Potter Watch: J.K. Rowling surprises world by writing a mini-prequal to her Harry Potter series

After saying she wouldn't do it - and now saying she won't do it again - J.K. Rowling has written a mini-prequal to her Harry Potter series as a contribution to a charity. Here is what she writes on her website:

A few months ago a number of authors were invited to handwrite cards for auction by Waterstones, on June 10, all proceeds to go to English PEN, the writers' association, and the Dyslexia Society.

After playing around with a number of different ideas I decided to write a short (for me!) excerpt from a prequel to the Potter series. It is about 800 words long and the action takes place around 3 years before Harry is born.

Although I did feel a bit like a relapsing addict as I sat down to write - the words poured from my pen with frightening ease - I am NOT working on a prequel. Indeed, I've written that clearly at the bottom of the card itself. I just thought that this was the best way to make money for two extremely worthwhile charities.

The good news for Potter fans who will not be able to bid at the auction is that you will be able to read the short story (along with amazing contributions from Doris Lessing, Margaret Atwood, Tom Stoppard, Irvine Welsh, Sebastian Faulks, Axel Scheffler, Lauren Child, Nick Hornby, Neil Gaiman, Lisa Appignanesi, Richard Ford, and Michael Rosen) by purchasing a book of facsimiles, which will be available in August. The proceeds from this book, too, will go to the charities.

It has been further clarified that her story involves Harry's father James and Harry's godfather, Sirius Black. We recall the hours that Harry spent in Prof. Snape's detention in the 6th book, Half Blood Prince, recopying Filch's old card files that recorded the details that led to the detentions that James Potter served while he was a student at Hogwarts. Harry never finished all the files there were so many - and we wonder if this card is one of Filch's files.

NOTE: The graphic above is from the card and is of J.K. Rowling's last sentence handwritten on the card which she gave to the charity.

Drawing Straws and Flipping Coins?

Spent eight hours at the Court House today listening to arguments over the constitutionality of the Commonwealth of Virginia Division Statute 57-9. The judge permitted everyone to talk as long as they wanted. It was clear he came with his own series of questions, having read the briefs in detail and he questioned each of the council who testified closely, often quite closely, including the Solicitor General of the Commonwealth of Virginia who was there to defend the statute.

There were three lawyers representing the Diocese of Virginia, the Episcopal Church, and the amici participants. The CANA churches were represented by one lawyer, a constitutional lawyer who remarkably stayed on course throughout the proceedings.

The courtroom was packed as the arguments began. Bishop David Jones of the Diocese of Virginia was there and Bishop David Bena of CANA/Anglican District of Virginia was there. It was clear by the time that the day was over that the same logic used at General Convention and the same audacious reinvention of the meaning of words continues to be the strategy employed by The Episcopal Church, even in a court of law. They also engaged in what I might call the Jackson Pollock Approach to Legal Arguments. Just keep flinging that paint until everything - and everyone - is covered.

At one point toward the end, the amici counsel sniffed that our votes were just random "drawing straws and flipping coins." Oh. The offhand dismissal of something as democratically enshrined as voting one's conscience - whether you agree with it or not - as "drawing straws and flipping coins" shows a rather breathtaking contempt for the laity's ability to choose and a blatant disregard for the freedoms we enjoy as Americans.

It follows the same kind of thinking as we heard recently from the Presiding Bishop at her media conference at 815. Perhaps the only votes that matter are the votes that go your way?

The judge will rule soon on the constitutionality of the statute. Stay tuned.

PB Deposition March Continues: Pittsburgh Standing Committee Responds to threat to depose the Bishop of Pittsburgh

BB NOTE: So when two out of the three senior bishops - including the Bishop of Virginia - said "no," that Bishop Bob Duncan should not be deposed, what - Bishop Schori is going to go ahead and do it anyway? Holy Cow.

NOTE: The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh has released the following statement regarding the threatened deposition of Bishop Robert Duncan at the September 2008 meeting of The Episcopal Church's House of Bishops. Their statement has been faxed and mailed to the office of the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church.

The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh is saddened to learn the Presiding Bishop and her chancellor will continue to press for the deposition of our Diocesan Bishop, Robert W. Duncan, Jr. for the Abandonment of Communion at the September 2008 House of Bishops Meeting. Although we recognize the authority of the Episcopal Church to discipline and remove its ministers for violations of its canons, we believe Canon IV.9, Sec.1 has been misapplied and Canon IV.9, Sec.2 has been misinterpreted in this instance.

Should our Diocesan Bishop be validly deposed pursuant to the requirements set forth in the canons, the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh is prepared to exercise its role as the Ecclesiastical Authority of this diocese.

Unanimously affirmed by the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, May 27, 2008.

Please pray ...

The Times Dispatch: The Diocese Is Attacking the Faithful

David Bena writes as a columnist for the Times Dispatch:

It's a sad day for Christendom when a national church attacks faithful Christians instead of encouraging them in the faith. Typically, churches attack the sins of this world and offer solutions to the world's problems.

Yet this is the situation that 11 Anglican churches find themselves in since the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and the Episcopal Church attacked us with lawsuits.

Our churches were undergoing amicable property settlement negotiations with the Diocese in January 2007 when it and the Episcopal Church abruptly broke off those discussions. They then filed lawsuits against our churches, our ministers, and more than 100 volunteers serving on our vestries (governing boards).

Our congregations simply wished to remain faithful to the historic teachings of the Anglican Communion and could not in good conscience follow the revisionist direction of the Episcopal Church. Unfortunately, the Episcopal Church and the Diocese walked away from us and the worldwide Anglican Communion by choosing to reinterpret Scripture on a number of issues. They sued us when we refused to follow them on that prodigal path.

Consistent with Virginia law, and as agreed to by the Diocese in a "standstill agreement," our churches reported to the local circuit courts our votes to disaffiliate from the Episcopal Church and the Diocese and to affiliate with the Convocation of Anglicans in North America through membership in the Anglican District of Virginia.

THE DIOCESE and the Episcopal Church have no legal right to our property. Among other things, our churches' own trustees hold title for the benefit of the congregations, and long-established Virginia law does not recognize denominational trusts in congregational property like those that the Diocese and the Episcopal Church claim. One of the churches -- The Falls Church -- actually predates the denomination and helped establish it. It is somewhat absurd for the Diocese and the Episcopal Church to suggest that churches cannot disaffiliate from the denomination they helped create.

