Alberta British Columbia District of the Lutheran Church Canada (LCMS - eh?) - Bankrupt

Costing cutting at district headquarters is our priority.

http://www.lccabc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Pastoral_Letter_ABC_District.pdf

January 19, 2015 Dear Members of the Alberta-British Columbia District, Two weeks ago Church Extension Fund Investors began to receive letters informing them that the Fund faced a sufficient cash shortage and that its assets were less than its obligations to its investors. 

The Fund was frozen and no further withdrawals would be honoured.

A source says:

"The President of LC-C (Bugbe) says many, many people will lose thousands and thousands of dollars.  The court is going to appoint a Chief Restructuring Officer -- so much for a District President."

---

Lutheran Church-Canada Alberta-B.C district still protected from bankruptcy

The Alberta B.C district of the Lutheran Church-Canada will continue to be protected from bankruptcy and legal proceedings after the church requested an extension under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act.

The request was granted by the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta in Calgary on Friday.

The move will continue to protect the district from bankruptcy and from being sued until March 27, 2015, while giving the church time to draft a plan on how to restructure its investment funds. The church had wanted a 90-day extension, but was given a  30-day extension instead.

In early January, about 2,000 investors with one of the church’s investment funds were told their accounts had been suspended and the church would not be able to fully pay back the $95 million owed to them.

At the time, the district’s president, Don Schiemann, said he took responsibility for the financial crisis because it happened on his watch.

• District Lutheran President says he 'bears responsibility' for financial mess, promises review

Since then, the financial mess facing the church has deepened and spread to another investment fund, District Investments Ltd. Accounts with that fund have also been frozen, affecting more than 900 investors who cannot withdraw money from their RRSPs, RRIFs and TFSAs. The deposits as of Nov.30, 2014, were $37 million.

A court-appointed monitor has been overseeing the finances of the Alberta-B.C district since the end of January.

• Finances of Lutheran Church district now overseen by monitor

In a statement posted on its website the church said it is working to get the “right people to the table” by hiring a chief restructuring officer, a new restructuring committee and a creditor committee.

Part of the church’s restructuring may mean it will be forced to sell off assets.

The current financial crisis facing the church has raised questions from the national office of the Lutheran Church-Canada over whether churches should be in the business of financing.

In January, the church’s national president, Rev. Robert Bugbee, called it a serious situation that warranted a review of how other Lutheran church districts administer their investment funds.

The church has set up an emergency fund for investors who rely on money from the investment funds to meet basic living expenses.

The investment fund began in 1921 as an internal savings and loan program, because banks at that time were not lending money to churches.

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District Lutheran President says he 'bears responsibility' for financial mess, promises review

The president of the Alberta-British Columbia District of the Lutheran Church-Canada says he takes responsibility for the financial mess the church is now in, a situation that happened under his leadership.

“It happened on my watch,” Pastor Don Schiemann said during an interview in his Edmonton office.

He said he realized how serious the financial situation was about a year and a half ago. In March 2014, the investment fund at the centre of the problem stopped accepting deposits.

“I personally feel terrible for what’s happened and certainly, as I say, bear responsibility for it, because I’m president of this district.”

In a letter to about two thousand investors sent Jan. 5, Schiemannsaid the Church Extension Fund (CEF), an investment fund that has existed since 1921, has been suspended and is not able to fully pay back the $95 million owed to investors.

Two staff at the district office have been laid off, though one person left before being given a layoff notice. Schiemann isn’t ruling out more layoffs, saying “that’s on the table, if need be, we’re fully prepared to do that.”

In 2012 the Prince of Peace Village development had a loan worth $70 million from the investment fund. (CBC)

​Sources close to the Alberta-B.C. district say the CEF ran into trouble when money from it was used to build the Prince of Peace Manor and Harbour east of Calgary in the 1990s.

“We made decisions in favour of ministry, and as a result there were some poor financial decisions,” said Schiemann, who has no regrets over the ministerial work done at the Prince of Peace development east of Calgary.

"Perfect storm" led to financial crisis

Schiemann said he’s still trying to understand how the district landed in such financial trouble. The financial crisis was caused by what he describes as a “perfect storm” of factors, including: investors withdrawing; outstanding loans, including the one to the Prince of Peace that in 2012, the last audit available, shows it was worth 70 million dollars; and, not having any other investments that could earn money.

The church must now start selling off assets. Investors are being asked to consider two options: liquidate the district’s assets immediately; or receive payments from Prince of Peace Manor and Harbour, while also selling off assets, such as sites purchased for new churches. There is no timeline for when a final decision will be made.

The Prince of Peace Village includes a church, a K-9 school an a supportive living facility. (Prince of Peace Christian Community)

​What is clear is that everything, even the building Schiemann currently works in, could eventually be up for sale.

“We’re not tied to a building," he said. "If this building needs to be sold, it’ll be sold, but we will continue to do our work as the Alberta - British Columbia district of Lutheran Church Canada."

Schiemann couldn’t say exactly how much the church’s assets are worth, but did say if investors choose the first option, of selling off the assets immediately, a return of up to 65 cents on the dollar is expected.

From November 2012 to November 2014, almost 13 million dollars was withdrawn from the CEF. In December, all withdrawals and all accounts were frozen.

Schiemann is adamant that anyone who knew about the financial situation did not make withdrawals.

“How could we stand in front of investors and say with inside information we took advantage of that and we saved our dollars but you’re stuck with what you’ve got? There’s no way we could do that."

Schiemann, who has served as district president for 15 years, doesn’t shy away from the gravity of the situation and said the church administration has a moral and ethical obligation to try to return as much of investors' money as possible.

A review will happen, says Schiemann

He agrees with the Lutheran Church Canada’s national president, Reverend Robert Bugbee, that the current precarious financial situation raises the question of whether church’s should be in the business of financing. Schiemann said the district intends to review how it has been running the investment fund with the goal of determining how it ended up in this financial mess, adding that some churches that have relied on fund may need to look at refinancing with the banks.

