Continuing indaba

A sickening report.

O Lord God Almighty,
You are adorned with glory and splendor, clothed with honor and majesty. You laid the earth’s foundation and marked off its dimensions. The morning stars sang together and the angels shouted for joy when You laid the cornerstone. You are eternal, unbounded by time and space, incomprehensible to our mortal frames.
Forgive us in the Anglican Communion for darkening Your counsel with words without knowledge. Forgive us for placing ourselves above Your Holy Word. We speak of things we do not understand, things too wonderful for us to know. Have mercy. Have mercy, for we are miserable sinners. We have sold our birthright for a mess of pottage and built an altar to false gods.
Raise up mighty men and women of valor to throw down this abomination, we pray.
Job 38:2-7, 40:10, Judges 6

Newly elected members of ACC Standing Committee

In follow up to my post yesterday about the pending election of ACC Standing Committee members, here are the results, courtesy of Anglican Mainstream:

New members of the Standing Committee of the AAC

Dato Stanley Isaacs (South East Asia),
Bishop Azad Marshall (Iran),
Rec Dr Ian Douglas (TEC) and
Dr Anthony Fitchett (New Zealand)

were elected for the four vacancies on the ACC Standing Committee

Isaacs and Marshall are both solidly orthodox to my understanding and Isaacs took some strong stands at this latest ACC meeting as various reports indicate. Douglas is an extreme revisionist. Fitchett, I don’t know much about, but I think the whole NZ delegation was quite liberal.

If this is indeed a 2-2 split, it matches the division we saw in other votes where the split was basically 32-31. The Communion is deeply divided.

May the Lord give Isaacs and Marshall both wisdom in how they should serve Him in this new role.

Election of ACC Standing Committee

Over at Anglican Mainstream there is this post today:

I’m not quite sure when the actual balloting will take place, nor how much the election matters given all that’s transpired, but I do feel it’s important to post this for the record.

Nominees for ACC Standing Committee Announced

The following have already been elected during this meeting:
Chair: Bishop James Tengatenga, Central Africa
Vice Chair: Canon Elizabeth Paver, England

The Following will remain on the Standing Committee:
Mrs Philippa Amable, West Africa
Bishop Kumara Illangasinghe, Ceylon
Ms Nomfundo Walaza, Southern Africa

The Following are standing for election to the Standing Committee: (There are four open spots on the ACC standing committee.)

* The Rev Canon Mwita Akiri, PhD, Anglican Church of Tanzania
* Mrs Helen Biggin, Church in Wales
* Professor Juanildo Albuquerque Burity, Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil
* The Revd Ian T Douglas, PhD, The Episcopal Church
* The Revd Dr Maurice Elliott, Church of Ireland
* Dr Anthony Fitchett, Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand & Polynesia
* Dato’ Stanley Isaacs, Province of South East Asia
* The Ven Dr Sarah Macneil, Anglican Church of Australia
* The Rt. Revd Azad Marshall, Episcopal Church in Jerusalem & the Middle East
* The Rt Revd Susan Moxley, Anglican Church of Canada
* Ms Sarah Tomlinson, Scottish Episcopal Church

Perspective From the Scriptures: He is the One who Stills the Tumult

(posted by KB)

The Psalms for today’s lectionary are quite extraordinary to read in light of the incredible conflict, confusion and sense of hurt and anguish over the outcome of Friday’s business session at the ACC.

There were many passages in today’s Psalms expressing outrage at injustice and crying out in anguish at being “trampled on” that I could have quoted. But what really leaped off the page at me this morning and greatly encouraged my heart was this declaration of our Lord’s power and majesty and the reminder that He is still at work revealing His glory to the ends of the earth, each morning and evening.

Psalm 65: 5-8

5 By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,
O God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas;
6 the one who by his strength established the mountains,
being girded with might;
7 who stills the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
the tumult of the peoples,
8 so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs.
You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.

***

Almighty Father, the schemes of man are as insignificant as dust to be brushed away compared to the awesomeness of Your majesty and power.   Lord Jesus, You commanded the roaring waves and winds of the Sea of Galillee to be stilled.  Still our hearts today and help us to stand in awe and thanksgiving of and for Your glory.  Still the tumult and confusion of the ACC meeting and demonstrate to all present that You reign.  Comfort and encourage the hearts of those who feel trampled on and help them to find strength in Your steadfast love and faithfulness.  May all who love You be reminded of Your sovereignty and Your promise that You will build Your church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  May we be working to see Your kingdom established even to the ends of the earth and today be proclaiming Your glory and Your victory.