This Virginia law says the majority of the church is entitled to its property when there is a division within the denomination. Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Randy Bellows issued an April 3 ruling in which he held that there is a "division of the first magnitude" within the Diocese, the Episcopal Church, and the Anglican Communion at large. He ruled that the Virginia Division Statute applies in this situation in support of our congregations' efforts to keep our property.

At the current stage of this unfortunate litigation, the constitutionality of the Virginia Division Statute is being challenged by the Diocese and the Episcopal Church. But to resolve the issue at hand, there is no need for civil courts to wade into issues relating to theology or doctrine.

The U.S. Supreme Court has made it clear that states can resolve church property disputes based on "neutral principles" of law, such as majority rule -- which is what the Division Statute says.

If the Episcopal Church were as hierarchical as it claims, all it had to do was put title to these properties in the name of its bishops, as the Catholic Church does. Then the Virginia Division Statute would not even apply.

THE DIVISION STATUTE was adopted by the Virginia General Assembly to respond to numerous church divisions that arose during the 19th century -- some before, some during, and some after the Civil War. The statute provides a neutral legal mechanism -- applying the democratic principle of majority rule -- to resolve these types of disputes. A number of both Methodist and Presbyterian congregations successfully invoked the statute after its adoption in 1867.

The Episcopal Church's own complaint even acknowledges that it does not hold title to any property of these 11 churches and that the churches' own trustees hold title to all such property for the benefit of the congregations.

The Episcopal Church's position actually creates constitutional problems. According to it, the meaning of the key terms in the Division Statute -- "division" and "branch" -- vary among denominations, based on each denomination's internal rules and structure. That would twist a law that resolves church property disputes based on a neutral principle -- majority rule -- into a law that requires the courts to get into a religious thicket. The Supreme Court has said that should be avoided.

In other parts of the country, amicable negotiations over property and other matters have been resolved. Our Anglican churches have invited the Episcopal Church and the Diocese to return to the negotiating table several times. The leaders of the Anglican Communion have repeatedly echoed that call, but Episcopal leaders are evidently not interested in settling anything amicably.

Pitting Christian against Christian in court does nothing to save one soul, strengthen one family, or help one person in need -- and literally millions of dollars that have been going toward legal fees would be much better spent in serving those true missions of the faith.

David Bena is a contact bishop in the Anglican District of Virginia and suffragan bishop in the Convocation of Anglicans in North America.

Tuesday Night at the Cafe: Here is Love

For SJ.

Thank you for keeping us free

Freedom is never free.



Remembering World War I and Uncle Lan:



My grandfather's oldest brother was killed in the First World War. A Virginia farmer's son, he went to France and never returned. Many years ago I visited the remains of the family homestead down in Buckingham County and saw the initials he carved as a teenager into the side of the old chimney that still stands to this day.

Sunday Night at the Cafe: Josh Groban

The Episcopal Church Welcomes You? Politics Makes Interesting Bedfellows

The Episcopal Church has always taken great pride in its democratic principles and practices. In fact, the decision to establish a Presiding Bishop and not an Archbishop was one of the clear indications that The Episcopal Church would not import the feudalistic policies of the Mother Church. Having spent a couple of wars trying to establish itself as a republic of The People, it wasn't going to reverse all that work and re-establish the structures Americans in the Anglican tradition had spent so much effort breaking off.

Ah, but things have changed. Suddenly all those old prelate fears have been tossed to the wayside. TEC is suddenly top-down hierarchy and it's all about the BISHOPS! Now, that's quite astonishing on its own, but to see the Diocese of Virginia, the bedrock of low church polity where Anglo Catholics were literally driven across the Potomac to have their stone altars and swinging incense is quite simply astonishing. Next thing we know, we're going to start bowing to royal supremacy again.

Here's what Bishop David Anderson writes this week:

Many denominations which have always portrayed themselves as non-hierarchical are suddenly wanting to take rights away from local congregations where property and bank accounts are concerned.

Why the interest?

Because churches join a denominational structure, or create such, to further the ministry of the local church, but once formed, the denominational structure becomes interested in power and position, and they see the local churches as their own property. It is the ecclesial example of Lord Acton’s saying, "…power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely…"

And now we have these other denominational groups joining up with the Episcopalians including - yes, the Seventh Day Adventists and the Methodists and the Presbyterians whom now have decided they are far more like the Roman Catholics after all. Or as Shakespeare once wrote, “Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.” Pass the pillows please.

Bishop Anderson continues

If they are joining the litigation on TEC’s side, are they are afraid that their own people might want to leave? They have inadvertently given testimony against themselves, and their own churches should take careful note.

We are quite sure that the Methodist, Presbyterian, and Lutheran laity are paying careful close attention indeed.

Happy Birthday, Bob Dylan

All the butterbeer and chai are on the house today, as well as all the cream pie and pancakes. All the regulars are at their tables with their harmonicas and the anons are throwing darts and playing pinball. Hagrid is snoozing at the door and we're baking cakes in the kitchen. Today is Bob Dylan's 67th birthday (you can send in your greetings here). And what's he doing today? He's on tour, of course - in Newfoundland. We'll get started with one of his masterpiece's - one that for years was only known as a bootleg, Blind Willie McTell. Written in 1983 around the time of Infidels, it was not officially released until 1991 in the Bootleg Series, Vol. 1-3.



Seen the arrow on the doorpost
Saying, "This land is condemned
All the way from New Orleans
To Jerusalem."
I traveled through East Texas
Where many martyrs fell
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

Well, I heard the hoot owl singing
As they were taking down the tents
The stars above the barren trees
Were his only audience
Them charcoal gypsy maidens
Can strut their feathers well
But nobody can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

See them big plantations burning
Hear the cracking of the whips
Smell that sweet magnolia blooming
(And) see the ghosts of slavery ships
I can hear them tribes a-moaning
(I can) hear the undertaker's bell
(Yeah), nobody can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

There's a woman by the river
With some fine young handsome man
He's dressed up like a squire
Bootlegged whiskey in his hand
There's a chain gang on the highway
I can hear them rebels yell
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

Well, God is in heaven
And we all want what's his
But power and greed and corruptible seed
Seem to be all that there is
I'm gazing out the window
Of the St. James Hotel
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

B. Dylan


UPDATE: Looks like they are celebrating Dylan's birthday today in India, as they have been for 34 years:

Shillong, May 24: The birthday boy was missing but not the fanfare as his songs sung in the early 60s are still 'blowin' in the wind' for folk enthusiasts here.

