The final day of Provincial Council 2026 turned delegates’ attention toward the future of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), highlighting leadership, mission, partnership, and the work still ahead. Through teaching, testimony, and ministry reports, the morning repeatedly returned to a common theme: the Church’s calling of sacrificial service for the sake of Christ and His Gospel.
The day began with Morning Prayer, opening with the familiar song, “Bless the Lord, O My Soul,” reflecting the gratitude that many delegates expressed today for the spirit they sensed these past three days of concord, collegiality, and perseverance. They blessed the Lord for His goodness to the church and His continuing guidance for the province.
The Rev. Jon Odom, rector of Cornerstone Church, offered another morning reflection on leadership that challenged delegates to consider the motivations behind their service. Too often, he suggested, leaders approach their responsibilities by asking, “Given my role, what may I gain?” Rather, Christian leaders should ask, “Given my role, what can I do?” The distinction is significant. Healthy institutions, he argued, depend upon men and women who seek the good of the organizations they serve rather than the benefits they might personally receive. Drawing from John 10:10, Rev. Odom pointed to Christ’s own example. Jesus clearly stated His purpose: “That they may have life.” The Lord’s ministry was directed toward the flourishing of others even at great personal cost. Likewise, St. Paul consistently encouraged church leaders to lay down their lives for those entrusted to their care. The challenge was a timely one. As the Province continues navigating a season of reform, growth, and institutional development, delegates were reminded that Christian leadership is ultimately measured by sacrificial service.
That emphasis on service naturally led into a testimony from the Rev. Dr. David Alenskis of the Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders (SAMS), who shared about the Church’s missionary calling. Alenskis and his wife, Mary Beth, currently serve in Belize. There, he works to strengthen local leadership in Anglican churches and schools, while Mary Beth ministers to young people through music programs in both church and educational settings. Reflecting on life in the mission field, Alenskis spoke of Christ’s sufficiency and the necessity of trusting God in every circumstance. His appeal extended beyond those called to overseas ministry. Every Christian, he argued, has a role to play in fulfilling the Great Commission. If individuals cannot go themselves, they can pray, support, and send those whom God has called to carry the Gospel into the world.
One of the most significant announcements of the morning focused on the Province’s future direction. Leaders unveiled plans for a new Provincial Council/Mission Council gathering scheduled for June 14-15, 2027, at Wellspring Church in Denver, Colorado. The event will serve as a pilot for future annual missional gatherings, combining the formal work of Provincial Council with focused opportunities for mission, church planting, training, and collaboration. Plans include a half day of Council business followed by one and a half days of plenary sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities designed to equip leaders for Gospel ministry. The rationale behind the initiative was clear. With more than 140 million people across North America disconnected from Christ and His Church, provincial leaders expressed a desire to renew the local church’s role as the primary engine of evangelism and mission. The gathering is intended to help shape the ACNA’s vision and priorities for the coming decade.
The morning also included the presentation of the Founders Memorial Award, an honor established in 2025 to celebrate the legacy of founding leaders whose faithfulness helped shape the Province. This year’s award was presented posthumously to the Rt. Rev. Jack Iker, founding bishop of the Diocese of Fort Worth. Presenting the award, the Rt. Rev. Ryan Reed reflected on Bishop Iker’s enduring reputation for courage, steadfastness, and unwavering commitment to biblical Christianity and Anglican orthodoxy. Many who served alongside him affectionately referred to him as the “Lion of Fort Worth,” a nickname earned through years of perseverance during some of the most difficult seasons facing the Anglican movement. Bishop Iker’s daughter, Debby, received the award on his behalf.
Partnership and shared ministry were highlighted during a panel discussion led by ACNA Executive Director Debra Tepley. The conversation focused on resource sharing across the Province and featured the Rev. Dr. Chris Stroup, CEO of Anglican House Publishers; Dr. Kelley Munger, ACNA Director of Safeguarding; and the Rev. Ken Robertson, rector of International Anglican Church in Colorado Springs. Each panelist described how their respective ministries serve the wider Church and emphasized the importance of collaboration between provincial ministries and parishes. Their discussion illustrated the growing network of partnerships that support congregations, dioceses, clergy, and lay leaders throughout the Province.
Delegates also received an update on the work of the Global Anglican Communion through a video presentation from Bishop Paul Donison, Secretary General of GAFCON. Introduced by Dean Julian Dobbs, the presentation reviewed key developments from the G26 gathering in Abuja, Nigeria, including the continuing reorganization of global Anglican structures and the establishment of new leadership mechanisms intended to strengthen cooperation among orthodox Anglican provinces worldwide.
Attention then turned to the well-being of clergy and their families. Bishops Alan Hawkins, Chris Warner, and Stephen Tighe presented the Clergy Financial Wellness Initiative, a province-wide effort supported by a grant from the Lily Endowment. The initiative seeks to strengthen the financial health and long-term stability of clergy households, recognizing the challenges many clergy families face as they seek to serve faithfully in ministry.
One of the most moving presentations came from Bishop Jay Cayangyung, who spoke about the Special Jurisdiction for the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy. His remarks highlighted the unique role chaplains play in bringing the Gospel into places where many traditional ministries cannot easily reach. “Chaplains go to those places that most people cannot get to,” he said. Whether serving in military units, hospitals, emergency response settings, or social service environments, chaplains often minister to individuals experiencing profound suffering, trauma, and crisis. “We are proclaiming the transforming love of Jesus Christ on the front lines of life,” Cayangyung told delegates. His remarks served as a fitting conclusion to a morning repeatedly focused on service beyond the walls of the Church.
Provincial Council 2026 began amid significant challenges facing the Province and the wider Anglican world. Over three days, however, delegates heard repeated testimony of God’s faithfulness, the growth of ministry across North America and beyond, and the opportunities that remain before the Church. If a common message emerged from this year’s gathering, it was that the future of the ACNA will not be secured by structures alone but by leaders willing to serve sacrificially, churches committed to mission, and believers determined to carry the Gospel wherever God calls them. As delegates departed, the focus was not merely on the work that had been accomplished but on the mission that still lies ahead. It is in that very mission that Christ must remain our only source of sufficiency and with whom we will walk on the journey together towards greater provincial growth. And in the words of Bishop Julian Dobbs, through all of this, we must place our confidence in Christ alone.
He is, quite simply, enough.