http://www.anglicanchurch.net/ en mfranko@crcpublicrelations.com Copyright 2012 2012-05-11T19:56:44+00:00 http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/420 http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/420#When:19:56:44Z Over 200 Participants from 30 Countries Stand Together for Biblical Truth The Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (FCA) held its first conference for Anglican leaders April 23-27 in London, the theme of which was “Jesus the Christ, Unique and Supreme.” The event included over 200 bishops, clergy and laity from 30 countries and 25 provinces. “The diversity of the gathering was very telling of where the FCA movement and the Anglican Communion at large are headed,” said The Ven. Canon Dr. Jack Lumanog, Canon for Provincial and Global Mission within the Anglican Church in North America. Lumanog, one of 15 delegates from North America, noted that a key part of the meeting was to draw like-minded Anglicans together to encourage one another. “While the Anglican Church in North America is not without trials, we feel immensely blessed that we are unifying people in a way that is visible and tangible on this continent. During the meeting, it became very clear that many of our Anglican brothers and sisters around the globe are risking everything to stand for the Gospel - sometimes all alone - in the face of incomprehensible persecution,” Lumanog stated. The FCA is a society born out of the 2008 meeting of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) in Jerusalem. GAFCON addressed the crisis in the Anglican Communion and affirmed the authority of Scripture and the uniqueness of Christ. The FCA continues that work and is led by a Council of Primates.  The stated goals of the FCA are “to proclaim and defend the Gospel throughout the world, and to strengthen the church worldwide by supporting and authenticating faithful Anglicans who have been disenfranchised from their spiritual homes.” In reflecting on the meeting, Lumanog said, “It was encouraging to see the Anglican Church in North America treated as a Province among Provinces. We’re no longer a fledgling Province in the eyes of the other Primates. FCA is the future of what’s happening in the Anglican Communion – in Africa, Asia, North America and South America. We’re seeing a revival take place. We have to go where God is leading and this is the future.”  The chairman of the FCA, The Most Rev. Eliud Wabukala, Primate of Kenya and participant in the upcoming Anglican Church in North America Assembly, opened the FCA conference with a keynote address on the identity of confessing Anglicans in the light of the current crisis within the Anglican Communion. “The heart of the crisis we face is not only institutional, but spiritual,” Wabukala stated. Echoing Micah 6:8, Wabukala continued, “So what does the Lord require? He has called us to a great prophetic purpose at this critical point in the life of our Communion. After some 450 years, it is becoming clear that what some have called the ‘Anglican experiment’ is not ending in failure, but is on the verge of a new and truly global future in which the original vision of the Reformers can be realized as never before. We do not need to repudiate or belittle our history, but learn from it and set ourselves now to walk humbly with our God into the future and the hope that he has planned for us.” The Conference also made a bold statement for the Gospel, affirming it as “the life-transforming message of salvation from sin and all its consequences, through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is both a declaration and a summons: announcing what has been done for us in Christ and calling us to repentance, faith and submission to His lordship. Any compromise of the Gospel is a compromise of the authority of Christ as King.” Comments at the meeting from Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali sum up an important part of the society’s mission: “The FCA is called to model a biblical way for the churches of the Anglican Communion to gather and relate to one another so as to carry out the Great Commission in the coming decades.” In light of that call, GAFCON 2 is being planned for May 2013. To read the full statement and commitment from the London meeting, visit: http://gafcon.org/images/uploads/Statement_and_Comittment.pdf. Photo captions and credits (top to bottom): FCA gathering, Credit: FCA; Rev. John Ganapathy (Malaysia), Canon Jack Lumanog (Anglican Church in North America) and Rev. Lin Yoke Min (Malaysia), Credit: Canon Lumanog; Canon Jack Lumanog and Bishop Nathan Gasatura of Rwanda, Credit: Canon Lumanog News & Events, Articles & Press Releases 2012-05-11T19:56:44+00:00 http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/417 http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/417#When:22:56:00Z A Look Ahead to Assembly 2012 Story by The Ven. Canon Dr. Jack Lumanog, Canon for Provincial and Global Mission, Anglican Church in North America I hope you’re already planning to attend the Anglican Church in North America Assembly meeting in North Carolina. Here in the Provincial office, our staff is busy planning and preparing for the event, which will take place June 7-9. Whether you have made plans to attend in person, or will be tuning in from home for news from the event, we pray you’ll be blessed as we rally around the theme of “Captivating Disciples, Multiplying Congregations and Transforming Communities.” I’m particularly excited about seeing the whole Church come together. This is the first time for me, personally, to be involved in something like this. I’ve seen videos and photos of the inaugural Assembly meeting in Texas, but I’m looking forward to meeting people from across North America and the world in person. It truly is a global event converging in North Carolina. The list of people we’re expecting is a testament to how God is bringing together His global church. We’ll have youth, lay leaders, clergy and bishops representing our congregations across North America. We also have the privilege of hearing from worldwide leaders who are going to great lengths to be with us - to teach us and to encourage us. Our daily Bible teacher comes from Singapore, Bishop Rennis Ponniah, and will share his unique perspective