Anglican Mission Update

by Fr. Thomas McKenzie |  January 7, 2012
Dear Church,

I would like to give you a brief update of the situation regarding the Anglican Mission in the Americas (AMiA).  If you recall, I sent out a somewhat lengthy pastoral letter a few weeks ago.  Without that letter as background this update may not make much sense.  You can read that letter by clicking here: http://www.redeemernashville.net/about-us/pastors-blog/a-pastoral-letter-regarding-the-amia.html.

Next week, the pastors of our church (Danny Bryant, Susan Kimbro, Jenna Martin, and I) as well as three of our elders (Pat Shepard, Becky Stubbs, and Linda Thoel) will be at the AMiA's annual "Winter Conference."  There we hope to hear from the organization about its plans for the future. 

Over the past weeks, the leaders of the AMiA have been in conversation with the leaders of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) as well as the Anglican Province of Rwanda.  Talks are said to be underway which will hopefully lead to reconciliation and renewal of good relations.

Here is the situation as of today.  I am still a priest of the Anglican Province of Rwanda.  Danny Bryant is a deacon of Rwanda, and Jenna Martin will be ordained on Thursday as a deacon of Rwanda also.  Church of the Redeemer is part of the world-wide Anglican Communion by virtue of this connection.  Redeemer is also a member of the AMiA.  The AMiA used to be a part of the Province of Rwanda.  At this point it is an independent, non-profit, church-planing organization.  It is under the spiritual oversight of three retired Anglican archbishops. 

Bishop Todd Hunter became our bishop after Bishop T.J. Johnston ceased to be our bishop a few months ago.  As I now understand things, Bishop Todd ceased to be our bishop the moment he resigned from the House of Bishops of the Province of Rwanda.  Since we are a Rwandan congregation, we can't have a bishop who isn't part of Rwanda.  Currently our official bishop is Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje, the present archbishop of the Anglican Province of Rwanda.  You may notice on our bulletin this week that Bishop Todd's name no longer appears.  This is not because we have any ill feelings toward Bishop Todd.  Quite the contrary.  Who knows, he may one day be our bishop again.  But the fact is that he isn't our bishop today. 

After Winter Conference, your Elders will continue to meet and pray about next steps.  I think that over the next several weeks, hopefully not months, a clear way forward will be revealed.  As I said in my previous letter, I do not believe that the actions which led to the current predicament were appropriate.  I do firmly believe in God's Providence.  I believe that the Lord is moving in the middle of this mess to create a stronger and more unified Anglican Church in North America (ACNA).  I expect that many of the congregations currently in the AMiA, perhaps most of them, will ultimately find a home in the ACNA.  This may be because the AMiA submits to and joins the ACNA (which would be my preference), or it may be through other means.  Regardless of the specifics, the end result should be a unity in the Body of Christ which as been lacking in recent days.  
 
Thank you for your continued prayers for the Anglican Communion, for Archbishop Rwaje, for Bishop Todd, for Redeemer, and for our Elders and Pastors.  The Lord Jesus continues to pour out God's grace through the power of the Spirit.  We are filled with His blessings, and remain ever grateful. 

In Christ,

The Reverend Fr. Thomas McKenzie
Pastor, Church of the Redeemer