He confirmed the church has hired a public relations firm to help communicate with investors about what’s happening with their money.

Schiemann intends to retire from the position of president in May, a decision he said has nothing to do with the current financial crisis facing the district.

“I look at our church, and I look at our people and I look at our gracious God and we’ll pull through this. Our church may look somewhat different, and that may not be bad,” he said.

Litigation List - The Episcopal Church - From Virtue Online

Presiding Bishop Katie Schori is finishing her first
and last term in office.

http://www.virtueonline.org/annual-litigation-survey-episcopal-church-usa-2015

By A.S. HALEY
THE ANGLICAN CURMUDEON
http://accurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2015/02/annual-litigation-survey-for-episcopal.html
February 22, 2015

It is a fact well known to certain Episcopalians--both those who have left the Episcopal Church (USA) and those who have remained--that ECUSA and its dioceses have followed a pattern of suing any church that chooses to leave for another Anglican jurisdiction. But the full extent of the litigation that has ensued is not well known at all, either in the wider Church, or among the provinces of the Anglican Communion. (Otherwise -- one would think -- it would never have been deemed to be conduct to be rewarded by this honorary degree, rather than this one.)
Your Curmudgeon proposes to do what he can to rectify this situation, by publishing an annual update on this site of the current status of all past and present cases in which ECUSA or any of its dioceses has been or is involved, from 2000 to date. Feel free to link to this post, to email links to it to other Episcopalians, and to send it to your Bishop -- and feel free to post any updates or corrections in the comments. In another update to be posted as General Convention approaches, I will publish a revised total for all of the money spent by ECUSA and its Dioceses to date on prosecuting all of these lawsuits (and, in the case of the second group below, defending them).

The lawsuits initiated by ECUSA and its dioceses to date are first listed below. They far outnumber, as you can see, the second list of the eight cases begun by a diocese or parish against the Episcopal Church (or a diocese). The listing endeavors to be as complete as I can make it. The first 83 cases, generally grouped by the State in which they each originated, are the legal actions filed since 2000 (of which I am aware) where the Episcopal Church (USA) and/or one of its dioceses played the role of plaintiff--the party who initiates a case in court by filing a complaint to seize the assets and real property of any church choosing to leave ECUSA. Please note that wherever possible the actual citation of any published decision in the case has been given. Also, please note the dates for the later cases, which demonstrate the acceleration of litigation by ECUSA and its dioceses in defiant rejection of the Primates' call for a moratorium on litigation at the Dar es Salaam meeting.

Bishop Katie is our best producer.

1. Against Christ Anglican Church in Mobile, Alabama (plaintiff was the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast---the suit settled in 2001 before trial, and Anglican congregation moved out; they built a brand-new church in 2005, while the historic Episcopal site became the cathedral of the Diocese that same year)
2.-4. Against St. John's Episcopal Church in Fallbrook, California (CA); St. Anne's, in Oceanside CA; and Holy Trinity, in Ocean Beach, CA (plaintiff in all three cases is the Diocese of San Diego -- trial court ruled against the two latter parishes following the decision by the California Supreme Court in the St. James Newport Beach case; parishes decided not to appeal)
5. New case by TEC against St. John's Episcopal Church in Fallbrook, CA: Dale W. New, Richard L. Goodlake and the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego v. The Rev. Donald L. Kroeger, et al. (following its decision in the St. James case (No. 6 below), the California Supreme Court ordered republished the decision of the Fourth Appellate District [167 Cal.App.4th 800, 84 Cal.Rptr.3d 464 (2008)], awarding the property to the plaintiff Diocese of San Diego; the defendants did not seek further review)
6-8. Against St. James Anglican Church, Newport Beach CA and two others; Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and ECUSA v. St. James (Newport Beach) et al. (lead case), Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and ECUSA v. All Saints (Long Beach) et al.,Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and ECUSA v. St. David's (North Hollywood) et al.; Episcopal Church Cases, S155094 (Diocese of Los Angeles is plaintiff, joined by ECUSA; following its decision overruling the defendants' demurrers and reversing the trial court's grant of a motion to strike [45 Cal.4th 467, 87 Cal.Rptr.3d 275, 198 P.3d 66, cert. denied, 130 S.Ct. 179 (2009)], the California Supreme Court subsequently reversed a judgment entered against St. James and ordered that the case go forward; trial court granted a questionable summary judgment which is now on appeal. Similar trial court rulings against the other two parishes are also on appeal.)
9. Against St. Luke's of the Mountains Anglican Church, et al, La Crescenta CA; Patricia Huber, The Right Rev. Sergio Carranza, The Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Los Angeles, The Right Rev. J. Jon Bruno, Bishop Diocesan of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles v. The Rev. Dr. Ronald W. Jackson, St. Luke's of the Mountains Anglican Church, et al. (Fourth Appellate District ruled in favor of Plaintiff Diocese of Los Angeles [175 Cal.App.4th 663, 96 Cal.Rptr.3d 346]; parish decided not to appeal further)
10. Against St. John's Anglican Church in Petaluma, CA; Episcopal Diocese of Northern California v. St. John's Anglican Church, Petaluma (Sonoma County Superior Court; parties agreed to settle following California Supreme Court decision, parish moved to another location and is now a member of ACNA); (Diocese of Northern California was plaintiff)

"I have neither the heart of a king
nor the stomach of a king.
I am the Queen - hear me roar."

