From Christianity Today:
After modernity, we are told, people crave community. Modernity disconnected us. We all need an us. But, after modernity, we have seen not just a revival of community but also a resurgence of tribalism. When us turns into us vs. them, serious danger lies ahead.
Religious communities divide when their sense of us grows weak or confused. That has happened with the Episcopal Church as its liberationist gospel has destroyed the denomination’s once shared sense of identity. It is clearly time for alternative movements like the Anglican Mission in the Americas (AMIA), the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, and most recently, the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA).
A similar movement is afoot among Lutherans. Lutheran core (Coalition for Renewal) is preparing to form a new Lutheran church as well as a network of like-minded churches that will remain inside the mainline Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Both the new Anglican and the new Lutheran movements need to nurture their brand-new us to keep it from degenerating into us vs. them.
Serious identity issues existed long before Episcopalians consecrated an openly gay bishop in 2003 and the ELCA Convention approved partnered gay clergy and accepted same-sex relationships in 2009.
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When we create a new us, it is important to articulate a clear vision and to keep that vision clear. The leaders of the new Anglican movements are certain that their identity is not bound up with being “ex-Episcopalians.” “It’s not about the past,” announced ACNA archbishop Robert Duncan. “That’s all done.” Leaders of Lutheran core gave me a similar impression. They don’t define their existence over and against the ELCA. They just hope not to repeat ELCA’s mistakes.
One path to maintaining a positive identity is to proclaim the gospel to those who do not know it. For Lutheran core, that means recapturing an emphasis on global missions. One source told me that from a peak of 1,000 fully supported missionaries in the mid-1960s, mainline Lutheranism’s global outreach has declined to about 150 fully supported missionaries, with only about 9 of those having “evangelist” in their job description. Expect the new Lutheran network to work hard to reignite commitment to global missions.
The Lutherans also hope to succeed at church planting where the ELCA has stumbled. The new Anglicans are decidedly more aggressive on the domestic front. The ACNA’s Duncan has called church leaders to plant 1,000 new congregations over the next five years. With 700 congregations in the new body, Duncan believes they can surely plant 1,000 more. AMIA is similarly committed to growing new congregations. The September 2009 issue of CT featured an interview with Todd Hunter, who has been charged by AMIA leadership with supervising the planting of 200 new congregations on the West Coast alone.
This outward focus on global missions and domestic church planting signifies a healthy identity. It’s just the thing to keep these groups from “a harried withdrawal into an ecclesiastical cupboard.”
My question to the above concerning the New Anglican spearheads that have emerged in North America (AMiA, CAiNA and ACNA). Is it not a strengthening idea that these three should merge and become one strong new Orthodox, Bible Believing, Christian Church and if necessary and possible, one that is immersed in old fashioned Anglicanism.
Are all three of the above ones that have signed on to the Jerusal-em Declaration? If so, then the thought remains that a possible merging of the three should be done OR would this interfere too much in the hierarchies that are being established?
Hi Gerry -
It is a bit confusing… but AMiA and CANA are, in fact, dioceses within ACNA, in the same way that ANiC is a diocese. (AMiA, because it is so large, actually forms a number of ACNA’s dioceses, while still retaining its own identity based on its history and ties to Rwanda.)
Over time, I expect, AMiA, CANA, ANiC, etc will diminish (as primary identities) as ACNA increases – at least that’s my hope.
Marilyn
The problem with identities is how much one can be read into the name. Gerry (in 1) suggests the three newest Anglican identities should merge and become one strong new Orthodox, Bible Believing, Christian church, and if necessary and possible, one that is immmersed on old-fashioned Anglicanism. I think that my current church could be described as Gerry suggests, except for the old-fashioned Anglicanism part. For me, that part of the “identity” would turn me off, as I prefer a church that uses some of the more modern liturgies and music. But I know for others, that identity would be attractive.
I often wonder if the only thing the various new identities of Anglicanism have in common is not being liberal. There can be no strength in a new identity unless everybody is on the same page, which does not seem to be the case yet. I would suggest that any new identity for the Anglican has to be future oriented and not stuck in the past. There is much in the Anglican tradition that should be maintained, but not at the expense addressing the needs of people living in the world as it is today.
#3 Dave Baker: My understanding is that ACNA is based on unity in essentials of the Christian faith. True Anglicanism is always retrospective though ‘lively,’ based as it is on the Apostolic doctrine and OT Scripture. In non-essentials (eg. churchmanship, either traditional or modern) we have freedom. At times believers are helped by contemporary expressions of the faith because they can relate to them (as you are). At other times, Anglican believers are deeply strengthened and challenged by the very rich heritage of the prayerbook which comes from a period rooted strongly in the Scirptures.
