With the difficulties within the Anglican Mission in America, Inc. (AMiA) with the resignations of eight Bishops from the Rwanda Episcopal Bench, Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje communicates with the rest of AMiA, that is, those churches remaining under two Bishops who did not resign (Bps Barnum and Glenn).
Dear Bishop Thad Barnum and Terrell Glenn,
Dear Clergy and Laity,
Friends and Colleagues in Ministry,
Christmas greetings from all of us here in Rwanda. May the peace and joy of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose birth we now celebrate, be yours in abundance today and forever.
The House of Bishops in Rwanda continues to enjoy a season of extraordinary unity and team work. We are pleased to announce the election of two new bishops to replace those who will be retiring next year. The Rev. Nathan Amooti Rusengo will follow Bishop Geoffrey Rwubusisi in Cyangugu (consecration and installation on January 19th), and the Rev. Emmanuel Ntazinda will follow Bishop Sendegeya of Kibungo (consecration and installation on January 12th). Please join us in prayer for these brothers and the congregations they serve during this time of transition.
On the behalf of the House of Bishops, I want you to know that we grieve with you over the resignations of our friends, brothers in Christ, and fellow bishops in the AMiA. I am thankful for the support shown to the Province of Rwanda by my friend and colleague, Archbishop Robert Duncan. I share the same confidence that with God nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37). We are heartbroken over the shame that this division has brought to our Lord and to his bride. The blood of the Lord Jesus Christ is the power to heal all our wounds, and we trust he will repair and restore what has been so badly broken. Forgiveness and reconciliation are Gospel imperatives for all Christians, and especially for us here in Rwanda. As you continue to move forward in mission in 2012, please do with mutual respect for one another, fostering open communion, trusting relationships, and accountability to those whom the Lord has called us to serve and lead.
I look forward to seeing many of you at the Moving Forward Together sacred assembly at Raleigh, N.C. on January 16-18. Together with my collegues from the House of Bishops of Rwanda, as well as Bishop Barnum and Glenn, we are eager to seek the Lord together in worship, confession, prayer, and the study of God’s word. I hope you make every effort to attending this gathering.
We want to encourage you as ambassadors of Christ. All of us are called to share the good news of Jesus Christ and disciple those who receive Him. Let us therefore prech the Gospel with integrity in all that we do.
Grace and peace in the Lord Jesus Christ,
The Most. Rev. Dr. Onesphore Rwaje,
Archbishop of the Province of Rwanda
Very odd and bizarre. Can't AMiA do better than this for conference speakers? Jack Deer, an Anabaptacostal enthusiast and revivalist known for his involvements with the IHOP Pentecostalists? One who is a female deacon and Rev? Or, another with all his degrees from Southern Baptist schools? Non-confessional and non-liturgical types for an Anglican conference? Where's Dr. James Packer, Dr. Richard Turnbull (Wycliffe, Oxford), or Dr. Alistair McGrath (London)? Or, any other good Anglicans? Bizarre and odd.
Although Scripture is filled with examples of the presence and power of the Spirit operating in everything from the actual creation of our world (Genesis 1:2) to the transforming "new creation" of our personal lives (2 Cor. 3:18), the Holy Spirit has often been overlooked or ignored. At Winter Conference 2012 in Houston, Texas, we will seek to correct this all too frequent omission. The theme for the conference will be "The Holy Spirit: Power for Mission." Make plans now to join us January 11-14, 2012! Plenary speakers for the event include Bishop Chuck Murphy, Dr. Jack Deere, Dr. Reggie McNeal, the Rev. Cynthia Brust, Bishop Philip Jones and the Rev. Kris McDaniel who will celebrate the Spirit's power for Mission and give voice to what the Spirit is doing in our midst - within the everyday life of the Anglican Mission. In addition to these presentations, the conference will feature practical workshops, encouraging fellowship, rich worship and much more. This is a great opportunity to introduce new church leaders and members to our community as well as invite friends to explore theAM!
==================================
The Rt. Rev. Charles H. Murphy, III
Bishop Murphy is the Chairman of the Anglican Mission and senior Missionary Bishop of the Province of Rwanda. He is the founder of First Promise, a movement of clergy committed to faithfulness to their ordination vows, which led to the formation of the Anglican Mission. He was consecrated a Bishop by Archbishops Emmanuel Kolini and Moses Tay on January 29, 2000, pioneering a new way forward for other orthodox leaders throughout the Anglican Communion. His contagious passion and unique visionary gifting, along with his ability to create an environment in which others thrive in Spirit-inspired leadership, have contributed to his global reputation as an outstanding preacher, teacher and communicator. Having grown up in a Christ-filled home, his zeal for the Gospel was further developed under the personal tutelage of Dr. James I. Packer and thirty years of parish ministry. Bishop Murphy and his wife Margaret have been married for over 40 years and have three grown daughters (who have all served in leadership capacities within their local churches) and four grandchildren.
