Exodus from the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia

Opinion

Ted Olsen

Weblog

Exodus from the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia

Plus: Another New Life pastor quits, Joan of Arc "relics" studied, and other stories from online sources around the world.

Compiled by Ted Olsen

[ posted 12/18/2006 2:52PM ]

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1. Eight churches, including two of the country's most prominent, vote to leave
The big religion news today is the votes of eight northern Virginia Episcopal churches to leave the diocese of Virginia. The votes at two of the country's most prominent Episcopal parishes—colonial-era Truro Church and The Falls Church—weren't even close, with at least 90 percent voting to align with the Church of Nigeria. It's a significant development in the long story of the upheaval in the Anglican Communion. Those who want to follow it closely would do well to bookmark titusonenine, Stand Firm, Classical Anglican Net News, or any of the many Anglican blogs out there. We're watching, but we're not going to link to every press release, statement, photo, and doodle coming out of this debate. Bottom line: The Episcopal Church is breaking up, and it's about to have a major fight over property ownership.

2. More Haggard fallout An effort at New Life Church in Colorado Springs to "ensure the leadership … is clean" has resulted in the resignation of an executive staff member, The Denver Post reported today. "Christopher Beard, who headed [twentyfourseven,] a ministry that trained young adults in leadership skills, stepped down Friday after admitting to 'a series of decisions displaying poor judgment, including one incident of sexual misconduct several years ago,'" the Post reported, quoting associate pastor Rob Brendle. Beard is also a former psychotherapist. In other Haggard news, the Post reported that the former National Association of Evangelicals president was due to narrate a video called "What Would Jesus Do?" for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. The Post also had news over the weekend about Paul Barnes, another ...

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Launched in 1999, Christianity Today’s Weblog was not just one of the first religion-oriented weblogs, but one of the first published by a media organization. (Hence its rather bland title.) Mostly compiled by then-online editor Ted Olsen, Weblog rounded up religion news and opinion pieces from publications around the world. As Christianity Today’s website grew, it launched other blogs. Olsen took on management responsibilities, and the Weblog feature as such was mothballed. But CT’s efforts to round up important news and opinion from around the web continues, especially on our Gleanings feature.

Ted Olsen

Ted Olsen is Christianity Today's managing editor for news and online journalism. He wrote the magazine's Weblog—a collection of news and opinion articles from mainstream news sources around the world—from 1999 to 2006. In 2004, the magazine launched Weblog in Print, which looks for unexpected connections and trends in articles appearing in the mainstream press. The column was later renamed "Tidings" and ran until 2007.