11. Against Bishop John David Schofield and the diocesan investment fund in the Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin, CA (ACNA);Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin, The Rt. Rev. Jerry A. Lamb and The Episcopal Church v. Bishop John-David Schofield and The Episcopal Foundation of San Joaquin (Fresno Superior Court; case involves the Diocese of San Joaquin withdrawing from the Episcopal Church); (the TEC-established and -funded Diocese of San Joaquin is the Plaintiff); case went back to Superior Court after successful appeal by Bishop Schofield to the Fifth Appellate District [190 Cal.App.4th 154, 118 Cal.Rptr.3d 160]; trial court ruled that the Schofield decision dictated an outcome in favor of the Episcopal Diocese and ECUSA, and ordered the Anglican Diocese to turn over all its money and real property; case is once again on appeal to the Fifth Appellate District
12. Against St. Columba's Fresno, CA and its rector and its vestry members, in Fresno County Superior Court (2010); plaintiffs are the remnant diocese of San Joaquin and its bishop; case is stayed pending the outcome of No. 11 above
13. Against St. Francis Anglican Parish of Turlock, CA, its rector and its vestry members, in Stanislaus County Superior Court (2010); plaintiffs are the remnant diocese of San Joaquin and its bishop; case settled following the Kern County decisions (##14-15 below); the parish moved out to new premises
14-16. Against St. Michael's Anglican Parish of Ridgecrest, CA, its rector and its vestry members, in Kern County Superior Court (2010); against St. Paul's Anglican parish in Bakersfield, CA, its rector and its vestry members, in Kern County Superior Court (2010) (this was Bishop Mark Lawrence's parish before he went to South Carolina); and against the (nonexistent) Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen of Redeemer Parish in Delano, CA, in Kern County Superior Court (2010); trial court granted summary judgment in the first two cases; the parishes decided not to appeal, and each moved to different premises (there was no effective congregation in Delano -- the property had been rented to another denomination, and it went to the plaintiffs by agreement with the Anglican Diocese)
17. Against the Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen of St. John's Parish in Porterville, CA, in Tulare County Superior Court (2010); plaintiffs are the remnant diocese of San Joaquin and its bishop; case is stayed pending the outcome of No. 11 above
18. Against the Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen of St. Paul's Parish in Visalia, CA, in Tulare County Superior Court (2010); plaintiffs are the remnant diocese of San Joaquin and its bishop; case is stayed pending the outcome of No. 11 above

"I can do cool too."