No other city in India has perhaps been celebrating legendary folk singer Bob Dylan's birthday without a break for the past 37 years. And today, it was no different in Shillong.

Hundreds of fans of the freewheeling poet-cum-singer who inspired a whole generation, poured in at the all saints hall here to celebrate the event with much fanfare.

The musical soiree organized by the great society and the ace of spades, witnessed performances by local artistes amid the participation of school students for the first time as well as fans from outside the state.

Shillong's very own Bob Dylan - Lou Majaw and his colleagues rendered haunting Dylan numbers at the venue.

The programme showcased Dylan's songs.

''Why Dylan? “Why not Dylan?'' Lou shoots back when asked why Dylan alone and goes on to narrate how Dylan captured his imagination in the prime of his youth. ''He started as a nobody and went on to become one of the greatest men alive in the world of music.''

''We don't do it because we are fans but out of respect and admiration for the man,'' says Lou, the founder member of the legendary Shillong band, the great society.

''He has given so much to the world through his soul-stirring poetry and music. We want more and more people to know about Dylan, his life, poetry and music,'' he said.

Looked up Shillong at Wiki. The majority of residents in Shillong are Christians. It has a literacy rate of 80%. "Due to its latitude and high elevation," says Wiki, "Shillong has a sub-tropical climate with warm summers and chilly to cold winters.Shillong is subject to vagaries of the monsoon. The monsoons arrive in June and it rains almost until the end of August. The climate is hot and humid during summers but quite cold during winters." It has been called, "the Scotland of the East."

Of course, we know that Bob Dylan has a soft spot for Scotland, having recently acquired a house there for his brother. He also wrote yet another masterpiece called Highlands where he alludes to the Robert Burns poem, My heart's in the highlands. We think, though, that Dylan's highlands are a somewhat higher locale.

On that note, a poet has translated some of Dylan's songs into Gaelic and will be performed for the first time today in Glasgow. "Rody Gorman, who lives on the Isle of Skye, translated classics like Knocking On Heaven's Door, which a band will perform at the first Leabhar's Craic Gaelic festival in Glasgow," the Scotsman reports. We know that when Bono interviewed Dylan back in the 80s, Dylan was quite familiar with the Celtic traditions and acknowledged that he has been greatly influenced by them, beginning with his relationship with the Clancy Brothers. You can read that interview here. Now this is an excellent example of how to interview Bob Dylan and get him to open up. Bono and Dylan have been friends ever since, as Dylan writes about in his own autobiography, Chronicles.

You can hear an excellent and humorous short interview with Dylan on NPR. The direct link is here and the NPR homepage is here.

And to offer a rather stark contrast, here is an interview with a twenty-two year old Bob Dylan with Studs Terkel 45 years ago in Chicago when he was a mere folksinger out on the trail:



Tip of the TinFoil to Ryan! You can hear the rest of the interview here at Ryan's Smashing Life.

And here is an outstanding recent performance of Bob Dylan and his band. We have decided to make it the theme of our Road Trip to Lambeth (more about that coming soon). Take it away, Bob!



We just love this performance, it just gets better every time we hear it. You can hear Dylan's electric organ too - love it. It's that thin mercury sound. It just catches the spirit of the time. Yep, this is our theme song for the Road Trip to Lambeth. Out on Highway 61!

Here are some clips from the concert this past Wednesday night in Halifax. The sound quality is great, just great. Enjoy! Thanks, marisaanne88! The video is fun - it looks like Bob and his Band are just kinda hanging in space. One hint - the songs work better if you all ready know them. Then you can see how he plays around with the lyrics, the phrasing, and the arrangements. He sings now like a bluesman.
'


Okay,the Masked Tortilla has just entered the Cafe (Hagrid, sit down) and informed us that we are now linked by the Dylan Center of the Web Universe, ExpectingRain.com. For that, there will be no charge at the David Blue Memorial Pinball Machine today - or any day.



You say you love me
And you're thinkin' of me,
But you know you could be wrong.
You say you told me
That you wanna hold me,
But you know you're not that strong.
I just can't do what I done before,
I just can't beg you any more.
I'm gonna let you pass
And I'll go last.
Then time will tell just who fell
And who's been left behind,
When you go your way and I go mine.

B. Dylan from Blonde on Blonde - a long way from 1963 and 2008. The video above is a montage of clips alluding to Dylan's life. Of course, we like the part where he walks up to the Gospel Choir on the steps and takes off his hat.


And finally, Bob Dylan is a wickedly funny humorist. There is a video that was on YouTube where Dylan is being interviewed and he presents very matter-of-fact and quiet answers, never smiling. But almost every one of his answers is hilarious - Santanta is standing next to him also being interviewed, also giving answers with a complete straight face that are out of this world. There are times when you can see that Dylan is struggling to not laugh, doing the old "Queen Elizabeth II method" to keep from breaking up.

Well here we have some gems from the San Bernardino Sun. One of the columnists there, David Allen, tracked Dylan's quips from the first season of his radio show, Theme Time Radio Hour. The humor is based on silly puns. Here's a sample:

"I got a friend who's learning to become a ballerina. She's improving by leaps and bounds."

"Getting married's a lot like getting into a tub of hot water. After you get used to it, it ain't so hot."

"I once had a cross-eyed teacher who couldn't control his pupils."

"You know, I sleep at the edge of the bed. It doesn't take long for me to drop off."

"Two dogs talking. One says to the other: `You're crazy. You ought to go see a psychiatrist.' The other dog says: `I'd love to, but I'm not allowed on the couch."'

"I was having dinner with our announcer, Pierre Mancini. The only difference between Pierre Mancini and a canoe is that sometimes a canoe will tip."

