Also in attendance to lend his strong support was Archbishop Robert Duncan of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). In his message during the opening worship service, Archbishop Duncan made an impassioned plea for a united biblical, orthodox, and missional Anglican witness.
A powerful image of that unity was the opening night Eucharist service, led by Archbishops Rwaje and Duncan, with Bishop Terrell Glenn.
Archbishop Rwaje preached during the service on the subject of forgiveness.
The second day of the assembly began with Morning Prayer and a message on spiritual warfare by Bishop Louis Muvunyi.
A highlight of the assembly was an address by Bishop Julian Dobbs of ACNA in which he spoke of "the Anglican Moment."
An excerpt from Bishop Dobbs' address:
And so we’re rebuilding biblical Anglicanism across North America, we are building upon:
An Anglican Moment
Nehemiah demonstrated remarkable steadfastness and faithfulness in rebuilding the ruined walls of Jerusalem despite the risks and opposition. He seized upon the place where God positioned him at the time of the Lord’s choosing to do that which the Living God in His sovereignty desired of him.
I firmly believe it just so with us…at this moment, in this place, in our circumstances.
Almighty God has given North American Anglicanism ‘a moment in time’ that we may never see again. As we enter the third year of the second decade of the new millennium, in His great mercy the Lord of the Church has given the Anglican Church in North America a holy opportunity to reexamine our mission, our ministry, our structures, our national and global relationships, our transition from what were deep and disturbing days of darkness to our current juncture, poised on the banks of the Jordan as we make our first tentative steps into the promised land of Anglicanism in North America.
We must pose this question: will we together as Anglicans, ‘forgetting what is behind and straining forward to what awaits us,’ embrace the difficult challenge of our Lord, rise up and embrace the opportunity that is before us, or will we be more content to replicate the patterns and structures of our former days in Egypt?
Egypt is the place that provided respite for the Holy Family when they faced persecution. Egypt is the place from which God led his people through the Red Sea to the land of promise. Egypt is the place where God took his people out of slavery into freedom. Egypt is a reminder that time after time God met His people at the point of their need. And yet, Egypt is also a reminder that God's people often have very short memories. It was only a brief time after their deliverance that they began to complain about the lack of variety of their provisions in the wilderness "We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost - also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic, they grumbled. Once they were safely established in the Land of Promise they also quickly forgot the bondage under which they had suffered in Egypt and began to embrace the very same pattern of life that they had escaped.
The journey of the children of Israel out of Egypt into the Land of Promise presents a warning that is timeless and always contemporary because if our profession of faith is not matched with actions of faithfulness we will also find ourselves back in the land of bondage where our message has no meaning for a sick and spiritually bankrupt world and our lives with no transforming power. We can have all the seemingly godly heritage, all of the historical and religious symbols but if we fail to obey God's call to a holy, faithful lives we will be like withering grass that is simply blown out by the devastating wind of the age.
Our risk, even at this very early stage of our development, is that as we establish this new expression of biblical missionary Anglicism it becomes so much an expression of the former structures that it is very difficult to observe the difference between the past and the present. Hierarchical structures, infighting, power struggles, committees, attorneys, insecurities, leaders who say one thing and do another while some take care to secure their own positions at the expense of others. Let us never forget that Moses discovered that not everyone who departed Egypt with him was united with him in his unwavering commitment to obey the commandments and guidance of Almighty God; should we be surprised to discover that we are not immune from these same trials and challenges?
Crucial to the rebuilding process is refurbishing and refining, as the prophet Malachi writes: ‘And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. (Malachi 3:3)
Part of any true work of God is the refiners’ fire. No one looks forward to the searing heat and the burning away of the dross; personal and communal…but the Word of God promises us that the result is heavenly gold.
In our refurbishing process, we must also recognize that used bricks are very attractive and sought-after for walkways and fireplaces in new suburbs across America and Canada, but, we must remember that not everything in building materials ages well.
In his book The World is Flat, Thomas Friedman explains how our world has shrunk. Thanks to instant information and rapid transportation, hierarchical structures have been flattened. One global organization that should be ideally positioned for this transformation is the Christian Church. Its Divine founder designed it to be "flat;" small groups with a common vision, a common language of faith, and international networks that crossed national boundaries. As often happens, initial flexibility was soon lost and replaced by more predictable and controllable structures and the early vision forgotten while waiting for another fresh wave of inspiration and creativity.
We are witnessing such a new wave. A prime example is the Anglican Communion - an international community of more than 75 million in 164 countries, ordered into 38 separate provinces.
In the good old days mandates, money and missionaries flowed from the traditional power base of London and, more recently, New York to their grateful recipients in the developing world.
