A Statement from Archbishop Foley Beach

A blessed Pentecost to all.  Speaking of which, I post this in haste as I need to get ready for church but wanted to get this out first.

ACNA Archbishop Foley Beach posted a statement last night addressing the rioting and violence since the killing of George King.  It is needful and I appreciate it.  It is the first statement from ACNA bishops that I have seen that addresses the rioting.  (Feel free to comment if I’ve missed something.)

The Archbishop’s statement follows:

Call to Prayer on Pentecost Sunday...

To the Clergy of the Anglican Church in North America,

As followers of Jesus, we are called to be people of peace and love, reflecting our Lord and Savior. We are called to be light in the darkness and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, shine Christ's love not only in our churches but in our communities. Watching the lawlessness and violence in cities all over the United States is not only heart-breaking and tragic, but completely defeats the purpose of the protests for justice. With our city here in Atlanta on fire, our own mayor broke into tears when reminding our citizens that our city's heritage is one of non-violent protest as the home and ministry center of Martin Luther King, Jr. 

For those of you in the United States, I am writing to ask you to lead your congregation in specific prayer during worship tomorrow (Pentecost Sunday) for peace and justice in our communities; for the violence to stop; for wisdom for our leaders; for comfort for those who have lost loved ones or have been injured in the violence; and for people to be drawn to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Almighty God, you created us in your own image: Grant us grace to contend fearlessly against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and help us to use our freedom rightly in the establishment of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP 2019, pg. 659)

A blessed Pentecost to you! Shalom.

About AND’s Statement on the George Floyd Killing and Subsequent Riots

To say there is a need for unity in the church and in this country after the George Floyd killing would be an understatement.  Christians and Americans are united in condemning the killing.  But the “social justice” crowd is mishandling their response to the aftermath, particularly the looting and arson, and that is making our divisions worse and even less tolerable.  I certainly include the response of the AND Campaign in that.

Months ago I exposed the AND Campaign as a Democrat front group.  So I was not expecting much from them.  But their statement goes below even my low expectations.  I wonder if I should even bother to respond to it.  But I’m a fool, so here goes…

The riots in Minneapolis are not to be glorified or romanticized, but we must realize that they are a product of a riotous and unjust system. The disorder began when a man’s rights were violated and his life was taken. American racism was rioting against the people long before they took to the streets. We must condemn and address the cause before we can appropriately address the broken reaction. 

So the looting and arson is just “a broken reaction” AND won’t condemn.  The riots are unjust Amerika’s fault anyway.  Got it. 

By the way, the killing has been roundly condemned and is being addressed.  That will not make George Floyd come back.  But the “system,” however imperfect, is striving for justice in this situation.  AND on the other hand cannot even bring themselves to condemn widespread looting and arson.  The excuses for the riots and for AND’s failure are lame.

We cannot place our cultural preferences, partisan interests and flawed race narratives ahead of the Christian justice imperative. 

If you want “partisan interests and flawed race narratives,” look in the mirror, AND.

A spirit of racial hatred and violence has engulfed the United States of America for too long; in fact, it’s our nation’s original sin.

Yes, it’s all AmeriKKKa’s fault.  And the founders came over here because they hated Black people or something.

Now, the Church must offer a sober, determined and steadfast witness against white supremacy as contrary to no less than the very word and judgment of God.

What “white supremacy”?  There are more flat-earthers than white supremacists today.  Cut the CRT posturing.  The church has better things to do than chase around the few remaining idiot white supremacists. 

This is where we stand: not on the shaky ground of man-made ideology or carried by the shifting winds of societal judgment,…

Just a little lack of self-awareness there.

We don’t have to deny our pain, sadness or anger, but we do have to turn it over to God and respond in ways that glorify Him.

Well, you failed, AND.  But then your real objective is conning Christians into supporting Democrats, isn’t it?  That has been Michael Wear’s job for years.

What makes this more sad is that some prominent ACNA clergy are supporting this tripe.  Overall, it is sad that many/most woke church people cannot even bring themselves to condemn looting and arson that is hurting Black people more than anyone else.  Can’t we even unite on that?  Can’t we?