on what God is doing around the world. Bishop Todd Hunter will share his insight into church planting. Baroness Caroline Cox, a member of the British House of Lords and honorary chair of the Anglican Relief and Development Fund, will discuss serving the poor and forgotten around the world. We’ll also be hearing about kingdom building from Dr. Ed Stetzer, a Southern Baptist leader who is one of our biggest cheerleaders as we forge ahead with planting new churches. According to Ed, we are breaking ground and innovating as we strive to reach those who are disconnected from Christ. Another highlight will be our worship times together. We’ll hear Archbishop Duncan preach at the opening Eucharist and share an update on the state of the Anglican Church in North America. At our closing Eucharist, we’ll be blessed to have the Archbishop of Kenya, Eliud Wabukala, with us and hear from our own Bishop John Guernsey of the growing Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic. This year, we are also pleased to offer interest groups and workshops for just about everyone, whether you’re interested faith in the workplace and discerning the call or bi-vocational ministry and church planting. In fact, you might even have a hard time choosing between them. We’ll be sure to report on highlights for those who are joining us in spirit from home! My prayer for this event is that our leaders, clergy and lay, would leave thoroughly refreshed for the long haul. Whether you’re planting a church, starting from scratch, dealing with difficulty, or are in the midst of trying to be faithful in the course of your life and ministry, my hope is you’ll be encouraged by the voice of our Archbishop and the other speakers. This event will give us all a new perspective on where we are in the global sense. Our special guests from around the world choose to live out their faith every day and risk their lives to do it. My prayer is that these bold leaders would give us a larger perspective on what God is doing in His church around the world, and that we’d be convicted to participate in world transformation knowing God will transform us in return. Whether or not you’re able to attend in person, stay tuned to the Anglican Church website and newsletter for news from Assembly. We hope you’ll join us in prayer as we prepare for this important event in the life of our province. For more information, visit: http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/assembly2012. Homepage photo caption: Assembly speakers left to right - Archbishop Duncan, Bishop Rennis Ponniah of Singapore, Dr. Ed Stetzer, Archbishop Eliud Wabukala of Kenya, Bishop Todd Hunter, Bishop John Guernsey Story photo caption: Canon Jack Lumanog News & Events, Articles & Press Releases 2012-05-09T22:56:00+00:00 http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/413 http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/413#When:23:56:08Z April 28, 2012 To All Confessing Anglicans in North America: Greetings in this happiest of seasons, when we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and grow in the knowledge of what it means to live as people who have been “raised up with Christ.” (Colossians 3:1-4) We have just completed a rich week of blessing and encouragement at GAFCON’s Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans’ Leadership Conference at St Mark’s Church in Battersea, London. We joined 200+ delegates from over thirty nations as we listened to God’s word, worshipped, prayed, studied, and talked. It was deeply encouraging and challenging to share with people who serve Christ faithfully with great sacrifice in the face of revisionist opposition or outright persecution from the unbelieving world. We thank the Lord Jesus for his faithfulness and for the Gospel by which people are being saved and his Church is growing. While in London, we had the opportunity to talk at length together about the continuing turbulence from the separation of the Anglican Mission in America from its founding church, the Anglican Church of Rwanda. The House of Bishops of Rwanda has recently declared the establishment of a Missionary District in North America (PEARUSA) as its only continuing work on this continent and has offered a deadline of August 31 for clergy and churches to determine their future jurisdiction. There are three options available: remain with Rwanda through PEARUSA, transfer to another Anglican jurisdiction through letters dimissory, or follow the Anglican Mission into its new venture. Provision and procedure for each of these options is available or is being developed as rapidly as possible. (These materials will be available through the www.pearusa.org website as they are developed.) At the same time, there has been a great deal of confusion recently around the issue of the resigned bishops of the AMiA, their relationship with Rwanda, and their possible relationship with ACNA. We write this communiqué together primarily to address that confusion. 1. Archbishop Rwaje and the House of Bishops of Rwanda have established April 29 as the deadline for the resigned AMiA bishops to declare their intention for future jurisdiction. Having declared their intention, he is willing to work with those bishops seeking letters dimissory to another jurisdiction in the weeks and months ahead.  (April 29 is simply a deadline for declaring intention and direction.) 2. The Anglican Mission is seeking canonical residency in the Church of the Congo, and those bishops and clergy that have applied for letters dimissory to the Congo are being processed according to standard Anglican procedure. 3. Several AMiA bishops have approached the ACNA, through diocesan bishops or directly with Archbishop Duncan, concerning transfer into ACNA. Archbishop Duncan has established a clear path for this process:     • Following normal transfer process, any bishop seeking transfer must initiate the request with Archbishop Rwaje. He will respond individually to each bishop appropriate to his situation.     • An AMiA bishop received into ACNA will be received in the following manner:     o   Graciously and willingly, as the Lord has received all of us, and with the understanding and expectation that God’s love constantly transforms and renews us into the image of Christ     o   Into a diocese or diocese in formation, that is, through proper ecclesiastical interaction between Rwanda and the diocesan bishop     o   As an assisting bishop, which does not automatically seat one in the ACNA College of Bishops     o   Able to give episcopal care to former AMiA churches and clergy that follow them into that diocese, under the blessing of the diocesan bishop     o   Prepared to engage a process of full reconciliation with all parties wounded through the actions of recent months In these matters, we are united in heart, soul, mind, and action. This has been a painful and difficult time for many.  Nevertheless, we are confident that the Lord, in his sovereignty, is building his church, and that the gates of Hell will not prevail against it. We are confident that this will ultimately redound to the Glory of God, in this life and the next. We rejoice at the growing closeness and partnership within the GAFCON provinces and particularly between our respective provinces. We rejoice at our growing joint missionary effort through PEARUSA. We can honestly say that we pray for our brothers and sisters in the AMiA, asking God’s grace to be fully poured out on them and the Gospel to be proclaimed faithfully through them. We pray for further reconciliation and friendship, as the Lord gives grace. Finally, brothers and sisters, be strong in the Lord and the strength of his might.  Continue to serve the Lord in faith and humility. Pray for us, as we pray for you. In the love and truth of Christ, Archbishop Robert Duncan Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje News & Events, Feature, Articles & Press Releases 2012-04-28T23:56:08+00:00 http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/411 http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/411#When:19:35:51Z As the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) Concludes in London, Conference Attendees Release ‘Commitment Statement’ Over a dozen leaders and delegates from the Anglican Church in North America attended the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) at St Mark’s Battersea Rise in London starting April 23, 2012, for five days of prayer, planning and plenary sessions. The following media release was originally published by the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON). April 27, 2012 Media Release Leaders Conference, London 23 to 27 April 2012 The movement begins its mission GAFCON 2008 declared it was ‘not just a moment in time but a movement of the spirit’. Now, at a conference in London, 200 Anglican leaders committed to mission and mutual support. The Global Anglican Future Conference in Jerusalem established a Primates Council representing the majority of the world’s Anglicans and set up a global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans as a movement within the Communion. The leaders met at St Mark’s Battersea Rise in London for five days of prayer, planning and plenary sessions. Seminars ranged over key topics such as evangelism, family, economic empowerment, the Gospel, church and spiritual leadership under pressure. Opening the event, GAFCON/ FCA Chairman Archbishop Eliud Wabukala, Primate of Kenya, told the delegates they were called to “a great prophetic purpose at this critical point in the life of our communion.” The Archbishop outlined the extent of unbiblical teaching in the communion and declared “The heart of the crisis we face is not only institutional, but spiritual.” “After some 450 years it is becoming clear that what some have called the ‘Anglican experiment’ is not ending in failure, but is on the verge of a new and truly global future in which the original vision of the Reformers can be realized as never before” the Archbishop said. In a plenary address, Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali concluded that the Anglican “Instruments of Unity” have failed dramatically and that the FCA is called to model an alternative way for the churches of the Anglican Communion to gather and relate to one another in such a way as to carry out the Great Commission in the coming decades. In their final conference ‘Commitment’, the leaders resolved to work together in an ever-strengthening partnership, to stand by each other and to engage in a battle of ideas on behalf of the Biblical Gospel. The next Global Anglican Future Conference was also announced. The event, with invitees including clergy and lay people, as well as bishops, is scheduled for May 2013. “One delegate came up to me and said ‘Now I know that I am not alone’. Though they are the majority, the orthodox often feel isolated.” said FCA general secretary Archbishop Peter Jensen. “There are people everywhere who believe the same gospel, preach the same thing and stand for the same truths. That is the dynamic of this conference. People who felt powerless have now been given confidence.” The Conference commitment can be downloaded here. News & Events, Articles & Press Releases 2012-04-27T19:35:51+00:00 http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/410 http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/410#When:20:53:10Z “We rejoice that we can jointly affirm without reservation core teachings of the Christian faith shared by our church bodies…” The Anglican Church in North America and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod released a joint statement addressing areas of theological agreement, unique challenges faced by both churches today, and ways in which the churches may work together in the future. View the statement here: LCMS-ACNA_Joint_Statement.pdf. News & Events, Articles & Press Releases 2012-04-23T20:53:10+00:00 http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/406 http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/406#When:14:38:19Z Tailored Sessions and Groups will Dive Deeper into Focused Ministry Topics and Aim to Facilitate Connections across the Province Provincial Assembly 2012 is just around the corner, taking place on June 7-9 in Ridgecrest, NC. Archbishop Duncan announced that this event is “very much about building up the mission of the church and encouraging the next generation of leaders in our midst.” In order to help build relationships among current leaders, and to educate the next generation of