Anglican Perspectives

Building Strong foundations for Anglicans in North America

One of my favorite shows on HGTV is “Fixer-Upper.” Perhaps you’ve seen it as well?  It’s the story of a wonderful Christian couple named Chip and Joanna Gaines who help renovate the worst homes on the best blocks in Waco, TX for people who are looking for a new home. Each episode is a story of how Chip and Joanna come alongside a couple, find a real “fixer-upper” that has potential (often quite hidden!) and how they create a vision for what that home might look like. Throughout each episode the Gaines’ weave humor, faith and family into everything they do. The episode ends with the visual transformation of that “fixer-upper” into the dream home it was envisioned to be—and with a warm “welcome home” from Chip and Joanna.

 

I love the interaction between this couple, and the particular vision and beautiful end touches that Joanna brings to the work. But the one I most identify with is Chip. You gotta love Chip!  He’s the one who relishes taking the home down to its foundations, uncovering the things that don’t work and need repairing, and adding the structural supports that make that “fixer upper” a dream home that will endure. Without those strong foundations and hard work, the added touches would be merely cosmetic.

 

I believe the American Anglican Council is the Anglican version of Chip Gaines! (stay with me)  We love to survey the church, dig down to the foundations, see what needs fixing, and provide the strong foundations and superstructure to make this Church a “dream home” for those who are searching for a church home!  And for that reason I’m pleased to report two examples of our work over the last week.

 

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The inaugural Anglican Lawyer’s Network meeting in October, 2016.

 

Last Friday the American Anglican Council launched The Anglican Lawyers Network for “Chancellors” [Anglican attorneys] representing dioceses within the Anglican Church in North America, and for other interested Anglican attorneys. The purpose of this network is to help us share our resources and best practices, and to prepare ourselves for the challenges that are likely to come to our free exercise of religion in an increasingly secular culture. We met during the annual conference of the Christian Legal Society in Washington DC, and as a separate “track” within that conference. The Christian Legal Society provides outstanding speakers and workshops (for CLE credit) on topics of religious liberty, risk management, Christian legal aid and so much more. As attorney and judge George Peagler (Anglican Diocese of the South) observed:

 

“The new Anglican Lawyers Network meeting was for me an affirmation of the depth and commitment of Anglican attorneys serving the Anglican Church in North America. I see in this group a commitment to follow our Lord in doing justice, loving mercy and walking humbly with our God (Mic. 6:8) as we share experiences and assist each other!”

 

We will continue to meet at the Annual Conference of the Christian Legal Society—so Anglican attorneys, please save the dates of October 25-29, 2017 in Newport Beach CA!

 

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Over 160 participated in the AAC’s Revive! Church Revitalization workshop in Vancouver, BC in October, 2016.

 

On Wednesday, Canon Steven Saul, the AAC’s Director of Church Revitalization and Coaching, and I were in Vancouver, BC to offer Revive! An Introduction to Church ReVitalization for our brothers and sisters in the Anglican Network in Canada Annual Synod. Did you know that approximately 80% of the 966 congregations in the Anglican Church in North America—including those in ANiC/Canada—have an average Sunday morning attendance of 100 or less?  Since 2010, we’ve been working with many of these congregations who have experienced recline or even decline in mission, ministry capacity, financial resources and people. We’ve learned from experience that it IS possible to “turn-around” such recline and decline through a re-commitment to fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission, fervent prayer, and asking the question “What does God want to do through our Church, in our Community at this time?” There’s no cookie cutter answer to that question—because each local Anglican church has a unique history and values, a unique community to serve and a unique time. But God knows. And our Revive! workshop gives people the tools, teamwork and resources to begin that process of discernment—with coaching to make sure good and Godly steps follow.

 

We had 160 lay leaders and their clergy packed wall to wall for Revive! at Good Shepherd Anglican Vancouver BC. We shared with lots of laughter, some tears and times of personal prayer for breakthroughs… As Bishop Charlie Masters observed:

 

We are believing God for much fruit to follow. Over the last few years, many ANiC parishes have been praying about and working on strategic planning and church revitalization so this workshop has offered timely encouragement and fresh approaches. Both Phil and Steven shared immense experience in the ups and downs of Anglican parish life and were able to counsel and encourage parishes which may be spinning their wheels and in danger of becoming discouraged.”

 

You can read the whole report here.

 

The AAC is like a mission society that seeks to build up and defend Great Commission Anglicans in North America and beyond. We take our inspiration from God’s word, and in the Old Testament from Nehemiah who strategically oversaw the rebuilding of Jerusalem with a sword in one hand and a trowel in the other (Neh. 4:13). It is a great joy and privilege to help “fix-up” Anglican Churches in the 21st century, so that we may all become a home for the least, the last and the lost!

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