| Dear ,
We are highlighting the various organizations that Saint Raphael's Church annually supports with our outreach giving and programs.
This newsletter is meant to be a source of information to you about our church and community. Please let us know what you like about it and what other news and information you want us to add. And, let us know of anyone else you think would enjoy receiving it. We'll make sure to add their names to the mailing list!
Enjoy it and thanks for giving us a few minutes of your time. |
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Pastor's Recitation |
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Dear Friends,
There is an old saying concerning the beginnings of the Episcopal Church in America. The story goes that as soon as the 'Fathers' of our country finished writing the Articles of the Confederation; they walked down the street and wrote the Constitution and Canons for the Episcopal Church. The challenge that the Episcopal Church was left with was the fact that the original documents for the new country were later revised into the Constitution of the United States; whereas, the Episcopal Church's documents were not. This is the explanation given as to why the General Convention has more delegates than either the Democratic or the Republican Conventions.
Of course, that is not exactly how it all happened, but it makes a nice 'Just So' story. This month the General Convention of the Episcopal Church will be meeting once again. With our church's close ties with the beginnings of our nation, it just seems fitting this year to have it in July; especially, since this General Convention could be an historical turning point for the Episcopal Church.
There are on the table, resolutions this year that could have a resounding affect on how the Episcopal Church is perceived by the rest of the universal Body of Christ. For example, there are two resolutions that if passed would change the traditional theology of marriage in order to accommodate states that have legalized same sex unions by the authorizing of same sex blessings and making the prayer book marriage services be changed to gender-neutral language. This change in theology would be enforced by another resolution on the table that would change the disciplinary canon for clergy known as Title IV to include theological differences contrary to the teachings of the Episcopal Church as inappropriate behavior. In other words, priests and bishops could lose their collars for upholding the traditional teachings of the Church.
Then there is the resolution to nullify the General Convention Resolution of 2006 demanded by the global Anglican leadership. This resolution called for restricting candidates for the episcopacy "whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion" from being approved for election to the office of bishop. The nullification of this 2006 resolution could have unexpected consequences concerning the Episcopal Church's membership in the Anglican Communion that would make the global reaction of General Convention 2003 seem mild.
The interesting tidbit that is not being discussed openly is the decreased presence of orthodox delegates to the General Convention. Many of the orthodox have left the Episcopal Church to form a new Anglican Province in North America. (Although this new Province has yet to be recognized by Canterbury, it is already being recognized by other Anglican Provinces.) It is this loss of the orthodox voice that will be the deciding factor in determining the new direction of the Episcopal Church.
Up until this General Convention, the Episcopal Church has had three strong voices: the voices of the revisionists, the moderates and the traditionalists. It is because of these three voices that the Episcopal Church has maintained a sense of theological balance stemming from the roots of her diversity. We are now walking on unfamiliar territory as we will be hearing at this General Convention from two strong voices and one small voice.
This year's Fourth of July fireworks are only the beginning. The real fireworks begin July 8th in Anaheim, California with the opening of the 76th General Convention. So get a good seat, you don't want to miss this one.
Blessings,
Pastor Alice+
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Episcopal Diocese
of Southwest Florida
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From the Bishop
Spiritual growth should be an intentional act for Christians
Christians are expected to be intentional about spiritual growth and wisdom.
As seen in the July/August issue of The Southern Cross:
I had the occasion in recent weeks to offer some remarks at a celebratory 25th anniversary of a men's Bible study group in one of our congregations.
The event reminded me that I was just really beginning to study the Bible at that point in my life, and I have not ceased. I have discovered what many people already knew. The Holy Scriptures are inexhaustible in its riches, and I expect to be learning from it and more about it for the rest of my earthly days.
Christians are expected to be intentional about spiritual growth and wisdom. The marriage service states that parents are to raise their children with God's intention with "their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord."
The only way that is possible is for the parents to live as Christians by purposeful and meaningful participation in the life of Christ.
We also pledge to do all in our power to assist others in living baptismally. That presumes our own personal intentionality. The canons of the Episcopal Church state "that all baptized persons are called to sustain their ministries through commitment of life-long Christian formation."
Allow me to emphasize that expectation: Life-long Christian formation. Additionally, and clearly most importantly, our Lord speaks to the Church in saying, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." Christian learning and formation is inherent in our very identity as followers of Jesus Christ.
Please note the information on page 7 in this issue of The Southern Cross regarding the School for Ministry Development. This diocesan institution will serve as a resource within our diocese for congregations and individuals. I invite you to participate in its offerings.
I also want to acknowledge the tremendous work the clergy of this diocese do in offering beneficial and stimulating classes in their congregations. I do peruse the congregational newsletters from within the diocese and happily take note of congregational offerings on Bible studies, morals and ethics, contemporary issues, church history, social justice, personal piety and more.
I encourage each of you to participate in ongoing Christian formation activities in your local parish. Doing so will make your congregation stronger and will fortify you personally.
Lifelong Christian formation! It is what the baptized do.
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Congregational Council |
Under the new Diocesan Canons the Bishop's Committee is now referred to as the Congregational Council.
The next meeting of the Congregational Council will be September 9th in the conference room at 7 pm.
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Sunday Ministry Schedule for the Month of July |
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Date Chalice/Acolyte Reader/Prayer Usher___
July 5 Ellie Bunting Ellie Bunting Bob Bunting
July 12 Pat McIntosh Dott Bellows
July 19 Bob Bunting Phil Babcock Ellie Bunting
July 26 Pat McIntosh Pat McIntosh |
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Altar Guild Schedule for July |
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July 5 Dott Bellows
July 12 Betty Goodacre & AJ Bassett
July 19 Paula Babcock
July 26 Roxie Smith & Judy Haataja
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July Anniversaries |
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Please contact the church office and update us with your Birthdays and Anniversaries so that we can be sure not to miss anyone in our prayers. |
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July Birthdays |
1st Camden Bourff 10th Barbara Turner
11th Dott Bellows
15th Katie Cotter
15th Betty Goodacre
19th Teri Walrod
20th Justin Parsons
22nd Eleanor Phelps
26th Paula Babcock
Please contact the church office and update us with your Birthdays and Anniversaries so that we can be sure not to miss anyone in our prayers. |
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Archbishop of Canterbury to speak at General Convention forum
By ENS staff , June 23, 2009
[Episcopal News Service] Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams will make a presentation addressing the world's economic crisis during a panel discussion webcast live July 8 from the Episcopal Church's 76th General Convention, scheduled to take place July 8-17 in Anaheim, California. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and House of Deputies President Bonnie Anderson will host the event, to be called "Christian Faithfulness in the Global Economic Crisis" at the Anaheim Hilton from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. PDT (10:30 p.m. EDT). "I am delighted that the General Convention will have the opportunity to focus on global economic issues and, in the process, consider how our stewardship may be exercised for the benefit of the larger world," said Jefferts Schori, who will provide an overview of the economic crisis and introduce Williams. Following Williams' presentation, Anderson will moderate a panel discussion, including church center program staff: ˇ Dr. Stephen Dzisi, technical director for NetsforLifeŽ, an Episcopal Relief and Development program partnership focused on malaria prevention in Africa. ˇ Sarah Eagle Heart, program officer for Native American/Indigenous Ministries. Native American/Indigenous Ministries.ˇ Michael Schut, economic and environmental affairs officer for the church and an environmental activist. "For the Episcopal Church, the global economic crisis is also understood as a humanitarian crisis and the 76th General Convention is poised to accept the challenge and choose the side of the poor," Anderson said. "The General Convention theme is ubuntu -- a word that conveys the concept of interdependence - 'I am because you are.'" General Convention, held every three years, is the bicameral governing body of the church, and the second largest legislative body in the world. It is comprised of the House of Bishops, with more than 200 members, and the House of Deputies, which includes about 850 lay and clergy representatives from the church's 110 dioceses. The forum will be live webcast on the Episcopal Church's "media hub," created by the office of communication, and will be available on-demand following the event. Access will be through the homepage of the Episcopal Church. |
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Saint Raphael's Church
Congregational Council, Staff & Services |
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Staff
Pastor: The Rev. Alice Marcrum
Organist: Jean Matthew
Church Secretary: Leeanna Parsons
Sunday School Director: A. J. Bassett
Altar Guild Directress: Betty Goodacre
Congregational Council
Senior Warden: A.J. Bassett
Junior Warden: Bob Bunting
Treasurer: Roxie Smith
Clerk: Ellie Bunting
Hazel Anlauf Phil Babcock Rob Beaulieu
Dott Bellows Pat McIntosh
Services
Sunday: Holy Eucharist Rite II 9am
Sunday School 9am
Tuesday Taize Healing Service 7pm
Thursday: Rosary with Healing Prayers 4pm
Holy Baptism, Weddings, Funerals, Memorials, Counseling
By Appointment
Business Hours: Monday-Friday 9am to 1pm
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E-Giving |
Even if you are away, you can still help Saint Raphael's ministries by giving on-line.
Click on the GIVE NOW below to find out how you can sign up for and begin using this amazingly easy tool to give to Saint Raphael's Church. GIVE NOW!
Thank you for your generosity! |
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History This Month |
 July 1
On this day in 1643, The Westminster Assembly convened for the first time in London in the Henry VII Chapel of Westminster Abbey. The assembly was appointed by the Long Parliament and sought to restructure the Church of England.
 July 2
On this day in 1489, Book of Common Prayer author and Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer was born at Aslockton, Nottinghamshire.
 July 2
On this day in 1978, Cornelius Joshua Wilson, a priest of West Indian descent, was elected Bishop of Costa Rica on the first ballot at a special diocesan convention.
 July 3
On this day in 1999, twenty-fifth Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold began his official visit to Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church.
 July 4
On this day in 973, Ulrich, bishop of Augsburg from 923, died. Twenty years later he would become the first person canonized by a pope.
 July 5
On this day in 1835, Archbishop of Dublin and poet Richard C. Trench was ordained a priest.
 July 6
On this day in 1535, Sir Thomas More, who had recently resigned as Lord Chancellor of England, was executed for treason. He had sided with the pope against Henry VIII in the matter of the king's divorce. He was sentenced to be hanged, but Henry commuted the sentence to beheading.
 July 6
On this day in 1824, Bishop William White laid the cornerstone for the original St. Mary's Church in Hamilton Village, Philadelphia - the Episcopal Church at Penn.
 July 7
On this day in 1220, Thomas Becket's shrine was dedicated in Canterbury and became a popular pilgrim attraction.
 July 7
On this day in 1984, Bishop Robert C. Rusack of Los Angeles ordained Dr. Duc Xuan Nguyen as the first Vietnamese priest in the Anglican Communion.
 July 8 On this day in 1829, the Diocese of Kentucky held its the first convention at Christ Church, Lexington.  July 9 On this day in 1228, Archbishops of Canterbury Stephen Langton died.
 July 10 On this day in 1863, Clement C. Moore died. He taught Green and Hebrew Literature at General Theological Seminary for 28 years. He also authored "A Visit from St. Nicholas" ('Twas the Night Before Christmas...) in 1823.  July 10 On this day in 1974, Bishops, priests, women deacons and lay people meet in Philadelphia to plan an ordination for women.
 July 10 On this day in 1991, the 70th General Convention opened in Phoenix, Arizona.
 July 11 On this day in 1533, Pope Clement VII excommunicates England's King Henry VIII for remarrying after his divorce.
 July 12 On this day in 2000, the 73rd General Convention adopted the new name of Episcopal Relief and Development for the former Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief.  July 13 On this day in 1819, Charles Kingsley, priest and author, was born in Devonshire, England. Kingsley's most famous work is "The Water-Babies, A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby."  July 13 On this day in 1857, "The Voice that Breathed O'er Eden" was written by John Keble, English priest and poet and a prominent leader of the Oxford movement.
 July 14 On this day in 1833, John Keble preached a landmark sermon at St. Mary's in Oxford and the Oxford Movement began in England.
July 15 On this day in 1779, Clement C. Moore was born. He taught Green and Hebrew Literature at General Theological Seminary for 28 years. He also authored "A Visit from St. Nicholas" ('Twas the Night Before Christmas...) in 1823.
 July 16 On this day in 1986, Los Angeles Bishop Robert C. Rusack died.
 July 17 On this day in 1996, David Hogan, a composer whose Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis Mt. St. Alban were commissioned for the consecration of Washington National Cathedral, was killed in the explosion of TWA flight 800 to Paris.
 July 18 On this day in 1323, Italian philosopher and Dominican theologian Thomas Aquinas was canonized.
 July 19 On this day in 1649, Edward Winslow, governor of the Plymouth Colony, helped organize the Society for Propagating the Gospel in New England.
 July 20 On this day in 2000, James L. Duncan, the first Bishop of Southeast Florida, died at The Floridean in Miami.
 July 20 On this day in 1998, the Thirteenth Lambeth Conference began.
 July 21 On this day in 1997, Frank T. Griswold was elected the 25th presiding bishop by 214 bishops gathered at historic Christ Church in Philadelphia.
 July 22 On this day in 1604, King James I wrote to Bishop Bancroft that he had "appointed certain learned men to the number of four and fifty for the translating of the Bible." This translation later became the King James version of the Bible.
 July 23 On this day in 1978, over 400 bishops gathered from all over the Anglican Communion as the eleventh Lambeth Conference of Bishops of the Church began.
 July 24 On this day in 1725, John Newton was born. Newton converted to Christianity while working on a slave ship and was ordained in 1764. His habit of penning one hymn per week yielded over 250 works including Amazing Grace.
 July 24 On this day in 1997, the 72nd General Convention approved the new autonomous Anglican Province of Central America, which includes the Dioceses of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Panama.
 July 25 On this day in 325, the Council of Nicea adjourned. The council issued the Nicean Creed and helped define Trinitarian thought along with the truth of Christ's, fully divine and fully human, nature.
 July 25 On this day in 1991, the House of Deputies of the 70th General Convention elected Pamela Chinnis of Washington, D.C., to be the first woman ever to sit as its president.
 July 26 On this day in 1603, James VI of Scotland was crowned James I of England.
 July 26 On this day in 1833, Britain's House of Commons banned slavery. The House of Commons banned the slave trade in 1807. When William Wilberforce, who had spent most of his life crusading against slavery, heard the news, he said, "Thank God I have lived to witness [this] day." He died three days later.
 July 26 On this day in 1869, England's Disestablishment Bill was passed, officially dissolving the Church of Ireland. It is from this act that we get the word "antidisestablishmentarianism," which was the organized opposition to the legislation.
 July 27 On this day in 1901, B.F. (Brooke Foss) Westcott, English New Testament textual scholar and Bishop of Durham, died.  July 28 On this day in 1789, William White became the first Presiding Bishop.
 July 29 On this day in 1974, two retired and one resigned bishop ordained eleven women deacons to priesthood in Philadelphia's Church of the Advocate.  July 30 On this day in 1726, priest and Anglican Divine William Jones was born in Lowick, Northamptonshire.
 July 31 On this day in 1966, residents of Alabama burned Beatles' records and other products after John Lennon proclaimed the Beatles to be "more popular than Jesus." |
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Diocese ordains three deacons, receives two priests |
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Bishop Dabney Smith ordained three people to the Sacred Order of Deacons and received two Roman Catholic priests into the Episcopal Church at a special service on Saturday, June 6, at St. Peter's Cathedral in St. Petersburg.
David Jackson from Church of the Epiphany in Cape Coral, and Jane Kelly of St. James Episcopal Church in Port Charlotte, were ordained as vocational, or permanent deacons. Sarah Kerr, from St. Thomas' Episcopal Church in St. Petersburg, was ordained as a transitional deacon, a step in the process of being ordained as a priest.
In addition, the Rev. Ronald Kowalski, from Calvary Episcopal Church in Indian Rocks Beach, and the Rev. Dwayne Varas of St. John's Episcopal Church in Tampa were received as priests in the Episcopal Church.
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Being Episcopalians |
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Sixth in a series
By Charles K. Robertson
The 76th General Convention is upon us, and thousands of Episcopalians will meet to worship, deliberate, and work together for the future of the Church.
But what does it mean to be an Episcopalian anyway?
First, it actually might be more appropriate to change that noun to an adjective and ask what it means to be an Episcopal Christian, for this Church and its members are one part of the "one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church." Our baptismal covenant is a summary of our Christian faith, as we boldly proclaim that we believe in one God, who has created us, who has redeemed us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and who empowers us for mission through the Holy Spirit.
We are Anglicans. Our heritage is the Book of Common Prayer. When other Christian groups were organizing on the grounds of common agreement, our Anglican ancestors bound themselves to one another in common worship, common prayer. It was that decision to avoid the extremes of religious opinion of that day that marked Anglican Christianity as distinct and special. Far from an "anything goes" mentality, this marks a deep respect for one another in Christ, and a willingness to let go of our own infallibility.
As part of what was originally called "The Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA," our heritage is also wrapped up in the American experience. At the opening of the first Convention of The Episcopal Church in 1786, Bishop William White spoke of the excellence of this religion, not only because it gives "peace of mind and fixes the hopes of its members on an immovable foundation," but also because it has "in every respect been a friend to the helpless and afflicted." Today, we are in all fifty states, and also several countries. Yet, we still celebrate that same balance of faith and action bound together by what White termed "a mild spirit pervading the whole system."
We are also members of what is still the official name of the Church, the "Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church." We are, all of us, called to be missionaries in what we say and how we live. That same baptismal covenant that expresses our belief in God also includes promises of action by which we can live out Jesus' call to not only love God, but our neighbor as well. We promise to continue in the community of apostolic faith, worship, and teaching; to persevere in resisting evil and repent when we do sin; to proclaim the Good News in both our words and actions; to seek and serve Christ in all persons; to strive for justice and peace and respect the dignity of every human being. These are remarkable promises, and we make them with boldness and also humility, "I will, with God's help."
As Episcopal Christians, we acknowledge the leadership of bishops, which is what the episcopos literally means, but we also celebrate the shared leadership of lay people and clergy, particularly as our elected deputies gather together with the bishops for the 76th General Convention of The Episcopal Church. Our Prayer Book contains a "Prayer for a Church Convention" that offers an excellent summary not only for those who will meet in convention, but for all of us who follow Christ in and through The Episcopal Church:
"Teach us in all things to seek first your honor and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right, and grant us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
Telling the story of General Convention
The Media Hub
Office of Communication of The Episcopal Church
Episcopal News Service reports
Videos ˇ Blogging ˇ Twitter feeds
Photo galleries ˇ Live webcasting
Legislation tracking ˇ Commentary
The Media Hub is available at
www.episcopalchurch.org
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Land Purchased for Archives
The Episcopal Church has paid $9.5 million for a block in downtown Austin, Texas, where it plans to build a facility to hold the Archives of The Episcopal Church and provide space for meetings, exhibits, research and other purposes.
The funds for the purchase were borrowed against the church's endowment. The cost of the project, which is still in the planning stage is estimated to be $40 million. Plans include a church-wide capital campaign starting next year to repay the loan and pay for construction of the new facility, said Mark Duffy, canonical archivist and director of archives, who was interviewed by the Austin American-Statesman.
"The idea is to build something that will be a visible presence for the Episcopal Church in the community, as well as a place where church members and the public can explore issues of vital importance to the church today," Mr. Duffy said.
The archives are the official repository for the church's papers, electronic records, photographs and other historical material. The collection is now dispersed among three locations in Austin, including the offices on the campus of the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest, and in New York City.
Plans for the new facility, which include retail space on the street level, will enable the archives to be consolidated at one location. The added space will also permit the archives to provide storage for the historical records of dioceses and congregations, Mr. Duffy said.
The Living Church
June 9, 2009
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We hope you enjoy this brief newsletter and sincerely wish that you would join with us to worship and celebrate this coming & every Sunday on 'The Beach'. We'll keep a candle burning for you.
God Bless and Keep You,
Webmaster St. Raphael's
St. Raphael's Church |
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| Featured Article |
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We are an orthodox parish in an island resort community. We exist to glorify and proclaim God as revealed in Jesus Christ. We welcome all who seek Him and his love.
- Our year-round parishioners very actively support the life of our church.
- Our seasonal members and visitors enrich our congregation and complete our church family.
- TOGETHER, we glorify and proclaim God through sacrament, word and deed.
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Joke of the month
Father William, the old priest, made it a practice to visit the parish school one day a week. He walked into the 4th grade class, where the children were studying the states, and asked them how many states they could name. They came up with about 40 names. Father William jokingly told them that in his day students knew the names of all the states.
One lad raised his hand and said, 'Yes sir, but in those days there were only 13 states.
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Taize Services |
Our Taize Healing Service Summer Schedule: 
July 21st
August 18th
September 15th
Through the summer months the service will be held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7 PM.
Please mark your calendars, bring a friend and enjoy a beautiful Healing Prayer Service! |
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Please remember those in need of prayer.
| PARISHIONERS:
Bonnie Beaulieu
Elaine Hastings
Roxie Smith
Betty Goodacre
FAMILY OF PARISHIONERS:
Bryan
Ray Turner, Jr.
Bebe Gish
Tommy Ackerman
Stephanie
Ryan Bower
Dottie Cranfill
Robert Gish
Anthony Smith
Shannon Smith
Drake
Chris Parsons
Alfred Paprocki
Gini Smith
Lisa Smith
Michael Paul
Teri Walrod
Jacob Smith
Viviana Smith
John Turner Jr.
FRIENDS:
Barbara Davis
Peggy Winters
Shane Brady
Ginny Matthew
June Benbow
Tommy Myers
Dan Turner
Christina Glase
Rose Sechwani
Larry Shafer
Adam
Lee Tapp
Cindy Figurelli
Margaret Patterson
Ann Keholm
Trina Hudgins
Jessica Matthew
Jean Matthew
Remember to pray for those who are in the military service and our nation's leaders. Active military: Jim, Drew and Athena Cody, Rockford Guy, John Bell, Morgan Hall, Adam Stock, Louis Feaman and David Bellows.
PRAYERS FOR THE CHURCH:
Diocese of Southwest Florida The Rt. Rev. Dabney Smith, Bishop;
Companion Diocese of the Dominican Republic - The Rt. Rev. Julio C. Holguin, Bishop;
Companion Diocese of Georgia, The Rt. Rev. Henry Louttit;
Companion Diocese of South Carolina - The Rt. Rev. Mark J. Lawrence;
Companion Diocese of Western Louisiana -The Rt. Rev. Bruce MacPherson.
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| North American Anglicans |
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North American Anglicans Reaffirm Their Traditional Mission
PLANO, Texas, June 24, 2009 - Orthodox Anglicans from the United States and Canada, meeting Wednesday night at Christ Church in a Dallas suburb, celebrated the unification of a Christ-centered, missionary Church - the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA).
"It is a great day because working together, we have been able, by God's grace, to reunite a significant portion of our Anglican Church family here in North America," said Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh at a news conference before his installation as the ACNA's first archbishop. "We are uniting 700 congregations, and more importantly, committed Anglican believers in the north and in the south, on the west coast, and the east coast."
The ACNA held its first Provincial Assembly this week, working to ratify the constitution and canons drafted by their bishops, clergy and lay leaders at a meeting in suburban Chicago last December when they announced they were forming a new "province" - a large regional Anglican jurisdiction in North America.
Mrs. Cheryl Chang, a member of the Governance Task Force that helped draft the constitution and canons, said, "Our task was to ensure that the structure was supporting the mission, not the mission supporting the structure."
The preamble to the constitution says that orthodox Anglicans are "grieved by the current state of brokenness within the Anglican Communion [Anglicans' worldwide church] prompted by those who have embraced erroneous teaching and who have rejected a repeated call to repentance."
During the news briefing, many of the ACNA officials said the formation of a new province was a reaffirmation of the traditional values of the Anglican Communion.
"The teachings we hold to are the teachings that have governed the Anglican branch of Christianity for decades," said Bishop Martyn Minns of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America. "So, in that sense, we're not doing anything particularly new, but what we are doing is establishing that we want to stay within the [Christian] mainstream."
Bishop Jack Iker of Fort Worth said that central theme of this new Provincial Assembly was an emphasis on evangelism and mission. "What I think is significant about that for Anglicans and Episcopalians in North America is that this is the beginning of the recovery of confidence in Anglicanism as a biblical, missionary church," he said.
ACNA officials said that formal recognition as an Anglican province will take time. Duncan said he is in regular contact with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the principal leader of the Anglican Communion.
Nine Anglican provinces, representing the vast majority of Anglicans from as far away as Africa, Asia and South America, sent official delegations to the ACNA Assembly, indicating their support.
"We are in the process of being recognized by and partnering with churches around the world," Duncan said. "Just the other day, the Church of Uganda recognized our new province." Earlier this year, the Anglican Church of Nigeria also recognized the ACNA. Together, these provinces represent the Anglican Communion's two largest provinces and tens of millions of Anglicans.
Duncan went on to say that Anglicans are part of a worldwide movement. "We are part of something big," he said. "God isn't just bringing Anglican Christians together. Across the Church, people are re-embracing Scripture's authority. Christians are once again discovering the beauty, wisdom and grace of our 2,000-year-old tradition."
Jurisdictions that have joined together to form the 28 dioceses and dioceses-in-formation of the Anglican Church in North America are: the dioceses of Fort Worth, Pittsburgh, Quincy and San Joaquin; the Anglican Mission in the Americas (including the Anglican Coalition in Canada); the Convocation of Anglicans in North America; the Anglican Network in Canada; the Reformed Episcopal Church; and the missionary initiatives of Kenya, Uganda, and South America's Southern Cone.
The American Anglican Council and Forward in Faith North America also are founding organizations.
The Anglican Church in North America unites some 100,000 Anglicans in 700 parishes into a single church.
"The events of this week and the months leading up to it represent the answers to decades of prayer," said Dr. Michael Howell, executive director of Forward in Faith North America. "And, I am fully convinced that only God could have brought this about."
The Provincial Assembly concludes Thursday at St. Vincent's Cathedral in Bedford, Texas. For more information, visit www.acnaassembly.org.
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| OXFAM |
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Immediate relief
When emergency strikes and people are displaced, there's no greater danger than waterborne disease-and no greater need for Oxfam.
Standard of excellence
For more than 20 years, Oxfam has set the standard for the quick and expert delivery of clean water, showers, and latrines. Consider that
Oxfam's water kits-pipes, pumps, taps, and tanks-can be trucked or flown in to any situation in under 48 hours.
Oxfam's water and sanitation systems are used by the UN, Red Cross, and other agencies.
Oxfam maintains a continuing humanitarian presence in approximately 70 countries, including Sudan, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and other hotspots. This presence allows us to respond quickly when emergencies arise.
Oxfam responds to every major refugee crisis, averaging two to four large-scale emergencies annually.
Tools of the trade
Engineers: Oxfam's approximately 50 international technical staff are mechanical and civil engineers and hydrologists by trade. In emergencies, Oxfam recruits additional staff, such as the 1,800 local staff who assisted one million refugees during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide.
Tanks: One Oxfam water tank holds and purifies 70,000 liters-enough to provide daily water for 4,666 people. These "bladders" can be flown in and set up in a matter of hours while truckloads of water are being driven to the scene.
Buckets: Used to distribute water, the Oxfam bucket has a built-in cap and spigot to keep water clean. The bucket also contains a standard hygiene kit with cooking utensils, detergent, and disinfectant soap.
Lasting change
Many poor communities are vulnerable to the same crises over and over again. Oxfam seeks not simply to rebuild what was, but to construct a better reality-improving lives and preparing people for the next disaster.
Oxfam's innovative approach to disaster relief involves three critical phases:
Before disasters occur, we've got a plan.
In more than 100 countries, Oxfam has contingency plans to respond to emergencies immediately and effectively. Working through local partners, Oxfam helps communities secure radio access, identify evacuation routes, and designate responsibilities-preparing them to implement their own solutions, rather than waiting for outside aid.
When disaster strikes, we're already there.
Most lives are lost within the first 15 days of disaster. In addition to acting on community-specific contingency plans, Oxfam partners help provide water, sanitation, and other forms of emergency assistance.
When others have left the scene, we're still there.
Many relief efforts last only three to six months following a disaster. Oxfam takes the time needed to help people restore their assets and livelihoods. This can take years, but the payoff is great: by strengthening communities, Oxfam helps build resistance to emergencies in the future.
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| OCA To End Relations with TEC |
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OCA To End Relations with TEC, Forge Ties to ACNA
Posted on: June 24, 2009
His Beatitude, the Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) announced recently that his church has ended its ecumenical relations with The Episcopal Church, and will establish instead formal ecumenical relations with the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA).
Metropolitan Jonah of the OCA made the announcement June 24 at a plenary session of the ACNA's founding convocation at St Vincent's Cathedral, Bedford, Texas.
An autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Church, the OCA was established by eight Russian monks in 1794 on Kodiak Island, Alaska. Known as the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church in America, it was granted autocephaly, or autonomy, by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1970. The OCA has 700 congregations, monasteries and communities spread across the United States and Canada.
Metropolitan Jonah, 49, was reared in The Episcopal Church, but joined the OCA while a student at the University of California, San Diego, in 1978. He was elected metropolitan last year as a reform candidate, 11 days after he was consecrated Bishop of Fort Worth.
Asked what the OCA's stance toward ecumenism might be under his tenure, Metropolitan Jonah said, "If the matter concerns The Episcopal Church USA, then this dialogue has stopped.
"We engage in dialogue with Episcopalian traditionalists, many of whom embrace the Orthodox faith," Jonah told a Moscow-based weblog. "And I personally, and our entire synod, give great attention to bringing these people into the fold of the Orthodox Church in America."
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