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

Rwandan Archbishop Smacks Down American Anglican Bishop, Chuck Murphy

David Virtue offers this commentary on PEAR USA v. AMiA, Inc. relations. See: http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=15807

Dear Brothers and Sisters, www.virtueonline.org
April 6, 2012

It was a smack down of the first order. An orthodox Primate of the Global South publicly whacked an American Evangelical Anglican bishop who has spent the last dozen years distancing himself from the Episcopal Church while building an alternative Anglican structure on North American soil.

That it came during Easter must have been particularly galling to AMiA Bishop Chuck Murphy and his fellow bishops, theologians and friends - a personal crucifixion he undoubtedly did not expect or want.

In a "Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ" letter, Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje and his HOB issued a statement that those AMiA missionary bishops who resigned on December 5, 2011 have maintained their credentials in the Province of Rwanda up until now and asked to be "released" from the PEAR have three options. The only three ways they can be "released" from PEAR is by transferring them to another jurisdiction within the Anglican Communion; by their voluntary renunciation of orders; or by formal ecclesiastical discipline.

"Any clergy who wish to withdraw their credentials are free to do so in writing. We encourage all North American clergy credentialed in the PEAR to join PEARUSA, which is our missionary district in North America, unanimously erected by our House of Bishops in our today's meeting."

As we go to cyber press, AMIA officials had not responded to VOL's request for a comment on what they plan to do. When we learn more, we will let you know.

Despite the recent split in the Anglican Mission in the Americas things are far from lost. Mission on the Move has a significant number of new works in process with leadership development a key ingredient for mission momentum that extends across theAM. Paul Sorensen is not only leading theAM's new Initiative for Leadership Advancement, he is also working with Saint Paul's Theological Centre (SPTC) in London to help advance a vision and strategic plan for bringing theology back to the heart of the church. A group of leaders from a number of US church groups and networks including theAM recently gathered in Charleston, South Carolina to brainstorm next steps to make this vision a reality. Paul is busy on the ground working with congregations interested in developing hubs for theological education. This plan will offer a unique new resource of leadership development.

The Anglican Mission currently has some 28 candidates approved for ordination with many more in some stage of the ordination process. Bishop Murphy will ordain at least four individuals on Pentecost Sunday in Ocala, Florida. Other ordinations will be scheduled over the next several months.

Recent financial gifts to theAM encourage the forward momentum for church planting and leadership development. The first donation of $250,000 was given in December 2011 followed by another $250,000 in March. A second donor gave over $570,000 this month.

"These donors believe in what theAM is doing, and we are grateful that we continue to have the financial stability necessary to ensure that our mission and ministry go forward," noted Bishop Chuck Murphy. "With numerous new churches in the works, identifying and training leaders are essential components to take this Mission to the next level."

Why the seeming incessant spinning of Bishop Chuck Murphy’s break with the Anglican Church of Rwanda?

By Robin G. JordanBishop Chuck Murphy’s wing of the Anglican Mission in the Americas that joined him in his break with the Anglican Church of Rwanda appears to have an obsession with justifying Bishop Murphy’s break with the Province of Rwanda, as do its supporters. One of the latest articles seeking to justify this break is Joe Boysel’s “The AMiA Leaves Rwanda: What Happened?” In the comment thread following the article Boysel claims that his article is not “spin.” The article, however, covers all the talking points of Pawley Island’s account of the break that his claim rings hollow.

In the early days of telegraphy the telegraph systems in the United States and other countries had what were known as “repeaters.” Signals were transmitted over the telegraph wires, using direct current from a chemical battery. The result was that the further along the telegraph wires a signal was sent, the weaker it grew. Repeaters were devices that relayed the signal in place of telegrapher at various points along the telegraph wires, enabling the signal to be sent at greater distances. They replaced the weak signal with a stronger one. This article, like a number of articles spinning Bishop Murphy’s break with the Province of Rwanda, serve as a repeater of Pawley Island’s account of the break.

