Episcopal Church's Diocese's appeals April 13

VIRGINIA: State Supreme Court will hear Episcopal Church's, diocese's appeals April 13

By Mary Frances Schjonberg, March 30, 2010
[Episcopal News Service] The Supreme Court of Virginia has told the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and the Episcopal Church that it will hear arguments April 13 in two cases concerning church property, according to the diocese.
Both the diocese and the Episcopal Church had asked the court nearly a year ago to review a Fairfax County Court judge's rulings in a series of church property lawsuits.

The appeal is based on a number of grounds, including a challenge to the constitutionality of Virginia's one-of-a-kind "Division Statute" (Section 57-9(A)), which dates to the Civil War and is triggered when there is a so-called "division" of a church or religious society, as well as the rulings of the circuit court in applying the law. The county judge's ruling has allowed former Episcopalians to claim Episcopal Church property as their own.

The litigation involves nine Episcopal parishes of the diocese which the majority of members and clergy left to form congregations of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA). The case originally involved members of 11 congregations of the Virginia diocese who left the Episcopal Church to form CANA congregations. The departing members of nine of those congregations then filed claims to parish property under the Division Statute.

The diocese and the Episcopal Church in September 2008 reached a legal settlement with two of the original 11 congregations, Potomac Falls Church in Potomac Falls and Christ the Redeemer Church in Chantilly, neither of which held any real property.

Judge Randy Bellows had previously ruled that the Division Statute applied to the case and overrode the Episcopal Church's and diocese's claims to the property. He also rejected the contention of the diocese and the Episcopal Church that his application of the law was unconstitutional.

The Virginia diocese and the Episcopal Church have opposed the congregations' claims and asked the courts to declare that the property must be held and used for the mission of the Episcopal Church and the diocese.

More information about the cases, including the Supreme Court filings, is available here.

The diocese said March 29 that it had asked the Supreme Court special arrangements to accommodate overflow seating for the April 13 hearing.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church, located next to the Supreme Court building in Richmond, "has offered to serve as a gathering space for those who would like to come together as a community and spend time in prayer and fellowship" on April 13, the diocese's news release said.

-- The Rev. Mary Frances Schjonberg is a national correspondent for the Episcopal News Service and Episcopal News Monthly editor.

Teach in Romania

"Our immediate concern is for a teacher/missionary who can come to Transylvania quickly for three months for the April 5th-June 18th term to help us out of this tight spot.

The school will pay for their rent and utilities for those three months.
*They do not need a college degree or TESOL at this point.*

Main qualifications include: 1.) Love God and people 2.) a desire to serve 3.) a willingness to learn 4.) a desire to gain a TESOL certification while you are here (Teachers of English to Students of Other Languages).

THIS WOULD BE A GREAT SHORT-TERM MINISTRY FOR SOMEONE! We show the love of Christ and minister to orphans in our free time. It is very easy to live here because the dollar is so strong compared to the local currency.

I live on about $200 a month for groceries and the city is very safe...

Stuart & Beth

Contact Information:
Telephone: 804-829-5526

e-mail: FergusonsinRO@gmail.com

(From David Covington, staff English Instructor at ATP)

"Black children are aborted at three times the rate of all other populations

National Black Leaders Join Georgia Legislators to End Ugliest Form of Racism: Abortion

Contact: Catherine Davis, Georgia Right to Life, 678-571-5309

ATLANTA, Feb. 11 /Christian Newswire/ -- In 2008, blacks made up 30% of the population but over 57% of the abortions in Georgia. Today national black leaders gathered at the Georgia State Capitol to join a bipartisan group of black and white Georgia legislators to call for an end to the disproportionate levels of abortion in the black community in Georgia.

"Black children are aborted at three times the rate of all other populations. Georgia leads the country in the number of reported abortions performed on black women, 18,901 in 2008 alone," Catherine Davis, Director of Minority Outreach for Georgia Right to Life reported.

Dr. Johnny Hunter, President of LEARN noted, "The civil rights activists did not fight to make lynching safe, legal, and rare. They ended it. We must fight to end the ugliest form of racism: abortion."

Dr. La Verne Tolbert, former board member of Planned Parenthood stated, "Abortions increase where clinics are located and where are those clinics located? Ninety-four percent of the clinics are located in urban areas where blacks reside. In my own neighborhood which is an African American neighborhood in California, there are three abortion clinics strategically located all in the same area."