"Take our engineer, Tex Carbone. He's so laid back it takes him two hours to watch `60 Minutes.' I'm the complete opposite. I can make Minute Rice in 30 seconds."

"I just came back from a pleasure trip. Took my mother-in-law to the airport."

"What do you do if you miss your mother-in-law? Reload, and try again."

"All musicians get girls, but a guitarist always has his pick."

"What's the difference between a drummer and a savings bond? Eventually, a savings bond will mature and earn money."

"They got a new `dial-a-prayer' for atheists. You call it, and nobody answers."

"A lot of people don't celebrate Christmas. Like my buddy Dexter Quinn. He's an atheist. You know what his favorite Christmas movie is? `Coincidence on 34th Street."'

"If diamonds are a girl's best friend, why do so many girls get mad when you want to go to the ballpark? You tell me."

"I gave a bald-headed friend of mine a comb. You know what he said to me? `I'll never part with it."'

"My friend's wife is a really bad cook. I broke a tooth on her coffee."

"I was at a restaurant. I said to the waiter, `There's a needle in my soup.' He said, `I'm very sorry. It's a typographical error. It's supposed to be a noodle."'

"A cat has nine lives, but a bullfrog croaks every day."

"If you think the sun is too hot, just remember, you don't have to shovel it."

"In Sweden, they have a system of higher taxes, but welfare for everyone. They call it the Swedish model. Well, I could go for a Swedish model right about now."

"Here's a tip on how you can save your money. Use somebody else's."

"He opened a restaurant on the moon. It had great food, people say, but no atmosphere."

"My friend was happily married for 10 years. Too bad he was married for 30."

"Every day in the United States, 200 new jail cells are constructed. I hope we can keep up!"

"A giraffe can go a long time without water. But he wants to see a menu right away."

"I was having dinner the other day when the waiter came over. I said to him, `There's a fly in my soup.' And he said, `That's very possible. The cook used to be a tailor."'

And with that, here's one more for the road and we say goodnight.




Okay, hold it. One more.

Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry,
While on others Thou are calling,
Do not pass me by.

Let me at a throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief;
Kneeling there in deep contrition,
Help my unbelief.



Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.

Thou the spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee,
Whom in Heav’n but Thee.

Tip of the Tinfoil to RWB.

Friday Night at the Cafe: Dedicated to all ya'all

May God bless and keep you always,
May your wishes all come true,
May you always do for others
And let others do for you.
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung,
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous,
May you grow up to be true,
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you.
May you always be courageous,
Stand upright and be strong,
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy,
May your feet always be swift,
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift.
May your heart always be joyful,
May your song always be sung,
May you stay forever young.

B. Dylan

Walk on

And love is not the easy thing
The only baggage you can bring
And love is not the easy thing
The only baggage you can bring
Is all that you can't leave behind

And if the darkness is to keep us apart
And if the daylight feels like it's a long way off
And if your glass heart should crack
And for a second you turn back
Oh no, be strong

Walk on, walk on
What you got they can't steal it
No they can't even feel it
Walk on, walk on
Stay safe tonight

You're packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been
A place that has to be believed to be seen
You could have flown away
A singing bird in an open cage
Who will only fly, only fly for freedom

U2

Diocese of Virginia: Short-term Memory Loss?

Once again it appears that the Diocese of Virginia has conveniently forgotten that it constituted a Standstill Agreement with the Virginia churches that voted to separate following the Virginia statute 57-9. Oops.

It continues to be missing from the Diocese of Virginia's website, as if it never existed.

It's existence is a problem for the Diocese and for The Episcopal Church because the agreement, requested by the Bishop of Virginia himself, assured all the parties that no adversarial litigation would be filed. And none was.

That standstill agreement recognized that the filing of reports or petitions by voting congregations in accordance with the Virginia 57-9 did not constitute adverse litigation otherwise prohibited by the standstill agreement. No one sued anyone.

Here is the Standstill Agreement in its entirety, signed by the Diocese of Virginia:

TERMS OF STANDSTILL AGREEMENT

APPROVED BY THE STANDING COMMITTEE

AND EXECUTIVE BOARD

OF THE DIOCESE OF VIRGINIA
DECEMBER 18, 2006

1. The Diocese of Virginia ("Diocese") and The Episcopal Church ("TEC"):

a. will not initiate any attempt to take possession the congregations' property.
b. will not initiate any canonical or ecclesiastical actions against the congregations or their clergy or vestries.
c. will not initiate any civil legal action against the congregations, their clergy, their vestries, or their trustees.
d. will permit the congregations' clergy and stay to continue to pay premiums and receive benefits under the Diocesan health care plan until at least January 31, 2007.

2. The congregations:

a. will not initiate any transfer or conveyance of their property.
b. will not initiate any civil legal action against The Diocese/TEC, but may report their congregations determinations by filing a petition/report with the relevant VA Circuit Courts pursuant to Va. Code 57-9 without violating the agreement. The congregations' Va. Code 57-9 filings will state that notice has been provided to The Diocese/TEC. The congregations will not take any further steps to bring the Va. Code 57-9 filings to judgment. Upon the Diocese's request, the congregations will seek a stay of their Va. Code 57-9 filings. If the Diocese seeks to intervene in the Va Code 57-9 filings, the congregations will not oppose such intervention and upon the Diocese's request will jointly with the Diocese move to stay the filings. In not opposing the intervention, the congregation of course reserve the right to contest the Diocese/TEC's alleged interest in the property.

3. The Diocese/TEC and each of the congregations:

a. will seek in good faith to negotiate with each other an amicable resolution of their differences concerning the property and clergy status.
b. may terminate the agreement by giving 7 days notice to all other parties, but this shall not affect the agreement between any remaining parties unless they independently invoke their right to terminate. This Agreement shall terminate on January 18, 2007 unless renewed by mutual agreement.

The Agreement was terminated by the Diocese of Virginia and The Episcopal Church and their termination was followed by their filing of lawsuits against those the Bishop of Virginia once declared he wanted to remain in as close as communion as possible with.

Even now, that continues to be our prayer. Even now.

Uh oh ... Mouneer Anis jumps the shark?

