Network Bishops to Meet April 24

Bishops of those Episcopal Church dioceses that have formally affiliated with the Anglican Communion Network will meet in Chicago on April 24. The purpose of the meeting is to allow Network bishops to speak frankly with each other about the future.

As the crisis in The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion has deepened, Network bishops and dioceses have been moving in several directions. Some Network dioceses have reaffiliated or are considering reaffiliating with other provinces of the Anglican Communion. Individual Network bishops have left The Episcopal Church to join other communions. Other bishops are attempting to be a voice for orthodoxy within The Episcopal Church.

“I have called this meeting because we need to talk frankly and openly about the future and how we as Network bishops can help the Network best fulfill its mission to build a biblical, missionary and united Anglican witness in the years ahead,” said Bishop Robert Duncan, moderator of the Network. “It is clear that the Network has a continuing mission to unite orthodox Anglicans, especially as increasing numbers of Network parishes and now dioceses are exiting The Episcopal Church. We will be talking about how we can work together to accomplish this goal even as we bless the several paths we have chosen as bishops and dioceses,” he added.

Dioceses that have made formal decisions to affiliate with the Network are Fort Worth, Quincy, Pittsburgh, Albany, South Carolina, San Joaquin, Central Florida, Dallas and Springfield. (The Diocese of the Rio Grande took a number of steps toward affiliation. However, their status was never completely clear.) With these dioceses, the Network also has 231 individual parish affiliates in five geographical convocations and one non-geographical convocation. Of this group, 105 parishes are under the care of The Anglican Provinces of Kenya, Uganda, or the Southern Cone. The entire diocese of San Joaquin is also under the oversight of The Province of the Southern Cone.

Northeast CANA Clergy Meet with Bishop Bena

Photo by Raymond Dague

Six CANA priests, a postulant for the priesthood and one priest under the oversight of an American bishop attached to the Province of Kenya met with CANA Suffragan Bishop David Bena for the traditional Holy Week renewal of ordination vows. The clergy also received holy oils blessed by the bishop.

The Northeast portion of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America is a healthy microcosm of the growing movement. Nigerian and American priests serving in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut were present for the first gathering of CANA clergy in the Northeast. While not all CANA priests in the Northeast were able to participate, it was a good start for this corner of the Anglican realignment in North America.

CANA Bishops Invited to GAFCON

The Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) will be held in Amman, Jordan and Jerusalem. GAFCON will begin June 18-22 in Jordan. The Jerusalem pilgrimage June 22-29 will focus on worship, prayer, discussions, and Bible Study, shaped by the context of the Holy Land.

"We are very grateful for the feedback that we have received on the many complex issues that confront us," said Archbishop Peter Jensen, Archbishop of Sydney and a member of the leadership team. "The emphasis of our time together will be our future in the Anglican Communion and the reformation and renewal of our common life rooted in the Holy Scriptures and our common faith in Jesus Christ."

Participants will include bishops and their wives, key clergy and laity. All CANA bishops have been invited.

What should the Anglicans do?

By Steve Addison
http://www.steveaddison.net/2008/02/28/what-should-the-anglicans-do.html
2/28/2008

It is no exaggeration to say that the global Anglican church of is at a crossroads facing its greatest crisis since the Reformation. It's been there at least since the 1998 Lambeth Conference when the vast majority of Anglican bishops worldwide rejected "homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture."

Despite this the Episcopal church in the US and the Anglican Church in Canada have pursued an agenda of acceptance of homosexuality and the ordination of practicing homosexual clergy.

A decade later, at next July's Lambeth Conference, the battle over the nature of the Anglican communion will continue. The church is going through a painful and protracted identity crisis. Whatever happens at Lambeth, this crisis will not go away.

So what is to be done? What is the future for the world's 82 million Anglicans?

Here are some suggestions from a movements perspective. A word of qualification, I am not an Anglican. These are the musings of a concerned outsider who none-the-less loves the Anglican church.

1. Return to who you are.

Movements are renewed by making an innovative return to tradition. Rediscover the essence of the Anglican tradition in it's unity and diversity. Here's a good start from JI Packer: Who We Are and Where We Stand.

2. Don't forget innovation!

Returning to your tradition is only half of the equation. You must make an innovative return. Institutions spend an inordinate amount on energy on non-essential traditions. In contrast, movements are willing to change everything except their core beliefs in pursuit of their mission.

3. Say goodbye to the hegemony of the West.

It's time to catch up to what God is doing around the rest of the world and learn from it. Read the story of Archbishop Peter Akinola and the amazing growth of the Anglican church of Nigeria. Peter Jenkins demonstrates that throughout the "Global South" it is a biblically orthodox version of the Christian faith that is capturing the hearts of ordinary people. There lies the future of the Anglican church.

