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I became a first-time rector of a local Episcopal Church (TEC) in August of 2003. For those of you who came into the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) having come out of TEC, that month and year might mean something. That was the month that Bishop Gene Robinson, a practicing homosexual, was approved by the TEC General Convention. I suddenly found myself a 31 year old, brand-new rector of a church in the middle of a major denominational crisis and in need of revitalization. Needless to say, it was an interesting time!
I got deeply involved in the “fight” for biblical truth in TEC, mostly through partnership with the American Anglican Council (AAC). I helped, alongside a wonderful lay leader, Harris Willman, to organize regular meetings for an AAC chapter (which turned out to be the foundation for what later became the ACNA’s Gulf Atlantic Diocese). I went to any gathering of conservative leaders that I could. One of the things I heard repeatedly from the older leaders I followed – many of whom are the “Moseses” of our movement – was the need for us, on our side, to repent, specifically for not paying more attention to what was happening at the denominational level in the decades preceding the crisis. These faithful leaders confessed to having been so focused on their local church that they didn’t pay enough attention to what was happening at the denominational level. Meanwhile, humanist progressives (what we might call cultural marxists today) were paying very close attention to denominational matters and took over the entire church from within.
To repent means more than just being sorrowful for past behavior but to turn and, with the Lord’s help, move 180 degrees in the other direction. So for those of us serving in the ACNA, whether we were formerly in TEC or came in to the movement later, we should still take that call to repentance seriously. It’s imperative to not fall back into the bad habit of only focusing on our local churches and not paying close attention to what’s happening to the whole Church (And I’m saying this as the Director of the AAC’s Anglican Revitalization Ministries, which is dedicated to strengthening local Anglican churches and supporting thriving local Anglican churches is my life’s call and passion!).
To this end, we have long seen the biblical story of Nehemiah as an example for us, where Israel had to both build up the wall while at the same time defending against enemy attack. In Nehemiah 4:17-18 (NLT), it says, “The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon. All the builders had a sword belted to their side.” In fact, the mission statement of the AAC carries this theme: We exist to build up and defend Great Commission Anglicanism both at home and abroad. We build up the local church and its leaders while at the same time keeping an eye on our enemies, the Devil and his demons, and their work at attacking the Church from within and without. May all laborers in the Church continually do the same!
The ACNA is developing in a direction that has excited many of us, and now it is under the leadership of a new archbishop, the Most Rev. Steve Wood. But it would be foolish to think that the Devil isn’t ready to infect and inflict trouble into the province. And that’s where we come in: we must continue to pray as much as we can, each and every day if possible, for our leaders and our church. It is so easy to get complacent and to forget the big picture of the battle we’re all facing, not just in our own small spheres of influence but around North America (and around the globe as well!). I once heard Dallas Willard quote Isaiah 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray” and then ask the question, “How do sheep go astray?” After a pause, he answered, “One blade of grass at a time.” So powerful. So true. Remembering to pay attention and to pray will help keep us from straying!
One of the events that prompted these thoughts is our upcoming Provincial Council in Ambridge, PA. The AAC, a founding member and Ministry Partner, will participate. There is much to celebrate as the province focuses more and more on supporting the work of mission through the local church. This last year, Archbishop Wood wrote,
“Central to our common life across the Anglican Church in North America these next several years is my desire to equip every congregation for mission and ministry. The Constitution and Canons of our church contain this remarkable statement: ‘The fundamental agency of mission in the Province is the local congregation.’ (ACNA Const. Art. IV.1; Canon I.6.1) My aim in the years ahead is to keep that statement before the various bodies and dioceses of our province. The evaluative question for us all will be, ‘how does this (whatever it is that is under consideration) support the local congregation in her mission?’”
We look forward to hearing more about how the ACNA can bear much fruit in building up the Church at the local level while at the same time remaining watchful for the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the Devil. As we plan and celebrate the future together, we must also pray, knowing that the battle doesn’t end, even when we break for some fellowship and celebration. I want to encourage all of our readers to begin praying even now for the Council ahead, for good and godly governance to characterize the decisions being made by the College of Bishops and our provincial leaders, and for the growth of a new generation of healthy leaders and churches to continue the fight for the sake of the Gospel at every level of the Church!