Archbishop Venables has now begun this morning’s Bible Study.

Joshua Chapter 1

There are about 30 people in the live chatroom on the Anglican TV thread if folks want to watch & comment there.

http://anglicantv.org/blog/

Baby Blue is also hosting the chatroom as well.

The current topic under discussion is the possible amending of the Network Charter.  Matt K. has a helpful article on this over at SF.

http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/4749/

Jill Woodliff just sent us this prayer and asked us to post it here, since Lent & Beyond has also been having tech problems this morning.

Dear Heavenly Father,
We pray that all those attending the Network Council meeting will seek those things that are above, not on earth, that they may have the mind of Christ, bringing forth what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  Amen.
Romans 12:2, Colossians 3:2, Philippians 2:5

Under discussion, a motion by (I believe John Liebler of C. Florida) to amend Section C7 of the Network Bylaws:

Nothing in the Charter or the Bylaws shall be interpreted to require submission to the Constitution of TEC by members of this Network who are not themselves members of TEC

That amendment to the Bylaws would be instead of amending the Network Charter if I understand the motion correctly

According to Kevin K. of Anglican TV, the motion re: the Bylaw change passed.  (The video feed was out due to internet crash during the vote)

Another vote was just taken.  Unanimous (not counting absent SC).  I *believe* the vote was to Ratify the Articles of Common Cause Partnership.  (the audio feed was a bit on & off)

I’ve e-mailed some folks who are present.  Hoping someone can post a very short summary of what happened this morning since the feed was quite hard to follow some of the time.

Matt+ you rock.  THANK YOU!  It was unanimous, correct?

Our favorite liveblogging priest, Matt K+ has got a brief update of today’s morning session over at Stand Firm.  Thank You Matt+!

http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/4765/

The Common Cause statement for the 9 members to approve is excellent!  I hope all agree to it and quickly.

Hi Alice.
+Bob Duncan gave an update yesterday as to which partners have already approved it.  I didn’t take notes, unfortunately, so I don’t remember the details.  But it seems most partners are supporting it.

For clarity’s sake, let me repeat here:  the Network has now voted unanimously (minus the absent South Carolina) accept the Theological Statement and to Ratify the Articles of the Common Cause Partnership.

You can read both here:
http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/4741/

And this morning, there was a Network ByLaw amendment passed as outlined above.  Those are the main business items to date as this elf understands them.

This might have been answered elsewhere, but does anyone know why South Carolina is not present?  There is no statement on their website.  I find it puzzling.

Randy, we’ve not seen any official explanation.  Bp. Duncan mentioned them in passing this morning.  Mentioned the turmoil of their bishop election and requested prayers for them.  But that’s all I’ve heard or seen anywhere.

Not sure if the closed session is going to continue all afternoon, or if the live feed will return at some point.

This elf needs to take a bit of a break from the keyboard.  Back as soon as I can.  And we’ll post any news as to time of live press conference etc. if/when we get it.

I’d like to know that as well.

Kevin is back broadcasting.

Per Kevin from live chat:

+Duncan was re-elected and so was Anderson+, they didn’t call the press corp back so they’re late starting the feed.

Stand Firm has an update now about elections
http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/4767/

Bishop Robert Duncan was unanimously re-elected as moderator.
Canon David Anderson was unanimously [re-]elected secretary.
Bill Roemer was unanimously elected treasurer.

Am I correct that the only missing Network diocese is S. Carolina?  The others are all there, correct? 
Have I mentioned just how wonderful it is to have this kind of access?  Can’t get the feed here (at work) due to firewall issues, but will be home soon to watch live.
Prayers for all
TJ

Yes TJ, all dioceses and convocations are there except South Carolina.

A couple of updates:

First: Kevin Kallsen is planning live interviews with +Duncan, +Iker, ++Venables at 6 p.m. Central (7 eastern, 23:00 GMT).

Second: Network has two new press releases out:
Council Ratifies Common Cause Structural Document

Bishop Duncan Re-elected Network Moderator

It is good that members are asked to not fight over women in Holy Orders. However, I hope that this doesn’t mean that members won’t discuss the question as it is important that Anglicans develop a deeper understanding of the catholic position.