4. Learn from John Wesley

John Wesley was born and died an Anglican. Unfortunately the Anglican church of the day was not big enough to contain him. He once said, "I love the rites and ceremonies of the Church. But I see, well-pleased, that our great Lord can work without them."

Wesley was a loyal Anglican but when the clergy forbade him to preach in "their" parishes he proclaimed, "The world is my parish!" and preached without their permission to thousands who gladly heard him and joined the Methodists.

5. Make room for more Wesleys

Expect God to raise up a new generation of John Wesleys. Is the Anglican church big enough to give them room? What should happen when a bishop seeks to block the planting of a new church by Anglicans in "his" diocese despite it's decline? Will they be given room?

6. Pour fuel on the fire

Where is the Anglican church prospering? Where are lives being transformed by the Gospel? Where are disciples being made? Where are pioneering leaders to be found? Where are churches being planted? Where is God at work? Go there and learn.

Visit the Anglican church of Nigeria. Visit St Mary's London. Find out why the Sydney diocese has no problem growing leaders. Get excited about what the Church Army is doing down in Berkley NSW. Find out where there is unexpected success, learn from it and multiply it.

Make sure you devour the writings of Roland Allen, CMS missionary and mission strategist. Almost a century ago he wrote Missionary methods : St. Paul's or ours? and we still haven't got the message.

7. Have some grandchildren

Having grandchildren is a wonderful way to become young again, vicariously. The Anglican church has already birthed a dynamic movement called Methodism. Why not do it intentionally? That's what the Southern Baptists are doing in world missions. They are planting indigenous churches that are biblically orthodox but not necessarily "Southern Baptist".

Central Coast Evangelical Church is just one of the churches in a growing movement of Independent Evangelical Churches started and led by graduates of Moore College. Other Anglican churches are planting non-Anglican churches where the parish system frustrates the advance of the Gospel.

8. Remember your heroes

The Anglican church has produced some great leaders throughout it's history: John Wesley, Charles Simeon, William Wilberforce, Henry Martyn, Samuel Ajayi Crowther, Wilson Carlile, CS Lewis, John Stott, David Watson, and many more.

Study their lives. Tell and retell their stories and the lessons from their lives to a new generation.

9. Plant some trees

The best time to plant a tree? Twenty years ago. The second best time? Now.

Charles Simeon was the pastor of the Anglican church at Cambridge for 50 years. When he began in 1782 there were only a dozen evangelical ministers left in the Church of England. When he finished 54 years later, one in three Anglican churches were led by evangelicals. The vast majority of them were men influenced by Simeon in Cambridge. Many of them were converted through him.

10. Thank God for the Episcopalians

We can be thankful that the Episcopalians in the US provide an insight into the future of the Anglican church. . . if the decline continues. The Episcopalians are in free fall. In 2008 they led the way with the fastest rate of denominational decline in the US.

Why would that be?

According to Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, Episcopalians aren't interested in replenishing their ranks by having children. "They tend to be better-educated and tend to reproduce at lower rates than some other denominations." You've got to give her credit for creativity. Here's the real reason.

Is that the future you want for the rest of the Anglican church?

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OHIO: Breakaway churches begin to organize amid confusion

Effort would unify conservative congregations disaffiliated from the Episcopal Church USA

By Colette M. Jenkins
Beacon Journal religion writer
http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/15791202.html
February 20, 2008

FAIRLAWN: Bishop Roger Ames is no longer a cleric in the Ohio Diocese of the Episcopal Church USA.

But he is a leader in the global Anglican Communion, which includes the Episcopal Church USA.

Then there's the church that Ames pastors - St. Luke's in Fairlawn. Its incorporation papers list its name as St. Luke's Anglican Church and Ames as pastor. Diocesan records, however, show that it is St. Luke's Episcopal Church and that the pastorate is vacant.

The status of both Ames and the church is an indication of the level of confusion in the denomination and of what might very well be the beginning of a new Anglican province in North America.

Both Ames and Bishop Martyn Minns, the missionary bishop for the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA), say an effort is under way to unify the theologically conservative parishes that have broken away from the Episcopal Church.

"We're trying to hold onto the traditional teachings of the church and stop the fragmentation that is going on across the country by bringing people together," Minns said. "We definitely have some real divisions (in the Episcopal Church) and we are trying to develop tight connections with the international church and the churches in this country."