leaders, Assembly 2012 will feature a series of breakout sessions and interest groups throughout the three-day event. “We’re hoping this combination of breakout sessions and special interest groups will bring both challenge and encouragement for all who attend,” said Deacon Todd Simonis, Leader of the Taskforce on breakout sessions and interest groups. A unique feature at Assembly will be the opportunity to gather in “special interest groups” where participants will meet for fellowship, and to teach and learn from others in their area of ministry. These special interest groups will gather on Saturday afternoon toward the end of Assembly. Lay and ordained leaders from around the Province have organized thought-provoking group discussions on a range of topics. Some of the interest groups that have been organized include a Faith in the Workplace interest group, along with Clergy Spouses, Bi-Vocational Ministry, Women Clergy, Higher Education and Seminary Discussion, Anglicans for Life, Internationals in our Churches on Our Campuses, Anglican Relief and Development Fund, American Anglican Council, Church Planting (Anglican1000), Discerning the Call, and more. For most participants, this may be the only opportunity to gather in-person and discover valuable lessons from others in their field. Deacon Todd added, “The special interest groups will allow individuals to connect and network with others who have a similar passion or interest.” During the afternoons on Thursday and Friday, there will be four breakout session themes featuring several topical discussions. The four themes include Multiply Congregations, Transform Communities, Captivate Disciples, and Youth in Our Midst. “The breakout sessions are meant to dive deeper into the main focus of the wider Assembly, which revolves around Captivating Disciples, Multiplying Congregations and Transforming Communities,” explained Deacon Todd. In the Multiply Congregations breakout sessions, participants will hear from various leaders and experts including the Rev. Tom Herrick, Executive Director of the Titus Institute for Church Planting and Multiplication, a ministry dedicated to establishing an Anglican multiplication movement in North America. Fr. Herrick’s session will focus on the ways that every church, regardless of its size and stage of development, can develop a culture of leadership that activates the missional energies of its members.  “We will look at practical ways to recognize emerging leaders, encourage the exercise of leadership gifts, and organically cultivate disciples who are bearing fruit in ministry and reproducing faith in the lives of others,” said The Rev. Herrick. Mike Flynn, pastor of four churches in the Los Angeles area, will focus his Multiply Congregations discussion on Power Evangelism’s role in planting and growing congregations. How to be “naturally supernatural” will be a main thrust of the presentation and a calling down of the Holy Spirit will follow his talk. Another key breakout session theme is Transform Communities and participants will hear from lay and ordained leaders who will share captivating stories of profound transformation both domestically and abroad.  Grant LeMarquand and his wife Wendy will hold a discussion titled “Refugees Transforming Refugees: The Impact of Anglican Churches in Western Ethiopia.” In the border region between South Sudan and western Ethiopia, Sudanese refugee pastors have planted 53 Anglican churches. The area is poor, de-forested, undeveloped, has little clean water, a high level of non-literacy, lack of health care and few educational opportunities – but 53 Anglican churches have been planted and they are beginning to transform their communities with the Gospel. Grant LeMarquand, a Canadian and former Professor of New Testament and Mission at Trinity School for Ministry, is also the Area Bishop for the Horn of Africa with the Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa. Wendy LeMarquand is a family physician who is trained in tropical medicine, has experience with community-based health care in Africa and leads prayer ministry teams. Also under the topic of Transform Communities, Bruce Colvin, a seasoned missionary in post-traumatic cultures and communities, will hold a breakout session relating the transforming community and disaster response and relief. “There is no better metaphor for the Gospel than disaster response and relief. This session will address how to prepare the local church to be an intact, ministering community for the sake of its neighbors, particularly in times of tragedy and misfortune,” offered Colvin. Maintaining a focus on mission work abroad, a separate Transform Communities track is titled, “Investing in Africa: “Teach a Man to Fish: Go With Him on His Boat” and will be led by The Rev. Prof. Stephen Noll.  Prof. Noll will guide the audience in considering the opportunities and difficulties of doing business in Africa, as well as discussing his own involvement in Uganda, with a focus on education as business venture and also land development. Fr. Eric Dudley, rector of St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Florida, will lead a more familiar breakout session under the topic Transform Communities, and his discussion is titled, “Transforming the Local Church.” Fr. Dudley explains, “Transformation within the local community must first take place within the local church. You cannot act as a vehicle of God’s Spirit to transform the community unless transformation is first taking place at a parish level.” The third breakout theme to be discussed in various sessions is Captivate Disciples. Bishop David Bena will lead a discussion titled, “Captivating Co-Baby Boomers for the Kingdom” With all the emphasis on reaching Gen X and Gen Y, Bishop Bena will remind his audience that they cannot forget captivating the Boomers. This session will highlight some of the characteristics of Boomers and how they can be reached with the Gospel. A fourth breakout topic that will be offered this year is Youth in Our Midst which will address varying issues related to youth ministry and outreach and will be led by experts from around the Province. If you have not already done so, there is still time to register for Assembly 2012.  