Anglican Watch: All Saints Pawleys Island, SC May Go ACNA

H/T to Anglican Ink, a blog worth following.  This appears to be the prelude of a shift for All Saints Anglican, Pawleys Island, SC.  Their current affiliation after splitting from the liberals of The Episcopal Church (TEC) has been the Anglican Mission in America (AMiA) under the auspices of the Rwandan Anglican Church.  Apparently, All Saints may join the newer body of allegedly conservative Anglicans in the Anglican Church of North America (ACNA).  While we applaud the courage of AMiA and ACNA Churchmen, we are not convinced that they are old school Prayer Book Churchmen and Reformed Churchmen.  Both fudge and get weasely with Tractarians, charismatics and everything in-between.  We love them, but cannot follow the Bishops in theology, Confessions or Prayer Books.  It’s called “Anglicans in the Exile” or “Anglicans in the Wilderness.”  H/T to Anglican Ink.

http://anglicanink.com/article/all-saints-pawleys-island-may-go-acna

All Saints Pawleys Island may go ACNA 

Parish vote set for November on rector's proposal to join the ACNA

Article | July 30, 2012 - 4:07pm | By George Conger

The flagship parish of the Anglican Mission in America – All Saints Pawleys Island – is set to vote at a special parish meeting this fall on its rector’s proposal the congregation join the Anglican Church in North America.

The Rev. Robert L. Grafe, Jr., rector of the founding parish of the AMiA, told Anglican Ink his congregation was entering a “season of prayer and discernment.”

He noted that a “change in affiliation requires an amendment to our by-laws and a parish vote,” which could take place later this year.

In a 27 July 2012 letter to the congregation, Mr. Grafe wrote that in the wake of the December split within the AMiA “it became clear that there would be other Anglican options for affiliation to consider.”

He noted that the parish leadership believed the best way forward following the news of the break up of the AMiA was to wait and see what options presented themselves. “I encouraged us all to avoid taking sides, refrain from demonizing, and to wait on details to surface regarding the various options. Until we were presented with some details which we could prayerfully consider, we would be content to remain both a part of the Anglican Mission and under the oversight of Archbishop Rwaje.”

Eight months later, Mr. Grafe has recommended the congregation affiliate with the Anglican Church in North America. “I believe the Anglican Church of North America is that faithful place of coming together; a unified Anglican witness in North America through which we can continue to walk out our new life in Jesus Christ and serve Him as His Church. I believe All Saints Parish is called to affiliate with the Anglican Church of North America under the oversight of Archbishop Bob Duncan, in communion with the GAFCON and Global South Primates. I see this as the faithful next step.”

All Saints would retain an “ongoing partnership” with the “developing Society for Mission and Apostolic Works” led by Bishop Chuck Murphy, Mr. Grafe wrote, adding that he hoped one day Bishop Murphy’s organization would be “operating with us out of the ACNA, and until that day occurs I would encourage that we treat her as if she already is.”

On All Saints Day (November 1, 2012 ) the congregation will hold a special parish meeting to consider an amendment to its bylaws that would allow it to affiliate with the ACNA, he said. In the meantime: “Pray for those with whom you disagree. Practice forbearance! Participate in the life of the church and refuse to withdraw,” he said, reminding the congregation not to be “afraid. Jesus is Lord of His Church and this is a time of coming together.”

Pawley's Island Parish Letter 7.25.12