Pusey’s The Doctrine of the Real Presence

I remember many years ago seeing a very large commentary on Psalm 119.  If I recall, it was by a Puritan and was in two thick volumes.  I immediately commented that it’s amazing what a man can do when not distracted by television.  Of course some Puritans tried not to get distracted by any sort of fun, but anyway…

Reading E. B. Pusey’s The Doctrine of the Real Presence As Contained in the Fathers now prompts me to think that it’s amazing what a man can do when not distracted by the internet.  Yes, the internet can assist research (when it’s not concealing it, but do not get me started on that), but it is more impressive to become a human google, and the internet can only do so much to bring that about.

As I read this great work, I cannot but conclude that Dr. Pusey was the 19^th century equivalent of Google for Oxford in the area of the church fathers.  His research is amazing.  He quotes any number of fathers I have never even heard of.  If you want to read what the fathers said about the presence of Christ in the Eucharist, there can hardly be a better book.  Pusey gives a multitude of extended excerpts from the Fathers far more than he gives his own thinking.  His last and very long chapter is almost entirely such excerpts. He lets the fathers speak for themselves even when it might seem to weaken Pusey’s contentions.

Speaking of which, one may be surprised that he spends many pages disputing against the Romish doctrine of transubstantiation.  His teaching and the teaching of the fathers of the Real Presence is not to be confused with the error of the Church of Rome.

If one is the least bit interested in reading the fathers concerning the Eucharist, I cannot recommend this book enough.  I am thankful that I’ve been reading this going into the Ascension season as it has impressed me with the wonderful truth that while Christ intercedes for us before the Father in Heaven, yet is also “very present”, including in the Holy Communion.

Jemar Tisby Exposes Himself as a Hack With His Reaction to “You Ain’t Black.”

As promised, I have been watching Woke Church reaction – or lack thereof – to Biden saying “you ain’t Black” unless you vote for him.  But when I took a good look at Jemar Tisby’s twitter account, I was stopped in my tracks.  Jemar Tisby needs to be called out right now.  Usually I sleep on a post when provoked.  But enough is enough from Tisby.

I have searched all of Tisby’s tweets since Biden’s statement, and there is not one word of criticism towards Racist Joe.  Which is odd because isn’t Jemar supposed to be oh-so concerned about racism? Instead he puts on a show of outrage towards an unnamed “white evangelical public personality” (probably Eric Metaxas) for his lampoon of Biden’s racism.

So Biden makes a blatantly racist statement, and Tisby is silent.  Hmm, I thought “silence is complicity.”  But a white evangelical opposes and lampoons Biden’s racism, and Tisby calls that out as bigoted and even calls for him to be cancelled.

If you saw that tweet from a white evanglical public personality and still bring him to speak then you're complicit in his bigotry. When someone speaks so degradingly and publicly without apology you can't pay him to talk or buy his books and act like you're not propping him up.

— Jemar Tisby (@JemarTisby) May 22, 2020

But it gets worse.  You’d think Tisby would sleep on it and decide he really should be somewhat balanced and call out Biden for “You ain’t Black.”  But no.  Instead he tweeted this:

Call this what it is: A transparent attempt to shore up his conservative evangelical voting bloc by appearing to fight for religious freedom. But reopening too soon is profoundly unloving. We can worship and remain healthy. https://t.co/8pYfjHaiUa

— Jemar Tisby (@JemarTisby) May 23, 2020

So he uses Trump standing up for freedom of religion as an occasion to smear him.  But, at least on twitter, he still gives Biden a silent pass on “You ain’t Black.”  Biden demeans Blacks who dare to think for themselves, and Tisby is silent.  Trump defends religious freedom, and Tisby attacks.

This is far from the first time Tisby has demonstrated such a blatant double standard.  I’ve caught him doing that on anti-semitism.  These are among the many reasons he does not deserve the benefit of the doubt any longer.  You want “transparent”? Jemar Tisby is a transparent, race-baiting Leftist hack using a veneer of Christianity as a cover.

There are well meaning Christians, particularly within ACNA, who have supported and promoted Tisby. It is time they open up their eyes.

ACNA Episcopal Diocese of Ft. Worth Wins at Texas Supreme Court UPDATED

This lllllong standing case is not 100% over, but it is close to it.  Good news from the Texas Supreme Court and the Episcopal Diocese of Ft. Worth (ACNA):

Today we rejoice that the Supreme Court of Texas has issued a unanimous decision in our favor concerning the suit first brought against the Diocese and Corporation more than 11 years ago. After considering our Petition for Review of the 2018 opinion issued by the Second Court of Appeals, the high Court has granted all the relief requested.

