinity-based) and those dioceses banded together as jurisdictions shall each maintain all authority they do not yield to the Province by their own consent. The powers not delegated to the Province by this constitution nor prohibited by this Constitution to these dioceses or jurisdictions, are reserved to these dioceses or jurisdictions respectively.
2. The Province shall make no canon abridging the authority of any member dioceses, clusters or networks (whether regional or affinity-based) and those dioceses banded together as jurisdictions with respect to its practice regarding the ordination of women to the diaconate or presbyterate.

ARTICLE IX – THE ARCHBISHOP

1. The Archbishop will be known as the Archbishop and Primate of the Anglican Church in North America. The Archbishop will be elected by the College of Bishops.
2. The person elected as Archbishop will hold office for a term of five years concluding at the end of the meeting of the College of Bishops which elects the next Archbishop. An Archbishop who has served one term of office may be elected for a second term of office but not a third. Initially, the Moderator of the Common Cause Partnership shall serve as Archbishop and Primate of the Province.
3. The Archbishop convenes the meetings of the Provincial Assembly, Provincial Council and College of Bishops and represents the Province in the Councils of the Church.

ARTICLE X – COLLEGE OF BISHOPS

1. The chief work of the College of Bishops shall be the propagation and defense of the Faith and Order of the Church, and in service as the visible sign and expression of the Unity of the Church.
2. Each bishop in active episcopal ministry shall be included in the College of Bishops as provided by canon.
3. The College of Bishops shall elect the Archbishop from among its members.
4. The College of Bishops will meet with such frequency as best serves its chief work, and at the call of the Archbishop or of the episcopal members of the Provincial Council.
5. The College of Bishops shall have authority in the election of bishops of the Province which may be: a) consent to an election from a diocese, cluster or network (whether regional or affinity-based), or b) the actual choice and consent from among two or more nominees put forward by a diocese, cluster or network (whether regional or affinity-based), in the manner set forward by canon.

ARTICLE XI – PROVINCIAL TRIBUNAL

There shall be an ecclesiastical court of final decision to be known as the Provincial Tribunal consisting of seven members, both lay and clergy, who shall be appointed by the Provincial Council on such terms and conditions as determined by canon. The jurisdiction of the Provincial Tribunal shall be to determine matters in dispute arising from the Constitution and Canons of the Province and such other matters as may be authorized by canon.

ARTICLE XII – OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY

All church property, both real and personal, owned by each member congregation now and in the future is and shall be solely and exclusively owned by each member congregation and shall not be subject to any trust interest or any other claim of ownership arising out of the canon law of this Province. Where property is held in a different manner by any diocese or grouping, such ownership shall be preserved.

ARTICLE XIII – FINANCES

Each member diocese, cluster or network (whether regional or affinity-based) or any group of dioceses organized into a distinct jurisdiction agree to share the cost of operating the Province as provided by canon.

ARTICLE XIV – REMOVAL FROM MEMBERSHIP

As may be provided by canon, a member diocese, cluster or network (whether regional or affinity-based) or any group of dioceses organized into a distinct jurisdiction may be removed from membership in the Province, after due warning from the Executive Committee, if agreed to by two-thirds of the members present and voting and at least a majority in two of the three orders of bishops, clergy and laity within the Provincial Council.

ARTICLE XV – ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF THIS CONSTITUTION

1. This Constitution has been adopted by the Leadership Council of the Common Cause Partnership serving as initial Provincial Council. It shall be submitted to the Provincial Assembly for ratification at a meeting to be called by the Provincial Council not later than 31 August 2009.
2. This Constitution may be amended by the Provincial Assembly by two-thirds of the members present and voting at any regular or special meeting called for that purpose. Any changes or amendments to the Constitution shall not become effective in less than ninety days following that meeting.

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We certify that the text of the Provisional Constitution set out above is the text of the Provisional Constitution of the Anglican Church in North America adopted by resolution of the Common Cause Leadership Council functioning as Provincial Council on the third day of December in the Year of our Lord 2008.

The Right Reverend Robert Duncan
Moderator of the Common Cause Partnership

The Venerable Charlie Masters
Secretary of the Common Cause Partnership

Provisional Canons

1. Definition of a Diocese, Cluster or Network:

A diocese, cluster or network is a grouping gathered for mission under the oversight of a bishop consisting of a minimum of twelve congregations with an Average Sunday Attendance ("ASA" calendar year) of at least fifty each and a collective ASA of at least 1,000. These requirements may be modified on a case-by-case basis by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of the Provincial Council.