Join us this summer as we are equipped and empowered to follow God’s call to spread the transforming love of Jesus Christ throughout North America! News & Events, Articles & Press Releases 2012-04-20T14:38:19+00:00 http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/405 http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/405#When:14:18:53Z “Everybody says they are spiritual today, but not many people look to Church as a fountain from which to drink to quench their spiritual thirst.  We must show them ancient wells…” This coming June, members and friends of the Anglican Church in North America will gather at Assembly 2012 in Ridgecrest, NC. A celebration of what the Lord is doing in and through us, Assembly 2012 will feature several guest speakers to encourage and impassion us in our callings, both as individuals and as a church. Bishop Todd Hunter, a church planter, author and founding pastor of Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Costa Mesa, CA will speak about case studies in church planting and how it is a “strategic extension of God’s kingdom.”  Bishop Hunter is the author of Christianity Beyond Belief , Giving Church A Second Chance , The Outsider Interviews, The Accidental Anglican and his latest book on temptation titled Our Favorite Sins.  He is also the founding director of Churches for the Sake of Others, the West Coast church planting initiative for The Anglican Mission in the Americas. Bishop Hunter also founded Three is Enough, a small group movement that enables spiritual formation in one’s everyday life. Anticipating Bishop’s Hunter’s discussion with us at Assembly 2012, the Anglican Church in North America conducted a Q&A session with him. Here’s what he had to say: Q: In your view, what is the best way to get involved in the mission of reaching the “unchurched?” Planting new churches. New churches attract unchurched people the best because there is not a preexisting social circle. I believe that is one of the things what the unchurched fear the most. With the death of Christendom and the advent of the post-modern mindset, evangelism has to be to be rooted in conversation – in what I call the “persuasive power of listening.”  In this world of pluralism and relativism, evangelism is more about exchanging stories.  In other words, relationship building, listening, and swapping stories need to happen first before “apologetics” can have their natural force. Q: In your experience, what are some new tools or techniques being used to spread the Gospel?  Do you think they are effective tools for that purpose? The Alpha Course isn’t new but is the best programmatic approach to the listening and sharing stories aspect of evangelism. One of the easiest ways for folks to be involved in the Gospel today is to be involved in social justice projects such as Invisible Children, Habitat for Humanity, etc. Most kids today are vaguely spiritual and so the easiest way to get in touch with them is to get them involved with doing something good for others.  In a church planting point of view, there is a “missional-monastic” movement happening that gets traction with young Christian leaders.  For example, a group of 20 and 30 year olds will move into a neighborhood in, say, Columbus, OH and have a highly focused goal of transforming their immediate surrounding community.  They set their highest priority as being agents of the kingdom of God in a relational way and it’s working. Q: What message do you hope to share with members and friends of the Anglican Church in North America at the upcoming 2012 Provincial Assembly? Church planting, though it’s hard, and we have to find money and leaders, is doable and it’s happening. Church planting is very strategic to the extension of the kingdom of God.  It is easy for people to get frustrated and discouraged about the task of church planting, so I will bring case studies and anecdotes that bring hope and confidence. Q: What is your current ministry focus? “Churches for the Sake of Others” is the church planting mission that I lead, and has a goal of starting 200 mission-minded, Spirit-filled, orthodox, Anglican churches in the west coast of America. We have 20 or so off the ground and running.  I’ve started a church in Costa Mesa, CA called Holy Trinity which is growing nicely and is birthing two daughter churches. Q: How can the Anglican Church in North America continue to pray for your ministries? Pray that we would continue to find the right sort of leaders who have genuine, divine, callings to start churches in the west.  Also, that these potential leaders wouldn’t be turned off by current political climate in Anglicanism. Q: Tell us about your latest book Our Favorite Sins: The Essential Guide for Beating Temptation.  What inspired you to write about this topic? What has the response been from readers? My last two books have been more about my journey into Anglicanism and how I see using Anglican spirituality as a way of doing evangelism and discipleship. The book Our Favorite Sins is more written for Americans and not just “church/liturgical people.”  It’s a way for me to talk about spiritual formation and get at a very human topic like temptation and to highlight Anglican spirituality in the way of Jesus.  Also, it is research based and so is statistically reliable in terms of temptations of Americans.  The inspiration for Our Favorite Sins was to have a way to talk about spiritual formation that is practical and pointed at an issue everyone experiences. I show ancient practices that Christians have used to combat temptation, yet the ideas are targeted at anybody who has a sense of being spiritual. Q: When you’re not writing and ministering, what are some of your favorite hobbies? Reading and walking or bicycling around the Back Bay at Newport Beach, CA. Q: Are you working on any projects, or books, that we can be on the look-out for? Yes, we are working on another research based book on the topic of forgiveness. Stay tuned! Q: Last but not least, what has been the impact of Anglicanism in your life, or why is Anglicanism relevant today? Everybody says they are spiritual today, but not many people look to Church as a fountain from which to drink to quench their spiritual thirst.  We must show them ancient wells and the connectivity that goes back to Celtic Christianity, and that there are ways that Christians have formed themselves in Christ.   