Page two of the opinion says in part,

Applying neutral principles to the undisputed facts, we hold that 1) resolution of this property dispute does not require consideration of an ecclesiastical question, 2) under the governing documents, the withdrawing faction is the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, and 3) the trial court properly granted summary judgment in the withdrawing faction’s favor. We therefore reverse the court of appeals’ contrary judgment.

In its opinion, the Court found that the Diocese had not violated any Episcopal Church charter in withdrawing from association to TEC in 2008, and that the actions of the Diocese and Corporation were consistent with our own charters and with the state’s trust and unincorporated association statutes, and it upheld the dismissal of the Dennis Canon as determinative in Texas church property disputes.

Plaintiffs may exercise their rights of appeal, after which a mandate will go to the trial court for implementation.

We are grateful for the Court’s hard work on this decision and for the clarity with which it was rendered. We give thanks to the members of our legal team – Shelby Sharpe, Scott Brister, and David Weaver – for their sound counsel, expertise, and perseverance throughout these proceedings.

We give thanks for our visionary founding Bishop, the Rt. Rev. A. Donald Davies, and for those who assisted him in setting the legal and temporal foundations of the Diocese and Corporation. We stand on their shoulders.

We praise God for the steadfast faith and leadership of our third Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Jack L. Iker, a true shepherd of the flock, who made many sacrifices throughout his episcopate for the sake of Christ’s holy Church.

Above all, we thank God for his eternal provision and protection for his Church and the people he has called to serve him.

If you wish to wade through the opinion, it is here.

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UPDATE: I've been eagerly awaiting A. S. Haley's take, and he has not disappointed.  Read what an actual honest lawyer has to say on this ruling.

"If you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't Black."

Yes, Joe Biden really did say that on a radio show this morning.  Here is the train wreck with some context:

Yes, incredible.  Now I could wax eloquent about how racist this is, to say that a Black person must stay on the Democrat plantation to be a good Black, a real Black even.  But there are already quite a number of Black people, among others, who are doing a better job of that than I could.

I do wonder if many of various colors who so love to use the word “racist,” I do wonder if many of them will speak out against this blatant racism of Biden.  You know if Trump had said this, the woke crowd would be oh so outraged, and I would have to agree with them.  How will they respond now?  I am watching with interest.  I’m especially watching you woke church people.  Just letting you know.

By the way, if memory serves me right, I’ve predicted Trump will get 15% of the Black vote.  If Biden is the Democrat nominee, I now think it will be closer to 20% even if Biden chooses a Black running mate, which he very well may now to try to undo the damage from this debacle.

Hundreds of Clergy Tell California Gov. Newsom They WILL Open Church on Pentecost

I am very glad to see more and more clergy saying enough is enough.  

On Wednesday, lawyers representing more than 1,200 California clergy sent a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.), declaring religious services essential during the coronavirus pandemic and announcing that churches will start meeting in person on May 31 — the Day of Pentecost … — with or without the governor’s permission.

Now I do not know exactly how many have signed this Declaration of Essentiality for Churches as I have not found a list of signees.  Nor do I know if any ACNA or Continuing Anglican clergy have signed. Readers may send more information via the comments.  (Let me know if you do not want your comment posted.)

Nonetheless, I think the restrictions on our freedom of religion as well as other freedoms went too far weeks ago, if not at the beginning of this COVID-19 panic.* So I am glad to see such public, widespread principled defiance.

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*Yes, I said it.  The danger from COVID-19, though very real, was exaggerated with disastrous societal consequences.  It was and is a panic.

MORE: Trump’s Justice Department is pushing back, too:

The Justice Department on Tuesday warned California Gov. Gavin Newsom in a letter that his order banning church services puts an "unfair burden" on religious institutions.

The letter, sent by the department's Civil Rights Division, expressed concerns that Newsom's still undetermined opening date for churches amounted to "unequal treatment of faith communities" ...

"Simply put, there is no pandemic exception to the U.S. Constitution and its Bill of Rights," wrote Eric Dreiband, the lead attorney in a team assembled by Attorney General William Barr to examine religious liberty disputes amid state shutdown orders.

Ascended Yet Very Present

This Ascension week means more to me than usual.  I’ve already mentioned I am paying more attention to the Rogation Days, and I prayed the Litany yesterday morning as part of that.

But also lately my thoughts have turned to Jesus being both ascended yet “very present” as a favorite Psalm (46) says.  In both his divinity and his humanity, the ascended Christ now intercedes for us in Heaven before the Father.  Yet at the same time he is very present by the Holy Spirit, in the Holy Sacrament (a subject I may touch on soon), and just by being so omnipresent!  

