The AMiA-Rwanda Split and Flap Continues. A regrettable affair. Where there's alot of smoke, there's probably a fire. We attended an AMiA work, but the charismatic-lite (and Praise Band music), implicit semi-Pelagianism, and geographical distance (61 miles north) drove us off. Doing "Holy, Holy, Holy" to a Praise Band was too much. Then, the computer-geek misposting the Nicene Creed on the projector-screen at the wrong time--backwards and forwards. Eegads. That's for starters. We continue to live in Anglican exile while rejoicing in the historic, Confessional, Creedal, Protestant, Reformed and Catholic faith of the ages. David Virtue is virtually useless in his non-reporting, but then again, Virtue is a quasi-Montanist-Anabaptist himself. Murphy's proposals to be a sovereign and unaccountable Bishop is not much pleasing. He's a quasi-Montanist as well.
http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=15327
Bishops Thad Barnum and Terrell Glenn Clarify Their New Role with Rwanda
December 16, 2011
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Greetings in the Name of Jesus who was and is and is to come.
We are writing in order to send letters to you from the entire House of Bishops in the Anglican Province of Rwanda (PEAR).
As you will see, these letters were actually sent a week ago. We had hoped to have the proper mechanism to send them to every member of the clergy in the AMiA but have been unable to have access to this, despite our efforts.
As a result, we are sending them to any possible email address list that we can assemble in hopes that you, in turn, will pass it along to those you know in the AMiA.
The letters attached to this email were sent to all congregations and clergy from Archbishop Rwaje and a unanimous Rwandan House of Bishops (HoB) on Friday, December 9, in response to the resignations of most of the Anglican Mission in America bishops from the Rwandan HoB.
We also have delayed sending these letters because we needed to clarify with the Rwandan HoB the second bullet point in the letter to clergy and churches. While AMiA affiliated congregations are under the pastoral oversight of Archbishop Rwaje, they are also affiliated with the U.S. non-profit corporation, The Anglican Mission in the Americas. As a result, churches have had a type of "dual citizenship" with Rwanda and the AMiA. Unfortunately, while many of us had been led to think differently, the churches in the AMiA have never been canonically resident in the Anglican Province of Rwanda or anywhere else in the Anglican Communion. We are currently working with the Rwandan HoB to discern ways to rectify this for those congregations that desire a true membership in the Anglican Communion. At the same time, the canonical status of the clergy is clear. If you are clergy in the AMiA, (other than the 8 active bishops who resigned*) you are canonically resident in PEAR.
In addition to the letter to you from the Rwandan HoB, you will find a copy of a letter sent to the two of us appointing us "to work as a team to provide Episcopal oversight for those North American clergy and congregations affiliated to the Province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda." We have accepted this appointment.
We are all recovering from the shock of the resignations on December 5. Please resist the temptation to "create camps". It is easy when we are hurt, wounded and confused to fall into that, as it makes our decisions seem easier. However, it doesn't honor what is true. All involved are seeking to serve Jesus and follow him. We are brothers and sisters in Christ and we are in crisis. Please do not give way to conjecture and please do not assign motives to anyone. There have been too many damaging things written about our brothers who resigned and about our brothers in Rwanda -- and many of them are merely conjecture and speculation. Only the Lord knows the heart. We need to speak words of blessing to and in reference to one another.
In a situation in which there has been bad behavior on every side, we all have sufficient work to do to clear out our logs so that we might actually see clearly enough to be useful to the Lord as instruments of healing with one another. Our call now is to prayer, repentance and reconciliation. Clarity will come. Our Lord has promised that His Spirit will lead us to truth. But that comes as we seek Him and His kingdom. We know that many of you have questions about the moment in which we find ourselves. We will send another communication to you next week in which we hope to be able to identify individuals who can assist you in determining the most faithful direction for you and your churches as we all go forward. Please pray for our Archbishop, the House of Bishops, the leadership of the AMiA and one another. You remain the focus of our prayers.