19. Against St. James Church, Sonora, CA, its rector and its vestry members, in Tuolumne County Superior Court (2010); plaintiffs were the remnant diocese of San Joaquin and its bishop; Anglican Diocese agreed to turn over the property to the Episcopal Diocese after the church's rector and his wife were killed in an automobile collision
20. Against the Wardens and Vestry of St. John's, Stockton, and its rector and its vestry members, in San Joaquin County Superior Court (2010); plaintiffs are the remnant diocese of San Joaquin and its bishop; trial court granted summary judgment in April 2014 against the parish, which decided to move out and not appeal; parish is now St. Francis of Assisi Anglican
21-29. Against the rectors and vestry members of the same nine parishes in Nos. 12-20 above, in the same Superior Courts in CA, respectively (2011) (these were complaints in intervention filed by the Episcopal Church)
30. Against Trinity Anglican Church in Bristol, Connecticut (CT); plaintiff is the Diocese of Connecticut; case settled in 2008; congregation left property to the Diocese
31. Against The Rector and former vestry of Bishop Seabury Church in Groton, CT; plaintiff was the Diocese of Connecticut; parish lost decision in trial court, and Connecticut Supreme Court recently affirmed that decision (302 Conn. 408, 28 A.3d 302); parish's petition to the U.S. Supreme Court was denied in June 2012, along with a Presbyterian case from Georgia (132 Sup.Ct. 2773)
32. Against Redeemer Anglican Church in Jacksonville, FL; Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Florida v. Lebhar, Case No. 16-2006-CA-002361 (Duval Cnty. Fla. Cir Ct.); plaintiff was the Diocese of Florida; parish left property to go to other premises
33. Against St. Andrew's in the Pines Anglican Church, Fayette County, GA, Superior Court, Civil Action No. 2007-V0272C, October 2007; plaintiff was the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta; parish left its property behind and formed a CANA congregation
34. Against Christ Church in Savannah, Georgia, GA; Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia, Inc., The Episcopal Church, et al. v. The Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen of Christ Church in Savannah, et al. (Civil Action No. CV07-2039KA, Superior Ct., Chatham County); plaintiffs Diocese of Georgia and ECUSA, joined subsequently by shadow congregation formed by the Diocese, won in Court of Appeal and recently in Georgia Supreme Court [290 Ga. 95, 718 S.E.2d 237]; congregation handed over keys to property on 12/12/2011, later dismissed petition to U.S. Supreme Court, has now moved into a newly built church
35. Against Bishop Alberto Morales, of the Anglican Diocese of Quincy, IL, members of the diocesan standing committee, and the rectors of fifteen parishes in the diocese, individually; plaintiffs are ECUSA and its Diocese of Chicago, into which the rump diocese merged on September 1, 2013; case is still pending, despite the successful outcome of the appeal in the case originally brought against ECUSA by the Anglican Diocese -- see case number 5 in the second group below; it should shortly be dismissed.
36. Against All Saints Church in Attleboro, MA; plaintiff was the Diocese of Massachusetts; the case settled in 2007
37. Against Church of the Good Shepherd, Town and Country, MO; plaintiffs were Bishop Wayne Smith of the Diocese of Missouri and ECUSA (joined as a necessary party, due to its claimed interest under the Dennis Canon); trial court awarded the church property to the Diocese on summary judgment in October 2004; majority of parish left to start AMiA parish at other premises; Episcopal congregation remains in possession
38. Against St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Omaha, NE; plaintiff is the Diocese of Nebraska; trial court denied parish's motion for summary judgment, and granted summary judgment to the Diocese; the case settled pending appeal, and the parish kept its building
39. Against the Church of the Good Shepherd in Binghamton, NY; The Diocese of Central New York v. The Rector, Church Wardens, and Vestrymen of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Index No. 2008-0980 (N.Y. Sup Ct. Broome Cnty.); plaintiff was the Diocese of Central New York, joined by TEC; trial court ruled in favor of Diocese, parish chose to move to other premises, and Diocese eventually sold church buildings to Muslim group for a mosque
40. Against St. Joseph's Anglican Church (formerly Trinity Church of East New York) in Brooklyn,NY, which originally separated from ECUSA in 1977, before the adoption of the Dennis Canon; plaintiff was the Diocese of Long Island, in a second action brought in 2005 after it lost its first suit, filed in the early 1980's---the case settled early in 2008, and St. Joseph's kept its property in exchange for a below-market value payment of $275,000
41. Against St. James Anglican Church in Elmhurst (Queens), NY; plaintiff was the Diocese of Long Island; summary judgment against the parish in March 2008 was not appealed
42. Against All Saints Protestant Episcopal Church in Rochester, NY; Episcopal Diocese of Rochester, et al. v. Harnish et al.,Index No. 2006-2669 (N.Y. Sup Ct. Monroe Cnty.); plaintiff was the Diocese of Rochester; N.Y. Court of Appeal ruled in favor of Diocese, based on NY statute giving effect to Dennis Canon (11 N.Y.3d 340, 899 N.E.2d 920 [2008])
43. Against St. Andrew's in Syracuse, NY; Diocese of Central New York, et al. v. St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Index No. 2006-4606 (Sup. Ct. N.Y. Onondaga Cnty.); plaintiff originally was the Diocese of Central New York, and TEC's Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society later intervened---Diocese refused to settle the lawsuit by leasing property to parish, so parish walked away in 2007
44. Against St. Andrew's Anglican Church in Morehead City, NC; plaintiff was the Diocese of East Carolina and those members of the parish who had not voted to join AMiA; following a jury mistrial, plaintiffs obtained summary judgment which was affirmed on appeal in Daniel v. Wray, 580 S.E.2d 711 [N.C. App. 2003])
45-49. Against St. Luke's Church in Akron, OH and four other northeast Ohio parishes; The Episcopal Diocese of Ohio, et al.v. Anglican Church of the Transfiguration, et al., Civil Action No CV 08 654973 (Cuyahoga County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas); plaintiff is the Diocese of Ohio; trial court granted summary judgment in its favor, and parishes have left their properties
50. Against the Church of St. James the Less, Philadelphia, PA; In re Church of St. James the Less, 585 Pa. 428; 888 A.2d 795 (2005); (Plaintiff was the Diocese of Pennsylvania, and ultimately prevailed in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2005; other than its use for a middle school, this historic church building remains still without a rector and a supporting local congregation as of 2015)
51-53. and ?? Against the 50+ churches of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh (Anglican- Southern Cone), PA. Plaintiff is the TEC replacement Diocese of Pittsburgh, arising out of an earlier lawsuit initiated by Calvary Church, Pittsburgh against Bishop Duncan and the Diocese of Pittsburgh to prevent them from leaving TEC. The judgment by the trial court required the Anglican Diocese to turn over all of its property to the remnant Episcopal Diocese, was affirmed by the Commonwealth Court in early 2011, and review was later denied by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Two parishes have since settled with the remnant diocese, which demanded that the first (St. Philip's) disaffiliate from the Anglican Diocese, and that the second (Somerset Anglican Fellowship, which did not own any real property) return all of its personal property, and not support any litigation against the replacement diocese; a third parish (St. David's) moved out rather than agree to have to "repurchase" its property. Negotiations are ongoing to settle the claims of the remnant diocese against the properties of the other parishes.
54. Against Bishop Mark Lawrence personally, in Federal District Court in SC, on claims of trademark infringement; plaintiff was Provisional Bishop Charles G. vonRosenberg of the rump group established by ECUSA after the Diocese of SC withdrew; district judge's dismissal of the lawsuit on abstention grounds was appealed to the Fourth Circuit, and argued a few weeks ago; see also No. 7 in cases brought against ECUSA below
55. Against St. Andrew's Anglican Church, Nashville, TN; Plaintiffs were the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee and Bishop Bauerschmidt; plaintiffs prevailed on summary judgment in the trial court, which was affirmed on appeal in an unreported decision in 2011; Tennessee Supreme Court recently denied review -- parish has vacated its prime property and associated nursery school, and Bishop Bauerschmidt has moved his diocesan headquarters there