Dr. Jack Deere
Jack is an equipper and trainer for the body of Christ. He has planted three churches; served as a seminary professor (Dallas Theological Seminary); traveled the world speaking at conferences; authored bestselling books. He currently serves as senior pastor of Wellspring Church in North Richland Hills, Texas, a church he planted in the spring of 2004. The mission of the church is threefold: to help people cultivate an intimate friendship with Jesus; to help people discover and effectively use their spiritual gifts in significant ways in the church; and having learned how to use these gifts effectively in the church, then to use their gifts in the market place where they spend the majority of their time. Jack and Leesa, his wife of 37 years, live in Colleyville, TX. They have two grown children, Stephen and Alese. back to top
Dr. Reggie McNeal
Dr. Reggie McNeal enjoys helping people, leaders, and Christian organizations pursue more intentional lives. He currently serves as the Missional Leadership Specialist for Leadership Network of Dallas, TX. Reggie’s past experience involves over a decade as a denominational executive and leadership development coach. He also served in local congregational leadership for over twenty years, including being the founding pastor of a new church. Reggie has lectured or taught as adjunct faculty for multiple seminaries, including Fuller Theological (Pasadena, CA), Southwestern Baptist (Ft. Worth, TX), Golden Gate Baptist (San Francisco, CA), Trinity Divinity School (Deerfield, IL), Columbia International (Columbia, SC), and Seminary of the Southwest (Austin TX). In addition, he has served as a consultant to local church, denomination, and para-church leadership teams, as well as seminar developer and presenter for thousands of church leaders across North America. He has also resourced the United States Army Chief of Chaplains Office (the Pentagon), The Chaplains’ Training School (Ft. Jackson), Air Force chaplains, and the Air Force Education and Training Command. Reggie’s work also extends to the business sector, including The Gallup Organization. Reggie has contributed to numerous publications and church leadership journals. His books include Revolution in Leadership (Abingdon Press, 1998), A Work of Heart: Understanding How God Shapes Spiritual Leaders (Jossey-Bass, 2000), The Present Future (Jossey-Bass, 2003), Practicing Greatness (Jossey-Bass, 2006), Get A Life! (Broadman & Holman, 2007), Missional Renaissance: Changing the Scorecard for the Church (Jossey-Bass, 2009). Reggie’s education includes a B.A. degree from the University of South Carolina and the M.Div. and Ph.D. degrees both from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Reggie and his wife Cathy make their home in Columbia, South Carolina. back to top
The Rev. Cynthia P. Brust
Cynthia is Director of Communications and Chair of Winter Conference for the Anglican Mission in the Americas (theAM). On October 3, 2010, she and her husband Ellis launched a new Anglican Mission faith community in southern California – Epiphany – where she serves as Associate Pastor. Cynthia is committed to Christian ministry in the local church, especially as it relates to reaching the de-churched and unchurched in today’s culture by living out ancient roots and faith within current contexts. A writer, speaker, teacher and consultant, she has also studied, written and taught extensively on numerous aspects of faith and discipleship over the last 26 years. Cynthia has 28 years of experience in a broad range of communications, public relations and advocacy work within church-related, government, corporate and political arenas. She served as Press Secretary for former U.S. Congressman Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. in Washington, DC, and has managed citywide political campaigns in Texas and Florida. Cynthia was ordained as a deacon in the Anglican Church in December 2010 and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Theology degree from Fuller Seminary. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Political Science from Converse College, Spartanburg, South Carolina, and did graduate studies in Mass Communications at the University of South Carolina’s College of Journalism. Cynthia and her husband, the Rev. Canon Ellis E. Brust, have two adult children and a son-in-law – Rebecca, married to Porter, and William. They reside in Mission Viejo, California. back to top
The Rt. Rev. Philip Hill Jones
Philip is a missionary bishop in the Anglican Mission, and he and his wife Claudia moved to Dallas, TX, in 2010 to plant a new congregation in Dallas. Previously he served as senior pastor of St. Andrew's, Little Rock, AR; Assistant Rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Waco, TX; Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, Marshall, TX; and as Rector of Pro-Cathedral Church, St. Clements, El Paso, TX. He was involved early on with the First Promise movement and joined the Anglican Mission in 2005 when he accepted the call to St. Andrew's. Philip has a strong commitment to the authority of Scripture and has focused his ministry on the Biblical imperative to reach the world for Jesus Christ and encouraging individuals to develop as disciples of Christ. He received his Masters in Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary in 1989. Philip is married to Claudia, and the couple has seven children. back to top
The Rev. Kris McDaniel
Kris is lead pastor of Trinity Anglican Mission in Atlanta, GA. He and a team of leaders planted the church in the fall of 2002. Since that time the community has taken root in the city, adopting a long-term goal to transform Atlanta's perception of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Kris and his wife, Karyn, live less than three miles from the church with their three children - Mady, Scout and Finn. Kris is currently enrolled at Asbury Theological Seminary where he is working on a Master of Theological Studies.
