Letter: Archbishop Akinola Responds to +KJS

Hooray for Bp Akinola! Thank you for standing up for the orthodox and for our Lord! I wish I could make it to the festivities. We did send a contribution. Again the address for that is (from the CANA website):

The Ven. Howell Sasser
CANA, 3rd Floor Suite 38
10523 Main Street
Fairfax VA 22030

CANA is tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3) as a convention or association of churches. Charitable contributions to CANA are tax-deductible in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code and other applicable tax laws.

What point-by-point clarity, and what civility in the face of TEC’s histrionics.

If Bishop David Bena, now with CANA, is willing to start a mission in the Albany area, my wife and I would be the first to join.

What a great letter. Amen to it all.

You speak in your letter of centuries old custom regarding diocesan boundaries. You are, of course, aware that the particular historical situation to which you make reference was intended to protect the church from false teaching not to prevent those who hold to the traditional teaching of the church from receiving faithful episcopal care. It was also a time when the Church had yet to face into the challenge of different denominational expressions of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I also find it curious that you are appealing to the ancient customs of the church when it is your own Province’s deliberate rejection of the biblical and historic teaching of the Church that has prompted our current crisis.

This is so magnificent.

Will a collection be taken at Hylton Chapel this Saturday and how should I fill out my check?  Looking forward to seeing a lion. 
A man I taught Sunday School with for many years often reminded are young charges that,“We serve the Lion of Judah, not the Pussycat of Judah.”.

Any chance this will be published on the Episcopal News Service website or in The Living Church?  This is the kind of straighforward statement delineating the Episcopal Church’s responsibility for the current situation that all Episcopalians need to read.  God bless Archbishop Akinola.

I think this is what Chris Johnson would call a Throw Down. 

Part of me winces, because it does seem a bit like Archbishop Akinola has taken KJS’s bait.  His letter is a fine one, to be sure.  Very full of grace and truth.  I have misgivings that KJS and crew have baited the good bishop for some purpose and his response (no doubt well predicted by 815) will be used for further strife.

I am reminded of how Eustice behaved at the very beginning of Dawn Treader when insulted by Edmond. 

That said, I am glad to see bold truth being spoken.

It is an excellent letter from Akinola, praise God.
I am at a loss to see why KJS is so blinded to what has evidently happened from the records and the meetings Akinola cites.  It almost reminds me of the serpent in Genesis, did ‘God really say’ Did some primates really warn her the fabric would be torn and did God really say a man shall not lie with another man as with a woman. What is KJS really saying?

As Martin Lawrence would say about now…“you gooooooooooo, boyeeeeeeeee!”  I’m glad to see that there are still a few Anglican higher-ups with some stones…so many have either sold out or no longer care.  Were there more Bishops and Archbishops like Akinola, I might still be Episcopalian…and people like former-Governor McGreevey wouldn’t be entering Episcopal seminaries.

Although it is late in the day, I hope that more Network bishops and other orthodox leaders than was reported in the Times article will get out and support this archbishop the way he has been supporting them.  If the action appears to be schismatic, well, whose fault is that?

I think that the letter from KJS was addressed to Akinola…it was really written for the primates.  “See…he broke the rules…he crossed the line!”  In point, she has not broken the rules yet…she doesn’t have the power to do what Tanzania wanted done.  The HOB will say they don’t have the authority to act without GC. 

So, in summary, KJS’s diary reads this way:

Dear Diary,
I really can’t do anything about the break-up of the communion.  There is no way to change the mind of TEC via its GC or its HoB…even though I am the leader of the whole deal.  (Besides, I really agree with it.)  All I can do is wave a flag for the MDG and hope that I can change the subject. 

What a mess…

Hey, wait a minute.  Who left me in this mess?  A bunch of men…again.  Frank.  John.  Jack.  Edmund.  Great.  Men always do this…they create a mess and then go outside and let a woman clean it up.  I must remember to speak to my husband about this…when it makes sense.