56. Against Church of the Good Shepherd, San Angelo, TX; plaintiff is the Diocese of NW Texas; parish lost below and in the Court of Appeal, and after arguments in 2012, Texas Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeal and remanded for proceedings using "neutral principles" without reference to the Dennis Canon, which the Court held was ineffective in Texas to create a trust; Diocese and ECUSA's motions for rehearing and petitions for review in the U.S. Supreme Court were both denied, and case is back in trial court, awaiting summary judgment
57. Against the Rt. Rev. Jack Leo Iker and the other trustees of the Corporation of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, in the 141st District Court of Tarrant County, TX; plaintiffs, the remnant diocese and its appointed bishop, were later joined by the Episcopal Church, and the lawsuit was subsequently broadened to include all individual parishes of the remnant diocese as cross-complainants, and all individual parishes of +Iker's Episcopal Diocese as cross-defendants; the trial court's grant of summary judgment in favor of the remnant diocese and its bishop in early 2011 was appealed directly to the Texas Supreme Court, which reversed the summary judgment and remanded the case for trial under "neutral principles"; Diocese and ECUSA's motions for rehearing and petitions for review in the U.S. Supreme Court were both denied, and case is back in trial court; hearing on cross-motions for summary judgment held Feb. 20, and decision expected soon
58. Against St. Andrew's Episcopal Church of Ft. Worth, in Hood County District Court, TX; plaintiff is the remnant diocese of Ft. Worth and Bishop Ohl, its provisional bishop; plaintiff seeks to have the proceeds of a trust fund left to St. Andrew's, which remains with Bishop Iker and his Diocese, turned over to the remnant group; the trial court stayed the proceedings pending the outcome in the case described in the previous paragraph
59. Against the Rt. Rev. Jack Leo Iker individually, for alleged trademark infringement, in federal district court in Ft. Worth, TX; plaintiffs are the remnant diocese and its bishop; court dismissed the case after the ruling by the TX Supreme Court in No. 57 above
60. Against The Rt. Rev. Jack Iker, individually, and unnamed agents and representatives acting with him as part of the Episcopal Diocese of Ft. Worth, in federal district court in Ft. Worth, TX; plaintiffs are privately supported members of the vestry of All Saints Episcopal Church, Ft. Worth, carrying through on their threat made in a letter of January 21, 2009 published by Stand Firm; the grounds alleged were very similar to those alleged in the suit described in the previous paragraph; the federal court dismissed the case following the ruling by the Texas Supreme Court; now, however, in the State court action (No. 57 above), Judge Chupp has severed the case of All Saints for a separate trial in March 2015 -- probably due to the fact that All Saints is a corporation with some parcels of property in its own name
61. Against Church of the Epiphany Herndon, VA; The Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Virginia v. Church of the Epiphany, Herndon, CL 2007-1235 (Circuit Court for Fairfax County, VA); plaintiff is the Diocese of Virginia; note that parish filed initial petition to confirm its vote to affiliate with CANA pursuant to a "standstill" agreement with the Diocese, in order to allow negotiations over purchase price for property, that Diocese shortly afterward revoked that agreement on instructions from the new Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori and filed this lawsuit -- for its resolution, see news for cases 72-82 below
62. Against Truro Church Fairfax,VA; The Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Virginia v. Truro Church, CL 2007-1236 (Circuit Court for Fairfax County, VA); plaintiff is the Diocese of Virginia; note that parish filed initial petition to confirm its vote to affiliate with CANA pursuant to a "standstill" agreement with the Diocese, in order to allow negotiations over purchase price for property, that Diocese shortly afterward revoked that agreement on instructions from the new Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori and filed this lawsuit -- for its resolution, see news for cases 72-82 below
63. Against Christ the Redeemer Church, Chantilly VA; The Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Virginia v. Christ the Redeemer Church, CL 2007-1237 (Circuit Court for Fairfax County, VA); plaintiff is the Diocese of Virginia; note that parish filed initial petition to confirm its vote to affiliate with CANA pursuant to a "standstill" agreement with the Diocese, in order to allow negotiations over purchase price for property, that Diocese shortly afterward revoked that agreement on instructions from the new Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori and filed this lawsuit -- for its resolution, see news for cases 72-82 below
64. Against Church of the Apostles, Fairfax VA; The Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Virginia v. Church of the Apostles, CL 2007-1238 (Circuit Court for Fairfax County, VA); plaintiff is the Diocese of Virginia; note that parish filed initial petition to confirm its vote to affiliate with CANA pursuant to a "standstill" agreement with the Diocese, in order to allow negotiations over purchase price for property, that Diocese shortly afterward revoked that agreement on instructions from the new Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori and filed this lawsuit -- for its resolution, see news for cases 72-82 below
65. Against The Falls Church, Falls Church VA; The Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Virginia v. The Church at The Falls -- The Falls Church, CL 2007-5250 (Circuit Court for Fairfax County, Va.)(formerly Case No. 07-125, Circuit Court for Arlington County, VA); plaintiff is the Diocese of Virginia; note that parish filed initial petition to confirm its vote to affiliate with CANA pursuant to a "standstill" agreement with the Diocese, in order to allow negotiations over purchase price for property, that Diocese shortly afterward revoked that agreement on instructions from the new Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori and filed this lawsuit -- for its resolution, see news for cases 72-82 below
66. Against Potomac Falls Church, Potomac Falls VA; The Protestant Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Virginia v. Potomac Falls Church, CL 2007-5362 (Circuit Court for Fairfax County, Va.)(formerly Case No. 44149, Circuit Court for Loudoun County, VA); plaintiff is the Diocese of Virginia; note that parish filed initial petition to confirm its vote to affiliate with CANA pursuant to a "standstill" agreement with the Diocese, in order to allow negotiations over purchase price for property, that Diocese shortly afterward revoked that agreement on instructions from the new Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori and filed this lawsuit -- for its resolution, see news for cases 72-82 below
67. Against Church of Our Saviour, Oatlands, VA; The Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Virginia v. Church of Our Saviour at Oatlands, CL 2007-5364 (Circuit Court for Fairfax County, Va.) (formerly Case No. 44148, Circuit Court for Loudoun County, VA); plaintiff is the Diocese of Virginia; note that parish filed initial petition to confirm its vote to affiliate with CANA pursuant to a "standstill" agreement with the Diocese, in order to allow negotiations over purchase price for property, that Diocese shortly afterward revoked that agreement on instructions from the new Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori and filed this lawsuit -- parish agreed to settle with Diocese in 2011 for a five-year leaseback of its property, in exchange for its disaffiliation from CANA and agreement not to affiliate with any other Anglican entity so long as they occupy the premises
68. Against St. Margaret's Church, Woodbridge, VA; The Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Virginia v. St. Margaret's Church, CL 2007-5682 (Circuit Court for Fairfax County, Va.) (formerly Case No. CL 73465, Circuit Court for Prince William Cnty., VA); plaintiff is the Diocese of Virginia; note that parish filed initial petition to confirm its vote to affiliate with CANA pursuant to a "standstill" agreement with the Diocese, in order to allow negotiations over purchase price for property, that Diocese shortly afterward revoked that agreement on instructions from the new Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori and filed this lawsuit -- for its resolution, see news for cases 72-82 below
69. Against St. Paul's Church, Haymarket, VA; The Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Virginia v. St. Paul's Church, Haymarket, Case No. CL 73466 (Circuit Court for Fairfax County, VA); plaintiff is the Diocese of Virginia; note that parish filed initial petition to confirm its vote to affiliate with CANA pursuant to a "standstill" agreement with the Diocese, in order to allow negotiations over purchase price for property, that Diocese shortly afterward revoked that agreement on instructions from the new Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori and filed this lawsuit -- for its resolution, see news for cases 72-82 below