Grace and peace to all of you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
As this season of Advent leads us to the celebration of our Lord's birth, we are thankful for many things. Truly, He is with us, in fulfillment of the ancient promises and His own.
The House of Bishops of the PEAR have just concluded a very important meeting this week in Rwanda and Archbishop Rwaje has asked us to forward a letter from him to you. We rejoice in the election of new Rwandan bishops as the HoB continues to move forward in unity and love. We are also grateful to Archbishop Duncan of the ACNA for his leadership and support for us, congregations and clergy, who find ourselves in this difficult season of grief, uncertainty and confusion over recent events in our life together. As you will read in his letter, Archbishop Rwaje is in communication with Archbishop Duncan as a fellow GAFCON primate and friend.
Next week, you will begin to receive information about a gathering that will take place in Raleigh, NC from January 16-18. (also referred to in the Archbishop's letter) The purpose of this assembly is to hear from our Archbishop and others about reconciliation, healing and next steps for all of us.
Clergy and laity will be invited and will have opportunities to prayerfully discuss what it means to move forward together.
Please keep this event in prayer as planning for it develops. Just as the angels broke through the dark silence of the night sky with the radiance of God's glory and the thrill of praise to Him, may we all know His magnificent breakthrough in our hearts and lives this Christmas. And may Jesus' peace and hope rule in you now and always.
AMIA Council of Bishops Defend Their Leader, Apologize for FalloutFounding archbishops supported formalized Misionary Society
December 21, 2011
Greetings in the name of Christ for whom we wait with joy and anticipation.
We, the undersigned Bishops of the Anglican Mission, write you today at the conclusion of two very important meetings. December 18-19th, we met in Charlotte, NC to seek God's direction for our Anglican Mission, and on December 20th, a delegation from this Council met with representative bishops from the Anglican Church in North America in Pittsburgh, PA.
Our desire is to share our hearts with you about these meetings and to confirm our support for you and our partnership in the Gospel. May this letter be a word of encouragement to each one of you that Jesus Christ is, even now, lifting a call of peace, reconciliation and vision in our midst.
We want you to know that this Council of Bishops is absolutely united. We have stood together as this whole transitional drama has unfolded and we will continue to stand together through whatever may come until unity and relationships are restored and our mission for the cause of Christ is accomplished.
We apologize for the fallout that you have felt from the collision of what may best be described as two groups of Godly leaders separated by tens of thousands of miles and substantial cultural differences, each seeking to do what they have hoped would bring about a more effective Christian witness in our land. What has happened in the past six months is certainly not reflective of, nor consistent with, the pattern of relationship and mission that has marked our relationship with Rwanda during the previous thirteen years. Nor are the attacks, in particular, against our Chairman, Bishop Chuck Murphy, true in regard to his character or leadership.
In Rwanda there has been significant change in the House of Bishops over the past two years as a result of the election of a new Primate and several new members to that House. It appears to have been their desire to transition our partnership toward a leadership model that would allow this newly constituted House to exercise much greater control over the day-to-day operations and direction of the Anglican Mission, moving in a direction that is inconsistent with anything that had been fully discussed or engaged in over the past thirteen years.
This past summer a process of discernment was initiated by Bishop Murphy with our Council of Bishops regarding next steps in formalizing the structures of the Anglican Mission in a manner consistent with what the Holy Spirit has led us into over the past fourteen years. The structure being considered was a Missionary Society out of the Province of Rwanda (a missionary society is an historically recognized entity within the Church). This conversation was evolving and was involving the HOB of Rwanda, our founding Archbishops, and leadership throughout the Anglican Mission. We believe that it is important for you to know that our founding archbishops, Moses Tay, Yong Ping Chung, and Emmanuel Kolini have all encouraged us to move forward toward a formalized Missionary Society. As such, a Society would build on what God has been doing with us and would also reflect what they have sensed in prayer that the Lord is calling us to do. This fall these two transitions met, and none of us could have anticipated the velocity with which they collided.
For today, we will leave the details of these past nine months to history. Things will all be made clearer as the dust settles, as relationships are restored and truth comes to light, and as we remain focused on our primary mission, starting churches and encouraging those who are doing Kingdom work. Know that we love and cherish our Rwandan friends, and they us. We will not speak further of what has happened save in the pursuit of reconciliation among our Houses. You may be assured that reconciliation remains important to us. We offer our apologies to Rwanda and to you for the missteps that we have made, and seek the forgiveness of our brothers and of Almighty God for those places where we have, by our words and actions, caused pain or confusion.
Already Bishop Murphy and Bishop Terrell Glenn have met following Bishop's Glenn's recent resignation from our Council. We are happy to report the good news that reconciliation has been reached between our brothers. For this we have not ceased to thank our Lord.
