Posted on 04/09/2005 9:45:29 AM PDT by sionnsar
Despite unresolved controversies over homosexuality in the church, the head of a traditionalist group within the US Episcopal Church said Anglicanism is heading toward a theologically orthodox and spiritually vibrant future.
In statements made during the Anglican Communion Network’s Mid-Atlantic Convocation conference in Woodbridge, Va., Bishop Robert Duncan explained that traditional Anglicans have gained “lots of triumphs” in the past few months.
In particular, Duncan pointed out he “stunning triumph” gained internationally when Anglican Primates worldwide called on the US and Canadian Anglican churches to halt gay “marriage” blessings and ordinations or face a break in fellowship.
However Duncan cautioned that these developments won’t come without a cost, according to ACN.
“Already, in the wake of the Primates’ historic affirmation of mainstream Anglicanism, many who disagree are targeting orthodox minorities for persecution,” ACN wrote in a statement.
“Unfortunately, in between surviving and thriving is suffering,” Duncan was quoted as saying. “God will use the days ahead as we struggle and suffer.”
The ACN was formed by traditional and orthodox Anglicans last year in response to the Episcopal Church USA’s ordination of an open and active gay bishop and has since gained the support of traditional Anglicans across the nation.
The ACN has two main goals, according to Duncan.
“I think what the Lord wants for us is that we learn to work better with our Common Cause partners,” Bishop Duncan said. I think God is going to break that spirit in us as we go through this very hard time.”
Second, the ACN has to take a greater role in organizing and rallying support from the “sleeping giant” of the church – the laity.
“Turtullian says the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. Let’s accept our vocations to be martyrs, witnesses,” the bishop said. “Courage breeds courage. Remember those words from Plano? Brothers and sisters, courage is what is being asked of us just now
Pauline J. Chang
pauline@christianpost.com
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. The Anglican Provence of Christ the King has helped its Parish in Manchester, Connecticut purchase a Church and Rectory. This traditional parish separated from the "old" Episcopal teaching (homo)and was "kicked" out of its church. Now, thanks to all Anglicans that helped, the homo's can have an empty church and rectory.
I wonder how many of us are APCK.
They left ECUSA (for APCK), and there were too few left in ECUSA to support the historic old building. But ECUSA would not sell the building to the APCK parish; it eventually went to a fellow who turned it into an upscale Chinese restaurant, with a nightclub in the basement. (By law they had to preserve the exterior of the building.)
It took five years but the operation finally went bust (to the relief of the police!); perhaps people felt uncomfortable eating in a former church. The local university wanted to buy it, but it didn't meet their earthquake codes. So the APCK parish was finally able to buy it, for less than what they would have had to spend before.
Aside: one of the priests there is also a carpenter. He said that when they started pulling off the interior facades, they found little crosses hidden behind the facades and elsewhere, apparently left by the workmen who remodeled the church into the Chinese restaurant.
We're church-hunting ourselves. We just had a wonderful visit from our Ordinary with assurances of support for that and we hope to be sited within months.
Please pray for us!
In Christ,
Deacon Paul+
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