On Tuesday, Representative Barry Loudermilk introduced bipartisan legislation that targets this very issue. The Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act, HB 1155, makes it illegal to knowingly perform, solicit or accept funding for either race- or sex-selection abortions. This bill is based upon existing federal legislation in the 111th US Congress.

"In Georgia, you cannot fire or hire a person based upon their race or gender. If discrimination is wrong in the workplace and in schools, those same standards should be applied to who enters this life and who doesn't. No child should be kept from entering this world based upon their race, color, or sex," said Representative Loudermilk

Dr. Johnny Hunter stated, "All the civil rights gained in education, voting, and equal job opportunities mean nothing to a dead black child."

Catherine Davis noted, "HB 1155 will not victimize or harm women, but will hold accountable those who would perform, solicit, or coerce an abortion because of the race, color, or sex of the child."

Dr. Alveda King, niece of Martin Luther King Jr. commented, "I commend Rep. Loudermilk and the other legislators for ending this last bastion of racism. Abortion is the civil rights issue of the 21st Century."

http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/5113913026.html

RTF Classes at New Life Providence

Seminar

February 23, 25, 26 & 27, 2010

"Back by popular demand! RTF is a unique integrated approach to healing ministry. Through both presentation and demonstration, Ray and Emily Duenke will equip participants in the biblical principles of healing ministry and will explore critical topics such as forgiveness, generational sins and curses, ungodly beliefs, soul/spirit hurts and demonic oppression. Life group leaders, lay counselors or anyone involved in one-on-one ministry to others are highly encouraged to go through this training!"


Dates/Times:
Feb. 23, 25, 26, 7:00-10:00 pm
Feb. 27, 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

Location:
New Life Providence Church
1244 Thompkins Lane
Virginia Beach, VA 23464

Cost: $50 (includes 400-page RTF manual, a $30 value)

Registration: Register with payment with Doug Chandler (227-6930; dougchandler1@gmail.com), or at the Providence Church Office by Monday, February 15th. Make checks payable to NLMI.

This is Part 1 of two RTF seminars this winter/spring.

Part 2 is the RTF Activation Seminar in which participants actually practice the RTF ministry process under the guidance of trained RTF counselors.

Part 2 will take placeon May 3, 4, 6, 7 & 8. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for upcoming announcements!

KINGDOM LIVING SCHOOL

The Kingdom Living School will precede the Catch the Fire conference February 17-20. SEE DETAILS BELOW for more information.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kingdom Living School - Virginia Beach

Start Date/Time: Sunday, February 14, 2010
End Date/Time: Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Description:
This School is designed to give you practical tools to live your life in the fullness of all God intended since the beginning of time and especially for today.

We have speakers who are experts in their field. The School will cover topics including Kingdom finances, flowing in spiritual gifts, freedom from bondages, dealing with issues of the heart and how to manifest the Kingdom of God in our every day lives. Every session will be thoroughly grounded with practical input both for everyday and long term including Q & A's at the end of the sessions.

Speakers:
John & Carol Arnott - Founders TACF & Catch the Fire Ministries
Gordon Robertson - CEO of the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN)
Duncan & Kate Smith - VP & Director Catch the Fire Ministries
Marguerite Evans - National Coordinator Catch the Fire Ministries
Robin Tull - Founder & President of Tull Financial Group
David Addesa - Senior Pastor of Harvest Assembly, Virginia Beach
Frank Meadows - Founder of Meadows Healing Prayer Center
Travis & Ann Thigpen - Founders of Gateway Ministries

Worship: Robert & Kelley Augi

Price: $199.00 / Person
Price excludes conferece. Conference fee is $49.00 w/ valid School Registration
Location:
The Founders Inn
5641 Indian River Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23464

For more information or to register please contact Catch the Fire Ministries
Tel: 1(919)848-3063
Email Catch the Fire

Registration begins at
1pm on Sunday Feb 14th

School begins at
2pm on Sunday Feb 14th

Sincerely,

Frank Meadows
Meadows Healing Prayer Center
757-696-4053

Victory for CPC's in Virginia this Week

This is an very encouraging account of how two bills against Virginia Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPC) were defeated in sub-committee this week, even by the author of the bills after hearing testimony by local Virginia CPC leaders and some of their clients.

Dear Friends,

Great news! Yesterday, all of the harmful legislation against Virginia's pregnancy centers was defeated! Both the House and Senate bills were killed in the sub-committees.

CPC of Tidewater, along with other pregnancy centers, participated in a Senate sub-committee hearing yesterday at our state capital to help defend pregnancy centers in Virginia against harmful legislation. (Please review my last email for an explanation of this legislation.)With less than 20 hours notice informing us about this meeting, our pregnancy centers group tried to put together the best response possible with very little time to prepare.