70. Against Church of the Word, Gainesville, VA: The Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Virginia v. Church of the Word, CL 2007-5684 (Circuit Court for Fairfax County, Va. )(formerly Case No. CL 73464, Circuit Court for Prince William County, VA); plaintiff is the Diocese of Virginia; note that parish filed initial petition to confirm its vote to affiliate with CANA pursuant to a "standstill" agreement with the Diocese, in order to allow negotiations over purchase price for property, that Diocese shortly afterward revoked that agreement on instructions from the new Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori and filed this lawsuit; parish agreed to settle with the Diocese in early 2011 on terms similar to those with the Church of Our Savior, Oatlands, but retained possession of its (reduced) property by assigning to the Diocese the lion's share of a condemnation award from the State of Virginia
71. Against St. Stephen's Church, Heathsville, VA; The Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Virginia v. St. Stephen's Church, CL 2007-5902 (Circuit Court for Fairfax County, Va.) (formerly Case No. CL 07-16, Circuit Court for Northumberland County, VA); plaintiff is the Diocese of Virginia; note that parish filed initial petition to confirm its vote to affiliate with CANA pursuant to a "standstill" agreement with the Diocese, in order to allow negotiations over purchase price for property, that Diocese shortly afterward revoked that agreement on instructions from the new Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori and filed this lawsuit -- for its resolution, see news for cases 72-82 below
72-82. Against Truro Church and all of the Virginia Anglican churches affiliating with CANA above, Plaintiff is the Episcopal Church (USA); The Episcopal Church v. Truro Church, et al., CL 2007-1625 (Circuit Court for Fairfax County, VA; case was tried again in Circuit Court in 2011 following reversal by Virginia Supreme Court in 2010 of trial court's earlier decision in favor of parishes; trial court ruled this time in favor of Diocese; all but one defendant have surrendered their property to the Diocese, with Truro leasing theirs back for a limited time; only The Falls Church appealed to the Va. Supreme Court, which ruled against it on a strange "implied trust" theory in 2013; petition for certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court was denied after being held over to four different conferences)
83. Against St. Edmunds Anglican Church, Elm Grove, WI; plaintiff is the Diocese of Milwaukee; trial court granted summary judgment against parish in 2011; parish later vacated the property, which remains vacant
As a matter of fairness, I also list the number of cases where the Episcopal Church (USA) or one of its dioceses is the defendant and not the plaintiff. There are only eight instances, as shown below. But in all but the first, it was the diocese (or ECUSA) which triggered the filing of a lawsuit by moving to take control of the individual church's assets, and the legal actions that followed were essentially a defensive response against those moves.
1. The earliest instance of a parish starting a lawsuit was in 2000, after a dispute arose between All Saints Parish, Pawley's Island, South Carolina (SC), the Diocese of South Carolina, and TEC in connection with the formation of the Anglican Mission in America. The suit eventually found its way to the South Carolina Supreme Court, which in September 2009 issued a decision finding that the Dennis Canon did not create any kind of a trust interest in parish property under South Carolina law, and ruling that the property remained with the parish despite its disaffiliation from the Episcopal Church (385 S.C. 428, 685 S.E.2d 163).
2. An action was brought in 2005 in federal district court by six parishes and their rectors (the "Connecticut Six") against the Diocese of Connecticut, whose bishop had suspended the priests in question and taken over some of the church properties. The court dismissed the lawsuit the next year, and the diocese has since brought the actions listed as Nos. 30 and 31 above.
3. Grace Church & St. Stephens, Colorado Springs, CO, sought declaratory judgment against the Bishop and the Diocese of Colorado. However, in that suit, the plaintiff church sought a simple declaration that the diocese had no right, title or interest in its property, in response to an attempt by the diocese to freeze the church's bank accounts. The response of the diocese was to file a counterclaim against the church, its rector and 17 of its vestry and leading parishioners seeking millions of dollars in damages. The trial court granted judgment for the Diocese following a trial in 2009, and the parish chose not to appeal, but to move from the property to a new location.
4. The Diocese of the Rio Grande and St. Francis on the Hill (El Paso, TX): St. Francis began the suit with a claim for declaratory relief in response to the threat of suit by the diocese to take their property. Eventually the trial court granted summary judgment to the Diocese, and the parish left its property.
5. The Diocese of Quincy (IL) sued the Episcopal Church in 2009 for declaratory relief after the latter had asked the diocese's bank to freeze its accounts. The trial court rendered a decision in the Diocese's favor in September 2013, finding that there was no provision in ECUSA's governing documents that kept a diocese from amending its constitution to remove the accession clause; ECUSA filed an appeal, in which its request was denied to join the Diocese of Chicago, into which the rump diocese of Quincy merged in September 2013; appellate court affirmed the trial court's decision in all respects in July 2014, and ECUSA's bid to have the Illinois Supreme Court review the case was denied in November 2014; ECUSA continued to try to freeze some of the Diocese's funds even after losing, and was severely chastised and sanctioned by the trial court in February 2015.
6. The parish of St. Paul's in Groton, CT last year filed a petition with a local court for a declaration that its property was free and clear of any trust interest under the Dennis Canon. The parish remains in the Diocese of Connecticut pending the outcome of the lawsuit (note: news of the lawsuit would be welcome in the comments).
7. The Diocese of South Carolina sued the Episcopal Church in January 2013 in the Court of Common Pleas for Dorchester County after the Church began "abandonment of Communion" proceedings against the Rt. Rev. Mark Lawrence, which action triggered the Diocese's immediate withdrawal. The suit was filed before TEC could fulfill its announced intention to sue the Bishop and the Diocesan trustees for the Diocese's property and bank accounts, once it reorganized a new Episcopal diocese at a special convention in January 2013. The court entered a restraining order against anyone but Bishop Lawrence and his agents using the name and marks of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, which ECUSA and later the rump diocese agreed could become a preliminary injunction pending the trial or further notice. Then the rump diocese removed the case to Federal District Court, which after eight months remanded the case to the Court of Common Pleas. That court denied the rump diocese's motion to compel production of all emails and correspondence between Bishop Lawrence and his Chancellor, which order the rump diocese immediately appealed, without success. The case went to a fourteen-day trial in July 2014. On February 3, 2015 the trial court filed a 46-page decision ruling in favor of Bishop Lawrence and his parishes; ECUSA and the rump group have filed a motion for reconsideration as a prerequisite to appealing the decision later this year.
8. The small parish of the Church of the Ascension in Middle River, MD filed suit against the Diocese of Maryland in April 2013 after it had declared the parish "imperiled", conducted a final service there, and then locked the congregation out. Although the parish could not support a full-time rector, it had $27,000 in the bank and income from a rental on the church property when the Diocese closed it down. The suit seeks a return of the property to the incorporated parish, which it says Bishop Sutton signed over to the Diocese without any authority. The Diocese's defense is based on the Dennis Canon--which ironically states that it shall "shall in no way limit the power and authority of the Parish, Mission or Congregation otherwise existing over such property so long as the particular Parish, Mission or Congregation remains a part of, and subject to, this Church and its Constitution and Canons." To your Curmudgeon's knowledge, this is the first time that the Dennis Canon has been used in reverse: to take over the property of a parish that remains in the Diocese, instead of trying to leave it, by first declaring it "imperiled" and then by closing it down.