Shalom,

Kate

This appears to be a Mexican stand off. +Katharine has asked “Please don’t do this”  and +Peter has said “I am going to do it”.  No one in TEC is surprised.  No one in Nigeria is surprised. What is of interest here is how this will play in the rest of the Communion.  Depending upon one’s point of view, +Peter will be seen as a prophet pointing the way to a new anglican order of return to faith of our fathers or as a usurper bent on imposing his “truth” on all regardless of juristiction or borders. How will this play with the rest of the primates, the Global South African, South American and Global North really is the issue?

I think it is very polite of ++Akinola to hold centuries old custom in matters of theology, but adopt his writing style to that of +KJS as well.

My dear Archbishop Akinola:

Then reply

My dear Presiding Bishop:

I never seen +Akinola use that writing style before. It nice to know he is no some old fuddy-duddy, but can be hip & get into the vernacular of his audience. Though maybe simpler & shorter sentences, after all +KJS’s letter kind of read like something I’d produce before I send it to be proofed & edited. 

I note that KJS’s letter made it to the Anglican Communion’s website.  It seems only fitting that they should also be posting the good Archbishop’s reply.  Anyone know who to contact? Will it get the same attention in the US papers as the PB’s letter?

Archbishop Akinola’s letter is what one might characterize as a “full and measured response.” Let us pray for the success of his mission in the US, give thanks for his coming, and pray for his safe return to his own land.  Unfortunately, distance, employment and family considerations will not allow many of us to join the good Archbishop during his visit, but those of you who can, please let him know that our prayers are with him.

Sorry about this, but I can’t help myself:
Is it just me, or does this fellow who is “50 years behind” have a better command of the English language than those in the country who are (one assumes) “50 years ahead”?

Must confess that up until now, I haven’t been much impressed with Akinola’s writings on these subjects.  But this letter, very nice.  Nice tone, nice argument.  Well-done.  Still not sure his attending this weekend is helpful, but such is life as we currently know it.  Have we learned the answer already to whether he sought permission from KJS before coming?

Nicely measured response. ABP Akinola continues to bring the truth to the table as opposed to TEC “spin”. Amen to you sir.

Abp. Akinola’s letter is first class: clear, calm, reasoned, firm.

Texas Hold ‘Em is right: the Presiding Bishop’s letter, while addressed to Abp. Akinola, is really to the Primates and the ABC. The letter will also become an exhibit in various lawsuits.

815 knows that TEC cannot physically prevent Abp. Akinola from presiding over Bp. Minns’ installation. The Presiding Bishop’s letter, and Abp. Akinola’s reply, look ahead to the Communion’s response to TEC’s defiance after Sept. 30. Both sides are preparing the ground for that fight.

I believe I read somewhere that the ABC said that he would convene another emergency Primates meeting right after 9/30.

Emily- “Mexican standoff” is a pretty poor analogy for this situation, since a “Mexican standoff” is a situation where the two sides are so evenly matched that both are afraid to move.  I think Archbishop Akinola is in motion.

To keep with American “western” movie analogies, this is more like the situation in which the local land baron has run the sheriff out of town, and the “good, God fearing, law abiding folks” are at the mercy of the land baron. The land baron makes big “campaign contributions” to government officials and figures he can do what he wants.  But one day, a US marshal rides into town, despite warnings to keep out, and pins the badge on the new sheriff (played by John Wayne, Randolph Scott, Gary Cooper, or Martin Minns, your choice).
So, by this time next week, I imagine the marshal will have ridden off to his next mission, but there will be a new sheriff in a town in Virginia.  How will the struggle turn out with the land baron?  For that, you will have to wait for the sequel, which will be released sometime after October 1.

Bill McGovern

If Bishop David Bena, now with CANA, is willing to start a mission in the Albany area, my wife and I would be the first to join

And we will be the second (unless several dozen others beat us to it).

