03/04/2005

Anglican Church Faces Split

The Worldwide Anglican Communion has delivered an ultimatum to the Episcopal Church USA and the Anglican Church of Canada: Stop endorsing homosexuality or leave the Anglican Communion! Both churches must cease ordaining homosexuals and presiding over same-sex ceremonies by 2008 or the worldwide body will sever direct ties.

Rev. Ellis Brust of the American Anglican Council called the delivery of the ultimatum a pivotal moment in Anglican history. "The revisionist theology that has taken hold in the Episcopal Church and in the church in Canada — as well as other parts of the Communion — has been rejected," said Brust. (from Pastor's Weekly Briefing 03/04/05)

Life expectancy in the United States has risen to a record 77.6 years due to declines in death rates from most major causes, according to the annual mortality report from the National Center for Health Statistics. Women still live longer than men, with a life expectancy of 80.1 years, 5.3 more than men. (from Pastor's Weekly Briefing 03/04/05)

How relevant is the UN any more? Perhaps it is time to disband it and quit funding it. Here is a tragic account of horrific crimes being perpretrated by those who are supposed to be keeping the peace in a war torn country. It is also a reminder of the importance of protecting those entrusted to our care! Follow the link to the story, "Crisis in the Congo": http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,149334,00.html

Tsunami Reflections: we have all seen the pictures of the devastation and suffering caused by the tsunami in the far east. I was reminded recently that there is something that is doing much greater damage on a continual basis and it seems that the world has not responded much to it. It is the AIDs epidemic which is taking place in Africa from which are many orphaned children.