BB UPDATE: Ladies and Gentleman. We have completely changed our mind about this letter. Sadly, after much reflection, it now appears to be one of the most extreme examples of passive/aggressive writing I have ever read. My first reading was based on assumptions from the past and those assumptions appear to be false on closer reading. This letter is so incredibly upsetting. Why would he write such a letter? I counted him amongst the heroes.

For bishops, charged with responsibilities - and especially primates in particular cultural venues - we can only imagine the torn and conflicted hearts amongst that order. At the very heart of the conflict is our Anglican identity. Why are people Anglican? The question is as simple and as complex as the first question on the Alpha Course. That question has to do with the identity of Jesus. But this question has to do with our identity as Christians. Why are we Anglican? What makes us Anglican? Is that the same as being Episcopalian? And who decides? God? Man? And what do we make of the cares and occupations of our lives? When trust is broken - whom do we trust?

He opens this letter by laying out his credentials - "I am one of you," he says. We're not sure who he's writing to - who are his "brothers?" Yet it's important to him that he lays the foundation of his own solidarity with these recipients. "I am one of you." But then he reveals what appears to be the real agenda of the letter - intentional or unintentional, when people are in pain it's very hard to tell - and that is to sow discord amongst the leaders of the Global South by claiming that there are unnamed forces from the North out to get them. With cunning brilliance, there's no other way to describe it, he exploits age-old prejudices and bigotry, often in the most passive/aggressive ways. And he aims for scapegoats, for someone else to blame, taking none of the responsibility for himself - his apology, however masked, is for not showing up for a meeting he says he is honored to be invited to, yet to comes with without a direct explanation (have to mow lawn, feed ducks, take out trash) - though certainly we decipher his intentions indirectly. Tragically, his aim is at the very people whom the Global South primates have taken in as ecclesiastical refugees. He holds out his hand, and then nicely slaps us with the other. Just how far does the arm of litigation reach? I truly cannot believe it. I wonder if he does.

08 May 2008

My very dear brothers in Christ (and we're not sure which brothers these are, by the way - all the primates, all the bishops of his province?),

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

First I want to make it clear that this letter expresses my views as the Bishop of the Diocese of Egypt, not the views of the whole Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East. I count it a great honour to have been invited to GAFCON. (a little bit of flattery - it's an honour best served cold).

I appreciate (a very interesting choice of words - he does not say he agrees with it, in fact, he chooses a word that basically says he acknowledges that this is why GAFCON was planned, but he's very careful to not affirm it - in fact, it's deception because the word itself is so positive that we think he's saying something positive about it, but he doesn't - he's just acknowledging what they believe) the fact that GAFCON provides an (not the) important meeting place for leaders from the South and from the North. I very much understand the frustrations as well as the hopes that led to the organisation of this conference (he affirms the frustrations, but not the action - in fact, looking back since 2003, Anis has taken very few public actions except to write letters - wonderful letters, indeed - but where has been the action?).

I do share your frustration in regard to what is going on in our Communion, as well as your hopes for strong and faithful Anglican church (no big surprise - but he's trying to establish his credentials, he's "one of us").

I am very disappointed with the direction taken by the Episcopal Church in the USA and the Anglican Church in Canada. This direction is not only about sexual ethics, which are contrary to Scripture, but also in regard to the fundamentals of the Apostolic Faith as we received it, like the Nature of Christ, the authority of scripture and God’s Salvation through Jesus Christ (This part is like a mantra - I took it at face value the first time I read this, very glad for the reiteration of the facts, but later reading it in the context of his letter it seems as though this is still part of his mantra to establish his credentials, especially when we get to the part where he takes his drastic turn. He needs to build a foundation that he's not one of Them.).

In addition they use very ambiguous language and contradictory phrases in their responses to the clear Windsor recommendation as well as the Dar es Salaam ones. It was shocking for me to hear that some now ask for the definition of ‘moratorium’ after four years of issuing The Windsor Report! (Right - and so what are you going to do about it? What? Go to the groovy Lambeth Be-In?)

I am deeply concerned that The Windsor Report and Dar es Salaam recommendations were not followed through and now the very people who caused the Communion’s crisis are invited to the most important Anglican council which is the Lambeth Conference. It is wrong to sweep all these problems under the carpet! (Dah! We know that. So what are you doing about it? Nothing? More words?)

I also share your hopes that we can go forward to advance the mission of the Gospel and be instruments in building the Church of Christ, founded on the Biblical truth. (Dah! What are you actually going to do about it? Have lunch at Lambeth Palace?).

Having said all this I am sorry that I will not be able to be with you at your Conference but I assure you that you will be in my prayers. (Now here he doesn't say why - and this is one of the primary examples of the nature of this as a passive/aggressive letter. It is obvious that the audience of this letter know exactly why he's not coming, but Bishop Anis' inability to say it here is telling - if he says the real reason why, he negates everything he said earlier. And he can't do that because of what is coming). Please accept my apologies. (Why? This is the British-form of politeness for affect - sorry I hit your car head on! - if he was sorry he'd be honest and say why he's not coming - perhaps the recipients all ready know, in which case, why is he writing the letter? And why release it to the world?.). I also look forward to receiving your recommendations before going to Lambeth. (that's all though - again, I read more into this than is there. He looks forward to receiving their recommendations - but for what? Nothing. For all we know, he'll use their recommendations against them. He doesn't say - and again, what he doesn't say is louder than anything he does say. I look forward to seeing who is going to be the Democratic Nominee, but it doesn't mean I'm voting for that person - in fact, I will not. But I am curious to see how it all turns out so we can get on with the Presidential campaign). My brothers (must be the Primates he's writing to) I want to draw your attention to the following: (NOW WE GET TO THE POINT OF THE LETTER) 1) The unity of the Global South (GS) is our great concern.

(HOLD EVERYTHING. Let's just stop here and sit for a while. I actually read this part out loud several times. "The unity of the Global South is our great concern. The unity of the Global South is our great concern. The unity of the Global South is our great concern. The unity of the Global South is our great concern. The unity of the Global South is our great concern." The Global South is unified. The problem is Mouneer Anis. He's isolated. Only, he's not going to take responsibility for that isolation. He's going to look for a scapegoat. Classic passive/aggressive behavior. Bishop Anis is either enraged or in grief, but he's in denial, massive denial and he sees the writing on the wall and it's not in his hand. So it's time to find a scapegoat. He has now projected his own alienation onto his audience, the Global South primates. He's now pronounced as a "great concern" something that is of his own making. It's truly sad. I just can't believe it.)