This all is “too wonderful for me. . . . I cannot attain to it.” (Psalm 139: 6)  Although it is right and edifying to think on Jesus being both ascended yet very present, it is beyond what I can think or even imagine.  At the same time it is profoundly comforting.

During this time when we may be all the more aware of both our need of Jesus’ “very present help” and his intercession for us, may this Feast of the Ascension especially comfort and bless you.  

This Year We Really Need Rogation Days

When I was a new Anglican, I had no idea what Rogation Days were.  Some youth in the church and I speculated that it was the time of the church year when the pates of bald men were anointed with Rogaine accompanied with solemn prayers for hair growth.

I have since learned that it had more to do with prayers for the growth of crops.  But now, thanks to Amada McGill, I have also learned that the practice began in the aftermath of natural disaster.

Dating back to 470 AD, Archbishop Mamertus instituted the Rogation Days – the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before Ascension Day – after a period of natural disasters had ravaged the people of Vienne, France. He proclaimed days of fasting and processions of prayer around the freshly-sprouted fields, asking God for mercy in the growth of the crops. 

My Massey Shepherd American Prayer Book Commentary further informs that in England a church council later adopted the Rogation Days in 747.  The Church of Rome adopted the practice during the reign of Leo III (795-816)

Going back to Archbishop Mamertus, does not the circumstances and motives of his institution sound familiar?  Natural disasters followed by the need for economic recovery and the restoration of food supply?

Us traditional Anglicans are not much into revivals.  But I contend this year is a time for a revival of Rogation Days, particularly the supplications thereof.

I’ve never prayed the Litany during Rogationtide, but I intend so to do next week.  I might even fast a bit, too.  McGill’s piece has other practices as well although I do not recommend a revival of beating boys with switches.

Nonetheless in our current time of calamity and need, let us use the Rogation Days next week for heightened supplication for God’s mercies.

Democrats Show They Cannot Be Trusted with Justice

This week may be one to be remembered.  I was intending to make a different post today, but yesterday, particularly the exoneration of Michael Flynn, was of such import and possible lasting impact, I put that aside. 

So much could be said – and trust that I could say a lot! – but I will hone in on one important lesson of this week: today’s Democrats cannot be trusted with justice.

Yes, that is a very broad and very partisan sounding statement.  But stay with me and note the response of key Democrats to the Flynn exoneration.  They doubled down on portraying Flynn as the bad guy in this.  And that even though the FBI Comey Cabal pursued Flynn even as lower down agents advised that they thought Flynn did not lie and were even about to drop the case.  But not only did the Comey Cabal and DOJ prosecutors go forward with their unethical perjury trap; the prosecutors blackmailed Flynn into a guilty plea by threatening his son.  

Then through the pre-trial and trial, the prosecutors withheld exculpatory evidence from Flynn’s lawyers.  It was this evidence finally being released this week, evidence that revealed FBI and prosecutorial misconduct, that prompted the Department of Justice to drop the case.

This should be a time to rejoice that justice prevailed and that an unjust investigation and prosecution failed.  Should be.

Yet not only are Democrats still portraying Flynn as the bad guy, they are attacking Attorney General Barr for doing what any ethical AG would do.  Democrats once again are demonstrating they would rather have political prisoners than justice.

In a different area note that Joe Biden this week pledged to reverse reforms by Education Secretary DeVos protecting the due process rights of college students accused of sexual misconduct.  Recall that under Obama, college tribunals tore up due process rights of the accused, including cross examination and the presumption of innocence.  They became kangaroo courts in a number of cases with predicable injustices and subsequent lawsuits.

Biden wants to go back to that.

In light of the credible sexual misconduct accusations against Biden, his message to college students is quite clear: “Due process and the presumption of innocence for me, but not for thee.”

Is that who we want appointing DOJ officials, federal judges, and Supreme Court Justices?

Yes, seeing Democrats react to real progress in justice this week makes me fear for justice should they regain power.

Now there are a number of church leaders and activists, particularly in the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), who are all about “justice.”  Good for them!  Here they have an opportunity to demonstrate their concern for justice by speaking out against these Democrat attacks on justice, particularly on fair play, the presumption of innocence and due process.  These “justice” church people have an opportunity to demonstrate that their much desired “justice” isn’t just a buzzword for Leftist political agendas and Democrat victory.

