Reformed Churchmen

We are Confessional Calvinists and a Prayer Book Church-people. In 2012, we remembered the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer; also, we remembered the 450th anniversary of John Jewel's sober, scholarly, and Reformed "An Apology of the Church of England." In 2013, we remembered the publication of the "Heidelberg Catechism" and the influence of Reformed theologians in England, including Heinrich Bullinger's Decades. For 2014: Tyndale's NT translation. For 2015, John Roger, Rowland Taylor and Bishop John Hooper's martyrdom, burned at the stakes. Books of the month. December 2014: Alan Jacob's "Book of Common Prayer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Common-Prayer-Biography-Religious/dp/0691154813/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417814005&sr=8-1&keywords=jacobs+book+of+common+prayer. January 2015: A.F. Pollard's "Thomas Cranmer and the English Reformation: 1489-1556" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-English-Reformation-1489-1556/dp/1592448658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420055574&sr=8-1&keywords=A.F.+Pollard+Cranmer. February 2015: Jaspar Ridley's "Thomas Cranmer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-Jasper-Ridley/dp/0198212879/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422892154&sr=8-1&keywords=jasper+ridley+cranmer&pebp=1422892151110&peasin=198212879

Friday, May 18, 2012

Pat Robertson Says Episcopal Church is Becoming Apostate

Televangelist, Baptacostalist, and revivalist Pat Robertson offers his views on the TEC and apostasy in the leadership. The prompt for Robertson’s remarks was the legal eviction of Falls Church Anglican, VA from their property (as an aside, Robertson, an enthusiast, claims descent from Rev. Hunt, the first Anglican cleric at Jamestown, VA...regrettably, Robertson is far from that lineage).

They’ll be fine. They are growing. They have planted seven churches. Ever hear of TEC congregations planting churches these days?


David Virtue summarized it with some fairness at  www.virtueonline.org:  "The congregation, now under the Anglican Church of North America, remains solidly Anglican though no long allied with the heretical Episcopal Church.  The liberal, continuing Episcopalians will be moving back in.  Time will show they cannot sustain it."

TEC, however, continues to atrophy. It maintains its geriatric services for an aging population. It also services long-time Episcopalians, some of whom don't follow the national church and who desire the Bishops to remain scarce, ever hoping that they "can worship quietly." It also serves some of us, Confessional types, who cannot find Anglican services locally that are faithful to the Reformed Confessions.

Barring a reformation in the seminaries, denominational headquarters and amongst the leaders, this group--officially denying Article 18 of the Articles--will continue its adaptation to the ancient mystery religions. It's botched 1979 BCP and hymnal holds off the waffly clerics.

Having known and served with several TEC clerics, contrary to their own assumptions about themselves, they were not very impressive theologically.  Let the vetting of theological elites continue.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/pat-robertson-says-the-episcopal-church-is-becoming-apostate-75198/

Pat Robertson Says The Episcopal Church Is Becoming 'Apostate'

Controversial televangelist Pat Robertson recently told audiences that it was only "a question of time before" The Episcopal Church would be declared "apostate" by the Anglican Communion.

In remarks made on the 700 Club on Wednesday, Robertson stated that "the whole Episcopal Church in America has left its roots" and that it being declared apostate "is on the way."

Robert H. Lundy, communications officer for the American Anglican Council, a conservative movement hoping to return The Episcopal Church to "an apostolic faith," told The Christian Post that he agreed with Robertson's assessment.

"Of course The Episcopal Church has left its roots and, regarding its leadership, is apostate. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori is an apostate leader as are many other leaders in TEC," said Lundy. "The American Anglican Council has pointed this fact out for many years as we work to promote biblically faithful Anglicanism in North America and worldwide."

Robertson's remarks came in regard to a recent development in the former Christian Coalition leader's native state of Virginia, where last Sunday The Falls Church Anglican, a Virginia congregation that left The Episcopal Church over theological differences, held its last services on The Falls Church property. The smaller Episcopal "continuing congregation" for The Falls Church currently has taken over the property after the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia won a years-long suit over the matter.

"I don't see the blessing of God descending on that little remnant that took away the building from them. It will be what is called a pyrrhic victory," said Robertson.

"But that Anglican Church, Falls Church Anglican now will grow and prosper. They will be able to have prosperity. The Lord will give them the money they need to buy an appropriate place to worship."

Lundy of AAC also felt that The Falls Church Anglican would do well in spite of being removed from the church property that it once used which dates back to the eighteenth century.

"The Episcopal Church has until recently had a 'scorched earth policy' regarding litigation and those parishes that cannot in good conscience remain with TEC," said Lundy.

"While it is sad that the Falls Church is being forced out of their building, I am confident that under the leadership of the Rev. John Yates and knowing that they love the Lord, the people of the Falls Church will in the end be better off for their courageous stand for the good news of Jesus Christ."

The Episcopal Church did not return a request for comment by press time.

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