2. Representation at the Provincial Assembly:

Every diocese, cluster or network has representation at the Provincial Assembly at the basic level of its bishop(s), two clergy and two laypersons. For dioceses, clusters or networks with an ASA in multiples of 1,000, there will be an additional cleric and lay person for each additional 1000 ASA.

Each diocese, cluster or network shall make application to the Provincial Council for certification of the number of allowable delegates to the initial Provincial Assembly. Upon certification of the allowable number of delegates their election shall be reported to the Provincial Council no later than 30 days prior to the Provincial Assembly.

3. Representation of a Diocese, Cluster or Network "In Formation":

A diocese, cluster or network "in formation" may apply to the Provincial Council for temporary "in formation" status. If the application is approved by a majority vote of the Provincial Council, the Archbishop may appoint a Vicar General to assist in leading the diocese, cluster or network "information" to final qualification as a diocese, cluster or network in the Province. The diocese, cluster or network "in formation" shall be represented in the Provincial Assembly by the Vicar General and one clergy and one layperson. No diocese, cluster or network "in formation" shall be continued under this provision for more than five years.

4. Of Bishops and Their Election

Bishops shall be chosen by a diocese, cluster or network in conformance with their respective procedures and consistent with the Constitution and Canons of the Province. Eligibility for bishop must include being a duly ordained male presbyter of at least 35 years of age, who possesses those qualities for a bishop which are in accordance with Scriptural principles, and who has fully embraced the Fundamental Declarations of this Province.

An electing body shall certify the election of a bishop for consent by the College of Bishops, or may certify two or three nominees from which the College of Bishops may select one for the diocese, cluster or network.

Where the originating body is "in formation," that body shall normally nominate two or three candidates, from whom the College of Bishops may select one.

Consent or, choice and consent, shall require the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the membership of the College of Bishops, which consent shall be given within 60 days and in writing.

Upon the consent or choice of a bishop-elect by the College of Bishops, the Archbishop shall take order for the consecration and/or installation of such bishop.

In the event the bishop-elect or the nominees are rejected by the College of Bishops, the College shall so inform the originating body inwriting.

5. Of Congregational Property

All congregational property, both real and personal, owned by each member congregation now and in the future is and shall be solely and exclusively owned by each member congregation and shall not be subject to any trust interest or any other claim of ownership arising out of the canon law of the Province. No diocese, cluster, or network (whether regional or affinity based) may assert a trust claim over the real and personal property of its parishes without the express written consent of the congregation.

A valid trust claim existing in favor of a diocese, cluster, or network (whether regional or affinity based) at the time of admission to the Province shall not be made invalid by the forgoing provisions.

6. Of Prayer Book and Common Worship

The Book of Common Prayer as set forth by the Church of England in 1662, together with the Ordinal attached to the same, are received as a standard for Anglican doctrine and discipline, and, with the Books which preceded it, as the standard for the Anglican tradition of worship.

The Prayer Book and Common Worship Task Force of the Common Cause Partnership, continued as a standing committee of this Church, will develop a resource for Common Worship for Provincial events and to be commended for wider use throughout the Province. All Books of Common Prayer and liturgies previously authorized by the originating jurisdictions shall be permitted in use for this Church.

7. Of the Ordination of Deacons and Presbyters

Every Bishop shall take care that he admit no person into holy orders but such as he knows either by himself, or by sufficient testimony, to have been baptized and confirmed, to be sufficiently instructed in Holy Scripture and in the doctrine, discipline and worship of this Church, as defined by this Province so as to be a wholesome example and pattern to the entire flock of Christ.

No person shall be ordained a Deacon or Presbyter in the Church until such person shall have subscribed without reservation the following declaration:

"I do believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God and to contain all things necessary to salvation, and I consequently hold myself bound to conform my life and ministry thereto, and I do solemnly engage to conform to the Doctrine, Discipline and Worship of the Anglican Church in North America."

8. Stewardship and Provincial Financing and Budget

The Biblical principles of tithing shall be taught and encouraged at every level within the Province.

The Provincial Executive Committee, with the assistance of the Financial Vision and Stewardship Task Force, shall develop the program and budget of the Province based on commitments of the dioceses, clusters and networks, plus other monies raised. The program and budget shall be presented annually to the Provincial Council for adoption.

9. Executive Committee

The Executive Committee shall have authority to carry out the work of the Province between meetings of the Provincial Council.