As you know the Global South was established in 1997 and has been recognized by the whole Anglican Communion. (Did you hear the slap? Read it again. The implication is that there are those who are not recognized by the whole communion - some who are now, in 2008, in the Global South. The point is that Global South is recognized by the whole communion and that is why it offered refuge to Americans and Canadians who wanted to remain Anglican but could not remain in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada. He establishes the fact that is recognized by the whole communion and so all who are in the Global South are recognized by the whole communion. But remember, his "great concern" is the unity of the Global South. Think about it.). It has been effective in strengthening the South to South links (Slap again. He's shifting away from the realignment based on Anglican theology and toward geography - he's revealing his hand, which in this case - is NO DIFFERENT THAN KATHARINE JEFFERTS SCHORI. Shocked? So are we). The GS is composed of more than twenty provinces. (Which means it outnumbers the rest of the Anglican Communion - it dominates the communion by sheer numbers, as if all Anglicans were equal. Are they? To be associated, then with the Global South is to give a primate standing - but only if the Anglicans are equal. Are they?).

There is now increasing interest from Orthodox Bishops in the North to be affiliated with the Global South. ("increasing interest?" Is that what he calls the Diocese of San Joaquin and perhaps other dioceses voting to realign with Global South provinces? Is that what he calls the formation of CANA and AMiA? Increasing interest? The phrase is outrageous. It's almost as though he's intentionally being humorous by his understatement, only he's not - he's being passive/aggressive - he's trying to minimize the relationships now between Anglicans based on doctrine, not geography). This is because we use a moderate but form of language. (Here's one of the typos in the letter, which denotes that what was leaked was either a draft or an unproofed final - does it mean the bishop wrote it all by himself and showed it to no one?). In our last Steering Committee of the Global South in March we (Ah ha - so he's one of the leaders and now we see that he's isolated, it's appearing like the Global South is moving in direction he no longer wants to go in - what's up with that?), in our statement, affirmed the importance of the Global South and its mission: (More emphasis on the Global South, which a deemphasis from the Americans and the Canadians). We see an increasing conviction and confirmation of the prophetic and priestly vocation of the Global South (there it is again - which denotes that the prophetic and priestly vocation does not include the refugees from America and Canada) in the Anglican Communion.

As Primates coming from different contexts (now here is a Schori phrase as we've ever hear it), we were led into deep conversations (did he really write this? More Schori-type phrases, "led into deep conversations?" Why doesn't he say "we discussed the future" or something straight forward - again, as is the problem with 815, more passive language) and helpful clarifications on the challenges before us ("helpful clarifications" which reads like a shadow of what really happened, one almost wonders if they got to blows at the last meeting) (Ps 133; Eph 4:1-6; Phil 2:1-5). We reaffirmed our total and collegial commitment to the solemn vocation of (wait for it - "our Christian brothers and sisters around the world? Nope.) the Global South. We resolved, and urge all in the (wait for it - because it's important now to separate based on theology and to reiterate relationships based on geography) Global South and other orthodox constituencies of the wider Communion (but he doesn't say North - what's up with that? Is that because it has to to with England and the appeasers in England who think that talking is going to fix this problem? Is that what has happened to him - that Graham Kings has gotten a hold of him and Rowan Williams has given him his personal mobile number?) to strengthen our hearts and wills to work together for the fundamental renewal and transformation of the (wait for it) global Anglican Communion.

We also stated (and of course, he's not quoting, he restating his version to fit his agenda now): Through our conversations together and clarifications made (there is that phrase again- where is it coming from - "our conversations together" - no one talks like that, those aren't real phrases, they are affected phrases, phrases fraught with political meaning - what's up with that?), we are led to understand and appreciate (again - passive voice - "we are led to understand and appreciate?" What is that? Lofty language? Who is this aimed at - we know that many of the Global South do not talk like this - they are direct and straight to the point - why is Anis talking like he's moved into 815?) the principled reasons for participation in GAFCON (June 2008) and Lambeth Conference (Jul 2008). Even if there are different perspectives on these (i.e., he does not agree), they do not and should not be allowed to disrupt (this is possibly one of the most upsetting parts of this letter. What does he mean "they do not and should not be allowed to disrupt?" Again - that's 815 thinking, that even the pretensions of unity outweigh truth - no, Bishop Anis - truth often disrupts, truth often disrupts - must we say it again. Truth often disrupts - Jesus is the stone that makes men stumble, the rock that makes them fall, I just can't believe he'd write such a thing - what has happened? Have aliens from outerspace landed near the Pyramids and have snatched the real Mouneer Anis, leaving a pod person to write this thing?) the common vision, unity and trust within (wait for it) the Global South.

Okay, we just have to stop and quote this part, it's so unbelievable. It's hard to believe an orthodox Anglican would write such a thing. "...they do not and should not be allowed to disrupt the common vision, unity and trust within the Global South." Didn't Bishop Lee say something about this one time, causing all hell to break lose in Virginia?

For this reason I appeal to you to take the above statements fully into your consideration (you've been warned!) and to be careful not to make binding decisions which may result in dividing Anglicans in the Global South and elsewhere (you've been warned. In other words - don't actually do anything at GAFCON, just keep your head down and shut up until it's all over). At the same time I would like to share with you a little more of my own thinking. (but wait - there's more - and here it comes. The scapegoat).

I believe that the best strategy for safeguarding orthodox faith and unhindered mission is to have parallel processes for building unity among those loyal to the biblical historic faith and ethics in both the South and the North. (In other words - no more mingling with these Yanks. You can swap Christmas Cards, but don't actually try to live in the same house). Orthodox leaders in the South and in the North need to continue to work together and support each other (but they get one fountain, we get another).

