Belly of the Beast Report 3
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Wed Feb 22, 2006 at 02:02:02 PM EST
Please bear with and read through the following report.  I realize that the details of this diary can leave one glassy eyed, but the links between denominational governing bodies, individual churches and the IRD are rarely obvious or direct. For some time I've known that the Episcopal Diocese of Albany was connected with the IRD but I was damned if I could find the concrete connection.


Yesterday I roamed through the websites of organizations that came up when I googled Diocese of Albany. Finally, after hours of mind numbing reading, the following relationship between the American Anglican Council, (USA), the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD), and The Anglican Communion Network (world wide parallel to the AAC) popped!!  The concrete link between the Diocese of Albany and the IRD showed up in the affiliate organizations of the AAC. The IRD is listed as an AAC Affliliate Ministry on the AAC website.  The Diocese of Albany is listed and linked to the AAC as an Affiliate Parish (rather than as an affiliate diocese).  I'm not sure what the politics of that odd affiliation are other than the dust up that occurred when Herzog was forced to resign as an officer of the AAC.

Further investigation mined the following information about one way money is channeled to rogue religious groups.

About Moving Money
 The American Anglican Council directs the readers of its website to this link for Speak Out  The front page of that website says this among other things  
Since the goal of the UAF is to provide a safe mechanism for giving, there are no ties between it and any entities of the Episcopal church. To ensure that the funds stay out of the control of hostile dioceses, the UAF operates within geographical units (cities and counties), not canonical units (churches and dioceses).  There are specific sub-funds for different geographical areas.  For example, rather than have a fund dedicated to Christ Episcopal Church, Anywhere, Anystate, there would be a fund simply dedicated to benefiting the orthodox faith in Anywhere, Anystate. Each fund has a designated account representative who works closely with the UAF and the orthodox Anglicans within the geographical area to determine when the funds should be disbursed, and for what project.

Members of the board have not sought publicity, preferring instead to work relationally, and share the message through word of mouth.  They know that the word will spread as more people and communities in hostile areas come under attack.  However, orthodox Anglicans need to know that they have options, and that experienced financial and legal experts have been creating a mechanism to find avenues for stewardship.

Since one of the goals is to ensure that funds supporting orthodox Anglicanism are not at risk of being accessed by people or entities that are antagonistic, Donnelly says, we don't believe that [rectors and vicars] should direct their parishioners or donors to give funds to this fund. And neither do we think that their elected lay leadership, or vestries should direct that.  Donations to the UAF should be purely voluntary.  So the person who influences the funds, the designated account representative, is someone not connected to the day-to-day management, but respected in the broader community.  Since there are no ties with the Episcopal church, the money will only be used for purposes that promote the orthodox faith.  

The UAF, since it works within very specific, individualized situations, allows for much flexibility.  Some accounts may direct the money towards a building project, while others may be in place simply so a donor can get a tax-deduction before the end of the year.  Generally, its purpose is not to provide money for operating expenses.   As Tom Donnelly says, we're not paying the heat and light bills.  Instead, UAF funds are designed to be used as reserve funds, or funds for capital campaigns.  The individuals in the area, working through the designated account representative, decide what their specific needs are.

CONTACT  for giving (or setting up similar funds:)
If you would like more information on the UAF, please contact Tom Donnelly at 202-626-8500 or tdonnelly@jeffersongr.com.

So a remaining question is, if (or how) are diocesan funds moved.

If you managed to read all the way through this diary without falling asleep, I highly suggest that you use a similar techniques for finding concrete connection between questionable groups in your own denomination and the friendly IRD.




Display:
Here's the website of the IRD, for anyone who wants to take a look at it:

Institute On Religion And Democracy

by Lorie Johnson on Wed Feb 22, 2006 at 02:29:50 PM EST

I should have created a link to IRD but........well......I was pretty done in by the time I finished the reading and the writing and I hadn't taken my Concerta so........yadda yadda yadda, excuses, excuses.  Thanks again!

by tikkun on Wed Feb 22, 2006 at 10:39:07 PM EST
Parent
Tikkun, if you have a brief list of the best material you're come across, I think the time may have come for a TTA anthology on the attack on the Episcopalian Church - to mirror the two I've assembled for the UM and the UCC.

by Bruce Wilson on Thu Feb 23, 2006 at 10:08:08 AM EST
Parent
I think that a section for the Episcopal Church is a very good idea. The attack on ECUSA is relentless.

by faithwatch on Fri Feb 24, 2006 at 09:14:07 PM EST
Parent
Bruce, thank you for doing the organizing work on an ECUSA section.  Can't tell you how much I appreciate it. Faithwatch, welcome, my friend.