Forgiveness

Stolen waters (pleasures) are sweet [because they are forbidden]; and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.  But he knows not that the shades of the dead are there [specters haunting the scene of past transgressions].   Proverbs 9:17-18a Amp 

Dear Heavenly Father,

Guard us from the sins of anger, hate, revenge, spite, and chicanery.  We do not wish the present transgressions to become the fertile soil of unforgiveness, giving berth to the root of bitterness.   May we forgive. 

Purify us so that Your Church, the resurrected Body of Christ, will not be haunted by shades of death, but rather will rise in newness of life, revived and transformed.  Help us to yield to You so that we may forgive _____ as Christ forgave His persecutors.  Deliver us from being hardened wineskins.  Make our hearts new. 

Raise up shepherds who will tend us.  Remove the filter of our mistrust so that we may recognize the godly leaders that You bring to us and pray for them.  Amen.  

Reference:  Francis Frangipane

My reflection on May 8, ACC-14

1. There will be a resurrection.

Georgia’s prayer

A reader named Georgia left this prayer as a comment yesterday.

Holy Father, Please send Your warring angels to sever the cords of deception and death, the bonds of financial, idealogical and political power that have taken hold of Your Church. Remove the money-changers who would exhange the truth of God for a lie and interfere with Your Redemption, quench Your Spirit and silence Your healing sanctifying Truth.
Have mercy upon Your Church. Help us to value and cherish You above all else. Take our hearts and eyes away from idols and deceptions.
Have mercy.
In Jesus’Name, Amen

Praise unleashes spiritual warfare

God inhabits the praises of His people. In His presence, His enemies melt like hot wax. (Psalm 22:3, 68:2) Read Revelation 19:1-16.

And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

Come Faithful and True,
Come to judge and make war. Come riding on a white horse. Come to Kingston, to the Pegasus Hotel, to the Anglican Consultative Council. Come. Come KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Amen.

Praise stirs the zeal of Jesus

Study Matthew 21:7-16. This is a critical juncture in the history of the Anglican Communion. Make it a day of continuous praise. Turn on that praise music!

Hosanna to the son of David:
Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord;
Hosanna in the highest.

Psalm 40 NLT

A timely psalm for a momentous day. Today the Anglican Consultative Council votes on the covenant and on the Windsor Continuation Group. This past week, I was worshipping with a group of women. We took turns singing the psalms, chosen at random. It was interesting. One sounded like a Gregorian chant, another like a dirge, another like a ballad, etc. Try singing it.

1 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
3 He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord.
4 Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord,
who have no confidence in the proud
or in those who worship idols.
5 O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.
Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,
I would never come to the end of them.

6 You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.
Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand[a]—
you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
7 Then I said, “Look, I have come.
As is written about me in the Scriptures:
8 I take joy in doing your will, my God,
for your instructions are written on my heart.”

9 I have told all your people about your justice.
I have not been afraid to speak out,
as you, O Lord, well know.
10 I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart;
I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power.
I have told everyone in the great assembly
of your unfailing love and faithfulness.

11 Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me.
Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me.
12 For troubles surround me—
too many to count!
My sins pile up so high
I can’t see my way out.
They outnumber the hairs on my head.
I have lost all courage.

13 Please, Lord, rescue me!
Come quickly, Lord, and help me.
14 May those who try to destroy me
be humiliated and put to shame.
May those who take delight in my trouble
be turned back in disgrace.
15 Let them be horrified by their shame,
for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!”

16 But may all who search for you
be filled with joy and gladness in you.
May those who love your salvation
repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!”
17 As for me, since I am poor and needy,
let the Lord keep me in his thoughts.
You are my helper and my savior.
O my God, do not delay.

Armor bearers (updated)

Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is there anything too hard for Me? Jeremiah 32:27

There is much transpiring in this time:
–At the ACC, there is a plenary on ecumenism this morning. The afternoon is free. The vote on the covenant is tomorrow.
–The Province II synod for provincial networks and General Convention deputies and alternates convenes today in Albany.
–South Dakota elects a bishop this Saturday.
–The San Joaquin litigation is at a critical juncture.