Just wait… it will only be a matter of time before an issue surfaces that will cause your brand to splinter as well. Hmmmm, might it will be women priests? Or maybe Bishops? Or maybe the location of the altar? Or what hymn book to use? Or the language in the prayerbook? Don’t worry your issue of division is just around the corner.
Eph 3:20,
You seem to be looking forward to it with an unwholesome relish.
Methinks Eph 3:20 has just denied his name.
“Eph 3:20 With Caveats and Conditions”, I won’t deny that history is on your side.
Eph3:20 – You may well be right in your statments, however, none of us look forward to such a thing with the apparent enthusiasm that you wish to breed.
It appears you are a died (dead) in the wool old fashioned apostate type anglican of the ACoC standard that likes to sit by and whenyou see a target then you get ready, take aim and shoot away like one with a machine gun, spraying bullets where they will go.
Eph3:20 – If the various Provinces around the world, particularly the Global South and southern Cone do the correct thing and continue on with the Jerusalem Proclamation then the Anglicans therein will be just fine and the “new” Church that comes out of it will last well past the end of your time and your Grandchildren’s time IF indeed our Lord doesn’t return with the “New Jerusalem” by that time.
Oh, and what if He (Jesus Christ) returns while you are still walking on this earth EPH? Will you be ready for Him? Will you be in the right Place at that time? Are you sure?
Many of us who have gone with the new ACNA are questioning that in our hearts I am sure as many have not yet made that critical move to put them into such a place. If we are not “Born Again”, we will not go into the New Jerusalem no matter what we think.
ARE YOU READY EPH?
With all due respect, EPH does have a point. For myself, I have not joined ANiC paritially becuase it has women priests (as do the other Dioceses of ACNA that are in Canada). So in order for me to endorse my Parish joining ACNA I would have to ensure that it affiliates with a US based Diocese that does not have women priests.
Will this issue someday cause the Canadian Diocese to split from ACNA? I sincerely hope not. But this is a potential Communion Breaking issue. I Pray and sincerely hope that the Canadian Dioceses will someday cease to have women priests, and in that way the issue be resolved.
In the meantime let us keep the Faith, always striving to obey God and His Will as He has shown it to us through His Holy Scriptures.
There is an elephant in the room (WO). He has been kept necessarly very still. Should, as I suspect, WO. proves to be anathema to the will of the Father, rest assured the pacaderm will get to movin, making the proverbial bull in a china shop look like a tea party. WAKE-UP people!
Women’s ordination has been around in Canada since 1976 (diocese of Toronto anyways). I can’t for the life of me imagine ANiC turning it’s back on women. If you were at odds with the church over WO, there is now a comfortable pew for you on communion with Rome.
And yes Stuck, this is the elephant in the room that will be the first big test for the Network. AMPisAnglican has already demonstrated that it is the litmus test for him.
I’m going to be real honest with you all. I’m not here to disparage you. However, I do sincerely feel that the Anglican Church – once the state church – is and should be welcoming to all who seek a relationship with Jesus Christ our Saviour. For me it is one of many truly admirable aspects of the Anglican church. And I suspect it is this “big tent” way of doing church that has actually prevented more churches from joining the Network. In Toronto, for example, with the exception of a smal remnant at St. Chad, not a single congregation has voted to leave the diocese. And we have some significant players in the Evangelical wing (including St. Bride’s, St. Paul’s and Trinity, Streetsville). They have all held firm (no doubt some of that has also to do with the fact that if they split they couldn’t take their churches with them).
Nevertheless, Toronto – the largest diocese in North America – has held firm. SSB has not split the diocese (yet, of course – and if General Synod takes some sort of action this summer it might open the flood gates).
It is not my joy to see our beloved church splinter. I pray for our unity. And wish you all the very best this weekend as we celebrate the Resurrection of our Saviour, whose coming in glory we await.
God bless you all!
Hello EPH (12).
Just to clarify, you stated that WO is “the litmus test for him”. There are also other issues:
1. All Priests, Deacons, and Bishops must meet the God given requirements of 1 Timothy 3:1-13
2. The Church must maintain that Marriage is what Jesus said it is in Matthew 19:1-10 (including that it is strickly heterosexual).
3. The Church must adhere to the Three Ancient Creeds, The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, and most especially an accurately translated version of the Holy Bible (which would certainly exclude the use of the New Revised Standard Version).
4. The Church must have as one of its most important function (perhaps even the most important) The Great Commission.
I could go on, but these are the big issues at this time. It does sadden me to see the Anglican Church of Canada failing misserably in all of these areas.
