January 3, 2014
 
My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. - Psalm 62:5-8
 
American Anglican Council names Canon Phil Ashey Chief Executive
 
The Rev. Canon Phil Ashey,
 
Effective January 1, 2014, the Rt. Rev. David C. Anderson, President and Chairman of the Board, together with the Board of Trustees of the American Anglican Council (AAC), has appointed the Rev. Canon J. Philip Ashey, formerly the Chief Operating Officer of the AAC, to the position of Chief Executive Officer of the AAC. In this capacity Canon Ashey will sit on the Executive Committee of the Board together with Bishop Anderson and the other officers of the corporation. He will administer both the day to day operations and the strategic planning of the AAC.

Canon Ashey has helped focus the resources of the AAC on developing faithful Anglican leaders at all levels of the Church, in North America and globally, equipping Anglican congregations in North America (ACNA) to grow in mission and outreach, and providing strategic legal and canonical counsel to both the ACNA and the Primates Council of the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans. He will continue this focus as CEO of the American Anglican Council. 

2014: It's all about Jesus

Dear Friends in Christ, friends of the Anglican Realignment,

Whether or not you observe the practice of making resolutions for the New Year, it is a good time for us to reflect upon where we have been in the last year - and where we are going in the new year, by the grace of God. While I was leaning into this discipline in this morning's devotions, I was arrested by the gospel reading in John 1:35-2:22. From John the Baptist's cry "Behold the Lamb of God!" (John 1:36), to Mary's command to the servants at the wedding at Cana, "Do whatever he [Jesus] tells you" (John 2:5), to Jesus' cleansing of the temple, his "Father's house," in John 2:12-17, to Jesus' declaration "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days," (John 2:19), and the disciples' recognition of the prophetic nature of Jesus' words (John 2:20-22) - it's all about Jesus Christ.

Can you and I resolve that in 2014 our lives and aspirations will be about Jesus Christ-- crucified and risen from the dead, the only savior and Lord of all humankind?

If it's all about Jesus Christ, it can't be about me. As I reflected on this passage, I felt the Lord reminding me that there are many, many good things that I can end up doing, just like you, but which may end up displacing Jesus Christ as the central focus and priority of my life. Yes, even church and ministry. If you are a church leader, you may feel as I do about the words famously attributed to John Allin, arguably the last orthodox Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, who said shortly before he died, "I fear I have loved the church more than I have loved the Lord of my church." Heaven forbid that we should arrive at its gates with such regret on our hearts.

Maybe it's time to take stock of the words that Jesus spoke to the church in Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7). Jesus praised their perseverance in the face of false teaching, wickedness and weariness in doing well, but he also said "Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen. Repent and do the things you did at first." (2:4-5) Could 2014 be a year when we return to those first things: the appreciation of his first love that rescued us from sin, cleansed us and caused us to fall in love with him? A return to our first love in renewed worship, bible study, prayer, service to others in Christ's name - and other habits of the heart (aka spiritual disciplines and "means of grace") that will rekindle our love and our affections so that it will in fact be "all about Jesus"?

Here at the American Anglican Council, we'll be evaluating why we do what we do: Are our Clergy Leadership Training Institutes developing leaders who are more in love with Jesus Christ, and more committed to leading as he would, than they were before? Will the same be true of our new Lay Leadership Institute which we launch in March here in Atlanta? Will our church renewal workshops help local Anglican congregations to do ministry as Jesus himself would in their communities? Will our work with the governing structures and leaders of ACNA, the GAFCON Primates and the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans help develop leaders and structures that will fulfill Christ's Great Commission to reach all people with his transforming love?

It's all about Jesus, and it's all for the love of Him. May this be our resolve in 2014.

Yours in Christ,
Phil+

The Rev. Canon Phil Ashey,
CEO, American Anglican council
Message from Bishop Anderson

Bishop David Anderson is taking a few days vacation in the Pacific Northwest to co-host his mother's 100th Birthday Party. Although with diminished eyesight and hearing, she is living alone and going strong. Bishop Anderson wishes everyone a blessed Epiphany and new year ahead, and hopes to report next week from the Anglican Church in North America's College of Bishops meeting in Orlando, Florida.
 
Judge impedes Episcopalians' efforts to portray conspiracy to leave church and take assets
 
The Honorable Diane Goodstein
December 30, 2013
Jennifer Berry Hawes

A circuit judge delivered a blow Monday to local Episcopalians who allege that leaders of a group that disassociated from the national Episcopal Church in 2012 did so as part of a conspiracy to leave and take church assets with them.

Circuit Judge Diane Goodstein denied a motion filed by The Episcopal Church in South Carolina, which is the group in eastern South Carolina who remain part of the national church. They had sought to have leaders of the group that disassociated added as parties to a lawsuit between the two camps...Read more.
 

 Biblical Archaeology's Top Ten Discoveries of 2013   
A gold medallion, four inches in diameter with a menorah depicted on it, was found in the ruins of a Byzantine-era structure just 50 yards from the southern wall of the temple mount. Thirty-six gold coins were also found in the cache, along with gold and silver jewelry.


December 31,2013
Gordon Govier

Biblical Archaeology discoveries made in 2013 have given us new information about biblical events and people. This list is subjective, and based on news reports rather than peer-reviewed articles in scientific publications.

These discoveries illustrate the important work that goes on at excavations across Israel every year, and just scratch the surface of what has been found in 2013. Quite possibly a decade from now, with added perspective and more digging, the most important discoveries of 2013 may look different than this list.

1. The Egyptian Scarab of Khirbet el-Maqatir

This tiny 3/4-inch long amulet, carved in the familiar shape of a dung beetle, has been dated to the Late Bronze I period, 1550-1450 BC. Its discovery in the remains of a fortress at Khirbet el-Maqatir, nine miles north of Jerusalem, strengthens the case being made by the excavators that this site is the real location of Ai, the city destroyed in Joshua 8...Read more.
 
Copyright © 2013. All Rights Reserved.