In a nutshell, the flattening of hierarchical structures is a way to be as big as a dinosaur and as nimble as a cat at the same time. Consider a swarm of bees: it can effectively be an animal twenty feet wide, a hundred feet long, with a thousand eyes and sophisticated complex behavior--bigger and smarter than most dinosaurs--but it can turn on a dime (in several directions at once, no less!) and is unburdened by the metabolic overhead of a single huge body.
I want to prayerfully and carefully caution our new Anglican movement, let us not be complacent and reinvent the less effective structures of the past. We must be constantly vigilant against an all-too-human temptation to feel that ‘the past was good enough;’ to live in the continual ‘afterglow’ of the great acts of God in past decades. The constant, forward movement of God the Holy Spirit is ever dynamic. Relationships are new and different and this is to be celebrated and
I am humbled as a native born New Zealander and now a new American to serve as a bishop in the Church of Nigeria, [Anglican Communion] while serving as a bishop of the Anglican Church in North America by right of my standing as a Bishop in the Convocation of Anglicans in North America; a Suffragan to our Missionary Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Martyn Minns. These are unusual relationships, but they are kinship that strengthen our shared mission as Anglican Christians in the world who believe that Jesus still says ‘go and recognize our necessary and shared dependence upon Almighty God and the global Anglican family.’
We firmly believe that our realignment is part of an emerging movement of formerly Episcopal churches and now new congregations, church plants, chaplains which are breaking out of their hierarchical straightjackets and connecting directly with local and global parts of the Anglican Communion. What unites them is a vision for global Christianity; a commitment to a common language of faith and abiding friendships that connect across challenging cultural divides.
Remember, Jesus of Nazareth didn't give his life for a structure but rather for a vision of a world where every person can know that they are loved by God and given new hope for tomorrow - whether they live in Kaduna or Kansas City, in Bethlehem or Boston, in Darfur or Durham.
For Moses to reach the Promised Land he had to come to a place called Kadesh Barnea; as all biblically-sound Anglicans undoubtedly know the story. Before the 12 tribes of Israel lay a land flowing with milk and honey; behind them the wildness…but 10 men…just 10 men…sent to check out the land promised to them by God managed to sow such discouragement and then discontent that full-scale rebellion broke out in the camp. The result of their hesitation, vacillation, and..well…cowardice…was 40 more years in the desert and an entire generation lost.
I believe we are at Kadesh Barnea in North American Anglicanism. Remember, there were twelve young men sent into the Promised Land, 10 returned and said ‘it is too hard,’ let those of us entrusted to make decisions for the people of God and those whom we represent hear only the voices of the other two – Joshua and Caleb – who said ‘Do not be afraid, the Lord is with us’ (Numbers 14:9) and let us move forward to lay-hold of that which God is calling us to claim, for,
This is the Anglican Moment,
But, this requires…
A Determined Discipleship - No Matter What the Cost.
In our congregations we should be working to develop a true ‘ mutual company of the committed’ healthy, Gospel-focused place where people are regularly coming to faith, being catechized, worshipping, growing, and serving. We should see this in children’s ministries, youth ministries, adult ministries – we need to be thinking together about campus ministries, we need to be thinking about reaching diverse people groups in different places – city-centers, suburbs, rural areas. Theological training, spiritual formation, vocational assessment, and leadership development should be taking place on the ground in a recognized, growing ‘ mutual company of the committed’ . In other words, we need to be making disciples in our local churches.
A healthy determined discipleship culture is essential as we replant biblical Anglicanism across North America. This is the work of the whole church. It is not just for some, it is for all of us… together!
Being a determined disciple and following Jesus might cost us everything! Do you realize that? As a survivor of the 1950’s Mau Mau crisis in Kenya, once put it, “When they come for you at night and threaten to tie a sack over your head and drop you in the river, then you know whether Jesus Christ means everything to you or whether he means nothing at all.” To these Christians, Jesus Christ meant everything, He meant everything.
Tertullian, the church leader and author in the 2nd and 3rd century correctly boasted, “The blood of the martyrs is indeed the seed of the church. Dying we conquer, the moment we are crushed, that moment, we go forth victorious.”
We are called to a life of dedicated sacrifice. To leave the palaces behind and follow Almighty God – through desert, swamp, mountains and across the wide rivers. To stand firm against the scoffers and the enemy. But, foremostly, we are also called to build – or more specifically in our case – to rebuild.
So let us rebuild the walls. Let us replant biblical Anglicanism across North America. With a Confident Commitment To biblical Truth. A Dedicated Determination To Evangelism. A Radical Investment In Church Planting. A Pipeline For New Leaders and a Determined Discipleship No Matter What The Cost! Let’s trim the sails, head up to a close-hauled course and run with the wind.!
And I am proud to be a Shepherd in this great task as together we continue the struggle, fight the good fight, stand fast in the faith and so…
Votregrâce,l'archevêque, c'est le momentanglicane !
Le Dieu des cieux nous donnera le succès. Nous, ses serviteurs, nous nous lèverons et nous bâtirons
This is the Anglican Moment.