As we move forward we are deeply grateful for the sacrificial and ongoing leadership that our founding archbishops, Moses Tay, Yong Ping Chung, and Emmanuel Kolini have provided to our Mission. At this moment in our history, we are particularly thankful that they have stepped into an active oversight and leadership position in our Mission and in the formation process of a Missionary Society.
It may be helpful to say that an Anglican Missionary Society, by name, must have a jurisdictional connection within the Anglican Communion. We had hoped that our jurisdictional connection would have been with the Province of Rwanda, but with our resignation as bishops from that Province, we are prayerfully considering other options. Although several options have been considered and have presented themselves to us, in prayer and conversation with many of you, it became clear that a process of discernment should first be engaged with the Anglican Church in North America.
What follows is a joint statement issued by the ACNA/AM task force which came into being yesterday and which will be leading us through this discernment process. Bishop TJ Johnston and Bishop Doc Loomis will be representing the Anglican Mission in these conversations.
On December 20, 2011, Bishops Chuck Murphy, Doc Loomis and John Rodgers and representatives from the Anglican Mission in the Americas participated in a very encouraging conversation during a meeting with Archbishop Robert Duncan, Bishops Leonard Riches and Charlie Masters of the Anglican Church in North America. The joyful result of these conversations was a mutual pledge to wholeheartedly pursue a restoration of the relationship between The Anglican Mission and the Anglican Church in North America. The ACNA and AMiA have appointed four bishops to engage in a determined effort to bring about at the earliest possible time a reunion of The Anglican Mission, a founding partner of the ACNA, to full participation in the life and ministry of the Anglican Church in North America. Both parties recognize that this is the beginning of a process, which will involve a number of strategic decisions as well as the repair and restoration of relationships. We give thanks to God for the ongoing work of His Holy Spirit as He continues to draw us together to form a Biblical, united and missionary Anglican witness to North America.
Finally, during our time in Charlotte, Bishop Murphy and the Council openly engaged a number of important leadership issues and transitions that would be involved in formalizing a Missionary Society. One of the purposes of such a move is to provide a stable, sustainable, and flexible platform for our Mission for decades to come. During this conversation, the Council affirmed Bishop Murphy's leadership as Chairman, even as all of us, including Bishop Murphy, acknowledged that in this time of transition to a Missionary Society, current positions and leadership roles are likely to change.
We also prayed through and discussed our upcoming Winter Conference, which will be a very important time for us to gather together and seek God's presence and heart for our Mission. Along with our overseeing archbishops, we invite and encourage all of you to join us in Houston for what will be a defining moment for our Mission.
We implore you to prayerfully consider what we have shared with you. It is our earnest desire that you will trust and join with us as we boldly step forward in our call to press on with the Mission the Lord has laid on our hearts, and to help us work through the process of establishing a Missionary Society that reflects our long held belief that we are a Mission, nothing more, nothing less.
With glad tidings for a blessed Christmas we remain,
Faithfully yours,
Rt. Rev. Sandy Greene
Rt. Rev. Doc Loomis
Rt. Rev. Todd Hunter
Rt. Rev. T.J. Johnston
Rt. Rev. Philip Jones
Rt. Rev. John Miller
Rt. Rev. Silas Ng
Stand Firm continues to cover the story, unlike the slow-footed and heavily-vested/biased VOL at virtueonline.org. Ecclesiologically and pastorally, a disastre of Bp. Murphy's own making. The VOL puffing silence is telling. Had this been a TEC-story, he would have been all over this like "white on rice." VOL's silence, unlike Stand Firm's, is telling. The unvarnished fact is: AMiA, Inc. Bishops "resigned" their bishoprics from the Rwandan House of Bishops, as sectarians in search of reasons (non-doctrinal) and the personal pre-eminence of Murphy.
A Letter from 8 Former Rwandan Bishops to the AMiA Wednesday, December 21, 2011 • 10:27 pm
Greetings in the name of Christ for whom we wait with joy and anticipation.
We, the undersigned Bishops of the Anglican Mission, write you today at the conclusion of two very important meetings. December 18-19th, we met in Charlotte, NC to seek God’s direction for our Anglican Mission, and on December 20th, a delegation from this Council met with representative bishops from the Anglican Church in North America in Pittsburgh, PA.
Our desire is to share our hearts with you about these meetings and to confirm our support for you and our partnership in the Gospel. May this letter be a word of encouragement to each one of you that Jesus Christ is, even now, lifting a call of peace, reconciliation and vision in our midst!
We want you to know that this Council of Bishops is absolutely united. We have stood together as this whole transitional drama has unfolded and we will continue to stand together through whatever may come until unity and relationships are restored and our mission for the cause of Christ is accomplished.