5:50 p.m. Eastern. Abp. Venables is speaking again. Watch it live if you can!
http://anglicantv.org/blog/

FYI press conference participants.

From right (viewers’ right):
+Ackerman (Quincy)
Thompson+ Dean of Western Convocation
+Duncan
+Sutton (REC Bishop)
+Iker (Fort Worth)
++Venables (Primate, Southern Cone)

Another FYI: the press panel interviewing the bishops included:

Kevin Kallsen, Anglican TV
Doug LeBlanc, the Living Church, Get Religion blog and other pubs
George Conger, the Living Church, CEN Newspaper & other pubs
Cherie Wetzel, Anglicans United
Ralph Webb, IRD
Peter Frank, Diocese of Pittsburgh

If I missed anyone, I apologize

Ok, this elf is gonna sign off soon.

Important FYI:

Video archives can be found here: http://ustream.tv/channel/acn-council-meeting-2007

NOTE: Tonight’s press conference is second box from the left under “past clips”

We also recommend “Venables III”—third box from left

More will eventually be posted at Anglican TV, I’m sure: http://anglicantv.org/blog/

Perhaps there may be more on Stand Firm later too…

Ok, one last link before this elf keels over or her fingers fall off.  (Not sure which is likely to happen first.  It’s a dead-even heat at the moment…!)

A new Network press release on the Network Council’s vote on the issue of mediation with ECUSA

http://www.acn-us.org/archive/2007/07/network-states-willingness-to-engage-in-mediation-with-national-church.html

Thank you, Elves, for all you do to keep readers informed.  You’re the elf servants of God.

Just discovered that Cherie Wetzel of Anglicans United has good ACN Council coverage on her blog:

http://www.anglicansunited.com/
see especially here:
http://www.anglicansunited.com/2007/07/acn_monday_afternoon_session_p.html#more

Cherie also has notes on ++Venables wonderful teaching on Joshua.  So far it is only on Virtue:
http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=6436

too important not to link it…

It was said, “Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”
Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests.  At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
“But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’
“Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’
“Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
“The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’
”‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’
“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.  I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”  Luke 14:14-24

My friends, the servants of the King are still out there inviting those for whom the places have been set at the banquet. Soon it will be time to invite others to fill their empty places.

And soon it will be time to be done with calling the faithful out of TEC, and to be going into the streets and the alleys to fill the empty seats at the banquet.

Morning thoughts: I do not wish to imply that, for many Anglicans, there are sufficient reasons for remaining in The Episcopal Church. But in reviewing what the Anglican Communion Network has been doing these last two days, it seems that those sufficient reasons are falling by the wayside, day by day.

Is the day coming when there will no longer be a sufficient reason for a faithful, orthodox Christian to remain in TEC? Probably not. The concern for the souls of all those who are caught in the sway of TEC revisionism, for example, will probably seem sufficient reason for some orthodox to remain in TEC as underground revolutionaries, etc.

But for many others, other sufficient reasons are disappearing. Among those is Bishop Duncan’s perception that there is no longer a hope and a future for the organization formerly known as the Protestant Episcopal Church in America.

Correction:
I do not wish to imply that, for many Anglicans, there are not sufficient reasons for remaining in The Episcopal Church.

Br_er, your double negative now has this elf confused, I confess.  Too many hours blogging this week on my part I suspect.

Are you saying that you believe that some Anglicans have sufficient reasons for staying in TEC, but that those reasons for many (except those extraordinary calls, such perhaps as Rob Eaton believes he may have, to stay and minister among the ruins) are decreasing?

[Please note, I’m not challenging your words, so no need to further defend your statement.  I’m just trying to clarify them and make sure I’ve got the gist correct.]

Dear elf,

Good Morning!

It appears that I am the one confused this morning. What I meant to say is that although there are some who will find a good reason to stay in TEC, many will find that the reasons they have held so far for remaining are slipping from their grasp.