Appointment controversy

Minns, of Herndon, Va., was elected by the Anglican Church of Nigeria, the largest province in the global communion, to lead the CANA parishes that have left the Episcopal Church USA. His August 2006 consecration in Abuja, Nigeria, was controversial because both the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church USA and the Archbishop of Canterbury had requested that it not proceed.

Subsequently, the archbishop did not invite Minns to the 2008 Lambeth Conference, saying Minns' appointment had caused "exceptionally serious division or scandal within the communion."

The Lambeth Conference, in Canterbury, England, is a once-a-decade, by-invitation-only assembly of Anglican bishops. Minns said it is not too late for him to be included on the invitation list for the July conference.

Realigning themselves

Dissension has torn the communion, since the Episcopal Church consecrated its first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, in 2003. A decision in 2004 by the Canadian province of Westminster to bless same-sex unions fueled the tension.

Since then, some of the more theologically conservative churches, such as St. Luke's, have disaffiliated from the Episcopal Church and realigned themselves with Anglican provinces and organizations that share their view on issues like homosexuality.

In fact, St. Luke's is the place where the national movement to defy liberal bishops in the American church was launched. On March 14, 2004, five retired Episcopal Church USA bishops and a diocesan bishop from Brazil confirmed 110 people at a multicongregational service at St. Luke's without the permission of the local bishop.

St. Luke's subsequently voted to leave the Ohio diocese and aligned itself with CANA, which was formed in April 2005. The organization now claims 118 clergy and 161 congregations, compared with 19 clergy and 14 congregations in November 2006.

CANA consecrated Ames and three others to serve as suffragan, or assistant, bishops to Minns on Dec. 9 in Herndon, Va. Their ordinations were in response to the rapid growth in CANA's membership, Minns said.

Ames oversees the 16 parishes in CANA's Great Lakes region. The region includes the five churches that have left the Cleveland-based Ohio Diocese of the Episcopal Church: St. Luke's, Church of the Holy Spirit in Akron, St. Barnabas in Bay Village, Church of the Good Samaritan in Cleveland and St. Anne in the Fields in Madison.

Clusters created by CANA are geographical and relational, but do not follow strict lines like the diocesan structure of the Episcopal Church, Ames said.

Common Cause

"There are now domestic bishops. That's the beginning of a new Anglican province in the U.S.," Ames said. "CANA is just one of the operations that came in to rescue orthodox, evangelical parishes that could no longer stay in the Episcopal Church. All of those streams have come together in something called Common Cause."

Common Cause, chaired by Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh, is a partnership of organizations with roots in the Anglican Church that have unified to create an ecclesiastical structure apart from the Episcopal Church USA and the Anglican Church of Canada. Its initial meeting in late September in Pittsburgh was to bind its members and discuss their direction for the future.

In addition to CANA, members of Common Cause include the American Anglican Council, the Anglican Communion Network, the Anglican Mission in the Americas (which includes Hudson Anglican Fellowship on Darrow Road), the Anglican Province of America, the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, Forward in Action, the Reformed Episcopal Church, the Anglican Essentials Federation and the Anglican Network in Canada.

"All together, these groups will birth a new American province that could encompass the U.S. and Canada," Ames said. "This will include the diocese of San Joaquin in California, which voted in December to leave the Episcopal Church. We anticipate that three or four more whole dioceses will leave this year and join us."

Some of the parishes across the country that have left the denomination are involved in legal disputes over church property. That is not the case in the Ohio Diocese, which covers the northern 48 counties of the state.

"We are looking for a faithful resolution to the property issues involving the congregations that have elected to leave the diocese," said Martha Wright, diocesan spokeswoman. "The priests in those congregations have asked to be released from their orders and their requests have been granted, but we have not taken any action where the property is concerned."

Ames said the diocese and parishes are in discussions to resolve the property issue and to negotiate a "just" settlement.

Bishop Mark Hollingsworth, who leads the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio, declined to comment.

"We have been able to avoid litigation. We appreciate Bishop Hollingsworth's willingness to continue the dialogue and his gracefulness in releasing the clergy," Ames said. "There is a strong possibility that Ohio could set a precedent for Christian resolution to this property issue that has led to angry, nasty litigation in other places. We're trying very much to let the Lord and the Holy Spirit lead in this process."

END



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Venables Interview

http://acl.asn.au/a-tragedy-for-the-church/
February 28, 2008

Archbishop of the Southern Cone, Gregory Venables was interviewed on CBC Radio in Canada earlier this week.

