Posted on 12/05/2008 7:21:04 AM PST by Alex Murphy
Tom Williamson prayed, bowed, sang, clapped and rejoiced during a recent Anglican prayer service in Wheaton.
But this was no ordinary ceremony. About 500 conservative Anglicans from across the United States, Canada and Africa gathered Wednesday to celebrate the formation of a new Anglican province created because of the alienation many feel toward the liberal stance of the Episcopal Church.
"My wife and I thought it was important to be here today," Williamson said. "It's a very momentous occasion."
Just before the prayer service, conservative leaders held a press conference announcing the formation of the new province they are calling the new Anglican Church in North America.
According to Bishop Robert Duncan, who leads the breakaway Diocese of Pittsburgh, the new province has 100,000 members and 700 churches. The province is made up of groups that left the Episcopal Church years ago, as well as four Episcopal dioceses that recently split from the U.S. church. Several Anglican parishes from Canada also are part of the new province.
Williamson became a member of the Church of the Resurrection in Wheaton in 2006. Although the group dates back to 1954, it broke away from the Episcopal Church in 1993 because of theological differences. The congregation is now part of the newly formed Anglican province that is not in communion with the Episcopal Church.
"Even though my wife and I were raised as Baptists, we felt a kinship with the people of the Church of the Resurrection, a church that is both liturgical and sacramental," Williamson said.
Tensions before split The announcement Wednesday at the Wheaton Evangelical Free Church, which is not part of the Anglican church, comes after decades of debate over what Episcopalians should believe about issues ranging from salvation to sexuality. Tensions erupted in 2003 when Episcopalians consecrated the first openly gay bishop. The world Anglican Communion is a fellowship of churches with roots in the Church of England, a denomination that dates back to the Protestant Reformation of the 1500s. The Episcopal Church, founded during the American Revolution, is the Anglican body in the United States. But the new province says it represents true Anglican beliefs.
"This is an extraordinary day," Duncan told reporters. "By conservative Anglicans coming together in unity, we are able to override 40 years of divisiveness. Our mission is to remain true to Jesus and the gospel."
Duncan has been named the archbishop of the province.
The Episcopals asked for this by coddling practices that run afoul of Scripture.
Interesting. Why was the announcement made at the Wheaton Evangelical Free Church? EFC churches are not even anything like either Anglican or Episcopal churches. What was the connection there?
I wish there were a conservative Anglican church somewhere near me. But in extremely liberal Maryland that is vanishingly unlikely.
Fixed it!!
bookmark.
my wife and I left the church because of it going too liberal.
If however the church gets away from it’s liberal leanings then I ‘ll take my whole family back again
Because Church of the Resurrection ("Rez") does not have their own church building, they lost it when they broke away from the Episcopal Church in the '90s. They hold services on Sundays in a high school auditorium. I think it was primarily an issue of the nearby Wheaton EFC was available on Wednesday evening and large enough to handle the event, don't think there's necessarily anything to read into it theologically. Friends of mine attend Rez and were at this event (even saw them on the web streamed tv coverage, lol). Very exciting and historic event, wish I could have been there personally.
Pinging you to news about the event I was telling you about....
The Episcopal Cult is a cancer on Christianity.
Ping
This has been going on for over three decades and only NOW it's a new day? Nevertheless, well, I wish them well regardless.
Thanks to PAR35 for the ping.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.
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Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15
May depend upon where you are in Maryland. Check the site in my tagline, or FReepmail me. Earlier this year when I was in Maryland I attended an Anglican church (in my province) in reach of some of Maryland, and there are others.
Things are moving quickly now!
Church of the Resurrection of Illinois does not have its own building, and Resurrection Anglican Church (”Rez”) in West Chicago, where the bishops met for their meetings, rents a smallish space, not capable of handling the crowd. Evangelican Free was the biggest available. It was a great service. I was there.
I have no doubt that the province will grow quickly, will be largely evangelical, and will bring the Eucharist to many seekers who would otherwise never receive the sacrament.
Across the aisle, the movement towards reunification of the main "Chambers Ordination" churches moves slowly and with little fanfare. But maybe that's a good thing too.
Bless you.
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