Anglicanism gives a basic worldview on how to shape your life.  The church calendar builds into your life this imagination for what God is doing. The prayers of confession keep you grounded.  The creed gives you a way to profess what you believe in your own life.  The rhythm in the routines of Anglican spirituality can lead people to Jesus who is the well from which we can drink and never thirst again. If people are plugged into this, Anglicanism can be very powerful today.  If you have not already done so, there is still time to register for Assembly 2012 and hear from Bp. Todd Hunter and our other guest speakers.  Join us this summer as we are equipped and empowered to follow God’s call to spread the transforming love of Jesus Christ throughout North America! News & Events, Feature, Articles & Press Releases 2012-04-19T14:18:53+00:00 http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/403 http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/403#When:22:09:59Z They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?” [Mark 16:3] Preached by the Most Reverend Robert Duncan at the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh Vigil, in St. Peter’s Church in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, on Easter Eve, 7th April, A.D.2012. In the Name of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, One God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Blessed and Praised forever:  Amen. In all four gospels it is women who come first to the tomb. Matthew, Mark and Luke all tell us the purpose: to anoint Jesus’ body.  Burial on Friday had been hurried.  At least the soldiers had not broken his legs to speed death.  He was already dead.  The Sabbath was at hand.  In the moment, Joseph of Arimathea was moved to give his own freshly hewn tomb, which was, St. John tells us, very near to the Place of the Skull.  Nicodemus, John tells us, had given spices, but Jesus’ own inner circle had not been able to care for his body in the customary way.  There had been so much hurry.  They had loved him so much.  Nevertheless, they could still do what was right, what at the very least they owed him, when the Sabbath ended.  They surely recognized their problem.  They surely knew that the immense wheel-like stone had been rolled over the entrance to the tomb.  St. Mark tells us that they had actually seen this happen.  Maybe they had also heard about Pilate’s order that the tomb be sealed and a guard set to keep things that way.  It is St. Matthew that records for us this detail. So the women meet very early on Sunday, sometime after sundown on Saturday.  They must do what it is right to do and what could not be done on Friday.  They can now prepare the spices and the ointments.  It is still dark.  They will arrive near first light. Everything is, of course, very confused and confusing.  Their grief is overwhelming.  Have they forgotten about the stone?  Do they not think about the stone until they are actually on their way?  Do each think about it earlier, but not discuss it?  We cannot know.  All we can know is that on their way to the tomb they are saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?”  Followers of Jesus often face what seem to them insurmountable problems…challenges for which there seem to be no apparent solutions.  They will nevertheless do what is right, what they can do, even if there is a part of the puzzle they do not have or cannot conceive.  Trust in their God drives them on.  With God, there has always been a way through in the past, so why not trust Him now? A terribly injured child?  An impossible situation at work?  A marriage in tatters?  Some debilitating illness or handicap? An unjust accusation?  An adolescent in rebellion?  A friendship betrayed?  Wars and rumors of wars?  Domestic or civil violence?  Whatever the present impossibility…  We Christians will trust him with this too. We can wonder what the women spoke of as they went in the darkness toward the tomb of Jesus.  Was there more than “Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?”  Might they have remembered the Passover story of long ago, the very feast being celebrated in these same days?  All the first-born of Israel had been spared.  Might they next have recalled the victory at the Red Sea, when all God’s people were saved and all of Pharaoh’s army drowned?  Might they have remembered Jericho, where the walls miraculously tumbled down?  Could they have encouraged one another with the stories of Ruth or Esther, or Daniel or the Three Young Men?  Might they have spoken of Judas Maccabeus or the miracle of Chanukah?  Could they have rehearsed some of the miracles they had seen at the hands of their crucified rabbi?  The healings, the feedings, the castings out, the raisings from the dead?  Might they have even dared to wonder about his teaching concerning what would follow his own death?  We cannot say what broke the silence of their preparation of the spices and ointments, or the silence of their walk to the tomb.  We are sure of their grief – for that is why they were meeting – and we are sure of the one question:  “Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb? In all of our speculation about the run-up to the arrival of the women at the tomb, it is very hard to imagine that the women could have imagined in advance what actually confronted them on arrival.  God is so much bigger than our thoughts or imaginings.  Even the rehearsal of earlier mighty deeds does not prepare us for the immensity of what he can do in the present moment, in the face of our seemingly insurmountable challenges. Yes, he often appoints brothers and sisters, or sometimes even strangers, to help us – to help us in quite ordinary, quite natural ways.  But sometimes there is the supernatural, and the great stories seem to be filled with this.  Indeed, at their arrival, they would soon have the greatest story of all time to tell.  God would act.  God powerfully, God unmistakably.  God alone.  Without man’s help. God addresses our human challenges both naturally and supernaturally.  He is God, after all.  Our chief attitude needs to be to trust him, no matter what we face.  