It's very very sad that it should come to this, it's a tragedy for the church, for the church in Canada and for the church throughout the world - but it shows how serious the division is. We are grateful for this transcript of the interview (the audio is available here in RealAudio format). Questions are from CBC's The Current presenter Anna Maria Tremonti -

Also joining us was The Most Reverend Gregory James Venables, Presiding Bishop of the Province of the Southern Cone. He's also the Bishop of Argentina and the leader of the parishes that have split with the Anglican Church of Canada. Archbishop Gregory James Venables spoke to us from Buenos Aires.

What is your response to the recent votes here in Canada, what do you think of these decisions?

It's very, very, sad that it should come to this, it's a tragedy for the church, for the church in Canada and for the church throughout the world - but it shows how serious the division is. This has never happened before. It has happened significantly with very large groups in the United States in recent years and recently with a whole diocese moving - and now it's happening in Canada. It shows how serious this division is and how strong the convictions are which are pulling the church apart.

In your view is this solely about the Canadian churches stand on homosexuality? Does it go beyond that?

No. This is about two versions of Christianity which are in a strong state of difference. You've got the original biblical Christianity which the church, the Christian church throughout the world has held to over the past two thousand years and then you've got this new liberal post-modern Christianity which has evolved especially in the western world over the last 100 years or so. It's like two ships that have gradually pulled apart and can longer really sail together and the trouble is it's pulling the church apart as it does that.

And how did you personally, in Argentina, get involved with the Canadian congregations?

We've got good links with folk in Canada, we are all a part of the Americas. Also I had been a part of the Primates' debate on this for a long time now and therefore I'd been in contact with Canadians who'd been in touch with us and discussed things with us and asked our advice and that's what has led to this situation - that in the end they came to us and said, "Look we are going to have to break away from something we can no longer walk with - will you please give us somewhere to live while this thing works itself out?" and we talked about it with other Primates - there were a number of provinces that were prepared to make an offer to receive these congregations and in the end the decision was to come down to us.

And in practical terms what does that mean to take on these Canadian parishioners?

It means basically that these people cannot say that they agree with their local Church, with the national Church where they are, but they want to remain within the Anglican church and - since they can't remain within the Anglican Church if they leave the Canadian Church and don't go anywhere else - they are coming to us for shelter until the situation is resolved. We hope it will be a temporary thing and that something more practical and able to be worked out locally will come out of this in the long term. As it stands there are two bishops who will be looking after these congregations, two retired Canadian bishops who will be doing the practical work for us but the overall coverage will be under the Province of the Southern Cone which includes the six countries you mentioned.

And along with the issue of faith when it comes to the running of a church there are legal and financial considerations how do those shake down with these changes?

Well I suppose the most difficult thing will be where the clergy go in terms of stipend, pensions and medical coverage and all that which implies an enormous sacrifice, which shows again how serious this is and how strong the convictions are. But also the tragedy is going to be over buildings - who actually owns the buildings. Because although buildings are secondary in our faith, the church is the temple - we are the temple and God lives in His people - but even so buildings are very very precious to us and they mean a lot, especially locally where families have lived for a long time in one locality so that is going to be probably the hardest thing of all. And what's been happening in the states is tragic because there are multi-million (dollar) court cases going on at this moment in which even members of vestries are being taken to court for 'abandoning the communion' as they say.

I can hear the regret in your voice.

Yeah. Oh yeah. It's heartbreaking. It's heartbreaking. It's tragic because the church is meant to be a demonstration of love - and one of the things that really breaks us up is that there seems to be so little love in this. I said at a Primates' meeting a while back that in a marriage, generally, in spite of difficulties you keep going because you want to, because you love each other and in spite of the fact you face terrible problems sometimes you want to stay together and that's what keeps you going. But there seems to be little love and little desire to remain together and that is the tragic revelation of this situation.

And yet we're talking about a tug of war over a view of Christianity.

Over two versions, one which is the ancient historic version and one which has grown up more recently but unfortunately you would have thought there would be enough in common to hold it together.

And do you think there is, you think there is a chance of doing that?

We thought that for a long time, we met together as Primates over and over again and every time we said, "Please don't go on with this, hold back, let's talk about this, let's find a way" - but even on one situation when we had a meeting in Brazil, with all the Primates and we put out a letter and said, "Please don't do this", within 48 hours a Canadian diocese had gone ahead with moving on same sex blessings which took our breath away, we hadn't even sent the letter out more than 48 hours I think it was. The other tragedy is, having been in this situation for so long and having taken part in it there's been very little real dialogue. There's been long silences but there hasn't been real dialogue and that is a tragedy. If Christianity is what it should be then we should be able to sit down and work it out in spite of differences and that is part of the sadness too.

Okay, well I understand there is a conference for the end of April in BC by the Anglican Network of Canada that is the group of more traditional or so-called essential Anglicans. You're going to that conference, what do you hope that will achieve?