A great letter.  Mrs. Schori can be sure that by invoking the ludicrous “ancient customs” meme, she made ++Akinola’s job much easier by hanging a slow pitch right over the plate.  She’s definitely not ready for prime time.

Commentary from National Review Online:

Chutzpah   [Mark Krikorian]
The head of the Episcopal Church, Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, is complaining about Nigerian Anglican bishops coming to Virginia this weekend to formally install the head of the conservative breakaway denomination in this country. Here’s what she said: “Such action would violate the ancient customs of the church.”
I kid you not. The female head of a church with a practicing homosexual bishop planning to “marry” his lover, a church that could accept into seminary the adulterous homosexual governor of New Jersey, a church that embraces splitting open babies’ skulls and vacuuming their brains out, is complaining about violating ancient customs? Wow.
05/02 05:06 PM

Re: Chutzpah   [Mark Steyn]
Mark, what’s interesting about the Episcopal breakaway faction in the US is the indestructible assumption of the Presiding Bishop and her colleagues that they are the mainstream and the inevitable progressive future, and that the Nigerian bishops are the fringe and the doomed reactionary past. On any Sunday morning, there are more Anglicans in the pews in Nigeria than in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada combined. So much for head office.
If the Anglican Communion has a future, it won’t be thanks to Bishop Katharine Jefforts Schori and the predictably reductive preoccupations of her ministry.
05/03 12:32 AM

Archbishop Akinola…the standard by which all others shall be measured. Thank you for your grace and your words during these difficult times.

Personal note to Bishop Lee:

I cannot begin to express the genuine comfort I find in having this man of God as the spiritual head of my church. In our uncertain world, it matters so much to know that truth is being guarded and that we in CANA are being shepherded by Archbishop Akinola, Bishop Minns, Bishop Bena and others like them.

You remain in my prayers, and I bid you peace.

It really does sum up how serious things are when someone who really should be in a straitjacket is leading a ‘church’. I suppose premoderns have lower standards.

Give it up, Kate.  You’re fighting a battle of wits with somebody who’s actually armed. 

“We serve the Lion of Judah, not the Pussycat of Judah”. 

Yes, that’s right.  And I am happy to serve the King of Kings, and I would also not be unhappy to serve the lion of Abuja. 

God bless them all this weekend, and may the CANA celebration be glorious….

Merseymike: I thought I remember you having to prepare a lecture once, that supposes you have some sort of education. Didn’t you learn that logical fallacies (in this case ad hominem) void the argument?

In sports, that’s a 15 yard penalty! Okay, go back and try this again, with feeling, you think this is sad because ... (let’s try to stick to fact and not demonstrate irrationality again).

Friends, will some of you be attending or participating in this installation? Maybe you will have a chance to respectfully speak with Bishop Akinola concerning the persecution of gay and lesbian Christians in Nigeria.  Encourage our brother to do the right and loving thing.  Please, for the sake of our GLBT brothers and sisters, don’t let this opportunity pass by.

It really does sum up how serious things are when someone who really should be in a straitjacket is leading a ‘church’. I suppose premoderns have lower standards.

I’m no fan of Schori, but this goes too far.

Yes I agree it goes too far, I believe KJS is unfit for her office with her views, but to suggest a straightjacket is not very nice. I suppose we muct expect that from non-Christians but as it isnt a Christian value I wouldnt want any Christians here to suggest anything of that sort, rather for God to bless KJS in every possible way with His truth.

Don’t feed the troll!

Mark I believe Mersey was referring to ++Akinola not ++Schori.

RE: “Have we learned the answer already to whether he sought permission from KJS before coming?”

I cannot tell if this is humor or not, WG.  Is it?

The church of Nigeria is not in communion with the Episcopal church.  Why would he seek permission from KJS before coming, when he considers the Episcopal church to be grossly heretical?

[Please ignore if you were joking, however.]