Humbly in Christ,
Bishop Terrell L. Glenn, Jr. Bishop Thaddeus R. Barnum
*****
A Letter From the Rwandan House of Bishops
December 9, 2011
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ,
In Light of recent developments in the AMiA, Including the resignation of +Chuch Murphy and the other Bishops except +Terrell Glenn and +Thad Barnum. we convened a special meeting of the House of Bishops today at the provincial headquarters in Kigali. During our meeting, we together made the following resolutions in order to clarify the status of those congregations and clergy who server under the canonical and ecclesiastical oversight of the Province of Rwanda, through the mission outreach to North America.
We reaffirm our love for you and our commitment to you as the family of Christ, especially during this particular moment. In everything you remain our prayers.
We reaffirm and reassure all the congregations that have been affiliated with AMiA their canonical standing and residence remains in the Province of Rwanda as long as they desire it.
We reaffirm that all Clergy that have been affiliated with AMiA have canonical residence in Rwanda and are therefore Clergy in PEAR as long as they desire it.
We resolve that all the Bishops who have willingly resigned from the Province of Rwanda have forfeited their authority over those clergy and congregations that have been affiliated with Rwanda through AMiA.
We formally appoint Bishops Thad Barnum and Terrell Glenn to provide Episcopal oversight, for the sake of those North American Clergy and congregations affiliated with Rwanda. Furthermore, we will meet again soon as house of Bishops and we will work with Bishop Barnum and Glenn to chart a course forward for sustainable future mission together.
We resolve that any clergy or congregations who desire to disaffiliate with the Province of Rwanda should do so in writing directed to Bishop Barnum and Glenn.
In spite of these difficult circumstances, our House of Bishops enjoy an unprecedented level of unity and fellowship in the Holy Spirit during this time. As a united House, we again urge you to keep your focus on the higher calling of following the Lord Jesus in mission and ministry.
Signed at Kagili, Rwanda on this day, the 9th of December 2011
*****
Archbishop Rwaje writes to Bishops Barnum and Glenn
December 9, 2011
Dear Bishops Thad Barnum and Terrell Glenn,
I greet you in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
In light of the recent developments within AMiA and after consulting with the House of Bishops, I am writing to let you know that we have appointed both of you to work as a team to provide Episcopal oversight for those North American Clergy and Congregations Affiliated to the Province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda.
As House of Bishops we are planning to meet with you to seek together for God's guidance for a sustainable future of the ministry. We are praying for God's wisdom as we all continue together to serve Him both Rwanda and North America.
Yours in His Service,
The Most Rev. Dr. Onesphore Rwaje
Archbishop of PEAR
http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=15327
Bishops Thad Barnum and Terrell Glenn Clarify Their New Role with Rwanda
December 16, 2011
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Greetings in the Name of Jesus who was and is and is to come. We are writing in order to send letters to you from the entire House of Bishops in the Anglican Province of Rwanda (PEAR).
As you will see, these letters were actually sent a week ago. We had hoped to have the proper mechanism to send them to every member of the clergy in the AMiA but have been unable to have access to this, despite our efforts.
As a result, we are sending them to any possible email address list that we can assemble in hopes that you, in turn, will pass it along to those you know in the AMiA. The letters attached to this email were sent to all congregations and clergy from Archbishop Rwaje and a unanimous Rwandan House of Bishops (HoB) on Friday, December 9, in response to the resignations of most of the Anglican Mission in America bishops from the Rwandan HoB.
We also have delayed sending these letters because we needed to clarify with the Rwandan HoB the second bullet point in the letter to clergy and churches. While AMiA affiliated congregations are under the pastoral oversight of Archbishop Rwaje, they are also affiliated with the U.S. non-profit corporation, The Anglican Mission in the Americas. As a result, churches have had a type of "dual citizenship" with Rwanda and the AMiA. Unfortunately, while many of us had been led to think differently, the churches in the AMiA have never been canonically resident in the Anglican Province of Rwanda or anywhere else in the Anglican Communion. We are currently working with the Rwandan HoB to discern ways to rectify this for those congregations that desire a true membership in the Anglican Communion. At the same time, the canonical status of the clergy is clear. If you are clergy in the AMiA, (other than the 8 active bishops who resigned*) you are canonically resident in PEAR.