I hope to be there. I hope it will give us a chance to clarify even more how this thing is going to work out and to affirm the position that people are taking so that there's a security within this and simply to be able to pray together and to say okay we've taken a step, how can we know be the sort of church that God wants us to be in a world that really needs to find some hope. And if the world is the creation of God what can we do to help the world find its place within that world vision.

END



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Minns to Anglican District of Virginia

The following is a letter from Bishop Martyn Minns, Missionary Bishop of CANA, to all the churches of the Anglican District of Virginia, in preparation for the ruling that should come at any time from Judge Randy Bellows.

February 27, 2008

Anglican District of Virginia newsletter.

Dear Friends,

I'm writing to you all to express my gratitude for your faithful witness as we have embarked on this journey together to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ during one of the most challenging periods in the history of the Anglican Communion. We have experienced those challenges not only within the global communion, but particularly right here in Virginia. Your sacrificial giving in supporting the work of ministry through your time, your talents, and your financial resources is a powerful witness to the world of your dedication to Jesus Christ and to the work of His church. Your devotion to the integrity of a biblical witness is a testimony of steadfast faith in Christ in a time of great challenge.

As you know, CANA continues to grow at a remarkable rate. In the past year alone we have quadrupled in size and we continue to receive and plant new congregations. Here in Virginia, the CANA and Ugandan congregations of the Anglican District of Virginia continue to reach out with Christ's love to preach the Gospel, to serve one another, to extend a warm hand of fellowship to our communities, and to celebrate the sovereignty and faithfulness of our God as we go from strength to strength.

You also know that another milestone is soon to be upon us. I ask you all to be in prayer and preparation for the time when we receive the decision from Judge Bellows in Fairfax Circuit Court. We expect him to rule on the applicability and constitutionality of Virginia Statue 57-9 under which we filed reports of votes to sever ties with The Episcopal Church. As you remember, following those filings we entered into negotiations with the Diocese of Virginia based on the protocol unanimously recommend by a committee chartered by Bishop Lee. TEC forced the Diocese to break off those negotiations and to file suits against all 11 churches, their rectors, and vestries. We expect Judge Bellows ruling at any time.

Judge Bellows has signaled he could rule in one of three ways, either that:

1. There has been a division and the 57-9 statute is constitutional. 2. There has been a division and the 57-9 statute is unconstitutional. 3. There has been no division and so that 57-9 statute does not apply.

As you can see, each possible ruling will require responses from us as well as from the Diocese of Virginia and The Episcopal Church. Whichever way he rules, we must bear in mind that this will be only one of a number of issues on which he will likely ultimately rule, and we must stay focused on our ministry and mission. Thanks to the Lord and to your support and prayers, we are ready for all three possibilities.

Last week I asked Jim Oakes, Vice Chair of the Anglican District of Virginia, to gather some leaders together from the CANA churches in the ADV to pray and plan for our next steps. John Yates, the rector of The Falls Church, opened our time together with a reading from Habakkuk 3:

The Sovereign LORD is my strength~ he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.

I can assure you that we will continue to seek the Lord in providing for our needs as we earnestly ask Him for His help. He works through you as you continue to pledge and give to this very public witness of standing firm for the Gospel and for the integrity of His Word. We also hear from friends in other denominations in Virginia and around the United States who support and pray for us, knowing that the decisions and actions here will be felt beyond our own denomination. We appreciate the prayers and financial support that comes from inside and outside our denomination. We are not alone.

Please pray as we await this first decision. Pray for Judge Bellows in the great responsibility he's been given to make this first decision. Pray for the legal team and the CANA churches leadership as we respond to this first decision.

And pray for Bishop Lee and the Diocese of Virginia as they also respond to the decisions of the court. Pray for all the churches in the ADV that we may, even through difficult times, continue to trust the Lord with our future, being assured that He will not let us go. Pray that we will continue to seek Him first and His righteousness, eager to stand in the gap and eager to forgive.

As soon as Judge Bellows hands down this first decision, all the ADV churches will be notified. We have been blessed by a remarkable legal team and we are grateful for their diligent preparation for this decision and the work ahead. May the Lord bless you and keep you as we solemnly observe this season of Lent, looking forward to that day when we celebrate His victory through the cross.

Angela and Rachel and I keep you in our prayers. We are confident that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

The Sovereign LORD is our strength. May He, indeed, make our feet like the feet of deer, enabling us to go on to the heights together and for His sake. Amen.


Your brother in Christ,

+Martyn
The Rt. Rev. Martyn Minns
Missionary Bishop of C.A.N.A.



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