I have previously blogged about the reformation of Anglicanism in the United States here and here. This is the 3rd part of the series. On Monday, I leave for Ft. Worth, Texas. I am going as a delegate, representing the Anglican Mission in America as we become a part of the new ACNA (Anglican Church in North America). In fact, there are some 700 churches with about 100,000 members coming together to form ACNA.This is an historic event. Your prayers are more than coveted.

Julia Dunn of the Washington Times recently wrote a good and balanced article about the event. She writes:

The Anglican Church in North America will be formally founded next week, challenging the legitimacy of the U.S. Episcopal Church and posing a dilemma for the worldwide Anglican Communion over who represents Anglicanism in the United States and Canada.

When 232 delegates to the ACNA convention at St. Vincent’s Cathedral in Bedford, Texas, approve the organization’s constitution and canons on Monday, Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan will become archbishop for this “emerging” 39th province of the communion, consisting of several groupings that have left the Episcopal Church over issues related to sexuality and biblical authority.

Like I said, this is historic stuff and I am privileged to be there. The Anglican provinces of Rwanda, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, West Africa and South America (Southern Cone) have all given their formal support and endorsement to ACNA. What this means for the future of the Anglican Communion as it is now centered in the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury, England, and for the Episcopal Church,  remains to be seen. Dunn writes:

More than 70 of the Episcopal Church’s 110 dioceses are in serious financial straits, and its membership is dropping precipitously, with an average Sunday attendance of 727,822.

The ACNA, with an average attendance of 100,000, is quickly adding congregations and forming new dioceses. Its numbers go beyond the adherents of 13 of the 38 provinces that belong to the Anglican Communion.

The new group has several hurdles, not the least of which is that Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, leader of the Anglican Communion, has yet to recognize the ACNA as a legitimate Anglican alternative to the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada.

However, when Bishop Duncan met last Oct. 15 with Archbishop Williams, the archbishop instructed the Pittsburgh bishop to submit an application for the new province.

You can read the whole article here: “New Anglican Church Poses Dilemma.”

Also, the ACNA has a new website up that you can check out. There will be up to date coverage of the Assembly next week. So check it out and keep praying!

Shane+