I thought Phoenix was hot! Then I went to Ft. Worth. Try 102 degrees and 60% humidity. It was lovely. Aside from the weather, it was an incedible experience. It would be difficult to sum it all up, but I’ll try my best.
First off, we accomlished what we set out to do. I went as a delegate representing the AMiA. We voted on a new constitution and canons to establish the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). We did so! I am encouraged by this. One of the reasons I became an Anglican was to be part of something bigger than myself in a tangible way. The uniting of various Anglican groups into one new body is a positive step in that direction.
Secondly, for me, it was a great time to connect, fellowship and listen to other Anglicans from around the country. I enjoyed meeting other people and hearing their stories (especially those who have left the Episcopal Church). Even more so, was the opportunity to connect with other Anglican pastors. I listened to the wisdom and perspective of those who have been doing this a lot longer than me. One of those men was Stewart Ruch who pastors Church of the Resurrectioin in Wheaton, IL. I came away invigorated by these relationships.
Thirdly, I was very encouraged to hear over and over that we need to be about mission. That in order for us to be the church, we need to let go of the past and move ahead with the Gospel. This is in line with AMiA’s vision. Our new Archbishop, Bob Dunan, set forth a challenge to plant 1000 new churches in the next 5 years! I know that we are still new and small at St. George’s, but I believe that we can birth 1 of those 1000. One of our new bishop’s to be, Todd Hunter+, is already casting a vision to plant 200 new churches on the West Coast over the next 20 years! See “Churches for the Sake of Others.”
Having said this, there is still much that is uncertain. For now, we have dual citizenship. We remain a part of AMiA, which is a missionary province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda. At the same time, we are also fully a part of the new ACNA. Only time will tell if we can move ahead in mission, something Anglicans in the U.S. haven’t done a very good job at for the last couple of centuries. You have to go back to George Whitfield and the Wesley’s to find Anglicans on mission in America (and they were all English!).
There are certain things that are going to have to be resolved. Not the least of which is the issue of women priests. While the majority of us in ACNA do not ordain women to the preisthood, including AMiA, a minority do, including Archbishop Duncan. His Diocese of Pittsburgh, and the Canadian Diocese’s, are stongly in favor of women’s ordination. So for now, we have agreed to disagree on this issue. One positive is that there will be no women bishops in the new province. We can only pray that in time, we can also return to a male only priesthood.
I mention this, because I want you to check out this video from the Investititure Service for Archbiship Duncan. This took place last Wednesday night at Christ Church in Plano, Texas. It was an amazing worship service. The video is of the clergy processional of which I got to be a part (I’m about 2 minutes in). As you watch the video, there are a number of women clergy as well. Some are deacons, but others are priests. Having said that, there was an anticipation, an exicetment there that was palatable. I was honored and humbled to be a part of it all. God is at work!
Lastly, today (June 29) is the Feast Day of St. Peter. I’ll leave you with the words of Jesus regarding Peter and His Church from Matthew 16:
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (ESV)
Shane+
Comments
Powered by Facebook Comments
11 responses so far ↓
1 Brian Miller // Jun 29, 2009 at 5:31 pm
It was great meeting you and hanging out with you in sunny TX. I look forward to seeing you again. Keep on with the mission!
2 Shane Copeland // Jun 30, 2009 at 7:32 am
Brien,
I enjoyed meeting you too. Peace.
3 John Dyson // Jun 30, 2009 at 9:22 am
Shane,
Thanks for the update. It was good to see you Sunday. Grace and Peace to you and St. George’s.
4 Sharon McNutt // Jun 30, 2009 at 11:26 am
Shane, an awesome processional…what a display of God at work for His Body, America, the lost, His sheep throughout the world. The harvest is ripe. To God be all the glory, honor, praise, authority and dominion in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
5 Steve Lake // Jun 30, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Shane+, wonderful reflections, wonderful reminder of what we experienced–and of what we are called to be in the new province!
It was a delight to meet and get to know you. I would love to stay in touch over the years to come and share more and more stories of how good our God has been to us in our respective ministries.
Don’t forget: CLUSTER 1 RULES!!!
Peace out,
Steve
6 Matt // Jul 1, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Why would you enjoy hearing stories of those who have left the Episcopal Church? I am sympathetic to your cause as a “never been an Episcopalian and don’t have a dog in that fight” person who is starting a church. I don’t understand taking joy in your Christian brother’s pain and failure…that is odd to me. Would it not be more Christlike to pray for repentance rather than rejoice in failure?
7 Shane Copeland // Jul 1, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Matt,
You have misunderstood what I was trying to say. I, like you, was never a part of the Episcopal Church, and so also have no dog in that fight. I said nothing about “taking joy” in anyone’s “pain and failure.”
I enjoyed listening to those who have left so that I can gain further understanding of why they did so, and of the pain. For so many, TEC was the church they were baptized, saved and spent most of their lives in. Leaving was not easy. It is important for me to know their story because I am now ministering side by side so many who have left TEC.
Like I also emphasized above, it is vital that those who have left, not look back, but move ahead in carrying on the Gospel.
Shane+
8 Matt // Jul 1, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Thank you for the clarification. As always, I continue to prayer for God’s blessings on you and your family and for the witness of St. George’s in downtown Phoenix.
9 Ann McCarthy // Jul 2, 2009 at 7:22 am
Hey Steve – you forgot “y Bolivia!”
Brian – good to meet you – sorry I missed you the last day to say good bye.
Shane+, a friend’s daughter is moving to Phoenix to take a job and so I passed along the website for your church and told her to send her daughter, Mary Lou, your way. So hopefully you’ll see her.
Nice write up – but I think it was like 1000 degrees there.
10 fr Jeff // Jul 11, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Shane,I share your concern over the WO issue,yet AMiA does ordain or recognize and accept women to the priesthood through the Anglican Coalition in America the Coalition in Canada.Also the “mother church”in Rwanda ordains women to the priesthood and pressured AMiA to form the ACiA and ACiC for that purpose.WO may end up being the “deal breaker” in the end.
11 Shane Copeland // Jul 13, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Jeff+,
I don’t know if you’re with the AMiA or not, but I sure hope and pray that WO is NOT the dealbreaker for ACNA.
I am well aware of the “umbrella nature” of the Anglican Mission in the America’s and how it came about a couple of years ago. Since it is a bit confusing and I didn’t want to make this about WO, I intentionally skipped over that.
But what I did say is true: that the AMiA proper, under the “umbrella,” does not ordain women to the priesthood. That is now written in our Charter for Ministry.
And as far as I know, all the churches in the United States are in the AMiA proper (there might be an exception or two). Also, all the bishops are part of this AMiA also. That is, none of the bishops ordain women preists. The women priests in Canada have had non-AMiA bishops ordain them.
What does the future hold? I don’t know, but I’ll keep praying.
Leave a Comment