I would respectfully add that the (wait for it) Global South South has been looking after our interests - that must not be driven (driven? Who's driven? Driven means that the Global South is not in the driver's seat - but someone else is driving. But wait, Mouneer Anis is one of those in the Driver's Seat, isn't he? Or is he mad that he's not finding more who will talk but not walk the talk and appease the powers that be? So now we have some outside forces driving these poor ignorant Africans - that's what he's saying, friends, and that is why this shocking. If the Global South was made up of Norwegians and Finns, he wouldn't be writing like this. He assumes that because the majority of the Global South is black, they can be driven - it's simply outrageous - it's like he doesn't even know Peter Akinola - and he does. Why would he sew these seeds - unless this letter does not include Africa? What if this letter is written to his own province, thereby exploiting very old and very un-redeemed bigotry, it's outrageous, I just simply can't believe he's engaging in this type of maneuvering that we've seen most ironically on our side the pond) by an exclusively Northern agenda or Northern personalities (i.e., not Africa, not Asia, not the Middle East, etc - Northern personalities? Now this is where I feel betrayed. I have felt a kinship with the Global South - including Mouneer Anis based on our common fait. I did not know that he is now casting a dividing line between the "have's" and "have nots" and that Northern personalities (can we guess who's he talking about here - I just simply can't believe it, they've been friends for years, years - years. So it appears that this letter is not written to Africa, but is written to his brother Middle East bishops and building an alliance with them against Africa - so the question is, who and why was this letter leaked?). The meeting of the Global South in ‘09 will be critical for the future, and the agenda will need careful preparation ahead of time. (in other words, it's time to assimilate the Global South back into the progressive structures of the Anglican Communion - Unity 10, Truth 0.).

The constitution of the Global South needs to be reviewed in such a way as to clarify representation and appointment of office bearers (unless you've been living with Bin Laden in a cave, you know exactly who he's talking about here - and doing so behind that bishop's back rather than face to face - that is until this letter was leaked. What has happened?). The Global South has contributed much to the initiation of the Covenant process, and will need to consider how it is progressing. (Another passive statement - he implies that those in the North are subverting the Covenant, the heart of the issue. He's ticked off because so much of the orthodox Anglican Communion knows that the covenant is decades from passing, as Mouneer Anis told us himself! But instead of blaming the leadership of the Anglican Communion for their failure - i.e., you know who - he blames his own friends who have stood with him and he with them for so many years. That's called betrayal.).

If there is no prospect of a Covenant that safeguards orthodoxy and unhindered mission within a reasonable timescale (as if!), then the possibility of adopting a "holding covenant" may need to be considered (What is that sound? Oh, it's the howling of the TEC progressives! Don't hold your breath - this again denotes a sense of denial or illusion about the facts on the ground). I urge you all to consider participating in the Lambeth Conference. (Zinger!)

The absence of any of your voices will be a great loss (now we go back to flattery again - "the absence of your voices?" Did he really say that? Again, an 815-style phrase. "The absence of your voices" is affected - why doesn't he just speak plainly? Is it more important to him to be aligned culturally with Rowan Williams than with his brothers who share his orthodox faith? What exactly has Rowan been saying to him?). God has spoken to me through the Book of Jonah (his certainty is rather amazing - not "I believe God really spoke to me through the reading of the scriptures and particularly when I was reading about Jonah - no he doesn't explain, his audience is left to infer his meaning, which again is passive). So I decided not to withdraw but to go and speak the truth, and leave the rest to God (which means no more action required and of course, those of you who don't do that don't get the Book of Jonah, is that it?). Please remember that there will be bishops who are not fully aware of the seriousness of the situation (now it's time to lay the guilt trip - if there is a bishop alive who is clueless what are they doing being a bishop? Oh, and by way - what "situation" is he actually talking about here? The Anglican Communion Crisis or the Global South realignment? Hmm?). They need to be alerted (more guilt - you don't have time to do it yourself, is that it?) Your presence would be a help, as indeed it was in 1998 (except for the fact that the Anglican Communion is in crisis and division - hello? Didn't you get the memo?).

I am reminded by the words of Jesus that we continue to live in the world: "I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world." John 17: 14-16 One last point: we need to combine steadfastness, a peaceable spirit and gracious language (now that's pointing out the log in one's eye - having just undermined the Global South leadership and relationships, he calls for love, love, love. He implies that's not what the Global South has been doing. Arrogance, how can that be?).

I believe that the language we use needs to be especially appealing to the "people in the pews" who may be confused or misled (Confused? Misled? He's talking about us - we, the stupid sheep? We understand very well, sir), having less understanding of the issues of the controversy (patronizing now! is this a swipe at the internet like the other you know who did yesterday?), but who want to remain true (true? as opposed to what? false? Another passive/aggressive moment) Christians and Anglicans (this is another Schorism - he's poking at the blogs - Greg Griffith, Kendall Harmon, call your offices). "He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it." 1 Thess 5:24 May the Lord bless you (but what if it brings discord, his blessing? What if speaking out in truth causes men to stumble and fall? Will you just push rewind? Isn't that what he's trying to do here - push rewind and try to bring it all back to good old days? Are we witnessing a man so torn with grief he's forgotten who his friends are? Or is the Lord leading him somewhere where he does not want to go?).

Yours in Christ,

+Mouneer Egypt
The Most Rev Dr Mouneer H. Anis
Bishop of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa.

And so now we know.

The deal is - the pain is excruciating. A bishop wishes to lead and keep his people safe. But as we mentioned in the old tried and true 12-steps, at some point we realize it's not working and we give up and get real, learn to speak plainly and honestly and truthfully, with no gaming, no scheming, no scapegoating, no blaming, no whining, no nothing but repentance. Perhaps what we're seeing played out in this letter is a flood of grief.

Get out the mops It's going to be a long summer. In the meantime, let's go to the Prayer Book.