Good propagandists and public relations specialists know that if you repeat a story enough times people will come to believe it irrespective of whether or not it is true. Adolph Hitler referred to this principle in Mein Kampf. He called it the “Big Lie.” The bigger the lie and the more you repeat it, the more people are likely to believe the lie. This includes the people telling the lie. If you repeat a lie enough times, it will acquire a life of its own. The lie will not require the expenditure of as much time and energy in repeating it as was required at the outset. The lie will over a period of time become accepted as truth. This principle is applicable to stories that are a mixture of truth, half-truth, and falsehood.

For more, see:
http://anglicansablaze.blogspot.com/2012/02/why-seeming-incessant-spinning-of.html

AMiA Bishops on Their Future After Break with Rwandan Anglican Church

For those not following the story, here are some pertinent issues. First, Anglican Mission in America (AMiA) is about 11 years old. Second, AMiA has about 150 churches or so.  Third, AMiA split from the parent American body, The Episcopal Church (TEC).  Fourth, although AMiA claims the 1662 BCP and Thirty-nine Articles as formularies, they use the 1979 BCP.  Fifth, AMiA supports women's ordination.  Sixth, they are charismatically-inclined. Seventh, AMiA's majority of Bishop "resigned" from the Rwandan Anglican Bishops and Churches.  This has caused consternation and difficulty for some of the American Churches. Eighth, it remains very unclear why this resignation occurred. Ninth, at present, AMiA looks like MiA without the Anglican part, without a Provincial connection and appears as a more of a liturgized version of a charismatic church. Here's an odd, undistinctive, and unhelpful letter from MiA bishops that offers little. 

http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=15587

AMiA's Council of Bishops Issues Letter on Their FutureFebruary 16, 2012

Dear Friends,

Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
In the weeks since Winter Conference, we have continued conversations about the Anglican Mission's future and are grateful for many of you who have responded positively, offering your valuable insight and perceptions.

Your questions and recommendations have contributed significantly to our ability to better serve you and work toward greater clarity as we move forward together.

Last week, we gathered in a special meeting of the Council with a deep desire to seek Jesus' heart for the Anglican Mission.

As we concluded our meeting, we were convinced that the Lord had truly met with us and had given us clear direction, enabling us to consider things in a new way with fresh insight.

We concluded our meeting united and confident that the Lord was showing us an exciting and challenging way forward.

In order to more fully embrace our call of service to Christ's Church, we have determined to form a Mission Society that is authentically Anglican and focused on North America.

We remain committed to boldly and creatively reaching out to those who are disconnected from Christ and His Church through church planting (Luke 15).

Like other mission societies that have historically supported the broader Church by planting churches on its behalf, we also feel called to express our ministry through such a model. (See attached documents.)

This decision marks the first step in a process to develop the mission society as we continue to seek the Lord's guidance with your input.

With this end in mind, we will be reviewing all of our structures and roles in order to discern the specific shape of the mission society as we engage our process.

We are committed to the following:

* evangelism and discipleship through planting churches that plant churches;
* the expression of three streams: the Sacred (sacramental and liturgical) the Scripture (evangelical), and the Spirit (charismatic);
* orthodox theology (adherence to the 39 Articles of Religion and historic formularies of the Church);
* Anglican polity;
* fostering an entrepreneurial culture;
* pursuing both temporary (short-term solutions) and enduring relationships with an Anglican jurisdiction.

This vision is consistent with our clear call to be "a mission, nothing more and nothing less." Our focus on planting churches as an outreach for an existing judicatory within the one holy catholic and apostolic church continues our established pattern.

As we continue our conversations and discernment with the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), we will keep you fully informed.

We want you to know that our goal is to provide our parishes with strategies and support which will allow us all to move forward together.

During this process, we are committed to open dialogue and are proceeding diligently, but carefully and prayerfully.

We ask for your prayers for wisdom and discernment as we intercede daily for your mission and ministry.