You da’ man, Pete, you da’ man!

Mark McCall,

Funniest line of the week, bar none.

Well done! 

Katharine Jeffri Shorts will not be able to comprehend this letter because it is written from a perspective that, to her, is from where things were 50 years ago.

Yeah…Mersey opened his mouth and Mark stuck Mersey’s foot in it.  Now, I suppose we’ll have to put up all day with Mersey whining about lack of courtesy, yadda, yadda, yadda.

Damn, that’s good.

Kudos to Akinola.  Flawless logic, scholarly references, exposure of the opponent’s hypocrisy, and all done in a tone of calm reason.  Too bad this is aimed at reappraisers, who respond to none of those things.

Regarding one particular statement +Akinola made in his reply:

You are, of course, aware that the particular historical situation to which you make reference ...

(emphasis added), I most humbly suggest that the Archbishop’s assumption of the Presiding Bishop’s historical awareness may very well be unfounded, based on so much of what she has said and written in recent weeks.  As I learned early on in my years of Naval service, one should not proceed on the basis of unverified assumptions.

Blessings and regards,
Martial Artist

Martial,

With a nod and a wink to your smiley, clearly the very polite Archbishop is pointing out just how little historical knowledge the PB has about the church is is running (into the ground). Irony is not lost on this man.

Peace,
Annie

I would like to see ++Schori’s face, and hear her comments when she reads this.

Good for you ++Peter

we’ll have to put up all day with Mersey whining about lack of courtesy

We can take it. Although, I wish he would avoid solecisms such as ending a sentence with a proposition (in another post on this site). He (and he is most definitely not alone in this regard) really could learn from one of his fellow countrymen. That having been said, his whinging does not create a situation up with which we can not put.

AnnieCOA,
I am quite certain you are correct. It was simply my wry (I hope) sense of humor, and a wish to show how courteous, tactful and gentlemanly the good Archbishop is.

And peace also to you,
Martial Artist

Both the Queen and ++Akinola will be in Virginia in the immediate future, she for the purpose of visiting her former colony, and he, citizen of a former colony, here to reestablish Anglicanism in America.  Wouldn’t it be grand if they could meet for an hour or so?  After all, one of her titles is “Defender of the Faith.”  However, she’s going to the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. I think that the title has passed to ++Akinola, as well as headship of the probable new Anglican Communion of the Global South.

It seems to me that the Queen has always taken her duty to the church and the country as centrally built on her faith and tried to defend them to the best of her ability.  We are lucky to have her and am sure she will enjoy her visit.  Congrats on the anniversary.

26 New Diocesan seats - wonderful things are happening and just goes to show what can be done.  At its best, amazing things are happening in Anglicanism when we stand up stand up for Jesus.

Sarah,

Believe it or not, I wasn’t joking.  Putting aside the in or out of communion business, I would have counseled that he write KJS before his trip became public.

Said it all!!!!

Have we learned the answer already to whether he sought permission from KJS before coming?

Well that depends on who is answering that question.
According to David Booth Beers his request was not in the proper format because the required question, “Mother, May I?” was not included.

MerseyMike,
Your statement concerning Archbishop Akinola crosses the line.  Take this as your one and ONLY warning and refrain from such attacks.  If you have facts, state them.  If you are just venting, find another venue.

Yipes!

Commenatrix?  Is that really you?

If so, where have you been for the PAST MONTH!!!!???  Over dining with the elves?

In this May 2, 2007, ostensible letter to The Rt. Rev. Jefferts Schori, The Most Revd. Akinola reminds The Episcopal Church

that one of the key elements of our discussion and the resulting Communiqué was the importance of resolving our current differences without resorting to civil law suits.

Will Archbishop Akinola also remind CANA clergy, The Rev. Armstrong and his fabulous vicar, who will be attending the installation of The Rt. Rev. Minns, that he wholeheartedly embraced this commitment in Tanzania?