To both of you, I"ll make my next report a collection of useful materials, articles, and public correspondences for the ECUSA section.  

by tikkun on Sat Feb 25, 2006 at 11:21:16 AM EST
Parent

When I can figure out how, I'll see about exporting these conversations - but I don't want to move them until this diary migrates off the front page. That would merely make the conversation less accessible.

Also, I need to put a link - somewhere prominent - to the new sections ( episcopalian, etc. )

also - tikkun - you're very welcome.

now,  the trick is to find more people of a similar outlook to inhabit these conversations.

by Bruce Wilson on Sun Mar 05, 2006 at 02:51:44 PM EST
Parent




If you don't have anyone lined up yet to write a series on the IRD and the Presbyterian Church, you might post an appeal on the Witherspoon Society's website.

by Rusty Pipes on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 12:25:51 PM EST
Parent
Thanks

by Bruce Wilson on Sun Mar 05, 2006 at 02:36:19 PM EST
Parent





I'm sure it will prove useful for others. Thanks for all your work.

by Bruce Wilson on Wed Feb 22, 2006 at 02:47:22 PM EST

Hello
I am new to this great site. My Episcopal church in the diocese of Florida is splitting. I have been doing research and trying to figure out what is driving this craziness. Father Jake is also a great site, here are links to some relevant posts:

Wednesday, December 07, 2005
AAC: The Network's Covert Operatives
http://frjakestopstheworld.blogspot.com/2005/12/aac-networks-covert-operatives.html

Thursday, March 17, 2005
A Closer Look at the Attempted Coup
http://frjakestopstheworld.blogspot.com/2005/03/closer-look-at-attempted-coup.html

Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Les Fairfield: "Episcopal Church is a Non-Christian, Foreign, Alien and Pagan Religion"
http://frjakestopstheworld.blogspot.com/2005/11/les-fairfield-episcopal-church-is-non.html

Thursday, July 28, 2005
CAPAC; Justifying Criminal Actions
http://frjakestopstheworld.blogspot.com/2005/07/capac-justifying-criminal-actions.html

Also, Ftr. Mark Harris at Preludium:

Friday, February 17, 2006
The Network makes Claims.
http://anglicanfuture.blogspot.com/2006/02/network-makes-claims.html

I could go on and on about what I've found. A natural skeptic, it's been difficult to believe that this is real, but, it sure seems to be so when one finds a loving community willing to part company at the urging of fanatical clergy. Fortunately, "they" didn't get the property and some are bitter that the Bishop of Florida, bless him, made it absolutely clear that the property is, has been, and will continue to be the site of an Episcopal church.  Four congregations in Florida have left ECUSA but have not left the property owned by the Diocese. They seem to not understand that there exists plenty of scripture on the sins of theft and coveting that which does not belong to you! Our Bishop is actually a conservative, but he is not a "Network" bishop and has not turned our diocese over to the AAC/ACN. Go to VOL to hear what is said about Bishop Howard by the good Christians who hang out there:
http://www.virtueonline.org/portal

Or try TitusOneNine, Florida Archives:
http://titusonenine.classicalanglican.net/index.php?cat=38

BTW, our departing priest, who didn't manage to take the entire congregation, originally came from the AofG!

I believe that the average Episcopalian in the pew really has no idea just how bad and deeply intricate this so-called "orthodox" movement is. Even the ones who haven't left don't want to think that we are truly under attack by a highly organized and well funded machine. I'm certain that those who are leaving would never believe such a thing, they simply believe that they are operating under the "Authority of Scripture" and that the rest of us just "don't get it".