In addition to the letter to you from the Rwandan HoB, you will find a copy of a letter sent to the two of us appointing us "to work as a team to provide Episcopal oversight for those North American clergy and congregations affiliated to the Province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda." We have accepted this appointment.
We are all recovering from the shock of the resignations on December 5. Please resist the temptation to "create camps". It is easy when we are hurt, wounded and confused to fall into that, as it makes our decisions seem easier. However, it doesn't honor what is true. All involved are seeking to serve Jesus and follow him. We are brothers and sisters in Christ and we are in crisis. Please do not give way to conjecture and please do not assign motives to anyone. There have been too many damaging things written about our brothers who resigned and about our brothers in Rwanda -- and many of them are merely conjecture and speculation. Only the Lord knows the heart. We need to speak words of blessing to and in reference to one another.
In a situation in which there has been bad behavior on every side, we all have sufficient work to do to clear out our logs so that we might actually see clearly enough to be useful to the Lord as instruments of healing with one another. Our call now is to prayer, repentance and reconciliation. Clarity will come. Our Lord has promised that His Spirit will lead us to truth. But that comes as we seek Him and His kingdom. We know that many of you have questions about the moment in which we find ourselves. We will send another communication to you next week in which we hope to be able to identify individuals who can assist you in determining the most faithful direction for you and your churches as we all go forward. Please pray for our Archbishop, the House of Bishops, the leadership of the AMiA and one another. You remain the focus of our prayers.
Humbly in Christ,
Bishop Terrell L. Glenn, Jr. Bishop Thaddeus R. Barnum
*****
A Letter From the Rwandan House of Bishops
December 9, 2011
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ,
In Light of recent developments in the AMiA, Including the resignation of +Chuch Murphy and the other Bishops except +Terrell Glenn and +Thad Barnum. we convened a special meeting of the House of Bishops today at the provincial headquarters in Kigali. During our meeting, we together made the following resolutions in order to clarify the status of those congregations and clergy who server under the canonical and ecclesiastical oversight of the Province of Rwanda, through the mission outreach to North America.
We reaffirm our love for you and our commitment to you as the family of Christ, especially during this particular moment. In everything you remain our prayers.
We reaffirm and reassure all the congregations that have been affiliated with AMiA their canonical standing and residence remains in the Province of Rwanda as long as they desire it.
We reaffirm that all Clergy that have been affiliated with AMiA have canonical residence in Rwanda and are therefore Clergy in PEAR as long as they desire it.
We resolve that all the Bishops who have willingly resigned from the Province of Rwanda have forfeited their authority over those clergy and congregations that have been affiliated with Rwanda through AMiA.
We formally appoint Bishops Thad Barnum and Terrell Glenn to provide Episcopal oversight, for the sake of those North American Clergy and congregations affiliated with Rwanda. Furthermore, we will meet again soon as house of Bishops and we will work with Bishop Barnum and Glenn to chart a course forward for sustainable future mission together.
We resolve that any clergy or congregations who desire to disaffiliate with the Province of Rwanda should do so in writing directed to Bishop Barnum and Glenn.
In spite of these difficult circumstances, our House of Bishops enjoy an unprecedented level of unity and fellowship in the Holy Spirit during this time. As a united House, we again urge you to keep your focus on the higher calling of following the Lord Jesus in mission and ministry.
Signed at Kagili, Rwanda on this day, the 9th of December 2011
*****
Archbishop Rwaje writes to Bishops Barnum and Glenn
December 9, 2011
Dear Bishops Thad Barnum and Terrell Glenn,
I greet you in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
In light of the recent developments within AMiA and after consulting with the House of Bishops, I am writing to let you know that we have appointed both of you to work as a team to provide Episcopal oversight for those North American Clergy and Congregations Affiliated to the Province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda.
As House of Bishops we are planning to meet with you to seek together for God's guidance for a sustainable future of the ministry. We are praying for God's wisdom as we all continue together to serve Him both Rwanda and North America.
Yours in His Service,
The Most Rev. Dr. Onesphore Rwaje
Archbishop of PEAR
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