S. Standish,

First, it is not an “ostensible” letter. It is a real letter.

Second, This thread will remain on topic. If you insist on taking it off topic via a discussion of the Armstrong+ case, then you will be banned. There are threads for that. This is not one of them. This is your one and only warning.

thr

Standish, since the PB agreed to the Tanzania Communique and has since violated it at every turn—looks like no deal, huh?

I note that the Anglican Communion has indeed put up the Archbishop’s letter on their website, immediately followed by the Presiding Bishop’s previous letter to him.

S. Standish- Did you actually mean to pose your question as you did?  Certainly, in Virginia, any legal action taken by CANA has come only as a RESPONSE to the TEC and Diocese of Virginia lawsuits against the parishes and some 200 of the trustees and vestry.  I’ll grant that the situation in Colorado is so confused, I am not sure who “fired the first shot” in the secular courts.
BUT
“fabulous vicar”????

Why should +++Akinola be required to write to +KJS to seek her approval when CANA is already not in communion with TEC and she has no jurisdiction over CANA?  +KJS and her ilk have made it clear they want no reconciliation and no communion with CANA or any other orthodox group, such as refusing the primatial vicar plan, and I thus see no reason for +++Akinola to kow-tow to +KJS in any form or fashion.

It does seem to me that +++Akinola is considerably more well-versed in epistemology and theology - not to mention the English language - than his would-be American counterpart (well, for a “pre-modern,” that is).  How refreshing it is to see the issues stated so clearly and concisely.  It’s not possible to fix the problem unless one can state it succinctly, and I’d say that +++Peter has done so.

I would say this was a battle of wits, but comparing the two letters, ++KJS appears to have been unarmed!  Responding to ++KJS’s letter must have been like shooting fish in a barrel, and ++Akinola appears to have nailed every one of them.

Jeffersonian, I would want to mess with the good Archbishop on church history, either. 

The lady is out of her league….

I’m sorry, that’s “I WOULDN’T WANT TO MESS…”

Game, set, match, +Akinola.

Yes, Sarah, it is I.

You might want to check your prepositions—- on, not with, my dear.  Came away with some superb recipes.

When you think about it, being called “pre-modern” is really a compliment.  We should wear the designation as a badge of honor.

carl

Commentrix, ya’ll are a bit much sometimes.  You need to toughen up and get out more, as MCJ sometimes says.  You let Mercymike carry on ad nauseum all daya few days ago, all because he is a Brit, and said nothing at all to him.  Now today, he finally says something that makes some kind of sense—even though you disagree with it—and you threaten him with the censor again.  If he thinks somebody in the Church should be in a straitjacket, that’s his opinion.  Maybe it would be a good experience for him to have, as well.  Thank you for your time, and megabytes.  Good Day.

Having read the letter again, I see that Akinola has pointed out to KJS that it is her province that is in turmoil, It isnt due to Akinola that her province is in turmoil, it is due to her and her predecessor. Indeed Akinola makes the implicatoon that the reason the situation is as it is is becuase of her false teaching, something she is promoting now even more. I am saddened that it seems to have been her main agenda from the start. KJS seems to be a leader who take her province futher in the things of the world at the expense of the things of God…. I believe she is being spiritually mislead. Mighty warrior Akinola is in the process of plundering the province for the Kingdom of God.

Off-topic, maybe, but since folks are discussing the whole battle-of-wits thing . . .

Did anybody else think Bishop Schori’s phrase “child of Jesus” was rather revealing of her theological acumen?  Your average untrained churchgoer knows that that is never used in worship or Scripture for the simple reason that the Son is not the Father.  Perhaps I’m nitpicking, but through immersion in the Word and the church’s classic writers, one develops a sort of sixth sense for phraseology and rhetoric that comports with the true faith.  “Child of Jesus” seemed like something an outsider would say, not an archbishop. 