We were told by experienced lobbyists that they "fully anticipated" the bill to pass this sub-committee as three of the five members on the committee were expected to be in favor of the bill. Also, the chief patron of this bill, Senator Ralph Northam (D- 6th District, Norfolk), was the chairman of this committee.

With little time and support, we knew this was an impossible situation. So we prayed together and entered the conference room trusting God to give us wisdom and words as we participated in the hearing.

It all began with a doctor reading parts of the infamous NARAL report making false and erroneous accusations against our pregnancy centers. However, it was obvious that she and the others in favor of this bill also anticipated it to pass easily in this sub-committee because they did not speak at length or in great number.

I was very proud of our team when we were given an opportunity to speak. We gave testimony of the great work of helping women and preborn children visiting our pregnancy centers throughout our Commonwealth. Several clients even testified on our behalf. One of those clients had been helped by our ministry here in Tidewater. She brought tears to the eyes of many in the room, including mine.

Several Pregnancy Center Directors addressed the false accusations levied against our centers. Their accounts were so compelling that it was easy for the casual observer to determine that NARAL's investigation and report was a thinly veiled attempt to discredit and harm pregnancy centers in Virginia.

In the end, it was very apparent that pregnancy centers in Virginia operate with excellence, uphold high standards and serve women with integrity.

It was also apparent to the senators on the committee because they voted unanimously AGAINST the bill.

Even the chief patron of the bill, Senator Northam, voted against it and it was his bill!

Representatives from the pro-abortion groups left quickly, but I, along with others from the pregnancy centers group, hurried to shake the hands of the committee members. I especially thanked Senator Northam for his courage to overturn his own bill. We disagree on the rights of preborn children, but he acted honorably and with great integrity in this hearing.

All praise to God for His provision and protection. This was a day that I will never forget. There is so much more that I could share. However, it would make a very long email. The day did end with another victory as the House sub-committee also voted against their version of the bill by a party line vote of 4-3.

NARAL spent lots of money and more than a year preparing to do great damage to pregnancy centers here in Virginia. It was a very strategic and well orchestrated effort. We were blind-sided by their attack. We had no money and almost no time to prepare ... but God gave us favor. This battle has been won. All glory and honor to Him.

I would like to thank Victoria Cobb and the rest of the Family Foundation for providing us with remarkable support, direction, and encouragement. They worked tirelessly to defend us. I am so grateful that they were there. God used them mightily.

Also, special thanks to Kristen Hansen with Care Net for walking with us through this trial and speaking on our behalf before the committees.

There are many others like NIFLA, Heartbeat International, and the ACLJ that provided valuable support. Thank you, Governor Bob MacDonnell, for sending a representative to clearly communicate your opposition to these bills.

Many people have called, sent emails and text messages letting us that they were praying for us and contacting legislators on our behalf. All of this support has been very encouraging.

I trust God will use all of this to glorify Himself and further His mission of saving lives and sparing hearts though the ministry of the Crisis Pregnancy Center of Tidewater.

For LIFE,

Toby DeBause

President

Crisis Pregnancy Center of Tidewater

For more information:

CPC's Website: www.cpcfriends.org

Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.
Psalm 10:12 NIV

Largest abortion clinic in the country to open in Houston

(CNSNews.com) – A coalition of pro-life advocates and religious leaders plan to gather in Houston on Jan. 18 to oppose what is expected to be the largest abortion clinic in the country.

Planned Parenthood is renovating a former bank, turning it into a 78,000 square foot facility that will include a surgical wing equipped to provide late-term abortions.

“It’s an abortion super center,” Lou Engle, founder of the pro-life group The Call to Conscience, which is organizing the rally, told CNSNews.com.

Joining Engle at the “prayer march” will be Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, and Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. Religious leaders expected to attend include Bishop Harry Jackson, senior pastor of Hope Christian Church; Richard Land, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention; Star Parker, president of the Coalition for Urban Renewal and Education; and Abby Johnson, the former director of a Planned Parenthood clinic.

Engle compared the fight for the rights of the unborn to another critical movement in America. “As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, ‘It is time to subpoena the conscience of America,’” he said.

Engle said he believes the clinic was strategically located in a part of Houston that is surrounded by black and Hispanic neighborhoods.

“We want to say that it’s not right to have an abortion super center that targets the minority community,” Engle said. He says Planned Parenthood actively markets its services, including abortion, to low-income, minority women.
http://cnsnews.com/news/article/59334