In Christ,

Anglican Mission Council of Bishops

Anglican Mission in the Americas http://theamia.org
Heart of North America Network, AMiA http://honanetwork.com
Ph. 330.990.9475

Anglican TV: AMiA, Rwandan Anglicans, Quincy, Fort Worth and Charlie Brown

http://babybluecafe.blogspot.com/2011/12/this-week-on-anglicantv-amia-quincy-ft.html

AnglicanTV: AMiA, Quincy, Ft. Worth and Charley Brown

Rev. Kennedy Calls for Bp. Chuck Murphy's Public Repentance over Schism

Rev. Matt Kennedy, an Anglican Rector and sponsor of Stand Firm, calls for "public repentence" for "schismatic" behaviours by the Rt. Rev. Chuck Murphy, AMiA.  Rev. Kennedy's response is found at comment #22.

http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/sf/page/28229

As Mark Galli pointed out here, the only reasons cited by +Murphy for his break with Pear are “ecstatic” and personal. He has never indicated explicitly or implied that PEAR has deviated from orthodoxy in any way. In the absence of such a deviation, the most appropriate word for this sinful division is schism.

+Murphy is a bishop in the church. As such his public acts carry a great deal of weight and influence. It is vital for the health and wellbeing of his followers and the Church as a whole that before there is any coming together, he publicly and clearly repent of his schismatic behavior and there be a reconciliation between him and PEAR.

I am sure there are many things we do not know about the money and about the interpersonal relationships between bishops. I am sure that the various parties have all hurt each other in various ways. And yet, since there are no charges of heresy, these disputes do not provide a legitimate basis for breaking ecclesial bonds.

There was a couple in my church early in my ministry. They were not getting along and had both hurt each other in various ways…deeply. But there was no basis for divorce.
I had numerous counseling sessions with both. The wife wanted to work it out. The husband refused.

Ultimately, he filed for divorce without any legitimate biblical cause. He was removed, at that moment, from the communion of the church and we began a process of restorative discipline.

He wanted to continue to maintain his membership and status in the church while divorcing his wife without cause. We said no.

He ultimately and unfortunately decided to leave rather than to repent and reconcile.

So be it. Did I make pastoral mistakes? Sure. And yet there is no doubt in my mind that we as a church did what had to be done in order to remain faithful to scripture.

If we’d let him continue as part of our body without repentance, his actions would have served as a precedence for any couple in the future to do what God expressly hates—causing great harm both to themselves and to the church as a whole.

That may be a poor analogy, but I see the same principles in play here. It is crucial to the fledgling ACNA, especially since we have been formed by a broken relationship, to set very firm and strict behavioral guidlines about such things.

We let this pass without public repentance, we set a precedence for leaders to “feel led” to do just about anything they want in the face of conflict or frustrated vision.

It would be foolishness.

Stand Firm: Comments on Constitution/Canons of Rwandan Anglicans

This will be a thread to watch.  For those following the AMiA, Inc. split with the Rwandan Anglicans, trouble is stirring.  The blog to watch here is Stand Firm. at: http://www.standfirminfaith.com/?/sf/page/28233 .  Reformed Anglicanism's involvement with one (large and influential) AMiA Church---fine Christian Churchmen, but Praise-Bandish, quasi-chariscratic, not very Confessional if at all, and rather low Churchmanship.  We live in eastern NC where low churchmanship has governed.  Singing "Holy, Holy, Holy" to 4 loud crooners exfoliating on guitars, drums and an electronic keyboad...well, that just did it.  The pain was excruciating.  The service got worse when the computer geek messed up the projections on the wall--back and forth on the Nicene Creed until he fixed the projection on the wall.  Could hardly read what was on the wall.  Too painful to return.  They tossed the "Traditional Service" to an early AM and hoisted the enthuasiasts to the main hour.  (We had to travel 61-miles north one way, so we're not returning to hear loud guitars while the highly trained organist, choir, and grand pipes are quiet.)  Anyways, this is the thread to watch...at Stand Firm. Also, the acronym PEAR (below), the "AR" part of PEAR means Anglicans of Rwanda.  The PE part refers to a French phrase not conveniently at hand.  PEAR is the Rwandan Anglican Church.
-----------------------------
Open Thread: Comments on the Constitution & Canons of the Province of Rwanda

Wednesday, December 21, 2011 • 12:04 pm

---

I'd be very interested in our readers' take on the Constitution and Canons of the Province of Rwanda -- both good and bad, including comments on how they might apply to the PEAR-affiliated congregations and how they might have once applied to the AMiA-affiliated congregations.