Remember not, Lord, our offences,
		nor the offences of our forefathers;
		neither take thou vengeance of our sins:
		spare us, good Lord, spare thy people,
		whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood,
		and be not angry with us for ever.
All		Spare us, good Lord.
		From all evil and mischief;
		from sin, from the crafts and assaults of the devil;
		from thy wrath, and from everlasting damnation,
All		good Lord, deliver us.
		From all blindness of heart;
		from pride, vain-glory, and hypocrisy;
		from envy, hatred, and malice, and all uncharitableness,
All		good Lord, deliver us.
		From fornication, and all other deadly sin;
		and from all the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil,
All		good Lord, deliver us.
		From lightning and tempest;
		from plague, pestilence, and famine;
		from battle and murder, and from sudden death,
All		good Lord, deliver us.
		From all sedition, privy conspiracy, and rebellion;
		from all false doctrine, heresy, and schism;
		from hardness of heart,
		and contempt of thy Word and Commandment,
All		good Lord, deliver us.
		By the mystery of thy holy Incarnation;
		by thy holy Nativity and Circumcision;
		by thy Baptism, Fasting, and Temptation,
All		good Lord, deliver us.
		By thine Agony and bloody Sweat;
		by thy Cross and Passion;
		by thy precious Death and Burial;
		by thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension;
		and by the coming of the Holy Ghost,
All		good Lord, deliver us.
		In all time of our tribulation; in all time of our wealth;
		in the hour of death, and in the day of judgement,
All		good Lord, deliver us.
		We sinners do beseech thee to hear us, O Lord God;
		and that it may please thee to rule and govern
		thy holy Church universal in the right way,
All		we beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

Bishop Mouneer Anis writes to GAFCON: Calls on Orthodox Anglican Bishops to attend Lambeth

BB NOTE: Bishop Anis writes that "it is a great honour to have been invited to GAFCON," but due to personal reasons will not be able to attend. His advice to GAFCON, though is wise and should be taken to heart. As we recall, Bishop Anis was one of the first Anglican bishops to indicate his alarm after the events of General Convention in Minneapolis in 2003. He has proved himself a leader, a wise leader, indeed.

08 May 2008

My very dear brothers in Christ,

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

First I want to make it clear that this letter expresses my views as the Bishop of the Diocese of Egypt, not the views of the whole Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East. I count it a great honour to have been invited to GAFCON.

I appreciate the fact that GAFCON provides an important meeting place for leaders from the South and from the North. I very much understand the frustrations as well as the hopes that led to the organisation of this conference.

I do share your frustration in regard to what is going on in our Communion, as well as your hopes for strong and faithful Anglican church.

I am very disappointed with the direction taken by the Episcopal Church in the USA and the Anglican Church in Canada. This direction is not only about sexual ethics, which are contrary to Scripture, but also in regard to the fundamentals of the Apostolic Faith as we received it, like the Nature of Christ, the authority of scripture and God’s Salvation through Jesus Christ.

In addition they use very ambiguous language and contradictory phrases in their responses to the clear Windsor recommendation as well as the Dar es Salaam ones. It was shocking for me to hear that some now ask for the definition of ‘moratorium’ after four years of issuing The Windsor Report!

I am deeply concerned that The Windsor Report and Dar es Salaam recommendations were not followed through and now the very people who caused the Communion’s crisis are invited to the most important Anglican council which is the Lambeth Conference. It is wrong to sweep all these problems under the carpet!

I also share your hopes that we can go forward to advance the mission of the Gospel and be instruments in building the Church of Christ, founded on the Biblical truth.

Having said all this I am sorry that I will not be able to be with you at your Conference but I assure you that you will be in my prayers. Please accept my apologies. I also look forward to receiving your recommendations before going to Lambeth. My brothers I want to draw your attention to the following: 1) The unity of the Global South (GS) is our great concern.

As you know the Global South was established in 1997 and has been recognized by the whole Anglican Communion. It has been effective in strengthening the South to South links. The GS is composed of more than twenty provinces.

There is now increasing interest from Orthodox Bishops in the North to be affiliated with the Global South. This is because we use a moderate but form of language. In our last Steering Committee of the Global South in March we, in our statement, affirmed the importance of the Global South and its mission: We see an increasing conviction and confirmation of the prophetic and priestly vocation of the Global South in the Anglican Communion.

As Primates coming from different contexts, we were led into deep conversations and helpful clarifications on the challenges before us (Ps 133; Eph 4:1-6; Phil 2:1-5). We reaffirmed our total and collegial commitment to the solemn vocation of the Global South. We resolved, and urge all in the Global South and other orthodox constituencies of the wider Communion to strengthen our hearts and wills to work together for the fundamental renewal and transformation of the global Anglican Communion. ?

We also stated: Through our conversations together and clarifications made, we are led to understand and appreciate the principled reasons for participation in GAFCON (June 2008) and Lambeth Conference (Jul 2008). Even if there are different perspectives on these, they do not and should not be allowed to disrupt the common vision, unity and trust within the Global South.

For this reason I appeal to you to take the above statements fully into your consideration and to be careful not to make binding decisions which may result in dividing Anglicans in the Global South and elsewhere. At the same time I would like to share with you a little more of my own thinking.

I believe that the best strategy for safeguarding orthodox faith and unhindered mission is to have parallel processes for building unity among those loyal to the biblical historic faith and ethics in both the South and the North. Orthodox leaders in the South and in the North need to continue to work together and support each other.

I would respectfully add that the Global South must not be driven by an exclusively Northern agenda or Northern personalities. The meeting of the Global South in ‘09 will be critical for the future, and the agenda will need careful preparation ahead of time.

The constitution of the Global South needs to be reviewed in such a way as to clarify representation and appointment of office bearers. The Global South has contributed much to the initiation of the Covenant process, and will need to consider how it is progressing.

If there is no prospect of a Covenant that safeguards orthodoxy and unhindered mission within a reasonable timescale, then the possibility of adopting a "holding covenant" may need to be considered. I urge you all to consider participating in the Lambeth Conference.

The absence of any of your voices will be a great loss. God has spoken to me through the Book of Jonah. So I decided not to withdraw but to go and speak the truth, and leave the rest to God. Please remember that there will be bishops who are not fully aware of the seriousness of the situation. They need to be alerted. Your presence would be a help, as indeed it was in 1998.

I am reminded by the words of Jesus that we continue to live in the world: "I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world." John 17: 14-16 One last point: we need to combine steadfastness, a peaceable spirit and gracious language.

I believe that the language we use needs to be especially appealing to the "people in the pews" who may be confused or misled, having less understanding of the issues of the controversy, but who want to remain true Christians and Anglicans. "He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it." 1 Thess 5:24 May the Lord bless you.

Yours in Christ,

+Mouneer Egypt
The Most Rev Dr Mouneer H. Anis
Bishop of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa.