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"Behold, we come unto Thee, for Thou art the LORD our God." Jeremiah 3:22b KJ21
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Message from Bishop David Anderson
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Bishop Anderson
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Bishop Anderson is traveling today and will not write an article.
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Chaplain's Corner
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Canon Ashey
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By The Rev. Canon Phil Ashey Chief Operating and Development Officer "For he [Jesus Christ] himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility...His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility." Ephesians 2:14-16 NIV"His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord." (From the Epistle appointed for the Feast of Epiphany, Ephesians 3:10-11)Dear Friends in Christ, On this Feast of the Epiphany, I'd like to reflect on three of the leading stories in our Anglican world this week from the standpoint of the scripture appointed for today and God's eternal purpose in Ephesians 2:14-16. One "Epiphany" or manifestation of God's eternal purpose is reconciliation through the shed blood of Jesus on the Cross. |
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Reconciliation is more than forgiveness. Forgiveness is a solo act that we must do just as Christ did - even where there is no remorse or even understanding on the part of the offending party (see Luke 23:34). Reconciliation, among other things, is the restoration of trust that has been broken by the offending party. We find that graceful ground to enter reconciliation at the foot of the cross, where we are all on level ground, all of us sinners and offenders, justified and forgiven through the blood of Jesus Christ. We are reconciled to God when we face him, confess our sins and receive forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ, not by any merit of our own (Ephesians 2:8-9). Within the church, Christians are reconciled to each other at the same foot of the Cross by confessing our sins to each other - especially the ways we have hurt and offended each other - and receiving the healing of our wounds through the same blood of Jesus, shed for all (James 5:16)
When Christians do this, they fulfill the very intent God has for his Church universal, to manifest the reconciling love of Jesus Christ! Heaven sings when we do this - and when we fail, we bring dishonor to God and his purposes.
So in light of that, I want to speak hopefully of the first story, the creation by the Roman Catholic Church of an "ordinariate" for Anglicans who wish to reunite with Rome. Apart from two TEC congregations in Washington, DC and Baltimore, and some Anglo-Catholic clergy and congregations in Fort Worth, I do not know how many Anglicans in North America will join the ordinariate. But the exceptions for married clergy and the provision for Anglican liturgies by Rome are certainly manifestations of grace. We can only hope and pray that these exceptions might be taken even further in ecumenical relationships between Rome and orthodox Anglicans worldwide. Many issues that divide orthodox Anglicans and Roman Catholics remain on the table. But any progress towards the reconciliation of two of the largest Christian bodies in the world would certainly be a cause for heaven to sing!
Regarding the second story, I am grateful for the leadership of the Most Rev. Dr. Eliud Wabukala, Archbishop of Kenya (CPK) and Chair of the GAFCON Primates Council, in calling a meeting of reconciliation between the leadership of the Anglican Mission (AMiA, Inc.) with the Archbishop and Bishops of the Anglican Church of Rwanda (PEAR). At this point we know very little about this January 4 meeting. We know that Archbishop Rwaje and several bishops were there representing PEAR, and that Chairman +Chuck Murphy was there representing AMiA, Inc. Were there representatives of the bishops and clergy of the Anglican Mission who chose to remain in Rwanda? Were there representatives of the ACNA, with whom AMiA, Inc. is exploring canonical residence? Were any of the three former Archbishops sponsoring AMiA, Inc. also present? We don't know. The silence at this point is probably a good sign. It could mean that there are serious, prayerful, and sustained conversations going on in order to reach genuine reconciliation. It could mean that those who might be essential to the process of genuine reconciliation, and who were not able to be at the meeting, are now being included. The silence is much to be preferred to dressing the wounds as if they were not serious, and a public statement of "peace, peace" where there is no peace (Jeremiah 6:14). We can certainly continue to pray for genuine reconciliation among all Anglicans concerned, both in North America and Rwanda.
The final story is by Bishop Thad Barnum of the Anglican Mission clergy and people who remain in Rwanda under PEAR, entitled "First Steps Toward Reconciliation and Why I Decided to remain in Rwanda." I was particularly taken by +Thad Barnum's confession:
"For I actually believed that we, in AMIA, at our very core, were more than canonically resident in Rwanda. We were in relationship with them, and them with us, and if the day ever came for us to be released into something different, something new, it would be have to be done together in prayer, over time, and by the unity and peace that comes from the Holy Spirit."
I understand the deep sense of relationship he and others feel with Rwanda. I felt exactly the same about my connection to the Church of Uganda where we landed when I led our church, South Riding Anglican, out of TEC in 2005. Bishop Barnum's confession recalled to me vividly an experience I had in the sacristy of St. John's Cathedral in the Diocese of Ruwenzori, Fort Portal, Uganda. I had just finished preaching at the request of my then-bishop +Benezeri Kisembo. At the end of the service, we all knelt while the Dean prayed a blessing in English and then presented me with a 1662 BCP in Rutoro, the native language in Ruwenzori. Then Bishop +Ben turned to me, smiling. He said, "Now you are Batoro, you are one of us." (He also started to teach me the language!)
I will never, ever forget the sense of genuine community, love and acceptance that I experienced from my brother and sister Anglicans in Uganda. I can imagine that many of my Anglican Mission brothers and sisters in Christ who have been to Rwanda on mission must feel the same. We are humbled by the love, concern, prayer and care that our Global South brother and sister Anglicans have for us. They have so many challenges - poverty, war, AIDS - and yet they model a spirit-filled missionary zeal and holiness of life that I only hope I can attain someday. They have a DNA that is biblical, missionary and Anglican that we desperately need in North America. We need them, and by God's grace we are connected through genuine bonds of fellowship.
This conviction, and the sorrow and humility that run through Bishop Barnum's letter, are the qualities of heart that Christians need in order to be genuinely reconciled to each other. In this Epiphany season, may we manifest humility, grace and sorrow for our sins, recognize our need for each other, and commit to reconciliation with God and each other at the foot of the Cross, under the blood of Jesus Christ!
Yours in Christ,
Phil+
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AAC Webinar: Sign up today for Clergy & Their Taxes Part 2
| Part 2 of the AAC's "Clergy & Their Taxes" free webinar will be Thursday, January 12 from 2:00-3:00 pm (est). Hosted by Todd Ensign of Capin Crouse LLP, this session is described as follows:
Tax and Legislative Developments Affecting Ministers
Housing allowance under attack! Can ministers have two homes? Tax changes coming  around the bend. Preparing for the upcoming filing season. Mileage rates for 2011. What about the 2% tax increase? And other important highlights!
Sign up for this free webinar here.
To view a recording of part 1 go to the AAC's webinar page here.
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Meeting in Nairobi for the AMiA
| Source: Anglican Ink
January 4, 2012
By George Conger
The leader of the Anglican Mission in America, Bishop Chuck Murphy, will meet with the Primate of Rwanda today to seek a resolution to the split that has seen nine AMiA bishops quit the province and the Anglican Communion.
The Archbishop of Kenya, Dr. Eliud Wabukhala will host the 4 Jan 2012 meeting between Bishop Murphy and Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje in Nairobi. Other African and North American church leaders are expected to attend the meeting as well....
The rest of the article may be found here.
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Why I Decided to Stay in Rwanda
| Source: Stand Firm
January 3, 2012
By Thaddeus Rockwell Barnum
On August 31, I heard a word I never dreamed I'd hear.
I was on a monthly AMIA Council of Bishops (COB) phone call when our Chairman presented us with "options." He asked, 1- if we wanted to stay in Rwanda; 2- if we wanted to go to ACNA or, 3- if we wanted to start a new Missionary Society. He asked each of us to respond.
"Option?" I shot back. "There are no options. We're in relationship with Rwanda and
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Bishop Barnum
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Rwanda with us."
Just a year before, we announced to our brothers and sisters in ACNA that we chose to be a Missionary Partner with ACNA because our identity was clear. We are Rwandans. We can't be in two provinces. We can't have two archbishops. We belong to an Anglican jurisdiction. It's how we started. It's who we are.
For ten years I have served in the episcopal office. On the document of my consecration, it states that I was "chosen a bishop for the Province of the Episcopal Church of Rwanda." As I traveled the country helping to start new churches, preaching, confirming, ordaining, I did so as a missionary bishop in the Anglican Communion under this Rwandan authority.
And now, for the first time, I was faced with the word, "option" and the possibility -- the real possibility -- that division was just around the corner, crouching at the door....
The rest of the article may be found here.
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| Big news in Ft. Worth | Source: Anglican Curmudgeon blog
January 6, 2012
By A.S. Haley
Today the Supreme Court of Texas noted probable jurisdiction over the direct appeal
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Bishop Iker
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filed by Bishop Jack L. Iker and his diocesan corporation from the summary judgment granted in favor of ECUSA and the rump diocese of Fort Worth a year ago. (The Texas Supreme Court accepts very few direct appeals from the judgments of trial courts, and there are strict standards which such requests must satisfy. The Court's acknowledgment that there is "probable jurisdiction" means that, at this stage of the case, it appears that all of the jurisdictional requirements for a direct appeal are satisfied. By doing so, the Court signals that it will postpone any final decision on whether it in fact does have jurisdiction under the applicable standards to the eventual decision made in the case. Meanwhile, it will hold oral arguments and deliberate on the case as though it had been an appeal accepted from one of the Courts of Appeal.)
No definite date for oral argument appears to have been set yet. The arguments in the San Angelo case (Church of the Good Shepherd), currently set for February 29, 2012, are the last dates for arguments which the Court currently has scheduled. Its calendar of arguments for March and April should be published shortly.
Of course, this is huge news for Bishop Iker and his Diocese....
The rest of the article may be found here.
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| Pope names ex-Episcopal bishop leader of US Ordinariate | Source: Associated Press
January 1, 2012
By Frances D'Emilio with Rachel Zoll
VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI named a married former Episcopal bishop Sunday to head the first U.S. organizational structure for disaffected Anglicans and Episcopalians who want to join the Roman Catholic Church.
The Rev. Jeffrey Neil Steenson, a father of three and Catholic convert, will lead the
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Rev. Steenson (Photo courtesy National Catholic Register)
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Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, the equivalent of a diocese, that will be based in Houston, Texas, but will operate nationally.
The Vatican created the first such ordinariate in Britain last year. Other ordinariates are being considered in Australia and Canada.
Steenson stepped down in 2007 as the Episcopal Bishop of Rio Grande, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after the Episcopal Church elected the first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire. Steenson had said he was "deeply troubled" about the direction of the U.S. denomination and he described the Catholic Church as the "true home of Anglicanism."
The Episcopal Church is the U.S. Anglican body in the United States.
Benedict in 2009 issued an unprecedented invitation for Anglicans to become Catholic in groups or as parishes, at a time when traditional Anglicans in several countries were increasingly upset by the ordination of women and gay bishops. Formerly, Anglican converts to Catholicism were accepted on a case-by-case basis....
The rest of the article may be found here.
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Christians Given 3 Days to Leave North Nigeria or Face Death
| Source: Christian Post
January 2, 2012
By Setrige Crawford
The militant Islamist group, Boko Haram, has issued a chilling warning to all Christians in northern Nigeria, giving them three days to leave or face further extensive attacks.
The violence in Nigeria by Boko Haram has led to a stiff ultimatum by the group, which has warned that it is ready to confront soldiers sent to engage them under a state of emergency declared by Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan.
"We will confront them squarely to protect our brothers," said Abul Qaqa, spokesperson of Boko Haram, according to CNN.
He also called for Muslims living in southern Nigeria to come back to the north, citing evidence that they could be attacked.
President Jonathan declared a state of emergency Saturday in areas of Nigeria infected with violent Islamist insurgency. He shut down borders with Cameroon, Chad and Niger in the northeast, according to Reuters. The state of emergency was announced in response to multiple violent attacks aimed at Christians in Nigeria, including a Christmas day attack that left 37 people dead and 57 wounded.
Boko Haram, which is reported to have ties with al-Qaida, has claimed responsibility for the killings. In response President Jonathan has vowed to "crush" the group, according to MSNBC. He said they began as a harmless group, but has now grown cancerous....
The rest of the article may be found here.
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