Plenty of food for thought -- on bishops, church discipline, synod, ecclesiology, and various other aspects of Anglitania as related to AMiA bishops, clergy, and congregations.

ACNA Ousts AMiA Bishops from College of Bishops

http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=15346

ACNA Archbishop Reports AMIA Bishops Ousted from ACNA College of Bishops

A Pastoral Letter from ACNA Archbishop Duncan Concerning the AMIA Split
http://anglicanink.com/article/pastoral-letter-archbishop-duncan
December 20, 2011

"Recent events within the Anglican Mission in the Americas have challenged us all. The vision, however, that governs our fledgling Province remains unchanged: a Biblical, missionary and united Anglicanism in North America."

20th December, A.D. 2011

Eve of St. Thomas the Apostle

TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA:

Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Recent events within the Anglican Mission in the Americas have challenged us all. This letter is a brief report to you all about those events and about our efforts to find a path forward. The present reality is brokenness. The vision, however, that governs our fledgling Province remains unchanged: a Biblical, missionary and united Anglicanism in North America.

The resignation of nine Anglican Mission bishops, including the Bishop Chairman, from the House of Bishops of Rwanda, changed relationships with Rwanda, with fellow bishops and with the Anglican Church in North America. The resigned bishops lost their status in our College of Bishops as a result of their resignation from Rwanda. The Anglican Mission also lost its status as a Ministry Partner, since that status had been predicated on AMiA's relationship with Rwanda. In addition, confusion and hurt has been created in Rwanda and in North America, and there is much serious work ahead of us.

Representatives of the Anglican Church in North America and of the Pawleys Island leadership met today in Pittsburgh. For the Anglican Church in North America the starting point was the importance of our Provincial relationship with the Province of Rwanda (a sister GAFCON Province) and with His Grace Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje, of our relationship with the North American Bishops Terrell Glenn and Thad Barnum and all the clergy licensed in Rwanda, and of our relationship to those represented by the Pawleys Island group with whom we were meeting.

We, as the Anglican Church in North America, have been deeply connected to all three, and we can only move forward when issues and relationships have been adequately addressed and necessary transitions are in progress.

The agreement from today's meeting in Pittsburgh was that the Anglican Church in North America is prepared to enter into a process by which our relationship with those who will rally to the Pawleys' vision and leadership (Anglican Mission in the Americas, Inc.) might be restored to a status like the one existing before the Ministry Partner decision of 2010. All those at the meeting today agreed "that there were no subjects that were not on the table."

For the Anglican Church in North America, these subjects must include leadership, relationships, and jurisdictional participation in a way that is fully Anglican.

We made a partial beginning. Bishops Leonard Riches and Charlie Masters agreed to lead the negotiations from the Anglican Church in North America. Bishops Doc Loomis and TJ Johnston will lead from the AMiA side.

There is much about what has happened that will have to be faced. The other part of this beginning will be to come alongside P.E.A.R. and their designated bishops (Barnum and Glenn), clergy, people and parishes in North America as they discern their next steps. The good news is that we know a God who has called us and who is able. [I Thess. 5:24] We are sure that He wants all the pieces back together in an ever-more dynamic, ever-more-submitted, ever-more transformed and transforming North American Church. [John 17]

Keep praying. With God nothing shall be impossible. [Luke 1:37] And besides that, He works all things together for good for those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. [Rom. 8:28] Blessed Christmas.

Faithfully in Christ,

Robert Duncan
Archbishop and Primate Anglican Church in North America