Suffragen Bishop Cook demonstrated how much she could drink
before texting and driving - all at the same time.
PB Katie knew and went ahead with the consecration.

END

From Church Mouse - A Vanishing Breed - Part 1 - Major Dennis Arnold

Major Dennis Arnold

Church Mouse always has good posts to read.

A vanishing breed – part 1

March 1, 2015 in history | Tags: England, history, Second World War, World War II

The obituaries in The Telegraph are often very well written, especially when they cover Britons who served in the Second World War.

In the United States, this age cohort is referred to as the Greatest Generation, coined by television journalist and author Tom Brokaw. His book of 15 years ago of the same name details lives of heroes from that era.

It is not uncommon for Telegraph readers commenting on British obituaries to say these people are ‘a vanishing breed’. Someone wrote the same of Major Denis Arnold, who died on January 14, 2015 at the age of 96...

Americans interested in similar Second World War stories and profiles of brave servicemen would do well to check out Pacific Paratrooper, written by one of my readers. I have learned much about the war by reading it and highly recommend the site.

More at this link.

Reminiscere Sunday - The Second Sunday in Lent, 2015. Matthew 15:21-28. The Woman of Faith

Reminiscere Sunday, The Second Sunday in Lent, 2015

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Time

The Hymn #652   I Lay My Sins on Jesus              1:24

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual       

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn # 454            Prayer Is the Soul's Sincere Desire     1:41

Patient Continuance

The Hymn # 281                 The Savior Calls               1:29

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn # 374                 Grace Tis a Charming Sound 1:91

KJV 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God,even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

KJV Matthew 15:21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Second Sunday In Lent

Lord God, heavenly Father, grant us, we beseech Thee, by Thy Holy Spirit, that He may strengthen our hearts and confirm our faith and hope in Thy grace and mercy, so that, although we have reason to fear because of our conscience, our sin, and our unworthiness, we may nevertheless, with the woman of Canaan, hold fast to Thy grace, and in every trial and temptation find Thee a very present help and refuge, through Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Patient Continuance

KJV Matthew 15:21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

This is a woman of faith, because she is confessing the true role of Jesus from the beginning. As we read in many texts, “The report (or sermon) went out…” The Promises of God were being broadcast by all the people who listened to Jesus and watched Him perform miracles. That was the original form of social networking – word of mouth.

We do not need to know how she came to this faith, because we know her faith from its fruit – her confession of faith. If we find apples growing on a tree, we do not ask, “Is this an apple tree?” The next illogical question would be, “Did someone plant this tree?” The original (historical) Johnny Appleseed did that. He planted acres and acres of apples, which is why they were there.

So we know that the woman heard the Gospel from others, and came to Jesus, asking for a miracle for her daughter, grievously vexed with a devil. Now we might say suffering from seizures. The trouble with seizures is that the child becomes another person, distant, writhing in pain, unable to control the impulses surging through the body. Anyone with a twitch knows how that can work. The muscles get messages and act as if getting charges from a battery. It is possible to stop seeing for a time from eyes twitching for a period of time. Really bad seizures injure the person.

This was a case of great suffering and she only asked for her daughter's sake.

23 But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and besought Him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

Some debate the exact meaning of this. Does it mean – Heal her and get rid of her? Or does it mean – Get rid of her?

Either way, the response of the disciples is harsh and so is the silence of Jesus. This is symbolic of our experience when we call upon the help of God and seem to get no response. The disciples remind us of how the world regards us when we are in need. Relatives do not visit their own family members with cancer. No one wants a poor person, either. If a minister is shunned by his denomination, his former friends or fake friends will shun him too. So will the laity. However, they remain groupies of known false teachers, which makes the shunning more difficult to bear.

This miracle teaches two main lessons. One is that faith which includes patient continuance. The other is the ability of God to instantly change matters through His Word and will.

Luther:

3. But see in this example how Christ like a hunter exercises and chases faith in his followers in order that it may become strong and firm. First when the woman follows him upon hearing of his fame and cries with assured confidence that he would according to his reputation deal mercifully with her, Christ certainly acts differently, as if to let her faith and good confidence be in vain and turn his good reputation into a lie, so that she could have thought: Is this the gracious, friendly man? or: Are these the good words, that I have heard spoken about him, upon which I have depended? It must not be true; he is my enemy and will not receive me; nevertheless he might speak a word and tell me that he will have nothing to do with me. Now he is as silent as a stone. Behold, this is a very hard rebuff, when God appears so earnest and angry and conceals his grace so high and deep; as those know so well, who feel and experience it in their hearts. Therefore she imagines he will not fulfill what he has spoken, and will let his Word be false; as it happened to the children of Israel at the Red Sea and to many other saints.

