Who Can Change the Will of Christ?
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mber/December 1995 e / 4, Number 4 WHO CAN CHANGE THE WILL OF CHRIST? ..."WE CAN POPE JOHN PAUL II I CAN'T 3» "I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgement is to be definitively held by all the Church's faithful." Pope John Paul II 1 TJ ,« 7 THE LIVING PAST FOR THE PRESENT AND INTO THE FUTURE CONTENTS 3 From the President: John Rhein proposes that the 1928 Book of Common Prayer be the official, alternative Prayer Book. 4 Temples of the Holy Spirit: The Rev'd Samuel Edwards explains the nature and practice of chastity. BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Rev'd D. Barrington Balms, New York, NY 5 Reflections from the Editor's Desk: The Rev'd Dr. Peter Toon considers the two religions of Mr. D. Kirke Erskine, Carmel, CA the Episcopal Church. Treasurer 6 JeSUS and Bishop Righter: Louie Crew of Integrity paraphrases John 8:3-11 and the Editor The Rev'd Joseph S. Fakone, Whitphall, PA St. Stephen !f Episcopal Church comments. The Rev'd Gordon D. Griffith, Santa Rosa, CA 7 Pagan Pantheon Replaces Christian Images: Jan Mahood describes a visit to the book Dr. Janet Hildebrand, W. Monroe, LA store at the "National Church Headquarters." Mrs. Leo (Bree) Kelly, Atlanta, GA 8 Which ofYou ByTakingThought?: The Rev'd Jerome Politzer discusses the effects of Gnosti The Rev'd David C. Kennedy, SSC, Lantana, FL cism in the Church. Church ofthe Guardian Angel 9 A Statement of Concern: The ESA Bishops express their fears for the Church after the vote in The Rev'd A. Darwin Kirby, Jr., Pittsboro, NC the House of Bishops at Portland. Mrs. Jan Mahood, Huntington, NY 10 A Letter from Pope John Paul II: Women cannot be ordained to the ministerial priesthood. The Rev'd Dr. David A. Ousley, Philadelphia, PA Church of St. James the Less 12 An Open Letter: An Open Letter from the PBS to the ESA concerning a sure foundation for the Mr. John H.W. Rhein, III, Garden City, NY traditional doctrine of ordination. President Mr. Robert Robinson, New Canaan, CT 13 Consider Yourself Warned: William Murchison reflects upon the implications ofthe vote of the Bishops at Portland. Mrs. Jerry (Marilyn) Ruzicka, Clifton Park, NY Mandate Editor, Emeritus 14 Life Above the 49th:The Director, Graham Eglington, reports on the work ofthe Canadian Prayer The Rev'd Dr. Peter Toon, Oconomowoc, WI Book Society. Vice-President Mrs. Alfred (Nancy) Von Klemperer, Mill Neck, NY 15 I Love the Episcopal Church: Miriam Stauff expresses her deep loyalty and affection for the Secretary (traditional) Anglican Way. Mr. Luther D. (Dan) Wallis, Pebble Beach, CA 16 The AdveitisingVage: A harmonious full page assortment of various books and Prayer Books Mr. Joseph Warren, Chicago, IL to encourage, strengthen and build your faith. EMERITUS AND HONORARY DIRECTORS 17 Avoiding Bad English: David Mills explains the relation between thinking and speaking. The Rt. Rev'd Clarence R. Haden, Ret. Emeritus and Honorary, Lake Oswego, OR 18 If I Could Do It All Over Again: Canon Philip Weeks reflects on what has happened to the The Rev'd John Hildebrand Episcopal Church since the 1960's. Honorary, Ft. Worth, TX The Rev'd Jerome Politzer 19 Dear Bishop Browning: A letter from the Editor to the Presiding Bishop concerning the need Emeritus and Honorary, Carmel, CA for an immediate U-Turn - with a Prayer for the Presiding Bishop. The Rey'd Herbert Ward Honorary, Boulder City, NV Cover Photos- Pope John Paul II -AFP PHOTO/Bob Strong; Episcopal Bishops - Episcopal News Service MANDATE —Vol. 14, No. 4 Editor: The Rev'd Dr. Peter Toon; Managing Editor: James T Whitacre; Typesetting and Design: Preservation Press, Inc. © 1995 by The Prayer Book Society ofthe Episcopal Church. All rights reserved. MANDATE is published six times a year by The Society for the Preservation of the Book of Common Prayer, Inc., a non-profit organization serving the Church. All gifts to the Prayer Book Society are tax-deductible. Subscriptions: $28 tax-deductible donation for a one year subscription. Editorial Correspondence: EO. Box 35220; Philadelphia, PA 19128; 609/467-4597; Fax 609/467-4621; E-mail [email protected]. Advertising and Subscrip tions: EO. Box 35220, Philadelphia, PA 19128; 609/467-4597, Fax 609/467-4621. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Prayer Book Society, EO. Box 35220, Fhiladelphia, PA 19128-0220. Following our Lord's MANDATE: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" Matt. 28:19 2 MANDATE: November/December 1995 The Prayer Book Society of the Episcopal Church From the President John H.W. Rhein III OUR PROPOSAL STILL STANDS his issue of MANDATE is the last before we enter into the Common Prayer be made the official Alternative Service Book - new year, and it is the second in our new expanded format. and 1 stand by this request. TThrough MANDATE it is our intention to give hope, joy and Also in making my request of the Presiding Bishop I was not comfort to those who hold true to the doctrine contained in the retracting a long held Prayer Book Society stand that rectors and scripture based 1549-1928 Books of Common Prayer: Hope, in that vestry have always been atlibertytousethe 1928 Book of Common MANDATE shows clearly the battle for biblically based morality in Prayer should they choose to. They have the right within canon our Church is not lost; Joy, in that we bring together those of like law to do so if they duly inform their bishops. I never meant to mind who rej oice in the Holy Spirit; and we bring Comfort through imply this right did not exist, but today there is much confusion the spiritual nourishment we provide. among both clergy and the laity as to what their prerogatives are. We are grateful to the Presiding Bishop for supplying our Putting the 1928 Book of Common Prayer back in the pews now Philadelphia office with labels that enabled us to send MANDATE requires an act of courage. If the Book were to become the official to each member of the House of Bishops, and with our gratitude ASB, its presence in the pews would become almost automatic just we send our prayers that he will renounce the modernist's religion as its exodus was autocratic. and return to the religion of his Baptism (see further page 19). The Prayer Book Society is dedicated to bringing the living past Bishop Browning is a man of great love and compassion, and it into the present and on into the future through the propagation of is only his modernist orientation that has caused him to ignore the Common Prayer Tradition as contained in the 1928 Book of the pain which the new religion has inflicted upon over a million Common Prayer. Our magazine, MANDATE, is our principal Episcopalians. As we pray for him a stanza from an old Gospel communications link with Church members (old and new), and hymn comes to mind. with those who have left in sorrow and pain because of the new religion which was imposed upon them. Sending MANDATE to all "Down in the human heart crushed by the tempter, of those we need to reach is expensive, and, while the magazine is Feelings lie buried that grace can restore. not intended to be a fund raiser (we have several appeals each year Touched by a loving hand, wakened by kindness, to do that) it has been responsible for bringing in a goodly sum to Chords that were broken can vibrate once more." help us continue in our efforts to preserve the Anglican way of worship. We are very grateful for your continuing financial support. What a wonderful thing it would be if the Presiding Bishop were We work for and pray for the renewal of the Church through the to recall his baptism and ordination vows and dedicate his lastyears Word of God and by the Holy Spirit. We need your support in this in office to the recovery of dynamic orthodox Anglicanism in the great vocation by your prayers, your gifts and by your local Episcopal Church. To those who are cynical, and insist that such a involvement in your parish activities. May God bless us all! + sea change in position would be impossible we say, never, never, never underestimate the power of prayer. A SIMPLE WAYTO HELP THE P.B.S. Any recovery of genuine Trinitarian Orthodoxy would require As many Episcopalians as possible need to know that dynamic the revival of the doctrine contained in the Common Prayer traditionalism is alive and well. We are enthusiastic about the Tradition, and that is precisely what I had in mind when I proposed appearance of the new Mandate. to Bishop Browning that he make the 1928 Book of Common Prayer an Alternate Service Book for the Episcopal Church. We want to expand our circle. We need to add names to our Some confusion appears to have arisen on the part of a few of mailing list of those who receive Mandate. You can help us do our dedicated supporters who wondered why I didn't ask that we this. emulate The Church of England, and the Anglican Church of Please send us your Parish Directory so that we can send each Canada who use the classic Book of Common Prayer as their person a free, introductory copy of the new 20 page color primary Book and the 1979 prayer book (or reasonable facsimiles) Mandate.