His operation, whether natural or supernatural, is his choice, his provision by whatever means.  He is Creator, sustainer and end of everything, so why do we doubt? But tonight’s work – this dawn of the day work – is God’s alone.  “Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?”  God will.  God does.  There is earthquake.  There is an angel, dazzling light.  The guards fall away.  The stone is rolled back.  But there is more, much more.  The tomb is empty. “He has been raised, as he said.”  They are invited to see the place where the body had lain.  They are given a message.  (Forget the spices and the ointments.)  “Go tell his disciples.”  It hadn’t been about the stone after all…or about a dead body.  The crucifixion wasn’t the last word.  Not at all.  They had mis-read what God was up to.  Yes they were being faithful, but their plan – their challenge – was much too small.  Fear – a different kind of fear – and great joy are now theirs.  They hadn’t run from their problem, from their grief, but had headed straight into it.  Now everything was changed.  So now they run with a different purpose.  They are bearers of the greatest good news of all time.  And suddenly he himself meets them:  “Greetings!”  They fall and worship, and so do we.  And his last words to them are “Go and tell.”  We, too, now fall and worship.  Our next step is to go and tell.  There is now, with Jesus, no challenge we cannot face, not even death.  For now the last challenge has been swallowed up in victory, and – for those who put their faith in him – no stones that cannot be rolled away.  There is nothing now that can separate us from the Father’s love or Jesus’ resurrection or the Spirit’s power.  Rejoice this Easter Day!  Rejoice like never before!  Rejoice for the stone on the tomb proved no problem to our God.  Alleluia!  Christ is Risen.  The Lord is Risen indeed.  Alleluia.    News & Events, Articles & Press Releases 2012-04-07T22:09:59+00:00 http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/401 http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/401#When:19:49:12Z Sharing Community: Church of the Savior Sees Transformation at Housing Development As part of the Anglican Church in North America’s “A Look Inside” Diocesan news series, the Diocese of Pittsburgh shares news of profound transformation in a local housing development and how one of their congregations hopes to change the world “one life at a time.” A young child living in a government subsidized housing development raises his hand during a weekly children’s program led by parishioners of Church of the Savior in Ambridge, PA. “Pastor Andrew, please tell me that God loves me,” he says. The Rev. Andrew Kosarik pauses his Bible lesson, points at the boy, and says, “God loves you.” After that, all the children start raising their hands and asking to be told that God loves them. “Every time I told one of the kids that God loved them, they acted like they had won the lottery,” recalls Kosarik. This is just one example of how Church of the Savior is reaching their neighborhood with the transforming love of Jesus Christ. Crestview Economy Village is a government subsidized housing development in Ambridge, PA with about 150 families. Most Tuesdays, children and teens in this community have a unique opportunity to encounter Jesus through an outreach ministry of Church of the Savior (COTS). The kids who attend the program just call it ‘Church.’ The outreach to Crestview Economy Village got its start when the Rev. Dennett Buettner, rector of COTS, attended the consecration of Bishop Bill Thompson in the Diocese of Western Anglicans. During his sermon, Bishop John Guernsey shared about a team at his parish starting a Vacation Bible School off-campus, actually in the community they wanted to reach. “I had this sudden realization. I know exactly where COTS can do that,” recalls Buettner. “We had been trying to do Vacation Bible School in our building with limited success. It was very clear. They aren’t coming, so let’s go somewhere else.” A team of 20 parishioners formed to plan and organize the first summer VBS at the community center in Crestview Economy Village. At the end of the program, the team from COTS was approached by the manager of the housing development with a request. “We need something like this all the time,” he told them. Buettner turned to the Rev. Andrew Kosarik to spearhead an ongoing program at the housing development. Initially, Kosarik didn’t want to do it. He suffers from an undiagnosed autoimmune syndrome and chronic pain from a failed back surgery. “But I agreed to pray about it,” he says. “God told me to do it, so here I am.” Kosarik and Deacon Laura Wicker gathered a team of eight parishioners to lead an ongoing children’s program at the housing development. They started by focusing on living in community with each other. They engaged in team building exercises and cross-cultural training. “I knew this wasn’t going to be Sunday school. We were going into their house. They weren’t coming into our house,” explains Kosarik. The team had a vision of forming a community and then giving that gift away to the housing development. In February 2011, the team launched their weekly Tuesday program for children. At first, the program consisted of games, a Bible teaching, and a snack for about 20 elementary age children. Since the launch of the children’s program in 2011, it has grown and expanded to include more and more residents of the housing development. Today the team from COTS leads a two-tiered program for kids ranging in age from pre-Kindergarten through high school seniors. Participants play games, sing worship songs together, and learn about the Bible. Instead of a snack, everyone gets a hot meal. About 100 kids participate in the program. Part of the growth came from neighborhood teenagers who started showing up, even though it was originally designed for younger children. “We didn’t quite know what to do with them, so we decided to put them to work. We got even more teens when we asked them to be helpers and gave them responsibilities,” says Kosarik. The team from COTS is beginning to see the fruit of their ministry in the subtle transformation of the community. Kosarik sees some of this transformation in the behavior of the neighborhood kids, “They are more