I advise against holding one’s breath waiting for them to do so.

Tish Harrison Warren Wants You to Be Quiet About CRT in the Church

In tweeting favorably about the Anglican Compass article by Esau McCaulley on the Critical Race Theory (CRT) controversy in the church, particularly in the Anglican Church in North America, ACNA’s Tish Harrison Warren writes (And to be fair and clear, I do not know if Dr. McCaulley would go quite as far as Warren does.):

Until the ACNA is actually meaningfully racially and ethnically diverse. Until our *leadership* reflects this diversity, bringing up CRT is a distraction and a tactic.  It is a way to reject any talk of systemic white supremacy b/c Marx. It is bad thinking. Falling into genetic fallacy. But it is useful as a way to avoid realities that are difficult or call us to hard things and vulnerability and repentance and a cross.

Leaving aside the issue of whether race or ethnicity should be much of a factor in choosing church leadership, it is a strange argument that if we are not properly “diverse”, then bringing up CRT is just “a distraction and a tactic.”  A tactic to distract from what?  We want open eyes about the direction church leaders are taking us.  Should we shut up until we are “diverse”?  Does “diversity” exclude those concerned about CRT?  It seems she is using “diversity” as a distraction and a tactic to put down and push aside valid concerns about CRT.

Her next put down of concern about CRT is downright comical. “It is a way to reject any talk of systemic white supremacy b/c Marx.”  She uses a term beloved of CRT types, “systemic white supremacy,” while saying we shouldn’t bring up CRT.  So she uses a CRT concept and practically in the same breath says we shouldn’t bring up CRT.  It’s like some guy saying you shouldn’t bring up racism when he uses the n-word all over the place.

But why are we really bringing up our concerns about CRT influence? “To avoid realities that are difficult.”  Oh really? So childish weakness motivates our concerns.  Got it.  

Instead, perhaps we are the ones not avoiding realities that are difficult.  Life would certainly be easier if we were not examining and warning about the influence of CRT in the church.  Personally, this is not what I signed up for when I joined ACNA with joy.  I thought I had let the usual LibChurch social justicisms far behind.  Apparently not.  But now that I’m in ACNA I will not “avoid realities that are difficult” by closing my eyes to CRT influence and other social justicisms in ACNA.

If I do eventually avoid that, it will be by leaving, which would have its own difficulties.

In the meantime, will I among others avoid “bringing up CRT” when we see its toxic influence in our church?  No.

Sorry, Tish Harrison Warren.

Should Ephraim Radner Throw Cold Water On Online Worship? Maybe Not.

I haven’t heard much from Ephraim Radner for years.  And that is probably a good thing.   For I remember his constant drumbeat of criticizing those leaving The Episcopal Church, culminating in his leaving the pre-ACNA Network in a rather ungracious manner:

Bp. Duncan has, in the end, decided to start a new church. He may call it “Anglican” if he wishes, though I do not recognize the name in these kinds of actions that break communion rather than build it up . . . 

Now, although in very different circumstances, orthodox Anglicans are once again striving to minister and be faithful in a difficult situation.  Many are doing so valiantly, including stepping up their online presence.  Personally, I am very thankful for all the excellent online Anglican worship now available.  It is one way God is using this awful circumstance for good.

But Dr. Radner is not so thankful and has thrown cold water on it with his “Should We Live-Stream Worship? Maybe Not.”  His article is close to insulting.  He is certainly dismissive towards those ministering well online much as he was dismissive towards those struggling to be faithful Anglicans by leaving an apostate persecuting denomination.  He even describes livestreaming worship as “maternalizing, infantilizing, and siliconizing the church.”  Well, I guess that makes me infantile.

In fact I am so infantile, it is not easy for me to respond graciously to Radner’s put down, but John Mason Lock and Stewart Clem have. 

I will say Dr. Radner is far better at addressing the academy than he is at addressing orthodox Anglicans seeking to be faithful under oppression from apostates or under threats from pandemics and overreaching governments.  Perhaps he should stick to academics.

No Democrat Big Brother to See Here!

This probably will not convince sheep who still trust Democrats in power, but anyway….

As part of its partial reopening of “nonessential” institutions, Kansas City, Missouri, is now requiring businesses and churches to maintain lists of people who enter their doors, an Orwellian policy established ostensibly to enable the city health department to respond quickly to reports of COVID-19 exposure.

