Over the last two weeks I’ve had the privilege of meeting with fellow Anglicans in Philadelphia, Houston and Arkansas around the challenges of church revitalization and growth, coaching leaders, and developing canons and structures that will enable the Anglican Church in North America to better reach North America with the transforming love of Jesus Christ. Sometimes the news we share here at the American Anglican Council is more about what isn’t right in the Church, and what isn’t working. So today I’d like to share some encouraging words and stories from the field.
In Philadelphia I spent a weekend working with 9 congregations, their clergy and lay leaders on how to revitalize their local churches, enable them to cast new vision, enter into a new period of growth in mission, and even to consider planting new churches. First, let me say how wonderful it is to hear clergy and lay leaders speak with affection and gratitude for their Bishop as a servant leader– in this case, the Right Rev. David Hicks of the Reformed Episcopal Church Diocese of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. I believe this diocese may be the oldest in the REC, and like so many churches in the “rust belt,” it’s churches have experienced seasons of “recline” (plateau) and even decline in urban neighborhoods in transition.
But I was blessed to hear two stories of turn around churches among the congregations and the 60+ clergy and lay leaders at our workshop. In one case, a congregation that had experienced significant decline decided to risk its endowment in order to grow. Instead of conserving it over several years by hiring a part-time clergy leader, they bet the whole thing on hiring a young energetic and experienced church planter– knowing that they had three years or less to turn it around. The result? A dramatic turnaround in attendance, giving and mission. In another case, an inner city congregation in a neighborhood in transition merged with a smaller remnant and began to reach out to an entirely new ethnic group. Again, the result was and continues to be a dramatic turnaround in attendance, giving and mission.
One lay leader came forward and shared with me on break why he believes there was such a turn-around. The simple answer: dedicated prayer for the needs of the church. This is what he shared with me by e-mail:
“One part of the answer may be this… for nearly 6 years, a dedicated group of men has gathered every week to pray for the needs of the parish, the rector and his family, the bishops and their families, the various ministries and schools, the seminarians, the youth, missionaries, illnesses, the church schools, the Sunday School Teachers, the persecuted church, employment, the vestry, evangelism, incarcerated men, upcoming meetings, church challenges, to become better witnesses in our community and workplaces, and other needs as are known.”
These men met with the Rector for 30 minutes every Saturday. What a testimony to the power of intercessory prayer! “If every Anglican church in North America were to have similar men’s prayer group meeting weekly for a half-hour,” this prayer warrior wrote, ” I believe we would be astounded by what God would show us, the number of people we would be privileged to introduce to Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and the outpouring the Holy Spirit would give us to further His Kingdom.” All I can say is AMEN!
In Houston our ACNA meetings of the Governance Task Force, Archbishop’s Cabinet and Executive Committee were also bathed in prayer. We had dedicated intercessors praying for us throughout the entire week, every minute we met. We were also blessed by Fr. Stan Gerber, his staff and volunteers at St. Timothy’s Anglican in Spring TX where we met and were surrounded by hospitality, more prayer and a wonderful worship service Wednesday evening with pews at capacity!
In these meetings I have experienced a remarkable unity that I can only ascribe to the work of the Holy Spirit, the prayers of many, and our focus on keeping Jesus Christ and his Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) the reason for everything we do. In regards to the work on canons and structures for mission, we sometimes have a challenge balancing missional flexibility with Anglican polity (including “checks and balances”). But since we began the work of forming the ACNA immediately following GAFCON 2008, we have been blessed with what I believe is a supernatural gift of unity and the ability to bridge differences through careful and prayerful conversations Our continuing commitment to the principles of subsidiarity (making sure that jurisdiction at the top goes for things which can only be done at the top) and minimalism. I am grateful for the leadership our Archbishop Robert Duncan and our Chancellor Mr. Hugo Blankingship, Esq. have given to us. Although both will be retiring soon, we expressed both thanks for their wise and skillful leadership and great confidence in the leadership that God will provide in the next five years to keep us moving forward in every way.
From Houston I went to consult with a congregation that is experiencing aging membership, loss of members through transfers and deaths, and challenges in reaching out and attracting young families, children and youth. It’s the same challenge I hear from many Anglican congregations all over North America. Despite their challenges, almost 40 people showed up on a snowy Friday night to hear me share about “How churches grow (Acts 2:36-47)” and “Is church decline inevitable?” I listened to seven focus groups of members share how much they loved Jesus, how much they loved and cared for each other, and how much they love their church. I can only believe that when Anglican have their hearts and priorities in the right place as these good people do, that they too will receive the fulfillment of the promise that the prophet Jeremiah shared from the heart of the Father to a people facing challenges in Babylon: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'” (Jer. 29: 11 NIV)
With prayer to discern God’s vision for their church, in their community, at this time– and with hard work, coaching and resources from the American Anglican Council– I’m confident that their best days lie ahead.
May we be grateful for the blessings God is pouring out upon our Anglican reformation and realignment here in North America. It is an Anglican moment! And may we recommit ourselves to exalting Jesus Christ, fulfilling his Great Commission, and calling through prayer on the power and supernatural resources of the Holy Spirit.
Canon Phil Ashey is CEO of the American Anglican Council