respectful. Ninety-five percent of the bad behaviors are gone.” Kosarik and Buettner are quick to give credit to God for the transformation they are seeing at Crestview Economy Village. “This is not about COTS. This is about what God is doing,” says Buettner. Kosarik and Buettner have big, long-term hopes for the community at Crestview Economy village, but for now they are focused on each life they touch. “We are convinced that COTS should be a parish that changes the world one life at a time, beginning in Ambridge,” says Buettner. (Marquee photo: The Rev. Andrew Kosarik (left) and the Rev. Dennett Buettner (right) are taking the gospel outside the walls of their building to a nearby housing development. Story photo: Children gather round to hear the Easter story read by Sarah Schneider, a seminarian who regularly volunteers at the program. Credit: Diocese of Pittsburgh). Story source: http://www.pitanglican.org/?main/page/271 News & Events, Feature, Articles & Press Releases 2012-04-04T19:49:12+00:00 http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/398 http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/398#When:13:52:32Z “We Need to Join Jesus on His Mission” This coming June, members and friends of the Anglican Church in North America will gather at Assembly 2012 in Ridgecrest, NC.  A celebration of what the Lord is doing in and through us, Assembly 2012 will feature several guest speakers to encourage and impassion us in our callings, both as individuals and as a church. Dr. Ed Stetzer, a renowned author, speaker, pastor, and researcher will speak with us about how we must “join Jesus on His mission.”  President of LifeWay Research, Ed Stetzer has planted, revitalized, and pastored many churches. He has trained pastors and church planters on five continents, holds two masters degrees and two doctorates, and has written dozens of articles and books. Our Canon for Provincial and Global Mission, The Venerable Canon Dr. Jack Lumanog, spoke recently of his excitement to hear from Dr. Stetzer. “I am blessed by Ed’s passion for Kingdom growth.  It will be an inspiration to all of us whether we are serving a local parish or about to start a new one!  I am always encouraged by Ed’s teaching because he understands this Anglican moment that we find ourselves in as a Province.  The potential for Kingdom growth is enormous and his leadership and friendship at this moment is a blessing to our whole Church.” Anticipating Dr. Stetzer’s discussion with us at Assembly 2012, the Anglican Church in North America conducted a Q&A session with him.  Here’s what he had to say: Q: What message do you hope to share with members and friends of the Anglican Church in North America at the upcoming 2012 Provincial Assembly? I have three messages, I think, so there will be a variety of themes: transformation, gospel, church planting, revitalization, etc.  However, the central point will be that we need to join Jesus on His mission. When Jesus proclaimed, “As the father has sent me, so send I you” (John 20:21), he declared that we are participants in his mission.  Our call is not to go do what Jesus did—died on the cross, for our sins, and in our place.  But, our call is to do what Jesus said—he told us to live out the Great Commission and the Great Commandment—to share and show the love of Jesus.  So, the church joins Jesus in his mission. Q: Why does church planting matter and what is the best way to get involved? It matters because, upon hearing the words of Jesus in the Great Commission, the disciples responded by planting churches.  So, when Jesus said “go,” they thought “plant.”  That’s a fascinating response and worth emulating. Churches can get involved in a couple of ways: 1) Parenting: taking direct responsibility to “mother” a “daughter” church from their own congregation. 2) Partnering: teaming up with others in church planting by sponsoring a new church. I think every church can be a parent or partner. Q: What, have you noticed, are some particularly unique ways of spreading the Gospel today? I certainly think that social media would be one. Another we found in our research for Transformational Church is a desire to engage in ministries of mercy as a way to show the love of Christ—giving us the opportunity to share Christ.  In this research, the largest project of its kind ever done, we surveyed 7000 Protestant churches in North America and searched for characteristics of transformation.  Then, we followed up with those in the top 10% and sought to discern what made them who and what they were.  The answers were fascinating—and one of the factors that showed up was a passion for the ministries of mercy I mentioned.  However, there was much more—seven elements to be exact—including missionary mentality, vibrant leadership, prayerful dependence, relational intentionality, worship, community, and mission. Q: How do you think the Lord is working through you today and how can the Anglican Church in North America continue to pray for your ministries? In addition to my full time role as President of LifeWay Research, I recently planted a church on the weekends.  I am an unpaid volunteer, but also the lead pastor—so pray I can balance that out well. Q: When you’re not writing, blogging, or giving public speeches around the country, what are some of your favorite hobbies? I only really have four hobbies: one wife and three grade-school age daughters.  I plan to pick up hobbies when they are all at college! Q: Are you working on any projects, or books, that we can be on the look-out for? The newest book will be out in May.  It’s called The Subversive Kingdom: Living as Agents of Gospel Transformation and also have a video curriculum by the same name.  I’m pretty excited about it. If you have not already done so, there is still time to register for Assembly 2012 and hear from Dr. Stetzer and other guest speakers.  As Canon Jack concluded, “All of the faithful of the Anglican Church in North America – whether we are ordained or lay – will be blessed by his teaching ministry at Assembly because we will return to our local parishes revived for mission!” To learn more about Ed Stetzer, visit his LifeWay Research blog at http://www.edstetzer.com/. News & Events, Feature, Articles & Press Releases 2012-04-02T13:52:32+00:00