So we should not take this lightly and think, Oh, this has a happy ending. Her daughter is healed. When there is no good news, time stands still and the only thing felt is the pain.

The example of Jesus and His saints is clear – God often lets the silence continue for a long time. He lets the rational solutions run out and fail. And then He answers so that no one can say, “I did it on my own.”

Of course many do answer their problems on their own, and the more this happens, the less they rely on God. Suddenly their visions vanish and they are left without the material happiness and also without faith.

One woman had so much confidence in herself that she changed her diet whenever she had a physical problem. That worked every time. My mind ran through a dozen scenarios where food was not going to help her.

24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  

Jesus did not answer the woman, but answered His disciples. “She does not belong to us. I was not sent for her.” This naturally challenges the depth of her faith in Him. Does she believe Jesus is her Savior too? There were all kinds of people who had some attraction to Him, and they fell away when they heard “hard sayings” and even said so, as John 6 shows. “Many disciples departed” after they said, “This is a hard saying, who can listen to it?”

Faith is trust in Him as He is, not as we wish Him to be. So many say, “I prayed and did not get what I wanted, so I stopped believing in Him or God.” And many congregations turn ministers into atheists by their behavior, not only being evil, but gloating in their evil and bragging about it. But that really means God’s judgment has been visited upon them. They have fulfilled Romans 1 (God has turned them over, given up on them) and 2 Thessalonians 2 – so evil that they rejoice in doing wrong.

True Biblical faith involves patient continuance, because whatever is God-pleasing will be persecuted as wrong.

25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.

This woman of faith was undeterred. She bowed down and worshiped Jesus as God, saying Lord, help me.

Even when we know this story well, it seems good at this point for Jesus to give way and answer her prayers. But His answer only re-enforces what came before. Silence was bad enough, but this is direct. Answering her prayer is taking away bread from the Children of Israel and casting it to the dogs – the Gentiles.

This is rhetorical but very harsh anyway. Isn’t this what any rabbi would say? That does not mean it is what Jesus wants to convey. As Luther says, Jesus exercises faith in His followers, to make it stronger. It also makes it manifest to the rest of us, as people confess the depth of their faith.

This is good - and one of the best for emphasizing faith - because it is a thought that runs through anyone's mind when waiting for an answer, when plagued by doubts and fears? Am I worth? Or why am I not worthy? Why are these others blessed and I am not?

27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

A good debating tactic is to agree with the objection and turn it around. Here faith is so strong that the answer comes to her at once. She may be a small dog (a different word is used here) but even those puppies eat the crumbs falling from the master’s table.

“Dog” was and is a terrible insult in that culture. But she in humility accepted the term and used it to define her willingness to accept anything that came from the Master’s table. “Thou settest the table before me.”

28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Jesus always commended faith, and condemned unbelief. Those who criticize faith are filled with the thought of their own righteousness, which is why justification by faith sends them into a towering rage.

Once again it needs to be said that Jesus never turned down someone who came to Him in prayer. And He even offered more than what was needed, to prove the faith of the petitioner (I will come to your house).

And yet He delayed His visit to Lazarus, His dear friend. He was willing to be berated by the sister of Lazarus – if you had been there – in order to show the power of the Word and teach – “I AM the Resurrection and the Life. He who comes to Me will never die.”

I noticed Luther’s faith when he wrote about marrying young, noting that if the husband died, he had done a good thing in getting married. When one views the difficulties of life in faith, the bad as seen by the unbelieving world is something good.

And it was so perverted and twisted then, this unbelieving view, that Luther often commented upon it.

So the daughter suffered terribly, and so did her mother, especially during her faithful petitions, but the healing and the confessions of faith proved to be a double blessing worthy of the revealed Word of God. The mother began simply looking for healing and ended being the example of faith.

Luther:

10. All this, however, is written for our comfort and instruction, that we may know how deeply God conceals his grace before our face, and that we may not estimate him according to our feelings and thinking, but strictly according to his Word. For here you see, though Christ appears to be even hardhearted, yet he gives no final decision by saying “No.” All his answers indeed sound like no, but they are not no, they remain undecided and pending. For he does not say: I will not hear thee; but is silent and passive, and says neither yes nor no. In like manner he does not say she is not of the house of Israel; but he is sent only to the house of Israel; he leaves it undecided and pending between yes and no. So he does not say, Thou art a dog, one should not give thee of the children’s bread; but it is not meet to take the children’s bread and cast it to the dogs; leaving it undecided whether she is a dog or not. Yet all those trials of her faith sounded more like no than yes; but there was more yea in them than nay; ay, there is only yes in them, but it is very deep and very concealed, while there appears to be nothing but no.

11. By this is set forth the condition of our heart in times of temptation; Christ here represents how it feels. It thinks there is nothing but no and yet that is not true. Therefore it must turn from this feeling and lay hold of and retain the deep spiritual yes under and above the no with a firm faith in God’s Word, as this poor woman does, and say God is right in his judgment which he visits upon us; then we have triumphed and caught Christ in his own words. As for example when we feel in our conscience that God rebukes us as sinners and judges us unworthy of the kingdom of heaven, then we experience hell, and we think we are lost forever. Now whoever understands here the actions of this poor woman and catches God in his own judgment, and says: Lord, it is true, I am a sinner and not worthy of thy grace; but still thou hast promised sinners forgiveness, and thou art come not to call the righteous, but, as St. Paul says in 1 Timothy 1:15, “to save sinners.” Behold, then must God according to his own judgment have mercy upon us.