Toronto has not yet voted on SSB. You will probably not see anything happening in Toronto until after either the diocican or general synod vote in favour. If anybody in any of those churches you mentioned (St Bride’s, St. Paul’s etc) were already starting to meet and pray, they cirtainly wouldn’t be making that public and no I’m not a member of any of those church so I wouldn’t know either, this just seems reasonable.
If WO was such a big “Elephant in the Room” as some claim, ACNA would never have got off the ground in the first place. The truth is, a compromise has been reached and we are moving on.
So what’s the compromise?
I believe it is that we have agreed not to have women bishops, and that each diocese within ACNA is free to ordain women, or not.
#10 You puzzle me a bit. How were you able to stay in the ACoC for so many years if WO is such a big issue for you? If you were able to stay in the ACoC, with bad theology and WO, why can’t you join ANiC, with good theology and WO? (I am assuming by your tag line that you are a long time Anglican?)
#15 Kate; placing an item on the back burner as in “agree to disagree” is not, I repeat NOT “reaching a compromise”
#12 Eph 3:20 To repent from the error of WO is no more turning one’s back on woman, than repenting from SSB’s is turning one’s back on the GBLT community.
To all; Since 1976 WO has been a communion breaking issue, it continues to be so. Hence the pachyderm in the palace. Kate please re-read my #11, thanks.
Yes it is, Stuck. We’ve agreed to allow individual dioceses to follow their collective conscience on the issue, and we’ve agreed that we won’t have women bishops. How is this not a compromise? Frankly, the only people I’ve heard voice concerns over WO are you, AMP, (maybe three or four other people on the blog whose names escape me at the moment) and a couple of people in my parish. Just because a concern is voiced loudly, doesn’t mean it is widely held.
Furthermore, the expression “elephant in the room” means an obvious problem that no one wants to discuss. (see here) ACNA leaders have discussed it, and come to a compromise. The fact that you disagree with the outcome doesn’t mean that the issue was ignored, or not discussed. It just means that you aren’t happy with the conclusion reached.
Kate, your “The fact that you disagree with the outcome doesn’t mean that the issue was ignored, or not discussed. It just means that you aren’t happy with the conclusion reached.”
I never said the issue was ignored or not discussed. True, I am not happy for many reasons, chief among them is that I don’t believe this issue was resolved and concluded. It was juggled and stroked for the sake of institutional unity in the creation of ACNA. A good thing? …perhaps, but the point is the end result was, and I quote “we agree to disagree in the interests of moving forward”. Of course you will contend that it is a done deal and perhaps many in ANiC will agree with you after all they did not “Jump ship” as several thousands did in the formation of ACCiC and TAC world wide. As for your #20 I would probably agree that you might have a majority in ANiC as many dissenters had left the ACoC in the 80′s, however I thank God that the “majority” does not rule in the Body of Christ.
Time Kate – time will tell.
But you did. That is what “Elephant in the room” means. Time will indeed tell, and I think that it is far more productive to move forward and build than it is to complain about the bits we don’t like.
Hello Kate (18)
In response to your questions about how I was able to remain in the ACoC for so many years with woman ordination I can say this. Ignorance on my part. The ACoC did a thorough job of hiding God’s truth from a lot of people, myself included, about woman ordination. But a few years ago I took seriously the warning that Jesus gives us about false prophets, and our individual responsibility to know our Faith. So I began to read the Holy Bible, and to seriously think about what God has said. Unfortunately, I was recommended by an ACoC Priest the New Revised Standard Version, which I later figured out was a “politically corrected” version of the Bible. Once I stopped using the NRSV bible I started to realize just how far away from God the ACoC had gone.
#23, In fairness Kate my description (in #11) of “elephant in the room” was codiciled or claused if you will, with “he has been kept necessarily still”, further in conjuction and IAW with your provided definition, the circumstance of EitR did not happen until after the agreement to disagree and move forward took place.
As for your suggestion that I was complaining I can accept that from a blog participant and ask for clarification. From a Blog Mod I expect care in dotting i’s and crossing t’s.
Finally you are most welcome to move forward and build in whatever pardigm you have, however I choose very carefully to insure that my foundations are on solid ground.
I have challenged you in the past to open the door on WO on your blog but you have refused indicating that it was sufficiently dealt in the past. So be it. Yet for the defence of the Kingdom of Heaven one can hope. The controversy is still around after all.
“Behold, I am doing a new thing” – various psalms
If ACNA can unite such disparate groups as REC and the other members, then it may well be a move of the Holy Spirit. While it’s unlikely to be my choice of church, if there’ more there than the 40th and 41st Articles (I’ve said what those are before), then go forth!