The Rev. Rick Warren brought hundreds of former Episcopalians to their feet in applause Tuesday when he called their exodus from the denomination “a historic event” and said God was “calling you out” of the Episcopal Church.
“I jumped at the chance to come here,” Mr. Warren, evangelical pastor of the 24,000-member Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., told delegates to the constitutional convention of the newly created Anglican Church of North America (ACNA). “We will stand with you in solidarity as God does something new in your midst.”
I must admit I am baffled as to why Rick Warren is so heavily involved in the ACNA movement. He comes from a complete free church tradition as I understand him. He seems to want to take on the respected mantle of Billy Graham but seems like he is risking burning the bridge between he and other mainstream denominations who already are leery of him.
Please don’t take this as a snarky or derogatory comment about him or the ACNA. I just do not quite understand his motives.
Archer,
It is indeed quite striking how prominently Rick Warren is lending his support to this new movement. But for me, this is less a cause of puzzlement than of delightful surprise and joy. Yes, Warren also apoke at the “A Hope and a Future” Conference that +Duncan organized in Pittsburgh in November, 2005. But I’m not sure that TWO speeches amounts to “America’s Pastor” being “heavily involved” (as you put it), in the ACNA.
But I’m glad that Julia Duin of the Washington Post was there in Bedford to cover this truly historic event (in her usual fine fashion), and that she called attention to the fact that Rick Warren very, very rarely accepts such outside speaking engagements, despite receiving countless invitations to speak around the country. That does heighten the impact of this public endorsement.
FWIW, I think Warren’s willingness to endorse the ACNA, something that Billy Graham avoided doing during his long ministry in the public spotlight, reflects that we are indeed in the early stages of a New Reformation that’s sweeping the whole western Church. Like Billy, Rick Warren tries hard to avoid getting entangled in politics and distracted by it (although like Billy, he’s willing to pray at presidential inaugurations and give private spiritual counsel to major leaders). And also like Billy before him, Warren also tries hard to avoid getting involved in church politics as well (even in his own denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention, in which he’s quite a maverick). So that does make this public appearance in support of the ACNA all the more significant and surprising.
The actual speech itself contained very little that was new. Warren mostly rehashed or reaffirmed many of his stock concepts and reused some of his lines. But that was OK with me, since so many of them are so good that they are well worth hearing over and over again.
A few things that stuck with me. First, Warren’s apt choice of Isaiah 43 as a text to start with, and his opening theme: [i] God loves to create new things [/i] (focusing especially on Isa. 43:18-19). That’s true and appropriate to the occasion. We follow a resurrected Lord, the first-born of a whole new creation, who delights in making all things new (Rev. 21:5).
But I especially relished his reminder (and it’s one of my alltime favorite Rick Warren one-liners), [b] “A great commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission will make a great church.” [/b]
Or a great Christian.
Or a great denomination or “communion.”
Amen. It’s so true. And my earnest hope and prayer is that it turns out to be true of the ACNA.
David Handy+
One of the major gifts of the Anglican Communion gives to the world is our global networks. We are networked throughout the world, east and west, north and south. But I think what particularly attracted Rick Warren is that we are networked with Gospel-based orthodox Christians in Africa – on the ground. The Protestant churches do not have such networks and for those who are working with the poor in Africa, it is often a challenge to know how to work with the poor through established government networks. What the Anglican Communion offers is another substantial network that is outside the government (that are so often corrupt) networks, that is trustworthy and carries a similar vision to work directly with those to whom God loves so much and who suffer so much.
Rick Warren spoke to this at the Pittsburgh Hope & a Future Conference on this topic, so I think that is initially what caught his attention in his own substantial work in Africa. Since then, he has built deep and abiding relationships within the ACNA and the Anglican Communion and has not only been a friend to many, but in every sense of the world – a pastor to pastors. God bless him.
bb
Rick Warren is definitely a Baptist – but he is not a Baptist who believes that only a Baptist can be a true Christian. He knows and rejoices in the strengths of the Anglican tradition when it is at its best, which is when it is (like the English Reformation) Bible-based and Gospel centered. He disagrees about church government and about baptism – but he knows that, as vital as these topics are, they are not the heart of Christianity, and so he is happy to wish ACNA well. We can reach people Baptists cannot – and he can reach people we cannot. We are allies in the same great mission, given by Our Lord in his parting words to the Apostles.
Dear all:
While I agree with the theological stance of the ACNA (at least, what I know of it), I do not regard this as a moment for celebration. Any divorce is tragic, and this is a divorce. I am saddened by the whole thing.
Helen, Yes, divorce is always a tregedy. However, there are sometimes circumstances in a marriage when divorce is the only way to “save” one party to the marriage, otherwise both are “lost”. And perhaps the children issuing from the marriage can only be saved by a divorce that ends the evil influence of either the father or the mother. Divorce is still a tragedy. But rejoice if only one person is saved thereby.
Are evangelical Anglicans significant players in the ACNA? Maybe Warren has some connections with them.
Helen,
As one who has left TEC for ACNA, I share your sadness. But principally my sadness comes from the great divorce of TEC by its actions (sanctioned and condoned) from worldwide Christianity and historic Anglicanism.
Fr Darin+
Durant, Iowa
ACNA
The Reformation which created the Anglican church 500 years ago was messy and so is this current stage. However the direction is correct.
http://www.churchoftheword.net
Well, it is interesting, especially as Warren liberalizes his stance toward gay people.
ACNA will become a liturgical collection of churches that seek entry into the Anglican communion but are essentially ritualistic evangelical non-denominational churches. It’s a very good move, and addition.
I have some doubts that ACNA will learn what it needs to from Warren.
John Wilkins,
You seem to be projecting your wishes onto Rick Warren. He hasn’t “liberalized” his stance toward homosexual behavior, but instead he’s choosing what battles he wants to fight. His huge investment in fighting AIDS in Africa, for example, has nothing to do with a softening of his opposition to homosexual behavior and likewise with regard to his avoidance of getting involved in the political fight to support Proposition 8 in CA in last November’s election.
However, you may be right in another sense. I too wonder whether we in the ACNA will learn all we should from “America’s Pastor,” but I hope that we’ll learn a lot indeed from him and the P-D movement h eleads about being truly purpose-driven and how to build a flourishing church planting movement that has a big impact on our culture for Christ.
David Handy+
Mary/BabyBlue (#3),
Excellent point. For Baptists, “the local church” is king, but the independence of each congregation makes for weak structures at the regional, national, and international level, and thus you may very well be right that something that Rick Warren could find attractive about Anglicanism is our worldwide network of churches. Perhaps that’s become especially evident to him because he has invested so much time and effort in helping the people of Rwanda, where we Anglicans are quite strong.
Fr. Darin (#8),
As usual, I couldn’t agree with you more. I’m sorry I wasn’t there in Bedford to meet you and get to know you in person. Some other time…
As a native of Sioux Falls, I have a special interest in orthodox Anglicans who are bearing faithful witness in your part of the country, where there are so few of you.
Finally, Glendermott (#9),
It’s always a delight to hear from someone at Church of the Word in Gainesville, VA. I have very fond memories of my time serving that lively congregation back in 1997, after Alison Barfoot+ left and before Robin, your present preist came. May COW thrive and bear more and more fruit for the Kingdom!
David Handy+