The bishops led a question and answer session, addressing issues and concerns associated with moving forward.
Evening Prayer featured a message from the Rev. Dr. Lyle Dorsett in which attendees were introduced to the "George Gill test." George Gill was an old preacher who would challenge his hearers with a question drawn from 2 Timothy 4:8, "Do you love his appearing?"
The final day opened with the celebration of the Eucharist and a message from Bishop Thad Barnum about the importance of submitting to authority and respecting our elders in the faith ("fathers in Christ"). He told a story of how, as a seminarian, he was directed by his bishop to take a second year of Clinical Pastoral Education and how that experience helped him understand the importance of obedience.
Archbishop Rwaje concluded the assembly by presenting a statement outlining the next steps in moving forward together.
Raleigh, NC
January 18, 2012
On January 16-18, 2012, over 300 laity and clergy, representing 109 churches that have been a part of the Anglican Mission in the Americas, gathered at the Church of the Apostles, Raleigh, NC, for a sacred assembly. The assembly was hosted by Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje and the House of Bishops of the Anglican Province of Rwanda (PEAR), who sent three other bishops (Alexis Bilindabagabo, Laurent Mbanda, Louis Muvunyi) as delegates, and were joined by US bishops Thad Barnum and Terrell Glenn. Archbishop Robert Duncan and Bishop Julian Dobbs of the Anglican Church of North America (ACNA) joined the assembly as honored guests.
The assembly was a rich time of worship, prayer, and communion with God. In the traditions of classical Anglicanism and the East African revival, the assembly featured both form and flexibility, which fostered dialogue, reconciliation, healing, and—most importantly—listening to the Lord. A way forward was unclear at the outset of the assembly, but by its conclusion the next steps for moving forward together were evident.
Emphasizing collaborative leadership as an Anglican distinctive, Archbishop Rwaje and the House of Bishops asked Bishops Terrell Glenn and Thad Barnum to create a short-term team to give oversight and care for all clergy and churches that have been a part of the AMiA’s and desire to remain resident in Rwanda. This team is to be characterized by a spirit of openness, collaborating freely with clergy and laity throughout its constituent churches. Its structures are to be temporary and easily dismantled once its task is completed. It will be a team actively connected to the House of Bishops of Rwanda.
This team is charged with:
Care, healing, encouragement and guidance for churches and clergy in all ongoing efforts of mission and ministry, in all things personal, corporate, ecclesial and structural;
Ongoing mobilization and distribution of financial support and guidance for church plants and church planting;
Continuing support for those in process of ordination and those whom God might raise up to join in the work of planting churches and carrying out the work of Christ’s church;
Developing temporary structures necessary to support and accomplish these tasks.
For this task, Bishop Glenn was asked and has agreed to serve as the team’s leader. He will recruit and recommend to Archbishop Rwaje temporary canons and regional leaders who will serve those churches and clergy moving forward together in regional groupings throughout North America. Additionally, as a result of the generous offer of Archbishop Bob Duncan, this team will work freely and collaboratively with partner churches and bishops in ACNA for the support and care of churches and clergy as needed.
Bishop Glenn has appointed the following clergy to serve in this temporary process: the Rev’s Steve Breedlove, David Bryan, Dan Claire, Chip Edgar, Alan Hawkins, Clark Lowenfield and Ken Ross. Others may be added in the weeks ahead as needed structures come into focus.
For the duration of its service, this team will communicate its progress and its finances on a monthly basis to constituent and interested congregations and clergy. Feedback will be welcomed.
Archbishop Rwaje charged the team to create a task force to work collaboratively with representatives of the ACNA and PEAR to explore and develop plans for long-term structures that will serve the following needs of our congregations:
Those who desire full participation in an existing diocese of ACNA
Those who desire to remain affiliated with PEAR while also forming a subjurisdiction of ACNA
Those churches who desire to remain affiliated with PEAR by establishing a missionary jurisdiction in North America
It is anticipated that these long-term, permanent structures will be established within the next 6-12 months. As congregations and clergy transition into them, the work of the interim team will be completed.
We invite all churches and clergy that have been a part of the Anglican Mission in the Americas to be part of this process: we need your voice so that we can move forward together. Please contact Bishops Glenn or Barnum, or any member of the temporary team, to signify your interest in moving forward together. Starting on or before January 23, contact information can be found at http://www.pearusa.com.
We are deeply thankful for all those who joined together in Raleigh during this gracious time of fellowship and we are thankful for our bishops who have given us a way forward for these next days ahead. Please pray continually and fervently for all those who are seeking to serve the work of our Lord Jesus Christ and his Church in the days and months ahead, and please communicate freely and frequently your thoughts, ideas, questions and concerns with this team.
On behalf of all who attended the Sacred Assembly,
The Most Rev. Onesphore Rwaje, January 18, 2012
0 antiphons:
Post a Comment