Anglican TV will LIVE stream the news conference slated to follow today's meeting of the Common Cause Council will begin at 6:30 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) tonight. It will be followed by a LIVE stream of the Celebration Service for the official launch of the constitution for the new Anglican province in North America starting at 8:30 p.m. (EST, 7:30 p.m. CST).

The Common Cause Partnership bishops met on Dec. 1-2, with the full Common Cause Council meeting today in Wheaton, Illinois (just outside Chicago) to finalize the draft of the constitution. In addition, the Common Cause council is also set to endorse the Jerusalem Declaration and the official statement of Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON).

Tonight at the Cafe we will bring you both the news conference and the worship service live, starting at 6:30 p.m.. Stay tuned!

UPDATE: SF's reporting and AM reporting that the Constitution has been affirmed unanimously.


HERNDON, Va. (December 3, 2008) – The Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA) issued a statement of support for the provisional constitution that will unite orthodox North American Anglicans under a new province. CANA leaders, including Missionary Bishop Martyn Minns joined representatives of the Common Cause Partnership, a federation representing more than 100,000 orthodox Anglican Christians in North America, in Wheaton, Ill., on December 3 to introduce the provisional constitution for the new province.

“This constitution represents a major component of the new Anglican province’s structural and spiritual foundation. We support this constitution as it reflects the very qualities that all of us in CANA and in Common Cause have hoped for in the new Anglican province: biblically grounded, Christ-centered, mission driven, outwardly focused, committed to evangelism and discipleship, and proudly Anglican.,” said CANA Missionary Bishop Martyn Minns.

Bishop Minns continued, “There is a division in the Anglican Communion that we hope to overcome with this outlined set of traditional Anglican beliefs. We have already proven in North America that we can come together as Anglicans of faith with a passion for mission. We will continue to pray for Christ’s guidance as we work to establish this singular province that will advance the Good News of Jesus for the least, the last, and the lost.”

The landmark Wheaton, Ill., event follows the June 2008 gathering of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) in which leaders representing half of the world’s 77 million Anglicans called for a new Anglican body in North America as part of a formal declaration of faith.

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Prayers for the unveiling of a new constitution

Over at Lent & Beyond and at Prayer for Common Cause, prayers are being lifted up for the gathering in Chicago tomorrow. Check it all out here and here.

Historic week for Anglican Communion: From Chicago to London to Canterbury

Bishop Martyn Minns was at Truro yesterday and held a Bishop's Forum between services. He reported on recent and upcoming events in the Anglican Communion as well as take questions during the forum that was held in the main church.

One of the highlights was his observations and thoughts on the remarkable coming together of the diverse membership of the Common Cause Partnership in the writing of the constitution for the new Anglican province in North America. A joint effort by the partnership, it included not only the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA), but also the other Anglican organization that make up Common Cause. He described sitting next to Bishop Chuck Murphy of AMiA, while representatives of Forward in Faith and the Reformed Episcopal Church and others in the partnership gathered around the table to draft the new constitution.

In addition, Bishop Minns described the respectful attitude that was taken by the gathering over issues were there are differing opinions that do exist between Bible-believing Christians in the Anglican Communion, including on the issues surrounding the ordination of women to the priesthood. He indicated a model for them to follow has been set by the partnership between provinces such as Nigeria (where women may be ordained to the diaconate) and Uganda (where women may be ordained to the diaconate and the priesthood) and the respectful and prayerful attitude that is continually observed by them as they seek not to devalue but show respect to those who may hold a different view than one's own - not an easy thing to do in these challenging times.

The unveiling of the new constitution is this Wednesday, Dec. 3 in Chicago. The Anglican Primates Council will then meet the next day, on Thursday, Dec. 4, in London, England, to receive the new constitution. On Friday, Dec. 5, the Anglican Primates Council are scheduled to meet with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, in Canterbury, England.

In addition, it is expected that other Anglican Primates who were not in Jerusalem for GAFCON (including the Southeast Asia primate and Bishop of Singapore, The Most Rev'd John Chew and the Middle East primate and bishop of Egypt, The Most Rev'd Mouneer Anis ) are among those also expected to endorse the new constitution.

The Global South primates will meet together with the Primates Standing Committee prior to the official gathering of the Anglican Primates on January 31-February 6 in Egypt.

A Constitutional Convention is expected to be called for next summer.

In addition, the final order regarding the property ownership of the Virginia Anglican churches should be handed down shortly by Judge Randy Bellows. Even though the ruling has not yet been announced, the Episcopal Bishop of Virginia issued a press release in October indicating his intention to appeal the order to the Virginia Supreme Court.