We apologize for the fallout that you have felt from the collision of what may best be described as two groups of Godly leaders separated by tens of thousands of miles and substantial cultural differences, each seeking to do what they have hoped would bring about a more effective Christian witness in our land. What has happened in the past six months is certainly not reflective of, nor consistent with, the pattern of relationship and mission that has marked our relationship with Rwanda during the previous thirteen years. Nor are the attacks, in particular, against our Chairman, Bishop Chuck Murphy, true in regard to his character or leadership.
In Rwanda there has been significant change in the House of Bishops over the past two years as a result of the election of a new Primate and several new members to that House. It appears to have been their desire to transition our partnership toward a leadership model that would allow this newly constituted House to exercise much greater control over the day-to-day operations and direction of the Anglican Mission, moving in a direction that is inconsistent with anything that had been fully discussed or engaged in over the past thirteen years.
This past summer a process of discernment was initiated by Bishop Murphy with our Council of Bishops regarding next steps in formalizing the structures of the Anglican Mission in a manner consistent with what the Holy Spirit has led us into over the past fourteen years. The structure being considered was a Missionary Society out of the Province of Rwanda (a missionary society is an historically recognized entity within the Church). This conversation was evolving and was involving the HOB of Rwanda, our founding Archbishops, and leadership throughout the Anglican Mission. We believe that it is important for you to know that our founding archbishops, Moses Tay, Yong Ping Chung, and Emmanuel Kolini have all encouraged us to move forward toward a formalized Missionary Society. As such, a Society would build on what God has been doing with us and would also reflect what they have sensed in prayer that the Lord is calling us to do. This fall these two transitions met, and none of us could have anticipated the velocity with which they collided.
For today, we will leave the details of these past nine months to history. Things will all be made clearer as the dust settles, as relationships are restored and truth comes to light, and as we remain focused on our primary mission, starting churches and encouraging those who are doing Kingdom work. Know that we love and cherish our Rwandan friends, and they us. We will not speak further of what has happened save in the pursuit of reconciliation among our Houses. You may be assured that reconciliation remains important to us. We offer our apologies to Rwanda and to you for the missteps that we have made, and seek the forgiveness of our brothers and of Almighty God for those places where we have, by our words and actions, caused pain or confusion.
Already Bishop Murphy and Bishop Terrell Glenn have met following Bishop’s Glenn’s recent resignation from our Council. We are happy to report the good news that reconciliation has been reached between our brothers. For this we have not ceased to thank our Lord.
As we move forward we are deeply grateful for the sacrificial and ongoing leadership that our founding archbishops, Moses Tay, Yong Ping Chung, and Emmanuel Kolini have provided to our Mission. At this moment in our history, we are particularly thankful that they have stepped into an active oversight and leadership position in our Mission and in the formation process of a Missionary Society.
It may be helpful to say that an Anglican Missionary Society, by name, must have a jurisdictional connection within the Anglican Communion. We had hoped that our jurisdictional connection would have been with the Province of Rwanda, but with our resignation as bishops from that Province, we are prayerfully considering other options. Although several options have been considered and have presented themselves to us, in prayer and conversation with many of you, it became clear that a process of discernment should first be engaged with the Anglican Church in North America.
What follows is a joint statement issued by the ACNA/AM task force which came into being yesterday and which will be leading us through this discernment process. Bishop TJ Johnston and Bishop Doc Loomis will be representing the Anglican Mission in these conversations.
On December 20, 2011, Bishops Chuck Murphy, Doc Loomis and John Rodgers and representatives from the Anglican Mission in the Americas participated in a very encouraging conversation during a meeting with Archbishop Robert Duncan, Bishops Leonard Riches and Charlie Masters of the Anglican Church in North America. The joyful result of these conversations was a mutual pledge to wholeheartedly pursue a restoration of the relationship between The Anglican Mission and the Anglican Church in North America. The ACNA and AMiA have appointed four bishops to engage in a determined effort to bring about at the earliest possible time a reunion of The Anglican Mission, a founding partner of the ACNA, to full participation in the life and ministry of the Anglican Church in North America. Both parties recognize that this is the beginning of a process, which will involve a number of strategic decisions as well as the repair and restoration of relationships. We give thanks to God for the ongoing work of His Holy Spirit as He continues to draw us together to form a Biblical, united and missionary Anglican witness to North America.
Finally, during our time in Charlotte, Bishop Murphy and the Council openly engaged a number of important leadership issues and transitions that would be involved in formalizing a Missionary Society. One of the purposes of such a move is to provide a stable, sustainable, and flexible platform for our Mission for decades to come. During this conversation, the Council affirmed Bishop Murphy’s leadership as Chairman, even as all of us, including Bishop Murphy, acknowledged that in this time of transition to a Missionary Society, current positions and leadership roles are likely to change.
We also prayed through and discussed our upcoming Winter Conference, which will be a very important time for us to gather together and seek God’s presence and heart for our Mission. Along with our overseeing archbishops, we invite and encourage all of you to join us in Houston for what will be a defining moment for our Mission.
