An Orderly Account

About the Name

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things which have been accomplished among us, just as they were delivered to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent The-oph’ilus, that you may know the truth concerning the things of which you have been informed. -- Luke 1:1-4

Relax, I know I’m not writing the New Testament here, but I will try to follow a few things closely. — Dick Sandlin

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Features

Jon Stryker Funds LGBT Initiative

A recent feature on the Stand Firm blog by Fr. Andrew Gross has identified the primary funding sources for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) initiatives in TEC, as well as other organizations. While there is no suggestion that this activity is in any way illegal, it is interesting to know who is speaking when “money talks” in this case. Billionaire Jon Stryker is a gay man who founded and funded the Arcus Foundation to “fund LGBT rights and great ape conservation”. He is one of the heirs to the Stryker fortune. Stryker is a broadly based, global leader in medical technology and one of the largest players in the $35.6 billion worldwide orthopaedic market. Since 2000, Arcus has awarded grants totaling more than $122 million worldwide. Jon also identified the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations and Atlantic Philanthropies as major funding sources for the LGBT rights effort.

The Arcus efforts have not been limited to human rights activities, but have also been directed toward changing the beliefs and practices of the Episcopal Church. Last year they gave (from the Arcus Foundation Annual Report):

Cathedral Church of St. James Chicago, IL $177,251 to support the efforts of the Chicago Consultation to promote the full inclusion of LGBT faithful in the Episcopal Church and in the Anglican Communion
Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL $132,162 for support of the Chicago Consultation’s efforts to promote the full inclusion of LGBT persons in the Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion. (In 2007 Arcus provided $25,000 for the initial organizational meeting of what became the Chicago Consultation.)
Integrity, Rochester, NY $60,000 for two half-time field organizers to support efforts to promote the full inclusion of LGBT faithful within the Episcopal Church. (In 2007 Arcus provided $130,000 in funding specifically targeting Lambeth and the 2009 General Convention. Of that amount, $80,000 was earmarked for 2007; $50,000 was to carry over to 2008.)

This report reveals that money from a secular organization is being used to tilt the balance of power within our churches. It also means that in 2008 while Seabury Western Seminary was slashing it’s budget, cutting staff, and dramatically ‘restructuring’ and ‘revisioning’, they were also acting as a conduit for the Chicago Consultation. And it sheds some light on the massive publicity given to +Gene Robinson at Lambeth this year, when he wasn’t even invited to attend. Money talks.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 10/18 at 09:15 PM