Our Diocese was formerly under Bishop Stephen Jecko, retired, and now in Dallas working with the AAC/ACN in some compacity. We are now harvesting Bishop Jecko's seeds of schism, sown during his tenure. Bishop Jecko didn't allow Bishop Howard to be consecrated by PB Frank Griswald! Some parishes are now angry because +Howard remains in communion with his peers in the HoB! Can you imagine dictating to your Bishop with whom he/she may or may not recieve communion?  Bishop Howard is doing an excellent job of trying to stop the nonsense, but it was already out of hand before he arrived (11/03).

So, I know that I am rambling, but, what I want to know is  - What can be done to expose their agenda?

I look forward to more thought provoking reading and blogging here on "Talk2Action."

God's peace and love to all,

by faithwatch on Fri Feb 24, 2006 at 05:59:59 PM EST

I can't tell you how much your response encourages me.  I felt somewhat like I was hollering down a rain barrel till you appeared.  Now I feel like I have a compadre from my own denomination.

Community Effort

One of the things I am in the process of fomenting is a public ecumenical discussion on the IRD.  
I joined the Interfaith Alliance here in the New York Capital District and I am going to connect with Via Media this week.  I will try to join the efforts of the two groups to produce this public dialogue.  The format for the event will be one of formal dialogue with one of the founders of this site as the presenter, and with leaders from the denominations under attack as respondents.  It's terribly important right now to act in community with all denominations who are suffering from this terrible burden.  Once we have a good design that works, we can move this show around from location to location, perhaps to  your regions as well.  Interfaith Alliance is making the state of affairs we find ourselves in a primary focus this year. It's a good place to start in promoting education and action.

Individual Efforts

Things we can do as individuals is to inform ourselves deeply about the history, goals, actions, and money sources of the IRD so that we can talk with authority about the situation.  Several of us on this site have  created some links to articles about the IRD but nowhere near enough to inform people deeply about the matter.  I will be creating more links next week that should be helpful.  I've found an thorough article about the history of the IRD that seems to have been an early effort out of body of writers at Sojourners that is very useful.  

Please feel encouraged to contribute anything you find and please encourage other compadres to join us here.

by tikkun on Sat Feb 25, 2006 at 11:13:09 AM EST
Parent
This is an interesting article about the IRD and ECUSA, from 2001. Tikkun, you probably already have this, but this is great background info.
Hope this helps.
http://www.idsonline.org/art/Insights_Vol02Iss02.pdf

Thanks for the welcome, I look forward to hearing more about the campaign against ECUSA. Well, maybe that's not exactly the best way to express it, but it sure is a relief to me that there are others out there working on this.

by faithwatch on Sun Feb 26, 2006 at 06:09:17 PM EST
Parent




Does anyone have information or experience with the "Episcopal Witness Program" from the AAC? Apparently, this is a lay movement to infiltrate churches and offer the helpful services of the AAC/ACN to those who are undecided. Having survived on assault on my congregation when we attended a "class" on the issues dividing ECUSA  and were instead subjected to the slick propaganda of the "Choose this Day" video :
http://anglicandecision.org/
and the "Equipping the Saints" brochure:
http://anglicandecision.org/EquippingTheSaints.pdf
I know that the "Network" knows no boundaries and will stoop to any means to achieve their aim of destroying ECUSA and setting themselves up as the "one true expression of Anglicanism in North America".
Here is the link to the "Episcoapl Witness Program"
http://www.aacfl.org/
I look forward to the Episcopal section on this very significant and important website. Thanks Bruce for your work on setting this up!


by faithwatch on Wed Mar 01, 2006 at 07:29:13 AM EST
That these witnessing programs have a profile similar to those in the other denominations. I would assume - also possibly - that they have a distinctly charismatic nature but that's simply a guess on my part.

 The M.O. seems to be generally the same across the board. Essentially, the IRD coordinates, organizes, and channels funding to entitities such as the AAC which serves - in essence - as a sort of "para church"  that is organized along geographic lines.

In other words, the IRD is coordinating the creation of completely independent parallel church structures that are intended, in the end, to wholy supplant the existing mainline church structures.

by Bruce Wilson on Sun Mar 05, 2006 at 02:49:02 PM EST
Parent




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