We implore you to prayerfully consider what we have shared with you. It is our earnest desire that you will trust and join with us as we boldly step forward in our call to press on with the Mission the Lord has laid on our hearts, and to help us work through the process of establishing a Missionary Society that reflects our long held belief that we are a Mission, nothing more, nothing less.
With glad tidings for a blessed Christmas we remain,
Faithfully yours,
[Signatures of the 8 AMiA Bishops]
This is a feint toward repentance that falls far short of the biblical model. The bishops "apologize" for whatever harm they "may" have caused. They do not name the sins they have committed, take responsibility for the division they have created, or offer to take any substantive steps to amend their offenses or repair the relationships they have broken.
AMiA bishops quit Rwanda: The Church of England Newspaper, December 16, 2011 p 6. December 20, 2011Posted by geoconger in AMiA, Anglican Church of Rwanda, Church of England Newspaper. First printed in The Church of England Newspaper. The American bishops of the Anglican Mission in America (AMiA) have quit the Church of the Anglican Province of Rwanda (PEAR), rejecting its discipline and oversight. In a letter dated 5 Dec 2011, Bishop Chuck Murphy announced that the Lord “is now doing” a “new thing” and that he and all but two of the AMiA’s bishops were withdrawing from PEAR.
It is unlikely the bulk of the AMiA’s 152 congregations and its clergy will follow the bishops out of the church. On 9 Dec Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje appointed the two loyal American bishops, the Rt. Rev. Thad Barnum and the Rt. Rev. Terrell Glenn, to oversee those who wish to remain within the Anglican Communion.
In letter dated 30 Nov Archbishop Rwaje chastised Bishop Murphy for disobedience, writing: “you have constantly disregarded the decisions and counsels of the House of Bishops” and have “misused the authority given to you by the Archbishop in advancing your new missionary society interests.”
At the Sept House of Bishops meeting, Bishop Murphy proposed changing the oversight of the AMiA from PEAR to a council of three archbishops that he would select. The Rwandans objected to this plan and directed him to halt work until the bishops were of one mind. However, Bishop Murphy carried on with the work announcing that the proposal would be presented to the 21 Dec meeting of the PEAR bishops for approval.
The PEAR bishops also requested a detailed accounting of funds sent to Rwanda as a tithe of the AMiA’s income after reports reached them that portions of the tithe were being spent on Rwandan related projects that had not been approved by the province.
The AMiA has responded that those portions of the funds not contributed directly to the PEAR central fund had been spent on projects authorized by Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini. A summary was provided by the AMiA after the split, but no formal accounting of the funds has yet appeared.
However, the PEAR canons do not allow the archbishop to approve off the books transactions. Title IV Article 17 vests control of “all accounts” of the province with three commissioners elected by the synod.”
Title I.6.10 of the Rwandan canons further obligates Bishop Murphy to “make a report” to the primate on the AMiA’s status “according to the manner established by the House of Bishops or Provincial Synod of the Province.” His failure to comply violated the canons and was an act of disobedience the Rwandan bishops argued.
In his letter of resignation, Bishop Murphy said the AMiA was under no obligation to PEAR as there was “no covenant from the Anglican Mission to the Province.” He enumerated several areas of displeasure with the conduct of the archbishop, and added that he had come to the belief that it was God’s plan for the AMiA to quit the Anglican Communion and venture out on its own.
“I now see a parallel between the Exodus story and the present situation” with Rwanda and the AMiA. “Things have now been made very clear to me, and I am thankful for the clarity that I now have,” he wrote, adding that “we actually see the Lord’s hand in all of this, and we are, therefore, at peace with this change and with this new reality.” According to a statement released on behalf of the faction allied with Rwanda, the resignation will not affect the AMiA’s churches or clergy.
It is “neither an ordaining body nor a place of canonical residence. The orders of AMiA clergy are held in Rwanda. Likewise, all congregations affiliated with AMiA are resident in Rwanda.”
“The bishops who resigned from Rwandan oversight no longer have any authority over churches and clergy which are canonically resident in Rwanda. Clergy and churches may choose to disaffiliate with the Church of Rwanda, just as the resigning bishops did. But unless they do so, they remain under the oversight and spiritual care of Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje,” the statement said.
AMiA-gate with Bp. Murphy's quest for dominion in AMiA. Synodical government humbles, controls and governs hegemonists. Murphy's quest for absolutism is palpable.
WCF 31.1
December 19, 2011
Westminster Confession of Faith
Chapter 31: Of Synods and Councils
1: For the better government, and further edification of the Church, there ought to be such assemblies as are commonly called synods or councils.] And it belongeth to the overseers and other rulers of the particular church, by virtue of their office, and the power which Christ hath given them for edification, and not for destruction, to appoint such assemblies;] and to convene together in them, as often as they shall judge it expedient for the good of the Church.
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.