The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.
May we praise Your holy name throughout the Anglican Communion!
From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.
May the light of Christ blaze forth from the empty tomb throughout the Anglican Communion.
Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages.
You are a holy God, and You cannot share Your glory with lies.
He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that he may judge his people:
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Oh, how we have fallen short of Your glory!
“Gather to me my consecrated ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
Oh, Lord, that the Anglican Communion would be a holy priesthood and offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to You by Jesus Christ.
And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for God himself is judge.
Yes, Lord, the glory of Your name resounds across the plains of South Dakota, the San Joaquin valley, the Gulf of Mexico and the island of Jamaica, and the Mohawk River and hills of Albany.
Hear, O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God.
Yes, Lord, we have sinned. You are God. You are our God. Our only hope is in You.
Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High,
We give thanks for Your glory. We give thanks for Your glory manifest in creation. We give thanks for Your glory manifest in Your Son Jesus Christ. We give thanks for Your glory manifest in the Holy Spirit. Holy is Your name. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord!
and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.
We call upon You. Deliver the Anglican Consultative Council in Jamaica, the synod in Albany, the diocese of San Joaquin, and the diocese of South Dakota! We honor the name that is above every name in heaven, on earth, and under the earth–Jesus!
But to the wicked, God says:
“What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips? You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you. When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers. You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit. You speak continually against your brother and slander your own mother’s son. These things you have done and I kept silent; you thought I was altogether like you. But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face. Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue:
O Lord, we have indeed cast Your words behind us. Our lives are strewn with cast off admonitions and the wreckage of broken trust. Take pity.
But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.
Lord, anoint the Anglican Consultative Council, the Province II synod, and the dioceses of San Joaquin and South Dakota with a spirit of praise. Stir their hearts with holy songs.
The boy David played holy songs on his harp. The evil spirit would depart from King Saul, and he would be refreshed. Saul appointed David his armor bearer.
Send us armor bearers! Fill the air with hymns. May we sing as we work and play. Send holy songs over the radio. Use electronic devices. May Anglicans gather in worship around the world.
Commission Your holy angels to sing over these gatherings. May the songs of the communion of saints surround them. May the songs of the 40 million aborted babies hover in the air.
Let each note reflect Your glory. Let each note purify their hearts. Let each note bring healing to our church. Amen.
Psalm 50, 1 Samuel 16:19-23

Songs

Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. Psalm 119:54
The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

O Father,
Your blessings never cease. How thankful we are for Your statutes! How precious is Your Holy Word! You send it forth, and it does not return to You empty but achieves the purpose for which You sent it.
Fill Your children at the Anglican Consultative Council and the intercessors around the globe with Your Spirit. Fill their hearts with song, giving thanks always for all things unto You, in the name of Your precious Son. Fill their mouths with songs based on Your Holy Word.
Then we will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Your renown, Lord, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed. Amen.

The believer’s glory

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  Colossians 2:6-7

Dear Jesus,

We cry out for hearts in the ACC that are open to You.  You are our glory!  We cry out for You to sing back to the Father through their hearts.  No silent hearts!  We cry out for hearts full of thanksgiving.  You are our strength!  You are our life!  May You be within their hearts for only in You can our wailing turn into dancing.  Remove our sackcloth and clothe us with joy.  Amen.

Psalm 30:11-12

May our worship go up and His grace pour down

Job 36:27-29 (New Living Translation)

He draws up the water vapor
      and then distills it into rain.
The rain pours down from the clouds,
      and everyone benefits.
Who can understand the spreading of the clouds
      and the thunder that rolls forth from heaven?

Sweet Jesus, You are our liberator, redeemer, and deliverer.  What a mighty warrior You are!  O Lamb of God, we thank You for the joy of life and the hope of glory.  We praise Your holy name.  Holy is the Lamb.  Salvation and glory and honor and power be unto You, O Lord. 

O Lord, may the worship and praise of the intercessors for the Anglican Consultative Council rise into Your throne room in heaven, and may Your grace pour down to the benefit of the whole Communion.  Amen.

Perspective from the Scriptures

These passages from today’s lectionary spoke to my heart and gave me needed perspective regarding the ACC meetings:

Psalm 45:6
6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.
The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;

Psalm 48:9-11
9 We have thought on your steadfast love, O God,
in the midst of your temple.
10 As your name, O God,
so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is filled with righteousness.
11 Let Mount Zion be glad!
Let the daughters of Judah rejoice
because of your judgments!

Colossians 1:15-20
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

***

Father, I confess to being dismayed by earthly power struggles and what appear to be unrighteous decisions even within Your Church.  Thank You that You are the Righteous Judge, and that You are the head of Your Church.  You hold all authority and dominion.

Help me, help all of us who are praying about the ACC meetings today think on Your steadfast love and be encouraged and reminded of what is eternal.  Your steadfast love never fails.  Your mercies are new every morning.  I praise You for Your faithfulness, even when I am unfaithful, even when Your people are unfaithful.  May I place my hope in Your unfailing love and trust in Your righteousness alone.  Amen.