From VOL:
The Archbishop of the Anglican Church of North America said today that “if orthodox Anglicans do what we are sent to do, what we will become is the ancient future movement of the 21st Century church attracting a rising generation of believer leaders abounding in the love of Jesus Christ broken.
“This could be the Anglican Century in North America accountable to Scripture, Tradition, the Holy Spirit and the transformation of society. There has never been a movement so well positioned at the beginning of an era multiplying congregations fueled by the Holy Spirit. It is the Anglican moment and if we are faithful we should prove to be an Anglican century,” said Archbishop Robert Duncan to 325 new Anglican Church planters.
“We have come a long ways from those darks days seven years ago when the church we grew up in we discovered had left us. We are in a different moment, today.”
Duncan said, ”We are in a season where there are so many evidences of God’s favor about what we are engaged in. It is what the Father is doing and there is great blessing when we enjoin ourselves to what the Father is doing. We preach Christ crucified.”
“This is an Anglican moment because it is in God’s plan. We are not something special. God chooses those who don’t deserve it. ACNA is evidence of God’s favor.”
Duncan recounted how in 2004 Bishop Ed Salmon (SC ret.) got a letter from Archbishop Rowan Williams saying they (orthodox Anglicans in North America) will never get it together. “They didn’t think like that eight months ago. Now look at how far we have come together today! Last week in London (General Synod), it changed yet again.”
Duncan said ACNA is part of the Anglican alphabet soup. “It is a sovereign act of God and it has actually changed our hearts. We have brought Canada and the US together wiping away boundaries, bringing us altogether. It is the first sign of God’s favor.”
“We have an identity. The charisms of catholic, evangelical and Pentecostal have been brought together in one church to reach North America with the transforming love of Jesus Christ.”
Duncan outlined four accountabilities: Scripture, tradition, the Holy Spirit and society. “They are not four streams but four accountabilities. We meet people where they are, but we do not to leave them there. We love them there and help them be transformed by God’s love.”
The archbishop said the recognitions that have come, both ecumenical and Anglican, from Rick Warren and Metropolitan Jonah empowered him. “They said we know who you are and we stand with you. That is a sign of God’s favor. It is extraordinary the Anglican recognition we have gotten and how it keeps unfolding. One can debate what Synod meant in London, but part of it is that both archbishops voted for it. This past Saturday I got a call from Southeast Asia Archbishop John Chew who told him this Synod by unanimous resolution voted so the whole province is now in communion with ACNA. Myanmar (formerly Burma) and GAFCON have also recognized us.”
Facing the fears and financial threats to ACNA, Duncan said it is easier to leave Egypt than to leave Egypt’s patterns. It is easy to fall back in old ways of behaving. “There were lots of fears that we would lose the Prayer Book, seminaries, parishes and pensions.” On finances, Duncan said “We used to have a lot (of money) and did nothing with it, so stop worrying about it.”
“We have overcome. God is favoring us. There is a new rising generation of leaders and I am excited.
“The devil is a raging lion, he doesn’t like what you are doing, but God does. The final threat is to end on less than the vision. When you have a vision you aim at the vision when you don’t have a vision you aim at each other.”
Touching on the thorny issue of women’s ordination, Duncan said, “We have made peace together about two integrities. It is easy to take the easy road. We will settle it out politically. Are we going to aim at the vision or at each other? The goal is to reach North America with the transforming love of Jesus Christ.”
Transforming others from the darkness of the world into the light of Christ is the task given us by God. It is so good to read what an uncomprising Anglican leader has to say inspired by the Holy Spirit. At 82 an Anglican pastor friend of mine left The ACoC to start a Church in a small town. At 73 I was asked to lead the Saturday night prayer meeting at the local Pentacostal Church. If we who are older and wiser are sensitive to and discerning of the leading of the Holy Spirit we can still particpate in this “Great Commision” and see God transform people from the inside out. Our walk is never ended.
The Archbishop is correct.
Twenty-six months ago eight brave souls attempted to plant an Anglican Church in Citrus County, Florida. They initially worshiped out of their homes but were eventually offered the use of the worship space of the local Church of God on Saturday evenings. Within a year the church (now Saint Christopher) had acquired the services of two part time priests and the congregation had grown to approximately twenty. About twelve months ago the church was offered the use of a small local building rent free for a year. The congregation grew to about thirty. Very recently an anonomous individual gifted Saint Christopher with almost 1 acre of land to build a future permanent home. Today Saint Christopher is a recognized parish of the Gulf Atlantic Diocese of the ACNA. The parish has a rector and a congregation of approximately 40. This Saturday Saint Christopher will host Bishop Neil Lebhar who will confirm some of our parish youth.
I have been blessed by God to have been a part of the Saint Christopher story. I have personally witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit and the transforming love of Christ at work in the lives of these people; people who have made a decision to stand up for the Gospel at great personal risk and cost to themselves. They continue to put their faith and trust in the promises of Jesus and He has never let them down.
Will there be a thousand more stories like Saint Christopher’s to tell in the next five years? If we keep our eyes on the prize (Jesus), definitely.
Hi Trav, thanks for the testimony (“If we keep our eyes on the prize (Jesus), “. Or as ++Duncan so eloquently and prophetically put it,
” When you have a vision you aim at the vision when you don’t have a vision you aim at each other.”
BTW, speaking of testimony did you by any chance hear +Doc Lommis’s closing talk from the 1000 church conference in Plano? If not, his final call was that we needed testimony. So Kudos brother. Having heard St. Christophers story from you, I now understand better what +Doc was talking about and realize how valuable they (testimonies) are.
“The ancient future movement”
When I heard ++Bob say these words I was filled, be it the Holy Spirit, be it Vision, be it confirmation of my journey or all three, I know it to be a truth that cannot be ignored. In keeping with my quote of his in my #3 it is time to leave my personal feelings, particularly the conflicting ones such as my negativity about WO and get on with it or to put it colloquially – Repent, Rearm, Renew and Re-Aim.
Anyone interested in joining in a discernment process regarding a church plant in the large geographical area known as Toronto North are urged to get my personal contact info from the Mod’s of this Blog.
Note for #2 Winter Traveller…I see on the Anglican 1000 website that they wish to list church plants and their story. I don’t see yours there but perhaps it should be as it is inspiring and others should be reading about your St. Christopher’s. God bless you always.
Ancient future movement, hmmmm, sounds like recycled Convergence Church lingo to me.
Mr. Bruton, you are partially correct, it is recycled but I think you should go back to the beginning to determine the source.