On Thursday, Mayor Quinton Lucas, a Democrat [Of course –Ed.], issued an executive order relaxing some of the provisions of his previous lockdown orders. The new order allows “nonessential” businesses to reopen under the “10/10/10 rule,” which states that “non-essential businesses open to the public must limit the number of customers allowed to no more than ten (10) persons or ten (10) percent of building occupancy (whichever number is greater).”…

It gets worse. While Lucas is graciously allowing “religious gatherings” to resume, he is applying the same rules to them. Under his order, they must follow the 10/10/10 rule and “maintain a record of attendees” that must also be supplied to the health department upon request. In other words, anyone who goes to church or synagogue in Kansas City may now be reported to the city government.

Mayor Lucas is trying to convince people he is not trying to be Big Brother, but he is not very convincing.

What’s next?  Sermon texts must be turned over to the government?  Oh, that’s right.  Democrats in Houston already tried that.

Maybe we will have to pledge submission to the Democrat Party to be allowed to function in society unmolested.  It’s getting close to that point.

I got a better idea.  Maybe “Christians” who enable these fascists with their support of the Democrat Party should wake up, look around, and repent.

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MORE (Yes I am doubling down):

In case you think I am too hard on those who support Democrats, a new poll indicates Democrats are more likely than Republican or independents to help out Big Brother by reporting those violating distance rules.

"There is a huge partisan difference," Rasmussen said. "By a 44% to 31% margin, a plurality of Democrats would turn in their neighbors. By a 60% to 25% margin, Republicans would not. Independents are evenly divided.”

If the jackboot fits….

Religious Studies and Woke Indoctrination

One of the many reasons a traditional Anglican university or college is needful is that what passes for “religious studies” at many universities and colleges is – how to put this nicely – to be avoided, more woke indoctrination than weighty study of religion.

Mark Pulliam has written a withering critique of this situation in the academy.  Here is a sample:

In addition to the LGBTQ agenda, religious studies scholars promote a litany of issues that coincide with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party: Marxism/socialism, immigration reform, climate change, criminal justice reform, and identity politics. The ideologues who preach this secular gospel of social justice are supported by a flotilla of sympathetic publications, such as The Immanent Frame, Religion and Politics, the Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion, Sojourners, and Religion Dispatches.

The connection to religion is often very loose, bordering on non-existent. One woke religious studies scholar describes herself this way: “I am a scholar of religion with particular interests in the history of capitalism and labor; religion in the Americas; feminist, queer, and critical race theory; and theory and method in the study of religion.”

On many university faculties, there is overlap between religious studies and, for example, African American studies. At Princeton, Eddie S. Glaude, Jr., a former president of the AAR, chairs the Department of African American Studies while also serving on the faculty of the Department of Religion. At the University of Texas, religious studies scholar Ashley Coleman Taylor describes her interests as “Black Feminism, Black Genders and Sexualities, Pragmatism, Queer of Color Critique, Africana Religions, Puerto Rican Studies, Atlanta Studies.” She is on the faculty of the Department of Religious Studies but also teaches in the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies. The disciplines are seemingly interchangeable.

Apparently so.

It turns out that the Matthew 25 Gathering in 2019 chose as a main speaker a young academic who is very much within this trend of religious studies as woke indoctrination.  Oh, Dr. David Leong does not foam at the mouth and seems more sane than other woke professors.  Yet by his own admission, Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me is required reading for his Freshman introductory Christian Theology  course.

One or more Freshman students have asked him why they were reading Coates for a Christian Theology course.  A good question indeed.  Leong tries to answer the question in his Gathering lecture.  I do not think he does so well, but see for yourself, beginning at 12 minutes into this video.

The rest of his lecture reveals some more wokeness although, again, I am sure he is not as high on the wokeness meter as many.  At the same time, I find his endorsement of Soong-Chan Rah’s work telling.

Remember the Matthew 25 Initiative and its Gatherings are sponsored by the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), a mostly orthodox Anglican denomination for those not familiar with it.  This trend of Religious Studies as woke indoctrination is not just a Berkeley/Oberlin Leftist fringe development.  It is just about everywhere in academia as well as in the church where traditional orthodox have not successfully rejected it.

Some therefore advise prospective ministers not to take religion courses at the undergraduate level, and I suspect that this is good advice for most students at most universities.  I also think it all the more behooves traditional Anglicans to provide alternatives at the undergraduate level, including creating Anglican colleges.