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
First printed in The Church of England Newspaper. The Anglican Mission in America (AMiA) has come under sharp criticism from the Church of Rwanda over its plans to pull away from the oversight of the African church. On 31 Oct 2011 Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje directed AMiA Bishop Charles “Chuck” Murphy to suspend work on a proposal that would change its oversight from a “personal prelature” under the Rwandan primate to a missionary society overseen by an independent “college of consultors”. Founded by Evangelicals in response to what it saw as the abandonment of the classical Anglicans in the United States, Bishop Murphy and Bishop John Rodgers were consecrated on 29 January 2000 at St Andrews Cathedral in Singapore by the Archbishop of Southeast Asia and Rwandan Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini. It has grown rapidly under the leadership of Bishop Murphy, but has begun to witness internal tensions as well as stresses in its relationship with Rwanda.
Citing personal disagreements with Bishop Murphy, the Rt. Rev. Terrell Glenn, an assistant bishop, last week announced his resignation. Questions have also been raised over the transparency of the AMiA’s finances and leadership structure. Criticisms have also been raised over new canons prepared by a former Roman Catholic clergyman now serving in the AMiA that have incorporated a Roman Catholic ecclesiology and sacramental theology.
The AMiA is not synodicaly governed but operates under the sole authority of its leader, Bishop Murphy, who acts as a primatial vicar for the archbishop. Rwanda’s Title II Canon 15 hold there are seven sacraments of two kinds, while Canon 17 teaches the doctrines of Transubstantiation and the Sacrifice of the Mass – a stance that puts the church at odds with Articles XXV and XXVIII. The canons also follow the Roman Catholic teachings on confirmation, penance, matrimony, ordination, holy unction as well as baptism.
At its 2011 Winter Conference, Bishop Murphy indicated there would likely be a change in the AMiA’s relationship with Rwanda in light of the retirement of Archbishop Kolini. Only two Rwandan bishops had been in office when the AMiA had been formed and the “institutional memory” was fading away, he noted.
A June 2011 meeting in Rwanda brought matters to a head. The Rwandan Church asked for an accounting of funds collected by the AMiA and designated for the East African province. Questions were also raised about the degree of accountability the AMiA had towards the Rwandan House of Bishops. The Rwandan bishops also declined to approve Bishop Murphy’s assistant bishop nominations.
Bishop Murphy noted that the AMiA had no canonical obligation to send money to Rwanda – it had however, contributed an average of 12 per cent of its income over the last seven years to Rwanda’s general fund. However, no public accounting of the disbursements has been made so far. He also charged the Rwandan bishops with “reverse colonialism” – seeking to oversee a church half a world away. This had not worked during the age of colonial expansion when London missionary societies oversaw African churches and could not work today, he argued.
At a 27 Sept 2011 meeting, Bishop Murphy unveiled the reorganization strategy to the Rwandan bishops. The new arrangement would provide stability and continuity for the Pawleys Island, South Carolina-based organization by moving oversight to a self-perpetuating college of consultors, initially led by Archbishop Kolini. While Bishop Murphy told CEN he believed the meeting went well, the Rwandan bishops were left nonplussed.
In an open letter to Bishop Murphy, Bishop John Rucyhana deplored the plan which would “take AMiA from its original intent.” He believed the AMiA was being ungrateful, as “this move may hurt the relationship” between the AMiA and Rwanda, “which stood alone in the whole world with AMiA in the most difficult times.”
He was also distressed by what he saw as the AMiA’s taking Archbishop Kolini out of the Church of Rwanda. “It may be extremely hard to comprehend for the retired Archbishop Kolini who led AMiA as a mission of Rwanda and now moves with AMiA out of the province during his retirement.” On 31 Oct 2011, Archbishop Rwaje wrote to Bishop Murphy “requesting that all procedures toward the formation of the new missionary society be halted until we go through the Jerusalem moment (are of common mind).”
The AMiA also needed to address Rwanda’s concerns over the “painful visit” at the June House of Bishops meeting, the charge of “reverse colonialism” leveled by Bishop Murphy, the “assumption that the new Archbishop does not make decisions,” and to reflect on “the spirit of rebellion and lawlessness.”
Bishop Murphy told CEN it was “absurd” to suggest he was in rebellion. He denied the AMiA was seeking to withdraw from Rwanda and stated his relations with the archbishop remained strong. A meeting is scheduled next week in Washington between the AMiA and the primate to review the tensions before the 21 Dec 2011 meeting of the House of Bishops in Rwanda.
Whenever a new edition of the Wave reaches my mailbox, I cringe anew with whatever froth from the bottom of the seething ocean of “relevant” evangelicalism will wash up on the AMiA shore. Usually, I almost blog about it, but then think better of it and stop myself. But I can’t this time, I just can’t. And, as a disclaimer, I am an AMiA parishioner and couldn’t be happier about it. But our local churches are a small pocket of sanity and theological depth in a denomination full of pirates.