Maybe I’m wrong.  Does the term show up somewhere in the tradition that I’m not familiar with?  (Or is Schori simply trying to expand on Dame Julian’s Jesus-our-Mother theme?)

Thank God for faithful Anglican leaders like +++Akinola!  As a member of a new Anglican church in NC under +++Nzimbi of Kenya (the same kind of faithful leader), I plan to be in Virginia on Saturday to express our solidarity with CANA and the rest of Common Cause.  His letter has it absolutely right—this is no foreign invasion, rather courageous leaders willing to protect those of us who were under apostate bishops.

ALL OF YOU NEED TO READ THIS.  THE ARTICLE IS INFORMATIVE AND THE COMMENTS EVEN MORE SO, BEING VERY INSIGHTFUL. 

http://titusonenine.classicalanglican.net/?p=19162

“Child of Jesus” seemed like something an outsider would say, not an archbishop.

Fr. Doug is quite correct.  However, KJS is not an outsider in the TEC.  The outsiders are those who have left the sinking ship.

An interesting reflection, Fr. Doug.  Maybe all who come unto Jesus as he rebuked others to allow children of his day to do, could be said to be children of Jesus.

The Archibishop’s letter is great and wonderful for reasons many have noted.

Since 815 can be relied on to be evil, I wonder whether they may try to bar him from entering the US through US embassies or immigration services on the basis of criminal intent to steal property or something like that?  It sounds like a stretch, but if there are any obscure laws around anywhere that would provide opportunities for this, they will almost certainly use them.  Similarly, can he be served to apear in court while he is here?

I really like the idea of Queen Elizabeth II meeting with Archibishop Akinola.  It could even happen on a plane or ship that might have sovereign immunity from US diplomatic responsibilities or political fallout for her US hosts.  It would be a good thing if she were able to meet with him.

This is somewhat of an aside, but not entirely.  I wonder how the closeness US Anglicans feel to Africa compares with the affinity British or United Kingdom Anglicans feel to Africa?  There is no one like the Bishop of York in the US that I know of, off hand;  but do most Britons feel that Africa is part of their national history and identity the way US Americans feel it is part of theirs because of our African-American cultural heritage?  I would especially be interested in hearing from UK/British Anglicans about the situation there, all the more if any have any knowledge of the US.

It is all interesting because the spirituals of African slaves have provided a rich spiritual legacy for US Americans.  In that legacy, is apocalyptic promise of deliverance, that, in present circumstances, comes from Africa.  Very moving to US Anglicans;  I wonder what the perspective in Britain is about these things?

Hey ... none of this is really a big deal for our PB ... after all, there is such a small, small, small per centage of her faithful that our being “difficult children” that I suspect she devoutes hardly any time to such matters….. which is understandable ... after all, she has this difficult task of finding a path to our Lord other than our Saviour…......gotta look outside of the box….. into darkness.

Dear Seen-Too-Much,
As a Briton living in the UK, my perspective is that there is a much greater degree of hands-on partnership in the UK with Africa than there is in the US.  In the past, that has been characterized too much by a sense of cultural superiority, but that is fast changing.  Most local UK churches will have some sort of link or partnership with an African church.  Most UK dioceses regularly host visitors from African dioceses.  There is little sense of cultural heritage dating from the 18th/19th century slave trade, as in the US; the affinity is based on the much more recent twentieth century colonial disengagement by the UK.  Very large numbers of British people have lived and worked in Africa.

Sorry - that should say “Briton living in the US” at the top of my post above.

Thank you, Tim Jones.  I know parishes here with ties to Africa, but your perspective and information is interesting.

Yes. I agree with what Tim has said. Irs instructive that these ties are often not particularly governed by theological similarity : for example, the close connection between Nick Henderson and Malawi was not based on theological agreement but much more practical and well-developed links.

Mark McCall, In the event you are still following this thread drop me a line at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if you’re interested in exploring the idea of a CANA mission in the Albany area. Thanks, bill