This month’s Wave trumpets (as always) the forthcoming Winter Conference. Who is coming this year? How about notable Third Wave weirdo Jack Deere, a blast from the Counterfeit Revival past? Is AMiA trying to become the Vineyard? I don’t need to delve into all of his past, but here are some of the troubling facts. Are there not any Anglican scholars that we can get to come to an Anglican conference?
Are we so desperate that we have to bring in retreads from the Toronto Blessing and “emergent” folks – seven years after that fad reached its peak? Don’t we have any church planters who might be called on to talk about how Anglican church planting can work in an urban setting? We really need Jack Deere to talk to us about “ministering in the power of the Spirit”?
Okay, now I have that off my chest. Let me just cool down and…wait! What? Another speaker is the Rev. Cynthia Brust, “Associate Pastor of a new church plant in Mission Viejo, California”! What the Moses? Mrs. Brust is the wife the Rev. Canon Ellis E. Brust and is the Director of Communications for “theAM.” She is probably a great lady, but here we go with warmed over Episcopalianism. Here’s a stick in your eye all you who believe in what the Bible says about ordaining women and what the Church has held for, well forever. But wait, there’s more:
Page 9 talks about the Northwest and tells us: “Other developments include adding Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) priest Kristen Yates of the Anglican Diocese of New England to his (the Rev Aaaron Burt’s) staff in October.” And page 11 has a picture of “Bishop Todd Hunter and the Rev. Aaron Burt ordain(ing) the Rev. Jennifer Roach – the first Anglican Mission clergy to be ordained in the Pacific Northwest.” Wow. What a great first for theAM.
While none of this is surprising, the volume and prominence of the embrace of women’s ordination is totally disheartening and heterodox. I saw this coming with Todd Hunter last year, see here. So theAM is going down the wrong road, WAY down the wrong road, and it is at the behest of Bishops like Hunter and Murphy. I am not a Puritan, and the answer is certainly not in hiving off into “purer” denominations. But the time is really here for orthodox folks to join some kind of diocese or whatever else they want to call it, and to take a firm stand against this foolishness.
Bishop Murphy is the Chairman of the Anglican Mission and senior Missionary Bishop of the Province of Rwanda. He is the founder of First Promise, a movement of clergy committed to faithfulness to their ordination vows, which led to the formation of the Anglican Mission. He was consecrated a Bishop by Archbishops Emmanuel Kolini and Moses Tay on January 29, 2000, pioneering a new way forward for other orthodox leaders throughout the Anglican Communion. His contagious passion and unique visionary gifting, along with his ability to create an environment in which others thrive in Spirit-inspired leadership, have contributed to his global reputation as an outstanding preacher, teacher and communicator. Having grown up in a Christ-filled home, his zeal for the Gospel was further developed under the personal tutelage of Dr. James I. Packer and thirty years of parish ministry. Bishop Murphy and his wife Margaret have been married for over 40 years and have three grown daughters (who have all served in leadership capacities within their local churches) and four grandchildren.
Jack is an equipper and trainer for the body of Christ. He has planted three churches; served as a seminary professor (Dallas Theological Seminary); traveled the world speaking at conferences; authored bestselling books.
Dr. Reggie McNeal enjoys helping people, leaders, and Christian organizations pursue more intentional lives. He currently serves as the Missional Leadership Specialist for Leadership Network of Dallas, TX.
Cynthia is Director of Communications and Chair of Winter Conference for the Anglican Mission in the Americas (theAM). On October 3, 2010, she and her husband Ellis launched a new Anglican Mission faith community in southern California – Epiphany – where she serves as Associate Pastor. Cynthia is committed to Christian ministry in the local church, especially as it relates to reaching the de-churched and unchurched in today’s culture by living out ancient roots and faith within current contexts. A writer, speaker, teacher and consultant, she has also studied, written and taught extensively on numerous aspects of faith and discipleship over the last 26 years.
Philip is a missionary bishop in the Anglican Mission, and he and his wife Claudia moved to Dallas, TX, in 2010 to plant a new congregation in Dallas. Previously he served as senior pastor of St. Andrew's, Little Rock, AR; Assistant Rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Waco, TX; Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, Marshall, TX; and as Rector of Pro-Cathedral Church, St. Clements, El Paso, TX. He was involved early on with the First Promise movement and joined the Anglican Mission in 2005 when he accepted the call to St. Andrew's. Philip has a strong commitment to the authority of Scripture and has focused his ministry on the Biblical imperative to reach the world for Jesus Christ and encouraging individuals to develop as disciples of Christ. He received his Masters in Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary in 1989. Philip is married to Claudia, and the couple has seven children.
Kris is lead pastor of Trinity Anglican Mission in Atlanta, GA. He and a team of leaders planted the church in the fall of 2002. Since that time the community has taken root in the city, adopting a long-term goal to transform Atlanta's perception of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
Greetings in the Name of Jesus who was and is and is to come. 
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. 